Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor: Being the First Jane Austen Mystery (Jane Austen Mysteries (Paperback))
by Stephanie BarronSign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
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Read in August, 2008
On a visit to the estate of her friend, the young and beautiful Isobel Payne, Countess of Scargrave, Jane bears witness to a tragedy. Isobel's husband—a gentleman of mature years—is felled by a mysterious and agonizing ailment. The Earl's death seems a cruel blow of fate for the newly married Isobel. Yet the bereaved widow soon finds that it's only the beginning of her misfortune...as she receives a sinister missive accusing her and the Earl's nephew of adultery—and murder. Desperately afr...more
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Read in June, 2002
recommended to Rosie by:
mommy dearestrecommends it for: Austen fans, history buffs
I am positively nuts about this series. The language of Austen's work is so spot-on and the characters so well-developed that the reader feels drawn into this world and maybe even is a bit disoriented when putting the book down. If you've read all (or not all, like me) of Austen's writing, this series certainly scratches an itch.
Stephanie Barron's clever set-up is that she has discovered a batch of manuscript-like diaries of Jane Austen's life and adventurous and is merely editing them f...more
Stephanie Barron's clever set-up is that she has discovered a batch of manuscript-like diaries of Jane Austen's life and adventurous and is merely editing them f...more
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Read in January, 2008
Jane Austen solves mysteries! The first half is very stilted and badly written. The author is clearly nervous and uncomfortable writing Regency-era dialog. The characters are boring cliches. Everyone compliments Austen on her wit, but she never said anything remotely clever. In the second half, Austen races around London trying to solve a murder mystery. Unfortunately, it's a stupid murder and an even stupider murderer (upon being caught, the person actually rants about how they'd have got...more
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
Austenites
As a huge fan of Jane Austen, I am always looking for new fiction that dwells in Regency-era England with vaguely Jane-ish characters and situations. So imagine my delight when my beloved aunt sent me this first mystery starring our revered Jane herself! With a host of new characters and introducing people and places discussed in her letters, these mysteries are excessively diverting. I decided to reread them all recently, mostly because I know there are a few new ones I haven't gotten to yet an...more
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Read in January, 2005
It's a fictional account of Jane Austen's life and her own adentures. I'm not sure how historically accurate these stories are but they're fun and there are footnotes that tie these adventures to her own letters and journals.
Plus that time period and the mannerisms and the culture is pretty interesting. Apparently if you were the eldest daughter in the Austen family you would be referred to as Miss Austen. But if you were one of the younger sisters, you would be referred to as Miss *insert ...more
Plus that time period and the mannerisms and the culture is pretty interesting. Apparently if you were the eldest daughter in the Austen family you would be referred to as Miss Austen. But if you were one of the younger sisters, you would be referred to as Miss *insert ...more
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Read in September, 2008
I read this at the suggestion of a non-Goodreads friend, but found it not to my liking. It's one thing to read the polite English of Jane Austen, and quite another to read someone else pretending to write like Jane Austen. I just couldn't get into it. I grew impatient for facts and action without all the manners.
When reading excellent fiction the reader never has to consciously suspend their disbelief. I'm afraid I couldn't even pretend that Jane Austen really wrote or had anything to do...more
When reading excellent fiction the reader never has to consciously suspend their disbelief. I'm afraid I couldn't even pretend that Jane Austen really wrote or had anything to do...more
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Read in August, 2008
In my quest to cover all aspects of Austenalia, I couldn't neglect this rather prolific series of mysteries, which was actually far better than I thought it would be. The tone has the right mix of the ironic and the gothic - think Northanger Abbey with more self-awareness. My greatest fear - a ridiculous, anachronistic, historically incorrect JA romance subplot - wasn't (really) realized, thank goodness. I could actually stand to read another one, which is more than I can say for most authors in...more
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Read in September, 2008
I found the idea tickled - Jane Austen, private investigator.
It was a little bit slow to get into. The format was interesting (it was mainly written as journal entries as Jane Austen would have made and some letters to Cassandra, her sister). I found the many references to certain themes of her novels a little bit distracting and there are a number of them which makes me think it a little bit too made up for this novel. However, I did get into it and I certainly enjoy the read.
It was a little bit slow to get into. The format was interesting (it was mainly written as journal entries as Jane Austen would have made and some letters to Cassandra, her sister). I found the many references to certain themes of her novels a little bit distracting and there are a number of them which makes me think it a little bit too made up for this novel. However, I did get into it and I certainly enjoy the read.
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Read in April, 2008
When I started this book, I was skeptical and became even more so because of its initial slow pace and frequent plagiarism of phrases in Austen's books. But, I found that this book grew on me. I even found myself thinking about what would happen next when I wasn't reading it - a good sign.
In the end, a good Regency-period cozy mystery, but I think the author used Jane Austen as her detective just to siphon from a huge fanbase - very smart, but not necessary.
In the end, a good Regency-period cozy mystery, but I think the author used Jane Austen as her detective just to siphon from a huge fanbase - very smart, but not necessary.
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Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
Jane Austen lovers
It took awhile to get into the idea of Jane becoming a character in her own right. It was an enjoyable read with the language and structure much like a Jane Austen book itself.
It took Jane a little time to realize that she needed to connect the clues in order to save her friend. The pace unrolled much like an Austen plot - slowly. If you are used to a faster paced detective novel, you will need to readjust your thinking. But worth the adjustment.
It took Jane a little time to realize that she needed to connect the clues in order to save her friend. The pace unrolled much like an Austen plot - slowly. If you are used to a faster paced detective novel, you will need to readjust your thinking. But worth the adjustment.
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Read in December, 2007
I was excited by the premise behind this novel - but the telling didn't match the idea. The theory is that some of Jane Austen's personal diaries and letters have been recovered and in them she goes about her normal life but is interrupted by mysteries. Sounds fun - but it was pretty boring. The real author does not create exciting and engaging characters and the mystery is formulaic. I won't be reading anymore in the series.
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Read in January, 2007
recommends it for:
Mystery and Austen lovers
This is the first of a series of mystery novels (now 9 of them) author Stephanie Barron created based on the history of the Austin era, and papers left by Jane Austen. Austen lovers and mystery lovers will like this book a lot. I cannot call them literary giants, but they are well written, with a good sense of history, and a lot fun. Among all the Austen theme books, this serie is the most interesting.
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I am not a fan usually of murder mysteries and I am always dubious about Jane Austen-esque literature because it's normally quite bad and nowhere rivals Jane Austen. However, these books are exceptional. You believe the books are truly written during the period (even if you disagree, for whatever reason, of Austen's fictional characterization) and the plots are well-spun and not at all hokey.
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Read in April, 2008
I'm not convinced that Jane Austen HAD to be a character in this book -- I think it would have been just as good if it had been some random woman named Jane. But I also probably wouldn't have picked it up to read it if the Jane Austen as a detective angle hadn't caught my eye. I enjoyed the language and writing style, and I will probably read more from the series.
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recommends it for:
girl-lit geeks
This series of fictional mysteries solved by Jane Austen are charming and witty and a whole lot of fun for people who can't get enough Jane Austen. You need a healthy dose of girl-geekness to love these, but luckily I have plenty to spare. Usually I dislike mysteries, but these have enough Austen flair to gloss over the fact that they're all whodunnits.
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recommended to Angela by:
Mom
My mom recommended this fun Jane Austen mystery series. The author does a fanstic job writing in true Jane Austen style with many well researched facts. The author claims that the books come from Jane Austen's long lost journals, thus the stories of Jane stumbling on and solving the mysteries are true events told in her own words.
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All I can say is: I was somewhat embarassed to carry this book around. However, I will probably get another of these mysteries in the series. The books are set in the real facts of Jane Austen's life, murder occurs and Jane is the smartest one in the room of course, and is the one to put the events together to solve the mystery.
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This was a very clean book and I couldn't wait to see what happened, even though I guessed who the murderer was. Jane goes to visit her newly married friend but her husband is murdered. The friend is suspected and thrown in prison and Jane must find out who did it before her friend is beheaded. That's right! Beheaded!
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This is the beginning of her series which I have found very enjoyable, being a lover of Jane Austen. Her style is similar to Ms. Austen's, and I love the mystery format. I didn't start reading the series until several books were published, which was great for me so that I could just read one right after the other.
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Read in May, 2008
recommended to Tanis by:
My mom
This was a pretty fun story - written as though Jane Austen herself were telling it. The only thing that tripped me up was that the mystery was all tied up in English titles and nobilities and laws that were, frankly, a little over my head. Nevertheless, here I go to read the sequel. :) I will not be thwarted.
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