Get ready to step back in time to join one of literature’s greats, Jane Austen, as she endeavours to solve a murder before her beloved brother Georgy is wrongly sentenced to death. Featuring a wide cast that includes her family, close friends and neighbours, Jane has plenty of suspects who need investigating. I rather felt Jane was lacking a true partner in her quest and I often found myself feeling frustrated by her as she launched into her accusations rather clumsily and without true evidence. Her letters to her sister were the most consistent reflection she gave to her thoughts and findings. That said, there are plenty of twists and turns to this cosy murder mystery to make it an overall enjoyable read, and no doubt Jane’s detective skills will develop when she faces her next case.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for an arc in exchange for a review.

This turned out to be a very good read even though I had been a little wary at the beginning. The first few chapters read like a biography of Austen and Jane was portrayed as very silly, even though she was nineteen. There are a lot of characters introduced early on and it's hard to keep track of them all. The author seemed to want to include every single think she knew about Austen but it was all interspersed throughout the story including things that the reader will recognise as coming from Jane's novels.
However, as the story progressed it became very enjoyable and the mystery was handled well. I kept changing my mind about who the murderer was but still I didn't get it right. I like that! I hate it if I guess the murderer too early in a novel. This meant I had to keep reading to see what happened and I did want to see the outcome.
It probably started out as a 2.5/3 stars but definitely deserved the 4 at the end.
It will interesting to see what happens next as this appears to be the start of a series.

Thanks to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for an early copy of this book.

Cosy-ish crime with a historical setting and future literary megastar for a heroine? Oh, go on then, it’s sort-of-Xmas… Book review: ‘Miss Austen Investigates’ by @jessicabullnovelist.

19-yr-old Jane Austen is one of the first on the scene when a mysterious foreign woman is murdered at a ball. Initially frustrated by the laziness of the legal investigation that follows, Jane begins to pursue her own inquiries. When a suspect is arrested, however, things take on a deeply personal, aspect and her investigation takes on life-or-death significance for someone extremely dear to her.

Along with a cleverly crafted, often moving, mystery, it presents a highly intriguing imagining of the 1790s, dealing delicately but deftly with issues of class, rank, gender, race, attitudes to physical and mental health, and marriage. There’s also a tender but not overly sentimental portrayal of the Austen family, and, of course, love - of the requited, unrequited, frustrated, tested, enduring, and tragically thwarted varieties.

As a heroine, this young Jane is a little giddy, slightly blundering, rather hasty, and entirely sympathetic. Her sharp wits help her, but her equally sharp tongue and quick temper set her back, and she frequently puts her foot (or very muddy walking boots) in it. I’m not a fully fledged Janeite and can’t comment on biographical accuracy or invention, but I have read and loved most of her novels, and appreciated the nods to Austen-yet-to come, plus the fact that the story holds together even if you forget this is meant to be The Jane Austen.

If you like musing on historical interiors, you’re in for a treat (if you like description more minimalist, prepare to skim every now and then). The first half in particular bursts at the seams with historical detail, almost as though the story comes with a free copy of ‘Country Homes and Interiors Magazine’ for 1895.

Overall, thoroughly enjoyed. Eminently well-suited to a winter fireside, or a ferry on the Irish Sea in gale force winds (which is where I read most of it).

UK Release 25th Jan.

Thanks @netgalley and @michaeljbooks for the eARC copy. Apologies for terrible pics - it’s tricky with an electronic proof.

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot - instead, Dear Reader, I recommend that you read this for yourself!

As a longtime fan of Jane Austen, I was intrigued by the idea of this book - combining the Austen period with a murder mystery! I really enjoyed the book. The Miss Austen of this novel is a young, intelligent woman, pushing the boundaries of what she is permitted to do by her family and "society" at large.

I loved the writing style - the author injects a degree of playfulness by the use of letters from Jane to her sister Cassandra, all ending in an amusing way.

The plot is well thought-out, and there are many interesting characters - including a love interest, and insights into the wider Austen family and society at that time. I hope for further novels in this series.

Highly recommended if you are an Austen devotee and also enjoy a "cosy mystery" (if murder can be considered cosy!).

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

I really, really wanted to like this book. And there were things I did like! But ultimately it left me more annoyed and frustrated than anything else.

The plot starts off as a classic murder mystery: a woman is found dead at a party, in a pool of blood next to the murder weapon. One of the many guests at this party is a young Jane Austen, who becomes personally invested when her brother is falsely accused.

I actually really enjoyed the first part of this book. There was plenty of intrigue, and I liked the family link with the mystery. The more the book went on, though, the more my frustrations grew. The approach to ‘solving’ the mystery seemed to be to accuse literally everyone in increasingly dramatic and convoluted situations. Jane reminded me less of a sleuth and more of someone a little too invested in true crime who starts to take things into their own hands.

I also really didn’t like the writing style. A fast-emerging pet peeve of mine is this quasi-Regency, Lady Whistledown-esque style of writing that is obsessed with scandal and unironically describing men as ‘delectable’. While this book was far from the biggest offender, it still grated and felt quite disingenuous, especially given that this book is actually set much earlier. The Regency pastiche does have its place, but I don’t think it worked here.

There were strong elements in this book, but overall it was a disappointing read.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

Miss Austen Investigates is the first in a potential new series from Jessica Bull which reimagines Jane Austen as something of an amateur sleuth. When the body of a young foreign milliner is discovered at a ball in a neighbouring home Jane's curiosity is immediately piqued, especially since she was the one to identify the body, having recently purchased a hat from her. There are several mysteries to be solved, like why the milliner was in the house to begin with as well as who could have killed her and what the motivation for the murder could have been. Jane's involvement becomes even more personal when the dead woman's necklace is found in the possession of her brother George, a young man with an affliction that leaves him with the mind of a child and only basic sign language as a means of communication. He is arrested and charged with theft, a crime with the punishment of death by hanging, which could be commuted to transportation to the Australian colonies if the judge is merciful. However this would still be a death sentence for George as he needs constant supervision. While the whole family is devestated by this turn of events Jane is more determined than ever to uncover the truth and clear his name by catching the real murderer even if it means casting suspicion on several aquaintances and even dear family friends along the way.
Enlisting the help of her cousin Eliza and good friend Mary, Jane begins an investigation that will cause disapproval from her brothers and father and see her making enquiries at seedy pawnshops and visting graveyards in the middle of the Winter night.
This was a really entertaining mystery with enough suspects that I found myself changing my ideas of who the culprit was several times as I read. The pacing is excellent, with plenty of twists and turns that meant I didn't want to put it down. The characters were witty and engaging, and I felt like the author did a great job of making Jane as witty and acerbic as one of her own characters. I also found it quite funny that Jane kept jumping to conclusions, she was not the most adept of detectives, but I think that made it more believable in a way, a woman of her age and social standing at that time would certainly have had little experience to draw on. There is a secondary plot involving Jane's romance with Tom Lefroy, and while it provided a change of pace from the mystery plotline, it did not add significantly to the book as a whole.
It seems that there is to be another case for Miss Austen to investigate soon, and I look forward to reading all about it.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

This is a fun read. Effortless and engaging.
Jane was one of eight children of the Rev. James Austen and his wife. This book recreates her early adulthood and romances, while also involving her in the investigation into an unexplained death at a ball.
Jane must fight the prejudices of the time, and her own impulsivity, to try and work through the mystery.
Thoroughly enjoyable

A fairly gentle read {for a murder story} , Set around the family and friends of the Austen family. As they are attending a Grand Ball at a large house ,a body is found by a maid . The murdered girl turns out to be a lace maker ,allegedly from France, who is stopping in a nearby Inn. The local magistrate in charge of the investigation is not interested and blames trespassers on the estate. Jane having met the girl previously does not believe this , especially when her brother Georgy is found in possession of some jewellery belonging to the murdered girl and is arrested and held in prison . Jane gets to the bottom of what happened with the help of her friends and family , all resulting from a family disagreement about the victim.

There is a trend for putting historical figures into mysteries to solve crimes and Jane Austen has been used before, most notably by Stephanie Barron, while the Bronte Sisters, Oscar Wilde, Charles Dickens, the Mitford’s and others have also appeared in fictional crime series. Anyway, as a lover of Jane Austen I had to give this a try.

The year is 1795, meaning Jane is around 20 years old and attending a ball at Deane House in Hampshire. She is hoping that Tom Lefroy will propose, but her plans are scuppered when a dead milliner is found in the laundry closet. When Jane’s gentle brother, Georgy, is arrested for the crime, it is up to Jane to solve the mystery but, even before then, she is determined to be involved. Although you can see flaws in how the investigation is being organised, it is unclear quite why Jane is so motivated to solve the mystery until Georgy is under threat.

I enjoyed Jane’s letters to her sister, Cassandra, but much of the language and behaviour did feel a little too modern. I expect it is difficult to write something which is historically correct, while still appealing to the modern era, but I think that some writers get the balance better than others. Bella Ellis (obviously a pseudonym) did well to recreate the lives of the Bronte sisters, where women had little control over their lives and without romanticising them. Jane Austen is a fearless young lady in this book, but possibly a little undeferential, or impolite, for the era. That said, it was a fun read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review. Rated 3.5 stars.

In “Miss Austen Investigates”, Jessica Bull brings the famous author back to life as a reluctant detective. When she attends a ball at Deane House, she expects to witness at least one engagement; instead her brother stumbles on a murdered milliner in the linen cupboard. Jane knew the victim, having recently bought a hat from her, and is determined for her brutal end to be properly investigated. However when her learning disabled brother Georgy is implicated, she is even more determined to find the truth.

This is not a new trope - Julia Golding has also written books with Jane Austen as detective. However, this novel is highly enjoyable and well written. The Jane presented here is very like Elizabeth Bennett, in that she is spirited, headstrong and at times makes impetuous mistakes. Perhaps due to this, this book is a fun and occasionally frustrating read. At the end of the book is a chapter from the next instalment - I’m looking forward to reading that.

Delightful and entertaining with a lively witty voice and perfect pacing. Alongside the cosy murder mystery is a fascinating and believable peek behind the scenes of Jane's day to day life.
A must read for all JA fans. Thanks to NetGalley and PRH for the ARC.

A cosy crime novel with Jane Austen as the detective? Sounds like it shouldn't work, but it does!

Staying true to Jane's writing style and characters, I felt immersed in this world and could visualise all the places and events so clearly.

When a merchant is found dead at a neighbour's property before a ball, Jane recognises the murdered woman as a milliner she bought a straw bonnet from not long before. When Jane's non-verbal brother Georgy is implicated in the crime she must race to save him from the gallows. The true murderer must be someone known to them, a long-standing friend or neighbour, which makes it that much harder to get to the bottom of the truth.

Told with Jane's sharp wit and intelligence, this is a lot of fun and as the first in a series I'm looking forward to reading the next!

I loved the idea of Jane Austen as an amateur detective,who tries to solve a murder which implicates her brother.,.It’s beautifully written,and the author clearly loves Jane Austen’s books .There is so much in the story about Jane and her family,and it’s hard to imagine it’s not true!
Jane’s ill fated relationship with Tom Lefroy is very sympathetically portrayed and it’s because of this that she becomes involved in the murder of a Belgian lacemaker,Zoe Renault.Jane’s brother George is found with a necklace belonging to the victim and is detained for theft.It’s left to Jane to try to find the killer,which she attempts to do in typical Austen style.
I loved the book and was pleased to see that a sequel is already planned-I can’t wait!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review which reflects my own opinion.

𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦 𝗔𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗡 𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗚𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦
—𝗷𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 | 𝟯.𝟮𝟱🌟

‘𝘐’𝘮 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘳, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥.’
‘𝘊𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦? 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵.’

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲:
✨Historical mystery
✨Jane Austen
✨Lighthearted fiction
✨A whole cast of characters

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
This was equally as delightful as it was infuriating. Our heroine, Jane Austen, is determined to catch a killer after her brother is wrongly accused of the crime, therefore she spends most of her time in the novel interrogating people, which always seemed to lead to little success.

I thought the main character had a certain level of tenacity that made her likable, but she lacked guile, whilst the characters around her tell her how clever she is. I found her naivety and oblivious introspection quite frustrating.

Genuinely, the main character falsely accuses so many characters that it really only left one person that the killer could be. So the mystery element didn’t quite bear up under my scrutiny, but there was a lot of lighthearted amusement to be had in this novel which made it worth the read.

𝗞𝗮𝘆𝗹𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵 | 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗵 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘆

This was exactly what I was hoping for - light reading, very fast paced, funny, a great plot with so many twists and turns, but oh, I despaired for Jane a lot! Just think first I said many times!! Think!!! She’s young…let’s hope she matures a bit in some area’s! However, she gets things done, and she has such a big heart.

A fun read, and a great murder.

My thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The year is 1795. An unknown body is discovered and a young Jane Austen, yeah she is later known for Pride and Prejudice and other novels, is thrown into a whodunit. Thus Bull opens her debut thriller. Jane’s older brother Georgie’s life is on the line. Poor Georgie has learning difficulties. Jane is racing against time to save Georgie from the hangman’s. noose. It appears to be a simple tale but what truly distinguishes this thriller is its deft and unusual plot. I found Bull totally invested in this age. I got delightful vignettes of life in that era. Austen had to face down danger, deceit, and scandal amidst her own friends and neighbours. Bull displays insightfulness as she weaves the Austen family’s plight at Georgie’s arrest and his mental incapacity with warmth and compassion.

This beautifully poignant thriller is lightly spiced with wit throughout. In her debut novel, Bull has pulled off a brilliant piece of work involving Austen herself. She has gone back in time and recreated the 18th century surroundings, life and culture that enthralled me in this very immersive read. She has meticulously researched life in Austen’s time. I was introduced to a much younger Jane who had not yet written her novels. I read Austen’s own feelings about her life and the times she lived in. As Austen made repeated mistakes and her wilfulness reminded me of her own novel Emma where the main protagonist’s character was very similar to young Jane. Umm… can’t help wondering who drew inspiration from who.

Told in 3rd person POV it was the entire novel was incredibly real. I had not realised that the Austen family were impoverished. As I indulge in this scintillating and well-paced read I realised that Bull did not hesitate to bring to my attention the underlying prejudices of the 18th century. Women had no rights and it was customary to ignore a woman. How did this and other prejudices affect Janes life and help or hinder her investigation. Bull uses the storyline to express her opinions in a subtle and charming way. It hammered home the point and still made for easy reading.

True I was initially drawn to the title. Who isn’t an Austen fan? Show me someone who does not admire and adore Jane Austen. What kept me reading though, was Bulls word craftsmanship and story building. For a first novel she has done exceedingly well.

This unusual book is definitely a keeper and I highly recommend it. Though not written exclusively for the young adult audience it would be suitable for them too. Younger audiences would find it an entertaining eye opener to former times. A fun way to learn of days past.

Miss Austen Investigates by Jessica Bull.

It was lovely to read the first of a new series and look forward to the next.

I don't really know why Jane Austen pulls at the imagination of so many authors to write novels with her investigating murder and crime but having read a few similar tales from authors this one really comes out on top with a lively witty and twisty story to immerse oneself in..

In the early throes of her love affair with Tom Lefroy Jane investigates the murder of a lacemaker from Brussels who is found dead in a cupboard at a ball . When there is the possibility of that murder was committed by her brother Georgy who happens to find the victims abandoned necklace or did he steal it she is determined to prove his innocence. Other members of the Austen family are pulled in to help from her mother and father her brothers and cousin Eliza. The story shows the families devotion to each other and gives you a peep into their own back stories.

This was a joy to read with Jane stumbling from one suspect to another in her desperation to prevent Georgy being hanged or transported.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and will be waiting to read the next instalment.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy.

A delightfully charming murder/mystery set in the regency-era world of Jane Austen. I quite enjoyed watching Jane as she tried to solve who had murdered Madame Renault. Although she did seem to accuse almost everyone. The story is 'to be continued' and I'm already looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

The character of Jane comes across as very young and immature especially in her investigation techniques. She fights against being overlooked and not taken seriously in 1795 Hampshire.
There are plenty of suspects to murder which Jane works through in a haphazard manner.
The story is a quick read which you will enjoy as a cozy mystery. I hope the character of Jane will progress in future books.
Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

The book follows the story of Jane Austen, and it is set in Hampshire in 1795. Jane attends a local ball with hopes of finding a suitable husband, but her plans take a sudden turn when a milliner's lifeless body is found in a linen closet. Consequently, Jane investigates the murder, and the story takes readers on a thrilling adventure.
The book stands out for its expert combination of fact and fiction, which transports readers to the vibrant world of Georgian Britain. Jane Austen is portrayed as a strong and intelligent character who defies societal norms and is committed to discovering the truth. Bull's ability to effortlessly incorporate clues from Austen's works into the story is fascinating and highlights her sharp investigative skills. Additionally, the presence of Jane's brother, Georgy, adds further layers of complexity and emotional depth to the narrative.
The novel features well-crafted characters, and the plot is expertly paced, keeping readers engaged with twists and turns. I also enjoyed the humorous messages to Jane's sister, Cassandra, at the end of each chapter, which not only act as helpful reminders of the suspects but also bring a delightful sense of humour to the narrative.
If you're fond of mystery novels, then "Miss Austen Investigates" is a book that you shouldn't miss. It's a fascinating and enjoyable read, where the author, Jessica Bull, has done an exceptional job in portraying Jane Austen as a brilliant detective. The book offers a unique and delightful experience that readers won't forget.
Are you in search of a fascinating and enjoyable mystery novel? If yes, then "Miss Austen Investigates" is a book that you should definitely check out.