Jessica Bull’s Miss Austen Investigates: A Fortune Most Fatal is a clever and engaging historical mystery that reimagines Jane Austen as an amateur sleuth. Set in 1797, this novel follows Jane as she travels to Kent, expecting to care for her brother Neddy’s children and focus on her writing. However, her plans quickly unravel when she encounters a mysterious woman claiming to be a shipwrecked foreign princess—one who seems intent on deceiving Neddy’s adoptive mother out of her fortune. With her family’s financial stability at risk, Jane must use her sharp intellect and keen observational skills to uncover the truth before it’s too late.

Bull crafts a rich and immersive historical setting, seamlessly blending real-life details from Austen’s era with an intriguing mystery. Jane’s wit and intelligence shine throughout the novel, making her a compelling protagonist whose deductive reasoning and determination drive the plot forward. The relationships between Jane, her family, and the supposed princess add layers of tension and intrigue, ensuring that readers remain captivated until the final reveal.

As the second book in the Miss Austen Investigates series, this novel builds upon the foundation set in The Hapless Milliner, further establishing Jane’s role as an insightful investigator. The mystery unfolds at a well-paced rhythm, allowing for both character development and the gradual unraveling of clues. Bull’s writing balances historical authenticity with a lively, engaging tone, making the story accessible to both Austen enthusiasts and fans of historical mysteries.

Miss Austen Investigates: A Fortune Most Fatal is a delightful read that offers an inventive twist on one of literature’s most beloved figures. With its blend of period detail, sharp dialogue, and an intriguing whodunit, this novel is sure to appeal to those who love both Regency-era fiction and detective stories. Jessica Bull continues to impress with this series, and readers will eagerly anticipate Jane’s next case.

If you love historical fiction, mystery, and/or Jane Austen, then you must read this book! I found myself constantly wanting to read the next chapter to see what would happen. Agnes, Neddy, Jane, Elizabeth, Brooks....all the characters took a special place in my heart, and I look forward to the next book. I must say that the identity of the Captain took me by surprise, but I won't reveal that secret.

At 384 pages, this was a longer cozy mystery than I am used to. I often read cozies as a palate cleanser in between heavy books because they are nice and quick reads.

There was a lot of detail in this story. It made the mystery slower paced. Just an observation, it didn't take away my enjoyment of the story. It just made it more of a longer, more unhurried mystery.

As well, this cozy was a bit darker than most cozies. But, it made it absolutely heart-pounding and unputdownable by the end.

It's always interesting to get a glimpse into the lives of women in the past. A good marriage for society ladies, being so important so as the ladies not be a burden on their families. And, any behaviour that would seem to make a lady undesirable is very much frowned upon. Such as, Jane's insistence on sleuthing and trying to figure out the mystery behind the mysterious young women being offered refuge with her brothers adopted mother, potentially supplanting herself as heir to the estate instead of Jane's brother. But also, bringing with her danger to Jane and her family from somebody who wishing to harm the young woman.

And how Jane's brother came to have an adopted mother is a whole other story. What an interesting time in history.

Knowing the little I do about Jane Austen and her life, it does seem like the authour has taken care to incorporate accurate details of Jane into this story. And I definitely see Jane as someone who could have been an amateur sleuther.

A Fortune Most Fatal is the second in the Miss Austen Investigates series. I hadn't read the first and absolutely followed along, so this story can be read as a stand-alone.

As I mentioned, this one is a little darker, so check content warnings. The mystery behind the guest at Mrs. Knights' estate is incredibly sad, infuriating, and very heavy. As well, this book does also tackle mental health in this time period, especially around the impacts of trauma.

If you're a fan of Jane Austen mysteries, you will undoubtedly fall in love with Jessica Bull's delightful cozy mystery series, Miss Austen Investigates. In this highly anticipated second installment, A Fortune Most Fatal, Bull expertly combines fiction with fascinating historical facts, immersing readers into Jane Austen's world with charm and intrigue.

In A Fortune Most Fatal, our beloved Jane Austen finds herself reluctantly journeying to Kent to support her brother Edward ("Neddy") and his wife as they prepare to welcome a new addition to their family. Soon enough, Jane becomes entangled in a curious case involving her brother's adoptive mother, Mrs. Knight, and a suspicious houseguest claiming royal lineage. Inspired by the real-life mystery of Princess Caraboo, this premise sets the stage for a delightful blend of historical mystery, thriller-like tension, and witty Austenesque banter.

Jessica Bull strikes the perfect balance, incorporating well-researched historical insights and authentic Austen family details, enriching the story beautifully. The mystery itself is delightfully layered, filled with clever twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. Although slightly darker in tone compared to its predecessor, The Hapless Milliner, Bull gracefully weaves moments of humor and levity into the narrative, capturing Austen's spirit impeccably.

One of the greatest pleasures of this book is Jane herself. Readers will appreciate watching her growth both as an investigator and as a budding author. With relatable struggles, genuine humor, and a few endearing blunders reminiscent of Austen's iconic heroines, Bull's portrayal of Jane feels vivid and refreshingly human. Fans of Austen’s classics will especially enjoy Jane’s early attempts at drafting Sense and Sensibility, providing insightful glimpses into her creative mind.

What I especially love about Jessica Bull’s writing is her attention to detail and careful consideration of historical accuracy. Her thoughtful Author’s Note at the end clarifies the liberties taken with certain timelines and real-life events. As a bonus, Bull thoughtfully handles sensitive topics from the era, portraying them with remarkable empathy and understanding.

Can you read A Fortune Most Fatal without reading the first book? Absolutely. However, be aware of a few spoilers for The Hapless Milliner. That said, I highly recommend enjoying both mysteries sequentially for maximum enjoyment and to fully appreciate Jane Austen's journey as an investigator.

If you love Jane Austen, historical mysteries, or cozy thrillers with a literary twist, don't miss out on Miss Austen Investigates: A Fortune Most Fatal. Jessica Bull once again delivers an engrossing, witty, and satisfying read. Personally, I can't wait to see what's next for Jane Austen and her adventures!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5/5)

Special thanks to NetGalley and the author for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to Austen Prose and Union Square Co. for the ARC of this book!

4.5 rounded down to 4.

A Fortune Most Fatal is the second book in the Miss Austen Investigates series. I have to say that I'm so happy I was introduced to this series by Austen Prose. They are the most fun cozy mysteries. I've said this before, but I didn't know a whole lot about Jane Austen's life. Of course I know who she is and all about her books, but not much beyond that. While these books are entirely fiction, Jessica Bull does an OUTSTANDING job incorporating actual facts about Jane Austen and her family into these books. I fact checked a lot of information and come to find out, I'm learning quite a bit about her! How much extra umph does that add to a fiction book with a real life literary icon as the main character? To me, it adds so much! Not only was the mystery fun and exciting to try to figure out, but I'm learning a few things along the way! To me, this is just a novel jackpot!

I am a huge fan of mysteries featuring Jane Austen's characters, but I had not yet read a series involving the author herself. Though I found the writing style in 'The Hapless Milliner' entertaining and easier to follow than Jane Austen's own (just my modern-day preference; Austen is, of course, a masterful writer), I was disappointed with how the character of Austen herself was portrayed. It feels strange when authors take creative liberties with a real person in their stories, making decisions that I believe the person would not have been proud of. However, I was already approved for the sequel on NetGalley, so I pressed on to see if these issues had been remedied.

'A Fortune Most Fatal' is harder for me to follow since I chose not to complete the first book. I recommend this to those who aren't concerned about Jane Austen's representation in this fictional work, and who are looking for witty yet serious historical mysteries.

Special thanks to the publisher, Union Square & Co., and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

In the second installment of Jessica Bull's Jane Austen mystery series, Miss Austen Investigates: A Fortune Most Fatal, we meet a more seasoned Jane. She is coming off her "disappointment" with her "Irish fellow." Something she wishes everyone would stop mentioning. She has been sent to Kent to help her brother and sister-in-law before the birth of their next child, a task for which she is comically unsuited. We meet her brother Neddy, who the wealthy Knight family adopted. This introduces Jane to a higher social circle, and with that comes all the trappings of matchmaking and navigating her position in this new social hierarchy.

When Jane arrives, her sister-in-law begs for help persuading Mrs. Knight that her new house guest is not the shipwrecked foreign princess she claims to be. I loved this nod to the real-life mystery of Princess Caraboo. Of course, it's not as simple as just discrediting the princess, and Jane becomes embroiled in a web of danger that threatens more than her brother's inheritance.

The mystery was different in tone than The Hapless Milliner, and one that I connected with more (though I still really enjoyed that book). Instead of a whodunnit, it has more of a thriller vibe. Is cozy thriller a genre? It should be. I enjoyed how it focused on inheritance issues and their cascading effect on the Austen family, especially for Jane herself. Like the first novel, Jane has a vested interest in solving the mystery. In fact, solving it might be the only thing keeping her writing dream alive. She even meets a new co-investigator, whom I very much hope to see again.

I love how we get to see Jane develop both as an investigator and an author. She is more confident in her investigative skills, maybe a little too much at times, which results in many blunders along the way. Does it sound like any Austen heroines you know? I also love that we get to see her struggle to find her voice in an early draft of Sense and Sensibility. It's clear that Jane hasn't come into her own yet, but she is making strides. I hope that in future installments Jane continues to grow in confidence, ability, and most importantly, self-awareness.

Bull does a good job of balancing many dark themes with moments of levity. There were a couple of plot twists I saw coming, but they didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the mystery, and I was so engrossed with Jane's familial drama that I didn't mind.

It can be read as a stand-alone; however, be aware that there are some spoilers for The Hapless Milliner if you read them out of order. I highly recommend A Fortune Most Fatal to all Austen lovers. Even if you don't read mysteries, there are so many Austen tidbits sprinkled throughout to satisfy. I can't wait for more Austen investigations.

4.5/5 stars

CW: death, violence, mental health struggles, childbirth struggles, chronic illness of a child, discussions of past sexual abuse, and human trafficking

I usually enjoy Jane Austen themed books and the writing in this was good but there were so many characters and I got confused and didn’t end up finishing it.

Thank you to Net Galley for proving this ARC for me to offer my honest review.

I thank NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for an advance reader copy of “A Fortune Most Fatal.” All opinions and comments are my own.

Busy fending off the would-be suitors her over-bearing sister-in-law has foisted off on her, Miss Jane Austen once again finds herself involved in a peculiar investigation in “A Fortune Miss Fatal,” Jessica Bull’s latest in the entertaining series. This one has the budding novelist uncovering the secrets of a confused young “squatter” who has attached herself to the very rich Mrs. Catherine Knight, who happens to be her brother’s mother by adoption. The worry is that the girl is out to gain herself part of the rather substantial inheritance. So, in between resisting the threats to her unmarried state and figuring out just what is going on (the “housemate” girl is getting death threats), dear Jane has a heck of a lot to occupy her time. And boy, does she have a lot of it wrong before she gets it all right.

What starts out as a supposed simple tale of fraud and deception is eventually uncovered by Jane’s determined efforts, with the help of a “younger son” who is quite the helpful fellow, to be a doozy of a story. And included is a look at a person who, through no fault of her own, is the key to everything, in more ways than one. Author Jessica Bull has Jane handling the plot’s big twist with great empathy, at a time when such a “disease” would have inspired horror and revulsion.

The Author’s Note details the artistic license taken with timelines, the real people used throughout “A Fortune Most Fatal,” including the helpful Mr. Brook Edward Bridges, and the medical issue described in the book. Jessica Bull gives readers a story that will satisfy readers who enjoy the Austen oeuvre and a plot that offers up twists and turns that keep you guessing until the end.

I got the ARC for A Fortune Most Fatal, book 2 in the Miss Austen Investigates series, and it is so good.

A young Jane Austen seeks to smooth out a delicate situation between family members and uncovers a crime.

I think Austen herself would have liked this series.

"A witty, engaging murder mystery featuring Jane Austen as an intrepid sleuth - the second installment in the Miss Austen Investigates series.

1797: A broken-hearted Jane Austen travels to Kent to look after her brother Neddy's children and further her writing. She soon realizes it's imperative she uncovers the true identity of a mysterious young woman claiming to be a shipwrecked foreign princess before the interloper can swindle Neddy's adoptive mother out of her fortune and steal the much-anticipated inheritance all the Austens rely on."

So, I guess we've sticking with this cover design. I thought it was cute on the first, now it's just too repetitive.

This is the second book in a series that apparently has to be read in order. I didn’t realize that when I requested the the book. The opening doesn’t make any sense to me, since I haven’t read the first book. I’m also not a huge fan of the writing style or the neurotic portrayal of Jane Austen. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Miss Austen Investigates: A Fortune Most Fatal
by Jessica Bull
Pub Date: Mar 25 2025

1797: A broken-hearted Jane Austen travels to Kent to look after her brother Neddy’s children and further her writing. She soon realizes it’s imperative she uncovers the true identity of a mysterious young woman claiming to be a shipwrecked foreign princess before the interloper can swindle Neddy’s adoptive mother out of her fortune and steal the much-anticipated inheritance all the Austens rely on.

Miss Austen Investigates: A Fortune Most Fatal is a wonderful follow up to Jessica Bull's first Miss Austen Investigates: The Hapless Milliner. Jessica Bull keeps the action going throughout the whole novel, while showing that she has extensive knowledge of Jane Austen and her family, without it being pedantic. Jessica Bull's Jane Austen is very much what one would expect of a spirited teenager with a keen mind. This Jane isn't perfect either, which is also relatable. While The Hapless Milliner involved Austen's relationship with her favorite brother, Henry (understandable), A Fortune Most Fatal focuses more on Austen's relationship with her brother Edward (Neddy) who was adopted by the wealthy Knights and became their her.
This novel is a must read for any Austen fan, casual or not.

A Fortune Most Fatal brings together two of my favorites- Jane Austen and historical mystery. In this second installment in the mystery series it was fun to see Jane in the process of finishing Sense and Sensibility. I also loved the subtle nods to Austen’s characters seen in the dialogue and actions of the characters in this book.

The mystery took a dark turn that I wasn’t expecting and there are some disturbing and sad elements to the story.

Overall, if you love Jane Austen and enjoy mysteries this is a series to check out. Thank you to the publisher and Austenprose for a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Good to Know:
A few instances of profanity and God’s name in vain, a character speculates that another character is possessed by a demon, references to prostitution and child abuse, and a character has a serious mental health condition.

what a delight! I love the mix of fact and fiction, it makes you feel like you're part of the Austen family. Fun and clever writing, a great mystery and investigation story.

This was a strong sequel in the Miss Austen Investigates series, it had that element that I enjoyed from the first book. The characters were everything that worked in this universe and was engaged with what was going on and enjoyed the mystery of this and how it uses the historical element. Jessica Bull has a strong writing style and was glad I was able to read this.

I received a free copy of, Miss Austen Investigates: A Fortune Most Fatal, by Jessica Bull, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Jane Austen is visiting her brother Neddy, who has secrets of his own. Can Jane help her brother or will she end up hurting him? This was a real good read.

Sharp and witty, this murder mystery is perfect for Jane Austen fans who want to try something new. It’s very well researched and incredible work down for characterization and setting. The mystery is intriguing and satisfying. Thanks to @austenprose for the advance copy!

An absolutely glorious novel. Sensitively written and bursting with Jane's personality and precociousness. A joy to read, and although it was totally different to book one in the series, it's the perfect sequel. I'm already desperate for book three.
I loved the exploration of class and Jane's place within society. Mr Bridges was a particular hero and a worthy heart throb. Gorgeous to spend time with Neddy and Elizabeth too.