A delightful read! I really enjoyed this story with Jane Austen investigating a murder to save her brother. Jane was a bright, feisty and occasionally outright wrong in her assumptions as you would hope. The scene setting was great and the novel felt to be historically accurate. Lots of twists and turns and a few red herrings made for a wonderful read.

As a fan of the actual Miss Jane Austen, this was a wonderful insight into her earlier world and whilst there were obviously lots that were imagined by Jessica Bull, she includes many accurate historical details that help to ground the story. I loved the fiesty, clever and passionate Jane as a young woman and her adventures in this novel really play on her character.
The murder mystery was well set out with several red herrings and misunderstandings along the way - helped along by Jane's willingness to chase after a thought! Perfect for any fan of a cosy crime and historical fiction. I will certainly be looking out for future books in the series!

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

Set in the early years of Jane Austen's career, and combining believable fiction with known facts, this is an enjoyable addition to the Austen canon. Whilst including many members of the Austen family, we are also introduced to characters we will later meet again in Miss Austen's actual novels. I will say little about the plot as I don't wish to give any spoilers, but there are red herrings aplenty!

With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for an ARC.

Miss Austen is rather enjoying herself at Deane House until the Ball is cut short by the discovery of a body. Who was the victim in the closet and what were they murdered at a Ball? Jane must discover the murderer before time runs out and an innocent person is found guilty of the crime.

The idea of an iconic author turning detective is not a new one. I love The Bronte Mysteries which are written with such insight and care by Rowan Coleman so I was over the moon when I heard about Miss Austen Investigates. There was also a degree of trepidation as well. I really wanted it to be as good but also not a copy, For me, what I enjoy about these type of novels is how the author writes these characters. I want to recognise these characters from the novels they wrote and believe that they would deal with situations in the way they are presented.

I needn't have worried. Miss Austen Investigates is great fun. I love Jane in the novel. She isn't the middle aged small lady in the lace cap that you think of when Jane Austen is discussed. She is young and occasionally foolish. She is passionate and often jumps to the wrong conclusion. She is a girl at the start of her life and full of life.

One of the best things about the novel is Jane's family and how they are developed. Having three sons myself the depiction of Henry and James really made me smile and the large family unit with all the different characters and bonds just shines.

The "easter eggs" of names and quotes was also nicely done. It's a literary equivalent of pointing to an actor in a movie and going "ooh I didn't know he was in it!"

I enjoyed it immensely and will definitely be reading the next one.

A fascinating concept of Jane Austen as a amateur sleuth, trying to solve a murder in order to save someone she loves.
It’s sparkling, fresh and incredibly true to the historical period, you felt you were totally inhabiting Jane Austen’s world, but in a way you’ve never seen before.
Complete with so many Austen references that bring her wider circle of family and friends to life.
The first in a series of hopefully many more.
The cosy crime mystery we’ve all been waiting for.
Thanks @novelistjessica, @michaeljbooks & @netgalley for the pleasureable read

‘Miss Austen Investigates’ by Jessica Bull imagines the incredible author at age 20 as a determined and smart sleuth attempting to solve a murder that took place ahead of a grand ball! Unfortunately, her mute brother Georgy is suspected of a lesser but related crime, so her drive to uncover the truth turns into a desperate race to save his honour… and perhaps his life.

I loved Jane as a character in this novel - she was smart, tenacious and caring - and it was interesting to be immersed into her family and background. Her cousin Eliza was a wonderful guest, and I laughed greatly when she insisted to Jane that a particular character who was a single man in expectation of a good-enough fortune simply MUST be on the lookout for a wife… I guess that’s Jane’s inspiration revealed!!

Jane’s dalliance with a young man visiting town was a fun addition, and the rules of society woven throughout the narrative and driving so many characters’ actions - from nobles to servants - were interesting. The mystery itself was cleverly plotted, with seeds scattered throughout the narrative, an enjoyable number of red herrings and a satisfying conclusion.

I felt that the pace was relatively slow, and the number of characters introduced in the first few chapters was slightly overwhelming to keep track of, but by about a quarter of the way in I knew everyone and was engrossed in the unusual whodunnit. The periodic letters from Jane to her sister Cassandra helped keep track of suspects even if they were a tad repetitive.

Overall, this one gets four stars from me. I highly recommend to fans of Jane Austen, cosy mysteries and historical fiction.

I received a free review copy of this ebook from the publisher Michael Joseph Books via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was a wonderful and easy going read! Perfect for my first book of the new year.

This is a cosy crime set during Jane Austen's life, with Jane acting as a detective (in her spare time, in between drafting Lady Susan) to solve the murder of a woman found dead during a ball. Jane is forced to solve the crime to save her own brother from the gallows for the connected theft of the woman's necklace.

It's a fantastic blending of cosy crime with classical fiction, with an added flair of biography. I really enjoyed the fictional (yet loyal to the biography) of Jane Austen as a detective, attempting to solve a murder. It is such a fun and unique concept that I think worked extremely well, and seamlessly. I especially enjoyed the biographical aspect of the book; it felt well-researched (or perhaps, well-loved).

Yes, Jane was constantly accusing the wrong suspect and was perhaps a little clumsy at times. However, I do think it's important to remember that she is an amateur and very young; she is not a sophisticated "detective" that is well versed in all things criminal. She is desperate to save her brother from the gallows. I think a bit of naivety can be accepted and excused. She is, after all, not Conan Doyle.

This book reads extremely well and like it will certainly be the beginning of a wonderful series.

A nice, interesting story but, in my opinion, it was far too long.

The setting was good, the characters were well written but it just didn’t keep me enthralled.

Whodunnit Austen Style
The author cleverly interweaves facts and fiction in this whodunnit style murder mystery. It wasn’t for me but was well-written.
The discovery of a woman’s body at a ball Jane is attending shakes up the local community. Jane is less than amused with the local magistrate’s investigating skills and doesn’t see why he is focusing on the culprit being an unknown trespasser turned opportunist thief, when half the county were there that night. The case turns personal for Jane and her family when a necklace belonging to the victim is found in the possession of Georgy Austen, Jane’s deaf/mute brother. With no other suspects the magistrate’s ’investigation’ winds down but Jane is not going to leave any stone unturned in her pursuit of clearing her brother’s name. And so begins Jane’s quest, where she lurches from one theory to another, with her writers brain often getting the better of her and hasty words getting her into hot water with her neighbours.
Readers interested in Austen should give this novel a try.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this story from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As a fan of Jane Austen books I was intrigued by this. I wasn't disappointed and loved the premise of the story. Jane is at a ball with some of her brothers and one of them stumbles over a dead body in a linen closet. Jane recognises the woman as someone who has sold her a bonnet at Basingstoke Market.
When Georgy, her brother who has learning difficulties is accused of stealing her necklace, Jane decides to do everything in her power, albeit it limited - after all it's 1796, to prove his innocence before the February assizes when it is likely he will be sent to Australia.
With plenty of red herrings, Jane investigates in her own way, sometimes causing terrible social faux pas, but she is determined to see it through.
An enjoyable read.

I am very happy to be given an opportunity by the Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and the Jessica bull . Thank you for the opportunity. It’s a book that has a great potential for a series for sure . Also as a feminist it’s refreshing to see a female centre character to struggle and investigate the murder . A very pleasant novel, the author was able to recreate the period easily. Love to read more of these kinds of books. Waiting for next book in series.

This was a great, twisty historical mystery. Using Jane Austen as a character was an inspired choice and added depth to the novel's plot. I'd definitely read subsequent instalments.

As an avid Austen fan, books like this are started with excitement but also a certain amount of trepidation. Any concerns were quickly alleviated by the engaging writing style of Jessica Bull and the wealth of contextual detail she provided. The descriptions of fashion, place and social structure are faultless.

We also get to meet a younger, more careless Jane Austen who, at times, jumps to conclusions causing difficulties for herself and others. However, Jane is warm, exuberant and very likeable. I particularly enjoyed the letters to Cassandra.

The mystery was enjoyable and the plot was taut and well written. There is warmth and humour in every page. The author writes in a skilful way managing to make all the characters three dimensional and, as a reader, I felt considerable empathy for all the Austen family, particularly George.

I hope we will get to investigate many more mysteries with Miss Austen with the very able Jessica Bull at the helm!

https://lynns-books.com/2024/01/15/miss-austen-investigates-the-hapless-milliner-by-jessica-bull/
4 of 5 stars
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Great Start to Promising Series

Well, I love Jane Austen’s body of work and have read all of her books, most of them more than once, not to mention enjoyed many of the adaptations that have popped up over the years so, to be honest, a series entitled Miss Austen Investigates was always going to catch my attention. This is a great start to series. It manages to recreate the period really effectively and with minimum fuss, it is witty and charming and full of dastardly red herrings but more than that it gives us this cosy insight into the Austen’s and their world.

As the story begins we meet Jane. She’s a young woman, only 19, attending a ball and acting rather shockingly, meeting up with a young man (Tom Lefroy) to whom she has become very attached. She thinks a proposal is on the wind and hopes that the Ball will be the perfect time and place for such a declaration of love. Unfortunately; instead of a romantic conclusion to Jane’s flirtation a dead body is instead found locked in a closet, rather putting a dampener on affairs. Jane immediately recognises the victim, a milliner from the market, where she recently purchased a hat decorated with exquisite lace.

From here the local magistrate becomes involved and conclusions are rather quickly jumped to about people skulking around the neighbouring woods and search parties are organised – that all unfortunately lead to nothing new. At the same time Jane’s brother, Georgy is implicated when he is found with the deceased’s necklace – he is immediately detained and although anyone who knows Georgy would swear to his innocence, it looks very bad. Jane immediately jumps into action, using her sharpness to try and figure out those with a motive, leaving no clue unturned and frequently finding herself blurting out unfounded accusations that are incredibly embarrassing in an attempt to save her brother.

What I loved about this.

The entire story is packed with little nuggets that put you in mind of the stories that Austen wrote. Clearly her life experience fed into her imagination and the author does a great job of creating plausible situations that work really well.

The writing is good and this is a quick read. JB effortlessly recreates the period without making the writing stuffy or overbearing. She paints a picture of the Austens as a loving family, a bit of a chaotic household but the kind that is filled with laughter, questioning minds and debate. Jane has a strong attachment to her sister Cassandra and at the conclusion of each chapter we have a letter to her sister updating her on the investigation.

In terms of the characters, Jane is young and innocent. On top of her worry about her brother and disappointment over the secret love affair she really feels for the victim, who appears to remain unclaimed and unloved – that is until flowers start to appear on her grave. Jane is determined to undertake a thorough investigation, unlike the local magistrate who seems only too happy to accept things at face value. She tries to surreptitiously question everyone on her list of suspects, quite often leading to red faces all round. She speculates about motives and she cajoles her friends into impossible situations to help her out.

On top of this we get a good look into the Austen’s way of life and the differences they experience. They are a respectable family and considered to be part of the neighbourhood’s social circle but there are often little cutting remarks concerning their status, even down to remarks about Jane’s need to shop for bonnets at the local market. There’s also a fun look at the restraints of the period not to mention a casual poke at the way families ruthlessly pursue money – because It is, after all, a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife’ (and vice versa if it’s the woman in possession of a good fortune). It’s almost ruthless and quite unapologetic.

The mystery is good. It’s a cosy murder mystery (although I’m sure the deceased would disagree) with plenty of red herrings scattered across the pages. Jane isn’t exactly Sherlock Holmes however what she lacks in stealth and diplomacy she more than makes up for with enthusiasm.

Overall, this story was easy to engage with. The author manages to paint a picture of the period and the family that is a pleasure to read. I thoroughly enjoyed this murder mystery and it’s satisfying conclusion and really look forward to reading more in this series.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

Love the Bonnets at the start of each chapter.

Miss Jane Austen is at a grand party at Deane House when events take a terrible turn for the worse. A young woman is found dead. Jane unfortunately ends up seeing the deceased woman’s body. She vows to investigate this, and to find her killer.

From the get-go of this book I was totally hooked. I so enjoyed the authors writing style, and introduction of the characters. I happily read along through the story and its twists and turns of the “who done it”
I found myself guessing away as to whom I thought it was, alongside Miss Jane Austen, amateur sleuth.
I really enjoy reading historical fiction and this book was a wonderful read. It is the first in a series I believe, and I look forward to reading more from the author.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.

A very pleasant Austenesque novel where Jane plays detective to solve a murder that otherwise would send her brother to the gallows.

Some clear vibes of Emma as the heroine wades into multiple situations where she assumes to much and meddles in others’ business.

As a huge Jane Austen fan, I have been excited about this book since it was first announced. My favourite author solving a murder? Count me in! I waited until the Christmas holidays to read it, so that I could enjoy it relaxed on my couch and without interruptions and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s even more intriguing and immersive than I expected and I couldn’t put it down.

It’s December 1795. A young Jane Austen is attending a ball with her older brothers, James and Henry, and she sneaks out to enjoy a rendezvous with the dashing Tom Lefroy, hoping for a marriage proposal. But they are interrupted when a young woman is found murdered in one of the closets. The local magistrate is convinced that the killer is one of the beggars around the estate, but when the woman’s necklace is found on her developmentally disabled brother Georgy, Jane is determined to prove his innocence before he is sentenced to death or sent to Australia. With the help of her charming cousin Eliza, her brother Henry, and even Tom, Jane sets out to investigate: who really was the victim and who wanted her dead?

Miss Austen Investigates is not my first novel in which Jane Austen turns investigator, but they usually feature a mature Jane, with already a couple of published books. It’s refreshing to read of a younger Jane, impulsive and sometime naive, witty and smart, in the middle of an impossible romance and in love, drafting her first novel, Lady Susan, always writing and always plotting, taking inspirations from events around her.

History and fiction perfectly blend together and the mystery is full of twists and turns. We also get a close look into the Austen family, their devotion to each other, Henry’s feelings for their widowed cousin Eliza, how George’s mental illness affects the family, and the letters between Jane and Cassandra prove the close bond between the two sisters.

Miss Austen Investigates is fun, engaging, and engrossing and I can’t wait for the sequel to come out. Highly recommended!

I loved the thought of a book with Jane Austen as the main character. This worked really well.
I didn’t look into how much was true as I didn’t want to be distracted from the story.
Jane is the youngest of the Austen children and her father is a vicar. She loves to walk in the countryside and write stories. At a ball for the local squire’s son's engagement a body is found and Jane is determined to investigate once her brother has been arrested for theft.
Lots of twists and turns, and I was a little surprised by the ending.
I’ll definitely read the next book.

A very interesting book pitching Jane Austen as an amateur sleuth. Beautifully imagined in its 1795 setting which was well utilised with the different penalties in place at the time. At the end of the book the first chapters of the next volume are available to entice the readers. Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the chance to ARC this book.

When Janes’ brother Georgy is accused of theft and indirectly of the murder she must do all she can to find the real culprit. It is obvious that a lot of research and love has gone into the writing of this novel as many of Jane Austin’s family and friends play a part within the story. The description of regency England with its balls but also its poverty is done extremely well but unfortunately the one character that I just couldn’t get to grips with was Jane herself who I found naive and overly dramatic. Unfortunately her detective skills seemed to depend on accusing each suspect in turn and waiting for their reaction rather than actually thinking about the clues and I had worked out the solution way before she did. That said it was an enjoyable read and I will be interested to see how she matures. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the ARC of this novel in return for an honest review.