The second book in the Miss Austen Investigates series provides a visit to the genteel town of Bath. PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND PERIL awaits.

While I felt quite prepared to address the challenge of reading about Jane Austen as a sleuth, I did find it odd to see the story told in the present tense. Based on real incidents with a slightly wavy timeline (which the author explains at the end), the atmosphere is genuine, and the characters feel all too real in their concerns over reputation and money.

Mr and Mrs Leigh-Perrot, relatives of the Austen family, are playing host to Jane and her beloved elder sister Cassandra. Bath is second to London for polite society, and now in their twenties, the young ladies are in danger of being left on the shelf. Cassandra is still in mourning for her fiancé, who died whilst ministering to the troops during the war. To please their relatives, they look interested in dancing with men and have a care for respectability. Despite this, Jane manages to get into all kinds of dodgy situations, places, and company.  

It all starts a few chapters in. While holidaying in Bath Spa, the need for dress trimmings leads to a crisis: Mrs Leigh-Perrot, the girls' aunt, is accused of shoplifting expensive lace. Shopkeepers often had to extend credit to the nobility, who had money from rents once a year. To pay their bills, the shopkeepers needed everyone else to pay cash.

Jane has to turn detective to find out if Mrs Gregory's shop is involved in any other similar incidents, especially as a blackmail letter arrives. An unexpected death soon follows. Can this have anything to do with a villainous highwayman? Given the ongoing Napoleonic War, the gentry are expected to serve as officers, which leaves potential husbands socialising in Bath looking like either the wounded or curates. For a Regency story, this has less romance and more historical realism than readers may expect, featuring deep research into both the Austens and the craft of printing. Jane hopes to publish a book one day, but cannot manage the costs.

Some incidents give poor dear Aunt the vapours, and there are plenty of travels around the streets. This lively tale by Jessica Bull brings out the best of our heroine. PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND PERILwill please fans of Austen and historical mysteries.