Being the Third Jane Austen Mystery. Poor, dear Jane Austen. A season's joyful diversions seem to be continually interrupted by murder. This time, she is at her reluctant home in Bath* during Christmastide. Under the guise of her attachment to her sister, Eliza, she attends a rout at which a man is found murdered and the grandson of the hostess, Dowager Duchess Wilborough, is found holding the murder weapon. The accused, Lord Kinsfell, is also the nephew of the Gentleman Rogue (as Jane has christened Lord Harold Trowbridge). It is under Lord Harold's direction that dear Jane has made an appearance at the rout. Jane is to keep watch over Lady Desdomona, sister to Lord Kinsfell and niece to Lord Harold. It seems the young woman has spurned one of the most eligible bachelor's of the day and he is quite put out.
As in previous adventures, Jane manages to find herself in the company of the privileged class, despite her status as a clergyman's daughter. Be that as it may, she is welcomed and even sought out for her company and willingness to pursue truth, however her methods. In an earlier volume, Jane writes, "I was not, after all, most ladies," in reference to her intermittent lapse in manners. Her new friends of the titled classes hardly seem to notice the difference in status or breaches in etiquette. However, her family is of a different mind, especially her mother and sister Cassandra. Her father does not know all the details of Jane's comings and goings, but is concerned enough to admonish her (with a wink of his eye). Attempts are made to keep her mother in the dark, usually without success. Cassandra is most certainly displeased by Jane's behavior in this lastest installment, particularly when it comes to a certain Lord Harold and the blemish on Jane's reputation his presence prompts. Nonetheless, our Dear Jane is tenacious enough to handle any supposed blight on her character.
"Deceit has ever been foreign to my nature," is a phrase penned by Jane. And yet, Jane is found employing this method time and time again as she exposes the individuals and the evidence they leave behind. Lying is an unwelcome practice; on the other hand, it achieves welcome results. Jane is not too proper to avoid employing the technique.
Although I continue to be entertained by Stephanie Barron's prose, there is one element I question. Having completed the first three mysteries, I have observed early on in each story, characters are introduced almost as an aside. These characters remain shadowy, emerging much later on in the narrative, frequently as a major player. Is this really problematic? Or maybe even unfair to those who try to solve the mystery before our heroine? Perhaps. But, taking into account we are reading Jane Austen's "lost journals", don't we all have individuals wending their way in and out of our lives, too?
Now, onward and upward! I'm off to the next installment!
*I have to include this passage: Lady Desdomona in a description of her brother, "He abhors the stupidity of Bath above all things." To which our Dear Jane replies, "A man of taste and elegance, I see."
No comments:
Post a Comment