My Cousin Darcy

Sofia-Elisabete Stories, Book 4

De: Robin Elizabeth Kobayashi

Narrado por: Lucas Keen

WINNER, SILVER MEDAL, 2023 AUDIOBOOK, THE WISHING SHELF BOOK AWARDS

B.R.A.G. MEDALLION HONOREE

Can Fitzwilliam Darcy help his young cousin vindicate her father's honor?

1826, Yorkshire Wolds. In this humorous and heartfelt short novel narrated by Colonel Fitzwilliam's daughter, Sofia-Elisabete, the colonel takes her to fox hunts. A terrible accident occurs at the second hunt when the impetuous and spirited Sofia fakes a view halloo and sets the riders in the wrong direction so that she can save the fox. Lies spread, and the colonel is unjustly blamed for the tragic death that occurs. A key witness—Nimrod, the popular sports writer—has vanished. The colonel seeks Darcy's help to find this journalist.

There is no greater friendship than between loyal cousins.

Sofia hasn't seen this cousin since she was a child, but she recalls the happy Darcy's of Pemberley. Fitzwilliam Darcy at forty-two still has that certain je ne sais quoi that had captivated her as a girl. But can Darcy make things right in a world where corruption abounds and where trouble and the fantastic keep happening whenever Sofia is near? Told against the backdrop of the sporting life, from the chase to the turf, from the ring to the links, My Cousin Darcy lays bare the secrets of a flawed and sensitive hero from Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice.

The award-winning Sofia-Elisabete Stories:

• I, Sofia-Elisabete, Love Child of Colonel Fitzwilliam. A Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2018.
• Twelfth-Night Cake & the Rosings Ghost. Finalist, 2018 Wishing Shelf Book Awards.
• Only Sofia-Elisabete. A Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2021 and B.R.A.G. Medallion honoree.
• My Cousin Darcy.Winner, Silver Medal, 2023 Audiobook, Wishing Shelf Book Awards, B.R.A.B. Medallion Honoree.

©2023 Robin Elizabeth Kobayashi (P)2024 Robin Elizabeth Kobayashi

Addictive to listen to...

Story Impressions –


A delightful tale blending Pride and Prejudice characters plus traditional Regency sporting jaunt and an unusual heroine. As with other JAFF tales, this reimagining is as pleasing to the ear as it is to my Regency heart. I found the plot believable and historically accurate. The author writes with an Austenesque flair. The story itself is addictive to listen to and before I knew it, hours ticked by. If you’re a P&P vagary fan, you’ll simply adore My Cousin Darcy. It’s one I will read again and again with pleasure.


Narrator’s overall voice –

Lucas Keen’s voice has an individuality all its own but when it employs the various character voices, it takes on each character with ease. I thoroughly adored his voice.

Does the narrator fit the characters?

Yes, Lucas Keen fits the characters, especially Sofia. I’m astonished at how well he evokes women. It’s not an easy thing to do. Well done.

Narrator’s reading style –

Lucas Keen has an informal reading style but with enough twists and turns to keep the listener mesmerized.

Narrator’s impact on reading experience –

Lucas Keen has an inherent ability to draw a listener/reader in without any effort. The scenes are so well narrated, that I had to stop what I was doing to concentrate on the story.

Narrator’s pacing –

Lucas Keen’s pacing is impeccable, blending historical fiction and mystery together without any effort.

Audiobook flow –

Lucas Keen lets the audiobook unfold naturally with plenty of dialogue, action, and intrigue.

What makes this audiobook unique –

Lucas Keen and Robin Kobayashi partner up again to bring readers/listeners one of the best historical fiction/Pride and Prejudice vagary audiobooks I’ve ever heard/read. Lucas Keen’s narration brings My Cousin Darcy to life, like a film. Brilliant from start to finish.

Would I recommend this audiobook –

YES! One-click this audiobook right now.


My Rating: 5+ stars

Great story and storyteller

Robin Kobayashi is a great spinner of tales, and Lucas Keen is a great storyteller! Great story full of adventure and mischief, beautifully narrated too. Clearly enunciated, with distinct voices for the different characters as well as properly conveying of emotions by the talented narrator, Lucas Keen. The story comes alive for our listening pleasure, a story full of details of the time period, fox hunting and even golf. Kobayashi has created a great heroine and once again sets us up for a great adventure. Highly recommend

A lively story

My Cousin Darcy is a Pride and Prejudice sequel unlike any other, and I was charmed by it. Effervescent and gregarious Sofia-Elisabete is refreshing; she simply does not care what anybody thinks. She shares her tale in first-person narration with a bit of a stream-of-consciousness tone that draws the reader in close. Her lively relationship with her father Colonel Fitzwilliam is engaging, as are her interactions with their cousin Mr. Darcy. No staid drawing rooms or fancy-dress in ballrooms here. This is an active England. A sporting one! The historical background was clearly well-researched and well-drawn. And the poetic prose created an immersive setting, vividly described. This is a fanciful, and even mystical at times, story.
I had the great pleasure of reading this tale before listening to the audiobook and found that Lucas Keen's skillful narration enhanced what is already a lively story and brought it more fully to life. I particularly enjoyed his portrayals of Mr. Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Sofia-Elisabete, which all felt quite authentic compared to how I'd imagined them while reading. I listened at 1.5x speed for an even more buoyant experience. Five stars for both author and narrator!