Death of a Schoolgirl by Joanna Campbell SlanMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I liked it quite a bit. You might, too.
Yes, I like the original Jane Eyre. I also enjoy new novels based on older novels and characters. The Jane Austen Mysteries is a good example--well worth reading. And if you like the original novels and the idea of a modern sequel sounds okay to you--you'll probably enjoy this, too.
At its heart, this is a mystery, but it is also an homage to the original novel and needs to succeed on that level. I think it does that. The author has done a good job of recreating the main characters, especially Jane, but she has also done well with the various secondary characters. The storyline is also kept intact; they are dealing with the fire and Mr. Rochester's injuries and a new baby when the story begins. And the setting is still the conservative, class-conscious, overtly religious Britain of the original.
I didn't love everything. In fact, I questioned the characterization choices in a couple places, but I let it go to enjoy the mystery, which is well done. By the time I was halfway through, I wanted to understand who did it and why, and that curiosity is rewarded with a satisfying conclusion.
Jane Eyre purists might not be up for this, but the rest of us will find a lot to enjoy.
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