Who doesn’t love Jane Austen? She wrote such classic romances and even today, readers can still relate to her stories and characters! I mean look at the 1990s classic movie, Clueless. While it had a modern twist, the Austen story of Emma shines through. Clearly Austen is a classic for a reason! This is one of the reasons that I love reading Jane Austen reimagining stories! This particular series takes both the Austen characters/stories and the author herself and make them into a mystery series!
I loved the idea of this series. Here the author takes Austen and her novels and give them a modern twist and then she throws in some murder to boot! I couldn’t be more excited to share a bit about this series and as a special treat, I have an interview with the author as well! So make sure you keep reading to see what she has to say about her new novel!
This series is only three books in but the author has written quite a few other books that readers of cozies should enjoy too! For me, my favorite Jane Austen novel is Sense and Sensibility so this book obviously appeals to me! I have not read the other books in this series but I have added them to my TBR list for later in the spring. If you are a Jane Austen fan you don’t want to miss this fun little series! Keep reading to get all the details of the latest cozy mystery with an Austen flare!
Summary
Murder is on the menu and Phaedra Brighton is called on to serve up justice in the latest Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery.
While Phaedra Brighton might not have a Mr. Darcy (yet), she’s quite content with her loving family and loyal cat. Phaedra’s sister Hannah is the Jane to her Elizabeth, and Phaedra is ecstatic that Hannah has decided to move home for her next adventure—opening a business.
All of Laurel Springs is out in full force to celebrate the grand unveiling of Hannah’s new patisserie, Tout de Sweet, including local celebrity Rachel Brandon. Hannah is a master of her craft, with confections so divine, one bite will make you think you’ve died and gone to heaven.
Of course, you never want that to happen literally.
When one of Hannah’s famous dark chocolate cupcakes sends Rachel’s assistant to the hospital with poisoning, Hannah begs for Phaedra’s help to save her reputation and budding business. But Phaedra has more questions than answers: Who was the cupcake actually meant for? And how far is the culprit willing to go to take their target off the menu—permanently?
Author Interview
Each of your books is loosely based on a character from a Jane Austen novel. In what ways was that limiting and in what ways was it helpful?
Well, stepping into Miss Austen’s Regency slippers to write the Jane Austen Tea Society books is certainly daunting. Her novels have withstood the test of time and are, deservedly, classics. That’s a difficult act for any writer to follow. I try to incorporate one or two of Austen’s themes or characters in each of my books, while staying within the parameters of the cozy mystery genre.
It’s definitely helpful to have Austen’s body of work to inspire me. The challenge is creating an absorbing mystery while staying true to the spirit of Austen’s novels.
Did you have an idea or an outline for CYANIDE AND SENSIBILITY before you started writing it? Did the direction change once you sat down and began working on it?
I started with the title, and I knew the story had to feature two sisters—Phaedra Brighton and her younger sister, Hannah, as well as two elderly spinster sisters who own the local apothecary shop, Scents and Sensibility. One of whom just might be a murderer…
The direction changes in almost every book I write. I start with a synopsis/outline and follow it pretty closely, but once the characters take hold, things sometimes happen that I don’t foresee. And those are usually the best surprises. I’m definitely more of a planner than a ‘pantser’ when writing, but I like to allow for serendipitous turns of events or unforeseen character actions and reactions. A little spontaneity keeps things fun.
Did you do any travel to research this novel? If so, can you talk about what that was like? If not, what areas did you need to do the most research on?
I haven’t done any travel to research my books. I currently live in South Florida, but I grew up in Northern Virginia, so I know the area pretty well. Virginia is a beautiful state, filled with history and gorgeous scenery, from beaches and mountains, to cities like Richmond, Charlottesville, and Fredericksburg. Universities are prevalent in the Old Dominion, which is why I knew Phaedra had to be an English literature professor.
I’ve been fortunate to visit Mount Vernon and Monticello, as well as the Rising Sun Tavern and Hugh Mercer’s Apothecary shop in Fredericksburg, Virginia. All are fascinating and helped inspire me when creating Phaedra’s background (she volunteered at Monticello) as well as giving me plot ideas for Cyanide and Sensibility.
Was it difficult to bring the character inspiration into the modern era and give them a modern voice?
It’s certainly not without its challenges! Luckily for me, though, human nature remains the same, even as times change. Envy, greed, jealousy, resentment, and lust still fuel the actions of characters now just as much as they did in the Regency era. That hasn’t changed. And that makes it easier to update Austen’s characters and give them a fresh contemporary voice and feel.
Which Jane Austen heroine is your favorite and why?
I’ve always liked Emma. It’s true that she’s wealthy, and spoilt, and convinced she knows what’s best for everyone; but at heart, she means well. She just gets things so spectacularly wrong. She’s the most flawed of Austen’s heroines, and that makes it all the more satisfying when Mr. Knightley helps her see the error of her ways.
Can you talk a little about your writing process and what is in store for the future of this series? Any hints for the next novel!?
My writing process is pretty simple. I come up with an idea and work it from a sentence or two into a more detailed synopsis. I touch on an Austen theme or create a character who echoes a character in one of her books—for instance, Charles Dalton, Hannah’s good-natured, fun-loving fiancé is a nod to Charles Bingley of Pride and Prejudice—and next, I create clues for Phaedra to follow, and figure out the who/where/how-dunnit of the murder mystery.
Once I have the plot details sorted and a synopsis at hand, I begin to write. Mostly I write at my computer but sometimes I’ll write a scene out longhand in one of my nine million (okay, I exaggerate; maybe nine dozen) writing notebooks. I try to write a minimum of 1,000 words a day. Sometimes I’ll write more if a scene is going well, sometimes less.
I have three more Austen-inspired mysteries in mind for Phaedra to solve, so she—and I—will be quite busy!
And finally, who is your literary crush and why?
Of course, I admire Jane Austen’s novels and her keen observation of Regency mores and manners. Pride and Prejudice is the perfect novel. But I’ve always loved Charles Dickens’ novels. His characters, the inventive names he created for them, and his page-turning plots and twists are always satisfying. Who can forget Pip, Miss Havisham, Mr. Micawber, or Ebenezer Scrooge? Like Miss Austen, he wove a rich tapestry of human nature, and painted a vivid picture of the colorful but flawed world he lived in.
PRAISE FOR CYANIDE AND SENSIBILITY
- “This is the first book I have read in the Jane Austen Tea Society series, but it won’t be my last…If you enjoy cozy mysteries, then this is a book you will enjoy.”— Book Looks by Lisa
- “The book is filled with great characters and a fun, twisty plot. Highly recommend.”— Cara Putnam, author of Come What May
- 5 STARS— Gwendalyn’s Books
PURCHASE LINKS
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AUTHOR BIO
Katie Oliver is known internationally as a writer of Jane Austen rom-coms with a hint of mystery. In the US and the UK, she is the bestselling author of the Dating Mr. Darcy and Marrying Mr. Darcy series.
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