Jane Austen Investigates: The Burglar's Ball (Jane Austen Investigates)

by Julia Golding

'A real treat for bookworms.'- Lucy Strange, children's author of The Ghost of Gosswater

Join young, budding detective Jane Austen in her second investigation to uncover a devious diamond thief at the glitziest, most scandalous ball of the year! Inspired by Sense and Sensibility.

When the headmistress invites her past favourite pupil to attend their end of term ball, Cassandra brings her younger sister, Jane, along too. Cassandra plunges into the feverish excitement of preparing for the biggest event of the year - the dresses, the dances and the boys expected from the neighbouring school.

Feeling rather excluded, sharp-witted Jane unearths the reason for the fuss - the headteacher wants to impress a rich family returned from India as the school is at risk of going bankrupt. Jane also befriends the dancing master's assistant, a former slave, called Brandon, who is as quick to notice things as she. At the ball, a diamond necklace is stolen from a locked room and they are propelled into a race to uncover the burglar and save Brandon from gaol.

With the ever-present Austen spirit, Jane with notebook in hand, boldly overcomes the obstacles to finding the truth.

• ISBN10: 1782643451
• ISBN13: 9781782643456
• Publish Date: 22 October 2021 (first published 23 April 2021)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Lion Hudson Ltd
• Imprint: Lion Fiction
• Edition: New edition
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 176
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The Burglar's Ball is the second Jane Austen Investigation by Julia Golding. Released 22nd Oct 2021 by Lion Hudson, it's 176 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats.

This is such a fun homage with the revered author herself as a young girl in the role of amateur sleuth. It's an engaging and well written story. Aimed at older middle grade readers, it's easy to read and action filled. The East India Company figures to a significant degree and the author handles Jane's awakening to the less savory realities of colonialism sensitively but realistically. The themes of racism, exploitation, slavery, and animal abuse are discussed in an age appropriate manner.

The characterizations are precise and believable, and the settings descriptions and general prose very well wrought. The dialogue is somewhat (but not overly) reminiscent of the speech patterns of the time which adds verisimilitude without being overly intrusive.

Graphically it's appealing with easy to read typeset text and enhanced by line drawn chapter headings and inserted illustrations throughout.

Four stars. It's a delightful addition to the series and would make a good selection for school or public library acquisition. There's a third book due out in late 2022.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.