The Abbey Mystery is a perfect mix of classic Austen style and a Nancy Drew mystery. As a huge fan of both, I was thoroughly charmed from the very first page, laughing to myself at Julia Golding’s earnest girl detective and clever turn of phrase.

It’s 1789 and thirteen year old Jane Austen is the heroine of her very own Gothic tale. As a young girl in the 18th century, Jane is of no earthly use to anyone. She’s isn’t as pretty as her older sister and has none of the rights or privileges of her brothers. Her fierce independence and love of language cause her to rebel against what is expected of her, much to her mother’s frustration, and find adventure wherever she goes.

After an “unfortunate accident”, Jane finds herself in the middle of intrigue and a mystery worthy of any of the novels she will one day go on to write. She is sent to Southmoor Abbey to act as a companion for Lady Cromwell. While she’s there, she witnesses family conflict, a ghost among the ruins and a terrible crime. With her new friends, she does all she can to solve the mystery and reveal the truth. In the process, she proves that she definitely is someone to be reckoned with.

The Abbey Mystery was inspired by Jane Austen’s actual novel, Northanger Abbey. Readers familiar with the story will be delighted by the similarities drawn out through the mystery. Links to the East India Company and a family brought over from India to serve and protect the Cromwell family adds another dimension to the story. It challenges prejudices of the time period and portrays the Indian culture in a powerful light.

Jane Austen was a woman ahead of her time, proving just how much a clever girl can achieve – whether society is ready for it or not! In The Abbey Mystery, Jane is a heroine for the next generation. Her story is the perfect introduction to the world of Jane Austen novels for new readers as well as a deliciously nostalgic journey for those who are already long-time fans. I truly hope that this book is the first of a series of wonderful mysteries.

Thank you to Lion Hudson Ltd for this fantastic book!

Jane Austen grew up to become a famous author, but when she was younger she...solved mysteries!
That at least is the premise of this new middle grade reader. I love that you don't need to know anything about the Jane Austen to get into this one. There's no subtle references to her novels or inside jokes only her readers will understand. For this book, Jane Austen is just a character who happens to have a literary streak, which shows up in her ardent note-taking and her clever letters to her sister. A fun read!
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to preview a digital version of this book.

I really enjoyed this little book, it’s a fictionalised story of the author Jane Austen and how she becomes a lady’s companion to Lady Cromwell. There she finds some strange things are happening and there is lots of talk of a ghost - the mad monk. We seen Mis Austen meet an array of characters and befriend some too as she tries to solve the mystery of the mad monk and a few others mysteries on the way too.

I really enjoyed this short novel, fictionalising Jane Austen as a deceive of sorts. I loved how you could see how the author had uses much of Austen’s novels to inspire characters but also the language used, as well as using the history of Jane Austen too and including snippets of letters between her and her sister Cassandra. I very much feel this book fits well within Austen’s Northanger Abbey.

I really enjoyed this imagining and was a fun and creative historical fiction ghost story that used knowledge about Austen and her books to create a great mystery. The only things I didn’t like was I found at points the timeline confusing and I would muddle up some of the characters names (but the last part is more on me as I do this anyway) - a character guide would be handy and maybe some added information as an appendix relating to the writing and inspirations/ true Austen information would be a great addition.

Apart from that thoroughly enjoyed reading, thank you NetGalley for my review copy!

My first advance copy and I love it!

The book has everything, adventure, humor, sibling love, and friendship. Jane Austen Investigates - The Abbey Mistery by Julia Golding tells the story of Jane Austen as a young detective. When an accident in the family forced a change of plans, young Jane, in place of her sister, was sent to Southmoor Abbey as a companion to Lady Cromwell. After being awakened in the middle of the night and seeing mysterious lights going off in the Abbey ruins, and several other strange occurences, Jane couldn't help but went to investigate.

The book is suitable for children ages 9 and above but it sure kept me on the edge of my seat from start to end.

First sentence: It had to be acknowledged that the life of a clergyman’s daughter in deepest rural Hampshire was disappointingly full of duties.

Premise/plot: Jane Austen, our heroine, is thirteen and spunky. In this, her first adventure, she goes to be a lady's companion to Lady Cromwell for a few weeks--as birthday celebrations are in high gear--and stumbles into her first (but presumably not last) mystery. Southmoor Abbey is rumored to be haunted; she first hears from her older brother who almost dares her to search out the ghost for herself. But it isn't a ghost--mad or not--that brings danger and excitement into her life: it is the master and mistress of the estate....

There are multiple mysteries to solve and lives do hang in the balance...though this is NOT a murder mystery.

My thoughts: I really loved this one. The novel opens in 1789 and stars the Austen family. If I use the word though, I don't mean it in a derogatory or condescending way... THOUGH it is a middle grade title and certainly appropriate for readers 9+ I think it holds appeal for readers of all ages. I enjoyed it as an adult. I could easily see myself enjoying it as preteen and teen. (Granted I loved HISTORICAL FICTION and reading in general.) Austen makes for a lively, spunky-quirky heroine. And THERE'S A DOG who plays a significant role in the story. In fact, would Austen have solved the mysteries WITHOUT the dog????? I'm not sure!

I think adults who have read all of Austen might enjoy this one especially.

Quotes:
“And if I see a ghost, Henry, I’ll tell it to get on to heaven–or the other place.” “I do believe you would. Prove there’s no such thing as a ghost at the Abbey and I’ll give you half a crown.” He patted his purse. Jane thought of the writing paper she could buy with such riches. “You have a deal.”

“I think Henry [XIII] guilty of crimes and cruelties too many to mention,” agreed Jane–she had strong opinions about the monarchs of the land. “I believe he was a man of no religion and little can be said in his defence.” “Oh, bravo, Miss Austen. I wish you had the task of writing the history books. I admire plain speaking.” Jane decided that Annette was all right–like Fitzwilliam, Deepti, and Luke, rather than the Cromwells.

Loved this delightful mystery featuring spunky young Jane Austen as a detective and her beloved dog Grandison as sidekick. Dispatched to serve Lady Cromwell as a companion, Jane soon finds herself intrigued by the mystery of the ghostly monk at Southmoor Abbey. That’s when the fun begins! Geared to middle grade readers, JANE AUSTEN INVESTIGATES still kept this adult racing through the pages. Series, please!

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 23 Apr 2021
#JaneAustenInvestigates #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, Lion Hudson Ltd, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

Thank you to Lion Fiction and NetGalley for providing me an opportunity to review this title.

The Abbey Mystery is a perfect mix of classic Austen style and a Nancy Drew mystery.

A young Jane Austen is portrayed as a head-strong protagonist in this detective narrative. In an environment very different to her own home and loving, happy family, Jane finds herself engulfed in an intriguing mystery whilst spending time as a companion at Southmoor Abbey, home to the wealthy Cromwell family. What ensues is a ghost hunt, a party, sassy conversations, a girl coming into herself and a mystery to solve.

This book was charming and fun to read!

This is charming book for youngsters. As a young girl, 55 years ago and counting, I would have really enjoyed it, and I think it is a good introduction to the era of the Jane Austin stories. The setting and the customs are well explained and offer an insight to the times. However I think that today’s young readers may expect something a little more sophisticated and current, so I’m not sure how well the book will be received. Although the story kept a good pace the ending was too abrupt and did not do the rest of the book justice, far too rushed. I do hope young readers enjoy it.
Thank you NetGalley.

I read this to see if I should get it for my friend's daughter, a voracious reader, and it definitely fits the bill, Clever, gripping, and with one of my favorite characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest revie.

I loved it so much. This is my second book from Julia Golding and I'm becoming a fan of her writing style. This story is about a 13 years old Jane Austen who due to an accident she finds herself being sent instead of her sister Cassandra to be the companion of Lady Cromwell. During her visit, Jane made new friends and is involved in a mysterious adventure, then an investigation that she is the only one that could solve.

If you like Enola Holmes, Sally Lockhart or you just love Jane Austen, you will love this wonderful imaginative story. I had such a good time while reading it. I recommend it for everyone. This book is about frienship beyond classes and races but also we are witnesses to the injustice that reigned during that period of time. I have to say that I hated Sir Charles and his wife.
Also, some names of the characters are actually inspired by characters of Jane Austen's real books.

I really enjoyed this book by Julia Golding that made me wish to be able to discover her other books.

"The Abbey Mystery" is a delightful mystery set in 1789 in England with a 13-year-old Jane Austen as the amateur detective. I would've loved her as a kid, and I thoroughly enjoyed the story as an adult, too. The historical details about manners and customs were deftly woven into the story and did not slow down the pacing but did explain why certain things happened the way they did. Jane used modern wording and was a realistic 13-year-old girl, so younger readers will feel at home with her. She's spunky, determined, loyal, and has a sense of humor.

The mystery was clue-based, and whodunit was guessable from the clues. Jane had good ideas about where to look and what questions to ask. She made good friends that helped her to accomplish her goal of proving that a more powerful (than her) person was at fault rather than the young man who was blamed. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this enjoyable historical mystery.

An enjoyable middle grade mystery. There were definitely some anachronisms, and I'm also not sure the intended audience will fully appreciate the Jane Austen allusions, since most will not have been introduced to her books yet. Still, it is a fun read for young mystery lovers.

A delightful middle-grade mistery where a very young Jane Austen (she has just begun writing the Juvenilia) is sent to be a companion for Lady Cromwell, the wife of Sir Charles Cromwell, whose estate includes an old Abbey that many believe to be haunted by a ghost. Jane takes the place of Cassandra who has a broken arm due to an accident with a cart. Jane takes with her her "lapdog" - that is, actually, a "disgraceful encounter between one of the squire's beagles and what might have been a passing Dalmatian", as her brother Henry claims; and makes friend with Luke - the stable boy who assembles steam engines - with young Mr. Fitzwilliam - an ambitious but fair law student - and Deepti, the astonishing and skillful daughter of the Indian chef of Sir Charles.
Jane will try to solve some mysteries such as an arson, a horse theft, a disputed legacy and the mysterious presence of the ghost of the Mad Monk amidst the ruins of the old Abbey.
In her room, Jane writes to Cassandra or plays with words, training herself as any budding writer, with some enjoyable efforts that recall to mind the Juvenilia.
I believe this series in which Jane Austen Investigates will be a great success, and I can't wait to read the next volumes.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lion Fiction for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

My Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3770937693

What if a young Jane Austen was a smart young lady who.liked to investigate mysteries? That is the premise for this book and it works so well. Jane has to visit Southmoor Abbey as a companion to Lady Cromwell and while there her brother challenges her to investigate the legend 0f the ghostly monk. What follows is a well written, enjoyable tale of her adventures at the abbey as she makes new friends and investigates several mysteries.
You don't have to know anything about Jane Austen or have read her books to enjoy this story but it may inspire young readers to investigate her works,.
This is exactly the sort of book I loved as a young adult and would recommend it to young readers today.
Many thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the advance read copy

For fans of Enola Holmes or The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie comes this literary-inspired mystery starring none other than a young Jane Austen. I have mixed feelings about Jane as a young detective, but some of her budding wit and powers of observation as a writer are portrayed in the story. The mystery was interesting and the hint of scandal was delicious. Interesting character development for several of the young heros and heroines in this story. A solid read.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. .

Sometimes I just need a change of pace from my usual thrillers and serious reads, and this book was perfect. Jane Austen Investigates - The Abbey Mystery by Julia Golding is such a fun read!
🧡
This novel features a young Jane Austen as she investigates a mystery while visiting Southmoor Abbey. Our little protagonist is exactly what you would imagine a young Jane Austen to be like! I love her!
💚
There are so many Austen quotes that I adore in this:
∆ "Jane was hoping for "famous" but infamy sounded exciting."
∆ "No, I'm just an Austen - which means I'm much more outrageous than you can possibly imagine."
∆ "She might be just a rector's daughter, but she could outwit the spoiled son of the house and his ruffian."
❤️
Ok, I'm done. I really hope this turns into a series because I want to read all of them. Thank you @ for this Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a simply fabulous take on Jane Austen!

It is wonderful seeing the esteemed author become a strong protagonist in her own right. In this caper, she is sent off to be a lady’s maid and she manages to uncover a bit of a mystery, involving a ghost. She doesn’t believe in said ghost but, under orders from her brother, sees fit to investigate. While she does, she under covers some dark secrets.

Hilarious at points but simply wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope that Ms Austen will be back to investigate again in the future.

This Middle Grade book begins with a fictional editor’s note stating that it is based on recently discovered notebooks written by a teenage Jane Austen detailing investigations she was involved in. In what I assume is the first of a series, thirteen-year-old Jane is sent to be a companion to Lady Cromwell at Southmoor Abbey for a week leading up to a big party the Cromwells are hosting for their son’s coming-of-age. Unlike Catherine Morland, Austen’s character in "Northanger Abbey", young Jane does not believe in ghosts, so she is eager to learn the truth behind the rumours that a ghostly monk can sometimes be seen roaming the ruins of the chapel once attached to the Abbey. Jane is already investigating when a fire is started in the library and horses are stolen make her even more determined to find the culprit.

Golding captures something of the cynicism towards traditions and the social order that characterizes the writing of Jane Austen in the observations of her young protagonist. Jane is adventurous and incorrigibly curious, but she does bow down to the rules of the period in public while mentally criticizing the limitations put on her as a young woman, and one for lower standing at that. As a character, Jane reminded me strongly of Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce, except that Jane is obsessed with writing rather than with poisons.

The mystery, which is really three intertwined mysteries, is suitably complex and the stakes are high: people are being wrongfully accused and in danger of losing their livelihoods, perhaps even their lives. The reveal is dramatic and surprising, and the pace of the book is pleasantly swift. In short, it is delightful, and entirely satisfying even for an adult mystery reader. It may also be a nice way to get younger readers interested in reading Austen’s books by introducing them to the period and the types of characters she wrote about.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A book for all jane austen fans. It's funny in an inescapable austen way, the characters are likeable and funny and there's a punny tone everywhere in the novel well worth reading it for.

This was a really fun read! I love Jane Austen and this gives young readers a taste of the classic ligature she wrote. I would recommend!

The Jane Austen Investigates
The Abbey Mystery
by Julia Golding
Lion Hudson Ltd
Lion Fiction
Children's Fiction | Middle Grade | Teens & YA
Pub Date 23 Apr 2021


I am reviewing a copy of The Jane Austen Investigates: The Abbey Mystery through Lion Fiction and Netgalley:



In 1789 a young Jane Austen turns detective as she seeks to solve the mysterious happenings at Southmoor Abbey. After a carriage accident forces a change of plans, 13-year-old Jane is sent to be a companion to Lady Cromwell for a week as the household prepares to celebrate the eldest son’s coming of age party. While she is there Jane makes a vow that she is going to solve the mystery of the ghostly monk in the Abbey grounds because she does not believe in such stories!



The mystery of the ghostly monk on the Abbey grounds is not the only occurrence for adventurous young Jane to investigate. There are also spooky night time investigations, an Indian girl with secret talents, a library fire, two prize horses in danger, and friends to save from false accusations.



Will Jane overcome the obstacles to finding the truth, with notebook in hand and faithful dog Grandison by her side.



This book would be a great adventure to read for those nine and over, especially if they love historical mysteries.



I give The Jane Austen Investigates, The Abbey Mystery five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

A fuller review of this will appear soon at Film Stories. It's obviously a delicious concept, and for the most part Golding delivers: neat characterisation, thoughtful inclusivity (the main characters include an Indian girl), plenty of grown-up Austen Easter eggs for adult readers. It does take a good while to get going for MG; it's 50 pages before there's any sort of mystery, and 100 before it's a really substantial one. Still, Jane's witty letters home are a lovely touch, and overall it's a nice set up for a longer series.

When I read the title of this book I knew I had to read it! I'm a big fan of mystery as a genre and I also found quite curious the use of the figure of Jane Austen. As a writer who is part of the canon in the occidental literature, this take on her early years is very interesting. Of couse we have some historical facts of her life as background, her sister Cassandra por example. And her brother Henry. But we move from the Austen's house to a new location where a lot of action awaits for our heroine.

Due to an infortunate incident, Jane is sent as companion to Lady Cromwell, instead of Cassandra. Before her departure, she is warned by her brother Henry about some ghost in Southmoor Abbey. Naturally, Jane insists that the supernatural doesn't exist. She believes in evidence. So her brother dares her to face this ghost. In an old fashioned game of ghost hunting, Jane agrees. This set one of the misteries in this novel. The second one revolves around the Cromwell family.
During her stay in Southmoor Abbey, Jane meets Luke, a boy who works at the stables and also is quite creative when it comes to machines. There's also Fitzwilliam, a law student, and Arjun and Deepti (both father and daughter, from India).

Golding's writing expose some important points about a social system that puts the hard working people under the constrictions of the upper class. This kind of social commentary really ads to the book. And I'd say it must be an adventure to take this lecture on a middle grade level. There's also these really fun letters that Jane writes where she uses the estructure of an acrostic, or just using words that with the same initial. I adored this and totally could picture kids reading this passages.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I hope there is more of Jane Austen Investigates, would be awesome if this becomes a series.

(Thank you to Lion Hudson Publishers and NetGalley.)

When I started this book, I wasn't sure what I was going to think. Right off I loved it! It probably helps that I am a huge Jane Austen fan. It was a fun read. The story moves along quickly with a cheerful ending

Thank you so much to netgalley Julia Golding and the publisher for approving me to read this book for a honest review. I am a big Jane Austen fan so when I saw this book on netgalley I had to read it. It didn't disappoint. The book follows Jane who replaces her sister to keep the lady of the house company as jane sister broke her arm. Everyone treats Jane like she is invisible and think she is very plain but she is far from plain when she is embroiled in a mystery concerning horses in wich jane takes upon herself to investigate along the way with her dog she goes on a adventure and makes new friends along the way. I loved the premise of this book the plot was easy to follow. This is a great book for any fan of jane Austen and I will deffo be getting a physical copy for my Jane Austen shelf. I need a second book and a film. It had cozy mystery vibes. I will be recommending this book to any fan of cozy mystery or Jane Austen. I will defiantly be going on a reading binge of Julia Goldings Work. Also perfect book to read during lockdown
5 stars from me..

What a charming book to read. We follow young Jane Austen's adventures as a detective solving mysteries at Southmoor Abbey, while she serves Lady Cromwell. We can't forget her "lap" dog, Grandison, who is her companion and sidekick, who may or may not know how to follow orders. I also love the letters Jane sends to her dear sister Cassandra - they're so witty and mysterious.

In general, I enjoyed the writing, the setting, and can clearly see that the author used Austen's literature to create the characters and story. I am sure that adults, or anyone for that matter, will definitely enjoy reading this middle-grade novel. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this. Looking forward to getting a physical copy for myself.

This book is a sweet, fun and super charming middle years read. Thank you #NetGalley and author Julia Golding for the fun opportunity to read Jane Austen Investigates: The Abbey Mystery! I will always be a Nancy Drew fan so when I saw Jane Austen investigates I leaped at the chance to check out a fun children’s mystery this book.

Jane is the youngest in a big family and has earned the reputation as bit of a troublemaker with her sharp-witted tongue and tendency to get into trouble! Jane is a quirky lovable heroin and the witty banter between Jane and her sister Cassandra hooked me instantly. I found myself chucking at her funny commentary and banter and it’s easy to imagine she grew up to be a famous writer (ps I love Jane Austen!).

Jane’s letters to her sister were the highlight of the book for me and I’m super impressed Jane was able to write a letter to her family almost entirely only using words that start with the letter S. The plot was succinct and well-written and had many mini mysteries within the overarching mystery making it a fun and enjoyable story! Would definitely recommend it for fans middle grade mysteries looking for a fun read starring a silly and loveable heroin. ☺️💖

Jane Austen Investigates, The Abbey Mystery, is a wonderful middle grade book. A great introduction for many to the classic Jane Austen style and reminiscent of Nancy Drew mysteries.

Due to Jane Austen’s sister, Cassandra, being hurt in an unfortunate accident, Jane is sent by their mother to Southmoor Abbey as a replacement companion for Lady Cromwell. Jane has grown up feeling inferior to her siblings and has struggled to find her place in the family, experiencing a distinct lack of affection towards her from their mother. Accompanied by her dog, Grandison, Jane is immediately intrigued by her surroundings and those she meets at Southmoor Abbey.

Jane makes new friends, and with them, seeks to solve a mystery and uncover the truth. She is a feisty character, quick-witted and provides humour to the story. Her friends are also likeable characters, and all add to making Jane Austen Investigates, The Abbey Mystery, a really enjoyable read.

The book encompasses themes of sibling relationships, friendship and challenges prejudices indicative of the time.

I highly recommend Jane Austen Investigates, The Abbey Mystery, and hope that this is the first of a series.

Thank you to Lion Hudson Ltd and NetGalley for the Advanced Copy of Jane Austen Investigates, The Abbey Mystery, by Julia Golding.

A fun children's story. I enjoyed how the author used real people as their characters, adding fictional elements to their story.

I love a cozy mystery genre, and am a huge Jane Austen fan, so when I saw this available, I knew it was something up my street, and I was not disappointed.

I loved this book so much, and it’s so fun trying to imagine a real life person, especially a famous author, taking up sleuthing as well as becoming the person we know her to be.

The story was fun, and very well written, deffo 5 stars from me.

My daughter choose this book for herself to read. She liked the description of the book due to her being interested in mystery book and the cover really appealed to her.
Jane Austen Investigates, The Abbey Mystery, is a lovely book for young girls to read .
Jane sister gets hurt in accident and her dog joins her on the journey Southmoor Abbey.
Jane is a really lovely character that you warm to straight the way.
The themes of the book sibling relationships-and friendship.

The Abbey Mystery was just a delight to read. It felt like a mash-up of Northanger Abbey and a Lady Hardcastle mystery in middle grade form. An adolescent Jane Austen turns witty heroine as she investigates a library fire and the disappearance of two prize horses. As you would expect, even in juvenile form, Jane poses a threat to convention with her confidence, smarts and canine companion. I hope this becomes a series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a breath of fresh air to read a new book that really felt like it was an old book.
As a lover of Recency fiction and of Austen in particular I was immediately hooked on the idea of following a young Jane on her adventures.
Julia Golding captures the plucky spirit of young Jane perfectly with her witty observations, casual asides and dry humour.
Jane is sent to be a stand in companion for Lady Cromwell at Southmoor Abbey where she soon becomes entangled in more mysteries than either she or her siblings at home could ever dream of. As her hosts prepare a magnificent party for the coming of age of their son, Jane begins to unravel the tale of the Ghostly Monk - for she believes in no such nonsense.
A tale of friendships made and trust and status tested The Abbey Mystery kept me reading on and on. There are plenty of twists and reveals to keep mystery enthusiasts entertained and historical facts and details galore for lovers of history.
This book would work brilliantly in UKS2 in a study of Edwardians/Victorians or looking at the perceptions of girls in history. I hope there will be more Jane Austen Investigates books - I can't wait to read more.

I received an advanced reader's copy from Net Galley but all thoughts are my own.

Golding's The Jane Austen Investigates is a charming tale that breathes personality to a child Jane Austen. The novel was engaging and the mystery made this a fun read. It reminded me of the Enola Holmes series so I have high hopes for this author.

I've taught both middle and high school and this is perfect for middle school readers. The book is short enough that students won't be intimitated and the mystery is engaging so students won't be bored. It also serves as a great introduction to Austen and might get some students interested in her works. I can easily see myself doing a unit using this book to teach plot since it has such a structured plot structure that students can confidently cite evidence.

Overall the book was a nice quick read that can easily be incorporated into a middle school classroom.

Jane Austen's reimagined life for pre teens

Is a Historical mystery for middle graders. I am a fan of Jane Austen’s work and could not Resist the cover, I was immediately intrigued, no matter my age. I am happy to get to know what is being done for kids, as soon I will be buying some books for my growing children. And this is a trully wonderful novel I would’ve loved when I was 11 years old.

The story follows a fictional Jane Austen that finds herself the companion of a lady in what might be a haunted Abby. The family is not very nice but they have some very interesting servents that make for compelling your friends.

The author used a lot of historical facts about the Austen family, their personalities, and their way of life. And for the older audience there is actually a lot of references to some of Austen’s work, her known letters to her sister, and her love for writing. In fact young people can learn a lot about the time period. The book is full of very educational bits and pieces about what people did and how their social class dictated what they were able or not able to do. The beginning of the book was a bit less natural in tone because of all the information. It wasn’t done in a heavy way, but it broke the flow a little with less natural storytelling. This actually feels like a first novel, as the tone of the book really improves around the middle mark. It feels like the author really got comfortable with her style and didn’t have to highlight those points which are real or which we know about the Austen family.

I like that there was talk about scientific progress, and a girl who could ride horses and handle weapons, all thanks to her being an exotic import from India, And therefore free from many of the girl’s constraints of the time. This makes for obviously richer stories. But it is obviously Jane’s wit and intelligence which is the star of the book.

The next volumes promise to be very entertaining too and I hope there will be a big series to follow because I am sure many girls will love it, especially fans of the Enola Holmes mystery series.

A big thanks to the publishers for providing me with Julia Golding’s new childrens mystery through Netgalley – it was such a fun read!

Ahhh just look at that cover! Now whilst I’m not the biggest classics fan, when I saw the words Jane Austen and historical detective, I was all in. Plus, the cover is BEAUTIFUL. ‘The Abbey Mystery’ follows a young Jane Austen sent away to a rich landowners’ estate and has to solve, not a murder as I’d first thought, but a robbery. Whilst you may ask, ‘do I need to know Jane Austen books to read this one?’ My answer is not in the least. To be honest, I thought it was a bit of unrelated detail that she was Jane Austen – the only reference to her growing up to be the great woman herself was that this Jane enjoyed writing. And had the same name. It felt more of a way to grab your attention without having to create an entirely new heroine, but I really enjoyed Jane’s character all the same.

“Words were Jane’s greatest treasure and she spent hers carefully.”

– THE ABBEY MYSTERY

I always love the omniscient narrator trope. The one where the narrator will correct the other characters – like if someone says ‘There will be no drama at the ball’ and the narrator cuts in with, ‘They couldn’t be more wrong’. It was used a few times in this book to create humor or tension – both of which were expertly done. I haven’t read Julia Golding’s other books, but after reading this, I think I’d like to.

Whilst The Abbey Mystery is aimed at children, the vocabulary isn’t childish and it’s well written. I loved this world of petticoats and prized horses – if you enjoyed the setting of Bridgerton, this is the book for you! (I was almost going to say ‘if you enjoyed Bridgerton, this is the book for you’ but would like to clarify that this is definitely not the same market 😂).

Also, I thought that the clues for the actual mystery were concise but consistent enough to keep you guessing. And whilst the actual explanation felt a bit rushed (I had to think about it for a while), it was a short book so I understand why Golding kept it brief.

Finally, Jane is a brilliant character and pretty funny – I actually laughed out loud a few times! There was some really empowering quotes; it was feminist in the way that a lot of historical children’s mysteries are. I’d recommend The Abbey Mystery for fans of the Murder Most Unladylike series by Robin Stevens or the Lady Grace series by Grave Cavendish (which I’d forgotten I used to be obsessed with) – or anyone looking for a fun light read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Such a charming delight! Jane Austen Investigates was a perfect blend of mystery, wit and light-hearted humour!
The story follows the infamous Jane Austen in her youth as she is sent to Cromwells in place of her injured prettier, smarter older sister, Cassandra.
There Jane is faced with an enigmatic mystery that she solves with the help of her friends, Deepti, Luke and Grandison the dog!
The plot was fast paced complimented with witty writing and some of Jane's amusing letters. It really was everything a mystery should be!
Jane Austen Investigates was a delightful read and highly recommended!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the E-arc.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Lion Fiction for access to this arc in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.

The Jane Austen investigates is a charming middle grade mystery perfect for the middle-grader who’s fond of a ghostly tale or the Jane Austen enthusiast of any age.

Follow a plucky young Jane and her faithful sidekick, Grandison the dog, as they discover the secrets of the ghost monk.

A fantastic beginning to a series. I can’t wait to read more

3.5 stars

I enjoyed The Abbey Ghost Mystery, it was a rather good adventure story.
Jane was clever, witty and fun and I could see the students in my school wanting to spend time with her. I could see this appealing to fans of Robin Stevens

I LOVED this book! What an ingenious take on the early life of the famous author Jane Austen. Golding portrays 13-year-old Jane as plain and practical while simultaneously vibrant and sparky. I especially enjoyed the events and scenes in this book that seem to seem to inspire her adult writing - Austen fans will be sure to smile.

The story was supported by a wonderfully conveyed cast of characters....and did I spy some familiar names...?! It was also funny, Jane's actions and comebacks were classic and honoured the witty tone of her own books and letters and made for an enjoyable and convincing portrayal. As a huge fan of both Jane Austen and 9-12 fiction, I felt that this was a fantastic combination and complemented both beautifully.

Fast paced and engaging, I was hooked from page one. A great introduction to Austen for younger readers and a brilliant period detective story.

Really looking forward to more!

I really enjoyed the book. The mystery was well executed. And the Main characters were very good. I liked the Main character, her sassiness and her ability to get in trouble.

The Jane Austen Investigates: The Abbey Mystery by Julia Golding is a YA historical novel. The action follows thirteen year old Jane in the late eighteenth century.
Our heroine is well drawn. She is a delightful mixture of curious, clumsy and clever. It is in her nature to seek out the answers to mysteries. It is this curiosity that has a tendency to land her into trouble.
We witness the power that the landed gentry wield. They put their faith in wealth and power over honesty and poverty. Young Jane sees beyond the wealth, or lack of it, to the heart within.
There are injustices that need to be righted. Jane Austen calls on her powers of amateur sleuthing.
I found The Abbey Mystery totally captivating. Julia Golding had created a perfect young Jane Austen. She actually reminded me very much of Elizabeth Bennett from Pride And Prejudice. As I read the novel I glimpsed names and events that would feature in Jane Austen’s novels.
Julia Golding has very cleverly constructed a novel very much in keeping with Jane Austen’s style of writing. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole novel and am looking forward to more in the series.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

This is the kind of read to sink into and get lost in until the very last page. And that's exactly what I did.

Jane's entire family is known to be adventurous and a bit unconventional. Despite this, they are well respected, and her older sister is requested to serve as companionship for the Lady of a wealthy family until their son has his coming-of-age party. But when Jane's sister is injured, she has to jump in. Her older brother spruces things up even more, when he makes a bet with her about the existence of a ghost at the Abby. Excited to start that investigation and win the bet, Jane's stay at the home begins. It brings all sorts of unexpected twists, most of which have nothing to do with the ghost in the slightest. But each one leaves her in dangerous situations and discovering secrets she should know nothing about.

When I started reading this, I was a little unsure how it would proceed. It is set in the later 1700's and stays as solid in that time frame as possible. Which means the dialogue and such also slides into this category. The terminology and word choice made me wonder if this one might steer out of the intended middle grade direction. But this fear was completely unnecessary. This book is very well done, the characters are fun to accompany, and the plot made it impossible to set down. Still, I do see this one more geared to the tween audience.

Jane is portrayed as a curious, risk-happy, slightly spunky, and yet, very aware of her duties as a young lady, kind of girl. And she's clever. Add her love for her 'lap-dog', and it's very hard not to like her. She makes mistakes but is quick to admit it and jump right back in. Plus, her moral compass is very well set, where it counts...even if this isn't acceptable to society's rules. She's the kind of girl, one wishes they could run around with and join in on her adventures.

While the historic time frame is very well portrayed and slips in masterfully without boring descriptions, it's the well-woven mystery, which really draws in. There are more than a few characters, but each has a personality of their own. They have their own troubles, and even those which are 'honorable' might not be perfectly so. This makes for a wide selection of 'who-dun-its', and the true instigators are hard to find until the end. But there are also several sub-plots running along the side, which make it hard not to fever for some of the other characters and hope they work out their problems as well. Plus, there are a few life lessons tossed into the mix.

I can highly recommend this one to mystery lovers, who enjoy a well-done jaunt into the past. While Jane Austen fans will enjoy it, by no means is it only for them (I, personally, have never been a Jane Austen fan and enjoyed every page). I really hope this is the beginning to a series because it promises to be a good one.

This book may not be aimed at my age group but it definitely kept me interested and coming back for more! Jane Austen her dog Grandison and a mystery? Yes please, I really hope we get more from this author because this was a great story!

This was such an enjoyable book! I loved Jane’s character, and the mystery was fun to puzzle out with her. I laughed while reading Jane’s letters to her sister, and I enjoyed immersing myself in the time period of the story. If you enjoy Nancy Drew or Enola Holmes books, you will like this one!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have been a mystery fan for as long as I can remember. My earliest memories are of reading Encyclopedia Brown and The Boxcar Children. In my teens I moved on to young adult mysteries by Phyllis Whitney as well as some Sherlock Holmes. Children often have difficulty finding things to read after graduating from Encyclopedia Brown or The Boxcar Children, but thankfully, Julia Golding is helping to bridge that gap (and also raising interest in the author Jane Austen--double kudos for that!). I was thrilled that I could preview her first title, The Abbey Mystery, in her new series, "Jane Austen Investigates."

I knew I would love the book because:
It is set in England
It features a young Jane Austen
It was written by Julia Golding (check out my review of her book The Tigers in the Tower)
Mysteries are a wonderful tool for helping children begin to make observations and pay attention to detail as they read. Readers become detectives themselves as they seek to read between the lines and notice any irregularities in the story that might hint at the solution. Therefore, mysteries can play a large part in helping sharpen critical thinking skills.

In The Abbey Mystery, a young Jane Austen has been sent as a substitute companion to an aunt (due to her sister's untimely injury). Sitting idly by and pursuing lady-like endeavors is not exactly Jane's cup of tea. Thankfully there are young servants with whom she can befriend while there (very carefully, so as not to get them into trouble with their employer). Being a precocious adolescent, Jane is fueled by her spunk and curiosity to investigate the disappearance of two of her uncle's prized horses. When a man is falsely accused of the theft, Jane feels she has no choice but to discover the criminal on her own (with some help from her new friends).

Readers of middle grade all the way through adult will enjoy the glimpse into what Jane Austen's childhood may have been like (she's not exactly here to contradict). While Jane was definitely more of the "poor relation," I loved that she befriended those who were beneath her. And she did not shrink back from exposing evil even at great risk to herself. Young Jane Austen is a heroine I hope to meet again in future books from Julia Golding!

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of Jane Austen Investigates: The Abbey Mystery from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.

This was a fabulous book! My daughter was hooked from the first chapter. She loved that Jane Austin was a detective with her dog, Grandison as her sidekick. Shes now obsessed with the author and the rest of the books she had. Looking forward to more of this series..

"Jane Austen turns detective in this spooky historical adventure by award-winning author Julia Golding!

It’s 1789 and a young Jane Austen turns detective as she seeks to solve the mysterious happenings at Southmoor Abbey. When a carriage accident forces a change of plans, 13-year-old Jane is sent to be a companion to Lady Cromwell for a week as the household prepares to celebrate the eldest son’s coming-of-age party. While there, Jane vows to solve the mystery of the ghostly monk in the Abbey grounds - for she does not believe in such stories!

But this is not the only strange occurrence for the adventurous young Jane to investigate. There are shivery night-time investigations, an Indian girl with secret talents, a library fire, two prize horses in danger, and friends to save from false accusations.

With notebook in hand and her faithful dog Grandison by her side, will Jane overcome the continuous obstacles and find out the truth?"

It's Jane Austen meets Nancy Drew and I am HERE FOR IT!

This story follows the misadventures of Jane Austen's early years, slowly but surely, becoming the true Jane Austen we all know and love through her later letters and stories. Jane solves an odd mystery at an odd place full of odd characters!

A very fun and easy read. You can definitely see Austen's sass in the words and they're not too old-timey, so they're understandable for middle-grade audiences. The mystery is captivating and fun, the characters were all fun and unique!

Thanks to NetGalley for supplying this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jane Austen is a spirited young girl, she’s sent to the Cromwell household to keep company to Lady Cromwell for a week until her son’s birthday party and ball. She is pretty bored from her obligation but soon she finds out a legend about a vengeful ghost that haunts the Abbey next the house so she decides to invastigate. Will Jane be able to stay out of troubles as was recommended from her mother? Or will she give in to her curiosity?

A little slow at the start, but then the pace accelerates, bringing out the pathos of the mystery and the consequent investigation, making the story so engaging it is hard to put it down.

I liked this young version of Jane Austen, who definitely already has her artistic and imaginative talent but here she shows especially her witti mind and her tremendous curiosity.

I’ve really enjoyed to follow her in this adventure and I hope to see her again in the future.

Thirteen year old Jane Austen is the feisty young detective at the centre of this story featuring mystery and ghostly goings-on at Southmoor Abbey.

Sent away to act as companion to Lady Cromwell, Jane soon finds herself bored and wandering the grounds of Southmoor Abbey. Here she meets a diverse cast of characters and starts to uncover the secrets carefully hidden beneath the surface.

Whilst there are clearly references to Austen’s novels there’s no need to be familiar with her work to enjoy this story.

With a great opening line and fast-moving plot Jane Austen Investigates is perfect for readers 9+ who enjoy historical mysteries.

I find this to be such a cool concept. I absolutely would have loved to read this when I was younger before I was ready to take on Jane Austen’s books. My grandmother was a big Jane Austen fan so my interest started well before I read any of her books and I imagine other young readers would receive similar delight from this tale. I also really enjoyed the Nancy Drew vibes I got from the mystery, it was so fun and well done.

The characters were great and really brought the class system of the time to light. It was fascinating how Jane’s kind of in-between status not really being as elevated as her hosts but still a guest gave her some freedoms as well as limitations. I also thought the book did a solid job including some of the complicated history of India and England’s relationship into the book. It felt both age and time period appropriate and hopefully will spark young readers to want to learn more.

Aimed at children/middle grade readers, this book (and hopefully series) is quick paced and fun! We all know Jane Austen as an author par excellence, who has given us readers some of the best and memorable classics full of wit and astute observations about people and society of her time. In this book we find a 13 year old Jane Austen, a lively young girl who is already showing signs of her famous wit and observational skills and who is up for solving mysteries as well! A cute, fun read with characters & setting that hint towards the more famous ones found in her popular novels and a good way to encourage young readers to learn more about Jane Austen and the times she lived in.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Lion Hudson Ltd/Lion Fiction and the author Julia Golding for the e-Arc of the book.

The publication date for the book is 23rd April 2021.

Wow, this was a total blast! It's a breeze to read and so much fun! Before Jane Austen was famous writer she was a teenage detective! This story follows her as she investigates a strange occurrence. She gets into all type of adventures and situations. I seriously loved this story! It was well written and such a unique twist on Jane Austen!

Jane Austen Investigates is about a clever young Jane Austen who is sent to be the companion for Lady Cromwell. Before she goes she learns about there being a ghost at the abbey from her brother and he challenges her to find the ghost and prove it exists.

Jane brings along her lapdog, which isn’t really a small dog, and that doesn’t win her any marks with the Cromwell’s and it has to stay outside in the stables, where she meets a young man named Luke. Jane does see some strange things going on with a light at night and learns about the old abbey that is off limits because it’s dangerous but of course that doesn’t stop Jane from checking it out.

While sitting with Lady Cromwell one day she learns about a secret that could ruin the Cromwell’s when lady Cromwell has a young man that works for them look into their history. She is sworn to secrecy and that is just one of the things that happens while she is there. When some other things happen and one of the low class is accused of theft and arson she must investigate to help him because she knows the real reason he is being accused.

I really liked Jane she was an inquisitive young lady who was always writing in her notebook. She was mostly writing about things that happened as if she was writing her sister and so that she wouldn’t forget anything that happened. She was very proud of the fact that she could find herself in various situations because that is just what Austen’s do! I also really liked Luke he followed her when she asked him to even if he knew it was going to get him into trouble and also knew that she would probably be able to help his friend who was being accused. Though we didn’t get a lot of Deepti I liked her she was an servant from India who was there with her father. There was just a great cast of characters from ones to love to ones to hate.

I thought the mystery was actually a pretty good one and we are given a few suspects and I think any young reader who loves mysteries could probably figure it out but it wasn’t super easy. I think it would easy be a great mystery for adults to enjoy. I am not for sure if it’s a series but I think it might be and if it is I will be checking out the next one.

What an absolute delight! The author captured the voice of Jane Austen perfectly, while still infusing it with so much youth and playfulness. I hope this title introduces many young readers to the joy of Jane (and of a good mystery).

Young Jane Austen has been sent to Southmoor Manor to attend to Lady Cromwell as preparations are being made for young Master Cromwell's coming of age party. The night before the celebration, a fire breaks out in the library as Lord Cromwell's most loved horses are stolen. The two events seemed to be seperate, but were they actually meant to hide a secret?

The Abbey Mystery was a lovely book. It is suspenseful, but also had humor. I had so many ideas who the culprit could be, and was still surprised at the end.

Hello, and welcome to That Introvert Reader! You're probably sick to death of hearing about how I got ARCs from NetGalley, but I did, and I am very happy about that, because real books are expensive and I have to physically leave the house to use the library.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO NETGALLEY, LION HUDSON PUBLISHING, AND JULIA GOLDING FOR GIVING ME THE CHANCE TO READ AND REVIEW THIS!

And now, onto the review.

Jane Austen Investigates: The Abbey Mystery (I think this might become a series? It just feels like it would?) is this fairly fast-paced middle grade mystery, featuring a teenage Jane Austen.

When Jane's older sister Cassandra injures herself, thirteen year old Jane must go in her place as a companion to stay at The Old Abbey.

But when Jane arrives at the Abbey in time for the eldest son's birthday, something doesn't seem quite right. Sinister secrets hide behind every corner, and no one is as perfect as they claim.

A mystery is afoot at the Abbey, and its up to Jane to find out what's going on.

When it came to characters, I didn't love Jane. (I hated her dog even more I don't know why he was just really annoying). She didn't seem to have any flaws to me- and personally I hate that in a character. Make them as flawed as possible. More relatable, you know?

My favourite character was Luke, because he felt, to me, the only character other than Jane with a proper personality. Deepti was cool, but I felt like her existence didn't go further than she was Indian and could use a sword?

Maybe it's a common thing in middle grade that not all the characters need too much, and maybe because this is targeted at a younger audience I'm being unfair when I say that a lot of the characters were so dislikeable they seemed almost like a joke to me.

But it's a middle grade book, so maybe I'm being unfair.

However, for a mystery aimed at younger readers, this was a really great one! Perfect for fans of Murder Most Unladylike (historical fiction, mystery although there's a distinct lack of murder, and Jane and Daisy are the same person you can't tell me otherwise) and Enola Holmes (I HAVEN'T READ THE BOOKS BUT I SAW THE FILM AND IT HAS THE SAME VIBE, YOU KNOW SLIGHTLY ANNOYING NARRATOR BUT GOOD MYSTERY AND ALSO HISTORICAL FICTION), Jane Austen Investigates is probably going to be a favourite of many many readers when it releases.

You may be wondering, when does it release? How long do I have to wait?

You only have to wait until April 23rd 2021, and then you can get your hands on this book. (Which has quite a pretty cover if I'm being honest)

Also, I just looked into it, A BOOK TWO IS COMING FOR JANE AUSTEN INVESTIGATES, IT'S CALLED THE BURGLAR'S BALL.

You can preorder it now from Amazon and Waterstones.

Thank you for reading this blog post! Have a wonderful day!

If you're still here, here are some things to be interested in because That Introvert Reader has A LOT going on in the next week and a bit.

A spoiler free review of JJA Harwood's new book, The Shadow In The Glass
More of the Read With Me series
A spoiler free review of Sifton Tracey Anipare's to be released novel Yume
A wrap up of the books I read in March
And a review of a new release by a friend... mysterious...
Thank you for reading :)
-Paris

Jane knows she's not beautiful like her older sister. But, she prides herself on the fact that she is very sensible. She thinks things through and can usually find a sensible explanation for most things. So, when her sister has an accident, Jane must take her place as a lady's companion at Southmoor Abbey.
People say the ghost of the Mad Monk roams the grounds and all who look upon him die. Her brother has bet her a hefty sum that she can't prove it's nonsense. Jane is determined to win that bet.

This is fun story. I love Jane's spunky attitude. I enjoyed the mystery as well. Hopefully this will be a series.

The book is very lively and has you trapped in its grip from the first few pages. Personally, this book was everything I imagined it would be.
You can just imagine the author of Pride and Prejudice, Emma and many more amazing books being like this when she was a child. I really enjoyed the book and will keep a look out for the original novel.

When I saw this book, I wondered how it was possible to merge both Jane Austen and a Sherlock Holmes like mystery, well... they did achieve it!

Settled during the younger years of Jean Austen (14 or so), Miss Austen is sent, in her sister's place, to a rural noble’s home as the lady's companion. There she will be intertwined with a series of events that strongly relates to matters of inheritance, slavery, and horsemanship, leading to a crime that will shake the foundations and pride of the noble family and its property.

With a good rhythm and writing style the story might relay more on the name Austen than in the specific character, although including some of the most famous characteristics of both the family and Jane herself. The mystery seems good but could easily be predicted since all evidence pointed out to the culprit on an early stage.

Still an entertaining reading experience that would allow Austen fans to see her author with a different set of eyes.

An e-ARC of this book was kindly provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

" I received this book (via eArc from NetGalley) for free from the publisher (Lion Hudson Ltd) in exchange for an honest review*
I really enjoyed this middle grade as it was pretty fun and engaging. It was at some parts pretty intense as to where the plot was going and there were some twists that I didn't expect which was pretty surprising. It is about the author Jane Austen as she investigates an estate's ghost story and also a horrific event that happen while she was there as the Lady's companion. There were great friendships and thrilling events. I loved how nicely it was resolved. This is a perfect read for all ages especially those who are actually learning about the Romantic era like I am who appreciates the Romantic scenarios and setting. *Thanks again to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC"

This was a delightful mystery reminiscent of my favorite Mandie and Nancy Drew mysteries that I devoured as a child. The story dragged a bit at first, as Jane set out on her journey and settled into Sir Charles' household, but once it got going I was thoroughly hooked. Dastardly villains have quite met their match in a young Jane Austen, her faithful dog, and her new friends. Jane investigates with enthusiasm and entertains and discards several suspects before alighting on the culprits. An all-around satisfying mystery adventure.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Lion Hudson Ltd. for providing an e-arc for review.

I decided to give this middle grade novel a try as I am a devoted Austen fan. I liked the second half of the book much more than the first - I almost gave up reading in the first half. The pace was too slow and there wasn't much to the overall plot in the first half. I also really struggled with how some of it was written - I realize it is a middle grade novel, but the writing in this part seemed overly juvenile. There is no need to CAPITALIZE words so much for emphasis. Italics work just fine! The second half of the book got better, as the events that set off the main mystery happened. The best part of this book was little Jane's character - inquisitive and curious, outspoken but still respectful when needed, friendly to all. I also liked her companions Deepti, Luke, and Fitzwilliam. (Also, all the Austen character names throughout the book were just fun - Fitzwilliam, Tilney, Wickham, and so many more.) All in all, I would not read this again, but I would recommend to a curious and mystery loving middle grade reader.

A charming novel with a young Jane Austen that makes a great character with a mind of her own: determined, curious, inquisitive.
It is a bit slow at the start as it allows for character building and sets the scene., but then the story picks up as the mystery unravels. The mystery itself is engaging and intricate but not scary and age-appropriate. A great way to introduce early 19-century themes thanks to the many period features, including multicultural themes through the friendship of Jane with her lovely Indian friend and her father. A feast for Jane Austen fans and a smart way to introduce the writer, and in particular Northanger Abbey, without giving away much of the content of Austen’s original novel.

I devoured this book in one sitting; stayed-up all night to finish it and LOVED IT.

Looking forward to sharing this title with Austen friends, mystery buffs, and teens.

This book takes place during Jane Austen's childhood... Before she was a reknowned author, she was a young detective... Of course this is pure fiction, but what an interesting idea. It's a little slow to start, but it introduces you to who this character is. It was a lovely and charming read.

This middle grade was very easy to read and a quick read. Being under 200 pages it is perfect for any child that loves mystery and historical fiction. Jane was a very strong girl character that knows that she can do anything she puts her mind to. Over all this was a great book that will be enjoyed by many children.

A teenage Jane Austen solving mysteries? It’s not too hard to see why I simply had to request this book and I’m so happy I got to read it in one breathless sitting.

Jane’s older sister Cassandra is all set to be a companion to Lady Cromwell at Southmoor Abbey, as the Cromwells get ready fort their oldest son’s coming-of-age party. However, Cassandra breaks her arm just before she is set to leave, so 13-year-old Jane (and her faithful dog Grandison) is sent in her place. While there, Jane is determined to prove that there definitely isn’t a ghostly monk haunting the place but several more mysteries rear their heads.

Getting to know the whole Austen clan vibe was so much fun! Although I’ve read almost all of Jane’s novels, I realised that I actually know very little about her life and character. Of course, the content of her novels point towards her being a very forward-thinking, bright, funny woman but to get to know her through a fictionalised version of her teenage self was a really unique experience.

If someone of Jane Austen’s status can be made to feel plain, useless and unwelcome, I think there’s hope for all of us! Of course, perhaps it is this constant status as an underdog, particularly in the shadow of her sister, that fuelled Jane to become the trailblazing author we know today. She is certainly a very feisty, logical and imaginative soul in this story and it’s not too hard to see that despite others’ opinions of her, she is destined for greatness.

Jane’s imagination shows itself a few times in this story and I really enjoyed seeing the Abbey through her novel-fuelled young mind. Although she has such a rich, creative mind, she is very adamant that ghosts and monsters aren’t real. She might fill her head with stories but she seems to be able to keep the boundaries between reality and fiction very secure in her mind with rationality. This is rather unlike her Northanger Abbey heroine, Catherine Morland, and perhaps one could imagine that the future adult Austen wrote that novel and created Catherine to demonstrate the follies of believing in the supernatural. In fact, Golding’s story often feels like a real childhood memory of Austen’s that could be direct inspiration for Northanger Abbey.

Jane meets the very handsome, smart, young Fitzwilliam, who of course is the epitome of Mr Darcy. Therefore, this little exchange between them where he begs her not to put him in a novel is particularly amusing. There are more than a few nods to Pride and Prejudice with a lot of the main plot having subtle (but not so subtle if you know the story well!) parallels to Austen’s most famous work. It was really fun to almost re-read Pride and Prejudice under the guise of a middle-grade mystery.

An extra addition to Jane Austen Investigates that I’m pretty sure isn’t taken from any actual Austen work is the story of Deepti and her father Arjun, the chef at Southmoor Abbey. Jane befriends Deepti and learns a little about her Indian culture, which she is fascinated by. The fact that Deepti, as a girl, knows how to fight is revolutionary to Jane and she is desperate to channel some of that fierceness in her own life. I have no doubt that Jane would have taken some inspiration from her time with Deepti and put it into her more outspoken, no-nonsense heroines.

There are several points in the story where other characters attempt to remind Jane that she is merely a young girl from an ordinary family. Many people around her try to quash her imaginative nature and try to get her to conform to her society’s plans for her. Of course, no one who ever created anything great ever followed the rules, so I never expected Jane to listen.

The Abbey Mystery was such a fun, sweet and intriguing ride. It is a middle-grade novel but many adults, particularly Austen fans, will have a really great time with it. It may also serve as a great introduction to who Jane Austen is for younger readers. I really hope it’s the first in a charming, whimsical, mystery series because I definitely have room for one of these since the Wells and Wong books concluded.

A good mystery that can appeal to people of all ages and to cozy mystery reader.
Good plot and character development, a vivid historical background.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I received an ARC of The Jane Austen Investigates The Abbey Mystery by Julia Golding thanks to the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Jane Austen Investigates The Abbey Mystery is a middle grade book that follows 13-year-old Jane Austen. I want to clarify one point regarding the characters and the similarities to Pride and Prejudice. It isn't the same. Time period and family 'status'/'wealth' are similar but the family make up is different. There are three brothers and the name Jane does not refer to the oldest daughter. This could just have been me, but I was a bit taken aback when this info came out in the book (very early on so no spoilers) so I wanted to prepare you just in case.

That being said. I love Jane and her family. The playfulness among them is so entertaining and their relationships are definitely leaning closer to friends than siblings, which I loved. Close siblings are great to see.

The plot was really well done, and I loved the 'there's no way that exists' to 'wait. does it?' moments with Jane as she learns more about the Abbey. I also loved the idea of the bet between Jane and her brother and how that ties into those moments.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It gave me Tunnel of Bones vibes, which is something I wish more books had. So if you are looking for a middle grade mystery that has an air of the supernatural and loveable characters, I highly recommend!

I love JAFF and I really enjoyed this book. The author did a good job of keeping their speech (phrases, words, etc) the same as that of the Jane Austen's style and era. She also did a good job of giving us a little glimpse of what the legal proceedings were like without it being a distraction, she gave us just what we needed.

This is a great book for the young and older YA reader. While Jane in the story was young she was not portrayed as childish nor was she portrayed as someone too mature for her age. The book was all about the characters and their motives, you felt connected and invested. I am looking forward to reading more from this author, she is one I will not hesitate to recommend.

Thank you, NetGalley for the chance to read this book!

Jane Austen was known to be clever woman with a sense of curiosity and humor. It’s that whit that appeals to readers the world over. But her writing isn’t always accessible to younger readers. That’s where Julia Golding’s new series, Jane Austen Investigates, comes in.

In The Abbey Mystery, readers are exposed to societal norms of the time through a sort of Nancy Drew lens. Golding’s prose meets somewhere in the middle — with sophisticated phrasing that feels reachable to more modern sensibilities. Her tone is clear and concise, providing equal attention to both Jane’s surroundings and the action at hand.

Golding widens her audience by paying homage to the real Austen with nods to Northanger Abbey throughout. This, plus Golding’s depiction of the Austen family’s interactions as a whole, broadens this book/series’ appeal to fans of all ages.

The Abbey Mystery is a fast-paced read laced with humor throughout. I look forward to more books in this delightful series.

Jane Austen Investigates: The Abbey Mystery is a modern thriller written like a classic. Julia Golding has got some great style to her writing.

This book has personality and spunk. It is written like it is to be a classic, but also weaves in thriller vibes. Throw in the fun, quirky pages (A Page in Mourning was excellent), a dash of fantasy, and a plot to keep you hanging on, and you've got yourself one cool book! It's definitely way better than I could have expected it to be! A potentially evil spirit who is out to get revenge mixed with the classic nature of Jane Austen, but written in engaging manner.

This book feels like it would be excellent for Young Adult readers and middle grade readers who are seeking a little bit more. It's an excellent read that keeps you glued to the edge of your seats. Just think of the classics but adding a bit of spice - ghosts? Fantasy? Intrigue? It's a great way to get new readers interested in old classics, but in a more engaging and fun way than lectures at school.

Overall, this is a great read!

Four out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lion Hudson Ltd. for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

A young Jane Austen plays amateur sleuth in this delightful new middle grade release that is serves as both a perfect introduction to Austen for young readers as well as a charming story for older fans of Austen and mysteries to enjoy as well. The story centers around a spunky and tenacious young Jane Austen's quest to both find both herself and her place within society and her family as well some answers to some strange events occurring at Southmoor Abbey. An unfortunate accident leaves Jane's older sister unable to fulfill her duty to serve as companion to Lady Cromwell as she prepares for her young son's coming of age festivities. Jane arrives to serve in her place and is instantly intrigued by the Abbey and all of its inhabitants. The Abbey itself is said to be haunted, with Jane's older brother encouraging Jane to seek out the ghost said to reside here. As Jane settles into her duties, she stumbles across more strange occurrences, many of them centered around the Lord and Lady of the Abbey. With each new secret she unveils, Jane comes closer to solving the mysteries that surround the Abbey and those who reside there, however the closer she comes to answers, the closer she comes to danger as well.
Jane Austen Investigates is a captivating, cleverly constructed story that pays homage to Austen herself. Readers familiar with her work will find many events and characters similar to those that take place within her work hidden inside this new tale. Jane herself is reminiscent of a young Elizabeth Bennett. Each character was expertly constructed starting with our young protagonist who contained a perfect mixture of wit, charms, and fierce determination. The historical setting created the perfect backdrop for young readers and the conversations and events within held true to the time period. Part ghost story, and part coming of age story with an engrossing mystery at the center, Jane Austen Investigates is a perfect read for mystery lovers both young and old.

I love Jane Austen's books, and feel like Julia Golding really captured her as a character. Jane Austen Investigates reminds me of a clever Enola Holmes.

When Jane is sent to Southmoor Abbey for a week to be a companion to Lady Cromwell, she expects to be bored to tears. Sure, she'll look for the ghost her brother claims haunts the abbey, but she thinks that's all nonsense anyway. The week turns out to be fraught with mystery and adventure. There's a house fire, stolen horses, a ghost, a fair, a ball, and enough family secrets to keep Jane reaching for her notebook.

Jane was personable, witty, and curious. I loved her letters to her sister, and the humor she brought to the story. Fans of Jane Austen, Enola Holmes, or a good mystery will be grabbing for this book with both hands!

Audience: middle grade fiction, all content was appropriate for this age group.

I have been a massive Jane Austen fan for many years so I am always willing to read any book that has even the slightest thing to do with Austen or one of her novels. This book intrigued me so much, a mystery where Jane Austen is the investigator? Sign me up!

I do think that this book could have been slightly better. The writing was very well done but I think it took a while to get into the actual plot and a lot of the exposition sometimes felt a bit unneeded. I will 100% read more books if Golding puts them out though.

1789: After her older sister is injured, thirteen-year-old Jane Austen is sent in her place to be a companion to Lady Cromwell while she prepares for her son’s birthday party. Jane is excited to go so she can solve the mystery of the ghost that haunts the Abbey. However, Jane soon has to investigate some incidents. Two horses go missing and a fire burns part of the library on the same night. Jane must sneak around the Abbey to figure out who is to blame for these two crimes.

As soon as I saw this novel about a young Jane Austen who investigates mysteries, I knew I had to read it. This is a middle grade mystery novel, similar to Nancy Drew but set in the 18th century. Jane was a hilarious character, who was outspoken and sneaky, but I don’t think she was like the real Jane Austen at that age. Jane made some funny comments, such as writing an obituary for her dress that was ruined which promoted her third-best dress to second-best dress. She was a witty and entertaining character.

Another thing I liked about this story was the way that it hinted to Jane’s future novels. There were characters named Fitzwilliam and Tilney, like the characters in Pride and Prejudice and Northanger Abbey. The story was also set in a haunted Abbey, like Northanger Abbey. There was even some diversity in the story, which wouldn’t have been in a story written during that time period. Jane became friends with an Indian girl, Deepti, who lived at the Abbey with her father, the cook. These additions to this historical fiction story made it more relatable to a modern audience.

I loved this story. I hope there will be more Jane Austen Investigates novels!

Thank you Lion Fiction for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A solid middle grade historical mystery. Jane is delightfully plucky and this is a fantastic way to introduce young readers to Jane Austen! I have to be honest that I struggle with reading Austen's works even now as an adult, so it was fun to see her reimagined in this way. Our library will definitely be purchasing a copy.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- What an adorable middle grade read this was!

<b>PROS</b>
-- Well written
-- Geared towards middle graders, but works well for all ages.
-- Fast paced (relatively quick read).
-- Engaging and charming plot that kept me hooked throughout.
-- Loved the setting and the Jane Austen tie in.
-- Intriguing and likable characters.
-- Satisfying ending (I assume there will be more books in this series).

<b>CONS</b>
-- None that I can think of! 😉

**ARC Via NetGalley**

This is not the sort of book I would normally go for. I cracked it open and prepared myself to do battle with some elaborate prose and flowery language and was delighted to find that I could not have been more wrong! What followed was a witty, unpredictable and fast-paced mystery, which would be enjoyed by many young readers and may even pique their interest in reading some regency-style writing.

Jane Austen is the protagonist in the story. When tasked with acting as a companion to Lady Cromwell, Jane stumbles upon some sinister happenings at Southmoor Abbey. Can she solve the mystery and save her new friends?

I thoroughly enjoyed this piece of historical fiction, and particularly loved the links to the real Jane Austen - the place names, family members and feminist stance of the young Jane, for instance. It is a fantastic window into the cultural norms at the time and would lend itself well to classroom discussions on the class-structure, position of woman and racism of the Georgian-era. Like novels written by the actual Jane Austen, it has the same social commentary and sense of humour, which readers will both learn from and enjoy.

I will definitely be adding this to our Year 6 bookshelf and will be signposting it to fans of mysteries, or historical fiction. It will be a new style of novel for many and would enrich any child's reading repertoire.

The Jane Austen Investigates: The Abbey Mystery
by Julia Golding
Back of the Book: "Jane Austen turns detective in Julia Golding’s exciting new historical mystery series! Perfect for fans of Nancy Drew, Enola Holmes and Sally Lockhart.
1789. A young Jane Austen turns detective as she seeks to solve the mysterious happenings at Southmoor Abbey. When a carriage accident forces a change of plans, 13-year-old Jane is sent to be a companion to Lady Cromwell for a week as the household prepares to celebrate the eldest son’s coming-of-age party. While there, Jane vows to solve the mystery of the ghostly monk in the Abbey grounds – for she does not believe in such stories!
But this is not the only strange occurrence for adventurous young Jane to investigate. There are spooky night-time investigations, an Indian girl with secret talents, a library fire, two prize horses in danger, and friends to save from false accusations.
With notebook in hand and faithful dog Grandison by her side, will Jane overcome the obstacles to finding the truth?
Perfect for readers aged 9+, and for fans of Katherine Woodfine and Lucy Worsley."
Impressions: What an absolutely delightful book. Although this is meant for young readers, I have to admit that I was fully taken by Jane’s charm and spunk! This was a mystery worth reading for young and old. I also want to add that the cover was perfect for this book.
Rated: Just a good old fashion mystery!
Liked: There was so much to like about this book. The characters were well written and the mystery was exciting to follow.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

Jane Austen Investigates: The Abbey Mystery is a delightful mystery story for middle-years readers, introducing the famous Regency author Jane Austen in the guise of a young detective. The story includes many references to Austen's rather humble, yet supportive, family background and pointers to her future literary works. I read the book out loud with my 11-year-old daughter, who loves mystery stories and is developing an appreciation for the world of Jane Austen.
After her older sister Cassandra is injured in a carriage accident, 13-year-old Jane Austen is sent in her stead to act as a ladies companion to the rather snooty Lady Cromwell at Southmoor Abbey. Sir Charles and Lady Cromwell are preparing to host a grand coming-of-age party for their son and heir.
Foreshadowing her future heroines, the young Jane is far from the meek and cowering young woman her hosts had expected. Shortly after arriving, Jane has discovered a dangerous family secret, concerning the future inheritance of Southmoor Abbey, and has defied the rules of the house to explore at night the adjacent ruins of the ancient abbey for which the house is named. She makes friends of stableboy Luke, Fitzwilliam, the son of Sir Charles's steward and the multi-talented Deepti, daughter of Southmoor's Indian cook.
On the eve of young Cromwell's party, a fire in Southmoor's library wakes the household, and shortly thereafter Sir Charles's two most loved and valuable horses, Romeo and Arachne, are found to have been stolen. Jane, aided by her new friends and her loyal "lapdog" Grandison, sets out to identify the culprit or culprits.
The language and themes in the story are fitting for the late 18th-century setting, but also accessible to a young 21st century audience, which is quite an achievement! There are frequent oblique references to tropes and themes Austen would go on to employ in her famous early-19th century novels. The young Jane is depicted as being already an astute observer of the ridiculous in polite society. The few letters she writes home to the ailing Cassandra are delightfully clever and witty.
Jane Austen Investigates: The Abbey Mystery was a joy to read, and both my daughter and I enjoyed it immensely - we're hoping desperately that it's the first book in a new series! I'd recommend the book to young readers (9-14) interested in historical stories and/or mysteries, and to parents, educators and others who seek to introduce the world of Austen to a younger audience.
Our thanks to the author, Julia Golding, publisher Lion Hudson Ltd. and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful title.

A fun, historical mystery, this is a great introduction to Jane Austen for younger readers. I loved reading this, so much fun and a joy to read!

Thanks to NetGallery for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review

This was a wonderful book to be read by the children of those who love Jane Austen's work. It was a clean read with the action tame enough to excite a young reader but not give terror. As a lover of Austen enjoyed reading this book and was delighted with it from start to finish. It was how I would think that Jane Austen would be like as a pre-teen. I highly recommend this book to all of my friends with middle-grade girls.

As a Jane Austen fan, I was thrilled to find Golding's book. While I have read plenty of retellings/reimaginings of Austen's books, I have never read a book where Austen herself is the young protagonist.

As the story opens,Jane is embarking on a week long visit that she is sure will be nothing but boredom. She couldn't be more wrong. Instead, Jane finds herself filling her trusty notebook as she investigates numerous odd situations.

It was such fun to envision what Jane Austen's personality might have been like as a tween. The author does a wonderful job of placing breadcrumbs that hint at Jane's future endeavors. These things, combined with the inclusion of a faithful canine companion really made this book work for me. I'm looking forward to checking out more from Julia Golding!

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

"It had to be acknowledged that the life of a clergyman’s daughter in deepest rural Hampshire was disappointingly full of duties. There were few things for an adventurous girl to do."

This was such a well written story that brings a young teen version of Jane Austen to life on the page. The story was witty, entertaining and enjoyable as Jane goes on an adventure in this middle grades story. This grabbed my attention from the opening lines and had me turning page after page to see what would happen next. The author was well versed in the time period, customs of the day, Jane Austen's life. Her writing style was not only immensely enjoyable, but it is accessible to adults and middle grade children alike. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and feel so thankful that netgalley introduced me to this book!

All thoughts are my own. Thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy.

There's a new girl in the world of middle grade detectives: Jane Austen!

This book was a fun and fast paced book, I'm looking forward to buying a copy to share with my kids and can't wait to read more of Jane Austen's adventures in the future!

JANE AUSTEN INVESTIGATES: THE ABBEY MYSTERY introduces an excellent new middle grade series based on the famous author. Golding, co-host of the wonderful "What Would Jane Austen Do?" podcast, not only loves Austen but knows her life and times well; fueled with that information and affection, she combines an absorbing puzzle, suspenseful story, and a well-grounded picture of Austen and her era. Fans of the recent Sally Lockhart and Enola Holmes dramas, young readers drawn to clever heroines, as well as those who just love historical stories generally will love this deftly done book. Here's hoping many more JANE AUSTEN INVESTIGATES yarns will follow.

3.7 Stars
Set in 1789, the book has Jane Austen as a young thirteen-year-old, playing detective at the Southmoor Abbey. Jane has to take her elder sister’s place as Lady Cromwell’s companion for a week during the celebration of her son’s coming-of-age birthday party.
Jane has a bet with (one of) her brother to solve the mystery of Abbey’s ghost. As a non-believer of ghosts, she is determined to unearth the truth.
However, Jane realizes there’s a lot more to solve as incidents happen one after another. The list of suspects is increasing. Luckily, she finds an ally in Luke, the stable boy, and Deepti, a young Indian laundress with several talents.
Can Jane solve the mysteries without risking her life in the process?
The book started rather well. Jane is portrayed as a cheerful, quirky, and witty teen. She carries a notebook to write down her observations. She is smart, not really sensible, but clever enough to solve a mystery despite the obstacles.
The tone is lighthearted, and you can hear Jane muttering at times. The actual mystery starts almost halfway through the story. It’s not much of a mystery either. However, it should suit the target audience, middle graders. The writing is consistent and a little juvenile. That’s a plus. Jane is 13 years old. That’s how she is supposed to be. Her family is considered rather eccentric and reminds us of the Bennet family.
There were times when Jane seemed more like a mix of her heroines in the book. This could go either way with fans. But yeah, it’s rather hard to imagine Jane Austen playing an amateur detective, resembling a historical version of Nancy Drew.
The author did her best to show a positive portrayal of Indian characters, Deepti and her father, Arjun. I’m glad to see that. However, I do wonder how a girl from Maratha, belonging to the warrior/ bodyguard community can call Jahangir the great Mughal emperor. Her loyalties will be with the Maratha kingdom, not the invaders.
I understand where it comes from. The internet is full of portraying invaders as noblemen and whitewashing the killings of millions of natives.
That’s a minor point that stayed with me because I belong to the country.
Going back to the story, it did fall a little flat in terms of the ‘ghost' part, which was supposed to be the central theme. The other incidents take more prominence, and the ghost is more or less reduced to being used as a prop. Though it’s a decent mystery for middle graders, it could have been better.
Overall, the book shows promise. I feel that the next one would be even better. Looking forward to reading book two in the series. Pick this one as a light and casual read for kids.
Thank you, NetGalley, Lion Hudson Ltd, and Lion Fiction, for the ARC.

YASSS
This book was like a Nancy Drew book (I love those and this was exactly like it so safe to say I loved it) except set 200 years before, the way the mystery was described and the story develops is awesome, and I love the way young Jane writes (especially her c letter to her sister and the d letter to deepti, it was so interesting!).

This book was perfect in a way, it was fast paces, though I wish it had been a bit slower and we could have gotten to know more about Jane’s family.

All in all, it was a fun read, I hope there are more books in this series, it’s an awesome one! (Though I really wish there was a ghost)

My rating 4.5 out of 5!

My daughter had such a great time reading this story. She keeps referring to back to it. It was great that the main characters

I was already a fan of Julia Golding's books and am also a huge Jane Austen fan so this was a real treat. I'm not always keen on other books with Jane Austen/Austen's characters in them but this was just done so well, it really worked!

This is a delightful book for young readers and fans of mystery and adventure! The reader meets a young and spunky Jane Austen who is thirteen years old. She is sent to Southmoor Abbey as a companion to Lady Cromwell for a week in place of her sister. Jane is drawn to the mystery surrounding the Abbey and the so called ghost who haunts the place. On a dare from one of her brother's she decides to investigate and find out the truth since she does not believe that ghosts exist.

The story introduces us to a myriad of characters, including a father-daughter duo from India and Jane's "lap" dog Grandison. I enjoyed reading about Jane's thoughts and experiences which the author described quite well. We are able to see some of the famous author in this young girl with her strong imagination and opinions. We also see how supportive her family is of her, encouraging her to write and share her thoughts and stories. Jane's letters to her sister were a delight to read about and some of them had me in splits.

Though the focus moved away from the mystery of the ghost in between, the overall plot is well done and will ensure that the target audience of middle graders will be hooked. The story and main character remind me of Nancy Drew and other such heroines who seek out and solve mysteries. The author has done a great job in bringing a young Jane Austen to life and I am indeed looking forward to join them on further adventures along with all the friends Jane (and enemies) Jane makes along the way! I do hope you all join the adventure too.

Jane Austen Investigates was a fun and enjoyable read, I loved the mystery element and is a great middle-grade book. I loved the characters in this book and I felt like the author Julia did an amazing job of creating Jane Austen world and how she may have lived. If you are a fan of Jane Austen and mystery novels, I would recommend this book and I can't wait for more in this series.

This books features spunky young Jane Austen as a detective with her dog Grandison as her sidekick. After an unmentionable accident Jane is sent, in her sister’s place, to be the companion of Lady Cromwell. Jane quickly finds herself intrigued by the mystery of a ghostly monk in the Southmoor Abby ruins. With the help of some new friends she tries to discover the truth behind the mystery. This book reminded me of a Nancy Drew or Trixie Belden mystery. The book is geared towards middle grade readers, but it kept this adult interested right till the end. I would highly recommend it to any mystery fan.

I was always so sure I don't tend to enjoy short books. Well, I proved myself wrong! I really enjoyed this one although it is under 200 pages. Writing was really funny and gripping. This is a middle grade mystery and I didn't predict where it's going and how it will end for a very long time. And Jane! She is such a lovely, intelligent little girl with great sense of humor. And her dog is so adorable and such a great companion. It was easy to read, interesting, with great characters. It reminded me of my childhood. I loved to read mysteries when I was a kid. Had a really great time with this one!

A fire, a theft, family secrets of great significance, the ghost of a monk and an orphaned stableboy who gets beaten for everything that goes wrong at the estate. Those are the things that a 13-year-old Jane Austen encounters when visiting a wealthy family. And she is very determined to expose the real culprit!

Since the setting is England in the late 18th century, Julia Golding adjusted her writing style and use of words to that era. (It is still not very hard to read, even for non-native speakers). But luckily we find a lot more drama and action in this story than in any of Jane Austen novels. In the last third of the book, when the "mystery" really gets under way and Jane starts her detective work, it gets really interesting.

Of course, this is all only a fictitious account of Jane Austens youth. But I could really imagine her being this fierce young girl who so resolutely searched for the truth.

"The Jane Austen Investigates": 4⭐

(Unpaid Review: thanks to @netgalley, @juliagolding and the publishers for allowing me to read this eArc copy in exchange for a review).

I absolutely love middle-grade books. This was such a cute read, perfect for people who needs a good lift. It's really fast-paced and works wonderfully in the setting with the Jane Austen tie-in.
It had the most satisfying ending! Highly recommend!

This was a delightful Middle Grade historical mystery!

I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher.

Jane Austen turns detective in this fun and entertaining story. When Jane Austen is send to Southmore Abbey to be a lady’s companion for a week, she tries to uncover the mystery of the abbey ghost. But it turns out there are more mysteries happening at the Abbey. Will Jane be able to uncover them all?

This was such a light, fun and entertaining read! The writing pulls you in immediately and our main character Jane is very lovable and funny from the start. I loved the various mysteries and Jane’s determination to uncover them all. A perfect read for anyone who likes to read!

A thoroughly enjoyable mystery with a dash of literary flair!

The witty, clever, inquisitive Jane Austen is let loose on an unsuspecting high class family with a secret or two. Will Jane solve the mystery of the ghostly legend that roams the abbey ruins? Ghosts, thieves, fraudsters, versus a slip of a girl with a penchant for writing, who will triumph?

I approached this book with a bit of reserve, not quite sold on the idea of having Jane Austen solve mysteries, as if only the famous Jane Austen could be a woman intelligent and independent enough from her time period for a bit of detective work. While clearly it is Jane Austen's name that will attract potential readers to these books out of a vast sea of historical fiction and detective mysteries, I was actually drawn in, and really enjoyed Julia Golding's writing, including her take on Jane's letters to Cassandra, and the way different characters not only came to life in their own right, but serve as fictional inspiration for the real Jane Austen's novels.

The mystery element was well done too, the setting was superb: I pictured somewhere like Newstead Abbey, or Rufford Abbey, as I was reading, and it was a great choice as a perfect environment for a bit of gothic mystery, and as a nod to the great coming-of-age story that is Northanger Abbey. I predicted the main culprit fairly early on, but the puzzling elements were complex enough to keep me guessing as to motives and details.

This was a high 4-star read for me, and I'm looking forward to the next instalments of Jane Austen Investigates, and am diving straight into The Burglar's Ball!

These books are so much fun! They imagine the adventures of a 13 year old Jane Austen who ends up entangled in various mysteries around her, and who has to use her copious wits to solve them. Told from her perspective in the third person, they have a really entertaining voice, and manage to capture the spirit of Jane’s humour with tongue-in-cheek love – they’re a treat for an Austen-loving adult, but I think they’d also stand alone well for a younger reader who hasn’t encountered her work yet. There’s a really clever mix of what we know of Jane’s real life, and references to her work, including the names of a lot of characters - an unpleasant Wickham, for example and several others I won’t spoil – I love the idea that Jane worked real people she’d met into her stories!

But though this sounds like it might be a bit too silly and self-referential, there are solid stories underneath too, and I very much enjoyed the central mysteries as well as the Austen flavour. The Abbey Mystery sees Jane sent to Southmoor Abbey to be a temporary lady’s companion to Lady Cromwell while she plans a huge ball for her son, but Jane can’t help but be intrigued by the tales of the Abbey’s ghosts, and there seems to be other suspicious behaviour going on. I obviously won’t talk much about the plot, as the fun is in discovering the mystery for yourself, but they are really rollicking adventures and I had a great time with all the twists and developments.

The cast is extremely lively and entertaining to get to know. I loved Deepti, Jane’s friend, who came to Southmoor Abbey with her father, who was hired as a cook by Lord Cromwell while he was in India – I thought it was brilliant how her experiences and skills are so different to Jane’s, but the two are wholeheartedly respectful of each other and make a great team. Each character, especially the villains, is keenly observed and pinned to the page – which might well remind us of the sharp portraits of a certain author’s own stories… Jane herself is a very likeable heroine, and her feelings are also very believable, particularly her frustration with the limitations of being a girl and the rules she has to follow, and her bristling against injustice of any kind. I love that there are letters home from Jane scattered between the chapters; not only do these give a glimpse into Jane’s relationship with her brother Henry, who hasn’t so far appeared himself, but they also contain puzzles to solve or fun writing quirks like missing letters. It’s a lovely reference to her real life letters, and the wordplay is exactly the kind of thing I would have been all over as a kid!

Speaking of wordplay, it didn’t escape my notice that these are named alphabetically, and I hope that’s an indicator that this will be a long running series – they’re just great, and the mystery genre really lends itself to longer serials. I’ll be looking out for any more, for sure – and whether you’re an Austen fan or not, readers of middle grade mystery should definitely check these out.

Jane Austen Investigates: The Abbey Mystery by Julia Golding was one of those books that initially caught my eye and I thought 'What?' with a huge amount of curiosity because who doesn't love a tale about your favourite author?

I had to pick it up and read and what a tale it was with the Austen siblings coming to life and Jane's love of writing being shown in quirky letters to her favourite albeit only sister where letters are sent using words starting with a set letter etcetera. Julia Golding brings this entire fictional world to life with some incredible world building and wonderfully portrayed characters and you as the reader are most definitely along for the adventure with a teenage Austen prior to her coming out into proper society.

The Abbey Mystery has ghostly monks, wild and vivacious aristocrats who make Elizabeth Bingley seem calm and kind, and Jane's beloved lapdog (if he were sitting on a giant) coming together for an adventure that would have shocked a vast majority of Austen's famous and beloved characters. I loved every moment of the book, the secrets are well kept, the characters leap off the page and it was everything I could have hoped for.

This was fun, well paced with engaging characters. It also teaches about the time period a little and would hopefully encourage young readers to learn more on their own. Overall a good read.

What a wonderful mystery. Lot of twists and turns. Jane has been sent to Southmoor Abbey to become Lady Cromwell’s companion for a week. On the way to the station her brother tells her of a angry monk ghost that haunts the grounds of Southmoor and bets her a half crown to prove it doesn’t exist.. It turns into a week of making new friends and solving two mysteries. What a delightful read. I will be recommending this book and looking forward to more in the series. Thank you NetGalley.

I requested this book through Netgalley because of course I did! And then it had the misfortune of being read in the same month as another ‘Historical Middlegrade Mystery with a famous author investigating a mystery in a grand house’… (I am talking about the second Aggie Morton book). And the other book was just better.

Don’t get me wrong, this is still a really fun read! We follow a young Jane Austen as she is send to be a Lady’s companion for a week(?). She makes a bet with her brother about the presence of a ghost in the abbey and sets out to prove its absence (which seems kinda impossible to me). But then there is a fire in the library and two prize horses are stolen.

However, the actual mystery only starts 60% into the book… and the resolution was somewhat dissatisfying. It was too obvious and had too many coincidences. The way Jane conducts her investigations though is very satisfying and logical, which was lovely to read (apart from that she never checks the main suspects alibi). Jane in general is a great character and I feel Golding has captured her perfectly. She is very fun and witty and the girl one would expect her to be having read her work (though if you haven’t you won’t miss out on any inside jokes or references).

And not just Jane, but all the side characters are very well written as well. There is a wide range of above and below stairs and everything in between characters, which all have their own personalities, motivations and backgrounds. With of course the highlight being Grandison the ‘lapdog’. He is just Great!

Overall this was a really fun read that was very good at its core. Just the mystery itself wasn’t that great, but I strongly believe Golding can and will improve on that in a sequel.

"Something tells me that you will grow up to be a dangerous woman, Miss Austen."
"Oh, dangerous! That is quite the best compliment anyone has ever paid me. Thank you"

Before Jane Austen grew up to write novels, she loved to solve mysteries.

In The Abbey Mystery, young Jane is sent off to be companion to Lady Cromwell during the week of her son's coming-of-age party. With her oversized lapdog Grandison in tow and a ready made mystery to investigate - thanks to her brother Henry's tales of the ghosty monk who haunts the ruin of the old Abbey - Jane sets off on her adventure.

But there are more mysteries at The Abbey to solve than anticipated and Jane is on the case, with stable boy Luke and laundry girl Deepti her willing assistants.

Set at a cracking pace, with loveable characters, if you like plucky heroines, ghostly ruins, dastardly deeds, lapdogs of unusual size and happy endings, then this is the middle grade mystery for you.

Hopefully this is just the start of young Jane's adventures.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC to review.