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: Enjoyable read
Summary: 4 Stars
I was not sure what to expect when I took up "Scargrave". That the reviews fell left and right of a purists divide did not surprise me. That I would enjoy it so much for so many reasons, I did not expect.
I am not a Regency scholar. I have however read many works of "Regency" authors and felt bludgeoned by the text. Not with Barron. The words "bright" and "sparkling" come to mind (blasphemy?!). I was comfortable with the voice given to JA...it did not jar; rather it felt as I would imagine her in writing to her sister or her nieces.
I also am comfortable with Jane's behavior, which was questioned by other reviewers stressing her refinement, etc. That's as may be, but she proves in her writings to have a sarcastic bent and is frequently snarky. By her very nature as a published authoress, she pushed the Regency non-envelope. Retreating from a failed betrothal and called upon to defend the friend who took her in, I can see her rising to the occasion (though perhaps not wishing her name to attach to it.)
The mystery was satisfying enough to serve...I had only nailed it within about 50%. I especially liked the expansion (through footnotes) of some key concepts.
I'll make sure to read the rest, though I will say I hope the author does not continue to cast JA as an unrealized angel for all future cads and wastrels. She does not benefit from the tragic cast and it does not ring true.
Book Review: Interesting Idea
Summary: 3 Stars
This was an interesting concept for a novel series. This first one was a little slow, but personalites and characters needed to be defined. Hopefully they will become quicker and more humorous (in keeping with Ms Austen's humor).Book Review: Can't Wait to Read the Rest of the Series
Summary: 4 Stars
No, it isn't anything like a Jane Austen book. But it's a good mystery all the same, and the Jane character is an likeable heroine. Like other reviewers, I found Lady Isobel annoying and not worth the effort that Jane put into her friendship, but that makes Miss Austen all the more admirable. I plan to pick up the rest of the series right away, and hope they are as enjoyable.Book Review: A Valiant Effort
Summary: 3 Stars
The idea of a mystery in the style of Jane Austen was very appealing to me, and though this book does captivate, keeping to Jane Austen's style seems to have been too large a task for Stephanie Barron. I was consistenly irritated by lines borrowed from Austen's works, and even more annoyed by Barron's presumptions that Austen had based her characters on the people in this novel. The book is very good when left to stand on its own - the plot twists are many and surprising, and the general style is somewhat refreshing. The only reason I can't give it full marks, is that Barron failed in keeping up the ruse that it was all written by Jane Austen. Austen never borrowed from herself in her novels, and I just don't find it likely that her journal would be any different. Also, some of the ideas presented here are just a little bit too raw, and are obviously the work of a modern writer. Hats off to Barron for the valiant attempt, but recreating Jane Austen's style is a difficult task even for the best scholars.Book Review: One of the Best of the Series!
Summary: 5 Stars
I could not put this book down. It is so wonderful, and a great introduction into the series. As soon as I was finished with this one, I had to run out and buy all the others.