No one has ever been able to provide a satisfactory explanation for the tragically early death of Jane Austen. This intriguing novel delves into the private lives of the Austen family and comes up with a new and shocking possibility...Miss Anne Sharp holds the position of governess at the Godmersham home of Edward Austen. She becomes friendly with his literary sister, Jane, when the latter arrives for an extended stay. Also a frequent visitor is a younger Austen brother, the maverick Henry. Anne becomes convinced that Henry is having an illicit affair with her employers wife and Jane too has her suspicions on this account.When Jane Austen dies at the age of just 41, Anne is devastated. She begins to suspect that someone wanted her out of the way because she knew too much. Her fears are heightened by the death of yet another family member soon after.The story opens with two letters establishing that Anne has sought to confirm her suspicions now that medical science has progressed sufficiently to assess the evidence presented by a tainted lock of Jane Austens hair. Natural causes or murder? Even after more than twenty years, Miss Sharp is determined to get to the bottom of the mysterious death of the acclaimed Miss Austen ...A speculative exploration of the circumstances that might have precipitated the tragically early death of one of historys greatest writers.Details of Austens life and illness taken from her own and relatives correspondence.Lindsay Ashford is an established crime writer now living and working at the heart of the Jane Austen heritage movement Chawton House in HampshireFrom the author of the acclaimed Megan Rhys crime series: shortlisted for the Theakstons Old Peculier Award.Will appeal to fans of Austens work and its contemporary sequels tapping into enduring fascination with the author, her work and her life.
