I enjoyed this immensely. I loved the way the main character investigated the clues and this was such a good cozy mystery. Gentle and easy, just perfect. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

As mentioned in a previous review for this year so far, crime is not my genre of choice (though you would be forgiven for thinking otherwise given that the first two books I've read in 2024 have been crime books). I have been tempted back into the genre by the premise of it being centred around Jane Austen as a lead character. I love Austen and read pretty much any book based on anything of hers when I find it; this is no exception.

I enjoyed the idea of Austen using her infallible wit and intelligence to solve a murder in her hometown. For the most part, that element of the story delivered - the cogs of her mind were whirring page on page, and she connected dots that characters around her either missed or ignored completely.

I also though the family members were well utilised. The author gave a good sense of family, while staying true to the influences that these real people would have had on some of Austen's characters. They didn't feel completely removed from a reality that gave us the Austen persona that we are all more familiar with.

However, that in my opinion, was the only connection that I was able to find. I felt a disconnection with the idea that the character in this book and my favourite author were the same person. While that is totally excusable, because the author has just based her character on the idea of a real person, I personally found it a little disappointing that more effort had not been made in this area.

I also found myself little emotional connection to the conclusion of the story. While I appreciated the efforts to keep things twisting and turning right up to the last few pages, it just didn't feel particularly shocking or exciting to me when I was reading it.

This was passable enough for me, but has further reinforced my sentiment that crime is just not the genre for me.

This was a very good read with great characters amongst an historical setting with so much attention to detail. A lovely easy to read cosy mystery with lots of twists and turns with a surprise ending. Looking forward to reading more of the same.

Miss Austen investigates is centred round the title’s eponymous heroine and famous 18th Century writer who, on a winter’s evening, attends with her family an engagement party only to discover the body of a local milliner who has been beaten to death in a cupboard. This shocking discovery is elevated to even more dramatic heights when Austen’s brother George is implicated in the crime and so begins the narrative journey of trying to vindicate his name and free him from the clutches of the law and a potential death sentence.

George Austen was one of the only Austen siblings who was cared for throughout his childhood and beyond by a local family in the village where the Austen family resided. It was known that he had some form of learning disability, and, for some reason, it was decided by Jane’s family that he should live away from the family home. Poignantly, within this fictional world, the writer creates a strong bond between Jane and George and her compulsion to solve the murder and free her brother is what drives her to push against social and gender barriers.

The novel itself was well researched and it felt that the author was knowledgeable regarding time era as repeated references to clothing and etiquette pervaded the text. Jane’s own limitations and frustrations with societal attitudes towards women was an issue that was always returned to, and no doubt real life Jane Austen would have felt something similar as we can see from her own works of fiction. It did feel a little bit frustrating that Jane’s writing endeavours took a bit of a back seat to the main plot focus of discovering the murderer’s identity. Personally, I wanted to spend more time with Jane’s character and her thinking about her writing and creative process. I found that I had my own sense of how Jane Austen might react in certain situations and slipped slightly into disbelief when she wildly accuses several characters of being the murderer along the way. Jane Austen is so well formed in our collective consciousness that it can feel problematic when a writer choses to utilise them for fictional narratives that are at odds with your own perceptions, although I recognise this is a fault that lies with me and not the writer.

There were moments in the novel that I really enjoyed, such as the presentation of the relationship between Jane’s brother Henry and her first cousin Eliza. In time they would come to marry, but at this point in the story we are left to perceive their relationship through the eyes of Jane and so left outside of their burgeoning romance. Jane’s friendship and admiration of her cousin is also well done. Eliza de Feuillide, is an interesting character in her own right and is the subject of much historical debate. A single mother who had to flee from the French revolution, she raised her son, Hastings on her own. Eliza’s son seemed son seemed to share a disability with his uncle George and it is interesting to consider the different representations and treatment of both.

Overall, this felt like an enjoyable read that had all the typical aspects of a cosy crime tale and it was great to be in the company of the fictional Austen family.

This book was so up my street.

As a huge fan of Jane Austen, I must admit I was hesitant as to whether her voice would come through as I imagined, but I needn't have worried! Austen is in the most capable hands of Jessica Bull and this book is an absolute triumph. It has all the components that you love from Austen's work, with a tone that echoes Bridgerton, and finished off with a sprinkling of Agatha Christie mystery.

Miss Austen Investigates could not be a more perfect formula for success. I will be recommending this book for a long time!

Firstly thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this early copy. As soon as i saw this was coming I knew I had to read it as I love anything Jane Austen/period and cosy crimes and this totally fit the bill. I thoroughly enjoyed the story the whole way through, did have to stop myself from reading the preview chapter of the next book though! But so glad there is another one coming. While there are mentions of Janes writing at this stage I didn’t necessarily feel like I was reading about the world famous author but that also really didn’t make a difference to my enjoyment of the book. As a character I loved Jane, she was feisty and wouldn’t stand for rubbish yet was also fiercely loyal to her family and her Georgy. I really enjoyed the mixture of personalities within the Austen family as well as the additional characters. The story had a lovely flow making it hard to put down at any given stage and I enjoyed how there was a chapter from the victims perspective near the end tying the story together nicely. The plot itself isn’t overly complicated (although I still didn’t predict the ending) but this worked perfectly in allowing to develop the characters while still having an interesting plot and I look forward to hopefully lots more adventures of miss Austen investigates.

Jane Austen is attending a society ball in her neighbourhood when a young girl is found murdered and stuffed in the linen cupboard. When her brother George is accused of stealing her necklace, ripped from her throat, it's up to Jane to find the real culprit, and clear his name.

I went into this with some trepidation, but had read some good reviews so I decided to give it a go. The author clearly knows her stuff and was keen to impart that knowledge, so there is a lot of biographical detail, and a large cast of characters which could perhaps be a bit daunting for someone who doesn't know much about the authors life, but for anyone who has read at least one biography, there is a lot of detail that is recognisable, and the characters will be familiar. I found once I'd settled into the story, it moved along quite easily, I just had to get past the absurdity of Jane Austen as a detective, (of sorts). I will look forward to the next instalment.

*Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a review copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*

Hampshire, 1795 where the Austen family reside at the local rectory, sister Cassandra is engaged to be married, & where Jane is in the midst of a romance with Tom Lefroy. At tonight's dance, Jane is sure that Tom is about to pop the question when their tryst is interrupted by the discovery of a dead body. A young milliner (hatmaker) has been killed, her body hidden in a linen closet. There are plenty of suspects including local bigwig Sir John, but when one of her brothers is accused of having something to do with the crime, Jane finds herself investigating a murder.

I rather enjoyed reading this one. The author weaves together fiction & real people & events from Jane's life into an engaging historical mystery. I found myself looking up some of her family members especially glamourous cousin, Eliza Capot, Comtesse de Feuillide, widow of Captain de Feuillide who lost his life in the French Revolution. I thought that the character of Jane was a little too immature here & her noted intelligence didn't really have chance to shine. - solving the case seemed to be a matter of accusing almost everyone involved one by one rather than actually deducing anything. I enjoyed it enough though that I would be interested in reading another. 3.5 stars (rounded up)

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Penguin Random House/Michael Joseph, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

A delightful read! I really enjoyed this story with Jane Austen investigating a murder to save her brother. Jane was a bright, feisty and occasionally outright wrong in her assumptions as you would hope. The scene setting was great and the novel felt to be historically accurate. Lots of twists and turns and a few red herrings made for a wonderful read.

As a fan of the actual Miss Jane Austen, this was a wonderful insight into her earlier world and whilst there were obviously lots that were imagined by Jessica Bull, she includes many accurate historical details that help to ground the story. I loved the fiesty, clever and passionate Jane as a young woman and her adventures in this novel really play on her character.
The murder mystery was well set out with several red herrings and misunderstandings along the way - helped along by Jane's willingness to chase after a thought! Perfect for any fan of a cosy crime and historical fiction. I will certainly be looking out for future books in the series!

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

Set in the early years of Jane Austen's career, and combining believable fiction with known facts, this is an enjoyable addition to the Austen canon. Whilst including many members of the Austen family, we are also introduced to characters we will later meet again in Miss Austen's actual novels. I will say little about the plot as I don't wish to give any spoilers, but there are red herrings aplenty!

With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for an ARC.

Miss Austen is rather enjoying herself at Deane House until the Ball is cut short by the discovery of a body. Who was the victim in the closet and what were they murdered at a Ball? Jane must discover the murderer before time runs out and an innocent person is found guilty of the crime.

The idea of an iconic author turning detective is not a new one. I love The Bronte Mysteries which are written with such insight and care by Rowan Coleman so I was over the moon when I heard about Miss Austen Investigates. There was also a degree of trepidation as well. I really wanted it to be as good but also not a copy, For me, what I enjoy about these type of novels is how the author writes these characters. I want to recognise these characters from the novels they wrote and believe that they would deal with situations in the way they are presented.

I needn't have worried. Miss Austen Investigates is great fun. I love Jane in the novel. She isn't the middle aged small lady in the lace cap that you think of when Jane Austen is discussed. She is young and occasionally foolish. She is passionate and often jumps to the wrong conclusion. She is a girl at the start of her life and full of life.

One of the best things about the novel is Jane's family and how they are developed. Having three sons myself the depiction of Henry and James really made me smile and the large family unit with all the different characters and bonds just shines.

The "easter eggs" of names and quotes was also nicely done. It's a literary equivalent of pointing to an actor in a movie and going "ooh I didn't know he was in it!"

I enjoyed it immensely and will definitely be reading the next one.

A fascinating concept of Jane Austen as a amateur sleuth, trying to solve a murder in order to save someone she loves.
It’s sparkling, fresh and incredibly true to the historical period, you felt you were totally inhabiting Jane Austen’s world, but in a way you’ve never seen before.
Complete with so many Austen references that bring her wider circle of family and friends to life.
The first in a series of hopefully many more.
The cosy crime mystery we’ve all been waiting for.
Thanks @novelistjessica, @michaeljbooks & @netgalley for the pleasureable read

‘Miss Austen Investigates’ by Jessica Bull imagines the incredible author at age 20 as a determined and smart sleuth attempting to solve a murder that took place ahead of a grand ball! Unfortunately, her mute brother Georgy is suspected of a lesser but related crime, so her drive to uncover the truth turns into a desperate race to save his honour… and perhaps his life.

I loved Jane as a character in this novel - she was smart, tenacious and caring - and it was interesting to be immersed into her family and background. Her cousin Eliza was a wonderful guest, and I laughed greatly when she insisted to Jane that a particular character who was a single man in expectation of a good-enough fortune simply MUST be on the lookout for a wife… I guess that’s Jane’s inspiration revealed!!

Jane’s dalliance with a young man visiting town was a fun addition, and the rules of society woven throughout the narrative and driving so many characters’ actions - from nobles to servants - were interesting. The mystery itself was cleverly plotted, with seeds scattered throughout the narrative, an enjoyable number of red herrings and a satisfying conclusion.

I felt that the pace was relatively slow, and the number of characters introduced in the first few chapters was slightly overwhelming to keep track of, but by about a quarter of the way in I knew everyone and was engrossed in the unusual whodunnit. The periodic letters from Jane to her sister Cassandra helped keep track of suspects even if they were a tad repetitive.

Overall, this one gets four stars from me. I highly recommend to fans of Jane Austen, cosy mysteries and historical fiction.

I received a free review copy of this ebook from the publisher Michael Joseph Books via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was a wonderful and easy going read! Perfect for my first book of the new year.

This is a cosy crime set during Jane Austen's life, with Jane acting as a detective (in her spare time, in between drafting Lady Susan) to solve the murder of a woman found dead during a ball. Jane is forced to solve the crime to save her own brother from the gallows for the connected theft of the woman's necklace.

It's a fantastic blending of cosy crime with classical fiction, with an added flair of biography. I really enjoyed the fictional (yet loyal to the biography) of Jane Austen as a detective, attempting to solve a murder. It is such a fun and unique concept that I think worked extremely well, and seamlessly. I especially enjoyed the biographical aspect of the book; it felt well-researched (or perhaps, well-loved).

Yes, Jane was constantly accusing the wrong suspect and was perhaps a little clumsy at times. However, I do think it's important to remember that she is an amateur and very young; she is not a sophisticated "detective" that is well versed in all things criminal. She is desperate to save her brother from the gallows. I think a bit of naivety can be accepted and excused. She is, after all, not Conan Doyle.

This book reads extremely well and like it will certainly be the beginning of a wonderful series.

A nice, interesting story but, in my opinion, it was far too long.

The setting was good, the characters were well written but it just didn’t keep me enthralled.

Whodunnit Austen Style
The author cleverly interweaves facts and fiction in this whodunnit style murder mystery. It wasn’t for me but was well-written.
The discovery of a woman’s body at a ball Jane is attending shakes up the local community. Jane is less than amused with the local magistrate’s investigating skills and doesn’t see why he is focusing on the culprit being an unknown trespasser turned opportunist thief, when half the county were there that night. The case turns personal for Jane and her family when a necklace belonging to the victim is found in the possession of Georgy Austen, Jane’s deaf/mute brother. With no other suspects the magistrate’s ’investigation’ winds down but Jane is not going to leave any stone unturned in her pursuit of clearing her brother’s name. And so begins Jane’s quest, where she lurches from one theory to another, with her writers brain often getting the better of her and hasty words getting her into hot water with her neighbours.
Readers interested in Austen should give this novel a try.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this story from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As a fan of Jane Austen books I was intrigued by this. I wasn't disappointed and loved the premise of the story. Jane is at a ball with some of her brothers and one of them stumbles over a dead body in a linen closet. Jane recognises the woman as someone who has sold her a bonnet at Basingstoke Market.
When Georgy, her brother who has learning difficulties is accused of stealing her necklace, Jane decides to do everything in her power, albeit it limited - after all it's 1796, to prove his innocence before the February assizes when it is likely he will be sent to Australia.
With plenty of red herrings, Jane investigates in her own way, sometimes causing terrible social faux pas, but she is determined to see it through.
An enjoyable read.

I am very happy to be given an opportunity by the Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and the Jessica bull . Thank you for the opportunity. It’s a book that has a great potential for a series for sure . Also as a feminist it’s refreshing to see a female centre character to struggle and investigate the murder . A very pleasant novel, the author was able to recreate the period easily. Love to read more of these kinds of books. Waiting for next book in series.

This was a great, twisty historical mystery. Using Jane Austen as a character was an inspired choice and added depth to the novel's plot. I'd definitely read subsequent instalments.