I read this to see if I should get it for my friend's daughter, a voracious reader, and it definitely fits the bill, Clever, gripping, and with one of my favorite characters.

This is one of those middle grade novels that is very much written for children, and possibly won't work as well for adults: I didn't get terribly much out of it, but it is the kind of thing I might give my 7yo sisters! The mystery was fun (if obvious), though the ending was very abrupt and everything seemed to get wrapped up rather too fast. I did enjoy Jane's character - even though she read quite a bit older than her supposed 13, both in her own actions and the way other people treated her (e.g. there was a moment where she mentioned that she wasn't invited to a ball because she was from a poor family... even though a 13 year old never would have been anyway, regardless of social class!) - and I liked all the references to her real-life family and her letters! However, all the side characters were fairly one-note (especially the villains, which made the mystery even more obvious).

This is charming book for youngsters. As a young girl, 55 years ago and counting, I would have really enjoyed it, and I think it is a good introduction to the era of the Jane Austin stories. The setting and the customs are well explained and offer an insight to the times. However I think that today’s young readers may expect something a little more sophisticated and current, so I’m not sure how well the book will be received. Although the story kept a good pace the ending was too abrupt and did not do the rest of the book justice, far too rushed. I do hope young readers enjoy it.
Thank you NetGalley.

Loved this delightful mystery featuring spunky young Jane Austen as a detective and her beloved dog Grandison as sidekick. Dispatched to serve Lady Cromwell as a companion, Jane soon finds herself intrigued by the mystery of the ghostly monk at Southmoor Abbey. That’s when the fun begins! Geared to middle grade readers, JANE AUSTEN INVESTIGATES still kept this adult racing through the pages. Series, please!

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 23 Apr 2021
#JaneAustenInvestigates #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, Lion Hudson Ltd, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

Thank you to Lion Fiction and NetGalley for providing me an opportunity to review this title.

The Abbey Mystery is a perfect mix of classic Austen style and a Nancy Drew mystery.

A young Jane Austen is portrayed as a head-strong protagonist in this detective narrative. In an environment very different to her own home and loving, happy family, Jane finds herself engulfed in an intriguing mystery whilst spending time as a companion at Southmoor Abbey, home to the wealthy Cromwell family. What ensues is a ghost hunt, a party, sassy conversations, a girl coming into herself and a mystery to solve.

This book was charming and fun to read!

First sentence: It had to be acknowledged that the life of a clergyman’s daughter in deepest rural Hampshire was disappointingly full of duties.

Premise/plot: Jane Austen, our heroine, is thirteen and spunky. In this, her first adventure, she goes to be a lady's companion to Lady Cromwell for a few weeks--as birthday celebrations are in high gear--and stumbles into her first (but presumably not last) mystery. Southmoor Abbey is rumored to be haunted; she first hears from her older brother who almost dares her to search out the ghost for herself. But it isn't a ghost--mad or not--that brings danger and excitement into her life: it is the master and mistress of the estate....

There are multiple mysteries to solve and lives do hang in the balance...though this is NOT a murder mystery.

My thoughts: I really loved this one. The novel opens in 1789 and stars the Austen family. If I use the word though, I don't mean it in a derogatory or condescending way... THOUGH it is a middle grade title and certainly appropriate for readers 9+ I think it holds appeal for readers of all ages. I enjoyed it as an adult. I could easily see myself enjoying it as preteen and teen. (Granted I loved HISTORICAL FICTION and reading in general.) Austen makes for a lively, spunky-quirky heroine. And THERE'S A DOG who plays a significant role in the story. In fact, would Austen have solved the mysteries WITHOUT the dog????? I'm not sure!

I think adults who have read all of Austen might enjoy this one especially.

Quotes:
“And if I see a ghost, Henry, I’ll tell it to get on to heaven–or the other place.” “I do believe you would. Prove there’s no such thing as a ghost at the Abbey and I’ll give you half a crown.” He patted his purse. Jane thought of the writing paper she could buy with such riches. “You have a deal.”

“I think Henry [XIII] guilty of crimes and cruelties too many to mention,” agreed Jane–she had strong opinions about the monarchs of the land. “I believe he was a man of no religion and little can be said in his defence.” “Oh, bravo, Miss Austen. I wish you had the task of writing the history books. I admire plain speaking.” Jane decided that Annette was all right–like Fitzwilliam, Deepti, and Luke, rather than the Cromwells.

My first advance copy and I love it!

The book has everything, adventure, humor, sibling love, and friendship. Jane Austen Investigates - The Abbey Mistery by Julia Golding tells the story of Jane Austen as a young detective. When an accident in the family forced a change of plans, young Jane, in place of her sister, was sent to Southmoor Abbey as a companion to Lady Cromwell. After being awakened in the middle of the night and seeing mysterious lights going off in the Abbey ruins, and several other strange occurences, Jane couldn't help but went to investigate.

The book is suitable for children ages 9 and above but it sure kept me on the edge of my seat from start to end.

I really wanted to like this book, but I couldn’t get into it. I found it to be slow moving and dull. The writing seemed forced and awkward.

I really enjoyed this little book, it’s a fictionalised story of the author Jane Austen and how she becomes a lady’s companion to Lady Cromwell. There she finds some strange things are happening and there is lots of talk of a ghost - the mad monk. We seen Mis Austen meet an array of characters and befriend some too as she tries to solve the mystery of the mad monk and a few others mysteries on the way too.

I really enjoyed this short novel, fictionalising Jane Austen as a deceive of sorts. I loved how you could see how the author had uses much of Austen’s novels to inspire characters but also the language used, as well as using the history of Jane Austen too and including snippets of letters between her and her sister Cassandra. I very much feel this book fits well within Austen’s Northanger Abbey.

I really enjoyed this imagining and was a fun and creative historical fiction ghost story that used knowledge about Austen and her books to create a great mystery. The only things I didn’t like was I found at points the timeline confusing and I would muddle up some of the characters names (but the last part is more on me as I do this anyway) - a character guide would be handy and maybe some added information as an appendix relating to the writing and inspirations/ true Austen information would be a great addition.

Apart from that thoroughly enjoyed reading, thank you NetGalley for my review copy!

A wonderful mystery, captivating the reader from the outset.

A young Jane Austen is portrayed as a head-strong protagonist in this detective narrative. In an environment very different to her own home and loving, happy family, Jane finds herself engulfed in an intriguing mystery whilst spending time as a companion at Southmoor Abbey, home to the wealthy Cromwell family.

With a host of very different but likeable characters, the story is fast-paced and engaging.

I would highly recommend the story to middle grade readers who enjoy delving into the world of historical mystery.

This middle grade reader was absolutely delightful. My daughters and I adored this book and can't wait for more! Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Jane Austen grew up to become a famous author, but when she was younger she...solved mysteries!
That at least is the premise of this new middle grade reader. I love that you don't need to know anything about the Jane Austen to get into this one. There's no subtle references to her novels or inside jokes only her readers will understand. For this book, Jane Austen is just a character who happens to have a literary streak, which shows up in her ardent note-taking and her clever letters to her sister. A fun read!
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to preview a digital version of this book.

The Abbey Mystery is a perfect mix of classic Austen style and a Nancy Drew mystery. As a huge fan of both, I was thoroughly charmed from the very first page, laughing to myself at Julia Golding’s earnest girl detective and clever turn of phrase.

It’s 1789 and thirteen year old Jane Austen is the heroine of her very own Gothic tale. As a young girl in the 18th century, Jane is of no earthly use to anyone. She’s isn’t as pretty as her older sister and has none of the rights or privileges of her brothers. Her fierce independence and love of language cause her to rebel against what is expected of her, much to her mother’s frustration, and find adventure wherever she goes.

After an “unfortunate accident”, Jane finds herself in the middle of intrigue and a mystery worthy of any of the novels she will one day go on to write. She is sent to Southmoor Abbey to act as a companion for Lady Cromwell. While she’s there, she witnesses family conflict, a ghost among the ruins and a terrible crime. With her new friends, she does all she can to solve the mystery and reveal the truth. In the process, she proves that she definitely is someone to be reckoned with.

The Abbey Mystery was inspired by Jane Austen’s actual novel, Northanger Abbey. Readers familiar with the story will be delighted by the similarities drawn out through the mystery. Links to the East India Company and a family brought over from India to serve and protect the Cromwell family adds another dimension to the story. It challenges prejudices of the time period and portrays the Indian culture in a powerful light.

Jane Austen was a woman ahead of her time, proving just how much a clever girl can achieve – whether society is ready for it or not! In The Abbey Mystery, Jane is a heroine for the next generation. Her story is the perfect introduction to the world of Jane Austen novels for new readers as well as a deliciously nostalgic journey for those who are already long-time fans. I truly hope that this book is the first of a series of wonderful mysteries.

Thank you to Lion Hudson Ltd for this fantastic book!