Review: Jane and the Genius of Place by Stephanie Barron

Jane and the Genius of the Place (Jane Austen Mysteries #4)

By: Stephanie Barron

Publisher: Bantam

ISBN: 0-553-57839-1

About the book:

In the waning days of summer, Jane Austen is off to the Canterbury Races, where the rich and fashionable gamble away their fortunes. It is an atmosphere ripe for scandal - but even Jane is unprepared for the shocking drama that unfolds. A flamboyant French beauty, known for her brazen behavior, is found gruesomely strangled in a shabby chaise. While many urge the arrest of a known scoundrel with eyes for the victim, Jane looks further afield and finds a number of acquaintances behaving oddly. As rumors spread like wildfire that Napoleon's fleet is bound for Kent, Jane suspects that the murder was an act of war rather than a crime of passion. Suddenly the peaceful fields of Kent are a very dangerous place...and Jane's thirst for justice may exact the steepest price of all - her life.

Review:

In the summer of 1805, Jane Austen finds herself enjoying the comforts of a visit to Godmersham Park, her wealthy brother Edward's estate in Kent. Following the passing of her beloved father some eight months prior, Jane, along with her mother and sister Cassandra, found themselves set adrift in the world, dependent on the generosity of more well-heeled family members to provide them with shelter and sustenance. Jane determines to enjoy all the benefits that come with her brother's place in society, and is thrilled with a family outing to the Canterbury Races, where her brother Harry hopes to see a horse of his own meet with success. But a thrill of a different kind awaits Jane's keenly observant eye, when the universally disliked Francoise Grey, a flamboyant Frenchwoman, creates a scene and then is later discovered in a shocking state of dishabille, brutally strangled. With Edward serving as the local Justice of the Peace, Jane is privvy to all attempts to bring Mrs. Grey's murderer to justice - but events fail to lend themselves to a straightforward resolution. Was Mrs. Grey the victim of a simple lover's quarrel, or was she playing for deeper stakes - with an eye to Bonaparte invading England's shores? With the nation at stake, Jane's investigations threaten to uncover secrets that the powerful would pay dearly to keep hidden... 

For her fourth Jane Austen mystery, Barron continues her tradition of deftly incorporating a clever mystery story into actual known events that occurred in Jane's life. While Jane didn't broach political matters in her writing, it's clear from her letters that she was a well-informed woman, and with two brothers serving in the Navy it is no stretch to imagine that she was highly concerned with the course of England's war with Bonaparte. As Barron states in her Editor's Note introducing Genius of the Place, Kent was "ground zero" for Napoleon's invasion plans - and with the indomitable Jane there in the middle of it all, the possibilities for encountering some good old-fashioned espionage are endless. Barron couples her exploration of the political threat to England at the time with a focus on the pasttimes of a Regency gentleman that would have been of interest to a man occupying Edward's social position. From horse racing to the desire to "improve the landscape" with a re-routed stream or a well-placed ruin, Barron deftly incorporates rich period detail that brings Jane's world to vibrant life.

Along with her brother Edward, we are introduced to a new coterie of Jane's family and acquaintance. While I desperately missed old favorites like the enigmatic Lord Harold Trowbridge and Henry's vivacious wife Eliza, I loved the introduction of Edward's wife Elizabeth - Lizzy - who serves as Jane's primary companion, and I can't imagine a classier, more intelligent foil and sounding board for Jane and her investigations. Barron also introduces us to Anne Sharp, the Austens' governess, with whom Jane would form a life-long friendship and later present her with a presentation copy of her novel Emma. I loved how Barron imagines Anne's storyline to parallel that of Jane Fairfax's relationship with Frank Churchill in Emma. She has a gift for subtly echoing characters or themes found within Jane's published works that make this series an Austen fan's dream come true. The storyline would, I think, benefit from tighter plotting and an earlier, and more in-depth, focus on the espionage element so integral to the storyline. But nevertheless, Genius of the Place is another thoroughly enjoyable entry in the series, replete with Barron's delightful interpretation of Jane's style, wit, and insight.

***

This review marks the second time I've enjoyed Jane's visit to Kent. Read Laurel Ann's review of Genius of the Place at Austenprose, or author Stephanie Barron's post on the research behind the novel.

This marks my fourth entry in the Being a Jane Austen Mystery Challenge.

Review: Jane and the Wandering Eye by Stephanie Barron

Jane and the Wandering Eye (Jane Austen Mysteries #3)
By: Stephanie Barron
Publisher: Bantam
ISBN: 0-553-57817-0

About the book:

As Christmas of 1804 approaches, Jane Austen finds herself "insupportably bored with Bath, and the littleness of town." It is with relief that she accepts a peculiar commission from her Gentleman Rogue, Lord Harold Trowbridge - to shadow his niece, Lady Desdemona, who has fled to Bath to avoid the attentions of the unsavoury Earl of Swithin. But Jane's idle diversion turns deadly when a man is discovered stabbed to death in the Theatre Royal. Adding to the mystery is an unusual object found on the victim's body - a pendant that contains a portrait of an eye! As Jane's fascination with scandal leads her deeper into the investigation, it becomes clear that she will not uncover the truth without some dangerous playacting of her own...

Review:

In 1804, Jane Austen is resigned to a lackluster Christmas season in Bath with her family, until she receives a commission from Lord Harold Trowbridge. The Gentleman Rogue and Jane’s friend and ally through two recent criminal investigations, Lord Harold requests Jane bring her considerable powers of observation to bear on the activities of his niece, Lady Desdemona. Having fled from the unwanted attentions of an ardent suitor, Desdemona takes up residence with her grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Wilborough. Jane’s first opportunity to observe Lord Harold’s family is at a masquerade party the Dowager holds in honor of the Theatre Royal. But the festive atmosphere is disrupted when a tragedy worthy of Shakespeare unfolds before the horrified audience. The theatre group’s manager is found stabbed to death, with Desdemona’s brother, the Marquis of Kinsfell, standing over the body. With murder most foul casting its dark shadow over the Trowbridge family, Lord Harold descends upon Bath to solicit Jane’s help in clearing his nephew’s name. Time is running out for the Marquis, and with a miniature portrait of a stormy grey eye as their only clue, Lord Harold and Jane must work furiously together to unravel truth from fiction before one of them becomes the murderer’s next target.

Jane and the Wandering Eye is the third of Stephanie Barron’s mysteries featuring the famous author as amateur sleuth, and while it seems clichéd to say it, each adventure seems better than its predecessor. Once again, one of the most fascinating aspects of this series is the way in which Barron grounds her plots in the known facts of Austen’s life. Jane’s aversion to Bath is well-documented, and she made good use of her time there and penchant for lampooning ridiculous excess as the city is prominently featured in both Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. Therefore it is not too much of a stretch to thrust Jane into the tangles of an investigation involving the highest echelons of Bath society and arts and entertainment that made the city a social hotspot in its heyday. Barron delves deeply into the theatrical and artistic world of Jane’s time, populating her mystery with fascinating real-life characters like renowned miniaturist Sir Richard Cosway and painter Thomas Lawrence, the latter’s romantic entanglements with two of actress Sarah Siddons’ daughters have unexpected ramifications on Jane’s investigation. Barron has a knack for imbuing her novels with rich historical detail, from the cultural mores of Regency society down to detailed descriptions of the clothing, all combining to make Wandering Eye Jane’s most satisfying foray into the realm of detection yet.

I’m particularly partial to Barron’s Gentleman Rogue. This brooding, enigmatic spy is the perfect foil to match wits with Jane’s legendary wit, and this third volume relies heavily on the development of their relationship which is a joy to savor and watch unfold on the page. Since of course Austen never married, Barron has set herself quite the challenge in placing men in Jane’s life that could pique her interest, worthy of her intelligence and quick mind. Lord Harold, with his considerable political and social clout rises to the occasion on all points, and to have an entire novel that so prominently features the delicious push-and-pull of his interactions with the incomparable Jane is a rare treat indeed. I also loved the renewed focus Barron places on Austen’s family life. One cannot help but see some humorous similarities between the Reverend and Mrs. Austen and the fictional Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, and their familial interest in the reputation and future of their unmarried daughters. Wandering Eye is smartly plotted and liberally littered with plausible red herrings, resulting in the strongest Austen mystery yet in the series. Capped with a voice that is undeniably Austen-esque in its tone and humor, Barron’s third Jane mystery is a thoroughly absorbing read for Austen aficionados and an informative glimpse into a glittering, forgotten world.

***

• Read Laurel Ann's review of Jane and the Wandering Eye at Austenprose
• Read author Stephanie Barron's post on the research behind the book
• This review marks my third entry in the Being a Jane Austen Mystery Challenge

Review: Jane and the Man of the Cloth by Stephanie Barron

Jane and the Man of the Cloth (Jane Austen Mysteries #2)
By: Stephanie Barron
Publisher: Bantam
ISBN: 0-553-57489-2

About the book:

Jane and her family are looking forward to a peaceful holiday in the seaside village of Lyme Regis. Yet on the outskirts of town an overturned carriage forces the shaken travelers to take refuge at a nearby manor house. And it is there that Jane meets the darkly forbidding yet strangely attractive Mr. Geoffrey Sidmouth. What murky secrets does the brooding Mr. Sidmouth seek to hide? Jane suspects the worst - but her attention is swiftly diverted when a man is discovered hanging from a makeshift gibbet by the sea. The worthies of Lyme are certain his death is the work of "the Reverend," the ringleader of the midnight smuggling trade whose identity is the town's paramount mystery. Now, it falls to Jane to entrap and expose the notorious Reverend...even if the evidence points to the last person on earth she wants to suspect...a man who already may have won her heart.

Review:

Some two years have passed since Jane Austen had cause to exercise her fledgling detective skills on behalf of a friend - namely, Isobel, Countess of Scargrave, who, being charged with murder, found herself exonerated thanks to her friend's tireless efforts to uncover the truth of the sad circumstances surrounding her husband's death. Now Jane is bound for the coastal town of Lyme, in the company of her parents and beloved sister Cassandra, when en route their coach is overturned in a violent storm and Cassandra is left injured. The ever-resourceful Jane seeks help and refuge from the closest home available - High Down Grange, where she meets its owner, the brooding Geoffrey Sidmouth and his beautiful French cousin, Seraphine LaFevre. The manner of their introduction leaves Jane convinced that all is not as it seems at the Grange. After the Austens are safely installed at their rented cottage, the mystery of Geoffrey Sidmouth takes a sinister turn when the object of the man's scorn is found hung at the water's edge. Her curiosity roused, Jane begins to make discreet inquiries and discovers it is openly assumed that Sidmouth is "the Reverend" or "the Man of the Cloth," one of the Gentlemen of the Night - smugglers - who haunt the English coast specializing in the illicit "import" of fine silks and other highly-taxed goods. When one Captain Fielding, a retired Naval officer who claims to be investigating the Reverend, is discovered murdered and all evidence points to Sidmouth's guilt, Jane must use all of her intelligence and investigative abilities to discover the truth of Sidmouth's activities on the coast - for she is as loathe to believe his guilt as she is to admit that the master of the Grange may have captured her heart.

Stephanie Barron's second offering featuring the beloved Jane Austen as amateur sleuth is every bit as delightful as the first, proving Barron to be a master at channeling Austen's style and incisive wit and fleshing out what little is known of her life with historical fact and rich period detail. It is established fact that Jane visited Lyme during 1804, and indeed what she encounted there must have made a powerful impression since the town is featured in her final novel, Persuasion. Little correspondence survives from this period in Austen's life, and family rumor alone alludes to a "nameless and dateless" romance Jane experienced with a clergyman during a seaside holiday that provide tantalizing, but unformed, glimpses into this period of Jane's life. Barron uses these bare facts as the basis for Man of the Cloth, fleshing out this period in Austen's life, resulting in a rousing tale of mystery, adventure, espionage, and ill-fated romance. Jane's adventures are wildly varied - she gains as much intelligence from assembly room dances and sitting room calls as she does from highly unorthodox investigations of smugglers' caves and hidden tunnels. One could argue that so much outdoors adventure is outside the realm of possibility in the life of an author known for incisive social commentary, but I for one find the high adventure aspect of this fictional sojourn in Jane's life a fitting tribute of sorts to the adventurous, sensational gothic novels popular in Austen's day, that she would later satirize in her own Northanger Abbey.

One of the many things I love about this novel is the way in which Barron grounds Jane's supposed adventures in historical fact. With much of the author's life a veritable blank slate, thanks in large part to Cassandra's measures to protect Jane's privacy by destroying much of their correspondence after her death, Barron has free rein with which she can explore various aspects of 19th-century society and conjecture as to how these adventures may have informed Austen's writing. I was enthralled by Jane's encounter with "free trade" and the Gentlemen of the Night who practiced their dangerous and illicit activities along the English coast. There is something irresistably romantic in association with dangerous and enigmatic rogues who flout law and convention, as Jane discovers with Geoffrey Sidmouth. I was reminded of the 1954 film Moonfleet, and though the film is set some fifty years prior to this novel's action, Stewart Granger's portrayal of a dashing smuggler gave a powerful visual to my image of Sidmouth. Coupled with a dash of espionage that Jane would've been hard-pressed to escape in a coastal community, thanks to England's conflict with Bonaparte and France and her brothers' naval service, Man of the Cloth is a wildly entertaining mystery told with the style, wit, and insight that only a woman of Jane Austen's superior intellect and sense could provide. Bravo, Jane & Stephanie, here's to many more adventures!

***

This review marks the second or third time I've revisited Jane's singular adventure in Lyme, and it was a complete delight! Jane and the Man of the Cloth is my second entry in the Being a Jane Austen Mystery Challenge and my third in the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.

• Visit Austenprose to read Laurel Ann's review of Jane and the Man of the Cloth.

Review: Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron

Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor (Jane Austen Mysteries #1)
By: Stephanie Barron
Publisher: Bantam
ISBN: 0-553-57593-7

About the book:

On a visit to the estate of her friend, the young and beautiful Isobel Payne, Countess of Scargrave, Jane bears witness to a tragedy. Isobel's husband - a gentleman of mature years - is felled by a mysterious and agonizing ailment. The Earl's death seems a cruel blow of fate for the newly married Isobel. Yet the bereaved widow soon finds that it's only the beginning of her misfortune...as she receives a sinister missive accusing her and the Earl's nephew of adultery - and murder. Desperately afraid that the letter will expose her to the worst sort of scandal, Isobel begs Jane for help. And Jane finds herself embroiled in a perilous investigation that will soon have her following a trail of clues that leads all the way to Newgate Prison and the House of Lords - a trail that may well place Jane's own person in the gravest jeopardy.

Review:

The Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor is the first in a series of novels that purports to be based on "long lost" Austen journals -- journals where, shockingly enough, Jane is revealed to have an aptitude for solving crimes. Perhaps even more shocking is how well the concept works in Barron's execution of the story. Through novels like Pride and Prejudice and Emma, Austen revealed herself possess a masterful understanding of human nature and all its foibles, and this skill lends itself well to casting Austen as an unconventional investigator with a flair for understanding the criminal mind.

Since relatively little is known of Austen's life, there's plenty of opportunity for an Barron's imagination to fill in the gaps. She grounds her stories in what little is known of Austen's life. In the case of Scargrave Manor, the fact that Austen had once received and refused a proposal from a Harris Bigg-Wither serves as the impetus that allows Barron to send Jane to the home of a beloved -- but entirely fictitious -- friend in order to recover. Soon after her arrival, Jane finds herself embroiled in not one, but two cases of murder most foul, with her beloved friend Isobel standing accused of murdering her husband. Isobel begs Jane to employ her acute powers of observation in order to discover the truth of the matter, and so the chase is on for Jane to discover the truth before Isobel is brought to trial before the House of Lords.

Barron's first novel featuring Jane Austen in the role of sleuth succeeds on all fronts -- it's an incredibly engaging, fast-paced read, rich with historical detail (supplemented by select footnotes which aid in giving credence to the assertion that the story is an edited "journal"). Most enjoyable of all is the experience of seeing inside Jane Austen's head, albeit a fictitious Austen. The story's prose is rich with the language and customs of the early nineteenth century, and it's an enjoyable escape to read a novel that pretends to flesh out the character of one of the most beloved, but mysterious, novelists of all time. All in all it's a thoroughly enjoyable and absorbing read.
 
***
 
This review was written back in 2007 on my old blog - that is how long I've been "meaning" to officially review all of Stephanie Barron's delightful Jane Austen mysteries (sad, I know, but such is the state of my TBR pile). This is the fourth or fifth time (honestly I've lost count) I've read Jane and the Unpleasantness as Scargrave Manor, and revisiting Jane's first case for the Being a Jane Austen Mystery Challenge and and the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge has proven to be just as delightful and absorbing an experience as the first time I delved into the novel's pages, completely unaware of the treat that awaited me there. That, my friends, is the mark of an enduringly good read. :)
 
Click to visit author Stephanie Barron's blog and read her thoughts on Scargrave Manor. And if you haven't read the book for yourself, well, what are you waiting for?!
 
P.S.: I'd forgotten (shocking!) how much I adore Lord Harold Trowbridge. Yowzers.

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2011

I know, I know, I promised no more challenges just last night, didn't I? *sigh* Well, when I read Laurel Ann's post about the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge, I simply couldn't resist participating (isn't the graphic snazzy?). Hosted by the Historical Tapestry blog, here are the challenge details:

The Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2011

Each month, a new post dedicated to the HF Challenge will be created. To participate, you only have to follow the rules:

• everyone can participate, even those who don't have a blog (you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section if you wish)  
• add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky we’ll be adding to our monthly post (please, do not add your blog link, but the correct address that will guide us directly to your review)  
• any kind of historical fiction is accepted (HF fantasy, HF young adult,...)  
• you can overlap this challenge with others kind of challenges 

During these following 12 months you can choose one of the different reading levels:

• Severe Bookaholism: 20 books
• Undoubtedly Obsessed: 15 books
• Struggling the Addiction: 10 books
• Daring & Curious: 5 books
• Out of My Comfort Zone: 2 books

The challenge will run from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011.

***

Did you notice the aspect of this challenge that I'm most excited about? It can overlap with other challenges! Total & complete justification!!! Woo-hoo! :) That said, here's my list:

1. Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor
2. Jane and the Man of the Cloth
3. Jane and the Wandering Eye
4. Jane and the Genius of the Place
5. Jane and the Stillroom Maid
6. Jane and the Prisoner of the Wool House
7. Jane and the Ghosts of Netley
8. Jane and His Lordship’s Legacy
9. Jane and the Barque of Frailty
10. Jane and the Madness of Lord Byron
11. Jane and the Canterbury Tale
12. The Reluctant Widow
13. Lady of Quality
14. Faro's Daughter
15. Cotillion
16. False Colours
17. Black Sheep
18. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
19. The Masque of the Black Tulip
20. The Deception of the Emerald Ring

As you can see, I'm committing to the Severe Bookaholism level (20 books) and I'm overlapping this challenge with the Being a Jane Austen Mystery Challenge (titles 1-11 written by Stephanie Barron) and the Georgette Heyer Reading Challenge (titles 12-17 by Heyer) and adding the first three books in the Pink Carnation series by Lauren Willig (titles 18-20). I'd like to review the entire Pink Carnation series here on the blog in 2011, but I'm not going to go completely nuts and commit to that now. *wink* Wish me luck...I am going to need it! :)

Being a Jane Austen Mystery Reading Challenge 2011

I have a very bad track record with things like reading challenges, but that's something I'd like to change. I have this wild theory that reading challenges *might* help me become more disciplined about whittling down my gigantic TBR pile. So when the post announcing the "Being a Jane Austen Mystery Reading Challenge" appeared in my Google Reader this morning, I knew that this was a challenge I couldn't miss! Here's the all the info you need to get up-to-speed on the challenge from Laurel Ann at the Austenprose website:

Being a Jane Austen Mystery Reading Challenge 2011

We are very pleased to announce the Being a Jane Austen Mystery Reading Challenge 2011. If you have not discovered one of her wonderful mysteries, this is a great opportunity to join the challenge along with other Janeites, historical fiction and mystery lovers.

Novels in the Series

• Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor (1996)  
• Jane and the Man of the Cloth (1997)  
• Jane and the Wandering Eye (1998)  
• Jane and the Genius of the Place (1999) 
• Jane and the Stillroom Maid (2000)  
• Jane and the Prisoner of the Wool House (2001)  
• Jane and the Ghosts of Netley (2003)  
• Jane and His Lordship’s Legacy (2005) 
• Jane and the Barque of Frailty (2006)  
• Jane and the Madness of Lord Byron (2010) 
• Jane and the Canterbury Tale (2011)  

Challenge Details

Time-line: The Being a Jane Austen Mystery Challenge runs January 1, through December 31, 2011.

Levels of participation: Neophyte: 1 – 4 novels, Disciple 5 – 8 novels, Aficionada 9 – 11 novels.

Enrollment: Sign up’s are open until July 01, 2011. First, select your level of participation. Second, copy the Being a Jane Austen Mystery Reading Challenge graphic and include it in your blog post detailing the mysteries that you will read in 2011. Third, leave a comment linking back to your blog post in the comments of this announcement post. If you do not have a blog you can still participate. Just leave your commitment to the challenge in the comments below.

Check Back Monthly: The Being a Jane Austen Mystery Challenge 2011 officially begins on Wednesday, January 12, 2010 with my review of the first mystery in the series, Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor. Check back on the 2nd Wednesday of each month for my next review in the challenge.

Your Participation: Once the challenge starts you will see a tab included at the top of Austenprose called Reading Challenges. Click on the tab and select Being a Jane Austen Mystery Reading Challenge 2011. Leave a comment including the mystery that you finished and a link to your blog review. If you do not have a blog, just leave a comment about which book you finished with a brief reaction or remark. It’s that easy.

The Prizes

Oh, of course there are prizes! Author Stephanie Barron has very generously offered one signed hardcover or paperback copy of each of the novels that we will be reviewing each month here on Austenprose to be drawn from comments left with each post, and one signed paperback copy of each of the eleven novels in the series to one lucky Grand Prize Winner to be drawn from comments left at any and all of the reviews left on this blog or yours. Yes, that means that your readers who comment on your challenge reviews have a chance to win too. Winners will be announced monthly two weeks after the blog post, and Grand Prize winner will be announced on January 01, 2012. Shipment to US or Canadian address only.

Bonus Stuff: Yes, of course there is more to get happy about. Availability of each of the novels in the series is great. The books can be purchased or eBooks download at most online etailers and brick and mortar stores. Since the series is so popular, your local library should be a great resource too.

One of the delights of the series is the incredible historical detail that parallel Jane Austen’s life. To expand upon our reading journey in 2011, author Stephanie Barron will be blogging about researching and writing each of the novels as we progress through the series at her Stephanie Barron blog. What an incredible resource and motivation for your reading challenge!

So, make haste and join the challenge today. I am so looking forward to revisiting all the novels in the Being a Jane Austen Mystery series in 2011 and hope you can join in too.

***

Okay, Ruth here again. :) I'm signing up for this challenge at the Aficionada level, reading 9-11 novels. Because people, I have determined that 2011 will be the year I finally review ALL of the Jane Austen mysteries on my blog!! I'll be adding a Reading Challenges page to the right sidebar to help me keep track of my review posts and progress on this challenge - keep me accountable, people! :) Oh, and be sure to let me know if you decide to participate in this challenge as well - I promise you won't regret it! Barron's books are fabulous!