Rating: 
Summary: JANE DELIVERS, BUT NOT IN TOP FORM
Review: The second of the Jane Austen mysteries, while a good read and a highly satisfying tale, lacks the ability to keep the readers on their toes throughout the entirety of the book that the third and first posses. The plot was something I was unsatisfied with--finding it hard to get involved with the star's new acquaintences, particularly Geoffery Sidmouth. Sidnouth's volatile character became annoying after a time, and there were places in the plot that were rather flat. This book serves as an appetizer to the fabulous feast of a tale that follows it.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent mystery and interesting glimpse into Austen's life
Review: This series of books by Barron incorporates the real life events of Austen and her extensive relations into an authentic mystery. The places, events and people are real to Austen (see her biography by Tomalin"Jane Austen: A Life") and the mystery plot is woven into the fabric of her life. The books are extremely entertaining and offer a true look at Austen's every day life. You will want to read all three!
Rating:
Summary: Delightful Find
Review: What a delightful find Stephanie Barron has been for anyone who loves Jane Austen and wishes that the author herself had more new material to read (after exhausting completed and incomplete novels, and juvenile writing). For those whose wish is the same as mine, Stephanie Barron's mystery novels have been a pleasure to read. While not entirely perfect, and at times perhaps a little forced in language and style, Barron has affected a heroine of Jane, the likes of which Austen herself would create. One might not deem Jane a likely detective, but anyone who has read her novels is familiar with the secrets and mysteries that are uncovered within. This is proven evidence that Austen herself would've made a likely detective. Her second foray into sleuthing seems more quick-paced than the first ("The Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor"). While vacationing in Lyme, Jane is thrown into the acquaintance of a Mr. Sidmouth, whose dark demeanor and sardonic wit grab at Jane's heart as readily as her mind's vexation. The town is in an uproar over smuggling and the mysterious night-time leader of illegal activity, known only as the Reverend. Jane, in her curiosity, finds herself embroiled in the mystery of discovering who the Reverend is, in order to save the life of Mr. Sidmouth, or (perhaps to her dismay) prove he is the Reverend. Barron paints the cast of supporting characters well, and creates just enough plot twists to keep you wondering who the Reverend actually is. Barron has captured the time and language of Austen's day. She insists, in her introductions, that these are Jane's actual memoirs and she has just merely edited them. While at times, the style seems a little too forced in order to evoke Austen's writing, this is easily overlooked through the sheer pleasure of reading what Jane herself might have written. I look forward to reading more of the series.
Rating:
Summary: Delightful Find
Review: What a delightful find Stephanie Barron has been for anyone who loves Jane Austen and wishes that the author herself had more new material to read (after exhausting completed and incomplete novels, and juvenile writing). For those whose wish is the same as mine, Stephanie Barron's mystery novels have been a pleasure to read. While not entirely perfect, and at times perhaps a little forced in language and style, Barron has affected a heroine of Jane, the likes of which Austen herself would create. One might not deem Jane a likely detective, but anyone who has read her novels is familiar with the secrets and mysteries that are uncovered within. This is proven evidence that Austen herself would've made a likely detective. Her second foray into sleuthing seems more quick-paced than the first ("The Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor"). While vacationing in Lyme, Jane is thrown into the acquaintance of a Mr. Sidmouth, whose dark demeanor and sardonic wit grab at Jane's heart as readily as her mind's vexation. The town is in an uproar over smuggling and the mysterious night-time leader of illegal activity, known only as the Reverend. Jane, in her curiosity, finds herself embroiled in the mystery of discovering who the Reverend is, in order to save the life of Mr. Sidmouth, or (perhaps to her dismay) prove he is the Reverend. Barron paints the cast of supporting characters well, and creates just enough plot twists to keep you wondering who the Reverend actually is. Barron has captured the time and language of Austen's day. She insists, in her introductions, that these are Jane's actual memoirs and she has just merely edited them. While at times, the style seems a little too forced in order to evoke Austen's writing, this is easily overlooked through the sheer pleasure of reading what Jane herself might have written. I look forward to reading more of the series.
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