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Fiction. Mystery. Historical Fiction. HTML:Jane Austen as sleuth continues to delight in her latest adventure (after Jane and the Genius of the Place), which sheds new light on the author's travels in 1806. While enjoying a ramble in the Derbyshire hills near Bakewell (a town Eliza Bennett visits in Pride and Prejudice), Jane discovers the mutilated body of a young man. Jane's suspicions are roused when her escort, Mr. George Hemming, prefers to remove the unidentified corpse to Buxton, show more rather than Bakewell, and they increase when the body proves to be that of a woman dressed in men's clothing. Moreover, the corpse is identified as Tess Arnold, a servant at one of the area's great houses, whom Mr. Hemming should have recognized. As the compounder of stillroom remedies, Tess had a reputation as a healer, until accused of witchcraft. Rumors of ritual murder by Freemasons-who include most of the neighboring gentry-excite the local populace and jeopardize the investigation of the justice of the peace, himself a Mason. When Mr. Hemming disappears before the inquest, Jane and the justice turn for help to Lord Harold Trowbridge, a guest at the nearby ducal house of Chatsworth. Barron catches Austen's tone amazingly well. Details of early 19th-century country life of all classes ring true, while the story line is clear, yet full of surprises. The "editor's notes" that punctuate the text and old cures for various ills that open each chapter add to the charm. (Aug.) show lessTags
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Member Reviews
But I found this one altogether too predictable. I had the murderer figured out about 1/3 of the way through the book. I still enjoy Ms. Barron's Jane Austen and I love the Regency setting, but I was a bit disappointed with this book. Jane is in Derbeyshire for a week in August of 1806 for the setting of this story. You can see how she loved the country, and why she used this as her setting for Pride and Prejudice. Jane stumbles across the horribly mutilated body of a young "genteleman" when she is out with her cousin on an angling expedition. It is determined that Jane's young "gentleman" is in fact a woman servant from a neighbouring manor house. Why was she killed in this lonely place and so horribly mutilated? Jane and the dapper show more Lord Harold set out to unmask a killer. While doing so, they uncover long buried and also rather recent family secrets. Ms. Barron has an uncanny ability to write the way it appears that the actual Miss Austen would have and that is what makes this series so enjoyable. show less
Jane and the Stillroom Maid is a nice comeback from the disappointment of the fourth installment in this otherwise spritely series. Unlike Jane and the Genius of the Place, the reason for the servant's odd dress isn't obvious from the very first. Indeed, I found myself being constantly surprised. You won't guess "who done it" until you're told in the very last pages.
As with all the Jane Austen mysteries, you'll find yourself enjoying the style and historical footnotes as much as the mystery itself. Stephanie Barron has mastered imitating the voice of Restoration "ladies" books and scrupulously researched the customs of the early 19th century. I felt a little thrill when she alluded to the customs of mourning and "half-mourning."
Lovers show more of Jane Austen won't be disappointed, of course. But neither are mystery lovers who want something a little bit off the beaten path. show less
As with all the Jane Austen mysteries, you'll find yourself enjoying the style and historical footnotes as much as the mystery itself. Stephanie Barron has mastered imitating the voice of Restoration "ladies" books and scrupulously researched the customs of the early 19th century. I felt a little thrill when she alluded to the customs of mourning and "half-mourning."
Lovers show more of Jane Austen won't be disappointed, of course. But neither are mystery lovers who want something a little bit off the beaten path. show less
This installment finds Jane admitting to herself the depth of her feeling for Lord Trowbridge. Nice! The murder was particularly disturbing because it was revealed to be the tip of the iceberg in terms of corruption of soul. There was the interesting aspect of the various remedies that were sprinkled about the book - a new facet of the world of Jane Austen.
Regency mystery, with fewer historical distractions
July 2001
Barron's fictional Jane continues her surprisingly dangerous career by stumbling upon a particularly grisly corpse -- a young man, she thinks, shot in the head and eviscerated. As it comes out that the deceased was a stillroom maid, in charge of remedies and preserves, and a vicious rumor implicating the Freemasons spreads throughout the village, Jane once again becomes enmeshed with a murder investigation. There are plenty of false leads to follow, plenty of scandals to uncover, and all in the company of Lord Harold Trowbridge, who is in Derbyshire to pay a visit of morning for the Duchess of Devonshire.
Of the Jane Austen Mystery series so far, this is the one most distilled - show more fewer side issues for Jane to consider, fewer forays into the politics and the culture of the day. There is, of course, the aristocratic name-dropping; we are treated to the leading people of the Whig movement in Parliament. Also, there is a small mention of Freemasonry, but it passes quickly. The chapters are interspersed with recipes for folk remedies, in sure opposition to the "more modern" apothecary and doctor, who prefer their bleeding cures to tinctures and poultices (Warning: do not try these remedies at home. Stick to our "modern" remedies of St. John's Wort and saw palmetto). However, there are far fewer footnotes in this book than the previous novels and far fewer reveries on Jane's part. Barron seems to have decided to make this a murder mystery, with few distracting elements. Once again, an enjoyable read, like the rest of the series, but no tedious bits as some of the previous novels suffered from. show less
July 2001
Barron's fictional Jane continues her surprisingly dangerous career by stumbling upon a particularly grisly corpse -- a young man, she thinks, shot in the head and eviscerated. As it comes out that the deceased was a stillroom maid, in charge of remedies and preserves, and a vicious rumor implicating the Freemasons spreads throughout the village, Jane once again becomes enmeshed with a murder investigation. There are plenty of false leads to follow, plenty of scandals to uncover, and all in the company of Lord Harold Trowbridge, who is in Derbyshire to pay a visit of morning for the Duchess of Devonshire.
Of the Jane Austen Mystery series so far, this is the one most distilled - show more fewer side issues for Jane to consider, fewer forays into the politics and the culture of the day. There is, of course, the aristocratic name-dropping; we are treated to the leading people of the Whig movement in Parliament. Also, there is a small mention of Freemasonry, but it passes quickly. The chapters are interspersed with recipes for folk remedies, in sure opposition to the "more modern" apothecary and doctor, who prefer their bleeding cures to tinctures and poultices (Warning: do not try these remedies at home. Stick to our "modern" remedies of St. John's Wort and saw palmetto). However, there are far fewer footnotes in this book than the previous novels and far fewer reveries on Jane's part. Barron seems to have decided to make this a murder mystery, with few distracting elements. Once again, an enjoyable read, like the rest of the series, but no tedious bits as some of the previous novels suffered from. show less
Ms. Barron has done a very nice job of capturing the "voice"of Austen's period. Unfortunately, that tends to make the book, as a mystery, a bit too convoluted and slow-moving for an entirely happy reader. I would recommend the book to those who are passionately devoited to all things Austen; perhaps not to a mystery fan who wasn't so enthralled with Austen.
An interesting premise that Jane Austen was capable of solving mysteries as well as writing good books. Stephanie Barron does a good job in bringing out this unknown aspect of Jane Austen's life.
in the mail! signed hc by Stephanie {thankyou!}
this mystery now heading out on holiday with me ")
this mystery now heading out on holiday with me ")
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Jane and the Stillroom Maid
- Original publication date
- 2000-08-01
- People/Characters
- Jane Austen; Lord Harold Trowbridge; Charles Danforth; Tess Arnold
- Epigraph
- (From Jane and the Stillroom Maid p 13)
For the Stauching
of a Wound, Where There
Be Great Blood
If the wound be deep or a great vein cut,
take a piece of lean salt beef and lay it
in ... (show all)hot ashes until heated through. Then
press the hot stuff entirely into the wound
and bind with clean linen. A good piece of
roasted beef, heated on the coals, will serve
as well.
-From the Stillroom Book
of Tess Arnold
Penfolds Hall, Derbyshire,
1802-1806
(From Jane and the Stillroom Maid p 24)
Dr. Babscomb's Water
to Strengthen a
Woman after Travel
Steep equal pats pomegranate buds,
oak bark and rose leaves in boiling
spring water until... (show all) very strong. Then add to
each pint of the tea a quarter-pint of red
wine. Dip clean cotton in the posset and
apply hot to the Sufferer's forehead, or any-
where on the body that is pained. Applica-
tions in evening are most beneficial.
-From the Stillroom Book
of Tess Arnold,
Penfolds Hall, Derbyshire,
1802-1806
(From Jane and the Stillroom Maid p 33)
Against Disorders
of the Head
Chop two ounces of wild Valerian Root,
and add to it an ounce of freshly-
gathered Sage. Pour over two quarts of boil-... (show all)
ing water, and give the Sufferer a quar-
her of a pint, twice each day.
This is most useful against Giddiness and
Pains, and all disorders of the Head, espe-
cially Nervous Cases.
-From the Stillroom Book
of Tess Arnold,
Penfolds Hall, Derbyshire,
1802-1806
(From Jane and the Stillroom Maid p 50)
To Find if a Body
Be Dead or Not
Stick a needle an inch or so into the cor-
pus. If it is alive, the needle will become
tarnished whilst in the tru... (show all)ly dead the nee-
del will retain its polish.
-From the Stillroom Book
of Tess Arnold,
Penfolds Hall, Derbyshire,
1802-1806 - Dedication
- Dedicated to Carol Bauer Bowron, friend and writer,
who carries a certain Pemberley in her heart - First words
- Mr. Edward Cooper--rector of Hamstall Ridware, Staffordshire, Fellow of All Souls, devoted supplicant before his noble patron, Sir George Mumps, and my first cousin--is possessed of a taste for hymns.
- Quotations
- (From Jane and the Stillroom Maid p 9)
"Hear us, oh hear us Lord; to thee
A sinner is more music, when he prays
Than sphere, or angels' praises be
In panegyric alleluiaaaas." - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)I suppose more than one young woman has been sustained a twelvemonth on so little.
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