Death of a Dowager

The Jane Eyre Chronicles #2

by Joanna Campbell Slan

In her classic tale, Charlotte Brontë introduced readers to the strong-willed and intelligent Jane Eyre. Picking up where Brontë left off, the year is now 1820, and Jane’s life has finally settled into a comfortable pattern. She and her beloved Edward Rochester have married and have a son. But Jane soon finds herself having to protect those she loves…

When the roof caves in at Ferndean, their country home, Jane and Edward accept an invitation from their friend Lucy Brayton to stay with her in London while repairs are being made. Jane is reluctant to abandon their peaceful life in the countryside, but Edward’s damaged vision has grown worse. She hopes that time in the capital will buoy his spirits and give him the chance to receive treatment from a renowned oculist.

Once in London, the Rochesters accompany Lucy to the Italian Opera House, where they encounter Dowager Lady Ingram, who had once hoped for Edward to wed her daughter, Blanche—and who’s still rankled by his subsequent marriage to Jane. In front of a group of society people, the aging dowager delivers a vicious social drubbing to Jane, enraging both Edward and Lucy. In an attempt to rebuild good will, Jane and Lucy decide to speak to the Dowager in private the next day. But the visit is cut short when the Dowager drops dead before their shocked eyes. Lucy is poised to take the blame—unless Jane can clear her friend’s name…

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, Ebooks, Mystery Thriller

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2013

About the author

National bestselling and award-winning author Joanna Campbell Slan was born in Jacksonville, Florida, but she grew up in a small town in Indiana. After graduating from Ball State University with a degree in journalism, she worked as a newspaper reporter, a newspaper ad salesperson, a television talk show host, a college teacher, a public relations professional, and a motivational speaker. In that capacity, she was named by Sharing Ideas Magazine as “one of the top 25 speakers in the world.”

Slan's work has appeared in five of the New York Times Bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and one of those became a television show. She is the author of nearly 80 books, nonfiction and fiction, including Death of a Schoolgirl, which won the 2013 Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence.

Joanna's personal essays have appeared in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, and one was made into a television program on the Pax Network. The college textbook Joanna wrote—Using Stories and Humor: Grab Your Audience—has been praised as an invaluable resource by Benjamin Netanyahu’s speechwriter and endorsed by Toastmasters, International.

RT Book Reviews has called Joanna “one of mystery’s rising stars.” Her first novel—Paper, Scissors, Death—was an Agatha Award finalist. It features Kiki Lowenstein, a spunky single mom who lives in St. Louis. The sixth book in that series will be released Summer 2013.

Kirkus Reviews has said, “Slan’s mysteries are most valuable for the well-developed characters and the issues they raise.” RT Book Reviews has said, “Kiki is so darn entertaining that she’ll keep readers hooked.” A series of short stories featuring Kiki are available on Kindle.

Joanna’s newest series—The Jane Eyre Chronicles—began with Death of a Schoolgirl (Berkley) and continues with the release of Death of a Dowager. The series features Charlotte Brontë’s classic heroine Jane Eyre as an amateur sleuth.

As “Lila Dare,” Joanna has penned the fourth book in the Southern Beauty Shop series—Wave Good-bye.

Joanna is married to David Slan. The Slans live on Jupiter Island, Florida.

Website: www.JoannaSlan.com

Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/JoannaCampbel...

Twitter: @JoannaSlan

Reviews

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read and loved the first book in this series, "Death of a Schoolgirl", last year, I was so eager to read this new installment of Jane Eyre as a detective. As with the first book, the author does an excellent job capturing Jane Eyre's voice, and the tenor of her marriage to Mr. Rochester. We get to see more of Jane's friend Lucy Brayton in this story - a wonderful character introduced in the first book and a perfect foil to Jane's plain thinking and societal naivete. I was impressed to find that this book has two plots - one that is the murder mystery, and the other one of political intrigue that is set up in the first book. These two plots worked together very well to maintain tension in a novel that does sometimes move at a leisurely pace.

The mystery was very well set up, and all the clues were clearly delineated - unfortunately so much so that I found it pretty easy to figure out who the culprit was. I was a bit disappointed in this, and in Jane's ultimate plan to reveal the murderer because it felt a little anticlimactic. I thought the author did a great job creating a believable and intricate murder mystery but perhaps there were too few red herrings to throw me off from whom I suspected. The center of the mystery is the Ingrams and their cattiness was a fun element of the story, especially because it was taken to such extremes. If you are not a fan of them from the original novel, be prepared to enjoy what happens in this book!

The political intrigue with King George IV was integrated into the story very well, and created more tension in my opinion then the straightforward murder mystery. The author adds a lot of historical detail to ground the action and make the story very realistic. And the story also addresses some interesting social issues that can be applicable to modern times. As with the first book, this novel uses very rich and distinct storytelling to realistically recreate Jane's world - the wonderful thing about this series is how believable it is as a continuation of Jane's story - because of the attention to detail and the author's ability to write Charlotte Brontë's characters in a compelling, vivid way. This was another enjoyable read, and I only wish there were more scenes with Mr. Rochester!

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

يتكلم الكتاب عن بطلتنا جين اير عندما ينهار سقف منزلها من الأمطار ويحتاج إلى العديد من الإصلاحات فتقترح صديقتها لوسي القدوم معها إلى المدينة ، وفيما بعد تجد بطلتنا انها امام العديد من المشكلات والاشتباكات واخيرًا جريمة قتل وتدور الدائرة بينهم.
من الذي قام بتسميم الليدي إنجرام؟ ، وهل ستكتشف بطلتنا المجرم؟ ، ما قصة الرسائل المخباة مع جين اير؟ .

رأي الشخصي:

الكتاب ممتع ، لكن كنت متخيلة أحداث ثانية بناء على اسم الكتاب لذلك الكتاب خيب امالي شوي ، إذا بتقروه اقروا قبل مقتل طالبة مدرسة لأن أغلب الشخصيات ظهروا بهذا الجزء ، للأمانة كنت مرة متحمسة إن القصة عنهم بس توقعت أنهم بيتكلموا عن الجريمة أكثر ، وكمان الكتاب مليان تفاصيل🤝،السرد جدا جميل والترجمة أكثر من رائعة، شخصيات الكتاب تجنن (حبيت لوسي وإدوارد مره😭💗، واكيد ما أنسى جين وبروس)، في اقتباسات بالكتاب مرة تجنن وعجبني عشان يتكلم أعتقد بالقرن 18 او 19، الاجواء رهيبة حفلات أوبرا فساتين عربات رسايل حرفيًا جوي واجوائي، في بعض الأحداث ذكر فيها الأديان ، تقريبا من قبل ما تموت الليدي إنجرام عرفت مين القاتل 🤝، النهاية عجبتني وسعيدة.

اقتباس اعجبني:
" الصمت إناء فارغ يصرخ طلبًا للكلمات. لكن قد تخوننا الكلمات، وغالبًا ما تفعل هذا. لذا، من الأفضل أن يمسك المرء لسانه، ويترك الآخرين يكشفون نقاط ضعفهم بدلا من الاندفاع إلى المعركة"
"نخسر الناس مرة واحدة، بل شيئًا فشيئًا مع مرور الأيام، عندما نشتاق إليهم ونتذكر مرة أخرى كيف كانوا يتصرفون"
"وبخلاف الشعور بالعزلة، شعرت بالحماية، وكأن البقاء بعيدًا عن العالم يمنعه من تدمير البهجة التي وجدناها بعضنا في بعض"

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this second installment in the delightful Jane Eyre Chronicles, Jane travels with her family to London to stay with her good friend, Lucy. Lucy introduces her to upper crust society and a round of social events. At the opera, they encounter Lady Ingram who snubs them both. Hoping to mend their relationship, the ladies visit the influential Dowager the next day. Unfortunately, their nemesis drops dead in the midst of tea. Now how will they preserve their reputation? Jane feels bad her visit has threatened Lucy’s social status, and so she decides to find the killer after it is determined Lady Ingram ingested poison. Meanwhile, Jane is also dealing with a delicate political matter concerning the king.

The story moves swiftly and immerses you in the era. Jane’s friends and family are distinctive and likeable, and you’ll find yourself wishing you could sip tea along with them. I’m eager to see what the author writes next in this charming series.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

With repairs at Ferndean moving at a glacial pace, Jane, Rochester, and family decamp to London to stay with Jane’s dear friend Lucy for the summer. Jane finds navigating the waters of the ton to be treacherous and tainted by political intrigue. Worse, the Dowager Baroness Ingram, mother of a daughter who had her cap set for Rochester, makes more trouble for Jane and then confounds everyone by dying. When Lucy’s dog dies after drinking the dowager’s spilt coffee, Bow Street looks at Jane’s friend Lucy as if she’s a murderess.

Will Jane’s moral and spiritual sensibilities continue to guide her or will she cave to social pressures?

Joanna Campbell Slan’s book pulled me right into the world of Jane Eyre, as if I were walking around and conversing with Jane. The setting details complimented the story greatly. A wonderful historical with a several mysteries woven through the plot.

[ladywallingford · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has gotten things a bit wrong. Jane Eyre was written in 1847 during the Victorian era, which has a very different feel to it than say the Regency era. However, the author has chosen to place Jane Eyre into the Regency period, which I think would have Charlotte Bronte turning in her grave.

I also found the writing a bit simple, but with that said, the book was easy to read. People who like historical mysteries may enjoy this as long as they are not familiar with Jane Eyre or the period within which the original novel takes place. Also, I would recommend this for those who like Stephanie Barron's mystery series with Jane Austen as the detective.

[Karla Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great fun read. For those of us who didn't want Jane Eyre to end this is a wonderful series. The author has captured the flavor and feel of Charlotte Bronte's book so it seems an extension of the original. The historical details give a reality to the story and you feel as if you were in London with Jane, Edward and Ned. The life loving Lucy is the perfect foil for Jane's simpler style. Nicely plotted mystery. Looking forward to more of the series.

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's just one of those imitations that tries a bit too hard. The story itself is only mildly entertaining. Only worth reading if you need something for a short trip and don't want to use your brain. A "candy" read.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was like a fairly well-written fanfic, but without any hot Jane/Rochester action, so... there's that.

[Alkoot · Rating 1 out of 5]

محاولة يائسة لتغيير حقيقة اليهود من كونهم شرار البشر إلى كونهم مظلومين ، الرواية متكاملة متماسكة ولكن محاولة الكاتب المستميتة لغرس مفاهيم خاصة باليهود بالذات و جعلها محور الرواية شيئ مثير للتقزز ولا يوجد لها مبرر .
رواية مؤدلجة مسيسة و غير نظيفة .
كأنك تشاهد عمل درامي جميل في قناة تلفزيونية وبعد عدة حلقات يظهر مشهد قبلات شواذ بين الرجال .
أضعت وقتي

[Becky Hutchison · Rating 5 out of 5]

** Also posted at Blue Moon Mystery Saloon blog **

Ms. Slan has crafted a delightful and interesting follow-up to her widely acclaimed mystery, Death of a Schoolgirl.

Death of a Dowager is set in May 1821, a few months prior to the coronation of King George IV. Jane, her beloved husband Edward, their son Ned, and Edward's ward Adele are staying in the London townhouse of their friend Lucy Brayton while their manor in Yorkshire is undergoing major repairs. Lucy is thrilled to have the Rochesters visiting and wants Jane to experience some of the delights of high society. While at a major ton event, Lady Ingram and her daughters, who are Yorkshire neighbors of the Rochesters, haughtily snub Lucy and Jane in front of a large group of the ton. This slight can affect Lucy's good standing in high society, and she is devastated. The Ingrams continue to be rude to Jane and Lucy, despite interference run by Lucy's great friend, Lady Grainger, who unfortunately is related to the Ingrams.

Jane also possesses a letter that, if released, could cause damage to the king. If the note winds up in the wrong hands, major protests and widespread havoc could break out among the country's populace, many of whom starve while the king spends a fortune on his coronation. The king, his mistress and even the note's original recipient try to obtain the letter by threatening the health and/or social standing of Jane's family and friends. But Jane maintains her objectivity and resilience while avoiding the manipulative attacks thrown her way.

Death of a Dowager is written in a style similar to that of Charlotte Bronte, the author of Jane Eyre, and to other authors from that era. Once I read through the first chapter, I felt comfortable with the different writing style and found the story easy to follow and very entertaining.

The major plots and subplots are believable, and Slan does a great job at weaving them together. She is masterful at infusing her Jane Eyre mysteries with the real social and political conditions of the time. Her detailed research shines throughout the book, highlighting real events of the day along with daily life in industrial London. She even has her characters talk about and apply various advancements in medicine and technology that were used in the 1820's. My favorite descriptions were those about the disgusting street smells and the intermixed odors of perfume, bodies and flowers at the opera house.

I thoroughly enjoyed Death of a Dowager and didn't put the book down, even to make dinner. It was easy to read, filled with appropriate clues, and contained interesting tidbits about British history. If you're looking for a good mystery or historical novel, you can't go wrong with Death of a Dowager.

** Book provided by author in exchange for an honest review.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

While extensive repairs are being made to Ferndean, their rural home, Jane and Edward accept an invitation from their friend Lucy Brayton to stay with her in London. Jane is reluctant to abandon their peaceful life in the countryside, but Edward’s damaged vision has grown worse. She hopes that time in the capital will buoy his spirits and give him the chance to receive treatment from an ocular specialist.

Once in London, the Rochesters accompany Lucy to the Italian Opera House. But there is more drama in the audience than on stage—Jane not only unexpectedly finds herself in the presence of King George and his mistress, Lady Conygham, she also encounters an old nemesis in the form of Lady Ingram (whose daughter, Blanche, once hoped to wed Edward herself). The aging dowager deals both Jane and Lucy a very public snub; hoping to mitigate the social damage caused by this, Lucy insists on visiting the Ingrams the next day. The visit goes poorly from the start—and ends with Lady Ingram dropping dead in the midst of taking tea. It soon becomes clear that the dowager’s death was an unnatural one, and Jane must set her considerable intelligence to the problem of solving it—and why the throne appears to have an interest …

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Jane Eyre is one of those books we are forced to read in school but it very quickly became one of my all time favorite stories. I also loved the first story in this series, Death of a Schoolgirl, which landed on my list of Best Reads of 2012.

Joanna Campbell Slan has a true gift, she doesn’t just write or tell a story. She drops the reader right into it. We are in the opera house, at tea, walking the sooty streets of London. I wasn’t just reading the story, I was living it.

The entire story was intriguing as we step back in time to the read of royalty, political, social and medical customs. The “ton” was very important to London’s elite and the slightest snub by another member could change life drastically. Being dropped from the group was a fear of all the members. Living outside of London Jane did not fully understand their power, she really didn’t care until she learned how important this status was to her friend Lucy.

This story is beautifully written and has a definite Brontë feel. Following Jane, Edward and their family as they move past the pages of Jane Eyre is a pure pleasure. The Jane Eyre Chronicles can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. It is time to introduce Jane Eyre to our daughters. These stories are sure to become classics from our time.

This is going to be a Best Read 2013. An extraordinary story that should not be missed. Imagine me shouting from the rooftops “YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK!!”

[Jamie Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Eyre Rochester, Amateur Sleuth

I am a massive fan of Jane Austen fan fiction, but I do not think I have ever read any Bronte sister fanfiction. This book is told from the perspective of Jane Eyre Rochester, a few years after her marriage to Edward. Love and their infant son have transformed their lives, but repairs are desperately needed at the manor house, and Edward’s sight continues to worsen. The Rochesters go to London and are caught up in a variety of machinations, including a political intrigue involving the new king and a murder that happens when Jane visits a woman for tea. Unfortunately, one of Jane’s good friends is a suspect. This pulls Jane in so she can attempt to clear her friend.

I thought the author actually did a pretty decent job, in parts, in mimicking the tone and voice of the original Jane Eyre novel. Jane is a fascinating character in many ways, and I like the way that she looks at the world; trying to exist within high society is not easy for her, so it is fascinating to watch events from her perspective. I think it is odd that the author has chosen to place this book at the tail end of the Regency Era as the original Jane Eyre was written in the late 1840s, clearly and definitely part of the Victorian Era. Perhaps she wanted to use some political intrigue from that time of transition to the new king, which wouldn't have been the same at all, of course, in the Victorian era. I found the political intrigue plot more interesting than the murder plot. As mystery plots go, it was relatively easy to follow and figure it out. I think the author needed a few more red herrings and twists and turns to make the mystery plot more engaging. But the political intrigue, as well as the interactions between Jane and those around her, kept me turning the pages. Frankly, though, I wish we had seen more of Mr. Rochester. All in all, I would say that if you enjoyed the original Jane Eyre and can forgive the author for inappropriately using the Regency Era, you will most likely enjoy this tale.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

Read my other reviews at https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com.

[Malak El]

من جريمةٍ في قلب المجتمع المخملي، إلى مؤامرةٍ تمسّ البلاط الملكي، لنري كيف الخلاص من هذا المأزق.

تتصدّر البطلة جين المشهد، فإذا بها تنخرط في كشف جريمة مروّعة راحت ضحيتها سيّدة من علية القوم. غير أنّ التحقيق في هذا الفعل الدموي لم يكن غايته الأولى الوصول إلى القاتل فحسب، بل كان بابًا يكشف عن خيوط متشابكة تفضي إلى قصر الملك ذاته. إذ تمتلك جين رسالة خطيرة، ورقة صغيرة في ظاهرها، عظيمة في أثرها، قادرة على زلزلة البلاط الملكي وتهديد حياة الملك نفسه.
وليس الملك وحده من تُهدَّد حياته؛ فالرسالة تُلقي بظلالها على مصير ابنتين بريئتين، وتضع صديقتها لوسي في عين الخطر، وتُهدّد سُمعتها هي وابنها وسط طبقة مترفة لا تعرف الرحمة، بل تُهدّد أيضًا استقرار أسرتها الهشّ. وفي قلب هذه الدوامة، تقف جين أمام معضلة وجودية، كيف تختار بين الوفاء لأقرب الناس إليها وبين تسليم ما قد يبدّد حياتهم جميعًا؟
تميّزت الرواية بترجمة رصينة سلسة، تحافظ على روح النص وتنقله للقارئ العربي بوضوح وأمانة. أما السرد فقد بدأ بوتيرة هادئة، تكاد تُشعر القارئ بالرتابة، غير أنّ هذه السكينة لم تلبث أن تحوّلت إلى تيار متسارع من الأحداث، تترى تباعًا حتى تبلغ الذروة المثيرة، حيث يمتزج القلق بالفضول، والخوف بالأمل.
ويجدر التذكير بأن هذا العمل هو الجزء الثاني من مذكرات البطلة جين، بعد رواية "مقتل طالبة مدرسة"، مما يمنح القارئ إحساسًا بالاستمرارية، ويُضفي عمقًا إضافيًّا على شخصية البطلة وتحوّلاتها.
إنّ "مقتل إنجرام الليدي" نصٌّ يزاوج بين متعة التشويق البوليسي وثراء التأمل في النفس البشرية والمجتمع المخملي، عمل يثبت أنّ الجريمة ليست حدثًا معزولًا، بل نافذة كاشفة على الطموح البشري، والشر الكامن، والأسرار التي تحيا في الظل.

#مقتل_الليدي_إنجرام#دار_الخان#ترجمات
#االقراءة #القراءة_حياة #تصويري📷 #booklover #book_review #bookphotography #malakelkafrawey

[Cathy Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joanna Campbell Slan's first Jane Eyre Chronicles book, Death of a Schoolgirl, was one of my Best Reads of 2012, so I really looked forward to this second in the series, Death of a Dowager. The anticipation was heightened because Jane was destined to deal with those pesky, entitled Ingrams. I definitely wanted to see what Slan had in store for them.

Once again, Slan uses language that is reminiscent of the original Brontë classic, and little, brave, observant Jane Eyre Rochester once again makes the perfect amateur sleuth. There are two main mysteries to solve in Death of a Dowager: one involving the murder of Silvana Ingram, and the other concerning Jane's possession of a love letter written by George IV that could have devastating repercussions on both the Crown and the nation. Of the two, I felt the one involving the royal love letter was the less engaging, although it did show the country could easily have been thrown into chaos by the discovery of such a thing.

And this highlights one of the strengths of these Jane Eyre Chronicles: the period in which they are set. Jane and the rest of the cast are placed firmly in the time in which they lived, and this historical setting adds so much depth to the story. When readers learn that people living and traveling in London came home every day covered in coal dust, or that traveling by public coach often meant another passenger's lice would try their best to hop from their host to you... well, that brings them up close and personal to the time period.

Once again, Joanna Campbell Slan served up an excellent mystery featuring one of my all-time favorite fictional characters. Now it's on to the third and last book, Christmas at Ferndean Manor.

[Maria E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Positively brilliant!

This book, my 1st read of Joanne Slan Campbell's 'Jane Eyre' series, had me utterly captivated and stunned! Stunned with the author's ability to bring to life the times (history) of England so perfectly. It feels exactly like a continuation of Jane Eyre's own words and thoughts. Brilliantly written, great mystery, and woven throughout with very believable characters true to the early 19th century. Recommended to all who enjoy a historical mystery - and especially if you had a soft spot for Jane Eyre!

[Joan W. Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Royal Courts

Know one that isn't a royal has any idea how much their life is a lot like the common mans. They have love, hate, envy and all the other problems we have only theirs is out there for anyone to use. Jane Eyre finds out that gossip and conniving causes everyone problems. Read!!!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1821. Due to the poor condition of Ferndean Manor the Rochesters join their friend Mrs Lucy Brayton in town. At Lucy's friend, widow Lady Olivia Grainger, are the Ingrams. When there is a murder, accusations fall from their mouths. Can Jane protect her friends and family. And what about the incriminating letter from the king.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery.

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great story! Very similar to the earlier book Death of a Schoolgirl. Essentially it’s a mystery set amongst the Jane Eyre characters.
The characters are enjoyable and so was the 2 storylines within.

[kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story! I really like the author’s writing and her re-creation of the character Jane Eyre. She does a nice job with how her life would’ve been after the original novel ended! Always nice to have a mystery included!

[Kimberlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://www.girllostinabook.com/2013/0...

[Lynn Runyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well Done Jane!

Intrigue is the name of the game with this read! A true Whodunnit to be sure and pages of history regarding Merry Ol’ England!

[Kate Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

well written, enjoyable, lots of historical colour and intrigue.

[Maria]

FREE today (November 24, 2023) on Amazon.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series! Great stories, well told and peopled with interesting characters

I loved the original Jane Eyre - both the book and the character - so it's lots of fun to have an opportunity to get more of Jane, as a wife, a mother, and as a sleuth solving murders!

The author has done a great job at capturing enough of the original characters of Jane and Edward to be agreeable to lovers of the original, but also expanding their stories beyond where Jane Eyre left off into new interesting adventures.

The first book set Jane up as a solver of murder mysteries in a well-conceived story that introduced the new group of characters surrounding Jane and Edward, and who will no doubt remain as this series - I hope - continues on with many books to come. The first book showed us how and why Jane could be a detective, and positioned her in a circumstance that made those efforts believable and reasonable.

This second book also puts Jane in a position to solve a murder, and once again the author does a terrific job at creating a situation in which Jane not only CAN investigate, but MUST step in to help those she loves. The author clearly understands the realities of the era and what women's roles were. The circumstances in this book are entirely believable and make sense within the plot.

Jane herself is just as excellent a character in this series as was the original. She has softened and settled in comparison to the original story, but that is perfectly reasonable, given that she and Edward are now happy together with a baby and a comfortable life. Even still, Jane has lost none of the intelligence, independence or determination to do what she feels is right, even when that puts her at odds with the rules of polite society.

The supporting characters are also well written and interesting people who add greatly to the story. Putting Jane and Edward into the society of London instead of their beloved Ferndean manor allows for lots of "fish-out-of-water" fun situations.

The murder itself is a good story. Although I never try to figure out whodunnit in advance, preferring to discover at the end along with the other characters, once I learned the solution, looking back I realized that plenty of clues were given as the story played out and if a reader wanted to, they could certainly use those clues to figure out the solution on their own.

Overall, this is a really enjoyable series. A well-done re-imagining of a beloved character, and great new stories for that character to make her way through. I hope the author has many more Jane Eyre mysteries in her mind. I will keep reading them, and look forward hopefully for a third in this series.

[Chelsey Wolford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderfully woven historical fiction is set shortly before the coronation of King George IV. Jane and her family are staying in a London townhouse owned by her close friend, Lucy Brayton. I was pleased to see more of Lucy Brayton in this novel. What I loved best about this novel was that it wasn’t only a murder mystery but showed the political side of things during the time period. This book provided an amazing inside look at high society England, as well as a detailed and realistic description of political actions being taken by the King and his followers.

This book was written baring many similarities to Charlotte Bronte, who actually wrote Jane Eyre. The murder mystery in this book starts right from the first chapter and continually spirals from there. The writing was very elegant and drew me into the story with small details relating to high society and the way that Jane and Lucy behaved and flourished on the ton. While drawing readers in to the mystery revolving around Jane, Joanna also adds small details regarding the political situation surrounding the King and gives readers more than one reason to get involved in Jane’s story. I was completely mesmerized by the historical side of this novel, and I absolutely love when authors draw me in this way.

Jane’s voice is the ultimate for me in this book. She is a strong, witty heroine who will always have my vote. I felt this way even after reading the first book in this series, and I still feel this way even now. I feel like Joanna writes her character in the same manner that Charlotte Bronte intended for her to be written. For a woman in the 1800’s, she sure does have a powerful voice and a lot to say, but we all know that I love this in a heroine! I would recommend this series, and this book, to anyone who has a taste for a little mystery and a strong appreciation for anything historical!!

***Thank you to the publishers at Berkley Trade for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review***

[Chelsea Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane and her family have come to visit London while extensive repairs are being done to Ferndean. They stay with their friend Lucy Brayton who is thrilled for the company and wants to introduce Jane to the delights of high society. However, things don't go as planned when the two women are snubbed by some other society ladies and when the two go to attempt a reconciliation of some sort, one of the women drops dead! Faced with the possibility that Lucy could be blamed for the death, Jane sets out to figure out what killed the Dowager. Along the way, Jane has to deal with many people who want a letter that is in her possession--a letter from King George IV to the woman he truly loved, and a letter that could be very damaging to his upcoming coronation if it were to fall into the wrong hands. Jane must work hard to discover the killer as well as figure out how to deal with the letter without allowing harm to come to those she cares about most.

Joanna Campbell Slan has created a delightful follow up to the story of Jane Eyre, first with her book Death of a Schoolgirl (which I haven't read yet) and now with Death of a Dowager. The book feels like a natural extension of the story line created by Charlotte Bronte back when she originally wrote Jane Eyre. She writes in plots/subplots that are believable and does an amazing job of weaving everything together so that the story flow is uninterrupted. It's clear that she did extensive research about the times as she has her characters doing/acting through things as they were in the 1820s, right down to the characters descriptions of the smelly streets, and overwhelming mixture of flowers topped with dead bodies.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick, easy read that was filled with interesting facts about British history.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan of the Kiki Lowenstein contemporary mystery series and nonfiction scrap booking books by Joanna Campbell Slan. JCS now has a new series, the Jane Eyre Chronicles. These are quite a departure from her earlier books. I suggest reading Death of a School Girl, the first book in the series, before reading Death of a Dowager. I personally prefer to read a series sequentially for the nuances of character and back story. However, as a well constructed mystery, Death of a Dowager can stand on its own.
The Jane Eyre we meet in Death of a Dowager has a feisty approach to life as a wife, mother, mistress of Ferndean Manor, and amateur sleuth. After a fire damages Ferndean Jane, Rochester and their son embark on an extended stay in London with their dear friend Lucy Brayton. Despite Lucy’s guidance through the perils of the social set of London, Jane encounters a very public snub from her nemesis Lady Ingram. As a result, Jane is unwittingly drawn into the intrigue of the court of King George IV.
With a skillful touch Joanna Campbell Slan takes her readers back to the seemingly gentle times of Jane Eyre. She stays true to the iconic characters, themes and time period. Her vivid descriptions of the physical settings of London and Ferndean were captivating. All of her characters,are so well developed that the reader emotionally connects with them. I found the conversation among the characters flowed naturally and was never stilted. Slan’s occasional touches of humor make for a very readable mystery. Death of a Dowager will also appeal to fans of well researched historical fiction.
Put your feet up, brew a cup of tea to go along with a scone and you will have a very pleasant time with Jane Eyre and the Death of the Dowager.

[Andrea Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you can simply judge a book by its cover. The Death of a Dowager is one of those books. I knew I wanted to read it when I first saw it. It is the second book in the Jane Eyre mystery series and can be read as a stand alone novel.

The cover is absolutely stunning, it is hard not to look at it!

I'm always fascinated when other authors take character's from another novel and make them their own, especially if they are done well, and the book most definitely is. I think I found Jane Eyre and Rochester more interesting in Joanna's book then in...well...yeah..I'm going to hell for saying this..but I liked Jane better here, than in Jane Eyre.

It has been years since I read Jane Eyre, (Uh...sophomore year in high school, I think), so this was really like going back to meet old friends. (Well don't tell that to my sophomore self that preferred cheesy romance novels)

The writing was perfect and the mystery engaging a great escape and if you are a lover of the Bronte novel, well Joanna does a superb job of continuing the story!

I do admit the first half of the book was slow for me..the part leading up to the death of Mrs. Ingram, but after that things started moving along and the story really pulled me in.

Jane and Rochester are really a loving couple and I loved Mrs. Grainger, and yes, when they buried Mags, her dog, I teared up.

The historical aspects of the book really piqued my interest. I know more about Prinny while he was Regent, then in the period when he was to become King.

I look forward to reading more of this series and recommend it highly to lovers of Bronte's classic novel and historical mysteries.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to start this review with my misconception pertaining to the type of story this was going to be. So I thought this was going to be like a cozy mystery where Jane Eyre was sleuthing for the answer to a murder. This is not the case, she is among the group of people where a death has occurred and by extensive thought she can help the detective pinpoint who the killer was. Jane Eyre does not purposely go around to people questioning them trying to solve the case. Though in a sense this is like a cozy mystery, because Jane's friend is a constable and she is able to consult him with case particulars. Because of my error, I thought a lot of the story was frivolous, in the sense that it was more day-to-day particulars, instead of Jane solving the case, which is not the case, now, that I have been able to think back on the story.

With my misconception out of the way, I can now give my opinion on the story.

This was my first The Jane Eyre Chronicles, the second in the series, but I did not feel like I needed to have read the first one to understand the setting and extra characters. I have read Jane Eyre and seen movie adaptations, so I was familiar with the major characters of the story.

The language and flow of the story was very easy to read, with short and contained chapters, which made for a delightful tale.

I usually don't read fan fiction, based off of beloved modern Classics, but this one was delightful to read and Charlotte Bronte would have been pleased with the portrayal of her characters.

[Antar Jabareen · Rating 3 out of 5]

الرواية الثانية في السلسلة والتي تدور معظم أحداثها في لندن.
بسبب الوضع المزري لبيت عائلة جين إير تسافر العائلة تدريجيا الى بيت صديقتها لوسي والتي تحاول إدخالها الى الوسط المخملي .
مساعي صديقتها لوسي تصادف متاعب سببها الليدي إنجرام وابنتيها واللائي لم ينسين خدعة زوج جين إير ورفضه بالزواج من احدى البنتين بادعائه الفقر.
وكذلك هناك مشكلة الرسالة الملكية من المغامرة الاولى لجين اير واحتفاظها برسالة الملك لعشيقته والتي من شأنها ان تشكل ابتزاز للملك بيد من يملكها وقد تزيحه عن عرش التتويج ان ظهرت للملأ.
وكذلك لوسي وابن زوجها الغير شرعي الطفل الذي تنتظر وصوله لبيتها لتقدمه للمجتمع والخوف من عدم تقبل المجتمع له.
في ظل هذه الظروف وأثناء زيارة لوسي وجين إير لدى صديقتها والتي هي زوجة أخ الليدي إنجرام والتي تقوم برعايتها وابنتيها بعد موت أخيها وتشارك لوسي كلبا أخ لكلب لوسي وهي تحب لوسي جدا.
في أثناء الزيارة ووجود عشيق للملك في ذلك الاجتماع تموت الليدي انجرام وكذلك الكلب.
تبدأ سلسلة من التهم والاشتباه بالعديد من الاشخاص وتقوم ابنتيها باستخدام ذلك كغرض للانتقام كل مرة من شخص كالطبيب ولوسي وجين إير.
في ظل هذه التهم والشكوك تحاول جين إير حل اللغز وتحاول لوسي المصالحة مع المجتمع المخملي والحفاظ على رسالة الملك بعيدا عن الأيدي الخاطئة.
في النهاية تنجح جين بحل اللغز واكتشاف القاتل او المسبب لموت الليدي انجرام.