12/3/22

This book could easily be titled The Pirates of Lyme or Jane and the Pirate King. Well, except for the fact there are no orphans to be found ...

If you don't like how Jane Austen writes, just stop here. You won't enjoy this book. This novel isn't written as a Regency romance; it is meant to sound as though Jane herself were writing the book. Since it is "edited" by Stephanie Barron, you can expect enough footnotes to explain history and background that you may not be familiar with. I found them fascinating. As they popped up in the Kindle text when I tapped on the number, it was easy to read them as I needed them. The footnotes are gathered at the end of each chapter, should you have missed one that you should have read.

I enjoyed the book. Some parts I guessed ahead of Jane; others were a surprise. In every case, the author played fair with the reader. I also enjoyed learning more about the smugglers of the time.

If you like mysteries with a hint of cozy and a heavy dose of history, this series should be up your alley. ( )

On the outskirts of Lyme, the Austens' carriage is overturned and they are forced to take shelter in the home of Mr. Sidmouth. Thus begins Jane's holiday in Lyme. A man is found hanged from a makeshift gibbet. Rumors of a ringleader of the local smuggling trade abound. Can Jane find the truth of the matter?

This was a fascinating read, with plenty of details of the smuggling trade of the time and of Lyme. It was slow to start, though it hinted at mystery and intrigue from the start. Jane's investigation did not begin until about halfway into the novel.

By the last quarter, the story picked up the pace and there were culprits afoot! Jane's curiosity was understandable, even though it did get a bit ridiculous in her pursuit of the facts.

An excellent continuation of Jane's mysteries! I look forward to book 3. ( )

Liked it, only that in my opinion there are to many "she cried", "he cried" when people just had well educated conversations in a 19th century setting and manners. Maybe this is due to me not being a native English and maybe "to cry" has a lot more definitions than commonly found in any dictionaire.
If not for this reason, I would have given 4 stars! But I can really raccomand the Jane Austen Mystery Series.

( )

2nd (I think) book in an interesting series in which Jane Austen herself is the protagonist, solving riddles of intrigue. Made even more amusing by the statement that the series is based on secret writings kept by Jane and supplemented with actual letters, etc. that she did indeed write. ( )