Very interesting combination of history and fiction.
Jane Austen was an inveterate letter-writer, and since many of them survive to this day, Stephanie Barron is able to weave a plausible story using Jane's own account of her days, while adding mystery and intrigue to fill in the gaps.
This story begins with the real-life invitation to Jane Austen to visit the Prince Regent's house and library in the company of the Royal Librarian, James Stanier Clarke. At the same time she was given "permission" (a thinly veiled command!) to dedicate her next book, Emma, to the Prince Regent. So much is true.

What is added in this story is Jane's discovery of a body in the library! A celebrated military gentleman whose last cryptic words are, "Waterloo map." Jane comes to suspect he was poisoned. She pursues her suspicion in the company of Raphael West, an American painter/British spy she met in the last book. She sort of has a thing for him, and he for her, though it never is acknowledged. She also briefly meets the Duke of Wellington and delves into the world of cyphers and watercolors.

The settings in this story are memorable, and the narrative very good. If there are anachronisms, they are hard to spot! The dialogue rings true; it succeeds where many Austen continuations or fanfiction fails dismally. I'm only wondering where things will go from here, as this book takes place within a couple years of Jane's death. ( )

Yep, I still deeply enjoy this series. Yep, it was another fascinating mystery set in a well-depicted Austenian setting. It was excellent, and my only fear whenever I read along with Jane's further adventures is that she may reach the end of her short life. I can only hope it turns out to be a faked death when the time comes, but I strongly appreciate Barron's willingness to eke out as much adventure as possible in the canvas she's chosen.

Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss. ( )

November, 1815 has arrived and Jane Austen is staying in London with her brother Henry. She has been invited by the chaplain to His Royal Highness the Prince Regent to tour Carlton House and especially the library. In the library they discover a dying man, a Colonel MacFarland. Events lead Jane to discover a map. But a map of what.
An entertaining and enjoyable well-written cozy mystery ( )

Love the Jane series by Barron. She hits just the right Austenian note for wit, language, and character development. I hesitated going into the series because, afterall, how can Austen be topped? She might well suffer in the hands of a less proficient author, but Stephanie Barron does her research and is meticulous in terms of style and content. ( )

Jane is back and manages to get embroiled in a murder. There are a number of red herrings that make the ending quite amusing. Lord Trowbridge is still sadly missed but there is a new interest in Mr. West. Jane is an engaging fictional character. ( )