As you know I have been going through all the Jane Austen audiobooks available on Libby.
This is the next one that came up as available so I decided to give it a listen.
I felt this one wasn’t as well read as the other audiobooks. I felt May didn’t quite capture the tone of the narration. In fact, the narration was kind of dry and when listening to it I kind of spaced out.
What??
When reading for the characters May was fine, but when it came down to narration she was dry and boring.
Years ago I had the idea to go slowly through Austen’s works and write a post whenever a particular passage or line struck me. At first I thought I would go book by book and figured I would move through then quickly.
I know, I had too much faith in myself. I then decided to instead just do each book one at a time, walking slowly through the books and alternating them. It’s been a while since I’ve done a post like this as there are just so many other things on my list (right now I have over 300 drafts and that number is only down because I finally finished a few I started).
So as I was taking this meandering walk though Persuasion I started thinking about Anne Elliot’s older sister Elizabeth.
Elizabeth is a terrible person. She is just like her father a self-centered snob focused on looks, breeding, and believes herself to be better than almost everyone (including her sisters). She enjoys the importance of being first woman of the fmaily and the elevated status it grants her, but she is terrible with the finances as she wants to maintain a certain style of living but doesn’t understand how to stretch their finance nor how to rein in her father’s love of material and expensive objects.
When she does realize she needs to help budget the family finances cut spending, the first things she decides to cut off is not the amount of mirrors being purchased by the family but charitable donations, improvements to rooms (all rooms she does not use), and not giving her sister Anne, a present.
She is kind to Mrs. Clay the steward’s daughter but that is only because she flatters and appeals to her vanity.
I never really thought more of her than being a terrible character, until this time I reread it, (after also rereading Emma), this time I realized Elizabeth is a very sad version of Emma.
Hmm…
Elizabeth and Emma are very similar characters. Both are raised by single fathers who have elevated them to the role of First Lady of the family and both are in charge of running the household. Both have a decent educated, from good families, are top in the social hierarchy of their area, etc. Both ladies are also very strong willed, opinionated, and believe highly of themselves. However, one thing that sets Emma apart was that she was fortunate to surround herself with good people and a Mr. Knightley who was willing to point out when she was too far off the mark. Elizabeth wasn’t as lucky as she only had those who appealed to her vanity, causing her to have an increased ego, believe she is always correct, etc.
Both Emma and Elizabeth begin the book single with a lack of marriage on the horizon; but unlike Emma; Elizabeth will not inherit her family home. The estate is entailed and I predict she will not be left much funds as her father is quite the spendthrift.
While Emma doesn’t want to be married as she doesn’t see how getting married could increase her happiness in life; Elizabeth does wish to married, but has no prospects on the horizon. She may be similar to Emma, but she is facing a grim future; most likely left to live off the goodwill of her sister Mary and her husband (something that will most not work out long term as Elizabeth looks down on Charles Musgrove and Mary). Essentially, she is much closer to the future of Miss Bates with just the good “Elliot” name being the real difference.
Mrs. & Miss Bates
Both Emma and Elizabeth have a married sister, but while Emma’s relation is an older sister; with Elizabeth she not only is 29 and unmarried but has the added shame of her younger sister being married and forever written down in the family book first.
“Always to be presented with the date of her own birth and see no marriage follow but that of a youngest sister, made the book an evil; and more than once, when her father had left it open on the table near her, had she closed it, with averted eyes, and pushed it away.”
Persuasion by Jane Austen
She had dreamed once long ago that she would marry William Walter Elliot, the heir, and forever be mistress of Kellynch Hall and Lady Elliot…but while everything had seemed to align with her plans, like Emma the future timeline she created was thrown awry. Emma has the good fortune to marry a wonderful man; Elizabeth gets ghosted.
“Elizabeth found him extremely agreeable, and every plan in his favour was confirmed. He was invited to Kellynch Hall; he was talked of and expected all the rest of the year; but he never came. The following spring he was seen again in town, found equally agreeable, again encouraged, invited, and expected, and again he did not come; and the next tidings were that he was married. Instead of pushing his fortune in the line marked out for the heir of the house of Elliot, he had purchased independence by uniting himself to a rich woman of inferior birth.”
-Persuasion by Jane Austen
That’s embarrassing.
Yep, Mr. Elliot turned out to be a just like Frank Churchill with a secret agenda (and fiancé), although in this case Elizabeth did care about the man. She had imagined a future and life with him, but now all was lost.
I’m sure Elizabeth felt the same.
Then, to their surprise and delight a single Mr. Elliot returns to their lives and with him TBE hope that maybe this time. She dares to dream that her life just took a detour, but will soon be back on track with her original life goals.
But not only does he pay attentions publicly to her younger sister Anne; (again the embarrassment of being the elder sister and being rejected yet again); to add insult to injury I he also runs off with the steward’s daughter and her “dear friend” Mrs. Clay.
It would be well for the eldest sister if she were equally satisfied with her situation, for a change is not very probable there. She had soon the mortification of seeing Mr Elliot withdraw, and no one of proper condition has since presented himself to raise even the unfounded hopes which sunk with him.
On one hand reading this book she is pretty terrible and you are partly happy she gets her just desserts for being so terrible; but at the same time you do kind of pity her.
What do you think. Do you pity her? Or relish in her just desserts?
So this year’s theme is “mysteries” in honor of Agatha Christie’s novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles turning 100 years old. To really have this theme be present I decided to review a mystery every month…somehow and ideally connecting it to Jane Austen.
Mystery, you say?
In January, I wasn’t sure what to do when I received a goblin in my mailbox.
So the last package seemed to be saying that there is something wrong with 27 East Heath Road
Haunted house!
The architect, Henry Griggs, had been going crazy trying to finish building the house, after his wife died-using all his money. He even felt as if something was there making him continue, something altering his plans, something controlling him.
The house was almost complete, but Griggs has descended into some kind of madness.
“The madness in the walls must not escape…I fear I shall be gone altogether…I fear harm may come to her [Lizzy] if she is not sent to safety.”
He ends up putting his daughter in an orphanage and Griggs disappears, presumed dead.
Or is it?!
This package contained a lot of items and goes on a bit:
1 Deed
1 Letter from Dr. Jack S. Aigner
4 Small Memorandum/ Doctor’s notes from Dr. William Elliot
Arsenic Druggist Note
A Page from Baldwin’s Physician’s Guide
1 Large Memorandum/ Doctor’s notes from Dr. William Elliot
Dr. Elliott’s Tincture Receipt
1 Poster for The Great Goodyear
1 Great Goodyear flip book that showcases two of his illusions
Garden Diary of Héléne Ashworth
Elise Face Cosmetiques Label
Newspaper Clipping
A page from Charles Dickens’ The Chimes
So first of all, I saw Dr. Walter Elliott on the letters:
And as a Jane Austen fan my mind went:
This is 1888, I am going to believe this is Mr. Elliot’s great or great-great grandson, named after Sir Walter. I mean I don’t know if he married Mrs. Clay, but I do know that eventually he would have to secure his family line and inheritance.
So Dr. Walter Elliot, descendent of Mr. Elliot, has purchased 27 East Heath Road and everything inside the building for £420 sterling. I think he will regret this…
So Dr. Elliot has a conservatory and grows herbs but according to his former instructor Dr. Jack S. Aigner, Dr. Elliot is sensitive, insecure of whether or not he is a good doctor, creates different tonics and medicines; AND medicates/tests himself. Uh, oh. Oh no, that does not sound good.
Dr. Aiger mentions the room he is using to treat patients and that it holds a mirror, but it is placed strange on the wrong wall. It should be behind the patient, not in front, but it will be good if he wants to try self-hypnosis. There is a young girl he is trying to help that is an interesting case. Hmm…could it be Elizabeth Griggs?
Then we have Dr. Elliot’s notes on the patient, although not all of them. He mysteriously chose to remove the notes in his patient from September 1889-October 1891, us picking it up in October 1891.
His patient is interesting…she wants to be in the room alone and when he stepped out as she said she heard footfalls in hallway, she moved the flowers in the office, why?
She likes the tincture he gave her, which pleases him as he is really getting the use out of his conservatory.
The next notes are from February 1889, and we are given that the name is on Beth Siggers 15 years old. The DOB is inked out, but we know it is 1874. Could this be Elizabeth Griggs? Just her name changed so the Doctor doesn’t connect it to the architect if the house?
Hmm…
Beth comes to see Dr. Elliot because she is suffering headaches and shortness of breath, but when she came in she would not sit, instead touching and knocking into everything-walls, tables, the mirror, etc. Searching…but for what? He thinks she faked the illness but why? He gives her some tincture and she leaves.
Weird…
March 1889
Beth continues to return to the Doctor’s office, but every time she has a different ailment. Obviously she is suffering from a mental issue rather than a physical ones, but what and why?
She returns another time and says she left her bag behind, but when he finds her he sees she isn’t in the reception area but on the main staircase as she got “turned around”. Strange behavior, the doctor prescribes tonic.
Hmmm…
April 1889
She seems much better, although she is fixated on the mirror. The doctor looked at it and thought he saw a face in it, but that is just nonsense. He gives her 1/2 bottle of tonic.
She returns later complaining the tonic is too strong, and Dr. Elliot watered it down and 1/2 the dose-1/4 tonic. It’s strange, he notices the hallway door is ajar. That keeps happening every time Beth comes to his office.
Spooky…
May 1889
Beth returns, upset and acting strange: pulse elevated and pupils dilated. Dr. Elliot thinks it is just “spring fever” and gives previous mixture and dosage.
Hmm…strange
June 1889
Beth has been by again and Dr. Eliot thinks he saw a figure in the mirror, again. He has always hated the way the mirror was fixed in the wall. He searches, but there is nothing there. Dr. Elliot begins to worry that maybe the tincture he took and tested on himself might be giving him hallucinations.
July 1889
Dr. Elliot has decided to no longer see Beth. He tells her and later that evening he discovers she has hid in the parlour…weird why? She begs him to let her come back and he agrees for one more time.
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!!! Something is wrong with this girl-you need to get way from her.
January 1892
Dr. Elliot feels watched and puzzles over the patient. Maybe he should stop seeing her, nothing seems to be changing.
YES!!! STOP SEEING HER SOMETHING ISN’T RIGHT!! But of course he won’t listen. He will continue and things are going to go wrong.
February 1892
Things are getting worse. After Beth comes poking on walls, knocking here and there, looking in corners, seeing things that aren’t there, Dr. Elliot too starts to feel as if there are spirits, ghosts, or something in the house. He tries to talk himself out of it but wonders.
He continues his experiments and taking the tincture. Oh no Dr. Elliot, don’t test on yourself!
In another set of letters from February 1892 to Jack, Dr. Elliot mentions a page with ciphers from Baldwin’s Physcian’s Guide. The page is included with these lines underlined:
“…what can be gained from inclusive speculation on the subject?”
“…physiognomy is mere judgement, assumption, and, in some cases, coincidence.”
On the back is an image that looks out of the Grimm texts and has some strange ciphers on it.
In his letter he has figured out what two of the symbols mean, an E & R.
Meanwhile, Griggs’ daughter, Beth, continues to see the doctor and every visit something odd happens. The flowers espechially always seem to be moved.
Beth keeps talking about something she sees under hypnosis so Dr. Elliot decides to test it and takes extra tincture.
Don’t Do it!!! Stop!!!! NOOOOOOOOO!!!!
There is a receipt for his tincture and on the back it says:
“You’ve got the right bottle, doctor.” With a bunch of symbols.
DON’T DO IT!!!!!
Dr. Elliot gets some cramps but about 30 mins in, he sees a figure in the mirror, or looking to come out of the mirror…
He leans toward the mirror and the figure was gone. He searched the house for it and found the dispensary unlocked, even though he always locks it.
He decides to increase the dose and do it again, adding to his letter later-he does and it says:
“I see it! It comes…”
And that is the end of Dr. Elliot. I’m assuming he died. Poor guy, you shouldn’t have tested on yourself-you shouldn’t have delved into the unknown, espechially on your own.
You’re crazy! Crazy, am I? We’ll see whether I’m crazy or not.
There is no more correspondence, we then switch to the second half of the package.
Time to get on the case!
The next item in the package is the garden diary of Héléne Ashworth.
June 1892
The house has been sold to the Great Goodyear, Claude Goodyear, and his muse, assistant, and wife Héléne Ashworth. The name sounds familiar, but I’m not sure why.
Where have I read or seen that name before?
Their friend, Lilibeth, let them know about 27 East Heath Road becoming available after the doctor died. It seems he accidentally took too much of his medicine, although some whisper it was a suicide.
Claude loves the room with the mirror in it, as it can help him to practice his tricks and Héléne loves having the conservatory as she is a gardener. She has taken inventory about the plants and discovered hemlock. Hemlock? Why would a doctor need that?
Strange…
Claude jokes about ghosts in the walls as the house does make noise, but Héléne is not afraid. She loves her new house.
Ghosts?
July 1893
Héléne’s garden is doing well except for the calla lilies and forget-me-nots she planted. Instead the hyacinth, lavender, and dragonwort are doing extremely well-even though she did not plant them. There is no way Claude did so where did they come from?
At 27 East Heath Road.
Héléne believes in the language of flowers and these ones that mysteriously appeared mean constancy, devotion, and twice twisted. Hmm…maybe it means something twice twisted in the house? Devoted to it?
Hmm…
Let’s see-hemlock was poisonous, are these too? Let me look…yes, hyacinth bulbs are poisonous and touching them causes skin irritation. So lavender is used in food and perfumes so it is okay to take, but it can cause constipation, headache, and skin irritation in some people. Dragonwort is used to stop bleeding. So again, doesn’t seem too bad.
Hmmm…
There are a lot of strange herbs Héléne doesn’t know growing as well. She also discovers two more letters of the cipher-M & Y.
Another entry:
Claude is doing extremely well and even gets to perform at the famous Egyptian Hall. Héléne is so excited to perform, but Claude wants her to quit now that they are married. Hmmm…
Meanwhile, Héléne feels watched in the house. She wants to mention it to her husband, but decides not to worry him before a big show. On a sad note all the Calla lilies died, just like their hopes for a baby.
May 1895
Héléne is no longer allowed to perform, Claude thinking that is what caused them to have a miscarriage. Try as she might the yellow hyacinth (jealousy) keeps growing, and Héléne is convinced there is a curse on this house-a curse keeping a cild from being born, her nice and kind flowers from growing, and the hyacinth strong.
Later entry:
Héléne finds more and more deadly plants-nightshade and monkshood. She also sees the gruesome figure from her nightmares. She tries to tell her husband but he doesn’t listen, saying the illusions have turned her head.
June 1895
Claude has refused two engagements and is very upset. He is convinced spies are coming into the halls and watching/copying his ideas. He continues to practice in the room with the mirror and won’t let anyone into it, not even Héléne.
Héléne is very hurt and upset as she and Claude grow farther and farther apart. Sometimes Héléne pus on the old costumes and performs in front of the plants-wishing she could still be on the stage.
Lilibet has grown worried about Héléne and has taken up spiritualism and becoming a very famous medium. Lilibet and Héléne have known each other since girlhood and Héléne decides to throw a get together and help Lilibet. I’m starting to think Lilibet is Elizabeth “Beth” Griggs. Maybe Héléne was in the orphanage? I’ll check. The records say she is, ah “…the scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein of life” (A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) is Elizabeth Griggs.
And it is “…our duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it.” (A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Mystery, you say?
September 1895
Liliibet otherwise known as Mrs. Alizbeta Divak has asked Hélene to join in. Helene has created the character Madame Solandra, wears black bombazine, and pale makeup that comes from the Elise makeup company. There is a label from Elise Cosmetiques and it has a message on the back:
“YOU THINK TO HIDE YOURSELF FROM ME?”
Followed by the ciphers.
Claude does not approve of spiritualism, Helene has to hide it from him.
November 1896
They held the seance but things did not go as planned, A real spirit came from the mirror shouting at them “interlopers! Be gone!”
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
When Héléne did the automatic writing it was if someone else was controlling her. Helene faints and when she awakens, it is Lilibet giving her smelling salts.
Oh no, the smelling salts were poisoned with the Doctor’s medicine.
Nooo
Lilibet preetends it didn’t happen, but Héléne knows it was real. She however feels very sick.
December 1896
Helene is still sick and supposed to be in bed, but has found a strange hidden doorway and secret hidden rooms in the house But is it real? She is fading in and out and unsure.
But no! She found it! She has found a secret door in the conservatory, as soon as she is stronger she will investigate it!
Time to get on the case!
January 1897
Helene’s passage is a strange one. She believes the phantom is walking the house and Claude has all but disappeared. Is there a spirit in her home? A man? Or is her husband gaslighting her?
Gaslight (1944)
And all her flowers were ripped up? Why would the phantom want to do that?Why put dirt on her hands after?
Claude is yelling and locking Helene in her room refusing Lilibet to come in. But she has found a way out. She will follow the wallpaper and escape that way…
That is the last entry in the journal.
This felt a lot like The Yellow Wallpaper, the short story where the lady goes mad and her husband locks her up (or did her husband lock her up and then she went mad?)
Hmmm…is there a phantom or just an evil husband?
Gaslight (1944)
Next we have a newspaper clipping “Murder at the Mad Magician’s Mansion”.
The wife of The Great Goodyear, Claude Goodyear, has been found dead in her home, found by her husband when he returned from performing.
Héléne’s face was frozen in terror and the inquest found that she had been poisoned-even though she was alone in the house and it was locked up tight. But by who? And how?
Of course authorities looked at the husband first, but it was impossible for him to slip away as he was performing and his every moment had witnesses.
Hmmm…
Her body was strangely found, it looked as if she was trying to crawl out of a small under-stairs cupboard with her face frozen, and hair turned white.
It appears Claude has lost his mind at his wife’s death. He warns people of a gruesome phantom moving in his house, warning people to stay far away.
And last a page ripped out of Charles Dicken’s The Chimes with the following words underlined:
“Monsters uncouth and wild, arise in premature, imperfect resurrection; the several parts and shapes of different things are joined and mixed by chance..”
“Haunt and hunt him…”
“Bleak his slumbers…”
“he saw thisWITH Goblin sight…”
“…saw these creatures, not only among sleeping men but waking also…”
There are more marks of the secret language written in the margin.
Hmmm…
I have been working on decoding it, and I think I’ve figures out a few letters based on what they gave me and just common sense of filling in the blanks, but there are some I am just not sure of.
Hmm…
So I am getting a Phantom of the Opera vibe from this (I love The Phantom of the Opera)
So in the original story of The Phantom of the Opera, one of Erik’s (the phantom’s) many talents was architecture and he builds the opera house-creating his secret home and all the passages, using the mirror as a door to bring Christine to his lair.
I think Henry Griggs is alive! And living in the house he built, probably a secret passage in the mirror. I’m just not sure if he is killing people because he us possessed by something or because he thinks if he does he will have his house back. I’ll have to wait and see.
Hmmm…
A lot of stuff came in this package and I did my best to try and put it all in one picture:
Do you love Jane Austen and Halloween? Do you feel like this?
Well then, we have a post for you!
So after DCI Barnaby (John Nettles) left I really stopped watching the new Midsomer Murders, and instead just rewatched the old ones. Every time I watched I got to where they made the switch, I would get a little farther, but then stop as it just wasn’t the same.
I hate when the person you love leaves.
I’m not happy…
However, my interest was sparked when my mother, who continued watching, told me about this episode and someone who follows me on instragam mentioned it too. I tried to find the comment, but no luck-I knew I needed to review it for Horrorfest.
You know me:
Or book lovers
So here we are:
So to begin with, such a beautiful house. So lovely. Every one is in Austen Regency wear. It is like Austenland. I wish I could go.
Or something that somewhat resembles it.
Gorgeous…but wait a second. A young girl receives a note and goes running off. That’s not unusual, but a drone overhead is watching her. Creepy.
Spooky…
A person in blue coat and black gloves grabs her and carries her off, the drone missing everything but the dead body.
John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon) is at home when he gets called in by Detective Sergeant Jamie Winter, who I don’t care for. None of the DS were as good as Ben, he was he best!
The dream team!
Anywho, Jamie talks to Mrs. Barnaby who’s woking on a Georgian historical novel. Wow what a coincidence!
Surprise, surprise
So moving along we are in the village Doctor’s office where a lady, Mary Osgood, is upset that her boss and secretary have “taken time off”-just so you know, yes, they are in Austenland.
Ronin Chow has the Mary load the drone as they are testing healthcare by air. It goes by where the police are investigating. So the victim is female and was found stabbed in the countryside. Bonnet askew. It appears the girl was stabbed in the neck with a feather? Interesting.
They have found no ID, wallet, etc. Makes sense as she is in full Austen gear. They do find a remnant of a note on her hand. It looks as if someone tried to rip it out.
They discover a syringe and Winter makes a dumb joke. I just don’t like him!
Meanwhile, there are a group of ladies and gents enjoying Jane Austen. Katherine (Claire Skinner) and James Osgood (Samuel West) are the owners who recreate Austen, their teenage daughter Polly isn’t into it and upset about being in that “world”.
The murdered woman turns out to be Samantha Berry from London. She was a single journalist, out on vacarion to “Austenland”.
They question the owners, but they aren’t very helpful. They describe their vacation as “gorgeous Georgians” in an attempt to make money to continue to care for their home.
Polly, however, has information as she shares that Samantha was super nosy-asking a lot of questions-even sneaking out.
Hmm…
It turns out the “missing” receptionist Jane Everard and Dr. Solomon Franks are at the event. The doctor being the one people are after as he’s the “resident Mr. Darcy.” Although we never spend anytime with him or really see him again in this episode. WOW, you think that an episode that is supposed to be Jane Austen themed, spends hardly any time on Mr. Darcy.
So John (I can’t call him Barnaby) and Winters find out that the head of the Jane Austen Friendship Circle is not a fan of the “Gorgeous Georgians” and decide to question her.
They go through Samantha’s things and find a lot of news articles about the drone delivery! Ah, so the Dr. and his secretary just happen to be at this event and Samantha is investigating them. Interesting, obviously the doctor and receptionists will play big parts in this as Austen will be a major theme, right?
Majorly
Yes, they are supposed to be Darcy and Elizabeth, but we NEVER see them!
I’m not happy
Katherine’s sister comes and to be honest I can see why Polly is not into it. They treat her like crap making her do everything. They should have hired at least one footman.
James looks at Katherine’s sister in a strange way and could they be involved? I wouldn’t put it past this show. Remember how the uncle in Candlestick says that everyone is also messing around with each other on Midsomer Murders.
This was a good film.
James receives a suspicious phone call. Hmm…
Hmmm…
They go to speak to Ronin and Doug Vaughan, the Drone people about the drones to see if they have anything. They don’t recognize her picture and Winter asks about cameras, but they say they don’t have any on the droids.
They are lying!
Gemma, leader of the Jane Austen Friendship Circle, hates the Gorgeous Georgians. She owns the tearoom where Jane Austen “visited” and talks about how she knows the history-although it sounds like she may be making up her intellectual background.
Hmm…
He asks what Jane would have written with and she says a goose feather quill pen. She goes to show him but it is missing, and it turns out to be the one used to murder Samantha.
Hmm…
They go to the pub and question Katherine’s sister, Nell. Nell’s husband Ray is an ex-cop who owns the only other key to the case that held the the quill pen.
Well we know its not him, too obvious and unfortunately we have a lot more to this episode to go.
That night someone breaks into the lab and they destroy Ronin’s laptop.
Hmmm
John’s wife is headed to the Grange, Gorgeous Georgians, to the dance being held there and is excited about her husband coming. He is less enthused.
It turns out that she was poisoned by the pen and asphyxiated. Someone did a poison pen-obviously supposed to be a metaphor.
They head over to the lab and find it odd that nothing was taken just the laptop being destroyed. There is nothing to be had on it…or is there?
Hmmm?
The pharmacist is pleased that someone broke in and she is planning something with Gemma the teashop owner.
They question the pharmacist and it turns out that Samantha was investigating James and Katherine. She wasn’t any help as they got together in London, but they never seemed to match up to her. She mentions about his “private life is his private life.” Sounds like he is probably into guys. That’s the way they tend to lead with these shows when they say “private life.”
He questions about the drug SUX, what was used to kill Samantha and she or the Dr. could have done it.
Hmm…
Back with the Austenites. They are writing, while the Doctor. puts the moves on his secretary. We see an Austen scene in an Austen-themed episode for like 5 MINS!!! 5 MINS!!!!!!!!!
This is why most if us are watching!
Why would you only have a smidge of Austen and be going into drones and such???!!!
How does this make any sense?!!
So they look at where the drone delivered, but none went near where she was killed. But they aren’t the only one with drones. Hint hint…
They go to speak to Walter Osgood the last person Berry spoke to and former headmaster at the school who lost his job for capital punishment. He was caught on camera by a drone filmed by Doug Vaughn. Hmm, I thought Doug said that his drones had no cameras on it.
Walter shares that Doug hated James as they’ve been fighting a loooong time. They ask about Samantha, but Walter never met her. She called about when James and Katherine met.
At the time of the murder he said he was fishing and saw the Dr. over by the river. Ah…interesting! Polly said that he was seen sweaty and late to the picnic.
Hmmm…I don’t know it seems to easy…
They question the Doctor and he says they must be mistaken. They question about him getting medicine and he reveals that he takes the medicine. He was in a car accident and basically is like House but nicer.
He said he didn’t hear anyone, bur he did hear a drone.
Hmm, …
James meets with his brother-in-law. A drone watches them, filming. But before we cann see them doing anything, there is a commercial break of course.
We then see the beautiful house and James at the computer being emailed a threatening note “I SAW YOU” “DON”T IGNORE ME” and a picture of Samantha dead. A drone then flies up to the house carrying something. Weeeeell…I think it is obvious who is blackmailing James. Who else has drones and hates him.
And more importantly where is the Jane Austen!! Why are so focused on drones?
Hmm…
James goes to Doug thinking that he sent the emails. He wants James to invest in his drone company. Doug says he doesn’t know who sent the emails, but tries to blackmail him. Doug says that he will tell Kitty all about it.
Yep, he is cheating on his wife, most likely with a guy. I can already tell. There is no other it than a secret child. Maybe Samantha is his secret child-Nah it is an affair.
So while this is an okay mystery, I wish there was MORE Jane Austen in a Jane Austen themed episode. This mystery has nothing to do with it. When the older episodes did a theme, they really went all out. Like the magician episode, the movie one, etc. This kind of feels like they are just pandering to people to get them to watch it, but it has nothing to do with Jane Austen herself or the books. All we’ve had so far is one cameo by the guy who played Mr. Elliot in Persuasion (1995) and one Mr. Darcy reference. Like this episode could be switched out with anything else and would be exactly he same. I am not happy.
So back to this James is angry and shouts at Doug, Doug tells him you can’t bully me anymore. And I’m pretty bored.
Blah, blah
James storms out and Doug is mad his plan didn’t work. He threatens him not to ignore him. Walter heads out to the ball. James is preoccupied with what’s going on and wonders if they should have returned to the Grange. Kitty is in her own make believe world all is okay when it isn’t. Kitty is upset and talks to her sister who isn’t thinking her marriage is going all that well, either.
John and Winters dress up and they look sharp. John’s wife and the fill0in ME Petra arrive. Polly is serving all, the only one, and very unhappy-storms off. Nell tries to talk to James but he’s not having it and he storms off (must be where she learned it from).
Polly speaks on the phone to someone about having enough to get to Ibiza and mentions it takes two to get corsets off so she is romantically involved with someone.
So I’m watching this, and I realize that so far there has only been one death. That’s really odd. There is typically at least three.
They travel to where Polly was calling as they spotted her from the window and discover Samantha’s phone and a change of clothing.
The Doctor is trying to romance his secretary but she is unsure if he means it or play acting. Wow it is like that awesome movie, except a suckier version.
And just because we all need a little Austenland in our lives:
Barnaby’s wife talks about how Petra pointed out that there was a fire in the house, as the sides buckle from where there was intense heat. Gee amazing how that just happened to be this fill-in ME’s hobby. Now why this is relevant I don’t know but I do know it sure will be important later.
So who will die next Polly or James. I’m thinking Polly since she’s involved in some double dealing money scheme. At the party Ronin comes and kisses Polly, meanwhile a person in black and gloves steals a shotgun and shells.
John hears them and sees them through the mirror. Winters runs but doesn’t catch them, he gets hit by a car instead.
Huh?
The car stops and when they open it they find Gemma. Interesting…
They question Gemma who says she wanted to see the dresses and dancing, heard the shot and tried to takeoff before anyone spotted her. They take her down to be processed.
Polly checks on her dad who is drinking and down in the dumps. He apologizes for coming back and hugs her. HMMMM?
Hmm…
Barnaby decides that the shot was a warning and the fire is a new lead he needs to look into. Why? Why would he care about a fire? What does this have anything to do with Samantha Berry? Why would any cop decide to do this?? THIS EPISODE MAKES ZERO SENSE!!!!!!!!!! ZERO!!!!!!! ZERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m not happy
AND WHY IS THERE HARDLY ANY JANE AUSTEN!!! He hasn’t even read the books or watched the movies!!! Barnaby, the real one would have! Or he would have had Joyce do it and then summarize it for him!!!!
IT’S NOT WHAT I WANT!
A drone flies overhead and the pharmacist sends something off with Gemma. What are these ladies up to? Do I really care?
They got into Samantha’s phone which has an old picture 28 years ago of James, Kitty, and a guy named Fullerton who went to jail for arson 12 years ago and manslaughter as he killed a maid on accident. They can’t question him as he died a few months ago. Big shocker there, NOT!
John thinks the her in the note’s “Meet me I’ll tell you all about…her” might be something like brother? Maybe father?
Hmmm…
John and Winter go to question Kitty about the fire and Jamie Fullerton. Kitty doesn’t give that much info-a stone. A drone flies overhead and the coppers are off. Polly got a package. James goes to see Doug with a duffel bag-payoff. Doug needles him, and James storms off.
The cops head over to the lab just as James is leaving. They come to speak to Ronin about his “unofficial” business-using the drone for other deliveries
They question about Ronin lending Ray the drone, Ray who was the arresting officer, which is weird as why would they be friends. Ronin insists they were as Ray saved him from doing hard time.
To be honest I REALLY don’t care This episode is boring.
BORED!!
Ronin shares that he was flying the drone as he was filming for James, you know Austen footage to put on the website. He shares how he followed her and lost her in the woods, but found her dead. So why didn’t he share it with the officers?
The evidence was stolen in the lab break in, but he does remember seeing that the guy wore a blue jacket with a unicorn on it. But a ton of people have them as they gave them away for a walk for charity.
Hmm…
He asks Ray and Kitty’s sis about Johnny Fullerton. but no info.
Doug is angry that Ronin would betray him, and Ronin says he’s not long for here. He’ll be taking off with Polly. As soon as Doug is gone, Ronin goes upstairs and on his laptop. He looks into James’ file and sees that Doug has been spying on him and has a lot of pics. Then he sees something very important and dials someone. He sees who was wearing the coat!
Winters and John go to talk to Gemma. She lied about going to Oxford University, called it.
Ronin tells Polly he missed something and as he walks out he is followed by a drone. Ronin’s going to die. Ronin is telling someone he knows who killed Samantha when the drone drops a knife on him and he dies.
What’s going on?
John comes to check out Ray’s drone, but it is gone and Ray is “out”.
Winters goes to talk to the pharmacist and finds Gemma and the pharmacist. It turns out that they have been undermining the drone trial as Gemma and the pharmacist had their own side business of delivering.
So John questions Polly. Kitty interrupts saying she wants to help as she knows how complicated first love can be. I bet she was involved with James Fullerton.
They question Walter and James about Doug. The two don’t like him so why would James invest.
So after that we get hit with three important clues-1) Doug’s fingerprint was found on the shotgun, 2) the photo albums belonged to Kitty (where Samantha git the pics), and 3) James Fullerton Grange firebug was Samantha’s father. I think we can all see what the conclusion is, but let’s continue.
Ugh!
Samantha only met her father once-what did he say that brought her to the village.
Meanwhile, Doug has been following James-pretty obsessed with him.
Ry goes to see him and shows his video-them making out is my guess. Ray and Doug fight while the video plays, Doug manages to send it to Ray’s wife Nell and yep-the guys were making out.
I hope they lock Doug up-he’s a total creep. Stalking, harassment, blackmail,etc He tries to play it off that James deserved it but I don’t like him.
I don’t care for anyone on this episode.
Poor Nell. Why get married if you were into guys? Really? Seriously, why mess up her life and make her think something was wrong with her.
Back at the Grange nothing is quite right. The Dr. and Jane are trying to get together, he proposing to her. I DON’T CARE! Neither one acted like an “Austen” character and we spend zero time with them. Who cares?
James tells Kitty they HAVE TO TALK. Meanwhile they question Ray, but he lied about his whereabouts earlier. Both times of the deaths he went to see James
After the fire Ray and James were together, but when Kitty became pregnant from James he and Kitty went to London and Ray married Nell . Everything was fine until they came back, was it really though? I mean both men were living a lie and married a girls and ruined their lives.
Nell goes off to be with her sister who just found out the truth about her husband.
They question Ray about Johnny Fullerton and he tells them that Johnny loved Kitty, they were together until the fire. Johnny came to see Kitty after he was out of jail but she had left by then.
Meanwhile, Winters is going through the computer and finds a pic of the killer. We don’t get to see it though. All converge to the Grange so we can have a reveal.
Finally! This is almost over!
Kitty is heartbroken that he never loved her, that he married her even though he cared naught for her. Poor Kitty.
She grabs a torch and lights it going toward James. Is she going to set him on fire?
She puts the fire in his face to try and get the truth out of him .
Johnny Fullerton was Kitty’s first love.
Knew it. Johnny went to prison because Kitty started the fire. Knew that to, sooo obvious. Kitty got drunk, was crying, and knocked over an electric heater. It caught the curtains and the maid died. Why didn’t she say it was an accident? She would have easily gotten off. Dumb!
Johnny told Samantha about the fire and she started investigating. Nell killed Samantha, she used to be a nurse and wore her husband’s jacket.
Kitty finds out that Johnny came back to see her but Nell didn’t tell her to protect her. Kitty says why not and Nell said it was because she was married. Kitty says again why not as “I wasn’t happy” and it pans to James who his all offended. Really James, really?
You lied to her as you never loved her, was cheating on her, and is offended that she was unhappy in your marriage?
Both sisters go off to prison. Ugh.
Winter said he never read any Jane Austen and I think the writers of this episode didn’t either.
Did you even read the books! Or watch a movie?!!
It end with the Dr and Jane together-who cares we know zilch about them.
I didn’t like it.
I mean in the other Barnaby episodes you have ones that focused on archaeologist, writers, musicians, and they really concentrated on the theme this did not.
We knew hardly anything about these characters so I didn’t care who lived or died, the older episodes did far better. And there were only two deaths, usually there are three.
For those of you who might have missed the last post, Rational Creaturesis an anthology of short stories on the different women of Jane Austen:
But not just the main heroines-there are a few other side characters like Miss Bates-and of course a couple of bad girls like Mary Crawford and Mrs. Clay. Each story gives us a look at these rational creatures.
In Persuasion, Anne is the middle daughter of a Baron and is often ignored by her father who really only cares about himself. She becomes engaged to a naval soldier, but after speaking to her mother’s best friend, was persuaded it wasn’t the right decision.
Hmm…
Years pass, and another proposal, and Anne has grown older, wiser, and regretted turning her love down. With her father spending more than they have, they have to let the house, and the Admiral and Mrs. Croft rent it. Mrs. Croft’s brother, Captain Wentworth, comes to visit who happens to be the same soldier that she was engaged to! I don’t have to tell you that an interesting plot ensues!
I’ve only read a few adaptations of Persuasion and I’m excited to read this one. I like that there is a Mrs. Croft story.
An Unnatural Beginning by Elizabeth Adams
The story takes place before the events in Persuasion, starting when Charles Musgrove is trying to court Anne, but she is not interested, she still pines after Wentworth.
It’s not that Charles Musgrove is a bad man its just he isn’t the right man.
“He was a perfectly decent man. Kind, respectable, well-mannered. But alas, he possessed one fatal flaw that not even the best of manners could redeem.
He was not Frederick Wentworth.”
And being with Charles only makes her think even more when she met Commander Wentworth. He was visiting his brother in Monkford and Anne encounters him at a get-together and the two spend time together. She is completely struck by him.
With him
Back to the present, Charles continues to talk and court her, but she isn’t really present. The flame of her youth feels like it is dying.
Frederick proposes and Anne accepts, but then when she seeks advice-Lady Russell resoundly says no. I really enjoyed this part as all of Lady Russell’s arguments are extremely valid. I mean things could go wrong and she could become poor widow-a poor widow who’s father isn’t going to help out (you’ve seen him). Or she could have ended up like Mrs. Price, Fanny’s mom.
“A large and still increasing family, an[sic] husband disabled for active service, but not the less equal to company and good liquor, and a very small income to supply their wants…”
I really enjoyed how Adams makes Lady Russell not evil, cruel, or even a snob (just a touch snoby). And I liked how fear drove Anne’s decision to break it off with Wentworth, but it is an extremely relatable fear
I really liked that we got a view into both proposals, as I have always wanted to see how both went down. And raise your hand if you think Charles continued to pine after Anne even though he married her sister (that line about Sir Elliot moving Charles to take Mary off his hands was gold.)
Both hands are up!
But that ending though. It pierces the heart.
This story was so sad, absolutely heartbreaking, but in a god way. A real way. This was so relatable and I really loved the language used. One of my favorite parts is when she describes how she feels about her beauty and youth fading. I think we all feel that when we are disappointed, injured, or broken in love, that we used to be more fun, gregarious. etc. The whole thing was so good, so sad, so heartbreaking, and I think Jane would be proud. As for me:
I’m going to hide under the covers with my ice cream
Just kidding. It was a wonderful read, just get those tissues ready.
Where the Sky Touches the Sea by KaraLynne Mackrory
So this story picks up in the middle of Persuasion about chapter 8 before and after the dinner party. The Crofts are heading to out and their gig gets stuck in the mud, but they get through it together. This leads Mrs. Croft to think on their relationship and thier marriage.
This story was so cute and sad. But the good kind of sad. I don’t know how to review it without giving anything away. Just be prepared, if you are a crier-have tissues ready. It is just a sweet little story.
I’m so sad and happy!
I’ve always loved the Admiral and Mrs. Croft and it makes me love them more. One thing I love about Jane Austen is how she has these horrible marriages (like Charles and Mary Musgrove, Sir Walter, etc.) but then these amazing ones like he Crofts. I think Mackrory really got the heart of the characters and I loved her story.
So Mrs. Clay has an interesting backstory in this. She was “married” to a corrupt merchant who juggled the book and raked in every extra but he could. When things got too heated he took off, leaving Mrs. Clay with her two boys and nothing.
She heads home hiding her disgrace under the guise of widowhood and then implements herself into the Elliot household. It wasn’t her idea, but her father’s, the Elliot’s solicitor, as he wants her to gather intel on the Elliot’s expenditures and hopefully influence them to spend less.
Mrs. Clay does so and better than ever. She becomes Elizabeth’s best friend, so much that Sir Walter and Elizabeth choose to take her with them to Bath and leave Anne behind.
Ouch
Mrs. Clay can’t really stand either of them, but is thrilled that about her new position. So thrilled at how Sir Walter trusts and leans on her. With this new possibility opening up, now Mrs. Clay starts using all her wit to try and snare him. She doesn’t like him, but does like becoming a lady, having a father for her sons, prestige, etc. And to rub Elizabeth, Anne, and Lady Russell’s faces in it would be great as well.
Sucks to be you
Everything was going well until Mr. Elliot came to town.
Smarming and plotting away.
Yes, Mr. Elliot plans on seducing both sisters and Mrs. Clay away from Sir Walter. Will she resist or succumb?
Hmmm
I really enjoyed this as I always thought Mrs. Clay (like Charlotte Lucas) was cunning, although much shrewder, and a bit more a mistress of her fate than they show in adaptations. I like how the author made her witty and shrewd even though she wasn’t “educated”. (That line about Paris was hilarious). This was great and spot on-that ending was perfect.
“A lady would have said, ‘Sir! What do you take me for?’
I whispered, ‘Yes.”
She and Mr. Elliot deserve each other.
Good job!
And this was perfect right after the two sadder stories.
So we start this story after Louisa has had her fall. Louisa was very headstrong, stubborn, and always insisted on having her own way-
There was too much wind to make the high part of the new Cobb pleasant for the ladies, and they agreed to get down the steps to the lower, and all were contented to pass quietly and carefully down the steep flight, excepting Louisa; she must be jumped down them by Captain Wentworth. In all their walks, he had had to jump her from the stiles; the sensation was delightful to her. The hardness of the pavement for her feet, made him less willing upon the present occasion; he did it, however. She was safely down, and instantly, to show her enjoyment, ran up the steps to be jumped down again. He advised her against it, thought the jar too great; but no, he reasoned and talked in vain, she smiled and said, “I am determined I will:” he put out his hands; she was too precipitate by half a second, she fell on the pavement on the Lower Cobb, and was taken up lifeless! There was no wound, no blood, no visible bruise; but her eyes were closed, she breathed not, her face was like death. The horror of the moment to all who stood around!”
We start off with her recovering and North does a great job showing what it is like. My friend’s brother injured his head in a car accident and North was spot on with what they go through .
Louisa slowly recuperates, and who is by her side? Wentworth? No. Captain Benwick. Captain Benwick has a sad backstory, he fell in love with a woman who became sick and passed away. He hasn’t been able to do much since, but here he aids Louisa, by her side every moment, eating with her, reading to her, just all around supporting her.
So romantic! So cute!
The rest of her family feels awkward or unsettled or unsure what to do, but Benwick takes charge and helps.
Louisa has to relearn what to do, has violent headaches, a lot of trauma to noise, and seizures. Everyone thinks she is in love with Captain Wentworth, but Louisa has fallen head over heels (literally?) for Captain Benwick. Now how to convince him?
Hmmm….
Oh my gosh this story was so cute. I never really liked Louisa in Persuasion she just kind of annoyed me and of course we want Anne and Wentworth TOGETHER. But this gave a whole new spin and view on her. And I have always loved Captain Benwick, and I think this story just continued to show how wonderful a character and man he is. And they are so gosh darn cute together!!
“Are you certain?’…’Am I certain? No, my dear captain, it is far worse. I am determined.”
janeaustenrunsmylife 