Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor: Being the First Jane Austen Mystery

Being a Jane Austen Mystery, Book 1

By: Stephanie Barron

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

For everyone who loves Jane Austen...a marvelously entertaining new series that turns the incomparable author into an extraordinary sleuth!

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.

©2020 Stephanie Barron (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“There’s plenty to enjoy in this crime-solving side of Jane.... [She] is as worthy a detective as Columbo.” (USA Today)

“Happily succeeds on all levels: a robust tale of manners and mayhem that faithfully reproduces the Austen style - and engrosses to the finish.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Splendid fun!” (Star Tribune, Minneapolis)

Finally the first four books

Thank-you, I’ve been waiting for the first four books in this series for...wow 8 years. Please don’t wait that long for the other three that are missing.
This is a great mystery series in the voice of Jane Austen, who knew Jane was such a sleuth! Stephanie Barron has brought Jane to life with all of the manners and observations that are hallmarks if her wonderful novels, but with a twist, Jane as detective or rather a “deducer”, like Sherlock Holmes but in the Regency period. I didn’t think I’d like these books as I usually don’t like historic figures taking center stage in fiction, but these books reeled me in from the first one I listened to (Jane and the Stillroom Maid). As a bonus Kate Reading is the narrator of these books, so that is a huge bonus.
If you like Jane Austen and mysteries you’ll enjoy this series.

I got used to the footnotes pretty quickly.

I will listen to just about anything read by Kate Reading, so I am quite biased. however the footnotes and constant quoting from Austen's work became bearable as I became invested in the story. I am eager to listen to the next book.

Better to read than listen

Look, the performance is fine. The story is good. If you want a murder mystery with some historical aspects, this one is as good as any other. If you’re familiar with Jane Austen, there are tons of references scattered around that are fun to pick out.
But those footnotes.
I know there are plenty of Jane Austen books out there with footnotes explaining things to modern audiences, but then there are plenty without them. This book shouldn’t have had them. There are less as the book goes on, but that kinda confused me, too. Like, the author found it necessary to explain what Whites was (when it was only mentioned in passing), but thought everyone already knows what happens at Gretna Green? No footnote about why going there would be good/bad? Really? Come on, all or nothing here.
So yeah, I’d recommend you physically read this one. It’s worth reading, but the footnotes are a bit intrusive when you’re listening.

Jane Austen, Writer & Detective

Being a Jane Austen junkie, this was a hope-inspiring find. I like the sassy Jane and some of the other charcters Barron has created/ developed.

:D

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. Originally, the interruption of the footnotes was strange, but I quickly got used to them and found them helpful. I like the characters, the plot, etc. I plan to read more of this series.

Surprisingly good!

I wouldn’t be surprised if Miss Austen herself found this story entertaining and clever. I did.

Footnotes

It takes a while to get used to the footnotes. But I do love the book! The reader did marvelous!

Well-researched and suspenseful

Stephanie Barron’s novels are well-researched and fun. As a professor, I learn as much factual information as I do “who-dunnit.” This first story had a bit of silliness, but it was the first novel, and the author had some setup to do for the remaining series. The mysteries are interesting and the immersion into Austen’s world fascinating. The reader is also enjoyable.

Interesting

The story is interesting enough to want to stay with it, if a little wandering and flat in the middle. Some reviewers don’t care for the footnotes, but it’s actually because the story is a little flat that I find them interesting and don’t mind their insertions, even if I already know the info in some of them. What disappoints me is that Jane seems to fumble around, making verbal missteps with several people while trying to console or garner info. It would be fine if it only happened once, but she does this back to back. It’s not the Jane I would envision. I also wish Jane wouldn’t spring gory details of a body all over again more than once in her internal thoughts. It would have been more enjoyable if she was a bit more savvy and less repetitive.

Wonderful

Such a wonderful story. Stephanie Barron has quite the talent for adapting to the writing style of the regency age. Nothing feels out of place or forced. It is difficult to find modern authors who can write in the style of the classics. Can't wait to read the entire series.