Jane And The Unpleasantness At Scargrave Manor
Ranked #4,255 in Books, Poetry & Writing, #152,144 overall
I LOVE this book!
Who would have thought it? Jane Austen discovering clues, sifting through evidence, unravelling nefarious plots and solving grisly murders. But, when you consider it, the same keen eye for observation that makes Jane's books such a joy to read would be invaluable to a sleuth.
Stephanie Barron must have devoured all of Austen's novels. She writes in the Austen style which, from the opening paragraph, had me believing that I was indeed reading a hitherto unknown journal "discovered" in the basement of an old house.
I love this book. I love the mystery, I love the characters and I love this closer relationship with Jane.
Contents at a Glance
“As God is my witness, I am innocent of my husband's death. Do not fail me, Jane!”
The Plot
She has scarcely arrived when a cruel blow of Fate fells the Earl with a mysterious and agonising complaint.
And through the snowy dawn, a faint echo of pealing bells; they toll nine times as I listen, straining for the count - the passing bell from the church in Scargrove Close, calling out that the Earl is in his final hours. Nine peals for the dying of a man, and then a pause; the toll resumes, a total of forty-eight times, for every year of the Earl's life.
But for the bereaved widow, this is only the beginning of a greater tragedy!
Nasty anonymous letters, irate peasantry, disastrous red herrings, not one, but two cases of murder most foul culminating in a desperate race against Time as Isobel begs Jane to employ her acute powers of observation in order to discover the truth of the matter. The game is afoot!
Get your copy!
Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor: Being the First Jane Austen Mystery
Amazon Price: $8.40 (as of 02/15/2012)
What better heroine to solve a gruesome mystery than Jane Austen?
Only two things are required: a satisfying, well-structured whodunit plot and a knack for rendering Austen's style at picking up the most delicate nuances in social behavior. Stephanie Barron succeeds on both counts.
To sum up
Most wonderful of all is the experience of seeing inside Jane Austen's head (even if fictitiously) . If you take joy from Jane Austen's novels you'll really appreciate this absolutely delightful 'follow-on'.
Highly recommended!
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If you've read this book, tell me what YOU thought or, if you haven't, do you think it would appeal to you?
What do you think?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byLove the idea. I like a good historical mystery especially when it involves a first class heroine
Sarah says:
This sounds interesting, I quite like modernisation of classics, their charcters or the authors, looking forward to reading it.
Posted September 11, 2011
Treasures-By-Brenda says:
I do love a good historical mystery book (or movie.) This one sounds great.
Posted January 19, 2011
Stazjia says:
This is my kind of novel and I can't wait to get a copy to read. I like the incongruity of Jane Austen or some other famous person like Shakespeare investigating a crime.
Posted March 26, 2010
Sorry, not my cup of tea. I can't get to grips with detective novels or Jane Austen at the best of times.
Gloriousconfusion says:
I loved Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, and, indeed, used to remind people of the story in Sense and Sensibility when helping them to make a will. I occasionally enjoy detective stories (although I prefer the true-life ones). But putting them together and taking Jane Austen's name or voice in vain - no, I don't fancy the idea and would prefer to stick to classics, old and modern.
but I did enjoy your lens
Posted July 20, 2010
Read it? Rate it ...
Jane, sketch by Cassandra Austen
Jane Austen
Jane Austen (1775 to 1817). wrote novels which are highly prized for their humour, but possess underlying serious qualities.The plots, while fundamentally comic, highlight the dependence of women on marriage to secure social standing and economic security,
Austen was heavily influenced by Samuel Johnson, and like his works, her writing was concerned with moral issues.
Who else is talking about Jane Austen Mysteries?
- Austen-Powered Mystery
- Still, hope springs eternal in the Janeite breast, and the announcement that P. D. James was writing a murder mystery sequel to Pride and Prejudice created eager anticipation?especially among Jane Austen lovers who are also fans of the reigning queen ...
- Joy for James fans - another murder
- By Deirdre Parker Smith SALISBURY ? She may be in her 90s, but PD James' skills have not dulled one bit, as she proves in ?Death Comes to Pemberley,? a murder mystery that picks up where Jane Austen left off in ?Pride and Prejudice.
- Novel picks up where Jane Austen left off
- By Anne Payne ?Pride and Prejudice? sequels by people whose names inevitably are not Jane Austen never tempted me ... until one came along by the venerable English writer of mysteries whose name is PD James. ?Death Comes to Pemberley? is a strong ...
- Pettis: Austen's story gets new mystery
- Well-known mystery writer PD James (the Inspector Adam Dalgliesh series) has ventured into the Victorian world of Jane Austen for this stand-alone mystery. Starting where Austen left off in "Pride and Prejudice," James continues the story of Elizabeth ...
More books by Stephanie Barron
Vote for your favorites, or add any I missed.
Jane and His Lordship's Legacy (Jane Austen Mysteries) by Stephanie Barron
It's with a heavy heart that Jane Austen takes up more...0 points
Jane and the Man of the Cloth: Being the Second Jane Austen Mystery (Being A Jane Austen Mystery) by Stephanie Barron
For everyone who loves Jane Austen...the second tantalizing more...0 points
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KarenTBTEN
Sep 1, 2011 @ 12:35 am | delete
- I did not know Jane Austen was a detective. It seems you never know who will turn out to be a detective next: U.S. presidents, first ladies... all kinds of folks. Now I am reading the comments above and asking myself if Shakespeare was also a detective. And I'm heading off to see who was a detective in ancient Rome...
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Rockett
May 11, 2011 @ 9:04 pm | delete
- I love a good mystery ... so I'll definitely find this one and give it a read. Thanks for the great review.
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Treasures-By-Brenda
Jan 19, 2011 @ 7:17 am | delete
- Great review; sounds like a good book. Lensrolling your lens to my book review of Writing Jane Austen. Blessed.
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JenniferAkers
Jul 8, 2010 @ 5:17 am | delete
- I haven't read this book, but it sounds like a great story! I'll have to look for it, and add it to my ever-growing pile of To Be Read books. :) Thanks for sharing your review -- I like discovering great stories, especially those recommended by friends.
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Stazjia
Mar 26, 2010 @ 6:06 am | delete
- I don't know how I've missed these novels. I really will look for them now I've read your excellent review.
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About Susanna Duffy
by susannaduffy
I love historical detective stories and I love Jane Austen. Both in one book - fabulous!
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