I am thrilled to be hosting a spot
on the MISS AUSTEN INVESTIGATES: THE HAPLESS MILLINER by Jessica Bull Blog Tour
hosted by Rockstar
Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About The Book:
Author: Jessica Bull
Pub. Date: February 27, 2024
Publisher: Union Square Co.
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 368
Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/THE-HAPLESS-MILLINER
A witty, engaging murder mystery
featuring Jane Austen as an intrepid amateur sleuth—the first in a series.
Jane Austen—sparkling, spirited, and incredibly clever—is suddenly thrust into
a mystery when a milliner’s dead body is found locked inside a cupboard in the
middle of a ball. When Jane’s brother Georgy is found with some jewelry
belonging to the deceased, the local officials see it as an open-and-shut case:
one which is likely to end with his death. Jane is certain that he is innocent,
and there is more to the murder than meets the eye. Her investigations send her
on a journey through local society, as Jane’s suspect list keeps on growing—
and her keen observational skills of people will be put to the test to solve
the crime and save her brother.
Featuring the same lively wit, insightful social commentary, and relatable
characters that have made Jane Austen books into perennial classics, this first
entry in the Miss Austen Investigates series is perfect for anyone who
enjoyed The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl or other historical
mystery books based on real people, as well as fans looking to add to their
Jane Austen collection.
Interview
For the readers: can you tell us a little bit about your book and the characters?
My debut novel, Miss Austen Investigates: The Hapless Milliner, is a tribute to the life and work of Jane Austen in the form of a murder mystery. It begins with 33nineteen-year-old Jane enjoying a flirtation with a handsome gentleman at a glittering ball. Unfortunately, their romance is cut short when a milliner is found bludgeoned to death. Jane wants to solve the crime as she knew and respected the milliner, but the case turns personal after her gentle brother, Georgy, is accused. Now she has only seven weeks to find the true culprit, or Georgy will be hanged for a crime she knows he could never commit.
What are you working on now?
I’m editing The Foreign Princess,
which is the second book in the Miss Austen Investigates series. In the
summer of 1797, Jane travels to Kent to look after her brother Neddy’s children
and further her writing. Once arrived, she realizes her time would be better
spent uncovering the true identity of a mysterious young woman claiming to be a
foreign princess, kidnapped by pirates and held for ransom, before the
interloper can swindle Neddy’s adoptive mother out of her fortune and steal the
much-anticipated inheritance all the Austens rely on.
Were any of the characters in The
Hapless Milliner inspired by people from your real life?
Nearly all the characters are based on
the real people in Austen’s life, rather than my own, and I have pieced
together their lively personalities from surviving accounts and letters. But I
must admit, whenever I was trying to come up with one of Mrs. Austen’s
withering rebukes to her daughter, I would ask myself what my own mum might say!
Who was your favorite character to
write? What about your least favorite?
My favorite was Jane: this series is
really an excuse for me to spend as much time with, and take my readers as
close to, my hero as possible. Mary was a surprise favorite. Austen and Mary
Lloyd’s real-life relationship was complicated, as they were genuinely close but,
after Mary married Austen’s eldest brother, James, their friendship became
strained.
Despite this, when Austen was dying, it
was Mary who Austen’s sister, Cassandra, turned to for help nursing her through
her final illness. Cassandra knew she could trust Mary to care for Austen as no
other would. I really wanted to convey this sense of a loyal friendship that
could endure through the years, despite many differences of opinion and character.
I found it difficult to write about
the actual murder, as I’m quite squeamish and very emotional. It was important
for me to show Madame Renault was more than just ‘a victim’: I wanted her to be
a character in her own right, whose life had been unfairly snatched away.
What is your favorite passage/scene in
your book?
I took great delight in making all the
things Austen did in real life integral to solving the mystery. In particular,
there’s a ball scene at the center of the novel where Jane must dance with as
many gentlemen as possible in order to further her investigation. It was enormous
fun to imagine what such an occasion might have been like and to let Jane enjoy
her flirtation with Tom Lefroy, even if it was only for a very brief moment. It
was also exciting passage to write as all of the characters have their own
motives for behaving suspiciously, and these are just about to explode into the
narrative.
What kind of research did you have to
do for the story?
I’m a huge Jane Austen fan and I spent
years reading her work and researching her life before I even thought of writing
about her. As I got closer to planning the novel, I set myself the challenge of
understanding what it was like to physically inhabit Austen’s world, so I could
make my portrayal as immersive as possible. I kept my own flock of hens, learnt
to dance in the Georgian style, and I made and wore my own Regency-inspired gowns.
I also attempted to learn how to ride
a horse - something which I later realized is very difficult as an adult. It
did not go well, as you might be able to glean from Jane’s attitude to riding
horseback in the story!
Lightning Round
Questions
What are you
reading right now?
Sarah Marsh’s A
Sign Of Her Own (Park Row Books, June 2024) - an incredibly moving and
fascinating story of a young deaf woman’s struggle to find acceptance.
Favorite social
media site?
Instagram – I can
spend hours watching reels of people recreating historical costumes.
Favorite
Superhero or Villain?
Can I choose an
Austen Villain? If so Lady Catherine de Bourgh is an absolute legend.
Favorite TV show?
Hulu’s The
Great, which starred Elle Fanning as Catherine the Great of Russia. I
especially love its tagline ‘an occasionally true story’, which could apply
equally to Miss Austen Investigates.
Sweet or Salty?
Both – but I’m a
chocoholic.
Any Phobias?
I used to be very
afraid of big dogs, but I have my own little pooch now (Toby, a Jack Russel X
Toy Poodle) and I’m working very hard to conquer this fear.
Song you can’t
get enough of right now?
Shake It Out by Florence and
the Machine. I always make a playlist to help set the mood for each of my
writing projects and this is the unofficial theme song for the second Miss
Austen Investigates.
2024 Movie you’re
most looking forward to?
Argylle – because the
idea of a writer getting to inhabit the world she created is irresistible.
Do you play video
games? If so what are some of your favorites?
My husband installed
a retro arcade machine in our lounge, so I’m reliving my youth by playing Street
Fighter with my daughters.
About Jessica Bull:
Jessica
Bull grew up in
southeast London, where she still lives with her husband, two daughters, and
far too many pets. She’s addicted to stories and studied English Literature at
Bristol University, and Information Science at City University, London. She
began work as a librarian (under the false impression she could sit and read
all day), before becoming a communications consultant. Miss Austen
Investigates: The Hapless Milliner is her debut novel.
Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon
Giveaway Details:
1 winner
will receive a finished copy of MISS AUSTEN INVESTIGATES: THE HAPLESS MILLINER,
US Only.
Ends March 5th, midnight EST.
a Rafflecopter giveawayTour Schedule:
Week One:
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2/19/2024 |
Guest Post/IG Post |
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2/20/2024 |
Guest Post/IG Post |
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2/21/2024 |
IG Review |
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2/22/2024 |
Review/IG Post |
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2/23/2024 |
IG Review |
Week Two:
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2/26/2024 |
Review/IG Post |
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2/27/2024 |
IG Review/TikTok Post |
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2/28/2024 |
Review |
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2/29/2024 |
Review/IG Post |
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3/1/2024 |
Review |
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