Jane and the Year Without a Summer is the 14th installment in Stephanie Barron's (Jane and the Canterbury Tale) fascinating, impeccably researched series.
Jane Austen and her sister, Cassandra, are traveling to Cheltenham Spa to take the waters. They expect to spend a quiet two weeks enjoying a change of scenery and society but, as luck would have it, their guest house is teeming with eccentric boarders. The weather is dreary due to the global impact of a volcanic eruption in the South Pacific. With frequent downpours of rain, Jane and Cassandra find themselves spending many hours in the company of their fellow guests. Despite their misgivings, they are drawn into others' personal drama, particularly those of a chair-bound lady and her companion.
When a spoiled pup belonging to an especially annoying guest dies abruptly, however, Jane suspects misadventure by poison. But why would someone kill a beloved pet? Then, a masquerade ball ends in a terrifying fire, and Jane and her friends barely escape in time. Their shock heightens when a body is found in the rubble and the victim is revealed to be closely connected to a guesthouse boarder. While all clues seem to point directly to one suspect, Jane has her doubts. She's been considering all available information and shrewdly reaches her own conclusions. Exposing the real killer, however, may endanger her own life.
The world of Regency England comes alive through the vivid historical detail underpinning this intriguing novel, while Jane and the secondary characters are both engaging and authentic. Whether first-timers or serious followers of Jane Austen, readers will thoroughly enjoy this take on the legendary author's life and sleuthing skills. --Lois Faye Dyer, writer and reviewer