Death of a Lady

AuthorBook Reviews, Historical Fiction, The Nineteenth Century Leave a Comment

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Title: Death of a Lady: A Regency Murder Mystery with a Literary Heroine

Author: Laura Martin

Publisher: Sapere Books

Copyright: April 28, 2023

ISBN: 978-1800559370

ASIN: ‎ B0BSXDHQGF

Format: E-Book

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical Fiction Inspired by Real Historical Figures

Summary

1795, Hampshire, England

Jane Austen and her family are delighted to be attending Lord Westworth’s ball. The event has been at the centre of village gossip after it was announced Westworth was holding a ball to celebrate the return of his brother, who went missing in India many years earlier and had been declared dead.

At the ball an old friend, Emma Roscoe, bumps into Jane and tells her she saw something she shouldn’t have. She asks Jane to meet her at ten o’clock in the library to discuss it.

Delayed by dancing with the charming Mr Tom Lefroy, Jane is late to meet to her friend.

But when she arrives, she finds the body of Emma Roscoe lying on the floor with a dagger sticking out of her chest.

Distraught and feeling horribly guilty, Jane is determined to help with the investigation into Emma’s murder.

Review

Miss Jane Austen is the unmarried daughter of a respectable clergyman, not yet the famous author she will come to be in the future. In 1795, she attends the Westworths’ ball with her family and has a chance to dance with the handsome Mr. Lefroy. While at the ball, Miss Emma Roscoe, one of her dearest friends, seems disturbed about something. She requests that Jane meet her at ten o’clock. Jane is astonished when she discovers Emma’s murdered body. Troubled by this, Jane teams up with the local magistrate, Lord Hinchbrooke, to solve the mystery and see that justice is done.

The cleverly conceived Death of a Lady, the first installment in the Jane Austen Investigations series, depicts the adept Jane Austen in a way that can easily be believable. With wonderful characterizations, Martin’s writing is exceedingly well done. Jane, the Austens, and their social circle are all rendered as well-rounded people with virtues and flaws. I was impressed by the fast-paced mystery surrounding the unfortunate Emma Roscoe, which kept me curious and on the edge of my seat. This book certainly has a Regency-era feel with its dialogue and descriptions. While I would have liked to see a more fully developed author’s note talking about the research, this is a fun read overall.

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