Jane Austen Investigates series: The Burglar's Ball by Julia Golding

This is the second book in the Jane Austen Investigates, a delightful series aimed for readers 9+.  Having enjoyed the first book with its witty oneliners and the wordplay, this one was yet another enjoyable read. It was great to seeing characters from the previous one reappear in this one, helping the teenage detective with the case.

The plot:

Jane and her sister Cassandra have been invited to their old boarding school for an end of term dance. However they find themselves in the middle of action when an expensive piece of jewellery is stolen from a locked room and one of Jane's friends is wrongly accused of it.

What I liked:

• Jane Austen's sharp wit and Golding's writing abilities are on full display and hooks the reader right from the beginning. There is plenty of action here: a  mischievous parrot, a cricket match and wrong accusations and repercussions for readers to keep guessing.  

• It was also interesting to see how Jane Austen's real life experience of a short stint at a boarding school forms the base for the story. Golding uses this detail cleverly by sending teenage Jane back at their old school to solve a mystery. For readers new to Jane Austen, it breathes life into her biography while celebrating the eagle eyed observation and characterization of her works.

• Jane Austen's letter at the each of each chapter is yet another highlight. Full of wit and wordplay, these beautifully crafted gems summarise the latest development for the young reader. Each one is unique and shows off the writer's firm grip of her craft.

• Avid Austen fans can also find connections between her works and these stories. This one had a strong connection to Austen's Sense and Sensibility and it is amazing how Golding has weaved in the characters and the distilled the essence of the famous work into her story. It is very nicely done and evokes interest in reading Austen's original work. Anything that interests young minds in classics is a big plus with me.

Overall, a great read for young readers who love a great mystery and for Jane Austen fans who will enjoy this new take on the celebrated writer's work.