What do you think?
Rate this book
Miss Austen Investigates #2
A Fortune Most Fatal
Not yet published
Expected 25 Mar 25Intrepid amateur sleuth Jane Austen returns in this new novel from the author of Miss Austen Investigates
When Jane Austen arrives at Rowling House to visit her wealthy brother, Neddy, she hopes that some time away will distract her from her broken heart and the dashing Tom Lefroy’s lacklustre proposal. Little does she know that her sister-in-law Elizabeth has other to help Jane come out to society and find a respectable husband of good status and wealth.
Meanwhile, when a mysterious foreign princess is taken in by Mrs. Knight, Neddy’s adoptive mother, Jane and her family fear that Neddy’s inheritance could be at risk, jeopardizing them all. Jane is determined to unmask the beleaguered princess as a con artist and reveal her true identity. But when Jane’s sleuthing leads her to believe that Neddy is involved in an unspeakable crime, she must try to save a traumatized young woman. And she must do it without destroying her wealthy brother, whom all the Austens rely on.
When Jane Austen arrives at Rowling House to visit her wealthy brother, Neddy, she hopes that some time away will distract her from her broken heart and the dashing Tom Lefroy’s lacklustre proposal. Little does she know that her sister-in-law Elizabeth has other to help Jane come out to society and find a respectable husband of good status and wealth.
Meanwhile, when a mysterious foreign princess is taken in by Mrs. Knight, Neddy’s adoptive mother, Jane and her family fear that Neddy’s inheritance could be at risk, jeopardizing them all. Jane is determined to unmask the beleaguered princess as a con artist and reveal her true identity. But when Jane’s sleuthing leads her to believe that Neddy is involved in an unspeakable crime, she must try to save a traumatized young woman. And she must do it without destroying her wealthy brother, whom all the Austens rely on.
336 pages, Paperback
Expected publication March 25, 2025
About the author
Jessica Bull
2 books37 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
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 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!
January 27, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I absolutely adored Jessica's previous book, Miss Austen Investigates, and have been looking forward to the sequel ever since and so I am thrilled to receive an early digital copy. It got bumped right up to the top of my list.
I love how Jessica seamlessly blends fact with fiction. You can identify Jane Austen as what she was, but there's a spark that comes with making her this wonderful sleuth.
You can tell Jessica is passionate about Jane Austen. Only so much can come from research and books; the rest you have to feel.
It's different than the first one. Whilst the first one deals with murder, this one deals with inheritance and shady characters. It's no less a wonderful story, and whilst it still has the elements I enjoyed frrom the first book, by changing the key plot point adds more excitement. It stops it being repetitive. I will admit I preferred the whodunnit aspect of the first book more, but that's because I'm a fan of murder (reading, not doing) but that's a tiny point, because I still loved what was in this book.
We've got some old characters and some new, giving it an air of familiarity but also keeping it fresh and exciting. Jane is more assured of herself in this book. She knows what she's capable of and won't take any prisoners. It just seems so natural that Jane would be doing these kind of things in reality.
I love reading books where women go above the social position they are expected to be. This is set in the 1700s, where women were meant to be subservient and do what they're told and not interfere and get married and have a family. And here we have a young lady, unmarried, wants to be a writer, and who wants to be right in the middle of the action.
I had just devoured a really long heavy fantasy book and so I was concerned my brain wouldn't be able to get into this as quickly but I read it in a day. And it was a day where I was feeling quite low, was in a low of paint, and so I wasn't feeling my best, but this really helped lift my spirits.
I won't quote the sentence in case it doesn't end up in the final book but just in case Jessica is reading this. At about 20% through, Jane is having a conversation with a clergyman who mentions his views on women and novels and propriety which made me laugh out loud at the absurdity of it all. How I am glad to be a woman in this century, for all the novels I read.
I don't know how long Jessica plans to make this series but I can see it being long, almost like the Poirot of Miss Marple series. And dare I say it, I can see this being as popular and have as much longevity as Agatha Christie did before her.
I absolutely adored Jessica's previous book, Miss Austen Investigates, and have been looking forward to the sequel ever since and so I am thrilled to receive an early digital copy. It got bumped right up to the top of my list.
I love how Jessica seamlessly blends fact with fiction. You can identify Jane Austen as what she was, but there's a spark that comes with making her this wonderful sleuth.
You can tell Jessica is passionate about Jane Austen. Only so much can come from research and books; the rest you have to feel.
It's different than the first one. Whilst the first one deals with murder, this one deals with inheritance and shady characters. It's no less a wonderful story, and whilst it still has the elements I enjoyed frrom the first book, by changing the key plot point adds more excitement. It stops it being repetitive. I will admit I preferred the whodunnit aspect of the first book more, but that's because I'm a fan of murder (reading, not doing) but that's a tiny point, because I still loved what was in this book.
We've got some old characters and some new, giving it an air of familiarity but also keeping it fresh and exciting. Jane is more assured of herself in this book. She knows what she's capable of and won't take any prisoners. It just seems so natural that Jane would be doing these kind of things in reality.
I love reading books where women go above the social position they are expected to be. This is set in the 1700s, where women were meant to be subservient and do what they're told and not interfere and get married and have a family. And here we have a young lady, unmarried, wants to be a writer, and who wants to be right in the middle of the action.
I had just devoured a really long heavy fantasy book and so I was concerned my brain wouldn't be able to get into this as quickly but I read it in a day. And it was a day where I was feeling quite low, was in a low of paint, and so I wasn't feeling my best, but this really helped lift my spirits.
I won't quote the sentence in case it doesn't end up in the final book but just in case Jessica is reading this. At about 20% through, Jane is having a conversation with a clergyman who mentions his views on women and novels and propriety which made me laugh out loud at the absurdity of it all. How I am glad to be a woman in this century, for all the novels I read.
I don't know how long Jessica plans to make this series but I can see it being long, almost like the Poirot of Miss Marple series. And dare I say it, I can see this being as popular and have as much longevity as Agatha Christie did before her.
Want to read
December 28, 2024I’m excited to read! Review coming soon.
Want to read
January 13, 2025Can’t wait to read this soon!
Want to read
January 2, 2025I can't wait to read this book! I'll be posting my review and rating soon!
January 20, 2025
An absolutely glorious novel. Sensitively written and bursting with Jane’s personality and precociousness. A joy to read, and although it was totally different to book one in the series, it’s the perfect sequel. I’m already desperate for book three.
I loved the exploration of class and Jane’s place within society. Mr Bridges was a particular hero and a worthy heart throb. Gorgeous to spend time with Neddy and Elizabeth too.
I loved the exploration of class and Jane’s place within society. Mr Bridges was a particular hero and a worthy heart throb. Gorgeous to spend time with Neddy and Elizabeth too.
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
Read
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 22, 2025
There's always that second book nervousness that arises when a debut like the authors first book is loved so dearly. I am thrilled to report that those nerves were absolutely not necessary as the second book is just as intriguing, authentic and delightful as the first. I felt immediately transported back into Jane's world with the family dynamics, latest dramas and to-dos and the next part of her adventure.
Just like book 1, this author did her research and the letters from Jane to her sister Cassandra are for me the highlight of the novel, they are chefs kiss and I forgot at times I wasn't reading real letters from the real Jane. I do not say this lightly!
A wonderful and classy read.
Just like book 1, this author did her research and the letters from Jane to her sister Cassandra are for me the highlight of the novel, they are chefs kiss and I forgot at times I wasn't reading real letters from the real Jane. I do not say this lightly!
A wonderful and classy read.
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.
January 18, 2025
Another excellent read, with meticulous research and attention to historical detail, artistic licence is employed to keep the story progressing whilst being true to the period. I truly believe that this is the true nature of Jane Austen and look forward to reading much more
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.
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.
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 - 21 of 21 reviews