A Fortune Most Fatal – Jessica Bull

Published By: Michael Joseph
Pages: 368
Released On: 27/03/2025

“Who are you, Miss Austen, but a young lady of little experience and no consequence?”

Welcome to Kent, 1797. Following many years apart, Jane Austen is set to spend the summer with her estranged brother, Neddy. As heir to wealthy widow Mrs Knight’s fortune, it is imperative that Neddy stays in his benefactor’s good graces. The financial security of Jane’s entire family depend on him.

But upon arrival at Godmersham Park, Jane quickly realises Neddy is in dire need of her help. For a mysterious young woman currently resides with Mrs Knight – a stranger who threatens to swindle the inheritance for herself.

Jane must uncover who this imposter is, to protect the fortunes – and fate – of her family. But when her investigation takes a dark and dangerous turn, can she solve the mystery – and save herself?

*****

Thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

I absolutely adored Jessica’s previous book, Miss Austen Investigates, and have been looking forward to the sequel ever since and so I am thrilled to receive an early digital copy. It got bumped right up to the top of my list.

I love how Jessica seamlessly blends fact with fiction. You can identify Jane Austen as what she was, but there’s a spark that comes with making her this wonderful sleuth.

You can tell Jessica is passionate about Jane Austen. Only so much can come from research and books; the rest you have to feel.

It’s different than the first one. Whilst the first one deals with murder, this one deals with inheritance and shady characters. It’s no less a wonderful story, and whilst it still has the elements I enjoyed frrom the first book, by changing the key plot point adds more excitement. It stops it being repetitive. I will admit I preferred the whodunnit aspect of the first book more, but that’s because I’m a fan of murder (reading, not doing) but that’s a tiny point, because I still loved what was in this book.

We’ve got some old characters and some new, giving it an air of familiarity but also keeping it fresh and exciting. Jane is more assured of herself in this book. She knows what she’s capable of and won’t take any prisoners. It just seems so natural that Jane would be doing these kind of things in reality.

I love reading books where women go above the social position they are expected to be. This is set in the 1700s, where women were meant to be subservient and do what they’re told and not interfere and get married and have a family. And here we have a young lady, unmarried, wants to be a writer, and who wants to be right in the middle of the action.

I had just devoured a really long heavy fantasy book and so I was concerned my brain wouldn’t be able to get into this as quickly but I read it in a day. And it was a day where I was feeling quite low, was in a low of paint, and so I wasn’t feeling my best, but this really helped lift my spirits.

I won’t quote the sentence in case it doesn’t end up in the final book but just in case Jessica is reading this. At about 20% through, Jane is having a conversation with a clergyman who mentions his views on women and novels and propriety which made me laugh out loud at the absurdity of it all. How I am glad to be a woman in this century, for all the novels I read.

I don’t know how long Jessica plans to make this series but I can see it being long, almost like the Poirot of Miss Marple series. And dare I say it, I can see this being as popular and have as much longevity as Agatha Christie did before her.