What became of the brilliant Miss Caroline Bingley after Mr Darcy married Elizabeth Bennet?

A missing maid. A murder most foul. A highly imprudent adventure.

Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Detective is a new novel, co-written with Sharmini Kumar.

It is out now in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. It will be out in the US and Canada in July 2025 (as Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Investigator).

What happens in the book?

Two years after the events of Pride and Prejudice, Miss Caroline Bingley is living at her brother’s country estate, within an easy ride of Mr and Mrs Darcy’s home, Pemberley. When Georgiana Darcy’s maid goes missing, Georgiana secretly runs away to search for her in London. Caroline feels she has no choice but to follow, to keep her young friend out of trouble.

Caroline arrives in London, quickly discovers where Georgiana is staying, and realises that she has a gift for deduction. She tracks down Georgiana’s maid, Jayani, who is accused of murdering her own brother, Sameer. Investigating the murder brings Caroline into contact with people she would otherwise never encounter, from the magistrate Mr Pickersgill to malevolent landladies, to members of Regency London’s bustling Indian community and mysterious representatives of the East India Company.

Praise for Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Detective

‘Miss Bingley dismounts her high horse and reinvents herself as a brilliant detective in this thoroughly enjoyable Regency romp … A rollicking tale’ Amanda Hampson, bestselling author of the Tea Ladies series

‘Utterly delightful! Miss Caroline Bingley is revealed as a perfectly imperfect heroine in this charming Austen-inspired escapade. Beyond its entertaining surface and mannered Regency dialogue also lies a shrewd critique of British imperial rule and a resounding message of female empowerment. As Miss Bingley would say, no hand wringing allowed!’ Kyra Geddes, author of The Story Thief

‘Imaginative and original. A delightful romp with some of literature’s favourite characters. I was carried away from the first page’ Belinda Alexandra, bestselling author of The Masterpiece

‘Loved this adventure in Austen’s world, with Caroline Bingley taking centre stage and proving what we knew all along; that there was much more to her character than met the eye! Wonderful scene setting and addictively pacey, this book will delight Jane Austen and Agatha Christie fans alike. Queen of the one-line put-downs, Miss Bingley makes the most brilliant sleuth – proving that detective work is right up there with watercolours and dancing as the height of ladylike accomplishments!’ Fliss Chester, author of The Cressida Fawcett Mysteries

‘It is a truth universally acknowledged that a reader who loves an ever-compelling story is in need of a new heroine by the name of Caroline Bingley, and shall not regret for one second the time spent with her in this new novel’ Sophie Green, bestselling author of Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel

‘Pure indulgence! Full of ardent amours, dastardly deeds and rakish rogues’ Kate Forsyth, bestselling author of Psykhe

‘Thoroughly entertaining — revisiting Austen’s world is a joy’ Toni Jordan, bestselling author of Pretty if She Smiled More

‘A riotously fun, whip-smart and genuinely intriguing read! I loved being transported back to the world of Pride and Prejudice in such a fresh, twisty take. Be still my Austen-loving heart’ Tess Woods, bestselling author of The Venice Hotel

‘Miss Bingley delivers delicious snark and fabulous sleuthing fun. I loved it!’ Alison Goodman, bestselling author of The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies

‘I can only assume that Jane Austen would be delighted to read of Miss Bingley’s exploits.  An elegant and utterly accomplished mystery’ Sulari Gentill, bestselling author of The Woman in the Library and The Mystery Writer

‘The witty and formidable Caroline Bingley proves a most tenacious amateur sleuth in this deliciously entertaining romp through Regency London where murder most foul and ladies of leisure and fortunes become unlikely bedfellows. A richly realised setting and sharply drawn characters made for the perfect reading escapade into Jane Austen’s world’ Meredith Jaffé, bestselling author of The Dressmakers of Yarrandarrah Prison and The Tricky Art of Forgiveness

‘An intriguing, sharply funny and beautifully written mystery. So much fun and beautiful attention to historical detail. I zipped through it in a day, and laughed out loud as I read. Miss Austen would approve’ Pamela Hart, author of The Charleston Scandal, Digging Up Dirt and A-List for Death

‘Murder, mystery and tea – from fine drawing rooms to the alehouses of Georgian London Miss Bingley is the perfect companion – and the perfect detective. Miss Caroline Bingley Private Detective is sparkles with charm’ Anthea Hodgson, Rachael Johns Book Club

All about the novel

Miss Caroline Bingley Private Detective was published in April 2025 by HarperCollins Australia & New Zealand and HarperCollins UK imprint HQ. It will be out in North America in July 2025, with HarperCollins US imprint, HarperVia.

You wrote it together?

Yep! At AustenCon in 2019, I presented a talk on Jane Austen’s literary legacy, and suggested that Miss Caroline Bingley, the iconic character from Pride and Prejudice, would make an excellent private detective. AustenCon host Sharmini Kumar leapt at the idea, and began plotting and planning. When we realised we were both equally excited about Miss Bingley’s potential career solving crime, we decided to write a novel together, collaborating online during lockdown.

More of Miss Bingley’s adventures lie in the future.