Jane And The Wandering Eye (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
In 1804, Jane Austen is resigned to a lackluster Christmas season in Bath with her family, until she receives a commission from Lord Harold Trowbridge. The Gentleman Rogue and Jane’s friend and ally through two recent criminal investigations, Lord Harold requests Jane bring her considerable powers of observation to bear on the activities of his niece, Lady Desdemona. Having fled from the unwanted attentions of an ardent suitor, Desdemona takes up residence with her grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Wilborough. Jane’s first opportunity to observe Lord Harold’s family is at a masquerade party the Dowager holds in honor of the Theatre Royal. But the festive atmosphere is disrupted when a tragedy worthy of Shakespeare unfolds before the horrified audience. The theatre group’s manager is found stabbed to death, with Desdemona’s brother, the Marquis of Kinsfell, standing over the body. With murder most foul casting its dark shadow over the Trowbridge family, Lord Harold descends upon Bath to solicit Jane’s help in clearing his nephew’s name. Time is running out for the Marquis, and with a miniature portrait of a stormy grey eye as their only clue, Lord Harold and Jane must work furiously together to unravel truth from fiction before one of them becomes the murderer’s next target.Jane and the Wandering Eye is the third of Stephanie Barron’s mysteries featuring the famous author as amateur sleuth, and while it seems clichéd to say it, each adventure seems better than its predecessor. Once again, one of the most fascinating aspects of this series is the way in which Barron grounds her plots in the known facts of Austen’s life. Jane’s aversion to Bath is well-documented, and she made good use of her time there and penchant for lampooning ridiculous excess as the city is prominently featured in both Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. Therefore it is not too much of a stretch to thrust Jane into the tangles of an investigation involving the highest echelons of Bath society and arts and entertainment that made the city a social hotspot in its heyday. Barron delves deeply into the theatrical and artistic world of Jane’s time, populating her mystery with fascinating real-life characters like renowned miniaturist Sir Richard Cosway and painter Thomas Lawrence, the latter’s romantic entanglements with two of actress Sarah Siddons’ daughters have unexpected ramifications on Jane’s investigation. Barron has a knack for imbuing her novels with rich historical detail, from the cultural mores of Regency society down to detailed descriptions of the clothing, all combining to make Wandering Eye Jane’s most satisfying foray into the realm of detection yet.I’m particularly partial to Barron’s Gentleman Rogue. This brooding, enigmatic spy is the perfect foil to match wits with Jane’s legendary wit, and this third volume relies heavily on the development of their relationship which is a joy to savor and watch unfold on the page. Since of course Austen never married, Barron has set herself quite the challenge in placing men in Jane’s life that could pique her interest, worthy of her intelligence and quick mind. Lord Harold, with his considerable political and social clout rises to the occasion on all points, and to have an entire novel that so prominently features the delicious push-and-pull of his interactions with the incomparable Jane is a rare treat indeed. I also loved the renewed focus Barron places on Austen’s family life. One cannot help but see some humorous similarities between the Reverend and Mrs. Austen and the fictional Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, and their familial interest in the reputation and future of their unmarried daughters. Wandering Eye is smartly plotted and liberally littered with plausible red herrings, resulting in the strongest Austen mystery yet in the series. Capped with a voice that is undeniably Austen-esque in its tone and humor, Barron’s third Jane mystery is a thoroughly absorbing read for Austen aficionados and an informative glimpse into a glittering, forgotten world.
Terza indagine di Jane Austen.Dicembre 1804. Jane è a Bath, annoiata dalla cittadina, quando il suo vecchio amico Lord Harold le chiede un favore: diventare amica di sua nipote, Lady Desdemona, arrivata da Londra per sfuggire a un corteggiatore respinto. Così Jane viene invitata a una festa in maschera, ma un Arlecchino viene assassinato, e viene arrestato il nipote di Lord Harold. Jane non può che aiutare l'amico, anche se la sua famiglia disapprova l'amicizia tra i due...Sempre appassionante. E anche se so che Jane Austen morirà zitella, mi piacerebbe tanto che almeno in questa saga potesse vivere un amore ricambiato e felice!!!* Forse era un bene che la prematura morte del suo amato l'avesse lasciata a struggersi nella solitudine del nubilato, giacché le vicissitudini del matrimonio con la più fragile delle creature, ovvero un uomo, l'avrebbero di certo condotta alla morte.* Il timore di un pettegolezzo ozioso o di una maldicenza ha rovinato più esistenze e ha spezzato più spiriti, di quante vite siano state stroncate sui campi di battaglia di Napoleone.* "Grimaldelli, mia cara Miss Austen", aggiunse, esultante. "Non bisognerebbe mai viaggiare senza esserne sprovvisti. Invariabilmente si presentano occasioni in cui questi strumenti si rivelano preziosi come oro."* "Non possiedo quel tipo di carattere ozioso che ricava piacere dalla dissipazione", risposi. "Desidero agire e forse ho sopportato troppo a lungo i piaceri di Bath. Comincio a sospettare che persino il paradiso diventerà disprezzabile nel corso dell'eternità."* Il male autentico è abbastanza raro a questo mondo, mia cara Jane, ma quando lo s'incontra sotto l'aspetto di una donna giovane e bella, provoca un profondo disincanto.* Beffarsi di chi è incapace di replicare parrebbe meschino, tuttavia devo constatare che siete riuscito a farlo proprio riconoscendo che è ingiusto.* "È spaventosa presunzione contribuire a giudicare il prossimo. È come giocare un poco a essere Dio e, sebbene io sia stato molto spesso accusato di questo, in passato, soltanto adesso lo riconosco." "Quando giustizia sarà fatta, potrete dormire in pace."
What do You think about Jane And The Wandering Eye (2009)?
Amazingly enough, this novel, being the third in the series, is just as interesting and compelling as the second. (I still have not read the first in the series.) The books do not build one upon the other, so it is easy to read them out of order. You may find out who is guilty and who is innocent if you read a later book first, but the best part of these novels is the journey of reading them -- not the end where the mystery is solved. I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves period mysteries, as well as anyone who loves Jane Austen.
—Karyl
Jane and the Wandering Eye is the third in Stephanie Barron's Jane Austen Mystery series. As the book opens, Jane, her brother Henry and sister Eliza are off to a costume party in honor of the resident theater troupe. As faithful readers have come to expect, mayhem seems to follow Jane and, before the night is through, the theater's manager has been stabbed. It's up to Jane, with the help of Lord Harold Trowbridge (the Gentleman Rogue himself!) to solve the mystery and set Lord Harold's nephew free.At one point, Jane talks of walking a labyrinth with Lord Harold as they discuss the particulars of the scandal. I smiled to myself as I read that, feeling very much like navigating the Bath society and suspect list felt like a labyrinth in itself! However, we readers do get a treat when Jane's friend Madame Lefroy turns up at the same rout she herself was attending. Sadly, the timing of this book is right about the time of Madame Lefroy's death -- was her death somehow connected to the murder at Laura Place?I've always been curious about the life of Jane Austen (I need some good recommendations of books about her life, please), in particular her connection to Tom Lefroy. Jane makes mention of her love affair with him in The Wandering Eye which piqued my interest much more. One thing I loved about this book, was how much time we spend with Lord Harold. I love the pairing of he and Jane, even though I know it will never work out. It's the embodiment of regency romance, indeed.I may take a short break from the series to catch up on a few contemporary novels, but I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
—Jenna
Lord Harold Trowbridge, the Gentleman Rogue, has asked his friend Jane Austen to keep an eye on his neice the lady Desdamona who has travelled to Bath in order to get away from a suitor. At a ball she attends, Jane is witness to the murder of the theater Royal manager and Desdamona's brother is arrested for the crime. Jane knows the young man is innocent and looks into the crime in her own way. I like this series. this is the third and I skipped over it and read the fourth first but it is not essential to read these in order. Very good plot, descriptions and characters.
—Ann
