This novel relies on the wit and perception that make Jane Austen’s novels so enjoyable, to help unravel a mystery. At a ball held by Sir John Harcourt a body is discovered. The murdered woman was a milliner and Jane’s brother George is suspected of the crime. Jane must now use her shrewd observational skills to save him from the noose. It was a really fun read with a feisty, intelligent Jane who I really enjoyed. I took to all of her family, written just like they are characters in their novels. Their letters were funny and it’s clear from the outset that the author is a huge Austen fan and was very respectful of her work.

A enjoyable lighthearted read, laugh out loud a play on true history easy to read and keep up with would recommend

So much fun and so light-hearted and joyful to read! What an absolute pleasure it was to read this especially in the middle of a reading rut. Highly recommend

This book was an absolute antidote to the heaviness of the world right now. Whilst not light in subject matter (murder and corruption) Jessica Bull has a light touch and manages to bring a huge amount of fun into the book. A supreme hybrid of historical fiction and whodunnit!
From following @jessicabullnovelist it's obvious that she is a Jane Austen aficionado and she brings her fully to life on the page and I get the feeling that this characterisation is going to develop further with more books coming. I loved how the book subtly explored the role of women in this society and you can feel Jane's drive for more.
What was brilliant about this book was how much historical fact about the Austen family was woven Theoughout

I found this book to be very disappointing.
I enjoyed the beginning of the book - probably about 40% of it and this was the point where I realised that this Jane Austen was pretty stupid.
Also, after she had incorrectly accused just about everyone, the actual murderer wasn't that much of a surprise.

I gather that this is the first in a series. I shan't be reading any others.

This was an enjoyable read that I breezed through. I loved the investigation and the letters to Cassandra helped to wrap up the most recent discoveries. I loved the regency setting and some of te secondary characters like Mary and Eliza. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book.

3.5 (RTC)

A cosy mystery with Jane as the feisty main character you’d expect.
This was an easy read and I really enjoyed the camaraderie between Jane and her siblings. To be a female independent thinker in her time was considered a rarity and how frustrating it must have been for Jane to learn to keep quiet and never give an opinion.
The actual mystery was an entertaining one, and I changed my mind several times as we were lead first this way then that as Jane’s investigation grew. A satisfactory conclusion was given to us by the end and Jane’s story definitely lends itself to more in the series.

Enjoyed how this mirrored Austen's own writing, and made the most of how smart she was, but felt that this did lack pace in many places and took too long setting up characters etc at the expense of moving the story along.

This is the first book in a series of cozy crime mysteries where the main character is Jane Austen.

I struggled a little to get into the story but I suspect that was due to the need to set the scene for the future series. I did grow to love it though, as the mystery settkled into an intriguing one that kept me guessing.

I think this will lead to a strong series of cozy mysteries.

Loved the way the Austen family is brought to life and when Jane’s brother risks imprisonment or worse she acts to pull all the facts together and by the end she finds a way through the cues to clear his name.
Brilliantly bring life of Austen’s time to life.

A cracking premise, brilliantly executed. Jessica Bull knows her Austen, but delivers it with a light touch. I thoroughly enjoyed this and look forward to more from this author!

The Hapless Milliner, the first book of the Miss Austen Investigates series, starts off strong with a murder of a mysterious merchant whom only our main character Jane recognizes.

The first 30% of the book was enjoyable and I thought this has the potential to being a 4 star read. However the joy flew out of the window the moment you realize Jane is not exactly clever... at all. It's definitely not going to bother everyone as it is a matter of preference, but I do expect the main character of a murder mystery novel to have at least a few working (little grey) brain cells. Jane does not need much evidence to come to conclusions and accuse (publicly!) every character she starts to suspect. She does not take her time to think it through, she just points fingers to the point where even her own family is telling her off. She did that to every main suspect, making the mystery... not really that much of a mystery.

That is also why I felt the conclusion to the mystery was anti-climactic and didn't make sense to me personally. You really want me to believe that someone who doesn't think much through and is guided by emotion rather than logic suddenly solved the murder and found an extremely unlikely murderer? I personally could not, leaving me very disappointed by the end.

There was also so many side characters and they mostly read the same, which isn't a big problem but I did find it a tad boring.

I think there is potential in this series but sadly this book just didn't do anything for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Novelist Jane Austen finds herself the investigator of a murder when her younger brother is implicated in the crime.

Cleverly working with documented events and characters from Jane Austen's life, this is a page-turner of a murder mystery with added jeopardy and left me wanting to turn back to my Austen biographies to find out more!

It's 1795 and the only thing on Jane's mind is whether Tom Lefroy is going to propose at the local ball.

But then there's the shocking discovery of a milliner's lifeless body in a closet and the tragic event has consequences the Austen family could never have envisaged.

Jane's younger brother Georgy is implicated in the crime and Jane takes it upon herself to clear his name. If she doesn't succeed the consequences are profound.

I do like a murder mystery and this was wonderfully pitched with a period setting, our familiar and admirable heroine, and just the right mix of wry humour and fear and trepidation.

I really enjoyed this, a well crafted murder mystery and with a young Jane Austen solving the crime. I loved the setting, the descriptions of the parlours and dresses. A different take on the usual cosy crime, I would recommend.

A fun and witty book that is a great mix of historical fiction and a murder mystery. Being solely from the point of view from Jane herself you go on the journey with her to find out who murdered Zoe Renard. I enjoyed the story as I am a fan of Jane Austen and her works and I do love a murder mystery and this was a well written one with good twists. However, I felt the book was just a bit too long and some elements could have been wrapped up quicker. I also wasn’t sure I felt comfortable with how Georgie was portrayed I felt like it was quite a dated view of someone with a disability.

This is a murder mystery story using the names and places of Jane Austen and her family. It is not really written in her style, and is without the wit. If you are a lover of Jane Austen, you may be disappointed. If you just want a historical crime novel, then you will enjoy it

The book was very enjoyable and a lovely introduction to this reimagining of a period in JA’s life, but I soon grew tired of the descriptions of wallpaper in everyone’s drawing rooms and parlours, which the author seemed to deem necessary to give the book a feeling of period place.

The mystery was well plotted and the Austen family collective were excellently portrayed in all their various ways to deal with a crisis!

📚🔍 Book Review: "Miss Austen Investigates" by Jessica Bull 💼🔎

"Miss Austen Investigates" by Jessica Bull offers a delightful twist on the classic world of Jane Austen, blending mystery and historical fiction with aplomb. 🎩🕵️‍♀️ From the moment I delved into this charming tale, I found myself thoroughly engrossed in the clever sleuthing of our intrepid protagonist.

Bull's writing style effortlessly captures the essence of Austen's era, transporting readers to a time of corsets, carriages, and clandestine affairs. As a fan of both Austen's works and mystery novels, I was delighted by the seamless integration of familiar Austenian characters and settings into a compelling whodunit narrative.

While the pacing may lag in some places, particularly in the middle sections of the book, the overall plot remains engaging and filled with enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing until the very end. Bull's attention to historical detail adds depth and authenticity to the story, immersing readers in the rich tapestry of Regency England.

I thoroughly enjoyed "Miss Austen Investigates" and commend Jessica Bull for her inventive take on beloved literary characters. For its clever premise, engaging plot, and homage to Jane Austen, I am pleased to award this book 4 stars. 🌟📖

I extend my heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of "Miss Austen Investigates." It was a pleasure to delve into this intriguing mystery, and I eagerly anticipate future literary adventures from Jessica Bull. 📚🔍

There's plenty of historical mysteries featuring Jane Austen but this is one of the best: witty, well plotted, a solid mystery that kept me guessing.
I loved the well rounded characters, the vivid historical background, the good storytelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

While Jane Austen is surreptitiously meeting her admirer Tom Lefroy at Lord and Lady Harcourt's ball, other guests are discovering a woman's dead body hidden away in a linen closet. Shocked to find this is a women she's met, although only briefly, Jane decides to investigate.

Official suspicion moves from an unknown itinerant worker to Jane's brother George, but really fails to investigate. Jane on the other hand sets about learning more about the deceased woman, and finds her suspicions landing on a variety of local gentlefolk.



The story weaves details of Jane Austen's life - her family and circumstances, and her romance with Tom Lefroy - with an intriguing murder mystery, and I must admit I found the murder side of things more engrossing. In part, I suppose, this is due to having seen the film Becoming Jane with Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy and being aware of the romance between Jane and Tom Lefroy. The murder mystery though was gripping and satisfying. As Jane's investigations progress the suspects seem to multiply rather than reduce, until it seems like almost everyone outside of Jane's immediate family might have had a motive for murder. A book that I'm sure will appeal to lovers of cosy crime