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Author: Laura Martin
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery & Suspense
Publisher: Sapere Books
Book Release Date: 2023
Pages: 270
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: When a fortune is at stake, anyone could be a suspect…
1797, Bath, England
Devastated by the news of the death of her fiancé, Cassandra Austen has slipped into a melancholy that her sister Jane is desperate to relieve.
Jane suggests a short trip to stay with their aunt, Mrs Leigh-Perrot, in Bath with the aim of lifting Cassandra’s spirits.
Whilst out walking they meet Lady Arabella Waters, and they receive an invitation to meet her at the musical celebration in the Parade Gardens by the river.
But after taking a sip of his drink, Lady Arabella’s husband, Lord Waters collapses, dead.
Despite his advanced years Jane feels there is something not quite right about his death, and her suspicions are confirmed when the inquest determines Lord Waters was poisoned.
The magistrate announces he has found belladonna in Lady Waters’ possessions. He takes her into custody and sends her to the gaol in Ilchester. As she is taken away she pleads with Jane and Cassandra to help her prove her innocence.
Jane believes in Lady Waters, but why was there poison in her possession? And who else could have a motive for killing Lord Waters?
Can the Austen sisters unravel the mystery and prove the innocence of their new friend?
A POISONED FORTUNE is the third book in the Jane Austen Investigation series: thrilling Regency-era murder mysteries with a tenacious literary heroine working as a female sleuth.
My Review: A Poisoned Fortune is the third novel in the Jane Austen Investigations series. After the death of Cassandra Austen’s fiance, Jane and Cassandra have decided to visit the town of Bath. One day, they come across a young baroness named Lady Arabella Waters and quickly befriend her. They accompany her and her husband, Lord Waters to a musical celebration in Parade Gardens. However, Lord Waters is poisoned in front of everyone, and Lady Arabella Waters is the prime suspect. Could Jane Austen prove her new friend’s innocence?
Jane Austen’s skills have greatly improved since the first two novels. She does not need any help from her mentor, Lord Hinchbrook. Instead, she uses her own abilities to solve the murder through reasoning and evidence. I also like how Jane made Cassandra a willing participant. Unlike the others in which Cassandra supports and encourages her from the sidelines, Cassandra is her sidekick. I found that both Jane and Cassandra made a great team! Therefore, they were a very fun pair!
Overall, this novel is about grief, desperation, and greed. I liked all of the new characters in this novel, especially Jane’s friends, Lady Arabella Waters and Dr. Black. Unlike the previous novels, the mystery takes time to occur. Therefore, I found the beginning to be slow, and it took me a while to get interested in it. However, when it did pick up, I quickly became enthralled. I thought the mystery was very clever. I also liked how it was set in Bath during the Regency era! I can’t wait to see what lies next for Jane in The Body on the Beach! I recommend this novel for fans of Stephanie Baron, Lynn Messina, and Grace Burrows!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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