2025 marks a quarter of a century since the birth of Jane Austen, and I’m thrilled to celebrate with the publication of my third cosy mystery, The Austen Christmas Murders. I first discovered Austen in 1995 with the BBC’s adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. I loved absolutely everything about it – the costumes, the humour and, of course, Colin Firth as Mr Darcy! After I had read and reread all Austen’s novels, I found myself desperate to know more about her life. It was realising how hard Austen worked to achieve her place as our most beloved novelist of all time that inspired me to write about her.
I wanted to create a portrayal that captured the vibrant, witty, and joyfully irreverent woman she was, as well as to show the many obstacles she overcame to bequeath us her legacy. I hit upon crime fiction as a way of paying homage to her original works and showcasing her brilliance because of Austen’s innate understanding of human nature and keen sense of justice.
Austen’s stories are essentially mysteries where the heroine must discover the true characters of those around her, especially the hero. In a society in which a woman’s welfare depends entirely upon whom she marries, it pays to investigate one’s potential partner most thoroughly. Think of Catherine Morland in Northanger Abbey, who is so intent on understanding what kind of family Henry Tilney comes from that she sets herself up as an amateur sleuth and accuses his father of murdering his wife.
Austen also used her stories to highlight how the law systematically disadvantaged women in favour of male property rights. The plot of Pride and Prejudice is driven by the entail, which prohibits the Bennet women from inheriting Longbourn. After his death, Mr Bennet’s estate will go to his nearest male relation, Mr Collins – who is by no coincidence Austen’s most gloriously ridiculous character. In stark contrast, George Wickham grooms and abducts 15-year-old Lydia Bennet (something we’d consider a sex crime today) without fear of any legal repercussions. In fact, it is Lydia, rather than Wickham, whose reputation will be destroyed if he fails to make good on his promise to marry her.
I believe many of us read crime fiction to experience catharsis. With a classic detective novel, we can have a good cry about the fate of the victim but, as so rarely happens in real life, trust that justice will be served. In a similar way, Austen’s works are the ultimate comfort read as she takes her heroines to the brink of ruin but, after a little trouble, she can be relied upon to provide a happy ending.
I based my depiction on the Austen who shines through in her letters and her youthful writing, especially her deliciously dark novella Lady Susan. All the obstacles Austen faced in becoming published are the same challenges my Jane faces in being taken seriously in her hunt for the killer - her age, sex, class etc all count against her. Finally, just like any good sleuth, I believe the real Austen was brave and determined, but also joyful and a lot of fun.
About Jessica Bull
Jessica Bull lives in South East London with her husband, two daughters, and far too many pets. Her debut novel, MISS AUSTEN INVESTIGATES, was shortlisted for the Crime Writer’s Association ILP John Creasey First Novel Dagger. The second, A FORTUNE MOST FATAL, was published in March 2025 and the third, THE AUSTEN CHRISTMAS MURDERS, in November 2025.
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