My Five Word TL:DR Review: Another Enjoyable Instalment in Series

I’m enjoying Jessica Bull’s Miss Austen Investigates series and so couldn’t resist this novella with it’s seasonal title.

This is only a short instalment but I found it an easy and enjoyable read and a good addition to the series.

In this latest story the Austen Christmas is disrupted when human remains are uncovered in the cellar of Deane Rectory where Jane’s brother James is rector.  James, his wife and their new baby move out until the body can be removed and take up residence in the Austen household causing pandemonium.  Meanwhile, Jane, who was expecting nothing if not a dull Christmas, particularly in her sister’s absence, has now set her sights on discovering the true identity of this body – particularly as the local magistrate has immediately written the whole case off already.  Jane has her sights on a local woman who went missing some years ago, on the day of her wedding.

So, not to elaborate on the story too much because this is a bitesize story that can be read in one or two sittings with ease.

What I really enjoyed about this particular story were the family elements.  Of course, the central story is the mystery of the dead body, discovering the identity and if foul play was involved, and also we have Jane running around, determined, even with the firm instructions of her father to the contrary, to discover the identity and uncover the truth.  And, to be fair, the mystery is actually quite intriguing, but what I particularly enjoyed were all the letters back and forth between Jane and her siblings, the chaotic family household and all the little Christmas references.

This was a very easy read, the writing set the scene really well and in fact the author has caught the tone well without reverting to over fussiness.

Overall I had a good time with this and am enjoying this series.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks.  The above is my own opinion.

My rating 3.5 of 5 stars