Rating: 
Summary: If Nancy Drew wore an empire gown...
Review: I was tickled by the idea of Jane Austen solving mysteries and I looked forward to the atmosphere I hoped Ms. Barron would create. I was mildly entertained throughout the novel, but felt I had read it before. A young, unmarried woman who has the respect of the most influential people, a villain who plays dress-up, the use of the word "meddlesome" -- yes, it's Nancy Drew meets Scooby Doo.
Rating: 
Summary: INTIGUING, EXCITING, AND WHOLLY UNEXPECTED!
Review: I was very surprised at this new series, and, being an ardent fan of Jane Austen's works, I have found it very pleasing. It takes a while for this tale to get off the ground, but when it does, it soars to great heights. The suspense of this tale was intense, the characters intriguing, and the execution superb. This was a very good book, and its pseudo-Austen style is seamless.
Rating: 
Summary: Oh, For Shame, Jane!
Review: I will credit Stephanie Barron with being very clever in blending the known facts of Jane Austen's life with her fairly average murder mysteries. I also appreciate her informative footnotes about references about the Regency era, both obscure and more commonplace. My only real caveat about this book and the others in the series (I have read only the first three) is that Ms. Barron makes the retiring and proper Miss Austen behave with untoward and unladylike forwardness to achieve her ends as an unlikely sleuth. In truth, it is totally against the accepted character of the redoubtable Jane to imagine her taking so much upon herself, interferring in matters so vulgar and acting in a fashion that borders on impropriety. Ms. Barron also makes Jane seem snappish, even rude, behavior she would in reality eschew with a shudder. If the mysteries were more compelling or more cleverly crafted, this out-of-character portrait might be more readily forgiven. As it is, the books do not add to the reader's understanding of Miss Austen or her books, but rather draw her as much more the vulgar interferring miss than we know her to have been. If the author did not claim her work as a true illumination of Jane's nature, this series would be more enjoyable as simple mysteries set in the fascinating Regency era, with all its colorful historical characters, the multiple strata of society -- a time renowned for both louche and restrained behavior and much hypocrisy.
Rating: 
Summary: A book with unreasonable pretentions.
Review: I'm ashamed to admit that I actually bought this book. What a task Barron took on--assuming the voice of English literature's Queen Mother--and what a colossal mistake! I had high hopes for this book, being a lover of mysteries and Austen. But I found myself scoffing at the language, annoyed at the affected tone, and irrate that Barron steals sentences right out of Austen's books and plops them down amidst her own ridiculously un-Austenesque sentences. If you're unfamiliar with Austen, perhaps you'll enjoy the (rather mundane) mystery. If you're a fan of Austen's, think carefully about whether or not you can bear to see her name (and words) exploited in this trite little paperback.
Rating:
Summary: Better than the attempts at sequels, but still lacking
Review: I'm trying to get through this first JA mystery, but it's so contrived that it's getting on my nerves. Just when the story gets interesting and Barron seems to be getting away from using so many stolen quotes from Jane's novels, including the very-overused famous line about a single man with a good fortune, she dives right back into them again and they come, one after another, to completely distract from her story line! Which is depressing, because I think she (Barron) has done a much better job of researching the time period and JA's life, and even using a fairly similar voice (although Barron's is obviously more contemporary) than the careless authors of "Presumption," but she relies way too much on the lines and descriptions from Jane's books instead of staying original, and what could be a serious story ends up looking like it's attempting humor and some sort of self-congratulations for being able to piece all these lines and descriptions into a new setting. Sort of a "Hey, see how much I know about Jane Austen? Can't you tell that I've read ALL her books, especially 'P&P'?" So, once again, the desire for more of the true Jane Austen is left unfulfilled, which at least is some tribute to Jane's unique style and skill. I appreciate Stephanie Barron's dedication and obvious respect for Jane Austen, but wish that Ms. Barron could have handled her Jane-isms much more subtly, so I could respect her (Ms. Barron) as well!
Rating:
Summary: Jane Austen fans will either love this or hate it
Review: Into the growing sub-genre of mysteries involving real people as fictional detectives Stephanie Barron adds Jane Austen. "Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor," being the first in this series, finds the yet to be famous authoress away from home after having accepted and then rejected the marriage proposal of Harris Bigg-Wither. Jane is visiting the Hertfordshire estate of her friend Isobel Payne, Countess of Scargrave. However, after Jane's arrival the elderly Earl suddenly suffers a most horrible death due to a mysterious illness, leaving Isobel a widow after only three months of marriage. When a letter arrives accusing Isobel and the Earl's nephew of adultery and murder, Jane becomes involved in the investigation. The suspects are the late Earl's guests, a collection of characters who could easily have been lifted from one of Austen's novels--but then that is exactly the point here. Barron is not only trying to write in the style of Jane Austen, a daunting enough task to be sure, she is also interested in shedding light on the writer's life and work. After all, the idea that Austen's heroines always found the love in life that was denied their creator is rather depressing. Barron has fun suggesting that the characters in this novel might have served as the model for those in Austen's novels: e.g., that Lord Pitzroy Payne, who catches Jane's eye, is the model for Mr. Darcy in "Pride and Prejudice." Obviously Barron is interested in trying to create the great secret love of Austen's life, although our fascination with such an idea is tempered by the fact that Jane would die a spinster. The irony here is that the more you know about the life and writings of Jane Austen, the more likely you are to either enjoy Barron's creative speculations or to be somewhat appalled at her presumption. Barron is obviously a devout fan of Austen and her writing so your enjoyment of this book is going to be predicated entirely upon your ability and/or willingness to go along for the ride. I found the writing style to lack the refined restraint and measured wit of the real Austen, who has a much better sense of picking the moment for her barbs and insights. Of course, Barron is handicapped by the requirements of the mystery genre, which necessarily requires extended questioning and heated exchanges. The best imitation of Austen's style I have read to date is found, rather surprisingly, in the opening chapters of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Mauritan novel "Desolation Island," which finds the boys trying to live the high life on shore. Then again, they did not have a mysterious murder to solve. Barron certainly makes a good faith effort that pays attention to the life and times of Jane Austen and seeks to bring her to life in a way her books and letters can only suggest.
Rating:
Summary: Bad
Review: Love Jane and you'll hate this book. Flowery prose, unlikely story, completey unsubtle in the development of characters, conversational comments. Boo hoo. Hoped to find something that I would love like I love Jane.
Rating:
Summary: Can't Wait to Read the Rest of the Series
Review: No, it isn't anything like a Jane Austen book. But it's a good mystery all the same, and the Jane character is an likeable heroine. Like other reviewers, I found Lady Isobel annoying and not worth the effort that Jane put into her friendship, but that makes Miss Austen all the more admirable. I plan to pick up the rest of the series right away, and hope they are as enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: Give your video of Emma a rest--read this! It's enjoyable!
Review: Now that my videos of Emma, Pride and Prejudice, and Persuasion are beginning to show signs of wear, I was delighted to discover this series of Jane Austen mysteries by Stephanie Barron. I opened the first in the series, Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor, with curiousity and a bit of trepidation. Who, after all, can really recapture Austen's superb sense of character and language? Stephanie Barron comes pretty close! She has obviously steeped herself in the language of Austen, and in the history of that period. As a result, she is able to craft a completely plausible mystery for Jane to solve. The only thing I didn't like was the author's decision to use footnotes to explain things in the text that we modern readers might miss. I found this VERY distracting, and finally learned to ignore them. I hope that in time Ms. Barron learns to explain the terms within the text and leaves off this practice.
Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable read
Review: Searching in the library for new books to read, I came across this series of Jane Austen mysteries and decided to give it a try. I found the first book somewhat slow going at first, but it became more enjoyable as I read further. Unlike some of the other reviewers I thought that the footnotes were helpful in clarifying details of 19th century life that many readers might not be familiar with. Overall, I would recommend this book, and I'm very much enjoying reading the other books in this series.
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