Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor

Stephanie Barron's Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor, Being the First Jane Austen Mystery features the beloved Jane Austen as a detective. The premise of the book and the books that follow in the series is that some long-lost journals of Jane Austen's have been discovered in a chest. The journals reveal that Miss Austen used her sharp mind, wit, and powers of observation to solve mysteries and described her thoughts and observations in those journals. This is completely fictional, of course, but Barron does a fair job of imitating Austen's voice and style and clearly knows a great deal about the real Jane Austen. She includes interesting footnotes that give more detail about Austen's life and the historical period in which the books are set. Barron also lifts some quotes from Austen's novels and intimates that they were inspired by her journal entries.

In the first book, Jane finds herself embroiled in a mystery while staying with her recently married young friend, Isobel Payne, Countess of Scargrave. At first, the untimely death of Isobel's much older husband, the Earl, is determined to be caused by an existing stomach ailment, but a grizzly murder that occurs on the property several days later leads to the discovery that the Earl was poisoned. When the evidence points to Isobel and the Earl's nephew, Lord Fitzroy Payne, Jane and her cohorts must uncover the truth. The plot is an intricate one that keeps the reader and Jane herself guessing. Jane is no Adrian Monk, though, and at the book's conclusion she learns that she has not quite put all of the pieces together accurately.

I was satisfied by the ending but did snicker at the Scooby Doo-like revelation, in which the formerly disguised culprit shouts, "Meddlesome girl! ... But for you I should have prevailed!" Jane Austen purists might not appreciate the concept and the liberties that the author takes with the real-life beloved author. But if your expectations are realistic and you're willing to make allowances for artistic license, you will find it an enjoyable story. I will pick up more of Barron's cozy mysteries; there are 9 Jane Austen mysteries to date.