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Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery #2
A Murderous Persuasion
Phaedra Brighton is on the case when an innocent murder-mystery weekend turns into the real deal, in the newest Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery.
Phaedra Brighton has her life all figured out--she has a profession she enjoys, a wonderful (if exasperating) cat, and a cozy carriage house on the grounds of her aunt's inn. She needs no Captain Wentworth to sweep her off her feet (though, she would not mind a Mr. Darcy).
But when Aunt Wendy decides she is selling Laurel Springs Inn, Phaedra faces losing her beloved home. In a last-ditch attempt to drum up more business, Phaedra convinces Wendy to host an immersive Persuasion-themed murder-mystery weekend. It is a fool proof plan to draw attention to the establishment in the hopes of saving it.
Until one of the participants winds up dead.
With more suspects than she knows what to do with, Phaedra finds herself on the hunt for a killer once again. But with time running out, Phaedra quickly realizes that with this investigation, there will be no second chances.
Phaedra Brighton has her life all figured out--she has a profession she enjoys, a wonderful (if exasperating) cat, and a cozy carriage house on the grounds of her aunt's inn. She needs no Captain Wentworth to sweep her off her feet (though, she would not mind a Mr. Darcy).
But when Aunt Wendy decides she is selling Laurel Springs Inn, Phaedra faces losing her beloved home. In a last-ditch attempt to drum up more business, Phaedra convinces Wendy to host an immersive Persuasion-themed murder-mystery weekend. It is a fool proof plan to draw attention to the establishment in the hopes of saving it.
Until one of the participants winds up dead.
With more suspects than she knows what to do with, Phaedra finds herself on the hunt for a killer once again. But with time running out, Phaedra quickly realizes that with this investigation, there will be no second chances.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 3, 2023
12 people are currently reading
388 people want to read
About the author
Katie Oliver
19 books211 followersKatie Oliver loves a cozy mystery... and Jane Austen novels. So she put the two together to create Professor Phaedra Brighton, an intelligent, outspoken Austen scholar who teaches nineteenth century literature at Somerset University, a small liberal arts college located in Laurel Springs, Virginia.
When Phaedra lands in the middle of a puzzling murder mystery, she enlists the help of the members of the Jane Austen Tea Society, her good friends Lucy Liang and Marisol Dubois.
Ms. Oliver resides in South Florida with her husband, her computer, and an ever-growing stack of cozy mysteries waiting to be read.
Please visit Katie’s website, www.katieoliver.com, or follow her on BookBub. https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katie...
When Phaedra lands in the middle of a puzzling murder mystery, she enlists the help of the members of the Jane Austen Tea Society, her good friends Lucy Liang and Marisol Dubois.
Ms. Oliver resides in South Florida with her husband, her computer, and an ever-growing stack of cozy mysteries waiting to be read.
Please visit Katie’s website, www.katieoliver.com, or follow her on BookBub. https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katie...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
January 21, 2023
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. A murder mystery weekend turns serious when a guest is found quite dead. The characters range from charming to despicable. The theme Jane Austen's book Persuasion. The author is new to me. I won this book along with a lot of other goodies in an IG giveaway. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series Cyanide and Sensibility. In the meantime, there are two beautiful jigsaw puzzles to assemble, 2 Jane Austen word search puzzle books to solve, a Regency coloring book and a set of Jane Austen bookmarks to color.
June 23, 2025
YOUTUBE / INSTAGRAM
"You are most definitely invited to this afternoon's meeting of the Jane Austen Tea Society. And the first item on the agenda is...
"Murder. What else?"
Una muy buena continuación para un cozy mystery que ya me pareció una delicia (Pride, Prejudice, and Peril).
Un aspecto del que he disfrutado mucho es la ambientación y las circunstancias que rodean la trama: en el pequeño hotelito de la tía de Phaedra celebran un fin de semana de misterio inspirado en Persuasión, de Jane Austen. A cada uno de los huéspedes se le asigna un personaje de la novela y uno de ellos fingirá morir para que los demás atrapen al asesino.
Naturalmente, y como no podía ser de otra manera, ese fin de semana se produce un auténtico crimen y Phaedra tendrá que ponerse a investigar para salvar la reputación del hotelito de su tía.
La ambientación de misterio en hoteles siempre es algo que disfruto mucho, y aunque aquí es menos acentuada que en otras ocasiones porque la protagonista no se aloja exactamente en el hotel y algunos de los otros huéspedes vienen y van, sigue siendo un punto a favor para mí.
Además, me gusta cómo equilibra la autora la intriga con los toques de humor y el encanto de la ambientación y los personajes, además de la ligerísima presencia de romance para la protagonista. No obstante, como la presencia de romance no es demasiado excesiva, en ese sentido da la sensación de que hay muchas cosas que se insinúa que podrían suceder pero que no llegan nunca a pasar (a veces parece que hay un triángulo amoroso en el aire, y otras veces avanza y retrocede varios pasos con el mismo; como si la autora no acabara de decidir qué quiere hacer a ese respecto).
Pese a que hay algunas escenas que no parecen muy creíbles en lo que se refiere a cómo se toma la policía la intervención de Phaedra, he disfrutado de la investigación del misterio y de la historia en general y ya tengo ganas del siguiente.
"You are most definitely invited to this afternoon's meeting of the Jane Austen Tea Society. And the first item on the agenda is...
"Murder. What else?"
Una muy buena continuación para un cozy mystery que ya me pareció una delicia (Pride, Prejudice, and Peril).
Un aspecto del que he disfrutado mucho es la ambientación y las circunstancias que rodean la trama: en el pequeño hotelito de la tía de Phaedra celebran un fin de semana de misterio inspirado en Persuasión, de Jane Austen. A cada uno de los huéspedes se le asigna un personaje de la novela y uno de ellos fingirá morir para que los demás atrapen al asesino.
Naturalmente, y como no podía ser de otra manera, ese fin de semana se produce un auténtico crimen y Phaedra tendrá que ponerse a investigar para salvar la reputación del hotelito de su tía.
La ambientación de misterio en hoteles siempre es algo que disfruto mucho, y aunque aquí es menos acentuada que en otras ocasiones porque la protagonista no se aloja exactamente en el hotel y algunos de los otros huéspedes vienen y van, sigue siendo un punto a favor para mí.
Además, me gusta cómo equilibra la autora la intriga con los toques de humor y el encanto de la ambientación y los personajes, además de la ligerísima presencia de romance para la protagonista. No obstante, como la presencia de romance no es demasiado excesiva, en ese sentido da la sensación de que hay muchas cosas que se insinúa que podrían suceder pero que no llegan nunca a pasar (a veces parece que hay un triángulo amoroso en el aire, y otras veces avanza y retrocede varios pasos con el mismo; como si la autora no acabara de decidir qué quiere hacer a ese respecto).
Pese a que hay algunas escenas que no parecen muy creíbles en lo que se refiere a cómo se toma la policía la intervención de Phaedra, he disfrutado de la investigación del misterio y de la historia en general y ya tengo ganas del siguiente.
January 30, 2023
What a great read for a lazy Saturday. I was engaged from the first and read in almost one sitting. Author Katie Oliver’s weaves a clever web, and I loved the characters, especially our heroine Phaedra and all the “Persuasion” and Jane Austen touches.
‘And to make it even more fun, Phaedra rushed in, "What if we sponsor a murder mystery week?" She leaned forward. "Jane Austen-inspired of course. With a staged murder, victims, and suspects. We could do a Persuasion theme," she mused. "With each guest assuming the role of a character in the novel. Whoever solves the mystery first, wins a prize."’ —Chapter 1.
With the right balance of humor, charm, and intrigue, this contemporary whodunnit had me swiping, swiping, swiping through my kindle until the satisfying end. Fans of Joanne Fluke (A Hannah Swensen series) and Stephanie Barron (A Jane Austen Mystery series) will love this smart cozy mystery. “A Murderous Persuasion, A Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery, Book 2,” should not be missed!
‘And to make it even more fun, Phaedra rushed in, "What if we sponsor a murder mystery week?" She leaned forward. "Jane Austen-inspired of course. With a staged murder, victims, and suspects. We could do a Persuasion theme," she mused. "With each guest assuming the role of a character in the novel. Whoever solves the mystery first, wins a prize."’ —Chapter 1.
With the right balance of humor, charm, and intrigue, this contemporary whodunnit had me swiping, swiping, swiping through my kindle until the satisfying end. Fans of Joanne Fluke (A Hannah Swensen series) and Stephanie Barron (A Jane Austen Mystery series) will love this smart cozy mystery. “A Murderous Persuasion, A Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery, Book 2,” should not be missed!
February 1, 2023
About a 2.8, really. I tried to get in the spirit of it all, but Phaedra seems so immature much of the times that I get tired of her. Repetition of certain points is also annoying. Parts of the plot were okay but other seemed ridiculous. Phaedra finds a note on a body and the policeman says she shouldn't have touched it but "at least it wasn't overlooked." Seriously??? The police wouldn't have searched the body??? Other plot points make no sense. Someone searches a costume shop because, apparently, they believe the bloody clothing worn by the victim would be there and they could retrieve the note. Then Phaedra is attacked after she finds a button in the dark-- what eagle eyes the murderer has, to spot that Phaedra has found button and to then clobber her to get it back.
Which brings up that Phaedra is knocked unconscious twice in a relatively short period of time, so perhaps she is already experiencing TBI symptoms. And while I like the cats, Bella is about to be tossed to someone else who doesn't want her. I also had trouble buying that a cat unfamiliar with a place is let outside like a dog and returns. I really wanted to like this one, but ended up unimpressed. The first one at least had the fun of using Austen character variants in the cast of characters; this time, people were assigned roles of Austen characters. Not the same.
Which brings up that Phaedra is knocked unconscious twice in a relatively short period of time, so perhaps she is already experiencing TBI symptoms. And while I like the cats, Bella is about to be tossed to someone else who doesn't want her. I also had trouble buying that a cat unfamiliar with a place is let outside like a dog and returns. I really wanted to like this one, but ended up unimpressed. The first one at least had the fun of using Austen character variants in the cast of characters; this time, people were assigned roles of Austen characters. Not the same.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2022
A Murderous Persuasion by Katie Oliver is definitely a winner for me.
Phaedra is an interesting character, and her unique personality really captured my attention.
I loved the murder mystery event and se of the characters had me laughing out loud.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#AMurderousPersuasion #NetGalley
Phaedra is an interesting character, and her unique personality really captured my attention.
I loved the murder mystery event and se of the characters had me laughing out loud.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#AMurderousPersuasion #NetGalley
June 22, 2023
This was an interesting read.
This is the first Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery that I've read, so I went into it without any sort of knowledge of the first book. Right off the bat, I wasn't a fan of Phaedra - her characterization seemed forced and it seemed like the author was trying too hard to make her a Jane Austen devotee. I can believe her being an Austen fan, but to the level that was depicted in the book - dressing up in period garb for the classes she teaches and just in general while walking around town - seemed unlikely. While I don't doubt that it's possible, it simply wasn't written very well.
Additionally, we start off with the cops being a bit useless. While I understand that the point of the book is to have Phaedra solve the mystery, it makes no sense to have a detective thank her for poking around and searching the body before the cops got there.
Finally, the last thing that annoyed me here was the cat. While I like Wickham as a name, I'm not keen on having the imagined thoughts of a cat written out every time he's on the page. We could have done without his cat thoughts, is all I'm saying.
That said, I did like the mystery - it was a truly intriguing one for me. Additionally, while I wasn't keen on Phaedra, I did like the other characters, especially the ones that seem like they'll be recurring characters, like Hannah, Professor Mark Seldon, and Detective Morelli. They were all fun characters, and I would have liked to see a bit more of them, especially the detective.
The mystery kept me gripped on this book enough that I finished it within the day, which is a review in itself. That said, will I go back to read the first book, or read other books in this series? Probably not - this was an interesting read, but it didn't grip me enough to keep going, unfortunately.
2.5/5 stars, rounded up to 3 stars for the mystery, for this one for me!
This is the first Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery that I've read, so I went into it without any sort of knowledge of the first book. Right off the bat, I wasn't a fan of Phaedra - her characterization seemed forced and it seemed like the author was trying too hard to make her a Jane Austen devotee. I can believe her being an Austen fan, but to the level that was depicted in the book - dressing up in period garb for the classes she teaches and just in general while walking around town - seemed unlikely. While I don't doubt that it's possible, it simply wasn't written very well.
Additionally, we start off with the cops being a bit useless. While I understand that the point of the book is to have Phaedra solve the mystery, it makes no sense to have a detective thank her for poking around and searching the body before the cops got there.
Finally, the last thing that annoyed me here was the cat. While I like Wickham as a name, I'm not keen on having the imagined thoughts of a cat written out every time he's on the page. We could have done without his cat thoughts, is all I'm saying.
That said, I did like the mystery - it was a truly intriguing one for me. Additionally, while I wasn't keen on Phaedra, I did like the other characters, especially the ones that seem like they'll be recurring characters, like Hannah, Professor Mark Seldon, and Detective Morelli. They were all fun characters, and I would have liked to see a bit more of them, especially the detective.
The mystery kept me gripped on this book enough that I finished it within the day, which is a review in itself. That said, will I go back to read the first book, or read other books in this series? Probably not - this was an interesting read, but it didn't grip me enough to keep going, unfortunately.
2.5/5 stars, rounded up to 3 stars for the mystery, for this one for me!
January 1, 2023
Reviewed for
Wit and Sin
When Phaedra Brighton planned a Persuasion-themed murder mystery week, she never expected the “murder mystery” part to be literal. When a guest of her aunt’s inn winds up dead, Austen scholar Phaedra trades in her bonnet for a deerstalker cap and gets sleuthing in A Murderous Persuasion . Author Katie Oliver’s second Jane Austen Tea Society mystery is entertaining, has plenty of suspects, and enough Austen touches sprinkled to delight Janeites.
Phaedra is trying to convince her aunt to keep from selling her inn, but she has to compete with low business and a very persuasive realtor. Having a guest murdered on the grounds also doesn’t help. I enjoyed watching Phaedra connect the dots while juggling a potential suitor, some slight family drama, and a house full of suspects. There are many people who had a reason to see the deceased dead and I liked learning all the motives as Phaedra tried to figure out whodunit. Oliver keeps all the plates Phaedra has spinning moving in an organic manner for the most part and I enjoyed seeing the puzzle come together. This is Phaedra’s second outing as an amateur sleuth, but you don’t have to have read Pride, Prejudice, and Peril in order to enjoy this book. All in all, I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. The characters are entertaining, the mystery satisfying, and the Jane Austen references delightful.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
When Phaedra Brighton planned a Persuasion-themed murder mystery week, she never expected the “murder mystery” part to be literal. When a guest of her aunt’s inn winds up dead, Austen scholar Phaedra trades in her bonnet for a deerstalker cap and gets sleuthing in A Murderous Persuasion . Author Katie Oliver’s second Jane Austen Tea Society mystery is entertaining, has plenty of suspects, and enough Austen touches sprinkled to delight Janeites.
Phaedra is trying to convince her aunt to keep from selling her inn, but she has to compete with low business and a very persuasive realtor. Having a guest murdered on the grounds also doesn’t help. I enjoyed watching Phaedra connect the dots while juggling a potential suitor, some slight family drama, and a house full of suspects. There are many people who had a reason to see the deceased dead and I liked learning all the motives as Phaedra tried to figure out whodunit. Oliver keeps all the plates Phaedra has spinning moving in an organic manner for the most part and I enjoyed seeing the puzzle come together. This is Phaedra’s second outing as an amateur sleuth, but you don’t have to have read Pride, Prejudice, and Peril in order to enjoy this book. All in all, I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. The characters are entertaining, the mystery satisfying, and the Jane Austen references delightful.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
May 24, 2023
Ending made me scream. Give me what I want!!!
March 20, 2025
Overall not bad, but Phaedra is supremely stupid in this one.
January 17, 2024
4 stars
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
This is another great cozy mystery with Jane Austen vibes. While this is book 2 of the series, it's a standalone mystery and can be read without having read the first book. In fact, I've read this series completely out of order and I've still enjoyed them all.
In this book Professor Phaedra Brighton is once again right in the middle of another murder investigation. This time, the victim is a best-selling author who was attending an immersive Persuasion-themed murder-mystery weekend at her aunt Wendy's bed and breakfast. The event was supposed to gain attention for her aunt's inn to boost business, but this isn't the type of attention they wanted.
Phaedra is a formidable protagonist who is smart, capable and brave. Once she puts her mind to something, she singularly pursues it until she gets her answer. In this book, Phaedra is put in danger on more than one occasion, but remains undaunted in finding the killer. She also obtains some closure with the high school ex-boyfriend that broke her heart.
I liked getting to know Phaedra's sister and aunt better. I was able to learn more of their backstory, which added depth to the information I learned about them in book 3. Same for Mark, Phaedra's love interest in the series. If you like cozy mysteries with a Jane Austen flair, this series is a must read.
I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from NetGalley and Berkley. All opinions are my own.
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
This is another great cozy mystery with Jane Austen vibes. While this is book 2 of the series, it's a standalone mystery and can be read without having read the first book. In fact, I've read this series completely out of order and I've still enjoyed them all.
In this book Professor Phaedra Brighton is once again right in the middle of another murder investigation. This time, the victim is a best-selling author who was attending an immersive Persuasion-themed murder-mystery weekend at her aunt Wendy's bed and breakfast. The event was supposed to gain attention for her aunt's inn to boost business, but this isn't the type of attention they wanted.
Phaedra is a formidable protagonist who is smart, capable and brave. Once she puts her mind to something, she singularly pursues it until she gets her answer. In this book, Phaedra is put in danger on more than one occasion, but remains undaunted in finding the killer. She also obtains some closure with the high school ex-boyfriend that broke her heart.
I liked getting to know Phaedra's sister and aunt better. I was able to learn more of their backstory, which added depth to the information I learned about them in book 3. Same for Mark, Phaedra's love interest in the series. If you like cozy mysteries with a Jane Austen flair, this series is a must read.
I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from NetGalley and Berkley. All opinions are my own.
January 17, 2023
Phaedra Brighton, a college professor with expertise in Jane Austen, is a wonderful main character, and the perfect unintentional sleuth in this terrific series by Katie Oliver.
Like the first book in this series, Pride, Prejudice, and Peril, there’s a really well-plotted cozy mystery with lots of charm, humor and no shortage of suspects. It’s beautifully and intelligently written, and there’s such wonderful (and believable) repartee between the characters.
Phaedra, trying to save her aunt Wendy’s inn, hosts an immersive Persuasion-themed mystery event – taking place over a weekend. When a guest is actually found dead, the search for a killer becomes the real deal. What makes this such an engaging book is that Katie Oliver gives her reader so much more than a simple whodunit. Not only was I fascinated by the clues and possibilities, there are so many relationships between characters who I found myself truly caring about.
I was captivated from beginning to end: evaluating clues, wondering how the personal stories would play out, and simply enjoying the exceptional storytelling. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series, which I hope will go on and on. It’s really that good.
Like the first book in this series, Pride, Prejudice, and Peril, there’s a really well-plotted cozy mystery with lots of charm, humor and no shortage of suspects. It’s beautifully and intelligently written, and there’s such wonderful (and believable) repartee between the characters.
Phaedra, trying to save her aunt Wendy’s inn, hosts an immersive Persuasion-themed mystery event – taking place over a weekend. When a guest is actually found dead, the search for a killer becomes the real deal. What makes this such an engaging book is that Katie Oliver gives her reader so much more than a simple whodunit. Not only was I fascinated by the clues and possibilities, there are so many relationships between characters who I found myself truly caring about.
I was captivated from beginning to end: evaluating clues, wondering how the personal stories would play out, and simply enjoying the exceptional storytelling. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series, which I hope will go on and on. It’s really that good.
December 5, 2023
the second installment in the jane austen tea society mystery series didn’t disappoint! while at times it felt like there was a lot of going on, i loved the hilarity it brought to the small town antics going on. i think you have to suspend belief here for a bit, and just get lost in the coziness of the mystery and all of the literary references!
i loved phaedra’s determine to help her aunt save the inn. it’s also this determination which moves her to help solve the mystery of the murder despite morelli’s repeated warnings to leave it alone. her interactions with detective morelli and professor seldon had my head ping ponging back and forth. i have no idea how the romance is going to go. i also loved getting to know hannah more!
overall, this was fast paced with an engaging plot that kept me guessing until the end. you don’t need to read the first book to to enjoy this cozy little mystery. it’s perfect for a rainy saturday! i’m really looking forward to book three.
thank you to berkley and austenprose for an advanced copy. my thoughts are my own.
i loved phaedra’s determine to help her aunt save the inn. it’s also this determination which moves her to help solve the mystery of the murder despite morelli’s repeated warnings to leave it alone. her interactions with detective morelli and professor seldon had my head ping ponging back and forth. i have no idea how the romance is going to go. i also loved getting to know hannah more!
overall, this was fast paced with an engaging plot that kept me guessing until the end. you don’t need to read the first book to to enjoy this cozy little mystery. it’s perfect for a rainy saturday! i’m really looking forward to book three.
thank you to berkley and austenprose for an advanced copy. my thoughts are my own.
March 15, 2023
To save her beloved aunt's bed and breakfast inn, professor Phaedra organizes a Jane Austen week. It attracts a variety of guests, including a handsome fellow-professor--a Shakespeare scholar--and also a well-known author of historical romances, who loves nothing more than getting her own way. When a guest is found skewered by a cross-bolt, there are a lot of suspects for the handsome local policeman to investigate. Phaedra may be a noted scholar, but it's hard to believe that she--or maybe the police?--wouldn't google the suspects' backgrounds to find out more about them?
January 20, 2023
Phaedra is a college professor but sure is easily fooled. I may read another as I left liked the setting.
June 13, 2025
Fun, Jane Austen flavored mystery set in small VA town. Easy read and lots of twists to the murder.
January 12, 2024
This was ok. There were elements that drove me absolutely crazy. The constant reference to the main characters' quirky trait of wearing Regency clothing, the odd disjointed conversations, and the lack luster plot filled with too many random characters that the writer really wanted me to care about but just could quite get there, made for a book that was difficult for me to get through.
Ultimately, it just wasn't my cup if tea.
Ultimately, it just wasn't my cup if tea.
December 16, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Crime for the advanced review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not affected by the giveaway.
3.5 stars
Literature professor Phaedra Brighton is dismayed when her Aunt Wendy decides it is time to sell her inn. Phae and her sister Hannah grew up getting away with murder under Aunt Wendy's indulgent supervision (or lack thereof). The inn simply can not be sold! Phae comes up with the idea to host themed events at the inn and Aunt Wendy agrees to let her try a Regency themed even with guests participating in teas, book discussions, archery lessons and a play of Persuasion. The event doesn't get off to a great start when the guests, some of whom have a past history and others just showed up for other reasosn, don't seem to get along. To make matters worse, Aunt Wendy has reconnected with an old flame, a real estate broker who is eager for her to sell him the inn. Aunt Wendy is smitten! Phae is certain he's no Captain Wentworth but how can she persuade Aunt Wendy that Brian is a Mr. Elliot? Then, one of the party guests is murdered in the kitchen garden at midnight and Aunt Wendy becomes a suspect! Phae can't let her beloved aunt be charged with a crime she didn't commit. She just can't help snooping around and she can't help it if the victim's cat leads her to clues! Can she solve the murder before Aunt Wendy is arrested and the inn sold for a song?
I had not read the first book in the series but I didn't feel lost jumping into this second book. The only jarring bit was that Phae and the detective knew each other already and the Jane Austen Tea Society is comprised only of Phae and her two best friends who are relegated to a minor role. The Tea Society doesn't even come into the story until the mystery is well under way. I was not super crazy about the Austen paralells. It was kind of silly for Phae, Wendy and Hannah to be living out the plots of Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion and not realize it. I rolled my eyes a few times.
The mystery is tight but really long. I thought I figured out whodunit and the motive pretty much right away. It seemed obvious to me, but it wasn't! Even after the clues pointed to a person of the opposite gender, which narrowed the suspect list a lot, I didn't believe it. I thought for sure I was right.
I have mixed feelings about Phae. I want to like her because she's a literature professor who loves Jane Austen and feels comfortable enough to wear Regency style clothing most of the time. I appreciate how she lacks self-consciousness in that respect. I also respect her for being a good person and helping the boy, Brian, when he needs help. However, sometimes she can be TSTL. Sometimes when she gets into trouble, it's not her fault, but other times it absolutely is. She goes against her instincts and is nearly killed. I know that's a trope of the genre but it's one authors are moving away from and I find it annoying. Phae has a snooty, spoiled cat, Wickham. She frequently interprets his thoughts and he is most displeased when she doesn't do his bidding right away. There's another cat, Bella, who is also spoiled but has a knack for leading Phae to clues - or red herrings.
Phae and Mark's romance is reminiscent of Lizzie and Darcy of course. Even the recap of the meet cute shows Phae overhearing Mark's rude comments about her appearance. He's a Shakespeare scholar who doesn't like Jane Austen! Well that's just silly because she loved Shakespeare and reinterpreted Much Ado About Nothing into Pride and Prejudice. Fundamentally I think Mark is a nice guy. He's a dedicated scholar who burns the midnight oil writing tedious monographs only other academics will read. He's kind and caring most of the time. Of course he does one Darcyish thing and that was kind of uncalled for.
Aunt Wendy may have been the fun aunt but now she's older and she's more prickly. She seems to have given up on the inn and lacks imagination for ideas on how to keep it going. She makes Phae do all the event planning and hosting while she handles the running of the inn side. It's a little weird that she's keeping a secret from Phae. When it comes out, it's no big deal. I also found it strange that Wendy suddenly falls for slimy Brian Callahan, an old flame. He's SOOOO obvious! He wants his hands on the inn and wooing Wendy is the way to do it. Hello Mr. Elliot! Phae can see it and I'm sure everyone else can. Plus I'm sure he's sleeping with Tory and I believe Harriet was about to expose Brian as a married man. Tory may be young and ditzy but she should know better than to run around with Brian, even if it is professional. I don't know how much she knows about him but I think she's involved in his schemes.
Harriet Overton, Regency romance writer, may be a bestselling author but that doesn't give her reason to be rude and obnoxious. She nitpicks every inaccurate detail - and to be fair, I would but only to my family and friends at worst and at best, in my head. I did nitpick the teas Phae chose and how she didn't research teas available in Georgian Britain. Harriet was rude on purpose and arrogant too. She sexually harassed a waiter/footman/actor and he was polite enough to decline and not press charges. That was TOTALLY uncalled for and he was well within his rights to slap her with a lawsuit. It's really no wonder she ended up murdered.
Suspects include Harriet's mild-mannered husband Tom. Who benefits from Harriet's will? Will Tom get all her money? Did he finally have enough of her belittling him and hitting on other men? Did Tom snap? Phae sees a darker side of Tom that indicates he could be a murderer. Maybe it was Chef Armand, who quit when Harriet criticized his cooking AND his knife skills. Oh la la! Did he decide to get retribution? What about Rollo Barron, a journalist and book reviewer who pans Harriet's latest novel and then publishes a completely different review after her death? He was certainly catty and went after Harriet in front of everyone. He seems like the perfect suspect to me. Did Harriet have some dirt on him that would ruin his reputation? How very Regencyish!
Dave Kowalski was sexually harassed by Harriet who seemed to feel he would and should recriprocate. He had every reason to loathe her but why stoop to murder when a lawsuit would be better? His wife, Eve, was none to happy about Harriet hitting on her husband. Eve just suddenly decided to run through the kitchen garden changing her route and thus finding the body? She changes her alibi story too, making her a good suspect. I don't want it to be her because she's pregnant and that would be awful. Then there's Felicity Penrose, a technical editor with a passion for all things Austen. She's pretty easy going and doesn't much care which role she plays. She's mostly in the background and doesn't really participate in the festivities. I don't think it was Felicity, or Elaine. Elaine is the costumer and manager of the Laurel Springs Players. She seems nice even if her costumes aren't 100% accurate. Her motive to murder Harriet is pretty strong and I feel bad for her. I hope she didn't do it because she's a friend of Phae's.
Homicide Detective Matt Morelli seems tough but fair. He doesn't give Phae a hard time about removing potential evidence from a crime scene. (a total no-no even if she's wearing gloves). He also doesn't give her too much of a hard time about interfering in his investigation. He accepts her clues and her guesses.
Other secondary character are forgettable. I like the sound of Phae's dad who runs a bookstore named The Poison Pen. He's intelligent, a former lawyer and he has a passion for antique books. I like how close Phae and her dad are and how they discuss the finer points of law together and how they share a love of books. Phae's mom is horrible. She's a nosy gossip and a stereotypical southern mom. She gets mad at her daughter for not revealing private information about the murder she was told not to tell! Phae's sister Hannah is not like Jane Bennet. Hannah is a drama queen who needs to learn how to communicate with her partner, Charles. Billy, a teen boy with a difficult home life, is the most memorable. He's a good kid but lacks mature judgment sometimes.
Hardly in the story are Phae's two best friends. Lucy Liang and Marisol Dubois. They're all in the Jane Austen Tea Society but not having read the first book, I don't know if they love Jane Austen as much as Phae and why they call a murder mystery investigation "club" a Tea Society. They seem to spend their time gossipping and trying to solve murders. Lucy has a small subplot that feels out of place and Marisol is a mystery to me.
I liked this book well enough to recommend it to Janeites who love cozy mysteries. It wouldn't work for a general audience though. I also requested the first book at the library so I can get caught up. I might give this one a skim once it is published and see if there are any changes.
3.5 stars
Literature professor Phaedra Brighton is dismayed when her Aunt Wendy decides it is time to sell her inn. Phae and her sister Hannah grew up getting away with murder under Aunt Wendy's indulgent supervision (or lack thereof). The inn simply can not be sold! Phae comes up with the idea to host themed events at the inn and Aunt Wendy agrees to let her try a Regency themed even with guests participating in teas, book discussions, archery lessons and a play of Persuasion. The event doesn't get off to a great start when the guests, some of whom have a past history and others just showed up for other reasosn, don't seem to get along. To make matters worse, Aunt Wendy has reconnected with an old flame, a real estate broker who is eager for her to sell him the inn. Aunt Wendy is smitten! Phae is certain he's no Captain Wentworth but how can she persuade Aunt Wendy that Brian is a Mr. Elliot? Then, one of the party guests is murdered in the kitchen garden at midnight and Aunt Wendy becomes a suspect! Phae can't let her beloved aunt be charged with a crime she didn't commit. She just can't help snooping around and she can't help it if the victim's cat leads her to clues! Can she solve the murder before Aunt Wendy is arrested and the inn sold for a song?
I had not read the first book in the series but I didn't feel lost jumping into this second book. The only jarring bit was that Phae and the detective knew each other already and the Jane Austen Tea Society is comprised only of Phae and her two best friends who are relegated to a minor role. The Tea Society doesn't even come into the story until the mystery is well under way. I was not super crazy about the Austen paralells. It was kind of silly for Phae, Wendy and Hannah to be living out the plots of Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion and not realize it. I rolled my eyes a few times.
The mystery is tight but really long. I thought I figured out whodunit and the motive pretty much right away. It seemed obvious to me, but it wasn't! Even after the clues pointed to a person of the opposite gender, which narrowed the suspect list a lot, I didn't believe it. I thought for sure I was right.
I have mixed feelings about Phae. I want to like her because she's a literature professor who loves Jane Austen and feels comfortable enough to wear Regency style clothing most of the time. I appreciate how she lacks self-consciousness in that respect. I also respect her for being a good person and helping the boy, Brian, when he needs help. However, sometimes she can be TSTL. Sometimes when she gets into trouble, it's not her fault, but other times it absolutely is. She goes against her instincts and is nearly killed. I know that's a trope of the genre but it's one authors are moving away from and I find it annoying. Phae has a snooty, spoiled cat, Wickham. She frequently interprets his thoughts and he is most displeased when she doesn't do his bidding right away. There's another cat, Bella, who is also spoiled but has a knack for leading Phae to clues - or red herrings.
Phae and Mark's romance is reminiscent of Lizzie and Darcy of course. Even the recap of the meet cute shows Phae overhearing Mark's rude comments about her appearance. He's a Shakespeare scholar who doesn't like Jane Austen! Well that's just silly because she loved Shakespeare and reinterpreted Much Ado About Nothing into Pride and Prejudice. Fundamentally I think Mark is a nice guy. He's a dedicated scholar who burns the midnight oil writing tedious monographs only other academics will read. He's kind and caring most of the time. Of course he does one Darcyish thing and that was kind of uncalled for.
Aunt Wendy may have been the fun aunt but now she's older and she's more prickly. She seems to have given up on the inn and lacks imagination for ideas on how to keep it going. She makes Phae do all the event planning and hosting while she handles the running of the inn side. It's a little weird that she's keeping a secret from Phae. When it comes out, it's no big deal. I also found it strange that Wendy suddenly falls for slimy Brian Callahan, an old flame. He's SOOOO obvious! He wants his hands on the inn and wooing Wendy is the way to do it. Hello Mr. Elliot! Phae can see it and I'm sure everyone else can. Plus I'm sure he's sleeping with Tory and I believe Harriet was about to expose Brian as a married man. Tory may be young and ditzy but she should know better than to run around with Brian, even if it is professional. I don't know how much she knows about him but I think she's involved in his schemes.
Harriet Overton, Regency romance writer, may be a bestselling author but that doesn't give her reason to be rude and obnoxious. She nitpicks every inaccurate detail - and to be fair, I would but only to my family and friends at worst and at best, in my head. I did nitpick the teas Phae chose and how she didn't research teas available in Georgian Britain. Harriet was rude on purpose and arrogant too. She sexually harassed a waiter/footman/actor and he was polite enough to decline and not press charges. That was TOTALLY uncalled for and he was well within his rights to slap her with a lawsuit. It's really no wonder she ended up murdered.
Suspects include Harriet's mild-mannered husband Tom. Who benefits from Harriet's will? Will Tom get all her money? Did he finally have enough of her belittling him and hitting on other men? Did Tom snap? Phae sees a darker side of Tom that indicates he could be a murderer. Maybe it was Chef Armand, who quit when Harriet criticized his cooking AND his knife skills. Oh la la! Did he decide to get retribution? What about Rollo Barron, a journalist and book reviewer who pans Harriet's latest novel and then publishes a completely different review after her death? He was certainly catty and went after Harriet in front of everyone. He seems like the perfect suspect to me. Did Harriet have some dirt on him that would ruin his reputation? How very Regencyish!
Dave Kowalski was sexually harassed by Harriet who seemed to feel he would and should recriprocate. He had every reason to loathe her but why stoop to murder when a lawsuit would be better? His wife, Eve, was none to happy about Harriet hitting on her husband. Eve just suddenly decided to run through the kitchen garden changing her route and thus finding the body? She changes her alibi story too, making her a good suspect. I don't want it to be her because she's pregnant and that would be awful. Then there's Felicity Penrose, a technical editor with a passion for all things Austen. She's pretty easy going and doesn't much care which role she plays. She's mostly in the background and doesn't really participate in the festivities. I don't think it was Felicity, or Elaine. Elaine is the costumer and manager of the Laurel Springs Players. She seems nice even if her costumes aren't 100% accurate. Her motive to murder Harriet is pretty strong and I feel bad for her. I hope she didn't do it because she's a friend of Phae's.
Homicide Detective Matt Morelli seems tough but fair. He doesn't give Phae a hard time about removing potential evidence from a crime scene. (a total no-no even if she's wearing gloves). He also doesn't give her too much of a hard time about interfering in his investigation. He accepts her clues and her guesses.
Other secondary character are forgettable. I like the sound of Phae's dad who runs a bookstore named The Poison Pen. He's intelligent, a former lawyer and he has a passion for antique books. I like how close Phae and her dad are and how they discuss the finer points of law together and how they share a love of books. Phae's mom is horrible. She's a nosy gossip and a stereotypical southern mom. She gets mad at her daughter for not revealing private information about the murder she was told not to tell! Phae's sister Hannah is not like Jane Bennet. Hannah is a drama queen who needs to learn how to communicate with her partner, Charles. Billy, a teen boy with a difficult home life, is the most memorable. He's a good kid but lacks mature judgment sometimes.
Hardly in the story are Phae's two best friends. Lucy Liang and Marisol Dubois. They're all in the Jane Austen Tea Society but not having read the first book, I don't know if they love Jane Austen as much as Phae and why they call a murder mystery investigation "club" a Tea Society. They seem to spend their time gossipping and trying to solve murders. Lucy has a small subplot that feels out of place and Marisol is a mystery to me.
I liked this book well enough to recommend it to Janeites who love cozy mysteries. It wouldn't work for a general audience though. I also requested the first book at the library so I can get caught up. I might give this one a skim once it is published and see if there are any changes.
October 15, 2024
DNF - or really, CNF for “could not finish”. It’s trite. It’s painful. I wanted so much more as an Austen lover myself, but book two continues to disappoint.
I was writing out a whole explanation as to why I didn’t like this book, especially when I try to never review under 3-stars, but the app shut down and I don’t have the energy to go all through it again.
In summary:
The author deserves a better editor.
The reader deserves a better story.
I wish I could go back to before I had read these books and not read them.
Please stop pretending the Shakespeare scholar is the love interest. There’s no chemistry and he’s the worst. But honestly, so is Phaedra.
I was writing out a whole explanation as to why I didn’t like this book, especially when I try to never review under 3-stars, but the app shut down and I don’t have the energy to go all through it again.
In summary:
The author deserves a better editor.
The reader deserves a better story.
I wish I could go back to before I had read these books and not read them.
Please stop pretending the Shakespeare scholar is the love interest. There’s no chemistry and he’s the worst. But honestly, so is Phaedra.
January 10, 2023
Professor Phaedra Brighton spends her days studying and teaching the writings of Jane Austen. So when her aunt Wendy was worried about her Bed and Breakfast needing more guests for the summer, Phaedra came up with the idea of a Jane Austen Murder Mystery Week. She helped get things set up and even found some notable guests for the week, including romance writer Harriet Overton and her husband and Charlottesville reporter Rollo Barron.
Phaedra has worked hard to plan out a Regency themed week of activities. She’s gotten together with the local theater director and costumer to create a murderous play for the guests to perform. There are teas and concerts, painting and archery, and even a masquerade ball at the end of the week.
But what Phaedra didn’t plan on is the actual murder of Harriet Overton.
Phaedra is stunned to find the body of the writer in the kitchen garden, by the rosemary, shot by a crossbow. Homicide detective Matt Morelli shows up to take over the police work, but Phaedra can’t help but wonder who could have done such a thing. She certainly wasn’t winning over a lot of friends with her judgments and criticisms, but was that enough for someone to shoot her?
Meanwhile, there is another professor staying at the inn to finish some writing, Shakespearean scholar Mark Seldon, who Phaedra finds attractive, as well as rumors of her ex-boyfriend seen around town. Her aunt Wendy is also seeing an ex, a realtor who has recently come back to town, and her sister Hannah is back from her job as pastry chef at the British Embassy in Washington D.C., brokenhearted at the sudden departure of her boyfriend.
Even though Detective Morelli tells Phaedra to leave the investigating to him, she can’t stop herself from gathering information and secrets, looking over crime scenes, and trying to piece together who the killer could be with her two best friends, at their monthly Jane Austen Tea Society meetings.
But when the killer comes for Phaedra, will she figure out a way to get herself out of danger, or will someone decide to add “The End” to her story?
A Murderous Persuasion is the second book in Katie Oliver’s Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery series. Set in the small town of Laurel Springs, Virginia, this cozy offers a lot of Austen fun along with the charm of a traditional murder mystery. Fans of Jane Austen’s Persuasion and of the Regency era will find a lot to enjoy in this book.
I struggled with A Murderous Persuasion. I liked the Jane Austen references, but I thought the writing was uneven. Some scenes were well written, and the descriptions of the fashion were detail-oriented. But other scenes were rushed, or were just unrealistic, like when Detective Morelli got the handwriting analysis results of several people overnight. There are lots of red herrings with the mystery, but there were also a lot of characters to keep track of, and I did struggle with remembering who people were. This book isn’t perfect, but there is a lot to like about it. Fans of cozy mysteries and Jane Austen should see if they could be persuaded to take a chance on it.
Egalleys for A Murderous Persuasion were provided by Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley, with many thanks.
Phaedra has worked hard to plan out a Regency themed week of activities. She’s gotten together with the local theater director and costumer to create a murderous play for the guests to perform. There are teas and concerts, painting and archery, and even a masquerade ball at the end of the week.
But what Phaedra didn’t plan on is the actual murder of Harriet Overton.
Phaedra is stunned to find the body of the writer in the kitchen garden, by the rosemary, shot by a crossbow. Homicide detective Matt Morelli shows up to take over the police work, but Phaedra can’t help but wonder who could have done such a thing. She certainly wasn’t winning over a lot of friends with her judgments and criticisms, but was that enough for someone to shoot her?
Meanwhile, there is another professor staying at the inn to finish some writing, Shakespearean scholar Mark Seldon, who Phaedra finds attractive, as well as rumors of her ex-boyfriend seen around town. Her aunt Wendy is also seeing an ex, a realtor who has recently come back to town, and her sister Hannah is back from her job as pastry chef at the British Embassy in Washington D.C., brokenhearted at the sudden departure of her boyfriend.
Even though Detective Morelli tells Phaedra to leave the investigating to him, she can’t stop herself from gathering information and secrets, looking over crime scenes, and trying to piece together who the killer could be with her two best friends, at their monthly Jane Austen Tea Society meetings.
But when the killer comes for Phaedra, will she figure out a way to get herself out of danger, or will someone decide to add “The End” to her story?
A Murderous Persuasion is the second book in Katie Oliver’s Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery series. Set in the small town of Laurel Springs, Virginia, this cozy offers a lot of Austen fun along with the charm of a traditional murder mystery. Fans of Jane Austen’s Persuasion and of the Regency era will find a lot to enjoy in this book.
I struggled with A Murderous Persuasion. I liked the Jane Austen references, but I thought the writing was uneven. Some scenes were well written, and the descriptions of the fashion were detail-oriented. But other scenes were rushed, or were just unrealistic, like when Detective Morelli got the handwriting analysis results of several people overnight. There are lots of red herrings with the mystery, but there were also a lot of characters to keep track of, and I did struggle with remembering who people were. This book isn’t perfect, but there is a lot to like about it. Fans of cozy mysteries and Jane Austen should see if they could be persuaded to take a chance on it.
Egalleys for A Murderous Persuasion were provided by Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley, with many thanks.
December 14, 2022
This charming cozy featuring Phaedra Brighton hits almost every important cozy note: a bread and breakfast; a Jane Austen weekend; an aunt in trouble; a single woman in search of love; bookstore owning parents; a haughty cat; and an adorable small town. As the book opens, Phaedra is alarmed that her aunt is thinking of selling the beloved B & B Phaedra has viewed as a second home. She pleads with her aunt who argues back that business is down, and so Phaedra plans (almost on the fly) a Jane Austen weekend.
One of the weekend highlights will be the attendance of a well known romance writer, Harriet Overton. The weekend is based on Austen’s novel Persuasion – all the attendees are assigned one of the characters from the novel and encouraged to dress in period costume, and participate in Austen-y events like archery, tea, watercolors, and a night-time carriage ride. The B & B is fully booked and it seems like the week will be a success, but Harriet proves to be not only a meticulous and picky Austen-ite, she’s also a bully, terrorizing her husband and several of the other guests.
Harriet is so unpleasant, in fact, that of course she’s murdered (in a very Jane Austen type manner), and the hunt for the killer is on. There are a wealth of suspects to choose from, and Oliver deftly keeps the characters crisp and separate, so the reader remembers them. This is not something all writers are good at, in my opinion, and I appreciated it here.
While this is themed around Persuasion, Phaedra’s love life is very much Pride and Prejudice, with the part of Mr. Darcy being played by a local Shakespeare scholar. He and Phaedra teach at the same university. She’s also beset by other admirers – an old flame who turns up unexpectedly and the local police detective. Her fellow professor gets into a misunderstanding with Phaedra about her sister’s love life, and she misjudges his intentions (sound familiar?) These are successful tropes for a reason, and they work for this story just as they worked for Jane Austen all those years ago.
While I was annoyed that Phaedra did in fact venture alone towards literally a dark cabin in the woods, I will say that while I thought I had the ending figured out, I was ultimately surprised by the killer’s identity. This was a pleasant and fun read, with a good variety of characters and situations, and I loved that Phaedra has a cat named Wickham. The book is filled not only with Austen call outs and details, but it’s infused with the author’s obvious love and reverence for her as well. And that’s something I can totally get behind
One of the weekend highlights will be the attendance of a well known romance writer, Harriet Overton. The weekend is based on Austen’s novel Persuasion – all the attendees are assigned one of the characters from the novel and encouraged to dress in period costume, and participate in Austen-y events like archery, tea, watercolors, and a night-time carriage ride. The B & B is fully booked and it seems like the week will be a success, but Harriet proves to be not only a meticulous and picky Austen-ite, she’s also a bully, terrorizing her husband and several of the other guests.
Harriet is so unpleasant, in fact, that of course she’s murdered (in a very Jane Austen type manner), and the hunt for the killer is on. There are a wealth of suspects to choose from, and Oliver deftly keeps the characters crisp and separate, so the reader remembers them. This is not something all writers are good at, in my opinion, and I appreciated it here.
While this is themed around Persuasion, Phaedra’s love life is very much Pride and Prejudice, with the part of Mr. Darcy being played by a local Shakespeare scholar. He and Phaedra teach at the same university. She’s also beset by other admirers – an old flame who turns up unexpectedly and the local police detective. Her fellow professor gets into a misunderstanding with Phaedra about her sister’s love life, and she misjudges his intentions (sound familiar?) These are successful tropes for a reason, and they work for this story just as they worked for Jane Austen all those years ago.
While I was annoyed that Phaedra did in fact venture alone towards literally a dark cabin in the woods, I will say that while I thought I had the ending figured out, I was ultimately surprised by the killer’s identity. This was a pleasant and fun read, with a good variety of characters and situations, and I loved that Phaedra has a cat named Wickham. The book is filled not only with Austen call outs and details, but it’s infused with the author’s obvious love and reverence for her as well. And that’s something I can totally get behind
March 2, 2023
In a small Virginia town, Phaedra is not only a Jane Austen professor at a local college, but she wears regency attire as daily wear. So it's no surprise when her aunt, who owns a struggling local inn, plans to put the place on the market, an appalled Phaedra suggests a week-long Jane Austen mystery event to drum up business. What it also drums up is murder, when the most obnoxious member of the party--a noted author of regency romances--is found dead in the rosemary. Phaedra, of course, is determined to solve the mystery, and also, of course, there are two handsome men giving off possible-partner vibes. One is the local cop who repeatedly (and sensibly) warns her off the investigation, and one is a British professor of Shakespeare at her college, who aids and abets her (sometimes). Then there are all sorts of other characters with all sorts of other dramas and red herrings going on, and of course, Phaedra finds she is literally risking her life to solve this murder. Think that stops her? Of course not! She's not stopping until she wins that Darwin Award, damn it!
Meh. On the surface this seemed perfect for me. I'm a big fan of Georgette Heyer, regency romance queen (such frothy and intelligent and fun books she wrote!), and I'm a cozy mystery fan, and it's a Jane Austen murder mystery party at a picturesque small town inn. How could that go wrong? Ugh, so many ways! First, the cast of thousands. I had no idea who was who and couldn't keep anyone straight, so I had no idea who had motives or what the hell was ever going on anyway. Then, the bloodless love interests. No chemistry, but why would there be? I could not have cared less. But the main sticking point was the protagonist. I know that there's the trope of the plucky young female detective who plunges headlong into danger and will not be deterred, but really, I prefer a plucky young detective who has two brain cells to rub together and actually THINKS before she does something INCREDIBLY STUPID. Like going off to investigate who's using a flashlight in an abandoned house at night, when you're wearing an expensive regency costume, don't have a cell phone, and don't tell anyone where you're going despite the fact that you are leaving a house fully equipped with a phone and a whole cast of people who could help. At this point in my life, I'm done with that kind of idiocy. I've given this two stars rather than one because I liked the description of the costumes and the food.
Meh. On the surface this seemed perfect for me. I'm a big fan of Georgette Heyer, regency romance queen (such frothy and intelligent and fun books she wrote!), and I'm a cozy mystery fan, and it's a Jane Austen murder mystery party at a picturesque small town inn. How could that go wrong? Ugh, so many ways! First, the cast of thousands. I had no idea who was who and couldn't keep anyone straight, so I had no idea who had motives or what the hell was ever going on anyway. Then, the bloodless love interests. No chemistry, but why would there be? I could not have cared less. But the main sticking point was the protagonist. I know that there's the trope of the plucky young female detective who plunges headlong into danger and will not be deterred, but really, I prefer a plucky young detective who has two brain cells to rub together and actually THINKS before she does something INCREDIBLY STUPID. Like going off to investigate who's using a flashlight in an abandoned house at night, when you're wearing an expensive regency costume, don't have a cell phone, and don't tell anyone where you're going despite the fact that you are leaving a house fully equipped with a phone and a whole cast of people who could help. At this point in my life, I'm done with that kind of idiocy. I've given this two stars rather than one because I liked the description of the costumes and the food.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2024
Katie Oliver’s A Murderous Persuasion is the second terrific installment of her delightful Jane Austen inspired contemporary cozy mystery series.
Phaedra Brighton might not lead the most exciting of lives, but she’s perfectly content with a job she loves, a spirited cat and a gorgeous carriage house on the grounds of her aunt’s inn. Other than having her own Mr Darcy, Phaedra has no cause to complain about her life until her aunt drops a shocking bombshell: she is going to sell Laurel Springs Inn!
Phaedra is absolutely devastated. She cannot bear the thought of losing her beloved home and living elsewhere and in an attempt to save the inn, she convinces her Aunt Wendy to host an immersive Persuasion murder-mystery weekend. Phaedra is sure that this event will help drum up business and reverse the inn’s ailing fortunes – until one of the participants turns up dead leaving her with no other choice but to turn detective again!
With no time to lose and no second chances, Phaedra needs to get this right if she is to catch a killer and save Laurel Springs Inn from going under!
The pages couldn’t turn quickly enough for me whilst reading Katie Oliver’s A Murderous Persuasion. Witty, intelligent, charming and deliciously readable, A Murderous Persuasion is an entertaining and enjoyable cozy mystery I read in a single sitting.
Addictive, nail-biting and so much fun, Katie Oliver comes up trumps yet again with this fabulous cozy mystery, A Murderous Persuasion.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Phaedra Brighton might not lead the most exciting of lives, but she’s perfectly content with a job she loves, a spirited cat and a gorgeous carriage house on the grounds of her aunt’s inn. Other than having her own Mr Darcy, Phaedra has no cause to complain about her life until her aunt drops a shocking bombshell: she is going to sell Laurel Springs Inn!
Phaedra is absolutely devastated. She cannot bear the thought of losing her beloved home and living elsewhere and in an attempt to save the inn, she convinces her Aunt Wendy to host an immersive Persuasion murder-mystery weekend. Phaedra is sure that this event will help drum up business and reverse the inn’s ailing fortunes – until one of the participants turns up dead leaving her with no other choice but to turn detective again!
With no time to lose and no second chances, Phaedra needs to get this right if she is to catch a killer and save Laurel Springs Inn from going under!
The pages couldn’t turn quickly enough for me whilst reading Katie Oliver’s A Murderous Persuasion. Witty, intelligent, charming and deliciously readable, A Murderous Persuasion is an entertaining and enjoyable cozy mystery I read in a single sitting.
Addictive, nail-biting and so much fun, Katie Oliver comes up trumps yet again with this fabulous cozy mystery, A Murderous Persuasion.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 15, 2023
Perfect cozy mystery. I read this whilst under the weather, and it warmed me as much as my chamomile did. There were some clues and events that weren’t fully explained, but I enjoyed the story nevertheless.
Did I miss the following due to my fever or were they not addressed by the end?
1) The break-in at Elaine’s store. Who did it? Everyone speculated it was for the note… I didn’t understand why they suspected that to be the reason. Don’t most people believe Regency dresses to not have pockets? So why bust into the costume shop to, presumably, check pockets?
2) Pretty much right out the gate, Phaedra says that Tom couldn’t have been the murderer because he is too physically weak to climb a tree—let alone haul a crossbow up after him. Yet the arm strength it takes to fire an arrow (especially with precision) I feel would equal the task of climbing a tree.
3) Again with Tom, I don’t understand how Morelli/the cops cleared him. Eve said she heard him snoring. Giving him an alibi gives her an alibi—plus Phaedra pointed out that Eve wore headphones and wasn’t even placed near Tom and Harriet’s room. Yes, apparently Eve went to the bathroom that was close to the Overton bedroom. But this point still seemed far fetched to me. More like an attempt to remove Tom, so as to have less suspects swimming in the pool.
Did I miss the following due to my fever or were they not addressed by the end?
1) The break-in at Elaine’s store. Who did it? Everyone speculated it was for the note… I didn’t understand why they suspected that to be the reason. Don’t most people believe Regency dresses to not have pockets? So why bust into the costume shop to, presumably, check pockets?
2) Pretty much right out the gate, Phaedra says that Tom couldn’t have been the murderer because he is too physically weak to climb a tree—let alone haul a crossbow up after him. Yet the arm strength it takes to fire an arrow (especially with precision) I feel would equal the task of climbing a tree.
3) Again with Tom, I don’t understand how Morelli/the cops cleared him. Eve said she heard him snoring. Giving him an alibi gives her an alibi—plus Phaedra pointed out that Eve wore headphones and wasn’t even placed near Tom and Harriet’s room. Yes, apparently Eve went to the bathroom that was close to the Overton bedroom. But this point still seemed far fetched to me. More like an attempt to remove Tom, so as to have less suspects swimming in the pool.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2023
A Murderous Persuasion (Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery, #2) by Katie Oliver
Phaedra is living a good life knowing what she wants and content with where she is. When her Aunt Wendy decides to sell Laurel Springs Inn, Phaedra takes action to bring in more customers. Have a "Persuasion"themed murder/mystery weekend.
What could go wrong? One of the guest ends up dead. Phaedra beings to investigate, as the suspect list grows and secrets slowly surface, her life is in danger.
A fast paced murder/mystery with well developed (interesting) characters, engaging dialog (which) brought me deep into the story. Plenty of suspects, secrets, twist and turns kept me guessing until the end.
Overall I found A Murderous Persuasion quite enjoyable. I recommend to those who enjoy murder/mystery. I look forward to reading more from Katie Oliver
Phaedra is living a good life knowing what she wants and content with where she is. When her Aunt Wendy decides to sell Laurel Springs Inn, Phaedra takes action to bring in more customers. Have a "Persuasion"themed murder/mystery weekend.
What could go wrong? One of the guest ends up dead. Phaedra beings to investigate, as the suspect list grows and secrets slowly surface, her life is in danger.
A fast paced murder/mystery with well developed (interesting) characters, engaging dialog (which) brought me deep into the story. Plenty of suspects, secrets, twist and turns kept me guessing until the end.
Overall I found A Murderous Persuasion quite enjoyable. I recommend to those who enjoy murder/mystery. I look forward to reading more from Katie Oliver
February 18, 2024
Thank you @prhaudio for the complimentary audio book.
A Murderous Persuasion by Katie Oliver is the second in the Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery series, but can be read as a stand-alone. Phaedra Brighton is college professor. She is trying to help her Aunt Wendy save the Laurel Springs Inn by hosting an immersive Persuasion-themed murder mystery weekend. They are hoping to draw attention to the inn, but after someone ends up murdered it may not be the attention they wanted.
The narrator Jennifer Jill Araya made the story for me. She is very engaging and has the ability to draw me in and make the story come alive. I am enjoying this series with its references to Jane Austen’s books, and looking for clues throughout the story. I am a fan of the mystery, the delightful setting of Laurel Spring, VA, and wondering who Phaedra will marry. Phaedra’s family is a bright spot for me.
I look forward to reading more in the series, and am becoming a big fan of the author. I recommend A Murderous Persuasion by Katie Oliver and read by Jennifer Jill Araya.
I was given a free copy of this book by PRH Audio and not required to share a review.
A Murderous Persuasion by Katie Oliver is the second in the Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery series, but can be read as a stand-alone. Phaedra Brighton is college professor. She is trying to help her Aunt Wendy save the Laurel Springs Inn by hosting an immersive Persuasion-themed murder mystery weekend. They are hoping to draw attention to the inn, but after someone ends up murdered it may not be the attention they wanted.
The narrator Jennifer Jill Araya made the story for me. She is very engaging and has the ability to draw me in and make the story come alive. I am enjoying this series with its references to Jane Austen’s books, and looking for clues throughout the story. I am a fan of the mystery, the delightful setting of Laurel Spring, VA, and wondering who Phaedra will marry. Phaedra’s family is a bright spot for me.
I look forward to reading more in the series, and am becoming a big fan of the author. I recommend A Murderous Persuasion by Katie Oliver and read by Jennifer Jill Araya.
I was given a free copy of this book by PRH Audio and not required to share a review.
March 1, 2023
A Murderous Persuasion, book 2 of A Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery, by Katie Oliver is an entertaining read. It felt like a roller coaster! Many ups and downs with twist and turns.
Phaedras Aunt Wendy B and B is going under. Aunt Wendy wants to sell. Bookings are down, and there isn't enough money to keep it going. Phaedra has this idea to do a murder mystery week to attract more bookings. Jane Austen murder mystery theme of course! From day one to the last day of the murder mystery week, a guest is shot with a crossbow. Phaedra gets knocked on the head. Another guest goes missing. Phaedra gets locked inside a celler while a house is on fire! Too many suspects and so many clues. Almost everyone has a motive, even Aunt Wendy.
Book 2 had a lot going on. An old flame from Phaedra past shows up. Hannah, Phaedra sister, is having a crisis over her career and relationship. Everything going on in the story flowed. It kept the story going forward. I didn't find any stale moments.
I am a fan and ready for book 3.
Phaedras Aunt Wendy B and B is going under. Aunt Wendy wants to sell. Bookings are down, and there isn't enough money to keep it going. Phaedra has this idea to do a murder mystery week to attract more bookings. Jane Austen murder mystery theme of course! From day one to the last day of the murder mystery week, a guest is shot with a crossbow. Phaedra gets knocked on the head. Another guest goes missing. Phaedra gets locked inside a celler while a house is on fire! Too many suspects and so many clues. Almost everyone has a motive, even Aunt Wendy.
Book 2 had a lot going on. An old flame from Phaedra past shows up. Hannah, Phaedra sister, is having a crisis over her career and relationship. Everything going on in the story flowed. It kept the story going forward. I didn't find any stale moments.
I am a fan and ready for book 3.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2023
📖My Thoughts📖
Cozy mysteries are always fun to read, and this one did not disappoint. From Jane Austen to a murder mystery weekend, some light romance, obviously a murder, and some amazing and witty characters, this book has it all. While this was the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone, though I will be going back and reading the first one. I really enjoyed the Regency period aspect of it. The only downside for me was that there were a lot of characters to keep straight, so that can be a tad overwhelming. Overall it was an entertaining and enjoyable read.
Thank you Netgalley, Katie Oliver and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cozy mysteries are always fun to read, and this one did not disappoint. From Jane Austen to a murder mystery weekend, some light romance, obviously a murder, and some amazing and witty characters, this book has it all. While this was the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone, though I will be going back and reading the first one. I really enjoyed the Regency period aspect of it. The only downside for me was that there were a lot of characters to keep straight, so that can be a tad overwhelming. Overall it was an entertaining and enjoyable read.
Thank you Netgalley, Katie Oliver and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 4, 2023
A Murderous Persuasion is the second book in the Jane Austen Tea Society series. I enjoyed this book just as much as the first one!
The basics: In order to save the inn where she lives with her aunt, Phaedra and her Aunt Wendy host a Murder Mystery event based on Austen's novel Persuasion. Everything is going great until a guest turns up dead. Can she save the inn and catch a killer?
I love this light hearted series. Phaedra is a fun main character and I love the Austen theme! The stories are a nice mix of cozy mystery, humor and Austen fandom. Very entertaining!
I'm definitely eagerly awaiting the next book in this series!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
The basics: In order to save the inn where she lives with her aunt, Phaedra and her Aunt Wendy host a Murder Mystery event based on Austen's novel Persuasion. Everything is going great until a guest turns up dead. Can she save the inn and catch a killer?
I love this light hearted series. Phaedra is a fun main character and I love the Austen theme! The stories are a nice mix of cozy mystery, humor and Austen fandom. Very entertaining!
I'm definitely eagerly awaiting the next book in this series!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
January 17, 2023
one thing i love about this cozy mystery series is how the phaedra’s love life reflects the titles of the books.. that being said, they really tried to cram in all the cozy mystery tropes in this book.. i’m pretty sure the only thing that was missing was a threatening letter telling her to “back off or else!” instead of being stale and off putting, the predictable format instead is comforting in a way. i know what will happen, but i’m okay with that. sometimes, phaedra does things that are really fucking stupid but i think she just gets wrapped up in the mystery and the trill of the next clue. overall, i love this series and can’t wait for the next one!
February 28, 2023
A small paperback that took me too long to read. Phaedra lives in a guest house of the B & B that her Aunt Wendy owns. Wendy might have to sell the B & B because they aren't getting enough reservations to keep it open. Phaedra is trying to have a Jane Austen Murder Mystery weekend to get things back on track. The guests will be given parts to play and events to attend. That should work, at least until there is a Real Murder. It took me a long time to read only because I had other things going on. The last few chapters went very fast. The hardest part was figuring out how to say Phaedra (in my head I said "Frae dra". What would you say?
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