Jane Austen has become the heroine of her own
story. A plucky, educated woman, Jane
uses her skills to solve mysteries that come her way. In Jane and the Waterloo Map, Jane is in
London tending to her sick brother Henry and working on the final edits to Emma. The historiographer to His Royal Highness the
Prince Regent, Mr. James Stanier Clarke, has invited Jane to Carlton House, the
Prince Regent’s London residence. At
this meeting, Mr. Clarke informs Jane that His Royal Highness wants Emma to be
dedicated to him, which greatly dismays Jane who does not approve of the Prince
Regent. As Jane gets a tour of Carlton
House, the two come upon Colonel MacFarland, a hero of the battle of Waterloo,
in great distress. He expires, but not
before telling Jane two words, “Waterloo Map.” What is the Waterloo Map and what has
caused the young hero’s death? Jane is
on the case.
Jane is helped along the way by the handsome artist
Raphael West, and her niece Fanny who has stopped to visit her Uncle Henry. As she gets closer to discovering the true
nature of the crime, she has to worry about the safety of them all. I don’t want to say any more about the plot
and ruin it!
I first discovered Stephanie Barron’s excellent Jane
Austen Mystery series over ten years ago when I saw Jane and the Ghosts of
Netley on display at the Milwaukee Public Library. I read that novel and was hooked and had to
read all of the books in the series that preceded it. I see that I have somehow gotten a couple of
books behind, a problem that I must remedy soon.
What I particularly love about this series is that
Barron writes in Jane’s voice and it feels so real, as if it were Jane writing
it herself. Barron has her heroine
written to perfection. I also love that
it is set during Jane’s real life with real life circumstances happening
throughout. Although I realize we are
getting toward the end with Jane reaching forty and publishing Emma. Barron helps the reader along by including
footnotes on items you may puzzle over as well as sources for the real Jane
Austen information.
I love the first line of the novel, “There can be few
things more lowering to the female sensibility than to be caught in a shower of
rain at exactly the moment one most desires to appear to advantage.”
I also love the last line, “And hoped, for all of us,
in the promise of spring.” I hope that
for Jane too!
Overall, Jane and the Waterloo Map was a wonderful
story about Jane Austen, as well as a great mystery. I was completely immersed in the story and
was left guessing who the culprit was right up until the end. I also loved the sweet romance between Jane
and Raphael.
Book Source:
Review Copy for being on the Being a Jane Austen Mystery Tour.
PURCHASE LINKS:
- Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Jane-Waterloo-Being-Austen-Mystery/dp/1616954256/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1451778725&sr=8-1
- Barnes & Noble Link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jane-and-the-waterloo-map-stephanie-barron/1121860459?ean=9781616954253
- Book Depository Link: http://www.bookdepository.com/Jane-and-the-Waterloo-Map-Stephanie-Barron/9781616954253
- IndieBound Link: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781616954253
- Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25489249-jane-and-the-waterloo-map
- iTunes Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/jane-and-the-waterloo-map/id993475556?mt=11
- Publishers Page: http://sohopress.com/books/jane-and-the-waterloo-map/
EARLY PRAISE:
"A
well-crafted narrative with multiple subplots drives Barron’s splendid 13th
Jane Austen mystery. Series fans will be happy to see more of Jane’s extended
family and friends, and Austenites will enjoy the imaginative power with which
Barron spins another riveting mystery around a writer generally assumed to have
led a quiet and uneventful life." — Publishers Weekly, Starred
Review
"Writing in the form of Jane’s diaries, Barron has spun a credible tale from a true encounter, enhanced with meticulous research and use of period vocabulary."
— Booklist
"Barron, who's picked up the pace since Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas, portrays an even more seasoned and unflinching heroine in the face of nasty death and her own peril." — Kirkus Reviews
"Barron deftly imitates Austen’s voice, wit, and occasional melancholy while spinning a well-researched plot that will please historical mystery readers and Janeites everywhere. Jane Austen died two years after the events of Waterloo; one hopes that Barron conjures a few more adventures for her beloved protagonist before historical fact suspends her fiction." — Library Journal
"Writing in the form of Jane’s diaries, Barron has spun a credible tale from a true encounter, enhanced with meticulous research and use of period vocabulary."
— Booklist
"Barron, who's picked up the pace since Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas, portrays an even more seasoned and unflinching heroine in the face of nasty death and her own peril." — Kirkus Reviews
"Barron deftly imitates Austen’s voice, wit, and occasional melancholy while spinning a well-researched plot that will please historical mystery readers and Janeites everywhere. Jane Austen died two years after the events of Waterloo; one hopes that Barron conjures a few more adventures for her beloved protagonist before historical fact suspends her fiction." — Library Journal
AUTHOR BIO:
Stephanie
Barron was born in Binghamton, New York, the last of six girls. She attended
Princeton and Stanford Universities, where she studied history, before going on
to work as an intelligence analyst at the CIA. She wrote her first book in 1992
and left the Agency a year later. Since then, she has written fifteen books.
She lives and works in Denver, Colorado. Learn more about Stephanie and her
books at her website, visit her on Facebook and Goodreads.
JANE AND THE WATERLOO MAP BLOG TOUR
SCHEDULE:
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
Grand
Giveaway Contest
Win One
of Three Fabulous Prizes
In
celebration of the release of Jane and
the Waterloo Map, Stephanie is offering a chance to win one of three prize
packages filled with an amazing selection of Jane Austen-inspired gifts and
books!
Can't believe how fast blog tour is going.
ReplyDeleteThat;s a terrific first line!
ReplyDeleteGreat first line. :) Although he's not Lord Harold Trowbridge, I liked the sparks between Jane and Raphael West in the previous book, so I'm pleased he's returning in this.
ReplyDeleteLaura, I like the first and last lines a lot, too. Thank you for hosting this giveaway. I'm glad you enjoyed the book.
ReplyDeleteI am so excited to have discovered this series! I can't wait to being reading it. Thanks for being a part of the tour.
ReplyDeleteHave loved this series from book one, was excited to see a new installment. Can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteGreat review! Thanks for sharing. That first line, “There can be few things more lowering to the female sensibility than to be caught in a shower of rain at exactly the moment one most desires to appear to advantage" sure will get my attention too! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI agree. That first line sounds like classic Jane, herself. Captures the reader straight away. The blog tour certainly is rolling right along. I'm thoroughly enjoying visiting all of these blogs - many of them for the first time. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing - I have enjoyed visiting your blog. Your review was nice.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, Jane is always my favorite, and these literary who dunits featuring my favorite author, are also favorites.
ReplyDeleteVery excited about this book. Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a Jane Austen mysteryz :D So is this a series?
ReplyDelete