A Poisoned Fortune (Jane Austen Investigations #3) by Laura Martin: A Book Review

A Poisoned Fortune (Jane Austen Investigations #3)

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

Interview with Paula Margulies

Today, I have the opportunity to interview Paula Margulies. She has recently wrote a novel about Pocahontas called Favorite Daughter, Part One , which won an Editor’s Choice Award at the 24th Annual San Diego State University Writer’s Conference. The story creates a different perspective to the American heroine. It is told in first person narrative, and it is how Pocahontas at a young age embarks through the many changes of her life. By doing so she transforms into a strong, courageous, wise woman. I am very pleased that she took the time to grant me this interview and to generously donate a copy of her novel to the giveaway. I look forward to reading her books in the future, and check back for my review of Favorite Daughter’s Part One soon. This interview is to give readers insight about her and her novel. Thank you, Mrs. Margulies. 1. Where and when do you write? In my home office mostly, although I try to sneak away to artist residencies whenever ...

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki: A Book Review

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post Author: Allison Pataki Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Ballantine Release Date: February 15, 2022 Pages: 381 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Mrs. Post, the President and First Lady are here to see you. . . . So begins another average evening for Marjorie Merriweather Post. Presidents have come and gone, but she has hosted them all. Growing up in the modest farmlands of Battle Creek, Michigan, Marjorie was inspired by a few simple rules: always think for yourself, never take success for granted, and work hard—even when deemed American royalty, even while covered in imperial diamonds. Marjorie had an insatiable drive to live and love and to give more than she got. From crawling through Moscow warehouses to rescue the Tsar’s treasures to outrunning the Nazis in London, from serving the homeless of the Great Depression to entertaining Roosevelts, Kennedys, and Hollywood’s biggest stars, Marjorie Merriweath...

Marianne: A Sense and Sensibility Sequel by Alice McVeigh: A Book Review

Marianne: A Sense and Sensibility Sequel Author: Alice McVeigh Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Warleigh Hall Press Publication Date: October 27, 2025 Pages: 286 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review Synopsis: Marianne returns to London for the first time since her husband’s death as young, beautiful, and impulsive as ever. Newly wealthy, she is besieged by admirers, despite her resolve to remain single. When her dramatic younger sister comes to stay, she has more to deal with…In a shocking twist, Margaret Dashwood finds herself on trial and in danger of deportation, and Marianne in need of her every friend - including Henry Crawford and John Willoughby, himself. My Review: Marianne is a sequel to Sense and Sensibility . After Colonel Brandon has died, Marianne returns to London as a wealthy woman. She soon attracts many suitors. However, Marianne is determined to stay single. Her sister, Margaret, has come to ...

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