My Particular Friend

A Charlotte House Affair #1

by Jennifer Petkus

Miss Charlotte House will not admit impediments to marriage, not even when those impediments include scandal, blackmail and even a duel to the death. With the help of her particular friend Miss Jane Woodsen, she deduces all that happens in Bath—both good and ill—and together they ensure that true love’s course runs smooth, even though both friends have suffered tragedies that prevent their own happiness. These six affairs, set in Bath, England, during the Napoleonic War, are inspired by the creations of both Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Jane Austen. The sequel to this book is Our Mutual

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Regency, Historical, Ebooks, British Literature, Historical Romance

304 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2012

About the author

Jennifer Petkus divides her time creating websites for the dead, writing Jane Austen-themed mysteries, woodworking, aikido and building model starships. She has few credentials, having failed to graduate from the University of Texas with a journalism degree, but did manage to find employment at the Colorado Springs Sun newspaper as a police reporter, copy editor and night city editor before the paper died in 1986. She lives in fear of getting a phone call from her dead Japanese mother. Her husband is the night editor at The Denver Post. Her best friend is a cop. She watched Neil Armstrong walk on the Moon live.

Reviews

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really don't do the whole Jane Austen thing, or the Sherlock Holmes thing either, so I very reluctantly agreed to be an early reader for this book. It didn't take long for me to figure out that I would have been a fool to miss out on this book. It is absolutely delightful, with plenty of humor and mystery. It concerns the inestimable Miss Charlotte House, a brilliant woman known for her ability to help in matchmaking situations. She can quiet scandals or start them, whichever serves her purpose. Miss Jane Woodsen, a young lady in dire states after her father's death and her family's crash in wealth and status, ends up a guest of, and then an assistant to, Miss House and her investigations
and machinations. It might sound like light fare, but it actually very quick witted and absorbing. This first book in a planned series involves six different "cases", leaving the investigative team, at the end of the book, planning to move back to London and take on the big city in the second novel. All in all, a very entertaining book for mystery lovers and fans of the England of the early 1800s.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 2 out of 5]

When the impoverished Miss Jane Woodson is observed by Miss Charlotte House shoplifting a pair of gloves at a Bath shop, Jane's life changes forever. Not only does Miss House not report Jane's theft, she takes Jane into her home at No. 1 Royal Crescent and under her wing. Charlotte teaches Jane the art of careful observation and how to record the doings of Society. Together, with Charlotte's friend Mrs. Fitzhugh, the ladies solve matrimonial mysteries in Regency Bath.

These stories are not for the Regency aficionado. While I am not all that familiar with Sherlock Holmes, I am very well acquainted with Jane Austen and Regency society. I love the Bath setting but No. 1 Royal Crescent seems too grand for a spinster. Most spinsters weren't that wealthy and Bath's population was aging and ill by that time (c. 1805ish). The matrimonial mysteries weren't all that engaging and I found myself bored and nitpicking the historical details, even when the author provided background information in footnotes. Having to go to an outside website for footnotes was distracting.

I'm not a huge fan of Charlotte. She's a very Emma Woodhouse type character but one who uses her brain. She's handsome, clever and rich- really clever. Her powers of observation and deductive reasoning are great but she lacks people skills. Charlotte is not a great friend to Jane and seems to delight in being mysterious. Charlotte must always be right and is only friends with people who agree with her. She doesn't address Jane's worries until the end of the book when she also drops a huge bombshell! It was actually something I thought I had guessed early on but forgotten about. I like Jane a little better. She's more sympathetic and unsure of herself but trying hard to be helpful.

Mrs. Fitzhugh is kindly and motherly but also tough. I guessed her relationship with Charlotte pretty quickly. I like her for the most part. I also like Mary, the maid, who seems eager to participate in the mysteries and adventures of the household. Other recurring characters include Alice, the cheerful maid, Mrs. Hutton, the difficult housekeeper and Mr. Wallace, Jane's special friend. Mr. Wallace is kind, brave and honorable. He always tries to do the right thing even when it isn't something he wants to do. Charlie and the Baker street Irregulars, street urchins who help Charlotte with her investigations, appear on occasion. They're delightful fun.

In the first case, Jane tags along to watch Charlotte at work helping a young lady out of a difficult situation with some letters. This case is very Austenesque. Lady Dalrymple appears in Persuasion. Here she is very much a Lady Katherine deBurgh type character: autocratic, snobby and controlling. Her niece is very meek and mild. Where is her daughter?!

In The Poison Pen Affair Charlotte is called upon to assist another young lady prevent damage to her reputation. Miss Ashby is engaged to the Hon. Frederick Hickham but has been VERY charming and pleasant to other men. Someone has been sending poison pen letters intimating that Miss Sophia Ashby is not a maid! Mrs. Ashby is horrified and determined to protect her daughter's reputation. It is up to Charlotte to figure out who is sending the letters and why. Then the sleuths must confront a dangerous villain. Will they make it home alive?

This case is also Austenesque but darker. The villain is worse than Willoughby and Wickham (Mrs. Willoughby is mentioned but if she's meant to be Mrs. John Willoughby, I'm not sure). The mystery was exciting and interesting for the most part. I didn't like Charlotte's behavior though.

The Affair of the Reluctant Bachelor copies The Code of the Woosters. Bertie Wooster's Regency era equivalent is Mr. Albert Worcester (pronounced Wooster) is in a pickle. Normally his valet, Cheevers, helps him out but Cheevers has left on account of the affair of the purple waistcoat. Bertie finds himself engaged to two ladies he doesn't love and they both love other, unsuitable, men. How does he get out of it? Charlotte, Jane and Mrs. Fitzhugh travel to the countryside to visit Bertie's Aunt Hermione and sort out this mess.

While I love P.G. Wodehouse, I'm not that into Jeeves and Wooster. I've read this story a million times and it was entertaining when Wodehouse did it but not as much here. Bertie is as dumb as his official 20th-century counterpart and the women run circles around him. Evelyn Blankenship, betrothed #1, is my favorite character in the story. She's well-read and "high-minded." She's a woman of the future but man is she dumb when it comes to men. She's in love with a Mr. Bartholomew Cuthbertson aka "Blotto," a charming, ne'er do well type. Her father, Sir Walter, is not Austen's Sir Walter, but also a baronet with high hopes for his daughter.
Miss Stephanie "Cheese Mite" Stilton is a strong-minded woman. She won't let Mr. Worcester wiggle out of the engagement unless she wants to end it. She stands up for herself when pushed into it. I like her too. Her love interest, Clarence Potterthwaite, known as "Old Potty", is a giant, beefy clergyman who tends to be a slow thinker. He's a fast mover when he wants to be, especially when he's jealous. I didn't think he was all that charming or funny. Stephanie's father is in politics but not especially brilliant.

Aunt Hermione is less stuffy than any P.G. Wodehouse aunt and Beach the butler is a really impressive butler and not the giant, lazy, funny character in the Blandings Castle series. Cheevers, like his 20th-century counterpart, keeps a straight face and is rather good at manipulating people.

The P.G. Wodehouse story does NOT translate to the Regency era at all. 100 years + difference means a difference in manners, morals, language and the way society works. Aunt Hermione is in the wrong book, as is Beach the Butler. Nothing about this story works for me. I just couldn't get past the inaccuracies.

The Bride Who Wasn't There is a sort of Bronteish tale. Mr. Herbert Simms is distressed when his fiancé Mrs. Violet Brown doesn't show at the registry on their wedding day. He put her into a chair but when the chair arrived, out stepped another woman. What happened to Violet? Charlotte has her suspicions and leads her own independent investigation.

This mystery is a little dark for me. I guessed at what might have happened but not why. Charlotte is a little cold and unfeeling towards the protagonist. Mr. Simms seems nice enough. He is distressed at losing his fiancé on their wedding day. Violet is a sympathetic character, if her story is true.

Weddings were carefully controlled. Since Mr. Simms isn't wealthy, they would require the banns read 3 weeks in each home parish before they could be wed, in the church, before noon. Marrying at the registrar would not happen. Also, weddings needed witnesses and a lady would not be travelling alone without a chaperone.

In The Affair of Brotherly Love, Charlotte and Jane must try to solve the mystery of leaked canal plans that may have been stolen- from a locked safe!

Mr. Charles Dundas, of the Kennet and Avon Canal Company, Charlotte's family friend, needs her help. Mr. George Haversham has had a nervous breakdown due to financial concerns. He was soon to be wed and working hard at building a fortune that will allow him to marry. His investment in the canal involves buying and selling of land on behalf of the canal company. A change to the route has been made public prematurely and now he'll be al but bankrupt. Mr. Dundas strongly suspects Mr. Haversham's brother, Edward of stealing the canal map. Can Charlotte prove it or is Edward innocent?

This one had a lot of twists and turns I didn't see coming. I had to go back and reread a few times to figure out what was going on. All the canal stuff and office business didn't interest me much. I wasn't 100% surprised by what was revealed but mostly.

Mr. Dundas is rather manipulative. He knows how to push Charlotte's buttons and is rather unfeeling about the whole thing. He's quick to judge but at least he apologizes. Miss Streetham, George's intended, is sweet and caring. She's devoted to nursing George back to health. I'm not sure the amount of access she has to him is accurate but she's a nice person. Could she perhaps have overheard something and accidentally revealed it innocently? Was it Mr. Clarke, George's partner? He seems suspicious to me and who else would have the key to the lock box?

One character I liked is Kenneth, the office errand boy. He's "simple" but I think he holds the key to the mystery. I don't like how people keep sending him away for sweets. He seems to enjoy doing jobs.

The Affair of the Code Duello is a silly story about two gentlemen determined to fight a duel over the beauty of a young lady. Mr. Wallace gets caught up in the affair.

The excerpts from the Code Duello were interesting and in this story, the author takes it seriously and her characters will NOT fire into the air like Georgette Heyer's characters because that is dishonorable. I must be finally catching on to Charlotte's methods because I thought the exact same thing she did for the same reasons. There was a shocking surprise twist to the story and it leads to Charlotte finally showing some emotion. Charlotte rarely acts on her feelings and at the end of the story, she drops a huge bombshell on Jane and then won't talk about it. I'm really not that devoted to her. Jane is slow to catch on to the events of this story but she's blinded by her feelings for Mr. Wallace.

The object of the duel of Miss Deidre Bassett, a beautiful young lady. At first she seems nice and she feels uncomfortable with being the object of attention. Later, I kind of agree with Charlotte. I kept confusing the two men. Mr. Jenkins is the suitor of Miss Bassett. He's new money and desperate to be a gentleman. He's rather dull and business-minded and doesn't excite Miss Bassett's ardor at all. That's fair and she shouldn't marry him if he doesn't float her boat. He apparently doesn't like to hear no for an answer and is determined to win her affections. I don't approve of these young gentlemen getting drunk and having nothing to do but make silly bets. I would have expected Mr. Jenkins above all that. His actions are stupid and embarrassing and I feel for Miss Bassett. Mr. Sunderland is the challenged. He doesn't believe Miss Bassett is the most beautiful woman in the world, and so the duel. He's known as a hot-head, always eager to fight duels. This one was preventable and really dumb. I don't think he's too bright or interesting. He loves Miss Caroline Chivington, also a beauty. She would be better paired with Mr. Jenkins as she's described as a bit of a bore. Both the ladies seem to have a bit too much sensibility. The gentlemen would be wise to find new ladies to love.

Other Historical inaccuracies:
Coffee wasn't really popular in the Regency era. It was expensive and difficult to get. Chocolate would be better.
Ladies didn't drink port. That was specifically for gentlemen after dinner. I know Charlotte is exceptional but I would think Mrs. Fitzhugh and Jane wouldn't partake.

This story collection is a cute bit of fluff, just not really my thing. I am, however, enjoying the sequel much more.

[IndieJane · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Sherlock Holmes meets Jane Austen … I had no idea what I was getting myself into. You see, I’ve never read (or watched) any Sherlock Holmes, and mysteries are always strange to me. I have a hard time getting into them. But Jane Austen, now that I like. Or is it love? Regardless, the premise was interesting, and I decided to give it a shot. Oh my. What fun!

Jennifer has created a character – Charlotte House – whom I both loved and hated. She’s brilliant! She’s elegant. She’s rich and eccentric. And did I mention she’s brilliant? But she’s also very confident in and aware of her brilliance, and expects to receive her own way in everything. She’s a little condescending too. So I alternately wanted to strangle her and watch mesmerized as she worked her magic. We are introduced to Miss House via Miss Woodsen, who becomes her particular friend and companion. Miss Woodsen I became quite fond of, she’s young and rather inexperienced, but under the care of Miss House, she begins to grow in confidence and experience from being able to move in the finer circles of society, despite the unfortunate hand fate dealt her family. And she is able to join Miss House on her work.

This work, you see, is a very delicate occupation. It involves espionage and sleuthing, not to mention a keen eye for detail and the accurate reading of characters. Miss House is a cross between a private investigator and a matchmaker, her primary area of concern is making sure that matches take place as they should – without unnecessary impediment. Sometimes this means unraveling multiple engagements at once (that was a hilarious tale, to be sure!), and sometimes it means stepping out of the romantic realm and investigating the mysterious leaking of top secret information. In My Particular Friend, readers go through a series of “cases” with Misses Woodsen and House, with each reading almost like a novella – though all connected neatly with continuing threads of life involving the two ladies. It’s an easy read, with twists and turns that keep the reader’s interest, without turning into a taxing mystery. I found myself thinking that Jane Austen herself would appreciate some of Miss House’s observations on character and human nature. All in all an agreeable read, though Ms. Petkus did leave us hanging with Miss House’s concluding statement! I can only hope there is more to come – I feel a very interesting story is afoot.



3.5 out of 5 stars

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her fledgling foray into the growing field of Austenesque fan fiction, author Jennifer Petkus takes an entirely new direction from her first novel, Good Cop, Dead Cop, with My Particular Friend, mixing up Regency match making and mystery, which some may argue are one in the same. My attempts to further sub-categorize it utterly fail. But, let’s try a recipe: Combine the crime-solving of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the location and dialogue of Jane Austen, the humor and romance of Frances Burney, mash-up thoroughly and you get something like “Matrimonial private investigators, Inc.”

The adventure is set in bath during the Napoleonic wars and showcases three totally un-alike heroines: The first is the mastermind, Miss Charlotte House, who is one of the most fascinating fictional personalities this reader has yet come across. She is stately tall; her elegance turns heads all over Bath; her presence commands awe and respect; her enigmatic mind is near-genius in its capabilities; nothing in Bath of any consequence escapes her notice. She is relentless and unconventional. Neither is she above thievery or deception in order to accomplish her mission. Mercurial and unpredictable, she can be fiercely loyal, generous with her wealth, and often kindly to everyone. Or, she can be mercilessly uncompromising in the demands on her partners and clients. The second is Miss Jane Woodsen, the first-person narrator of the tale. She is young and naïve but shows the potential analytical skills that Miss House seeks. The third is Mrs. Margaret Fitzhugh, the mother-figure whose relationship to the leader is a closely-held secret.

Miss Woodsen is in desperate straits since her gentleman father committed suicide over losing his fortune and his property has been entailed away. Miss House rescues destitute Jane off the streets of Bath and offers her a situation. In exchange for shelter, raiment, and a living, all Miss House desires of Jane is for her to become a “particular friend” and protégé’. She is thus welcomed into Charlotte’s home as a respected “gentlewoman.”

What is Miss House’s “living?” In her own words: (Charlotte conversing with Jane) “I suppose you could say I’m an intermediary. Mothers come to me and ask my aid in the matter of their daughter’s matrimonial prospects.” “I see,” I said, puzzled. “And of this service….” “I am NOT in trade, my dear.”

Within this affair are five matrimonial episodes that defy solving until the parties seek Miss House for assistance. The episodes tax the ladies and their informants to the limits of their abilities. Each Episode contains its own distinct mood from the sinister to the wildly funny to the deceitful to the romantic.

The prime cargo is the suspense generated within these romantic mysteries but the engine that drives that cargo along is the exquisitely entertaining dialogue between the three ladies, their friends, acquaintances and clients. In true Austen style the author just nails the quaint civility and manners that predominated that time period without any overt sexuality, profanity, or unnecessary violence.

A sample quote from the clever wit of the author had me laughing out loud in its ridiculousness: (Jane speaking to Charlotte) “I often wondered aloud how troublesome it would be to retain so much knowledge, but she always said when information no longer was useful she promptly forgot it. I found difficulty believing her statement and asked her to give me an example of knowledge she no longer found useful. She countered that she could not because she had forgotten any examples. I countered that she could not cite an example because knowledge never becomes useless. She merely looked at me, blinked twice and said ‘I’m sorry, what were we talking about?’”

Two significant threads woven through the entire affair bind the episodes together. A tantalizing romance slowly blossoms between Miss Woodsen and one Mr. Wallace, an erstwhile military field physician who assists Miss House in her tasks. And, what is the source of the tragic sorrow of Miss House that surfaces at times but remains a mystery for the entire affair? Why does this oh-so eligible lady, with such beauty, wealth, and brilliance remain single into her late twenties?

The conclusion of the affair is enticingly open-ended as the ladies plan a season in London. Will there be new romantic tangles to solve? Will Mr. Wallace follow them? Will Charlotte find love? These questions BEG for a sequel! Or, will author Jennifer Petkus take an entirely different direction? Perhaps the author’s fertile imagination will prove to be as unpredictable as Miss Charlotte House herself. Whatever the outcome, I sense we have uncovered an emerging literary talent here of considerable promise.


(Please visit www.austenprose.com for the original publication of this review as well as to enjoy other reviews of Austen-inspired books)

[M.J. Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second of Jennifer Petkus’ books that I’ve read. Her first book was the sci-fi/police procedural novel ‘Good Cop, Dead Cop’ which I enjoyed immensely. Petkus has an easy style that flows pleasantly off the page, in fact Petkus can sometimes delude the reader into thinking that what she does is straightforward and therefore just plain simple - believe me, the only simplicity in this is her art! Like the famous English authors she admires and pays tribute to with ‘My Particular Friend’, it is only as one pauses to reflect on what a pleasant experience it is to be reading her book that one becomes truly aware of her writerly skills.

Here’s an example of the quality of writing she often attains: “The clock in the hallway caught my attention in that fleeting way that clocks sometimes do. Most of the time they do their job of measuring out the seconds, minutes and hours of our lives unnoticed save when there is an an¬ticipated engagement and are then consulted with regular¬ity. Sometimes they remind one of the remaining hours until dawn during a troubled night. But occasionally they simply remind one of the passage of time, not a specific period mind you, but just the simple unfolding of one day into the next and the sense that things are as they always should be.”

Is this fan fiction? I suppose it must inevitably be classified under this heading; however, the ‘label’ seems to somehow diminish what Jennifer Petkus has achieved here. It’s a great idea: combining the period, style and social mores of the Regency era and its writers like Fanny Burney and Jane Austen with the crime-solving thrills of Conan Doyle and his greatest of all creations, Sherlock Holmes. The book is divided into stories or cases that take its three female protagonists on various ‘adventures’ - the book’s very reminiscent of the story collections of the great sleuth in the way it’s laid out. In all of the tales Petkus’ wit is never far from the mouths and thoughts of her characters: my wife can testify to the smile I bore on my face as I read this book on her borrowed Kindle at bedtime reading. Even the tale where the author presents us with an earlier incarnation of PG Wodehouse’s Bertie Wooster, though Wooster seemed somewhat anachronistic in his speech and use of language, I was quickly able to forgive this simply because the antics really made me laugh. As for the three main female protagonists, Charlotte House, Jane Woodsen and Margaret Fitzugh, Jennifer Petkus would appear to have more planned for them, as at the end of this novel they depart Bath for the London season. I shall certainly be looking forward to this and must definitely put Petkus’ third novel ‘Jane Actually’ on my TBR list.

‘My Particular Friend’ is a pleasantly distracting confection - very nicely done and a delight from start to finish!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. I loved the contrasting characters and their interplay. Looking forward to the next book.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is set in Bath during the period of the Napoleonic wars. It is the story of three ladies who team up to solve several affairs.
Each affair (or case) is a sort of romantic conundrum. Usually some individual seems to have erred in the romance department and finds themself at Miss House's doorstep begging her to rectify the situation. Most of the affairs are light-hearted and the outcome is desirable. A couple others seemed more sinister and the ladies were in some potentially dangerous situations.

Jane is the narrator in this book, and her father has recently committed suicide after going broke. She meets up with Charlotte House when Charlotte catches her attempting to shoplift a pair of gloves. A quick friendship is formed and Charlotte insists that Jane come and stay with her. Shortly after, Charlotte asks Jane to assist her with her work, and the ladies work together with Mrs Fitzhugh to solve the mysteries and romantic mistakes that others have made.

Charlotte House is a unique character. She befriends Jane quickly and takes her in. She understands Jane's situation and shares her home and life with her. She does not seem to expect much in return except for her friendship and assistance with the affairs. She can be aloof and cold at times, but then at other times she surprises the reader with her warmth and compassion. I wasn't really sure how Miss House had become a matchmaker of sorts. Her past was a mystery and even Jane didn't seem to know that much about her.

On the very last page of the book, we get to read an interesting tidbit of information from Charlotte's past. I truly hope there is a sequel so we can find out more about Charlotte, and I would also like to find out what happens between Jane and Mr. Wallace!

I don't usually read books like this and have never read anything by Jane Austen, and perhaps only one story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle so I cannot say if the style of writing in this book is similar. I can say that it was a truly entertaining book and that I enjoyed the different affairs that the ladies resolved.

I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads. Thank you!

[Melissa’s Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm having a hard time rating this book. For the fluidity of the language, the intelligence, and creativity that went into this book, I'd give it 5 stars. The characters were very much a female version of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. The author managed to capture the essence of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's beloved characters and yet give them the feminine traits appropriate for female characters. The reason for my 3 stars has to do more with the excitement of the book. I wavered back and forth whether to give this 4 or 3 stars. While three of the cases really captured my imagination. The others were not as thrilling and I thought it more an exercise in paying homage to Holmes. There is a cliff hanger dropped at the end of the book and it definitely begs for a sequel. I'd definitely like to read the sequel and I can't wait to find out what ultimately happens with the characters. It just didn't have the excitement of other books I've read where I want to stay up all night reading. But on the whole, I thought it was creative and a definite read for those who love Sherlock Holmes

[Rebecca Emin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book via Goodreads First Reads.


What a super, different book. I had read of the comparisons with Austen and Doyle, however I made sure to read this book as if I had no knowledge of this, to avoid any influence on my opinion.

I absolutely loved the character Miss Charlotte House, and her friend and our narrator Miss Jane Woodsen. The way their friendship develops and grows is great to read.

I particularly enjoyed the reveals of how things happened for each case in this book, as well as the fact that each case could feasibly be read almost as a standalone short story - this is wonderful when you have limited reading time.

I am very impressed with the fact that the author who wrote this is American. I was "hearing" it in my head in a very clear old-fashioned English accent.

I would *love* to read a sequel to this book. The characters and the writing are wonderful. Fingers crossed!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be refreshingly creative, although it used elements from many familiar books. It's a mixture of Jane Austen and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle with a dash of Dickens. There was a lot to love - wonderful characters, unique plot with a lot of twists and turns, and a very realistic aura (you can tell that the author has done her research). There were a couple of things that rubbed me wrong(two sections especially, at the beginning and again at the very end), but overall I was quite impressed.

[Pamela Mingle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this witty and clever blend of Holmes detection with Regency sensibilities. What a unique view of the "marriage mart," so different than the way it is usually portrayed. Will hope for a sequel to find out what happens to Charlotte and Miss Woodsen during their season in London.

[suzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome set of mysteries with a little bit of romance to spice it up. I want to know what happens next but it seeems there's no next book :( Note: The stories are finished. I just wanted to know what happened/happens to Charlotte, Jane, et al)

[Janet Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoying this Regency female Sherlockian romp--fun to recognize phrases, names, and references to so many of my favorite books and authors.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an intelligent homage to Austen, Conan Doyle, and Burney as embodied by two Regency-era ladies subtly solving domestic mysteries in Bath. I enjoyed it immensely.

[Larry Feldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A neat combination of Doyle' s detective and Jane Austen' s romantic sagas.

[Little Red Readinghood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six little mysteries solved by a Jane Austen /Sherlock Holmes type character. Absolutely delightful and spellbinding. Noteworthy is the names of characters homage many of my favorite novels.