Review: Murder Most Austen by Tracy Kiely

‘A dedicated Anglophile and Janeite, Elizabeth Parker is hoping the trip to the annual Jane Austen Festival in Bath will distract her from her lack of a job and her uncertain future with her boyfriend, Peter.

On the plane ride to England, she and Aunt Winnie meet Professor Richard Baines, a self-proclaimed expert on all things Austen. His outlandish claims that within each Austen novel there is a sordid secondary story is second only to his odious theory on the true cause of Austen’s death. When Baines is found stabbed to death in his Mr. Darcy costume during the costume ball, it appears that Baines’ theories have finally pushed one Austen fan too far. But Aunt Winnie’s friend becomes the prime suspect, so Aunt Winnie enlists Elizabeth to find the professor’s real killer. With an ex-wife, a scheming daughter-in-law, and a trophy wife, not to mention a festival’s worth of die-hard Austen fans, there are no shortage of suspects.

This fourth in Tracy Kiely’s charming series is pure delight. If Bath is the number-one Mecca for Jane Austen fans, Murder Most Austen is the perfect read for those who love some laughs and quick wit with their mystery.’

So I had thought that my run with this series had come to an end. I thought that this book was going to be predictable and then when I had it figured out, I was totally wrong. I will say that I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the others in the series, but it still was a good read. It was a little predictable at times, and some of the plot “twists” were a little too easily figured out, but I thought I knew the conclusion and the ending was drastically different. So, therefore, I suppose this author did have one more trick left up her sleeve. You would think that a book about a Jane Austen festival and a murder would make this reader clap for joy, but for some reason, I didn’t really enjoy the characters being in this setting. I am so weird.

I think that I prefer Elizabeth Parker to be a devoted Jane Austen fan, but in the real world and not at a Jane Austen festival. I think that it was a little too much over the top. I really enjoyed the books in this series where Elizabeth is in the real world and is a normal twenty-something and just seems to have knack for solving murders while spouting Jane Austen literature quotes. I get what the author was trying to get at, but it was a little too much for me to really enjoy. Now, don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed this book, it just wasn’t my favorite in the series. I would probably have to say it was my least favorite in regards to setting and murder mystery.

Now the ending, made my heart sing with joy. I loved the ending and I am begging (on my hands and knees) for this author to continue this character’s story. Elizabeth Parker is a sassy and witty character that I think I won’t forget. She reminds me so much of myself, that I feel like I’ve lost a family member or something now that I don’t have any more books to read. While trolling the internet, as I do when boredom strikes sometimes, I noticed that this series is hit or miss with readers. Either you love it or you don’t. This reader loves this series and hopes and prays for more to come. I highly encourage cozy mystery lovers who love intelligent and humorous sleuths to discover this series for yourself. (PS: It’s on sale at Amazon, so if you’re interested snag it for yourself before the price increases again.)