Jane and the Year Without Summer is the latest in Ms. Barron’s long running series that features Jane Austen as a solver of mysteries. I enjoyed this newest title.
The book is slow moving but for me this was in a good way. It felt as if this was intended to keep pace with Jane’s world. Other efforts to add historic authenticity include using archaic spellings, as for example, spelling sofa, “sopha.”
The joy of this book for me lies in spending time with Jane and her sister Cassandra as they enjoy/cope with the events in a spa town. I also was interested to read about Jane’s acquaintance with Raphael West, a painter in his own right and the son of Benjamin West.
The story itself has sufficient plot. There is a runaway bride and her friend/protector. There are dead rodents and a dead dog; were they deliberately poisoned? And, later in the book, there is a fire and a murder.
Those who enjoy an historical mystery that takes it time will enjoy this title. Readers unfamiliar with the series may then want to go back to read the earlier entries.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 