Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor: Being the First Jane Austen Mystery (Jane Austen Mysteries) by Stephanie Barron Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor: Being the First Jane Austen Mystery (Jane Austen Mysteries)
Book Review: EXCELLENT JANE AUSTEN SEQUEL
Summary: 5 Stars
Truly delightful, I own all eight and thoroughly enjoyed reading them all. I really enjoyed the footnotes describing the times and word meanings of Jane Austen's life. Wonderful mysteries. Book Review: Comes satisfyingly close to Jane
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was a satisfying and fun read; exactly the kind of book I most like and close enough to JA's style to suit me--and that's saying something. (I like Austen so much that I became a novelist myself to write a discreet romance of the same era and in the same vein.) I really hate the slew of modern books that have Regency era people behaving in thoroughly modern ways, with thoroughly modern value systems...etc. I like the authenticity of this book, the feeling of being in that time and age, which is precisely what I strive for in my own writing. This book is a hands-down five stars.
Linore Rose Burkard, author of, Before the Season Ends
Book Review: A Cruz in FL
Summary: 5 Stars
I recently finished reading this book for the second time and I loved it just as much the 2nd time around as I did the first. This book is the beginning of a series that, in my opinion, is one of the very best on the market today. I love this series because it combines my two favorite genres - Jane Austen and Mysteries. I care not if the stories are factual or contrived out of Ms. Barron's delightful imagination. The way Jane's character is developed, the adventures that she stumbles upon, and her amazing ability to seek the truth through unconventional means while retaining her respectablility is exactly what I imagine Jane Austen to have been.Book Review: An Intriguing and Delightful Series...
Summary: 5 Stars
Stephanie Barron was one of the first authors to base her book, "Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor" on the premise that these are the "long-lost journals" of Jane Austen, herself. In my opinion, no one does it better.
As a deep admirer of Jane Austen's works, Stephanie Barron has brilliantly penned both a suspenseful murder mystery AND kept true to the realism of Jane Austen. I think her books are wonderful.
Footnotes explaining certain customs, historic notes or words are liberally sprinkled throughout the novel. I found their addition to be quite helpful.
However, you will note that there are many divided reviews. If you have ever been the least interested in any of the Jane Austen novels and enjoy mysteries as well, I urge you to try this series. Barron has just had her 7th book in this series published...so obviously she has MANY fans.
Likewise, if you hated Jane Austen's books when you had to read them for English class, then perhaps you should pass this series by - because it is written in the same vein...which is the highest praise I can give the author! A brilliant novel and thoroughly enjoyable mystery!
Book Review: Wonderfully Interesting Encounter!
Summary: 4 Stars
I actually received this book free, after a school-wide free book day. People in the community had donated several books, and each student was allowed to select one book to take free of charge, and I chose this one. I am very pleased in my decision, and plan to read the rest of the Jane Austen mysteries.
During the winter months of 1802, Jane Austen travels to the country estate of Scargrave Manor to celebrate the nuptials of her friend Isobel, now the Countess of Scargrave. A celebratory ball ensues, but amidst the feasting and merry-making, Frederick, the Earl of Scargrave, falls gravely ill and dies shortly thereafter.
Given no reprieve, the grieving widow begins receiving cryptic missives accusing her infidelity with her husband's nephew and of murdering her husband! Soon the letters are tracked to Isobel's former maid, Marguerite. Just as the trail gets hot, Jane discovers the maid dead, her neck slit, in one of Scargrave's sheds. At this, the full attention of the law is brought upon Isobel and the deceased Earl's nephew, Fitzroy.
In a tangled web spinning all the way to the House of Lord's and Newgate Prison, Jane endeavors to uncover who really murdered the Earl and the maid. Along the way, she attracts the attention of a troubled young Lieutenant, who may yet play a part in this murder mystery...
If you were a Jane Austen fan or a mystery genre fan, you would do well to give this book a shot. Though I'm sure there are probably some discrepancies from a scholar's point of view, I am not that anal retentive and I had no problems getting into the book. I really enjoyed this, and hope to track down some of the subsequent novels!