ISBN: 0-7366-4844-5 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com Amazon.com
This murder mystery featuring Jane Austen as a detective is rich on historical detail but lacks excitement.
Reviewed by David on July 03, 2004
Genre: Mystery (Amateur Sleuth)
Synopsis: Jane Austen, the famous English novelist of the early Nineteenth Century, puts her perception of human character to the test when an attractive bu generally disliked lady is murdered after a horse race. Jane's brother is the local magistrate, so the whole family is soon engaged in trying to find the culprit.
In the meantime, the Kent countryside is full of fears and rumors of Napolean's imminent invasion, the victim's widower is behaving strangely, and her stepbrother, recently arrived from France combines charm with suspicions of espionage.
Full Review: While full of biographical detail, as well as meticulous and sometimes captivating descriptions of landscape, conversations, conventions and dresses of the period, the mystery is thin on excitement. The consideration of evidence and suspect's movements, frequently framed by social constraints make for a satisfying investigation. However, the action is spread thin, and seems awkward when it happens.
Also, to a large extent, the main character's movements are constrained by her well-known biographical facts, something that burdens all fiction with historical protagonists.
On the whole, the mystery, while enjoyable at times, seems slow and awkward, and on the whole, provides little excitement or true pleasure in the reading.
Universe: Regency England
Overall: 5.5; Plot: 5.5; Characters: 6; Style: 5; World-building: 5.5; Originality: 5.5;
Copyright date 1999, Books on Tape, 2000, Audio cassette, 8 cassettes
ISBN: 0-7366-4844-5 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com Amazon.com