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ABOUT THE BOOK
Finally, a novel that reveals the true Bingley! Heartily recommend to all Bingley-philes! —Crispin Bonham-Carter, Mr. Bingley in the BBC Miniseries, Pride & Prejudice
For centuries Jane Austen's classic novel, Pride and Prejudice, has been dearly loved the world over. However, few people know the hidden truth about Mr. Darcy's closest friend, the affable Mr. Bingley—who is much more than he appears on first impression.
Mr. Just as a Gentleman Ought to Be is the previously untold story of a young man who unwittingly uncovers an evil cabal among the British Empire's aristocracy. Bingley finds himself confronting an enterprise so nefarious, he cannot help but act to redress it, even if it costs him his own reputation and the love of his life, the angelic Miss Jane Bennet.
Follow Mr. Bingley down a rabbit hole of intrigue and corruption, as he fights to protect the country's most vulnerable alongside friends old and new. Can he set things right before he loses Jane forever?
OPENING LINES
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that the violence by which a man’s heart may be consumed must be in want of catharsis.”
REVIEW by Sophia Rose
When innocent blood is shed and their deaths go unpunished, a young man will not ignore the evil that caused it. Brandan Dragan was a new to me author, but he made me sit up and take notice when he penned a darker, emotionally taut, and suspenseful tale with one of Jane Austen’s minor characters, Charles Bingley from Pride and Prejudice, as the key figure.
Mr. Bingley: Just As a Gentleman Ought to Be is not a typical Austen variation, though I suppose it loosely falls into that category. Rather, it is a parallel story to Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Brandon Dragan offers up the extra details of Bingley’s life what he was doing before he arrived at Netherfield Park, after he left for several months, and what he was thinking and feeling through it all.
At a quick glance, Bingley seems to be some yahoo vigilante like a certain dark-caped crusader of comic hero fame. Brandon Dragan is careful to portray Bingley as a thinking man who carefully determined his own motive for killing these evil men rather than presenting his case to the legal system and also makes it clear that killing even for righteous reasons was never easy and was tearing Bingley apart. That said, Bingley had a team of men bringing him proof of perfidy and then they planned their missions, and Bingley was quite the clandestine avenging angel of action. Oh, the nail-biter moments as Bingley went into action each time.
I appreciated getting the insider’s view of what drew Bingley to Jane Bennet. and it wasn’t just a pretty face and figure. My pitter-pattering romantic heart would have liked to have seen their romance development happen more on the page, but I get that the romance was a side dish at this meal. I’m a terrible person, but I gasped with delight over the verbal comeuppance Bingley dealt his sisters about their snobbishness and snide remarks about the Bennets.
What I enjoyed as much as the suspense and romance was the fraternal bonds that were emphasized throughout the story between Bingley and Darcy, Bingley and his brother-in-law, Hurst, but also Bingley with his steward and the addition of Maitland his advance scout. The camaraderie he had with these men of his social and familial circle was another rich layer to a well-written story. Also, I must shout out for the side story of a hardworking cobbler constable diligently tracking the evidence Bingley left behind.
All in all, I was as captivated as I hoped when I first picked up this book. Move over Mr. Darcy. You have competition as a heroic, romantic figure. Mr. Bingley: Just as a Gentleman Ought to Be is for those who love historical suspense with a strong element of sweet romance set in Jane Austen’s P&P world.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brandon Dragan is an attorney in Tennessee and winner of the American Bar Association
Journal's 2021 Ross Writing Contest.
His writing draws on a wide array of influences from modern novelists such as Cormac McCarthy and Richard Yates to classic writers like Fyodor Dostoevsky and Jane Austen. He enjoys a good cigar, road cycling, and is an avid supporter of the Arsenal Football Club. Connect with Brandon via his website.
ABOUT THE GUEST REVIEWER, Sophia Rose
Sophia is a quiet, curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and a loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate. Writing has been a compelling need since childhood. Being published is a dream come true. Connect with Sophia via Goodreads.
Lovely review, Sophia. I simply cannot wait to read it too. Your fabulous review adds even more to my anticipation.
So beautifully said, Sophia Rose! Loved this review! I think this is my favourite part:
'What I enjoyed as much as the suspense and romance was the fraternal bonds that were emphasized throughout the story between Bingley and Darcy, Bingley and his brother-in-law, Hurst, but also Bingley with his steward and the addition of Maitland his advance scout. The camaraderie he had with these men of his social and familial circle was another rich layer to a well-written story. Also, I must shout out for the side story of a hardworking cobbler constable diligently tracking the evidence Bingley left behind.'
Same here, I loved their camaraderie and their interactions, and especially loved the tone of Bingley's exchanges with Darcy, and…