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Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor
by Stephanie Barron
It seemed like a good idea in the bookstore. My favorite author, Jane Austen, plonked down into one of my favorite genres, the murder mystery. Sadly, the execution just wasn't up to it.
The novel takes place almost immediately after Jane's 12-hour engagement; in fact, Jane has come to visit her friend Isobel Payne, Countess of Scargrave, to escape from the whispers and speculations circulating among her usual set. When Isobel's much-older husband dies mysteriously on the night of a grand ball and an anonymous letter-writer points the finger at Isobel and the new Earl, Jane begins investigating to clear her friend's good name.
As a mystery, the book is fine. Barron will never replace Christie in the pantheon of mystery legends, but she can put together a good story. For me, the problem was with the characterization of Jane Austen. I just didn't believe her as the detective. My inability to suspend disbelief was exacerbated by too many almost-quotes from Austen's books. I felt the author was winking at the reader, and it threw me out of the story every time it happened. There are several additional books in the series, but I won't be reading them.
by Stephanie Barron
It seemed like a good idea in the bookstore. My favorite author, Jane Austen, plonked down into one of my favorite genres, the murder mystery. Sadly, the execution just wasn't up to it.
The novel takes place almost immediately after Jane's 12-hour engagement; in fact, Jane has come to visit her friend Isobel Payne, Countess of Scargrave, to escape from the whispers and speculations circulating among her usual set. When Isobel's much-older husband dies mysteriously on the night of a grand ball and an anonymous letter-writer points the finger at Isobel and the new Earl, Jane begins investigating to clear her friend's good name.
As a mystery, the book is fine. Barron will never replace Christie in the pantheon of mystery legends, but she can put together a good story. For me, the problem was with the characterization of Jane Austen. I just didn't believe her as the detective. My inability to suspend disbelief was exacerbated by too many almost-quotes from Austen's books. I felt the author was winking at the reader, and it threw me out of the story every time it happened. There are several additional books in the series, but I won't be reading them.
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