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.

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.

I tried to read the is book a few different times and could not get into the story. I liked the premise of this book, but was unable to make it more than 50 pages or so into the book. I wanted to love it.

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.

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!

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!

This was a delightful Middle Grade historical mystery!

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

Wow! This book is AMAZING! It is entertaining, fast-paced, witty, unique, engaging, and so much more! Whenever I picked up "Jane Austen Investigates: The Abbey Mystery", I was whisked back in time to the Georgian Era in England, and went on quite the adventure with this story!

This is the first book in Julia Golding's "Jane Austen Investigates" series, and I hope there will be so many more! Ms. Golding is such an incredible writer! Her writing style is visceral and vivid, and she truly draws the reader in from the first page to the last. Furthermore, I could envision each and every location in this book, from the abbey, to the ruins, to the horse stables, etc. Ms. Golding's characters all spring to life right off of the page, and I feel like I got to know each and every one. Some I Ioved from the start, some grew on me, and some...UGH! Moreover, Ms. Golding brilliantly weaves the various pieces of the mystery of the book together, and gives the reader clues throughout. Each piece of the puzzle falls into place in the exact moment it needs to in order to drive the plot forward, and I found myself on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what was really going on. I found myself trying to solve the mystery along with the characters!

Jane and Cassandra Austen are taking a carriage ride home, when the carriage has an accident, and Cassandra's arm is broken. Cassandra was soon supposed to leave for a week to be a companion to Lady Cromwell, but, Jane is sent in her place. Jane is such an intelligent, kind, spunky, and caring young girl, who loves reading! Not long after she arrives, things start to go wrong very quickly ( I don't want to include too many spoilers here!), and Jane decides to take matters into her own hands. It is up to Jane to solve the mystery of what is really going on before an innocent man is condemned. Working with her friends (and two of my favorite characters in addition to Jane!) Deepti and Luke, they find and follow various clues to hopefully find out the truth in time. With secrets, lies, and twists and turns along the way, will these three be able to put the clues together to solve a mystery surrounding a fire, missing (and potentially destroyed) documents, and stolen horses? Are the crimes connected? Is there something more going on than meets the eye? Is the abbey haunted by a ghost as is rumored? You will just have to read to find out!

I adore so many of the characters in this book! From Jane and Cassandra, to Deepti and her father Arjun, to Luke, to Grandison (Jane's dog, who is simply so precious, oh my goodness!), I hope we see these characters again in future books!

I loved reading the nods to Jane Austen's novel "Northanger Abbey" throughout this book! While you do not have to have read that book in order to enjoy this one, I loved seeing these throughout!

If you enjoy anything related to Jane Austen, I highly recommend this book! It had me turning page after page to see what would happen next, and I hope there will be many more books in this amazing series!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lion Hudson Ltd for the ARC if this book, it is AMAZING! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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!

Even before I discovered my love of Jane Austen I had a deep seated love of mysteries, so the fact that I've read two books this year that combine the two (the other being Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price) is just wonderful. Jane's characterization here reminded me a little bit of the Nancy Drew Notebooks series I read as a child, in a very nostalgic manner that I can't really pinpoint. I only mention it because I devoured those books and I could see someone reading this series with a similar devotion. I think this book, with its spirited protagonist and intriguing mystery, would be a great way to introduce any middle grade reader to historical fiction.

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!

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.

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!

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!