🎄Jane Austen is famous for her wit and intelligence in her writings. Now imagine, what if she's used those qualities to investigate a murder mystery? That's what Stephanie Barron captured in her "In Being Jane Austen Mystery" series. This Christmas story is the first time I heard about this series, but I loved it, so I might read more in the future.
🎄 The Austens were invited to celebrate Christmas at the Vyne, home of William Chute, a prominent figure in British politics. By the Austens I meant Jane, her mother, her sister Cassandra, her brother James and his family. Yes, Barron brought the real Austen's family and friends into the story. Not only that, in fact Barron based her story on Jane Austen's letters and journals.
🎄 It's the year of 1714; Napoleon has been banished to Elba, and John Quincy Adams signed the Treaty of Ghent on Christmas Eve. A messenger was sent to dispatch the treaty, but was killed while staying at the Chutes' while the area was snowbound. Meaning, that the murderer is one of the staying guests. The question is, is it a political murder, or a personal one?
🎄 It being a cozy mystery, the murder itself only happened after one third of the book. And if you worry lest the Christmas vibes is going to be polluted by the murder, don't be! There's a lot of Christmassy things to be enjoyed despite of the murder. Jane and Cassandra's Christmas presents to their niece, for instance. A beautiful doll and its twelve gorgeous handmade outfits, each submitted in twelve days of Christmas, is perhaps what most girls would ever dream of! And don't forget about the hint of a (promising) romance throughout the story..l. 😘
🎄 All in all, if you are a fan of Jane Austen, or at least of 18-19th century literature, and in need of cozy mystery with Christmas vibes, then this book is a perfect one. But diehard fans of crime novel might be disappointed by the plot.
Rating: 3,5 / 5
I have the first book in this series to read, Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor. I'm rereading Jane Austen at the moment, this year I read Mansfield Park (I actually had not read that one before) and Persuasion (I had read that years ago). But also I'm trying to read a lot of other fiction and non-fiction connected to Jane and her books and life. It's definitely an ongoing project! And a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteAfter this one, I am considering to read more from the series, but let's see.
DeleteThat's a exciting project to read Jane Austen, Cath! I've only read Sense & Sensibility (didn't love) and Persuasion (loved). This year I'm planning to read Mansfield Park too!
Anyway, good luck and have fun with Jane! ;)