PERHAPS A GIFT VOUCHER FOR MUM?: MOTHER'S DAY
Stephanie Barron is a graduate of Princeton and Stanford Universities, where she studied history. A former intelligence analyst at the CIA, she is the author of thirty novels, including the critically acclaimed Merry Folger series, which she writes under the name Francine Mathews. She lives and works in Denver, Colorado. Visit her online at www.stephaniebarron.com.
"Praise for Jane and the Final Mystery “Barron has mastered writing in Austen’s voice as well as crafting page-turning mystery plots.” —Boulder Weekly “[Barron] has brilliantly combined authentic historical and biographical details with skillful plotting and a credible evocation of Austen’s wry, distinctive voice. She brings the English author’s final investigation to a poignant, unforgettable close. Fans of this historical series will not be disappointed.” —First Clue “Poignant . . . Elicits deep emotion out of Jane’s struggles against her own mortality. This is a fitting send-off for a beautifully realized series.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review “Barron developed Jane’s narrative voice by reading Austen’s collected and published letters, and it is neither spoiler nor surprise to say that series readers will be sorry to say goodbye to Jane Austen, amateur sleuth.” —Booklist Praise for Stephanie Barron “Witty, immaculately researched.” —USA Today “Barron nails the period. She talks the talk and knows her history.” —The Boston Globe ""Wonderful . . . echoing the rhythms of the Austen novels with uncanny ease."" —Entertainment Weekly “Some of the most enjoyable, well-written fanfic ever created.” —O Magazine “Sings with not just a good plot but courtly language and an engaging group of characters worthy of the famed novelist herself . . . A first-rate mystery with so many twists and turns that you can hardly blame a reader who doesn't figure it out until the end.” —The Denver Post ""Ingenious in plot—Barron plays fair with clues in this intriguing whodunit—Jane’s latest adventure offers readers still more: a glimpse of holiday celebrations of two centuries ago, a pleasant excursion into the lives of Britons and a collection of well-drawn characters. Add Barron’s deft imitation of her subject’s prose style, and you have a novel that its subject may well have admired."" —Richmond Times-Dispatch ""Splendid fun!"" —Minneapolis Star Tribune ""[A]n excellent period mystery for all historical fiction fans . . . Jane Austen devotees will especially appreciate immersing themselves in the many biographical details about Austen that accompany the fictional murder mystery."" —Library Journal, Starred Review ""Vivid characters propel the subtle plot to its surprising conclusion. The first-person narration captures Austen’s tone as revealed in her letters: candid, loving, and occasionally acerbic."" —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review"
