Jane and the Ghosts of Netley

By: Stephanie Barron

Narrated by: Kate Reading

In her seventh captivating adventure, Jane Austen finds her crime-solving mettle put to the test in a confounding case of intrigue, murder, and high treason. Among the haunted ruins of an ancient abbey, Jane is drawn into a shadow world of dangerous secrets and traitorous hearts where not only her life is at stake - but the fate of England.

Jane and the Ghosts of Netley

As Jane Austen stands before the abandoned ruins of Netley Abbey, she imagines that ghosts really do haunt the centuries-old monastery. But the green-cloaked figure who startles her is all too human and he bears an unexpected missive from Lord Harold Trowbridge, one of the British government’s most trusted advisers - and a man who holds a high place in Jane’s life.

Trowbridge tells Jane about a suspected traitor in their midst - and the disastrous consequences if she succeeds. But is Sophia Challoner, a beautiful widow with rumored ties to Emperor Bonaparte, really an agent of the enemy? Dispatched to Netley Lodge, Jane sets about gaining the confidence of the mysterious and intriguing lady even as Trowbridge’s grim prediction bears fruit: a British frigate is set afire and its shipwright found with his throat cut.

It’s clear that someone is waging a clandestine war of terror and murder. But before Jane can follow the trail of conspiracy to its source and unmask a calculating killer, the cold hand of murder will fall mercilessly yet again - and suddenly Jane may find herself dying for her country.

Elegantly intriguing, Jane and the Ghosts of Netley is a beautifully crafted novel of wit, character, and suspense that transports Jane and her many fans into a mystery of truly historical proportions - and a case that will test the amateur sleuth’s true colors under fire.

©2003 Stephanie Barron (P)2003 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Wonderful!" (Entertainment Weekly)

"First-rate...Barron writes a lively adventure that puts warm flesh on historical bones. The nice thing is she does so in a literary style that would not put Jane Austen's nose out of joint." (The New York Times Book Review)

Quite enjoyable.

This series by Stephanie Barron has a little of everything for Jane Austen fans: historical fiction, mystery and fluid prose. Kate Reading is a great narrator for this series.

Slow in Parts but an Interesting listen

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I listened while cleaning and it made the job less tedious so it served it's purpose. This book was not as enthralling as other books, but it did entertain.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It was predictable.

What three words best describe Kate Reading’s voice?

Perfect fit overall

Was Jane and the Ghosts of Netley worth the listening time?

Yes, for the purpose I was listening. I don't know if it would be the same if I listened to it while driving. It was sleepy in parts.

An echo of Austen

The book is written in Jane Austen's style, and the author has a wonderful ear for Austen's voice. Those, like me, who can practically chant from Austen's works, may find the author's periodic "lifting" of Austen's own phrases and words a bit jarring. It's strange to hear the phrases out of context, when they are so familiar in their original novels. However, the plot is engaging, and the main character well developed. That Kate Reading, a frequent narrator of Austen's own works, is the narrator of this work is an extra treat. Her voice gives the work the perfect Austenization!

very good

I very much enjoyed this book. I like all the notes about Jane austen's time of life. ending was totally unexpected

Love this series of books!

The Jane Austen Mysteries by Stephanie Barron is definitely one of my favorite series. She does such a great job making Jane Austen witty and interesting. I love the way she takes real facts from Jane Austen's life and weaving them into these stories. I absolutely love Jane's relationship with the Rogue Gentleman! This and all of the series are worth the read!!!

Jane's great love deserves better showcase

This effort was disappointing, frustrating, and more focused on the concerns of secondary characters than on Jane. For this particular story of our heroine's life, I would have loved to spend more time examining the relationship between Jane and Lord H- such was the attention given to her somewhat problematic yet undeniable friendship with Sophia (Sofia?)

The emancipated pre-victorian woman--unchaperoned

Would you listen to Jane and the Ghosts of Netley again? Why?

This was a wonderful listen. I will read another Jane Austen novel, and then I will listen to this

What about Kate Reading’s performance did you like?

She helped the reader understand how much like Mrs. Bennet the Jane's mother was. What an insufferable woman.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There were two parts that made me hold my breath. When the partly completed ship was destroyed--oh my. The second was when her

Perhaps the best story so far

Alas, there is so much that I'd love to say about this story and it's abrupt ending, but I'll just say it was perhaps the best and most bittersweet one.

I had listened to these stories off and on for years, but when I heard this one, I decided that I needed to start again at the beginning. In many ways, all the previous stories, lead up to this one, and in order to properly appreciate it, I felt I needed to listen to them in sequence and as continuously as possible.

I don't think I have heard the next one yet. It will be uncharted waters.

One complaint I have is the division of the chapters in Audible version along what appear to be the tapes were divided. I really wish that Audible would lay these chapters end to end again, and then divide them at where the author divided them. There are several of the stories that aren't on Audible yet, although I see that they are coming in September.

Audible, it's not too late to correct these productions.

But my biggest complaint is that at some point Kate Reading says a line, pauses, and then says the line again! I vaguely remember this when I listened to the story the first time and I am rather disappointed that Audible didn't edit it out. OMG. who is the copyright holder now? I can't believe that they want this mistake left in the recording.

Audible, hey Audible! Please fix this!

Wow

Not what I had expected . Powerful ending. Seemed believable for a war torn nation. Great story.

Devastated

I love this series so much—the narration, the writing, the characters—but I am grieving. Grieving! It's gonna take time to recover from this one. I won't give anything away except this one really hurt my heart.