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Death by Misadventure: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 1 Oct 26April 29, 1585. Coroner John Derrick is summoned to the cozy village of Bramley to investigate a naked dead man found beneath a waterwheel. An unfortunate drowning, by all indications. But upon closer inspection, the case takes a macabre The deceased is missing a certain piece of his anatomy.
Impelled by the grisly discovery to uncover the culprit, John must contend with bumbling villagers in his quest for the truth. Only sixteen-year-old maid Rebecca Laurence seems to offer any help.
In Elizabethan England, servants rarely get a second glance. Rebecca prefers it that way, moving quietly through her world, picking up secrets like dirty clothing. Knowledge is power at a time when women are afforded little, and she deftly wields hers to protect her own clandestine affairs.
As John wades through the evidence, Rebecca treads into dangerous waters. And if she’s not careful, she could find herself in over her head.
Impelled by the grisly discovery to uncover the culprit, John must contend with bumbling villagers in his quest for the truth. Only sixteen-year-old maid Rebecca Laurence seems to offer any help.
In Elizabethan England, servants rarely get a second glance. Rebecca prefers it that way, moving quietly through her world, picking up secrets like dirty clothing. Knowledge is power at a time when women are afforded little, and she deftly wields hers to protect her own clandestine affairs.
As John wades through the evidence, Rebecca treads into dangerous waters. And if she’s not careful, she could find herself in over her head.
261 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 1, 2026
About the author
Jane Bitomsky
1 book1 followerJane has a PhD in early modern English history, a BA (Hons) and an LLB (Hons). She’s an award-winning author of historical fiction. Her stories interweave history, crime and humour.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 31, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
As a big fan of a good period piece, along with this ASTONISHING cover, I couldn’t help but making myself curious to this book and request it.
Here we accompany John and Rebecca unveiling the story of a murder (or was it misadventure?) They’re both very well made characters and made me eager to know more about their own stories. I do love so very much how devoted of a husband John is, I wouldn’t settle down for less.
For the murder, honestly I had it figured out by 20% of the book, which took much from the fun of the mastery by the characters were so fun I had to keep knowing more of them, not much to get to understand what happened to that body in the river, but to get to know them better and hear their stories.
The story is told in a very nice way, the writer style is very unique and portraits a beautiful piece of the side characters too, so I hope to hear more of her.
In general, as a mystery is not much my cup of tea, but as a novel I had some good fun with it.
As a big fan of a good period piece, along with this ASTONISHING cover, I couldn’t help but making myself curious to this book and request it.
Here we accompany John and Rebecca unveiling the story of a murder (or was it misadventure?) They’re both very well made characters and made me eager to know more about their own stories. I do love so very much how devoted of a husband John is, I wouldn’t settle down for less.
For the murder, honestly I had it figured out by 20% of the book, which took much from the fun of the mastery by the characters were so fun I had to keep knowing more of them, not much to get to understand what happened to that body in the river, but to get to know them better and hear their stories.
The story is told in a very nice way, the writer style is very unique and portraits a beautiful piece of the side characters too, so I hope to hear more of her.
In general, as a mystery is not much my cup of tea, but as a novel I had some good fun with it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.4/5 Stars
A male corpse was found, wedged under a waterwheel, its genitalia missing. John Derrick, a 1500s coroner, is tasked with finding out the identity of the corpse and what exactly caused his death.
This book is a murder mystery that does a great job at subverting your expectations through its thematic use of prejudice and misogyny. There are many suspects littered throughout this story and depicts them all equal candidates up to the near end. If you’re someone who likes to try to figure out the end before it is actually revealed, this is a fun one.
The prose, although aptly relaying the language and vibe of the 1500s, can be hard to get into at first. The story lulls a bit at midway point as Derrick attempts to solve a secondary murder that was seemingly unrelated to the first. Despite this, the humor written is quite entertaining; especially when it is about 1500s villager superstitions. E.g. Dont swim near the waterwheel lest the eel bite off your penis! Dont touch the witch lest she magically chops off your stick (I think the penis ones are funny).
Misogyny and prejudice is a big theme in this book; women are often depicted as the lesser of the two genders and are widely accepted to be as such but are also the ones shown to outsmart the men. The women themselves are not necessarily fighting how society perceives them but in their own private ways, take agency against their own struggles, whether or not this is recognised by the men in their lives.
By the end, the book subverts your own perceptions and expectations of each character; ones that appeared one way are revealed to actually be another. This further highlights the running theme of misjudgement based on assumed presumptions.
Overall, quite an entertaining read for those in the mood for a lighthearted murder mystery and who doesn’t mind one set in the distant past. Be forewarned of the writing style as I expect this may turn some people off who were initially drawn to the premise.
Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC! This book comes out October 2026.
A male corpse was found, wedged under a waterwheel, its genitalia missing. John Derrick, a 1500s coroner, is tasked with finding out the identity of the corpse and what exactly caused his death.
This book is a murder mystery that does a great job at subverting your expectations through its thematic use of prejudice and misogyny. There are many suspects littered throughout this story and depicts them all equal candidates up to the near end. If you’re someone who likes to try to figure out the end before it is actually revealed, this is a fun one.
The prose, although aptly relaying the language and vibe of the 1500s, can be hard to get into at first. The story lulls a bit at midway point as Derrick attempts to solve a secondary murder that was seemingly unrelated to the first. Despite this, the humor written is quite entertaining; especially when it is about 1500s villager superstitions. E.g. Dont swim near the waterwheel lest the eel bite off your penis! Dont touch the witch lest she magically chops off your stick (I think the penis ones are funny).
Misogyny and prejudice is a big theme in this book; women are often depicted as the lesser of the two genders and are widely accepted to be as such but are also the ones shown to outsmart the men. The women themselves are not necessarily fighting how society perceives them but in their own private ways, take agency against their own struggles, whether or not this is recognised by the men in their lives.
By the end, the book subverts your own perceptions and expectations of each character; ones that appeared one way are revealed to actually be another. This further highlights the running theme of misjudgement based on assumed presumptions.
Overall, quite an entertaining read for those in the mood for a lighthearted murder mystery and who doesn’t mind one set in the distant past. Be forewarned of the writing style as I expect this may turn some people off who were initially drawn to the premise.
Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC! This book comes out October 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Death by Misadventure is a wonderfully atmospheric historical mystery that completely transported me to Elizabethan England. From the very first pages, Jane Bitomsky brings the village of Bramley to life with rich period detail, memorable characters, and a mystery that kept me thoroughly engaged.
When Coroner John Derrick is called to investigate what appears to be an accidental drowning, the discovery of a shocking detail quickly turns the case into something far more sinister. I loved following both John and Rebecca as they unraveled the truth. John is a genuinely likable protagonist whose devotion to his wife adds warmth and heart to the story, while Rebecca is intelligent, resourceful, and endlessly fascinating. Their separate perspectives added depth to both the investigation and the world around them.
What impressed me most was how vividly the author portrayed everyday life in sixteenth-century England. The village feels populated by real people with secrets, ambitions, and complicated relationships. Bitomsky's background in early modern history shines through, making the setting feel authentic without ever overwhelming the story.
While I found myself suspecting the culprit fairly early on, that didn't diminish my enjoyment. The real strength of the novel lies in its characters, the immersive historical setting, and the fascinating journey toward uncovering exactly what happened. The writing is engaging, the pacing is strong, and even the side characters feel fully realized.
A compelling debut that blends history, mystery, and memorable characters into an entertaining and satisfying read. I look forward to reading more from Jane Bitomsky in the future.
Death by Misadventure is a wonderfully atmospheric historical mystery that completely transported me to Elizabethan England. From the very first pages, Jane Bitomsky brings the village of Bramley to life with rich period detail, memorable characters, and a mystery that kept me thoroughly engaged.
When Coroner John Derrick is called to investigate what appears to be an accidental drowning, the discovery of a shocking detail quickly turns the case into something far more sinister. I loved following both John and Rebecca as they unraveled the truth. John is a genuinely likable protagonist whose devotion to his wife adds warmth and heart to the story, while Rebecca is intelligent, resourceful, and endlessly fascinating. Their separate perspectives added depth to both the investigation and the world around them.
What impressed me most was how vividly the author portrayed everyday life in sixteenth-century England. The village feels populated by real people with secrets, ambitions, and complicated relationships. Bitomsky's background in early modern history shines through, making the setting feel authentic without ever overwhelming the story.
While I found myself suspecting the culprit fairly early on, that didn't diminish my enjoyment. The real strength of the novel lies in its characters, the immersive historical setting, and the fascinating journey toward uncovering exactly what happened. The writing is engaging, the pacing is strong, and even the side characters feel fully realized.
A compelling debut that blends history, mystery, and memorable characters into an entertaining and satisfying read. I look forward to reading more from Jane Bitomsky in the future.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.
This story has the makings of an engaging film or television adaptation, and I would gladly watch it on screen and suspect I would probably enjoy it more.
While I wasn’t a fan of the book’s structure, I remained invested enough to keep reading and discover how the murder had been committed, even though I suspected the culprit fairly early on.
The greatest strength of this book is its historical setting and attention to historical accuracy, which was a refreshing change and one of the main reasons I picked it up. The time period is a favorite of mine, so I jumped at the opportunity to read a book on this setting.
Unfortunately, I found the characters difficult to connect with, and they never became particularly compelling as the story progressed. I simply just could not find myself feeling anything for them.
Also, at times, some of the characters’ fears and beliefs came across as unintentionally comical when viewed through a modern lens, though they were likely reflective of the period.
Overall, I appreciated the strong historical detail, but the limited character development and lack of a truly challenging mystery kept the book from reaching its full potential in my eyes.
This story has the makings of an engaging film or television adaptation, and I would gladly watch it on screen and suspect I would probably enjoy it more.
While I wasn’t a fan of the book’s structure, I remained invested enough to keep reading and discover how the murder had been committed, even though I suspected the culprit fairly early on.
The greatest strength of this book is its historical setting and attention to historical accuracy, which was a refreshing change and one of the main reasons I picked it up. The time period is a favorite of mine, so I jumped at the opportunity to read a book on this setting.
Unfortunately, I found the characters difficult to connect with, and they never became particularly compelling as the story progressed. I simply just could not find myself feeling anything for them.
Also, at times, some of the characters’ fears and beliefs came across as unintentionally comical when viewed through a modern lens, though they were likely reflective of the period.
Overall, I appreciated the strong historical detail, but the limited character development and lack of a truly challenging mystery kept the book from reaching its full potential in my eyes.
June 6, 2026
I enjoyed the mystery part of the story, and the investigation kept me interested in uncovering the case. The romantic subplot wasn’t something I personally connected with, but it didn’t prevent me from enjoying the overall story.
The book has a comedic tone, but after a while some of the jokes felt repetitive and started to lose their humor. At times it felt like every villager in this town had a one track mind.
Once the mystery was solved, a few chapters felt as though they dragged on longer than necessary. This seems to be the author’s debut novel, and I would be interested in reading more of her work in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be published on September 29, 2026.
The book has a comedic tone, but after a while some of the jokes felt repetitive and started to lose their humor. At times it felt like every villager in this town had a one track mind.
Once the mystery was solved, a few chapters felt as though they dragged on longer than necessary. This seems to be the author’s debut novel, and I would be interested in reading more of her work in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be published on September 29, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Overall, I enjoyed this read. It fell a bit flat in some respects, particularly in character depth and writing style, but it was a fun, easy read. I loved the setting and felt truly transported to Elizabethan England. The “whodunnit” was easily solvable for me, and I saw that coming early on; however, it did not ruin the story for me. I still enjoyed the experience, largely due to the setting. I feel this would be an ideal fall read for many readers, as there is a romance subplot, but the main focus is on solving a murder... Or death by misadventure? Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews