When Aurelie Harcourt’s father dies in debtor’s prison, he leaves her just two things: his wealthy family, whom she has never met, and his famous pen name, Nathaniel Droll. Her new family greets her with apathy and even resentment. Only the quiet houseguest, Silas Rotherham, welcomes her company.When Aurelie decides to complete her father’s unfinished serial novel, writing the family into the … into the story as unflattering characters, she must keep her identity as Nathaniel Droll hidden while searching for the truth about her mother’s disappearance–and perhaps even her father’s death.
Author Joanna Davidson Politano’s stunning debut set in Victorian England will delight readers with its highly original plot, lush setting, vibrant characters, and reluctant romance.
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What a wonderful story! I highly enjoyed it.
Really loved this book. So well written. I was drawn into the story and kept there the entire time. Joanna sets the scene so well you feel you’re really there!
This has to be one of the best historical novels I have read! Mystery, romance, author’s journey, faith, setting, stunning phrases and descriptions. . .what is there not to like? Politano weaves words like a master and keeps you guessing. It’s a “Jane Eyre meets Sherlock Holmes” penned by Dickens daughter — or so it seems. This splendid novel will not disappoint. It will keep you enraptured until the end. . .especially if you indulge in the audiobook version!
I loved Lady Jayne Disappears! I listened to the audio version of the story, and the narrator did a great job with the characters and accents. The mystery was fun and challenging to solve. The romance was sweet and the heroine’s journey was inspiring. I highly recommend this wonderful Victorian mystery!
Absolutely wonderful Christian Historical Mystery Fction with Biblical truths throughout the book. A story of a young woman author who has suffered great losses in her life and must learn to survive in Victorian England with her unknown wealthy family. Aurelie has grown up in poverty but has all the riches of God. I loved the spiritual truths, characters, mystery, plot twists, relationships and life lessons. I hope to read more by this author in the future.
Will she find the answers she seeks…or die trying?
Rarely does a cover and/or title become the deciding factor on whether I want to read a book. But Lady Jayne Disappears was one of the exceptions. I didn’t even read the back cover blurb before deciding that I wanted to read this book. The use of grayscale and a dramatic ‘vanishing’ font made for a very mysterious and effective image.
There are several types of debut books, ranging from “I can’t even finish this” to “this book was so good I wish there were more books available from this author.” Lady Jayne Disappears was definitely in the latter category. It was truly hard to believe that this is Joanna Davidson Politano’s debut novel! I was hooked by this Gothic romance from the start! A couple of historical anachronisms did not deter my enjoyment of the story one iota. I was very quickly immersed in Joanna Davidson Politano’s richly mysterious atmosphere peopled with characters that are never as they first appear and all have hidden motives of one kind or another. This deliciously spooky novel had more twists and turns than an English manor and I was quite surprised by some of the final revelations!
Lady Jayne Disappears is a wonderful read that is not to be missed! And I will be watching this new author with great interest.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
This book was hard to follow at first. It seemed like it might be similar to another book I read recently that was what I call a “book within a book” trope. It almost was, but not quite. The female lead was as irrational as a very young teenage girl might be—only if I recall, she was 18? So I wonder, was this supposed to be YA fiction, or Teen fiction? I don’t know. For those readers, this might be a really great book. For me, it was just so-so. I enjoy Justine Eyre as a narrator, but her voice is too mature and professional for the material in this book.
This book was AMAZING! So, so good. Honestly, I have no words. What it is about JDP books that leave me speechless? I have now read every book she has published and I can definitely say she is one of my TOP favorite authors of all time.
The writing is breathtakingly beautiful. So poetic and classic. So many quotes I just wanted to muse over. Lines that hit deep. I LOVE her writing so, so much!
Also, I absolutely love that she uses first person! It helps me connect so deeply with the character.
The characters were amazing. Aura was such a great MC. I quickly loved her and identified with her so, so much. I think all writers will be able to.
I love how she always tries to see the good in others, and help them however she can.
Silas was definitely an interesting character. I really grew to love him!
And the side characters! Each so interesting and unique. I usually don’t care much about the background characters in books but each had a purpose in this book.
Ahh, so many plot twists and turns, and mystery and suspense, and I LOVED it!! It was wonderful. I was intrigued and couldn’t put the book down. My mind was racing, trying to figure out everything but i couldn’t. I was surprised so many times.
The setting was very vivid and I really enjoyed it.
The ending. *sighs* Soo good.
The faith was soo beautifully woven into this story. I love how Aura prays for specific people in her life, and the time she spends with God, going to Him when she is lonely and overwhelmed. It was truly inspiring.
I could take away a lot from the messages. It’s okay not to fit in. It’s okay to be yourself.
I really loved the verse and C.S. Lewis quote at the end. Really wrapped up this beautiful work of art!
Honestly, I can’t give adequate words for this book but I’ll just say, it was so good. I loved it.
First off, I simply must mention how much I love this book (if you have read any of my recent posts, you may not be shocked by this). I first read, and reviewed Lady Jayne Disappears a couple of years ago. I remember deeply enjoying the story, but finding it slightly confusing. The second time through, I fell wholeheartedly in love with this story from its first pages, and by making sure that I was focusing on the story (by that I mean: not skim reading) I had no problems following the story.
To begin, Joanna Davidson Politano’s writing is beautiful and almost poetic at times. Her use of words paints vivid pictures that bring the story to life, without assaulting the reader with unnecessary details and descriptions. Reading through Lady Jayne Disappears was a bit like a treasure hunt, that required little hunting. I underlined countless pieces of the story and I am honestly still in awe of the fact that Politano managed to fit so many memorable pieces of writing into one story.
“Too often we cut away essential elements of ourselves to fit into a mold and discover those elements were vital to who we are, and our improvements have only made us more ordinary.” -LJD
The first pages of Lady Jayne Disappears transport the reader to the office of March House Press in London, England, where we first meet our lovely main character, Aurelie Harcourt. As Aurelie tells her story, we visit Shepton Mallet Prison, a sad, dark place, before we land at Lynhurst Manor. Lynhurtst is beautiful, with lovely gardens and outdoor spaces, crumbling ruins and a mysterious tower.
As is typical of Politano’s settings, Lynhurst is at the center of the story and also typical of Politano’s settings, Lynhurst often seems alive, a character in its own right. Not only does Lynhurst hold the abundant secrets of its inhabitants, it plays a part in all of them.
“For a writer, revenge was best saved for an empty notebook where the pen was, indeed, a mighty weapon against her foes.” – LJD
The characters of Lady Jayne Disappears were lovely, but I found that they simply did not fascinate as the characters of the Love Note did. I must also say that I found Nelle quite disappointing. She is not a bad character, she simply seems a bit rushed in her development, perhaps. In addition, I felt that her relationship with Aurelie deepened far too quickly, and this undoubtedly influences my disappointment with her character.
Despite what I said earlier, Aurelie Harcourt is exceptional. She manages to be an unusual young woman, without checking the boxes of a not-like-the-other-girls character. Aurelie is lovely and bright, a storyteller and writer. Her love for words is passionate and quite honestly inspiring. Aurelie’s words may cause endless amounts of trouble, but in the end, they begin to fill in the cracks in her broken family.
“No one understood her love of reading, but to Lady Jayne, fiction was far better than real life – it always had to make sense, and real life seldom did.” – LJD
Silas Rotherham, Aurelie’s love-interest, is interesting, and much like Aurelie, a lover of stories and words. He is quiet and a deep thinker, as well as kind and loving. I honestly wish we got to know him a bit better.
To end this review, I must share my one complaint, a matter of pure personal preference. Throughout Lady Jayne Disappears there is a strong thread of emphasis on men being the protectors of the women in their life. This surfaces in various ways that felt, to me, to emphasize traditional gender roles. Obviously for many readers this will pose no interference with their general enjoyment of a beautiful story, but I couldn’t help but be slightly irritated by it.
“The best books draw the curtains back on a person’s life and allow the reader to glimpse each part and understand it fully.” – LJD
“Lady Jayne Disappears” hooked my attention from chapter one and maintained it until The End. The premise was unique, the romance clean, and the mystery intriguing. All the story threads were tied together beautifully.
Yet what I loved most about this book was how Joanna Davidson Politano’s lovely writing evoked the literary styling of the Victorian Era without becoming overly cumbersome to read.
Mind. Blown.
This book. You guys! Venturing through these pages is like putting a piece of chocolate on your tongue and letting it melt slowly until you experience a burst of fruit flavor at the center. Delicious. There were so many quotes that made me stop and want to savor before continuing. Maybe my experience was this intensified because the heroine is writer, and I could relate to her thoughts and feeling on so many levels. Regardless, this is not a book to be missed! Aurelie is the first character I remember reading who made me think, this is how a Christian character ought to be portrayed! She is flawed, makes mistakes, and often her life is riddled with doubt and fear, but God is her first resort rather than her last, and her efforts to please Him are woven so genuinely into the story. Never forced, simply natural.
The story itself was a marvel! I definitely felt some Little Dorrit undertones, but the plot quickly came alive with a unique life all its own. Every time I thought I might be piecing things together, I was made to reconsider, and then when everything had been explained in a twisting, turning, tangle of events. . .there was STILL room for surprise!
Do yourself a favor and find a copy of this exquisite book to savor for yourself.
By writing a story within a story and adding in a mystery or two, Joanna Davidson Politano pulled me in and kept me reading Lady Jayne Disappears until before I knew it I had reached the end and had to return to reality…but only long enough to grab her next book off the shelf…
Few authors display their overwhelming love of storytelling like Politano does in their work. I cannot recall the last time a novel so claimed my focus & drew me right into the story & characters’ lives. Whoa.
High, high praise for Lady Jayne Disappears–I so thoroughly appreciate Politano’s dedication and love for story weaving–the atmosphere and plot (the plot threw me for a loop, I couldn’t believe the turns it took!) were top-notch, as were the characters.
This novel is the prefect blend of mystery and romance. I appreciated that even though they were solving a murder and there was talk of ghosts, I could still read it at night before bed without needing to sleep with the light on.
The author’s character development was great. She stayed true to the characters true self. Even as they grew and changed it wasn’t like they were suddenly a different character all together.
The story was unpredictable in nature, but I did not even get close to guess the ending and there were twists and turns that I did not see coming. It is definitely a great read, and one you don’t want to read the ending of first.
Intriguing, compelling, and romantic, Politano pulled me right into the story and kept piling on the drama so I had to keep reading. A unique voice and writing style, it all came together in an entertaining read.
Do you enjoy finding the answer to unanswered questions that have more twists and turns than a country road? Just hold on for the bumpy ride and eventually it will all come together in an expertly crafted writing style from this fresh breath of air author. The setting is 1861 England and the feel is slightly gothic with multiple characters who have unique personalities that worm their way into your heart. You will dwell on this one when finished. I throughly enjoyed this one. I’ve had this on my TBR pile and wish I had moved it up.
There aren’t words to express how much I completely loved this book! Ms. Politano has truly won herself a new fan!
This book completely captivated me! It’s deliciously intriguing, achingly beautiful and immensely satisfying.
Aurelie Harcourt is not a normal girl. Being raised in a debtor’s prison, she has seen things many people her age or even older don’t even dream of or just choose not to acknowledge. However, it’s in the dark and dirty aisles of this place that Aura Rose finds protection, happiness, purpose, and family among strangers. All changes, though, when her dear papa suddenly dies and Aurelie is taken to live with those related to her by blood but who, until then, hadn’t the mind to seek her and her father out and try to help them with their predicament.
In this new world full of sparkles and masks, Aurelie is determined to remain true to herself and to her father, finding solace in the stories he called so dear to his heart. However, soon enough, she finds out that not everything is what it seems… when she quickly learns to see through the masks, to listen to the house and its stories (because, yes, Lynhurst Manor is as much a character as any other person in this book), to look for the signs pointing to the truth, can she hold on to her true self? Being pulled by her convictions as well as her personal desires, can she find peace and be whole, regardless of the answers she might find?
I was hooked on the first page by more than just the mystery or the characters, but simply because of the author’s voice. It transcends the pages and guides your own emotions to match those of the characters. It’s refreshing, witty and inspiring. There are some books impossible to believe to be a debut novel, this is one of them. There are moments so honestly vulnerable that you know the author has just exposed a precious part of herself. There are no dull moments in this book, that’s for sure! The way Joanna Davidson Politano worked through the main character’s thoughts in the first person made this story personal and relatable as more than just a Christian or a reader (we do have our share of bookworms in this story!!), but also as a mere human-being trying to live in a broken world. Because there is light despite the darkness, there is peace despite the hurts, there is love despite betrayal, there is hope despite so many hardships and challenges trying to defeat you… there is a place to call home despite feeling odd and as if you don’t fit. And Aurelie is soon to find out that these truths are for everyone and it’s our mission to point them out with our gifts.
I found everything in this story fascinating, from the characters to the mystery, and especially the surprises in each turn of the page. Never think you have figured everything out! There were moments in which I felt such a nagging anxiety because of the tormented situations and misunderstandings so well expressed and put out that I almost believed them to be definite – and I was tempted to skip to the end of the book just to make sure everything would turn out well and the way it was supposed to be… eventually, I was able to control myself and wait for the appropriate moment to arrive at the ending. And what a bittersweet moment! Trust me that you will not be disappointed, except for the fact that the book ended and you’re not emotionally ready to say goodbye to these characters.
Good thing there is another book by Joanna to look forward to already
A haunting debut novel set in Victorian England with a very original and enjoyable plot.
Lady Jayne Disappears by Joanna Davidson Politano is set in London in 1861.
It is unbelievably beautiful writing for a debut novel. I was pulled in from the start.
This captivating mystery has it all: flawless period prose, intriguing premise and surprising scenes as the story unfolds. It has a distinct Dickensian flair.
Aurelia Harcourt has been brought up in Shepton Mallet Prison for debtors. Her father, Woolf, has landed there and he manages to raise and provide for her by writing serials for a publishing house under the name Nathaniel Droll. Faith in Christ has been instilled in her and she lives it out by helping those less fortunate than she.
Still grieving the death of her father, Aurelia, a young lady of nearly twenty, feels compelled to solve a mystery as old as she is. She arrives at the family estate, Lynhurst Manor, under the protection of her Aunt Eudora who had no idea of her existence. All is not what it seems and everyone is keeping secrets. Aurelia has her own secret – she must finish a serial novel that her father started and uncover what really happened to Lady Jayne. Will the answers be worth the quest? How did her father really die and is her life in danger?
The wonderful quotes at the beginning of each chapter tell a story on their own and hint at the substance behind the mystery. From Aunt Eudora and cousin Juliette to friend of the family Silas Rotherham and old nemesis Jasper Grupp, the interesting supporting characters add to the suspense. The solution is as complex as a Gordian Knot.
If you like a gothic tale of mystery and romance don’t miss this book. I’m anxiously awaiting the next book by Ms. Politano.
*I received this book as a giveaway in a contest from Carrie at Reading is My Superpower. I was not obligated to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
From the first chapter till the last word on the page, I was captivated. Lady Jayne Disappears far exceeded my expectations. This debut book of Joanna’s is simply stunning in its culmination. I finished this book in a clouded euphoria, leaving me speechless. My copy of the book is filled with sticky flags, marking favorite quotes, scenes, and other notable parts of interest. I actually ran out of one kind of stickies and opened a second (It’s that good).
Bibliophiles will fall in love with Aurelie, a bibliophile in her own right, and an author. A delightful story within the story and a mystery to uncover. This is a book you will want to enjoy once and return again to savor a second or third time.
Beyond the twists and turns of a captivating plot and exciting characters is an overreaching theme of being true to oneself and to who we are in God. A gentle reminder that we should not aim to please people, or even to esteem ourselves, but to strive in all we do to please God first.
With characters so vibrant and realistic, they seem to waltz off the page and into the room with you. I give this book 5 stars, and happily, recommend it to any and all who enjoy a good story rich with both characters and detail.
(I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)