Jane and the Final Mystery by Stephanie Barron

I have enjoyed this long series of British historical mysteries featuring author Jane Austen as an amateur sleuth, beginning with Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor. Jane and her sister Cassandra exchanged many, many letters over the years and the outlines of Jane’s life and writings are known, giving author Stephanie Barron many real-life settings for her mysteries.

Jane fans know that the author died fairly young, and she is in decline during this mystery, but I still found it a clever, enjoyable read. Visiting her friend Elizabeth Heathcote at Winchester, Jane’s support is needed when Elizabeth’s stammering son, William, becomes a suspect in a crime at his all-male boarding school, Winchester College. Jane’s nephew, Edward, recently graduated from Winchester College and is a great help in her quest to clear William’s name. William won’t give an alibi for the time of the crime, but wasn’t at the school. Jane, naturally, finds out what happened, and especially why.

Despite having discomfort and needing to rest more, Jane’s brain and her pen are as active as ever. There is also definite hope for some new treatments. This is indeed the final mystery in the Jane Austen series, but new readers have many to enjoy, including a holiday title: Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Future blog posts will include a couple of holiday reads, a teen fantasy novel, a new mystery by Richard Osman, and two books by engineer/historian Henry Petroski, best known for his microhistory of the pencil. More nature and baking photos are also expected, plus another appearance from Little Bear.

Brenda