I Knew It Would Be Good, But I Didn't Know It'd be *Good*

Murder & Miss Austen's Ball by Ridgway Kennedy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really liked this book. It is the best thing I've read in months, and I'm going to have a hard time moderating my praise.

I won this book in a giveaway and was really excited about it. Of course, I already love Austenesque books, so I was inclined to like it no matter what. My favorite series is the terrific Jane Austen mystery series by Stephanie Barron, and as this is right in the same vein, I was cautiously optimistic that it would be pleasant, maybe pretty good. I was pleased to find I had set my expectations too low, that it actually was fantastic, good enough that I could easily promote it without hedging. So here I go.

The novel has a good sense of place, expert pacing, and a tight plot with action and adventure, and it is built on the chassis of an entertaining and satisfying mystery. It also has engaging characters, including Jane and the dancing master and many others, especially a number of minor characters among the working class. But what I love most is watching awesome characters be awesome.

Jane--clever and headstrong and disarming--gets to surprise people, and win them over, and change their opinions from time to time. It's fun to watch her find ways around rules of propriety and get things done that no one else can do or would care to do. Mr. Worth, the dancing master--capable, tough, and world-wise, though compassionate--gets to amaze with his music, and show his nerve when nerve is needed, and demonstrate an impeccable sense of honor. Both befriend people of worth and kindness in the course of their adventure, earning allies by dint of their own worth. It's not that they make all the right decisions, or that everything works out just as they hope; it's not that easy. But they show us why they are the heroes of the story. The reader gets to cheer for them and celebrate when Jane shows she knows how to ride a horse, thank you, or when Worth casually intimidates someone trying to take advantage of Jane's brother, or when the two of them do something clever. That's what makes it fun.

It isn't all mystery or driving plot, though it moves along well; there are plenty of scenes where we see Jane visiting with her sister, or Worth and Jane drinking tea or coffee and just talking, or Worth stopping off with his relatives--little interludes of pleasant banter or character development and world-building between scenes with action. I found the pacing just to my taste and never grew weary reading (as I too often do). It was well done.

Austen fans, I think, will enjoy this, as will readers of mystery. And since he acknowledges Stephanie Barron's support in the end notes, I can shelve this next to her books without feeling weird about it...

; )

Recommended.

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