mystery

Jane and the Final Mystery

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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

The High Society Lady Detective Series

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Murder at Archly Manor, Murder at Blackburn Hall, and The Egyptian Antiquities Murder by Sara Rosett

I’m always looking for new mystery series to read. I enjoy cozy and historical mysteries, and some British police procedurals but have started reading quite a few mystery books that are either too light and fluffy to keep my interest or written to a formula and not distinctive enough to be memorable. Other mysteries are darker than I’m in the mood to read. So, I’m happy to discover the High Society Lady Detective Mysteries by Sara Rosett. I’ve enjoyed her contemporary series featuring Ellie Avery, a military spouse and mother who has become an expert at organizing and moving, and talented at solving mysteries as well. There are already seven titles in this historical series featuring Olive Belgrave, and I was impressed by the first three titles. They are set in London in 1923, and in houses in the English countryside.

Olive is living in a boarding house in London, looking for steady work, when her aunt asks her to investigate the background of her daughter Violet’s fiancé Alfred Eton. With the help of her cousin Gwen (and Gwen’s hand-me-down gowns) and her friend Jasper Rimington, Olive sets out to uncover the mysterious Alfred’s past. An unfortunate accident during a fireworks show has Olive searching for a possible murderer.

The second book, Murder at Blackburn Hall, finds Olive back in London, with most of her sleuthing involving locating missing pets. Then a publisher contacts her to locate a missing mystery author, whose latest manuscript is overdue. The challenge is that no one knows what the author looks like. A body is found on the riverbank near Blackburn Hall, possibly an accidental death. There are a couple of big secrets for Olive, and occasionally Jasper to uncover, when not playing golf or attending formal dinners at the Hall. The setting is described in just enough detail, and I liked that Olive is smart, not unnecessarily putting herself in danger. The Egyptian Antiquities Murder, set at a large town house in London owned by an amateur archaeologist, is atmospheric without being spooky, and the mystery is quite clever. I actually listened to the audiobook of Blackburn Hall, with a very good narration by Elizabeth Klett, before I read the other two books, I look forward to reading the other books in the future.

The Homewreckers

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The Homewreckers by Mary Kay Andrews

A very good summer read that includes romance, some humor, and a mystery. Readalikes include Maggie Moves on by Lucy Score, and books by Sarah Graves, Jennifer Crusie, and Tessa Bailey.

Hattie is a young widow in Savannah who works with her father-in-law Tug and best friend Cass rehabbing houses. When Hattie falls in love with the wrong dilapidated but promising house, she needs to recoup her losses quickly. Mo Lopez persuades her to film a pilot for a reality show he’ll call Saving Savannah. There’s not a lot of affordable housing inventory in the area, but Hattie hears about an auction for a condemned waterfront house on Tybee Island, in a historic district.

Trae is brought in a a designer for the tv show, and possible love interest, but Hattie isn’t sure she can trust him. A wallet is found in the wall belonging to Lanier Ragan, who’s been missing for 17 years. She was Cass and Hattie’s favorite English teacher, and they never thought she’d leave a young daughter behind.

The filming scheduled is incredibly tight, there’s a very picky inspector, and then some vandalism occurs on the property, including possible arson. The descriptions of the house remodeling sound charming, even without pictures, and I enjoyed the combination of themes in this charming page-turner. Even though this is a standalone novel, I wish Andrews would write more about Hattie and Cass.

Courting Dragons

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Courting Dragons: A King’s Fool Mystery by Jeri Westerson

This historical mystery is set in Greenwich, London, at the court of King Henry VIII, in 1529. Yes, that Renaissance King Henry. Court Jester Will Somers is in his mid-20’s and has challenging work, entertaining the King and his court, tumbling, making music, sharing gossip, teasing the nobility, and also being a good confidant for the young king, who he calls Harry or Uncle. Will was a real person, and was a jester for King Henry and even young Queen Elizabeth, and had his portrait painted at least twice. This is the first book in a planned series.

Many of the book’s characters are fictions, including Lady Marion, an embroideress who Will loves. Will also likes men, dallying with a servant and a visiting Spaniard. This secret is dangerous, and he could be blackmailed. As this is a mystery, Will also turns sleuth, when one man is killed, someone else is attacked, and Marion is almost killed. Was Marion the target, or was it one of Anne Boleyn’s ladies in waiting. Anne is not yet queen, as Henry is still married to Catherine of Aragorn, his first wife. The colorful daily life of Henry’s court comes to life, especially as a fool can go almost anywhere. This mystery really kept my interest, and I look forward to reading a sequel.

Readalikes include Thirteenth Night by Alan Gordon, the first of six Fool’s Guild mysteries and A Play of Isaac by Margaret Frazer, the first of seven mysteries featuring Joliffe.

Not the Ones Dead

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Not the Ones Dead by Kate Shugak

It’s great to see Kate Shugak, Alaskan P.I., back in fine form, along with her sidekick Mutt, half-husky and half-wolf, in this thrilling mystery. A Cold Day for Murder is Kate’s first appearance, while my favorite is the very funny Breakup. I also enjoy Stabenow’s Eye of Isis Egyptian mystery series, beginning with Death of an Eye.

Bobby Clark, a black Vietnam vet who runs the area’s unlicensed radio station, is run off the road near Kate’s homestead. In town, Inuit Kate is shopping with partner and fromer trooper Jim Chopin, when she is snubbed by a guy in camouflage.

A large isolated lodge has a new, unknown, owner and hikers on public trails nearby have been threatened. After a midair collision leaves 9 people dead, Kate is asked to investigate by the children of one of the pilots. There was drone activity in the area, and young reporter Van gets an anonymous email claiming there was a 10th body.

Set in mid to late 2022, the Niniltna Aunties may be looking to add to their group. Bernie’s Roadhouse, where the Aunties quilting group meets, has a serious problem. I won’t say much about the plot, to avoid spoilers. I was intrigued by the author’s note, which gives the inspiration for much of the plot. Welcome back, Kate, Mutt and Jim!

Brenda