It is the fall of 1808 and Jane Austen and her family are in mourning after the sudden death of Elizabeth “Lizzy” Austen, the elegant and enchanting thirty-five year old wife of Jane’s elder brother Edward and mother of eleven children. To entertain the two eldest boys while they stay with her in Southampton, Jane takes them rowing up the Solent to the ruins of Netley Abbey, a Cistercian monastery long abandoned and now a picturesque ruin worthy of a Radcliffe Gothic novel, resplendent with tales of ghosts haunting its halls. Startled by a dark figure lurking in the shadows, Jane is called to immediately attend her friend aboard a Royal Naval vessel anchored nearby. It is an unusual request, but she cannot refuse any summons by the Gentleman Rogue. Yes, Gentle Readers. Lord Harold Trowbridge has re-appeared after two years without any communication with our dear Jane.Her heart is aflutter and her keen mind piqued when he requests her assistance to spy upon a local lady of interest; the beautiful and cunning widow of a French merchant, Sophia Challoner, a Diamond of the First Water who trifled with Lord Trowbridge’s heart, flattering and deceiving him into revealing state secrets to pass along to aid Bonaparte’s cause. Having just returned from Portugal, she now resides at Netley Lodge adjacent to the ruined abbey. Jane’s assignment is to keep “a weathered eye on the activity of that house” and discover how Sophia dispatches her intelligence to France. To aid the investigation, Jane will befriend the dubious and dangerous lady while arson and murders a plenty puzzle the plot, – and Lord Harold and Jane take center stage in the investigation and secretly in each others hearts.The seventh mystery in the series, Barron really hits her stride with more fluid language from Jane’s perspective, the intricate historical details of the Peninsular War against France, and the political intrigue that fuels spies and generates murder. Having so much dialogue devoted to Lord Harold and Jane is a delight, but readers will be disarmed by the concluding pages and dispatched into a crying jag that could take a week to recover from. This is a three hankie weepie that will startle and sear your soul. Great writing makes it all compelling and tragic. *sigh* Seven is definitely not a lucky number for Jane and the Gentleman Rogue. I loved every word, and hated the ending all the same. *sniff*Laurel Ann, Austenprose
I started with Jane and the Madness of Lord Byron and haven't really been reading the books in any kind of order since, so the shocking ending of this one did not, of course, shock me at all. Although the story represents an important chapter in the life of Jane Austen as re-imagined by Stephanie Barron, sadly, the story itself lacks substance. There is less mystery to this one--despite the high body count--and more action/espionage thriller. It strains my willing suspension of disbelief a little to picture Jane Austen creeping along a secret tunnel at night alone with a man. In fact, a lot of things Jane did in this book strained by willing suspension of disbelief. Although Jane and Lord Harold joke about her being "ruined" by him...yeah, she had been, pretty much. Why is Jane's mom the only one who has a problem with this? Aside from the Shocking Twist, the ending falls flat. Although the JA mysteries typically do rush to a conclusion, here the whodunnit is solved entirely by stumbling across the murderer. The reader may figure it out, but Jane Austen and Lord Harold do not. Many loose ends are left dangling--most of which are not picked up in the following book, Jane and His Lordship's Legacy.
Do You like book Jane And The Ghosts Of Netley (2003)?
This 7th installment finds Jane still living in Southhampton living with her mother, sister and friend while waiting for Mrs. Austen to decide whether to move to one of Edward's holdings in Kent or Hampshire. Jane's curiosity is awakened by the arrival of someone at Netley Abbey. Rumor has it that the Abbey is haunted by ghosts of the monks who used to live there. Jane doesn't quite believe it but it's fun to imagine just the same. She is surprised by a visit from The Gentleman Rogue himself. Lord Harold wants Jane to spy on the beautiful but dangerous widow Sophia Challoner who resides at the Abbey. Lord Harold believes that Mrs. Challoner, whom he had known intimately in Portugal, is a French spy. An unlucky accident brings Jane right into Mrs. Challoner's home and her confidence. The widow has nothing good to say about Lord Harold and Jane begins to question whose opinion is correct. The arrival of a stranger from Baltimore arouses Jane's suspicion but she becomes confused again when Maria Fitzherbert, a cast off royal mistress, joins the house party. While Jane socializes with Mrs. Challoner and friends, she dreams of living the life of a tonnish lady by Lord Harold's side. Another mysterious stranger arrives at the Abbey and Mrs. Challoner's maid accuses her employer of witchcraft. With the help of His Lordship's valet, Jane attempts a more in-depth investigation involving hysterical maids, secret tunnels and a stranger called Mon Singeur. Just as Jane thinks she has it all worked out, something goes horribly wrong and one dear to her becomes the victim. This is not the best mystery of the series.It's not too difficult to figure out who Mon Singeur is and what the connection between Mrs. Challoner's houseguests is. I also suspected the villain and I think that Lord Harold was stupid and should have figured it out. This story is darker and more sad than some of the others. Jane spends almost the whole book mooning over Lord Harold and I find it quite out of character for her.
—QNPoohBear
Settima indagine di Jane Austen.Southampton, 1808. Jane, rattristata dalla morte della cognata Elizabeth, cerca di tenere occupati i due nipoti maggiori visitando le rovine di un'antica abbazia. Viene avvicinata da un uomo misterioso, che le consegna una lettera di Lord Harold. Durante l'incontro il Furfante Gentiluomo chiede a Jane di aiutarlo a smascherare Sophia Challoner, bellissima vedova e probabile spia dei francesi. Jane è divisa tra il rispetto per una donna così diversa da lei, ma che
—Hermioneginny
It's ironic. I was so relieved when "Jane and the Prisoner of Wool House" didn't have Lord Harold in it, because I found him a distracting, un-believable plot device. But, now that he's dead, I'm a little annoyed. I'd finally reconciled myself to him, and there he goes, topped off by his valet. (Proud of myself for doubting Orlando, though.) Too much!
—Rachel
