Jane and the Stillroom Maid

Being the Fifth Jane Austen Mystery

By: Stephanie Barron

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Jane Austen as sleuth continues to delight in her latest adventure (after Jane and the Genius of the Place), which sheds new light on the author's travels in 1806.

While enjoying a ramble in the Derbyshire hills near Bakewell (a town Eliza Bennett visits in Pride and Prejudice), Jane discovers the mutilated body of a young man. Jane's suspicions are roused when her escort, Mr. George Hemming, prefers to remove the unidentified corpse to Buxton, rather than Bakewell, and they increase when the body proves to be that of a woman dressed in men's clothing. Moreover, the corpse is identified as Tess Arnold, a servant at one of the area's great houses, whom Mr. Hemming should have recognized.

As the compounder of stillroom remedies, Tess had a reputation as a healer, until accused of witchcraft. Rumors of ritual murder by Freemasons - who include most of the neighboring gentry - excite the local populace and jeopardize the investigation of the justice of the peace, himself a Mason. When Mr. Hemming disappears before the inquest, Jane and the justice turn for help to Lord Harold Trowbridge, a guest at the nearby ducal house of Chatsworth.

Barron catches Austen's tone amazingly well. Details of early 19th century country life of all classes ring true, while the story line is clear, yet full of surprises. The "editor's notes" that punctuate the text and old cures for various ills that open each chapter add to the charm. (Aug.)

©2000 Stephanie Barron (P)2000 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Jane Austen as sleuth continues to delight." (Publishers Weekly)

"Another first-rate addition to the series." (Christian Science Monitor)

Good series introduction

Being a fan of Regency-era mysteries, as well as Kate Reading's narration, I decided to try the first available audiobook in the series. Turned out a smart move! Not being a Jane-ite, I suppose I'm spared the inevitable comparison with her work and life details. Biggest takeaway for me was seeing her as rather an extrovert, when somehow I'd felt her as more reclusive? As far as book itself is concerned, my only real issue was that I had trouble keeping straight who was who among the upper class characters at times.

Brilliant working out story from history

Stephanie Barron brilliantly creates a captivating story from history and Jane Austin's life. She incorporates excerpts from a stillroom maid's book to add to the intrigue

Will the real Jane Austen please stand up?

Stephanie Barron has created a delightful series of mysteries with a most excellent (and plausible) explanation of how she acquired the long-lost manuscripts of Jane Austen. Her skills with style and language are marvelous. Kate Reading provides great pleasure for the listener. I heartily recommend this!

Excellent!

Great story, and well performed! If only the rest of the series was available. :(

Another great story

The previous story had problems that I had trouble overlooking, but this one returns to form. At the beginning, I thought Ms Barron was abandoning the use of footnotes to relate information that just didn't fit into the story, but she did return to that practice. One of the problems I have with the Jane Austen books themselves is my lack of familiarity with practices that Austen considered commonplace and thus doesn't describe them. I so enjoy the footnotes providing context to these stories.

This is another great mystery. I quite enjoyed it, and I hope you will too.

The only problem I had with this production is that multiple chapters in the book are run into a single chapter on the audio book. Perhaps the Books on Tape copyright would not allow them to be split. If so, a silly reason. I could have also done without the reading of the book's back cover notes, which gave away way too much. if it has been a separate chapter in the audio book, I would have skipped it.

Not the best in the series

With the conceit of retelling Jane Austen's diaries, the author walks a line between telling an interesting mystery and being historically accurate. The book seems overly concerned with historical accuracy to the determent of the story. I haven't listened to earlier books in the series, but this installment spends very little time on the character of Jane or her family. Jane is there to follow the plot, which is told to the listener in large infodumps and results in very flat characters. Sections detailing the historical background of minor side characters and footnotes on changes to architecture over time do nothing to add excitement. I found this book boring and do not recommend it. I do recommend the 12th book in the series, Jane and the 12 Days of Christmas. Many of the issues in this book have been corrected by that title.

This is my favorite Jane Austen Mystery

This is one of the strongest novels in its suspense and plot. We see the relationship between Jane and Lord Harold begin to deepen. Kate Reading, the performer of these books, is truly excellent in her execution of the different voices and English dialects. She does a wonderful job even conveying male voices without sounding ridiculous. Her rendering of the characters’ voices is highly enjoyable.