Category: Mystery

Review: The Hawthorne Legacy (The Inheritance Games #2)

Title: The Hawthorne Legacy (The Inheritance Games #2)
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Thriller, Mystery
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 7, 2021
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Mystery. Riches. Romance. Betrayal.

TWO CAN PLAY THIS GAME.

Overnight, Avery Grambs went from sleeping in her car to billionaire heiress. Now ensconced in a world of opulence, riddles, danger, and family secrets, Avery is on the hunt for the one person who might hold the answers to all her questions—including why eccentric billionaire Tobias Hawthorne left his entire fortune to Avery, a virtual stranger, rather than to his own daughters and grandsons.

Avery has a DNA test that proves she’s not a Hawthorne by blood, but cryptic clues begin piling up, hinting at a deeper connection to the family. Soon, Avery finds herself pulled into another game just as twisted as the first. As she works her way through puzzle after puzzle, it becomes clear that nothing is what it seems. Grayson and Jameson, two of the enigmatic and magnetic Hawthorne grandsons, continue to pull Avery in different directions, and it’s getting harder to tell who her allies are and who will stop at nothing to see Avery out of the picture—by any means necessary.

Review:

Avery Grambs is still looking for answers as to why Tobias Hawthorne named her as his heir instead of his relatives. After a DNA test, the family knows she isn’t related to the Hawthornes by blood, but she is still hunting for some kind of connection. As Avery finds more clues, she’s torn between Grayson and Jameson, Tobias’s two charming grandsons. The threats to Avery’s life and fortune are getting more dangerous with every puzzle she solves on her hunt to find out why she is the Hawthorne heir. 

I absolutely loved The Inheritance Games so I was so excited to read this one right away. I haven’t read a sequel so soon after reading the first book in years! The stakes were raised, with many life threatening situations that made the story suspenseful and thrilling. The relationships between characters became very complicated and a little confusing throughout this second book. Though the connection between Avery and the Hawthorne family seemed to be revealed at the end of the story, I wasn’t satisfied with it. I’m hoping the next book will tie everything together!

The Hawthorne Legacy is a suspenseful sequel!

What to read next:

The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Other books in the series:

Have you read The Hawthorne Legacy? What did you think of it?

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Review: The Inheritance Games (The Inheritance Games #1)

Title: The Inheritance Games (The Inheritance Games #1)
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery
Publisher: Little Brown, Books for Young Readers
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 1, 2020
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why — or even who Tobias Hawthorne is.

To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man’s touch — and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes. Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just dispossessed. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions. Heir apparent Grayson Hawthorne is convinced that Avery must be a conwoman, and he’s determined to take her down. His brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather’s last hurrah: a twisted riddle, a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive.

Review:

Avery Grambs has plans to finish high school and get a scholarship. However, everything changes when the billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves his entire fortune to Avery. Avery has never heard of Tobias and she doesn’t know why he disinherited his two daughters and four grandsons for a stranger. Avery and Libby, her older sister and guardian, have to travel to Texas to claim her inheritance, but the catch is that she must live on his estate for a year with his family before the estate officially belongs to her. Tobias loved puzzles so the entire estate is filled with puzzles, including the answers to why he left everything to Avery. With the help of his four grandsons, Avery has to explore this new world of wealth and danger to figure out why she was named heir. 

I had a feeling I would like this story but I had no idea I would become so hooked on it. As soon as I finished this book, I ordered the rest of the series. This story was intriguing, with Avery’s seemingly random turn of fortune, but it was also suspenseful. Avery’s life was in danger since everyone around her could be out to get her for her money. Plus there were lots of fun riddles and puzzles throughout the story. 

The Inheritance Games is such a great story! I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

Content warnings: death of parent, mentions of suicide, domestic violence, death of teen, attempted murder

What to read next:

The Hawthorne Legacy (The Inheritance Games #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Other books in the series:

  • The Hawthorne Legacy
  • The Final Gambit

Have you read The Inheritance Games? What did you think of it?

Review: Belladonna (Belladonna #1)

Title: Belladonna (Belladonna #1)
Author: Adalyn Grace
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Gothic, Mystery
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: August 30, 2022
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace brings to life a highly romantic, Gothic-infused world of wealth, desire, and betrayal.

Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each more interested in her wealth than her well-being—and each has met an untimely end. Her remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy. Its patriarch mourns his late wife through wild parties, while his son grapples for control of the family’s waning reputation, and his daughter suffers from a mysterious illness. But when their mother’s restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realizes that the family she depends on could be in grave danger and enlists the help of a surly stable boy to hunt down the killer.

However, Signa’s best chance of uncovering the murderer is an alliance with Death himself, a fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side. Though he’s made her life a living hell, Death shows Signa that their growing connection may be more powerful—and more irresistible—than she ever dared imagine.

Review:

Nineteen-year-old Signa Farrow was orphaned as a baby and has spent her years with a variety of different guardians who all met an early death. Signa can see ghosts, and she can also communicate with Death, who appears to her before her relatives die. After her aunt dies, Signa is sent to live with her distant relatives, the Hawthornes, at Thorn Grove. Elijah Hawthorne is coping with the loss of his wife by throwing extravagant parties. His son, Percy, is trying to take control of the family business, and his daughter, Blythe, seems to be suffering from the same illness that killed her mother. When the mother’s ghost tells Signa that she was actually poisoned and murdered, Signa has to solve the murder in time to save Blythe’s life. 

This was such an enchanting gothic mystery. The setting was gorgeous and evocative, with Thorn Grove filled with decadent architecture, food, and clothing. I loved the paranormal aspects, especially that Signa could communicate with death. I was really shocked at the twists and reveals at the end of the story. It ended on a thrilling cliffhanger, so I can’t wait to see what happens in the next story!

Belladonna is a beautiful gothic paranormal mystery!

Content warnings: poisoning, stabbing, death of parent, death of grandparent, vomiting, substance abuse (mentioned)

What to read next:

All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace

Other books in the series:

  • Foxglove

Have you read Belladonna? What did you think of it?

Review: The Golden Spoon

Title: The Golden Spoon
Author: Jessa Maxwell
Genre: Contemporary, Thriller, Mystery
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Canada
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: March 7, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

A killer is on the loose when someone turns up dead on the set of a hit TV baking competition in this darkly beguiling debut mystery that is perfect for fans of Lucy Foley, Nita Prose, and Anthony Horowitz. Soon to be a limited series on Hulu.

Production for the tenth season of Bake Week is ready to begin at the gothic estate of host and celebrity chef Betsy Martin, and everything seems perfect. The tent is up, the top-tier ingredients are aligned, and the crew has their cameras at the ready.

The six contestants work to prove their culinary talents over the course of five days, while Betsy is less than thrilled to share the spotlight with a new cohost—the brash and unpredictable Archie Morris. But as the baking competition commences, things begin to go awry. At first, it’s merely sabotage—sugar replaced with salt, a burner turned to high—but when a body is discovered, everyone is a suspect.

A deliciously suspenseful thriller for murder mystery buffs and avid bakers alike, The Golden Spoon will keep you guessing until the very last page.

Review:

Celebrity chef, and “America’s Grandmother,” Betsy Martin, is ready to host season ten of The Golden Spoon, a baking competition that is set at her estate. This year is different, because Betsy will be sharing the co-hosting spotlight with the brash Archie Morris. As soon as filming begins with the six new contestants, things start going wrong. There are mixed up ingredients, appliances tampered with, and eventually a body discovered. Everyone has a different motive for going on the competition show, and a motive for murder. 

This book had so many fun references to The Great British Baking Show. However, the hosts and judges weren’t as likable as they are on TV. Though Betsy was called “America’s Grandmother,” she wasn’t warm and friendly in person. Archie looked good on TV but he was really a jerk. The six contestants were well-developed with full backstories. 

This kind of story can be repetitive as each character goes through the motions of the competition. I liked how the different POVs followed each character at different times in the competition rather than giving everyone’s perspective at the same time. The only exception was when the body was found towards the end of the story where each perspective told what almost everyone was doing at that moment. 

Fans of The Great British Baking Show will love The Golden Spoon!

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada and Tandem Collective for providing a copy of this book!

What to read next:

The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse

Have you read The Golden Spoon? What did you think of it?

Review: Hell Bent (Alex Stern #2)

Title: Hell Bent (Alex Stern #2)
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: January 10, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Wealth. Power. Murder. Magic. Alex Stern is back and the Ivy League is going straight to hell in #1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo’s Hell Bent.

Find a gateway to the underworld. Steal a soul out of hell. A simple plan, except people who make this particular journey rarely come back. But Galaxy “Alex” Stern is determined to break Darlington out of purgatory―even if it costs her a future at Lethe and at Yale.

Forbidden from attempting a rescue, Alex and Dawes can’t call on the Ninth House for help, so they assemble a team of dubious allies to save the gentleman of Lethe. Together, they will have to navigate a maze of arcane texts and bizarre artifacts to uncover the societies’ most closely guarded secrets, and break every rule doing it. But when faculty members begin to die off, Alex knows these aren’t just accidents. Something deadly is at work in New Haven, and if she is going to survive, she’ll have to reckon with the monsters of her past and a darkness built into the university’s very walls.

Thick with history and packed with Bardugo’s signature twists, Hell Bent brings to life an intricate world full of magic, violence, and all too real monsters.

Review:

Galaxy “Alex” Stern will do anything to bring her mentor Darlington back. Though Lethe, the secret organization, has forbidden Alex and her friend Dawes from embarking on a rescue mission, she won’t let that deter her. Meanwhile, Yale staff members are dying in unusual ways that point to Lethe. Alex has to venture into places no one has gone before to save Darlington, her friends, and everything she calls home. 

I can’t say much about this book without spoilers, but it was worth the 3 year wait. The story was unpredictable and so twisty, I never knew what was going to happen next. There was a little bit of flipping between the past and present in chapters which could be confusing at times, but this happened less than in Ninth House. There were some intense surprises throughout the story that will keep readers entertained!

Hell Bent is a fabulous new Leigh Bardugo book! I can’t wait to read the next one!

What to read next:

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

Other books in the series:

Have you read Ninth House? What did you think of it?

Review: The Devil’s Music (The Montague Twins #2)

Title: The Devil’s Music (The Montague Twins #2)
Author: Nathan Page and Drew Shannon
Genre: Young Adult, Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Mystery, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: January 25, 2022
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

The Hardy Boys meets Paper Girls in the second volume of this mystery series featuring teen detectives, witches, and now a mystery rock ‘n’ roll song capable of a sinister, Pied Piper-like hypnosis.

Alastair, Pete, Charlie, and Rachel aren’t just magical teen detectives in their coastal town of Port Howl–they are also members of a local teen rock band. Before a show one night, Charlie and Rachel meet a famous rockstar, Gideon, and invite him to their show. He’ll never come, but why not try, right?

Little do they know, Gideon does show up, and he brings the threads of his dark past with him. In fact, he might even be the source of the rumored Devil’s Music, a limited-release song that entrances all of its listeners in a deadly hypnosis.

When Pete quickly gets drawn into Gideon’s web, it’s up to his brother and friends to save him. But Pete might not be the only Montague Twin at risk for Gideon’s spell…

Review:

Pete, Al, Charlie, and Rachel are magic teenage detectives in Port Howl. They also have a band. On the night of their first performance, Charlie and Rachel meet the rockstar Gideon. They invite him to hang out with them, but he brings secrets from his dark past with him. There’s a dark power in his music, and they have to figure out how to stop it before it’s too late. 

This graphic novel was even better than the first one. The first book did a lot of world building and setting the scene, so this one could jump right into the mystery. It was creepy and suspenseful, and it kept me guessing until the end.

The Devil’s Music is a great graphic novel! I hope there will be more books in this series!

Thank you Penguin Teen Canada for sending me a copy of this book.

What to read next:

Mooncakes by Wendy Xu and Suzanne Walker

Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Lisa Sterle

Other books in the series:

Have you read The Devil’s Music? What did you think of it?

Review: Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade (Enola Holmes #8)

Title: Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade (Enola Holmes #8)
Author: Nancy Springer
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Audiobook
Release Date: September 6, 2022
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Enola Holmes, the much younger sister of Sherlock, is now living independently in London and working as a scientific perditorian (a finder of persons and things). But that is not the normal lot of young women in Victorian England. They are under the near absolute control of their nearest male relative until adulthood. Such is the case of Enola’s friend, Lady Cecily Alastair. Twice before Enola has rescued Lady Cecily from unpleasant designs of her caddish father, Sir Eustace Alastair, Baronet. And when Enola is brusquely turned away at the door of the Alastair home it soons becomes apparent that Lady Cecily once again needs her help.

Affecting a bold escape, Enola takes Lady Cecily to her secret office only to be quickly found by the person hired by Lady Cecily’s mother to find the missing girl—Sherlock Holmes himself. But the girl has already disappeared again, now loose on her own in the unforgiving city of London.

Even worse, Lady Cecily has a secret that few know. She has dual personalities—one, which is left-handed, is independent and competent; the other, which is right-handed is meek and mild. Now Enola must find Lady Cecily again—before one of her personalities gets her into more trouble than she can handle and before Sherlock can find her and return her to her father. Once again, for Enola, the game is afoot.

Review:

Enola Holmes, the younger sister of Sherlock Holmes, is living on her own in London and working as a professional perditorian, a finder of things and people. However her friend, Lady Cecily Alastair, does not have such an easy life. Enola has had to rescue Cecily from her controlling father in the past, and when Enola is turned away from their house, she knows that Cecily needs help again. Enola helps Cecily escape, but Cecily is quickly found by the person her mother hired to find her: Sherlock Holmes. Cecily makes another escape from both Enola and Sherlock, sending them on a chase around town to find her and save her from her father. 

Enola is such a fun character. She’s like a young Sherlock Holmes, but she sometimes has difficulty keeping one step ahead of her older brother. She’s a quirky and smart character who’s quick on her feet. 

This book had some mental health representation. Though it was set in the 1800s, and the medical knowledge was limited then, Cecily has dual personalities. The characteristic of her two personalities is that one is left-handed, independent and competent, and the other is right-handed, shy and quiet. I liked the way that Enola acknowledged these two personalities of Cecily, and tried to accommodate them when she noticed how her friend was feeling and behaving. 

Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade is a fun Victorian middle grade mystery!

Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing an audio arc of this book!

What to read next:

Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Other books in the series:

  • The Case of the Missing Marquess (Enola Holmes #1)
  • The Case of the Left-Handed Lady (Enola Holmes #2)
  • The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets (Enola Holmes #3)
  • The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan (Enola Holmes #4)
  • The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline (Enola Holmes #5)
  • The Case of the Gypsy Good-Bye (Enola Holmes #6)
  • Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche (Enola Holmes #7)

Have you read Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade? What did you think of it?

Review: The Dead Man in the Garden (Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen #3)

Title: The Dead Man in the Garden (Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen #3)
Author: Marthe Jocelyn, Isabelle Follath (illustrations)
Genre: Middle Grade, Mystery, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Tundra Books
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: September 7, 2021
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

For young detective Aggie Morton and her friend Hector, a spa stay becomes a lot more thrilling when TWO dead bodies are found in this third book in the Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen series, inspired by the life of Agatha Christie as a child and her most popular creation, Hercule Poirot.

Aspiring writer Aggie Morton is ready to enjoy an invigorating trip to a Yorkshire spa, where her widowed mother can take the waters and recover from a long mourning period. Having solved yet another murder and faced extreme peril with her best friend Hector over Christmas, Aggie’s Morbid Preoccupation is on alert when rumors abound about the spa’s recently deceased former patient . . . and then another body appears under mysterious circumstances. Together with Grannie Jane, and often in the company of George, a young patient at the spa, Aggie and Hector take a closer look at the guests and staff of the Wellspring Hotel, and venture into the intriguing world of the local undertaker. Has there been a murder–or even two? As Aggie and Hector ignite their deductive skills, their restful trip takes a sudden, dangerous turn.

Review:

Aggie Morton goes on a trip to a spa in Yorkshire with her recently widowed mother, grandmother, and friend Hector Perot so that her mother can recover from her mourning period. When they arrive, Aggie and Hector learn that a woman who was staying there died the previous week. As they start investigating that death, another client of the spa dies under mysterious circumstances. Aggie and Hector join together with their new friend George to investigate these deaths and figure out what is going on at the spa. 

This was another great Aggie Morton mystery! Aggie Morton is like a young Agatha Christie. Her friend, Hector, is similar to Christie’s character Hercule Poirot, and Aggie’s grandmother is like the Christie character Miss Marple. I love seeing these nods to her classic characters. 

This mystery kept me guessing until the end. The answer was right there the whole time, but it was someone who I didn’t suspect. I’m always pleased when the solution to a mystery surprises me. 

The Dead Man in the Garden is a great middle grade mystery! 

Thank you Tundra Books for providing me with a digital copy of this book.

What to read next:

The Seaside Corpse by Marthe Jocelyn, Isabelle Follath (illustrations)

Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Other books in the series:

Have you read The Dead Man in the Garden? What did you think of it?

Review: Cold-Blooded Myrtle (Myrtle Hardcastle Mysteries #3)

Title: Cold-Blooded Myrtle (Myrtle Hardcastle Mysteries #3)
Author: Elizabeth C. Bunce
Genre: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Mystery
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Source: Thomas Allen and Son
Format: Paperback
Release Date: October 5, 2021
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Myrtle Hardcastle—twelve-year-old Young Lady of Quality and Victorian amateur detective—is back on the case, solving a string of bizarre murders in her hometown of Swinburne and picking up right where she left off in Premeditated Myrtle and How to Get Away with Myrtle. 

When the proprietor of Leighton’s Mercantile is found dead on the morning his annual Christmas shop display is to be unveiled, it’s clear a killer had revenge in mind. But who would want to kill the local dry-goods merchant? Perhaps someone who remembers the mysterious scandal that destroyed his career as a professor and archaeologist. When the killer strikes again, each time manipulating the figures in the display to foretell the crime, Myrtle finds herself racing to uncover the long-buried facts of a cold case—and the motivations of a modern murderer.

Review:

When the owner of Leighton’s Mercantile is found dead on the morning that their Christmas display is unveiled, Myrtle Hardcastle is on the case. She finds a photo of Professor Leighton with her mother near his body, so she assumes there is some connection between them. Leighton had been a professor when Myrtle’s mother was in school, but after a student went missing, his career was destroyed. Soon after, another person connected with Leighton is murdered, pointing to Myrtle’s mother’s old group of friends. Myrtle must race to find the killer before everyone involved is dead. 

This was a great whodunnit mystery! Though Myrtle is a young girl, almost all of the other characters are adults, so this series would appeal to adults as well as young readers. The mystery in this story was complex and went back generations. There were some great twists at the end, which made it hard for me to guess the killer. The story was quite fast-paced too, so I had to keep reading it.

Cold-Blooded Myrtle is a great middle grade mystery!

Thank you Thomas Allen and Son and Algonquin Young Readers for sending me a copy of this book!

What to read next:

In Myrtle Peril by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche by Nancy Springer

Other books in the series:

Have you read Cold-Blooded Myrtle? What did you think of it?

Review: The Burglar’s Ball (Jane Austen Investigates #2)

Title: The Burglar’s Ball (Jane Austen Investigates #2)
Author: Julia Golding
Genre: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Mystery
Publisher: Lion Hudson
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 22, 2021
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Nancy Drew. Enola Holmes. Sally Lockhart. Move over girls, it’s Jane’s time!

Join young budding detective Jane Austen in her second investigation to uncover a devious diamond thief at the glitziest, most scandalous ball of the year! Inspired by Sense and Sensibility.
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‘No one who had ever seen Jane Austen in her infancy would suppose her to be born to solve crimes. From her early love of sugar plums, and cleverness in hiding her expeditions into the pantry, her mother declared her far more likely to commit them. However, as Jane would counter, there was no better person to identify the culprit than the thief turned thief-catcher.’

When the headmistress invites her past favourite pupil to attend their end of term ball, Cassandra brings her younger sister, Jane, along too. Cassandra plunges into the feverish excitement of preparing for the biggest event of the year – the dresses, the dances and the boys expected from the neighbouring school.

Feeling rather excluded, sharp-witted Jane unearths the reason for the fuss – the headteacher wants to impress a rich family returned from India as the school is at risk of going bankrupt. Jane also befriends the dancing master’s assistant, a former slave, called Brandon, who is as quick to notice things as she. At the ball, a diamond necklace is stolen from a locked room and they are propelled into a race to uncover the burglar and save Brandon from gaol.

With the ever-present Austen spirit, Jane with notebook in hand, boldly overcomes the obstacles to finding the truth.

Review:

When the headmistress from their former school asks Cassandra Austen to attend their end of term hall, she brings her sister Jane along with her. They are excited to attend a fun event filled with dancing and fancy dresses. Jane befriends Brandon, the dance instructor’s assistant and a former slave. However, when a diamond necklace is stolen, Brandon is the first suspect. Jane is determined to prove Brandon’s innocence before he’s sent to jail for a crime he didn’t commit. 

The Jane Austen Investigates is a fun series because it reimagines a young Jane Austen as a detective. Jane encounters people who will later inspire her own novels. In this book, she meets Elinor and Marianne, among others, who will inspire her characters in Sense and Sensibility. 

Prejudice was an important part of this story too. Jane noticed right away that Brandon was being accused of the theft because he was Black. I don’t know how historically accurate it was for someone in Jane’s position to be able to defend someone against this kind of prejudice, but I’d like to imagine she would have done that in her real life. 

The Burglar’s Ball is a great Jane Austen Investigates mystery. 

Thank you Lion Hudson for proving a digital copy of this book.

What to read next:

The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer

The Tigers in the Tower by Julia Golding

Other books in the series:

Have you read The Burglar’s Ball? What did you think of it?