"Northanger Abbey" by Val McDermid

An audio book.

Catherine Morland, 17, from Dorset, home-schooled, is invited to accompany well-off neighbours to the Edinburgh festival where she meets her brother and his friends. She's rather new to the world of dating and events. She's into The Hunger Games, various Zombie and vampire novels/films etc. There are some Edinburgh Festival in-jokes, and niche one (about William Letford!). There's lot of fuss about Catherine wanting to see Henry and avoid other men who just want to show their cars off. Henry Tilney's father, a general, lives in Northanger Abbey. He's rather old-fashioned, and doesn't allow WiFi. Catherine wonders whether his wife isn't after all dead - maybe she's imprisoned in a tower. Henry scares her with rumours. Catherine thinks his long-established family might be vampires (there's a bible with a bullet-hole, the list of family births it suspicious, etc). She confesses her suspicions to Henry, who forgives her. Catherine's brother James suddenly announces his engagement only for the girl to call it off and announce she's engaged to Freddie, Henry's brother - a scoundrel. But the girl says her phone was stolen by Freddie who posted malicious messages. Elli and Catherine decide to write a children's book together. The general suddenly sends Catherine home to Dorset. Henry visits her to apologise for her father, who doesn't like lesbians (he'd misunderstood Catherine's friendship with Elli). Henry wondered if Catherine was gay. Elli's angry, but eventually they make up.

I did Northanger Abbey for my O-levels at school, and I've recently listened to Persuasion. I'm not an Austen fan. This book increases my respect for McDermid's writing skills, though the style's nothing like that of her other books I've read. That said, it's a very cosy ride. The vocabulary and some of the morality seem rather stuck in the Austen era. Though Facebook, etc are mentioned, social media etiquette and strategies aren't deeply explored.

Other reviews

• Jenny Coglan (There is some delightful social skewering, and McDermid is clearly enjoying herself, but it feels as though there is nothing new to say on the subject)
• Laurel Ann Nattress (In the second installment of The Austen Project ... the author has really created a complete translation, scene for scene, and sometimes word for word ... a retelling instead of the reimagining that it was advertised as)