Miss Austen Investigates by Jessica Bull @NovelistJessica @MichaelJBooks

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that every good mystery is in need of a brilliant sleuth . . .

Welcome to Hampshire, 1795, where a young Jane Austen has her sights set on securing a marriage proposal from the dashing Tom Lefroy at a local ball.

But when a shocking discovery is made – a milliner’s lifeless body tucked away in a linen closet – Jane finds herself embroiled in an unexpected murder mystery.

As she races against the clock to clear her beloved brother Georgy’s name, Jane uses her sharp wits to navigate the treacherous waters of society, unmasking secrets and unearthing hidden motives along the way. With every twist and turn, Jane’s determination to solve the case deepens. And if she fails, her brother will face the ultimate punishment – the hangman’s noose . . .

Join Jane on her quest for justice as she faces down danger, deceit, and scandal amidst her own friends and neighbours. Will she uncover the truth in time, or will the real killer go free? One thing’s for certain – in Hampshire, nothing is as it seems . . .

My thoughts:

A huge thank you to Jessica Bull for a signed copy of her book, Miss Austen Investigates, published recently by Michael Joseph Books. I had won a proof in a prize draw, that never arrived so Jessica kindly sent me a beautiful finished copy.

Regular readers of my book blog will know that I enjoy reading cosy mystery books. I can confirm that I loved this book and I’m hoping that there will be a whole series of books. There is an excellent mix of secrets and humour in this story to ensure that it doesn’t get too dark.

I have to admit that I knew very little about Jane Austen, but I loved how Jessica brought the whole Austen family to life, so much so that I felt sad when the story ended.

Because I read this on a bad weather winter weekend day, I was able to curl up with the book and get totally lost in the story – which I highly recommend. The pace of the story is excellent and I loved the historical detail involved in the book.

Miss Austen Investigates is an excellent and enjoyable book and I look forward to reading more by Jessica in the future.