Published By: Corvus
Pages: 416
Released On: 05/03/2026
‘The very worst sort of companion that Emma could possibly have. She knows nothing herself… Her ignorance is hourly flattery’ Mr Knightley, Emma
But Harriet Smith – wallflower and amateur sleuth – has conned them all
Mrs Churchill is convinced someone is trying to kill her. As if she didn’t have enough to vex her, she fears that lowly Jane Fairfax has won the heart of her nephew, Frank.
She hires Emma Woodhouse’s secretly devious companion Harriet Smith to break up the relationship and uncover who wants her dead.
Harriet’s list of suspects soon grows – Frank Churchill, Jane Fairfax, Mrs Elton and Wakefield the butler all have means, motive and opportunity.
Will Harriet prevent the worst from happening? And will she avoid falling for the charming Frank Churchill herself?
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Corvus for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I met Lucy at the Harrogate Crime Festival 2025 whilst we were in the queue to meet Leodora Darlington (author of The Exes – which is brilliant). Lucy was a beautiful person, so warm and friendly, and I instantly put her book on my list and was thrilled to be sent a digital ARC. And it’s set in the world of Jane Austen so what could be better?
Jane Fairfax is from Emma, which, whilst I own a copy, it is not an Austen book I’ve actually read, and so I came into this not really knowing what to expect.
You can practically see Lucy’s love for Jane Austen oozing off the page. You can do research, sure, but passion can improve a story far more than research alone can.
It’s a 2026 book but it could pass as much older. She’s got the pacing of the sentences right, the form of chapters. She’s gone into so much detail – as classic novels tend to do – that you can practically step into this world.
I admit, there’s a lot going on. I did wonder if it was too much but overall I think it’s okay. You’ve got the “vexing murder” storyline, but there’s also romance, revenge, and scandals to keep you on your toes.
I think she’s got the tone right. To try and write a story based in the world of one of the most loved authors was always going to be a tall order, but she’s smashed it. It feels familiar, like we’ve gone to meet an old friend, but Lucy hasn’t tried to be Jane Austen, you can clearly still hear her own voice.
I liked reading about Harriet. She’s a strong, independent woman during a time where women were not encouraged to be so. She’s so well written. And I thoroughly enjoyed the scenes where someone underestimates her, just to be proven otherwise. She is the star of the book, so natural and familiar and likeable.
Did I want more of the “vexing murder”? Yes I did. Well, no. It’s not that I wanted more, it’s that I wanted it earlier. What there is brilliant, don’t get me wrong, I’d just have liked a bit more focus on that part earlier in the story, but that’s a personal thing.
I did find it a little difficult to keep up with all the characters, but that’s definitely a me thin rather than something wrong with the book, as I am terrible with names and faces and people.
I read it in a day, I just couldn’t put it down. It got more exciting as it went along and I didn’t see the ending coming at all. Overall the story, characters, themes, pacing, writing style, language, historical elements…everything is so enjoyable.
I am hoping this is the beginning of a series. It finishes well if it is just a standalone, but I do want more.
For a debut it was very promising indeed, and Lucy will definitely be a name I look out for, and when she’s this rich and famous novelist I can say “I know her”.
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