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Miss Austen Investigates #2
A Fortune Most Fatal
Not yet published
Expected 27 Mar 25*PRE-ORDER NOW! JANE AUSTEN RETURNS TO SOLVE A BRAND NEW MYSTERY, PERFECT FOR FANS OF RICHARD OSMAN AND BRIDGERTON*
'Exceptional - the Austen whodunnit I feel like I've been waiting my whole life for! I loved it' SOPHIE IRWIN
“Who are you, Miss Austen, but a young lady of little experience and no consequence?”
Welcome to Kent, 1797. Following many years apart, Jane Austen is set to spend the summer with her estranged brother, Neddy. As heir to wealthy widow Mrs Knight’s fortune, it is imperative that Neddy stays in his benefactor’s good graces. The financial security of Jane’s entire family depend on him.
But upon arrival at Godmersham Park, Jane quickly realises Neddy is in dire need of her help. For a mysterious young woman currently resides with Mrs Knight – a stranger who threatens to swindle the inheritance for herself.
Jane must uncover who this imposter is, to protect the fortunes – and fate – of her family. But when her investigation takes a dark and dangerous turn, can she solve the mystery – and save herself?
Why readers LOVE the Miss Austen Investigates series!
'Delightful and entertaining' 5***** reader review
'Jane Austen makes a perfect detective!' 5***** reader review
'This book is such a joy!' 5***** reader review
'A very clever whodunnit!' 5***** reader review
'Kept me entertained throughout' 5***** reader review
'Exceptional - the Austen whodunnit I feel like I've been waiting my whole life for! I loved it' SOPHIE IRWIN
“Who are you, Miss Austen, but a young lady of little experience and no consequence?”
Welcome to Kent, 1797. Following many years apart, Jane Austen is set to spend the summer with her estranged brother, Neddy. As heir to wealthy widow Mrs Knight’s fortune, it is imperative that Neddy stays in his benefactor’s good graces. The financial security of Jane’s entire family depend on him.
But upon arrival at Godmersham Park, Jane quickly realises Neddy is in dire need of her help. For a mysterious young woman currently resides with Mrs Knight – a stranger who threatens to swindle the inheritance for herself.
Jane must uncover who this imposter is, to protect the fortunes – and fate – of her family. But when her investigation takes a dark and dangerous turn, can she solve the mystery – and save herself?
Why readers LOVE the Miss Austen Investigates series!
'Delightful and entertaining' 5***** reader review
'Jane Austen makes a perfect detective!' 5***** reader review
'This book is such a joy!' 5***** reader review
'A very clever whodunnit!' 5***** reader review
'Kept me entertained throughout' 5***** reader review
Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 27, 2025
About the author
Jessica Bull
2 books36 followersJessica Bull lives in South East London with her husband and two daughters. A former librarian and communications consultant, she studied English literature at Bristol University and information science at City, University of London. Miss Austen Investigates, The Hapless Milliner is her debut novel.
You can find her on...
X, formerly Twitter: @NovelistJessica
Instagram: @jessicabullnovelist
You can find her on...
X, formerly Twitter: @NovelistJessica
Instagram: @jessicabullnovelist
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 14, 2025
A delight from the very first page – fun, clever and gritty, with fantastic characterisation and a wonderful look into the darkness hidden beneath the glimmering facade of Regency society.
January 10, 2025
Book 2 in this fab series is everything I hoped for and more. The characterization of the Austen clan is masterfully done. And the mystery kept me rapt through to the end. A must-read for Janeites and fans of fine histfic mysteries. Book 3, please come soon!
Want to read
December 28, 2024I’m excited to read! Review coming soon.
Want to read
December 27, 2024I am super excited to read this book and will be adding my review soon!
Want to read
December 28, 2024I am excited to read this book and will be leaving my rating and review soon!
Want to read
December 27, 2024I'm excited to read this! Review and rating coming soon
January 13, 2025
This was an enjoyable read. Jane is staying with her brother and his family. While she is there, she is trying to discover if a warm staying with the brother’s adopted mother is a real princess. They are concerned that money and land that should come to her brother might be given to this ‘princess’. Jane is struggling without her sister, Cassandra and also finding her sister in law quite difficult. In a rather convoluting way, Janet tries to discover the truth. Of course, she faces the usual prejudice against women who can think for themselves. But nothing stops Jane when she is on a mission. This book did capture the ideas and practices of the time. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 11, 2025
A delightful return to the world of Jane Austen’s sleuthing! In this second in the series of Miss Austen Investigates, Jessica Bull delicately balances the details of Jane’s life alongside a richly developed set of mysteries. Rendered in Jane’s signature wit and equal parts light and dark, I enjoyed every moment I got to spend with Jane in this brilliant follow-up.
March 5, 2024
An interesting mix of fact and fiction. The book feels like one that Jane Austen has written and her characters replicate this described in her books. Well written, captivating and descriptive if the time.
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December 30, 2024I am so excited for this one! I cannot wait to get my hands on it! My review will be posted soon! 🤍
January 6, 2025
3.5 - A slow start but a much improved second half.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Want to read
January 13, 2025Can’t wait to read this soon!
December 30, 2024
I was looking forward to this second instalment in young Jane's story but, after a promising start when Jane's writing box and manuscripts are almost lost, it didn't quite live up to expectations. The story seemed overlong and flat in places with Jane making wild assumptions about her brother's conduct and the future of his inheritance, and going round in circles before the mystery of the strange girl rescued from the sea is finally solved. Without spoilers, all I can say about the so-called foreign princess is that her story feels very confusing and her behaviour extremely far-fetched, despite the author's note of explanation at the end of the book.
As in most Regency stories, there is the inevitable family pressure for a young lady to find a suitable husband, and one or two rather awful prospects are dangled in front of her, but Jane simply wants to write. It was fun to see the progress of several of her future published novels dropped into the story and the tiny hint of romance that history tells us led nowhere. This glimpse into her inner thoughts and desires, along with some witty lines from the spirited Jane, were for me the most entertaining aspect of the book.
An interesting read but the mystery at its heart was not quite engaging or gripping enough for me.
As in most Regency stories, there is the inevitable family pressure for a young lady to find a suitable husband, and one or two rather awful prospects are dangled in front of her, but Jane simply wants to write. It was fun to see the progress of several of her future published novels dropped into the story and the tiny hint of romance that history tells us led nowhere. This glimpse into her inner thoughts and desires, along with some witty lines from the spirited Jane, were for me the most entertaining aspect of the book.
An interesting read but the mystery at its heart was not quite engaging or gripping enough for me.
January 7, 2025
Jessica Bull has done it again. What a wonderful follow up to her debut novel. She gives voice to a young Jane Austen in a way that captivates and entertains while also dealing with heavier topics. I cannot recommend this book enough!
January 3, 2025
It’s rare to encounter a book that brings fresh delight with most every page, but such is the case with A FORTUNE MOST FATAL. The reader is immersed in the world of Jane Austen, and what a fascinating world it is. Crisply written, sharply observant, and with a self-deprecating wit, Jessica Bull delivers a twisty and intriguing mystery that is delightfully Austenesque.
Want to read
January 2, 2025I can't wait to read this book! I'll be posting my review and rating soon!
December 17, 2024
I enjoyed this installment just as much as the first one -- maybe even a little more? Jane is learning to hold her suspicions close and not just fling wild accusations. That tendency still gets the better of her from time to time, but I appreciate that we are seeing character growth in action. Love the details of life in the time period, and I appreciate that this plotline, like the previous, centers on how disability was viewed at the time in a rich and multi-faceted way.
Advanced reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.
Advanced reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews