Review by Naz Cankurt, 17 November 2004
"A Private Performance" by Helen Halstead carries forward and develops the story of Lizzie and Darcy, their families and friends – and a whole bunch of new Regency characters and types - in a wonderfully witty style with lots of irony and humour.

Halstead writes with such homage and authenticity that you find yourself easily slipping away into the timeless splendour of Jane Austen’s world. The language and prose are genuinely authentic and her style natural and sincere.

Lizzie and Darcy’s relationship and marriage are developed and rounded out as they grow to understand one another and themselves as partners in life. The beauty of their love is developed and enhanced as they grow to truly understand what it means to be married to each other.

The intriguing – sometimes hilarious - story lines and fulsome development of all the old favourites; Jane, Bingley, Miss Bingley, Georgiana, Lady Catherine, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Kitty et al and the introduction of the London artistic and aristocratic set are just wonderful and true to the essence of Jane Austen’s P&P.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it highly. It was immensely satisfying to have a view to how it might have been if only...

Review by Rosalia Bland, 5 December 2004
Helen Halstead continues Jane Austen's tradition of comedy and romance. One of the many outstanding achievements of the novel is Helen's magical depiction of the feast on Twelfth Night. It is simply divine. As you read, you feel that you were there, with the rest of them.
Of course, there's beautiful Elizabeth Bennet. She blossoms in her role as Mrs. Darcy and disarms everyone with her wit and charm… yes, everyone. Her feisty spirit sometimes frustrates Darcy but never fails to make him love her more. The book makes one believe in love again. It makes one fall in love again.

Review by Linda Waldemar, 14 December 2004
The action starts soon after the engagements of the eldest Bennet sisters. Mrs. Bennet, though ecstatic over the fine matches made by her daughters, is still plagued by her nerves. Elizabeth is often discomforted by the vulgarity of her mother and the silliness of her younger sisters. She tries to shield Mr. Darcy from them as much as she can; just as Jane Austen says she does.
The Gardiners, Miss Caroline Bingley, the Hursts, Miss Georgiana Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam (here named Henry) travel to Hertfordshire for the wedding. The Wickhams do not. Along with the Bennets and the de Bourghs, these characters are present through a good deal of the book.  Kitty Bennet spends time in Derbyshire and her behavior improves. However, she does not make an immediate and radical change which I find very plausible. Georgiana remains shy and only comfortable with her immediate family. Mary Bennet remains a pious know-it-all. Mr. Bennet makes unexpected visits to Pemberley. I am happy to report that I found no strangers among those names that are so familiar from Pride and Prejudice.

After the wedding, the Bingleys return to Netherfield and the Darcys travel to Pemberley. However, they meet again in a few months when they all go to London for the Season. Lady Catherine tries to insure that Elizabeth is not received in society; she fails. Although a few acquaintances snub her, most are enchanted by her wit and vivacity. When Elizabeth becomes a favourite of Lady Englebury, she becomes the toast of the Season.

Because I do not have high expectations for sequels, I am fairly easy to please. I must say,  this book far exceeds my expectations! Jane Austen's characters are very little changed. I sometimes laughed and I even cried! I was kept in suspense about the fate of some characters for most of the story. There is happiness, sadness, misunderstanding; all events that make a compelling story. If I were forced to voice a criticism, I might say that Elizabeth is too witty and too teasing, but not so much that it is objectionable.

This is one of the best sequels that I have encountered and I highly recommend it.

Written by LynneRobson, March 5, 2005
I am afraid I did not like this book very much I felt she made Mr Darcy out to be sulky spoilt and not at all understanding to his wife.

When they go to London Lady Catherine has tried to give Lizzy a bad name amongst the ton but she is introduced to the most infulencing woman of the ton and taken under her wing.
At first Darcy seems all for this then he notices that many men start to take note of Elizabeth and he becomes sulky, jealous I would have put it but she used the word sulky.

Once the season finishes they go to Netherfield for a short time and Lizzy who by this time is expecting looses her babe. What upset me was that her Darcy does not seem to have an understanding bone in his body. Not at all like the Jane Austen Darcy. As the time goes on they go back to Pemberley where Kitty stays with them.

I am afraid that I disliked some of the new characters she introduces but some were lovely. To me her Elizabeth and Darcy did not match JA characters as I just could not see them doing some of the things she has them do in this story.

It is an interesting read but not one I would have gone out of my way to buy if I wasn't such a big fan of sequels. I have read better fanfiction than this book.