Jane Austen's visit to her brother home at Godmersham Park is cut short because of worries over her cousin Eliza and the belief by the Government that she is a French spy. With Eliza and Jane at home at Steventon, life gets complicated for Jane with the arrival of Tom Lefroy.
A delightful well-written cozy mystery ( )

Jane Austen is swept up into shocking events when her cousin Eliza's husband, who was reportedly guillotined a year ago, makes a surprise reappearance, demanding money from Eliza. When Jane finds his indisputably dead body the following day, can she solve the murder before the magistrate is called in and scandal envelopes the family?

This was an interesting game of "what-if" about a historical figure. I found the various elements of the book (writing, character, plot) rather mediocre. It was a moderately enjoyable read, I'm not sorry that I read it, but I would only recommend it to those who devour all things related to Austen. ( )

Young Jane Austen is busy working on a draft of Elinor and Marianne when a family friend introduces her to a charming young man, Tom Lefroy. Jane is amused and annoyed at the prospect at the same time. Since the Austen family is poor, it is important for the daughters to be married off. However, clever Jane has a habit of turning every single suitor away.

Before she has a chance to get to know Mr. Lefroy, mystery arrives by way of her sophisticated cousin. It seems the War Office is keeping an eye of the vivacious, beautiful widow. With clandestine meetings and a gruesome murder, readers will get plenty of mystery and suspense in this well-researched novel.

The Bottom Line: This delightful imagining of a young Jane Austen is a fun, quick read sprinkled with romance and suspense. Recommended for teens and adults interested in historical fiction and Jane Austen. ( )

I received Secrets in the Snow through the Early Reviewers program and have received a few of MacColl's other books this way, too. I've always enjoyed MacColl's lighthearted, fun spins on historical figures. While I enjoyed Secrets in the Snow, it fell a little flat for me compared to MacColl's other novels. The mystery seemed a little forced and the take on Jane Austen wasn't very believable and didn't seem very necessary. Other MacColl novels seem built around the historical figure they feature - this one felt kind of thrown in last minute. Maybe I'm being extra critical because I love Jane Austen!

All in all, Secrets in the Snow was a fun, quick read, but not a MacColl novel I'll be revisiting. ( )

Recovering from a very bad cold, restless and unable to sleep or focus on anything too involved, this book was just the right thing. I liked the weight of the book (heavy for such a small volume) and quality of the page stock. Story in itself was perfect for someone not really a Jane Austen fan and left me curious to learn more about this famous author. The end was a little fast but I did enjoy the build up. ( )