Pride, Prejudice and Poison

A Jane Austen Society Mystery #1

by Elizabeth Blake

Antiquarian bookstore proprietor Erin Coleridge uses her sense and sensibility to deduce who killed the president of the local Jane Austen Society.

Erin Coleridge’s used bookstore in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, England is a meeting place for the villagers and, in particular, for the local Jane Austen Society. At the Society’s monthly meeting, matters come to a head between the old guard and its young turks. After the meeting breaks for tea, persuasion gives way to murder—with extreme prejudice—when president Sylvia Pemberthy falls dead to the floor. Poisoned? Presumably…but by whom? And was Sylvia the only target?

Handsome—but shy—Detective Inspector Peter Hadley and charismatic Sergeant Rashid Jarral arrive at the scene. The long suspect list includes Sylvia’s lover Kurt Becker and his tightly wound wife Suzanne. Or, perhaps, the killer was Sylvia’s own cuckolded husband, Jerome. Among the many Society members who may have had her in their sights is dashing Jonathan Alder, who was heard having a royal battle of words with the late president the night before.

Then, when Jonathan Alder narrowly avoids becoming the next victim, Farnsworth (the town’s “cat lady”) persuades a seriously time-crunched Erin to help DI Hadley. But the killer is more devious than anyone imagines.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Cozy, Fiction, Contemporary, Adult

330 pages, Hardcover

First published August 13, 2019

About the author

Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Also see C.E. Lawrence

Elizabeth Blake has written ten published novels, six novellas and a dozen or so short stories and poems under other pseudonyms. Many of her works appear in translation internationally. Winner of both the Euphoria Poetry Competition and the Eve of St. Agnes Poetry Award, she is a two time Pushcart Poetry Prize nominee and First Prize winner of the Maxim Mazumdar Playwriting Competition, the Chronogram Literary Fiction Prize, Jerry Jazz Musician Short Fiction Award, and the Jean Paiva Memorial Fiction Award. She was a finalist in the McClaren, MSU and Henrico Playwriting Competitions. She is a Hawthornden Fellow and Writer in Residence at Bydcliffe, Lacawac and Karunā Colonies.

(source: Amazon)

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.

Always curious about these cozy type mysteries and automatically lured in by the Jane Austen references, I just couldn't wait to dive into this story. To say that all the people in this English village enjoy Austen and her books is an understatement. They interweave quotes from the novels and Jane Austen's letters into their daily conversations and name their cats after her characters. Often they can be found reading annotated formats of her books. They're more like SUPERFANS!

Bookstore owner and Austenite, Erin Coleridge(related to THE Samuel Taylor Coleridge) soon becomes an amateur sleuth after the poisoning of the president of the Jane Austen Society shakes up the village. Although reluctant to have her assist, Special Inspector Hemmings cannot deny his attraction to Erin even though his partner reminds him she's still as much a suspect as anyone else.

My thoughts: I definitely felt that this book had a Murder She Wrote vibe to it that made for easy reading. Although the constant references to Austen's writings eventually wore on my nerves, I did enjoy the characters and was satisfied with the conclusion of the story.

Would I continue with the series? I sure would !


Goodreads Review published 20/06/19
Expected publication 13/08/19

[Icewineanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pride & Prejudice is a favourite of mine so how could I resist a cozy themed mystery filled with Austen quotes and references......and where the main character Erin Coleridge (yes, descended from Samuel Taylor Coleridge), owns a used bookstore.
The plot revolves around the characters that belong to the Jane Austen Society. It’s set in the picturesque village of Kirkbymoorside, in North Yorkshire, England. Many of the characters quote (a lot!) from Austen’s works, trying to outdo one another, Erin’s closet friend, Farnsworth Appleby has named all of her cats after the characters in Pride & Prejudice, and in keeping with the theme, the main mystery involves a poisoning by tea. And as with all Austen, there’s some romance here too.

This is the first book in the Jane Austen Society Mystery series. It’s a very well written & enjoyable cozy mystery. And as much as I did enjoy all of the quotes, it did stretch incredulity to believe that the characters (unless they were actors who had worked in many Austen productions), would actually remember so many lines by heart, and especially to be able carry to on a conversation using mainly quotes.
I had to chuckle when even the detective was quoting Austen, among others. But minor quibbles aside, I will definitely add this cozy series to my must-read list.

My heartfelt thanks to Crooked Lane Books, Elizabeth Blake and NetGalley for a free reading copy.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Jane Austen Society in Kirbymoorside is all in uproar. Some older members of the society want to stick with rules and ceremony, while newer members don't mesh with the current society president. Silvia is rude and a total control freak. Every meeting descends into petty arguments and insults. Erin Coleridge doesn't enjoy the drama. She just wants to enjoy running her used book shop in the village. The drama kicks up a notch when a society member is murdered. Erin jumps in to do a little sleuthing to clear a friend of suspicion.

I like the quirky characters in this first book of the Jane Austen Society Mystery series. I did feel a bit sorry for most of the members of the Austen Society as their meetings descended into complete chaos. I did applaud the members who managed to sneak Jane Austen quotes in amid the in-fighting. At times, all the quotes and references did get to be a bit much....but it's all in fun when it's a cozy mystery. I just chalked it up to residents of Kirbymoorside being JA Superfans who love to pepper their conversation with literature references like my husband and I throw out random movie or Monty Python quotes.

Erin is an interesting main character. She just wants a peaceful countryside life running her bookshop and enjoying her cottage. But she's willing to sacrifice her peace to help a friend and put the village back to rights after a murder. The quirky village side characters really add to the story. The mystery moved along at a nice pace, peppered with lots of Jane Austen references. There are plenty of suspects and twists along the way. Nicely done!

All in all, an enjoyable cozy mystery. I'm always up for reading anything Jane Austen related. :) I will definitely read more books in this series.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

[Selah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mystery was okay, and I loved the Jane Austen references, but there were some serious problems. Erin lies to the police, refuses to go to the hospital after a head injury, and puts herself in danger multiple times. I know this is standard cozy mystery heroine behavior, but I’m getting sick of it. The *constant* references to Farnsworth’s weight are *beyond* annoying. Tell me more about her as a character, don’t just find new ways to tell me she’s fat. 🙄 2.5 stars

[Micky Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

The characters were very well developed and the underlying mystery was quite well woven. I get that the premise of the book is based around a club of Jane Austin supporters and in fact was partly the motivation in selecting the book to read, but the incessant quotes were a bit much and over the top, they actually became a distraction to the story. Once I started skimming past some of the incessant quoting, the storyline became much more enjoyable and I absolutely was pleased with how the mystery unfolded as well as the development of the relationships among the characters. I actually would like to see this book continue on as a series and see how the characters progress. I do hope that the author finds a way to tie back into the Jane Austin Society without beating you about the head with quotes though.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love books that have a Pride and Prejudice connection, so when I saw this book I just had to give it a read.

The mystery was pretty good, it kept me guessing as to who was really behind everything and why. All the Jane Austen quotes started funny, but got to be a little too much as the story went on...at least for me.

I'd definitely read another book in the series and would recommend this to fans of a cozy mystery.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.

[Angel (Bookn.All.Night) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love cozy mysteries but haven't really listened to them. I finally decided to dip my toes in and I'm glad I gave this a try.

The narrator does an amazing job and I found myself loving the sound of the voice and inflections. I usually get bored and want to speed through but not with this one.

I will say it was a tad hard to follow in the beginning because there are a lot of characters to keep up with. It didn't take long for me to find my flow though, and eventually I was able to keep up.

I enjoyed the mystery and most especially love that the amateur sleuth is a bookshop owner. I'm a sucker for books that have bookish anything in them 😂

This was the perfect pairing with my diamond painting activity and I definitely recommend this one.

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

Pride and Prejudice themed cozy mystery? Sign me up! Combining two of my favorites worked a treat, and the author has very whimsical writing that made me just want to read more. Somehow everything feels floaty and romantic without being over the top and cheesy, and it captures a real love of Austen. Here we see plenty of quotes and comparisons, and best of all a real simmering romance that I hope expands in further books. I loved seeing them thrown together!

Erin is a marvelous sleuth and I genuinely enjoyed reading about her. She is subtle and yet sure and made this a favorite read for the year. If this is only the beginning, I have to wonder where this series will go since it started out so brilliantly! Definitely a five star read!

[Melissapalmer404 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great cozy mystery. Readers will be kept guessing until the end. I liked the Jane Austen references and quotes.

[Wee Lassie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

[Rita Deodato · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review Published at:
https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...

Pride, Prejudice and Poison is a cozy mystery set in a modern small town in Yorkshire where the main character, Erin Coleridge, owns a bookshop. This story revolves around the local Jane Austen club, of which the main protagonist is part of, and it starts with a murder being committed during one of the clubs meetings. When some suspicions start to turn to Farnsworth Appleby, Erin’s best friend, she decides to take the investigation in her own hands and discover who the murderer is.

I loved the fact that this story took place in a small town, that it had a close connection to Austen’s aficionados and that a bookshop was part of it. I can never resist books about books or bookshops. However, when I started listening to the audiobook, there were so many new characters being introduced that it was not only hard to keep up with all of them, but also to connect with one in particular. As the story progresses, it becomes easier to distinguish the characters, especially for those listening to the audiobook because the narrator is able to give all characters different tones and accents, and I found Farnsworth a funny character, but because it took me so much time to learn who the characters were, I ended up not connecting with any of them, not even with Farnsworth. That took away some of the pleasure I might have had reading the book if I had cared why and who killed Sylvia. I didn’t consider the mystery obvious as I didn’t guess who killed her, but I found myself not caring who did it either, which would probably be my main quibble with the story.

There are several Austen quotes in this book, as well as Austenesque details, such as the cats’ names and matching personalities, and I particularly liked how the many Jane Austen quotes connected to the plot. That was cleverly done, even if the quotes became a little too much over time.

There was also a romantic interest that started to get my attention, but it wasn’t developed as I would have expected. Maybe the author decided to only give us some hints of the romance to be able to properly develop it on volume two.

Even though the tone of the book was one I enjoyed, with the small-town feeling, I was sometimes distracted with the dialogue tags the author used (such as she said), and I believe the book would have been better if they were reduced.

Summing up, Pride, Prejudice and Poison is a modern small-town mystery where readers will find many different and diversified characters who love Jane Austen above all else. It is a good fit for readers who like cozy “whodunit” stories with a taste of Austen.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book in a new series, Jane Austen Society and a new author for me. I will read the next story. Erin Coleridge owns a used book store in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, England. She admires forensic science and knows a great deal about it. Erin often quotes from Jane Austin's books throughout the book.There were numerous quotes and I felt it was overdone. We are introduced to Detective Inspector Peter Hadley and his friendly, easy-going Sergeant Rashid Jarral who are charged to find Saliva Pemberthy killer.
The Jane Austen Society is in a turmoil as no one likes the current President, Silvia Pemberthy. Matters come to light and the next meeting all members are there. During the Tea break, Silvia is found dead, poison by rat poison. The clues all point to Farnsworth, Erin friend. She decided to look for the murderer so her friend is not convicted. I highly recommend this book.

Disclosure: Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for a copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Ruth Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a sucker for Jane Austen stories and adaptations. So the second I saw this I snapped it up as fast as I could!

The story started a bit slow. It took me a while to get into it. I felt a little bit unmotivated at the start and really struggled. BUT it got better and was worth pushing through. The mystery kept me guessing, and who could want much more?

I liked the Austen references and quotes and found most of them to be funny and well connected to the plot and the happenings. However, around about the halfway point they became a little tedious.

That being said, this is Book 1 in a series and I will absolutely try Book 2. I think there’s major potential here and I’m going to keep at it and hope for a good pay off!

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pride, Prejudice and Poison by Elizabeth Blake is the first novel in A Jane Austen Society Mystery series. I enjoyed the setting of Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, England. It is a quaint village with a variety of quirky residents. It seems that everyone is a fan of Jane Austen and her books. Erin loves to quote from Jane Austen’s novels and the villagers are frequently reading different versions of the authors works. I did feel that the Austen element was overdone (too many quotes). I wish it had been done with a lighter hand so it would have retained the humor. I did, though, like how the quotes connected to the plot. Erin Coleridge owns the used bookstore, Readers Quarry where the villagers tend to congregate for tea and gossip. Erin is a member of the local Jane Austen Society. At their monthly meetings there is controversy. While the group takes a tea break, the club’s president, Sylvia Pemberthy drops dead. Erin jumps into the investigation when it appears that the killer is setting up Farnsworth Appleby to take the fall. Erin flirts with the investigating detective who is referred to in my copy (an ARC) as DI Peter Hadley and DI Peter Hemming (talk about confusing). I am sure this was corrected for the final version. There were multiple suspects in this whodunit, but the killer can be identified quite easily (before the body departs for the inquest). I would have liked a bit more of a challenge. Erin’s behavior mimics that of most amateur sleuths. She lies to the police, asks questions, stumbles upon information and puts herself in danger. I felt that Pride, Prejudice and Poison was a slow starter because of the introduction of so many villagers (a little much at the start). Gossip spreads rapidly in the small village and tea is consumed in vast quantities. Pride, Prejudice and Poison is a lighthearted cozy mystery with Austen admirers, toxic tea, a bounty of books, an introverted investigator, and a set up suspect.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pride, Prejudice and Poison is book one in the A Jane Austen Society Mystery by Elizabeth Blake. Every month the local Jane Austen Society met at Erin Coleridge bookshop. However, during the lasted meeting, the president of the society died. When Detective Inspector Peter Hadley and Sergeant Rashid Jarral started to suspected her friend Farnsworth Erin started to investigate. The readers of Pride, Prejudice and Poison will continue to follow Erin Coleridge investigation to find out what happens.

Pride, Prejudice and Poison is the first book I have read of Elizabeth Blake. Pride, Prejudice and Poison is lovely cozy mysteries and enjoyed reading this book. At first, I thought that I would not enjoy this book. However, I was wrong. I love the Elizabeth Blake portrayal of characters and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book. I was surprised with the twist that Elizabeth Blake put at the end of this book. Pride, Prejudice and Poison is well written and researched by Elizabeth Blake. I like the way Elizabeth Blake describes the settings of Pride, Prejudice, and Poison allowed me to imagine being part of the plot of this book.

The readers of Pride, Prejudice and Poison will learn about running an antiquarian bookshop in a small rural village in North Yorkshire, England. Also, the readers of Pride, Prejudice and Poison will learn about living in an English village.

I recommend this book.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Really enjoyed this new series. There's been a murder via poisoning at the meeting of the jane Austen Society. Erin and friends are sleuthing to help find the culprit. Meanwhile, Erin is drawn & attracted to Detective Hemming as well as the handsome and mysterious Jonathan Alder, new to town and the group.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only Jane Austen related book I've ever liked.

[ladyethyme · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another cosy mystery written by an American.
Sigh. This must be the tenth I’ve come across.
In a row.
Using the term ‘pants’ to mean ‘trousers’ several times and other Americanisms is a dead giveaway.
The idea that ‘Reverends’ don’t consume alcohol😂🤦🏻‍♀️😂 (honestly?!?) is SO American with thier history of prohibition and moral superiority.
I guess some ppl aren’t bothered by this-but I am.
Americans seem to be flooding the British mystery category, unable or unwilling to do the most basic of research, not caring at all about vocabulary, personality, or history of the British people.

Also referring to someone without wife and kids as having ‘something wrong with them’ is pretty shallow and insulting (obviously if you don’t have or want kids you’re a despicable, broken person.)-as is her obsession with a character’s weight, instead of her personality.

The CONSTANT AUSTEN QUOTES-as others have pointed out- are unbearable. I love Austen, but this is just ridiculous. I mean seriously it’s 3, 4 times a page.
And fun game-take a shot every time Farnsworth says ‘pet’.
You’ll die in one chapter.

Erin’s position of ‘never volunteer information to the police’ and lying to them is also cringe worthy. ITS A MURDER INVESTIGATION. It’s far too….’textbook copy/paste cosy mystery’. She’s…frankly a completely unlikable main character. I’d love to see her arrested for involving herself in a police investigation.

Erin, a Mary Sue, is (completely unlikeable,)‘Slender as a boy’, sexy 20 something redhead with green eyes and glasses (just to make sure she’s sexy AND nerdy) who’s smarter than everyone else, (of course), an introvert bookworm wearing skin tight clothes that are described over and over, (seriously how many times are they going to describe her figure from various points of view?
This is getting obscenely ridiculous ) but has no idea how sexy she is and couldn’t POSSIBLY imagine any guy finding her attractive despite the fact that every guy in a 5 mile radius has their tongue hanging out every time she walks into a room-it’s basically every 90’s teen movie), meets the handsome, jaded, world weary detective, a hate to love plot….

The ‘lying to police because I’m so independent’ and nearly killed twice on the road by a car but refusing all appropriate medical treatment, as well as any precautions. Actually takes a CHILD in her car anyway, (at night. In the dark.), despite these murderous occurances that happened two days before.
I mean….meh.

After hearing the same ideas regurgitated for the 50th time in a row I’m beginning to wonder if authors all get their ideas from the same outline somewhere.

And I’m sorry but the mystery wasn’t very mysterious. Pretty obvious tbh….

The narrator has an annoyingly shifting accent, particularly with Polly and Farnsworth who go from Yorkshire, to Scottish to Irish.😂🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

[Stephanie Dagg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very clever, understated cosy mystery. And I mean understated as a compliment in that, as with Jane Austen’s own books, everything is subtle and underplayed which just makes it all the more effective. For example, this book is gently humorous. It’s not a ‘laugh out loud’ type read, but more of a ‘frequent quiet smile’, which I actually prefer and which is harder to sustain since it doesn’t rely on slapstick or cheesy situations for comedy .
The characters are equally subtle. Their personalities gradually emerge as they book progresses, rather than being described in full to us at the beginning. We get strong hints as to what they’re like – Farnsworth is a cat lady and Sylvia is bossy, for example – but there’s a lot more to them than that and we watch them all develop nicely. Erin is an interesting heroine, very much a Jane Austen heroine in that she’s not the sort that’s cut out to play a lead role. She’s an intelligent, thoughtful woman who prefers the quiet life. She’s likeable and we enjoy following the events that unwind around her.
Interactions are great. As in any group of people, within the very dedicated Jane Austen Society there are friendships and animosities, organisers and followers-along, ambition and apathy. The bickering and niggling is extremely life-like – well, it is for me living in a small French village where committee meetings see the full gamut of emotions being run through!

The use of quotes from Austen’s novels is a witty touch. As always the author has a light hand with this and doesn’t overdo it, just throwing in an appropriate quote to add a little richness.
Well worth a read, whether you’re a Jane Austen fan or not.

[Jacqui Huntley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can a murder story be delicious? If so then this is one. Set in Yorkshire, the local Jane Austen Society comprise a disparate group of JA lovers. During a largely contentious monthly meeting the president is poisoned. Our heroine, Erin, runs the local secondhand bookshop with teas and coffee and acts as a bit of a, young, Miss Marple. She knows everyone and there are certainly plenty of slightly, or more than, eccentric characters - the perfect married couple, a wife with a secret, the cat lady, the dashing "Mr Bingley", the academic husband, the dead woman's lover and her husband and so on. The two York detectives, DI Hadley and DS Jarral, are rounded characters too - serious but fun. The plot is gentle, the conversation sparkling with plenty of quotes and improvisations from, mainly, Pride and Pred. A coupe of hours of very enjoyable reading with a satisfactory end. What more can one ask in these days of gruesome, raw murders and abuse? Respite. Lovely. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this little visit to the Yorkshire countryside and could almost picture Erin's bookstore and cottage. The main characters of the Jane Austen Society were very enjoyable to get to know. I thought ten-year-old Polly was a good addition, what a hoot of a kid! I thought the mystery was well-plotted and written with some great red herrings. I didn't guess who the killer was. The showdown was quick but satisfying, and I can only hope that Erin might have a future with the handsome policeman Peter Hemming.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

AUTHOR Blake, Elizabeth
TITLE Pride, Prejudice and Poison
DATE READ 07/18/20
RATING 4/B
FIRST SENTENCE
GENRE/ PUB DATE/PUBLISHER / # OF Cozy Mystery/2020/hoopla audio/ 8 hr 23 min
SERIES/STAND-ALONE #1 Jane Austen Society
CHALLENGE Good Reads 2020 Reading Goal 136/120;
GROUP READ Good Reads Mystery
TIME/PLACE Present/England
CHARACTERS Erin Coleridge/bookstore owner
COMMENTS A nice cozy centered around members of the Jane Austen Society in a quaint English village. Erin is more into sleuthing than Jane Austen, but it is a member since she owns a bookstore.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and entertaining. At first, I was afraid that I would be lost, having no familiarity with the Jane Austen Society. However, it was part of the background and not integral to the plot.

Characters were well developed and the story was interesting and engaging. I would certainly love to read more in this series!

[Marie A · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Jane Austin, you will definately enjoy the references peppered throughout, if you are not as familar, don't worry, you will still enjoy the mystery. I thought it was well written, fun and had me guessing until the end. I found a new author and am looking forward to reading more in this series.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Northern Branch of the Jane Austen Society meets in the basement of the church at Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, England each week after Sunday services. The branch president, Sylvia, is a regular Lady Catherine de Bourgh imposing rules and order on the society used to a relaxed approach. This causes some consternation in the group, especially among the locals whose families have lived there forever. Tensions rise and the dyed-in-the-wool locals go to war with the immigrants. Add to the mix, handsome schoolmaster Jonathan Alder, a newcomer to the village who causes the ladies' hearts to flutter. No one can agree on anything and people come to the meetings just to see sparks fly. During a busy meeting tea break, Sylvia is poisoned to death! Who could have done such a thing? The police set their sights on Farnsworth Appleby, the town eccentric. Her best friend Erin Coleridge knows Farnsworth would never harm anyone and is determined to point the police in the correct direction. After all, she owns a bookstore and is interested in crime stories. How hard can it be to solve a murder? In a village where everyone has secrets, it's a lot harder than she thinks. Then more people end up hurt and Erin knows she has to work WITH the police and not against them. She doesn't reckon on developing a crush on the handsome inspector though. There's no time for feelings when her best friend's life is on the line.

This book is more of a British cozy than American style. The storytelling style is very detached and less warm and cute than American cozies. It's told in third person and the point-of-view skips around between various characters. I had a hard time remembering them all as a consequence and didn't connect with any of them. For most of the book I didn't care whodunit and I actually was able to figure out the murderer right away. It wasn't obvious, there are a lot of red herrings, but I had a feeling it was that person. The story picked up for me 3/4 of the way through and then I couldn't put it down. I didn't ever really fully immerse myself in the story or find myself identifying with and rooting for the characters. I also disliked how they all kept quoting Jane Austen in every conversation. I don't know anyone who does that, not even me! That was weird and distracting. I would not want to live in this village where cell phone signals don't work well (yet they have internet) and everyone hates everyone else. There are too many secrets and scandalous goings-on. I was prepared not to like the story because of the cats but the cats added some much needed charm and humor.

There are a few typos/errors. Character names change and spelling of names changes. This is unacceptable in a professional printed book.

If there is a main character in this story, it's Erin Coleridge, a descendant of a second cousin of the famous poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. That is too cutesy and weird how everyone keeps asking or assuming she's related. Are British people really that aware of 18th and 19th-century literature? Erin is a bookstore owner who does most of her business selling rare books online. She opens and closes her shop on a whim when she feels like it. She drinks a lot of tea instead of working! (EVERYONE in this village drinks a lot of tea! but tea bags? yuck!) I wish I could have a business like that! She seems to have enough money to live cozily by herself. Erin isn't interested in being in a relationship but she ends up stringing two guys along and I can't forgive her for that. She recognizes she is developing feelings for Detective Inspector Peter Hemming but still goes out with and kisses another man. That's not nice.

Erin is a loyal friend but she's a terrible investigator. She stalks the police, noses into everyone's business and gets distracted by silly stuff. Erin also seems to do a fair amount of shaming of people with autism. She's indulgent towards Winton Pettibone because she assumes he's "on the spectrum." So what if he is? Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. Young James Charles Marlowe does seem to be on the autism spectrum but he's a kid so Erin is more judgmental. Again, so what? He seems to be on the mild end and is fine. It's his sister Polly I'd be more judgmental about. She's only 10 but uses bad language when her dad isn't around and has a ghoulish interest in murder. They both need more adult supervision.

Farnsworth is opposite of Erin. She's lively, eccentric and a busybody. Farnsworth is the town eccentric. Since her husband ran off with a bar maid and promptly got killed by a lorry, Farnsworth has adopted the air of a tragic widow. It suits her lively sense of humor. She's also a crazy cat lady. She rescues cats and names them after Jane Austen characters. It was too funny to read her scolding Lydia, Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Bennet, Jane, Wickham, etc. Weird but funny. I'm not sure I really like her but I didn't want her to be the murderer. Obvious she can't be if she's Erin's best friend but it isn't looking good with the police.

Sylvia Pemberthy, the grande dame of the village was not a nice woman. Not only was she draconian in the way she ran the society, chewing people out for being late when they were working at their legitimate paying job?! (For real? Teachers don't stop working just because it's Sunday and church/JAS meeting day(, she was a truly horrid person. Sylvia pretended to be someone she wasn't and it came back to poison her. Sylvia may have had a heart somewhere deep down inside but it sounds like she chose superficial values over true ones. She was a woman who craved absolute power and wielded it like a hammer. I'm not surprised she was murdered, only surprised it didn't happen sooner. However, it may not have anything to do with the Society. Her husband is no prize either. He's another one who loves power and adoration. His reaction to his wife's death is cold and shocking. I think he could have killed her. He certainly had some good motives.

Jonathan Alder, the newcomer to the village, is a bit mysterious. No one knows where he comes from or what his story is. Erin wonders if he's a Darcy or a Wickham. I get the impression he is more of a Wickham but that's from Erin's point-of-view, what she observes. Is what she thinks she's seeing what she's actually seeing? He's nice enough but in a Mr. Bingley sort of way. Is that a cover for dark deeds? What would his motive be?

Prudence Pettibone is the most annoying character in the book. A frumpy housewife, her entire conversations are non-stop Austen quotes. She's the Mary Bennet of the village, pedantic and annoying. She has her husband Winton well trained and he's devoted to her, like a dog. I sense their marriage is not all people think it is. Prudence is a little bit of a sad character. I think Winton is nice and friendly enough. He's not an extrovert and he has his whole world in his historic family house and his wife. That's enough for him. His routine is important and he's content that way. Prudence's best friend, Hattie, is the opposite of Prudence. Hattie is a man-eater and on the prowl for her next husband. Her stylish clothes leave a lot to be desired and she unnerves all the men, especially the police. I think she knows more than she's letting on. She sounds like she's daring the police to find out what she knows by playing cat and mouse with them.

The Very Honorable Reverend Motly is clearly Mr. Collins. He gives me the creeps. Is he really that devoted to the church or is he devoted to Sylvia in the way Mr. Collins is devoted to Lady Catherine? I don't think he's a murderer because he's a man of the cloth but if it was anyone who opposed Sylvia, then maybe I'd consider him as a suspect. James Marlowe, the local butcher, has the muscles to physically harm someone and he has secrets to hide. I think if he was going to kill someone it would be physical violence. He's a distracted parent who works all day and lets his 10-year-old daughter roam the village trying to solve a murder. He's tougher on his son.

Owen Hardacker is a tough old guy, a salt of the earth type who lives off the land. Actually, he's quite wealthy but pretends he's a Yorkshire farmer and speaks with a broad Yorkshire accent. I'm not sure what the point of that is. He has anger management issues and he is very xenophobic. I don't like him very much and think he could be a murderer but not a poisoner. He'd do it in the heat of the moment. His wife, Carolyn (also spelled Caroline later in the book), is hiding something. I think she's miserable in her marriage and doesn't appear at the meetings because she gets a break from her husband. She seems nice enough and I feel kind of sorry for her. Kurt and Suzanne Becker are German immigrants and outcasts in the village. They have not endeared themselves to the locals and vice versa. The Xenophobic attacks are uncalled for. Kurt needs to work on his anger issues too. Suzanne seems unhappy in her marriage and trying too hard to overcompensate. She seems desperate. There are rumors swirling about her husband and another woman. As the one who discovers the body, she could be the murderer. Don't they say poison is a woman's weapon?

Detective Inspector Peter Hemming seems like he'd be good at his job if he didn't have a nosy woman stalking him. He's patient but exasperated. He's attracted to her but knows to keep his distance. Peter is grumpy but everyone knows he's a good person. I don't think he would arrest Farnsworth without evidence but his superior in York sounds like an idiot who likes to make a quick arrest to appear like a hero. Peter's approach is more methodical and slow. His partner, Sergeant Rashid Jarral, is funny and charming. He's young and sometimes makes mistakes but I think he'll learn and become an excellent detective.

If you love Jane Austen and British cozies, you'll probably love this one. It wasn't really my cup of tea and I won't be looking for any more mysteries in this series.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

This is the first book in the A Jane Austen Society Mystery by Elizabeth Blake.

I have to admit first off that I am not a Jane Austen fan. But I fell in love with this book anyway. Practically every character quotes some person from a Jane Austen novel throughout the course of this book. It was pretty fun listening to the quips. Some of the comparisons between Austen character and people were lost on me since I didn’t know the backstory well enough but I managed to muddle through despite that fact.

This book is centered around the Jane Austen Society of which Erin Coleridge is a member. She is the owner of the local bookstore and closet sleuth on the side. Okay, maybe not closet sleuth. Everyone knows how Erin wants to get to the bottom of a mystery. So when the president of the Society winds up dead, Erin is on the case! So are two detectives from York: DI Peter Hemming and DS Rashid Jarral. This is their first case together and methinks this won’t be their last.

There are quite as gaggle of suspects but no one really believes any of them would stoop to such an act. When Erin’s snooping is recognized by the bad guy, she becomes a target as well. During the course of the investigation DI Hemming and Erin find a growing attachment to each other that neither of them move forward with much to my dismay. When Erin kisses Jonathan Adler early in the book I wonder what I may be missing because it is obvious she and DI Hemming are meant for each other.

The farther I read the more I fell in love with this little hamlet and its residents. And I look forward to more books in this series because seriously there needs to be more than a mere goodbye between Erin and DI Hemming!

Highly recommended.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erin Coleridge’s used bookstore in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, England is a meeting place for the villagers and, in particular, for the local Jane Austen Society. After a contensious society meeting, and at a break for tea, the society's president, Sylvia Pemberthy, dies.

Det. Inspector Peter Hadley and Sgt. Rashid Jarral are assigned the case. There is a huge list of suspects, including Sylvia’s lover Kurt Becker and his wife, Suzanne, and Sylvia's husband, Jerome. When another society member, Jonathan Alder is targeted, the town's cat lady, Farnsworth, convinces Erin to help with the instigation, much to the chagrin of DI Hadley. Can the two of them work together to solve the murder?

I picked up this book because of two words: Jane Austen. When I started reading it I wasn't sure it was going to be something I would enjoy, but the more I read the more intrigued I became. It is a classic village whodunit, and the more I learned about the plethora of people involved the more I enjoyed the tale.

Erin is a wonderful sleuth, and watching her weave through events and try to get to the bottom of things was fun. Truthfully, though, my favorite character was Farnsworth. I saw her as a perfect English village resident, and she made me laugh. I loved every scene she was in.

This book is touted as being the first in a series, and I hope that's right. I've searched for information on another book but have yet to find it. I will keep searching, because I really want to continue reading about this village in Yorkshire.

I read a digital copy of this book provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley, but I also bought a digital copy to keep for my library.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book even though I'm not a Jane Austen fan. I'm looking forward to the next book.

[Alexis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty disappointed in this. The town is just obsessed with Jane Austen not that it’s a Pride and Prejudice Retelling. Also there were too many characters and you don’t really care about any of them. Things also ended too conveniently.

[Coleccionista de finales tristes · Rating 4 out of 5]

En un lugar llamado Kirkbymoorside, North Yorshire, England hay una Jane Austen Society . En una de las reuniones de ésta la presidenta Silvia es envenenada.
Así inicia la historia.

Este crimen hará que lleguen los policías y uno de ellos es muy Darcy. Mientras que uno de los habitantes es muy Bingley.

Posterior al asesinato de Silvia varios de los miembros de la Jane Austen Society sufren algún “accidente” hasta que finalmente Erin suma dos más dos y el asesino es descubierto.

A quién recomiendo este libro? A quienes gusten de los cozy misteries. Así como a los fans de Jane Austen ya que los personajes se la pasan citando palabras de las obras de Jane.

Dentro de unos meses saldrá el siguiente libro de esta saga y ya lo quiero!