Tomorrow, September 10, marks the release of a new Jane Austen Mystery Anthology. Crime and Culpability features seven short story mysteries, including ones from Riana Everly, Jeanette Watts, Elizabeth Gilliland, Michael Rands, Linné Elizabeth, Emma Dalgety, and me. I also wrote the book’s foreward.

Crime and Culpability: A Jane Austen Mystery Anthology 

“No one can withstand the charm of such a mystery.” – Jane Austen, Persuasion

Jane Austen mysteries have become a popular subgenre of Austen variations, but this is more than just a trend. Austen was a masterful storyteller who embedded clues within her stories for her readers to follow, inviting readers to read between the lines and “gather the evidence” to follow her intricate plot lines.

In this anthology, various authors who are also fans and admirers of Austen’s work have taken the challenge to add some mystery to Austen’s stories and characters. From Regency sequels to film noir retellings to cozy art heists, Crime and Culpability: A Jane Austen Mystery Anthology explores the many faces of Austen and all of her enigmas.

Featuring stories by Regina Jeffers, Riana Everly, Jeanette Watts, Michael Rands, Linne Elizabeth, Emma Dalgety, and Elizabeth Gilliland, with a foreword by Regina Jeffers and an introduction by Elizabeth Gilliland Rands.

Purchase Links:

Kindle https://www.amazon.com/Crime-Culpability-Austen-Mystery-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0D6JQN6JL

Available to Read on Kindle Unlimited 

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/books/crime-culpability-a-jane-austen-mystery-anthology-by-regina-jeffers-and-elizabeth-gilliland

Like most of my mysteries, they are what are called “cozies.” Cozy mysteries find their roots in the early 20th century with authors such as Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie. They were typically British and were in total opposition to the American fascination with gritty crime novels being written. This was extended to include whodunits by Rex Stout and Ellery Queen, etc.

A cozy mystery has no gruesome deaths, sex, profanity, or abuse. The protagonist is an amateur sleuth, with no particular training in police style work. Rather, the person is often in a position/occupation to “overhear conversations” on a regular basis. The protagonists are likable; the antagonists are despicable, but not evil. The settings of a cozy mystery can be anywhere, but they are often set in smaller communities where everyone knows each other. For example, in The Phantom of Pemberley, everyone was snowed in at Pemberley and there was no way out. In The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy, the action takes place around the Fitzwilliam estate in Scotland. Novel Suspects tells us, when it comes to the crimes, “no on-the-page violence, murder, sex, or swearing are the tenets of the cozy mystery genre. While protagonists can and often do encounter some kind of peril in the course of their sleuthing, that peril is never exceptionally violent or dark.”

My story for the anthology is entitled “Order and Disorder,” and it features a character I have used previously, one Thomas Cowan, a former “Bow Street Runner” who became a private investigator. For those of you not familiar with the term, the Bow Street Runners were the law enforcement officers of the Bow Street Magistrates’ Court in the City of Westminster. (See Elaine Owen’s piece for more information on the Runners – To Catch a Thief.) They are often considered to be London’s first professional police force. The force originally numbered six men and was founded in 1749 by magistrate Henry Fielding, who was also well known as an author. His assistant, brother, and successor as magistrate, John Fielding, moulded the constables into a professional and effective force. Bow Street Runners was the public’s nickname for the officers, although the officers did not use the term themselves and considered it derogatory. The group was disbanded in 1839, and its personnel merged with the Metropolitan Police, which had been formed ten years earlier. As the Runners proved a successful format and the crime rate was reduced, they took on positions outside of London proper, sometimes chasing criminals across England.

My readers were first introduced to Thomas Cowan in The Mysterious Death of Mr. Darcy. Cowan was a former soldier under Colonel Fitzwilliam’s command, and he travels with the colonel to assist Darcy in discovering who has killed Darcy’s cousin. If you like a “Sherlock Holmes” type of character, you will enjoy Thomas Cowan. He sees things others do not see.

Fitzwilliam Darcy is devastated. The joy of his recent wedding has been cut short by the news of the sudden death of his father’s beloved cousin, Samuel Darcy. Elizabeth and Darcy travel to Dorset, a popular Regency resort area, to pay their respects to the well-traveled and eccentric Samuel. But this is no summer holiday. Danger bubbles beneath Dorset’s peaceful surface as strange and foreboding events begin to occur. Several of Samuel’s ancient treasures go missing, and then his body itself disappears. As Darcy and Elizabeth investigate this mystery and unravel its tangled ties to the haunting legends of Dark Dorset, the legendary couple’s love is put to the test when sinister forces strike close to home. Some secrets should remain secrets, but Darcy will do all he can to find answers—even if it means meeting his own end in the damp depths of a newly dug grave.

With malicious villains, dramatic revelations and heroic gestures, The Mysterious Death of Mr. Darcy will keep Austen fans turning the pages right up until its dramatic conclusion.

Augusta Literary Festival  ~ 2014 Yerby Award for Fiction Finalist

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8th Annual Dixie Kane Memorial ~ SOLA Finalist

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2014 Yellow Rose Romance Writers ~ 2nd Place Romantic Suspense

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Honorable Mention – General Fiction 2023 San Francisco Book Festival

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2024 Mystery/Suspense – Romantic Suspense – Finalis

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Thomas has a larger and more important role in The Prosecution of Mr. Darcy’s Cousin.

Fitzwilliam Darcy is enjoying his marital bliss. His wife, the former Elizabeth Bennet has presented him two sons and a world of contentment. All is well until “aggravation” rears its head when Darcy receives a note of urgency from his sister Georgiana. In truth, Darcy never fully approved of Georgiana’s joining with their cousin, Major General Edward Fitzwilliam, for Darcy assumed the major general held Georgiana at arm’s length, dooming Darcy’s sister to a life of unhappiness.

Dutifully, Darcy and Elizabeth rush to Georgiana’s side when the major general leaves his wife and daughter behind, with no word of his whereabouts and no hopes of Edward’s return. Forced to seek his cousin in the slews of London’s underbelly, at length, Darcy discovers the major general and returns Fitzwilliam to his family.

Even so, the Darcys’ troubles are far from over. During the major general’s absence from home, witnesses note Fitzwilliam’s presence in the area of two horrific murders. When Edward Fitzwilliam is arrested for the crimes, Darcy must discover the real culprit before his cousin is hanged and the Fitzwilliam name marked with shame.

2015 Just Jane Reviewer’s Favorite JAFF Mystery Award 

More Agreeably Engaged FavoriteBooks of 2015

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2015 Finalist for the Frank Yerby Award for Fiction

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2016 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense

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Finalist in Historical Mystery 

2016 Finalist for Mystery and Mayhem
The Chanticleer International Book Awards

I have another novel planned where Thomas Cowan finally discovers a woman he could trust and love, but it is only in the planning stages, so all must wait a bit longer. I have so many books in various stages of writing, it is not even a bit humorous any more.

I am going to finish this post by “tooting my own horn,” for I am pushing the number “70” for novels written and published. You may find all my books on my Regina Jeffers Website (each with a book blurb, an excerpt and purchase links and separated into JAFF and Regency and Contemporary). In case, you lost count or need to check which ones you have read and which you missed, here they are:

Other Novels from Regina Jeffers 

Jane Austen-Inspired Novels 

Darcy’s Passions: Pride and Prejudice Retold Through His Eyes

Darcy’s Temptation: A Pride and Prejudice Sequel 

Captain Frederick Wentworth’s Persuasion: Jane Austen’s Classic Retold Through His Eyes

Vampire Darcy’s Desire: A Pride and Prejudice Paranormal Adventure

The Phantom of Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery

Christmas at Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Holiday Sequel

The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery

The Mysterious Death of Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery

The Prosecution of Mr. Darcy’s Cousin: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery

Mr. Darcy’s Fault: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

Mr. Darcy’s Bargain: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

Mr. Darcy’s Present: A Pride and Prejudice Holiday Vagary

Mr. Darcy’s Brides: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

Mr. Darcy’s Bet: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

Mr. Darcy’s Inadvertent Bride: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

Elizabeth Bennet’s Deception: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

Elizabeth Bennet’s Excellent Adventure: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

Elizabeth Bennet’s Gallant Suitor: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

The Pemberley Ball: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

A Dance with Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

The Road to Understanding: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

Pride and Prejudice and a Shakespearean Scholar: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

Where There’s a FitzWILLiam Darcy, There’s a Way: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

In Want of a Wife: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

Losing Lizzy: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

The Mistress of Rosings Park: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

Pemberley’s Christmas Governess: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

Amending the Shades of Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

Mr. Darcy and the Designing Woman: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

The Colonel’s Ungovernable Governess: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

Honor and Hope: A Contemporary Pride and Prejudice 

Order and Disorder: A Pride and Prejudice Short Story Mystery

Regency and Contemporary Novels 

The Scandal of Lady Eleanor: Book 1 of the Realm Series (aka A Touch of Scandal)

A Touch of Velvet: Book 2 of the Realm Series

A Touch of Cashémere: Book 3 of the Realm Series 

A Touch of Grace: Book 4 of the Realm Series 

A Touch of Mercy: Book 5 of the Realm Series 

A Touch of Love: Book 6 of the Realm Series 

A Touch of Honor: Book 7 of the Realm Series

A Touch of Emerald: Book 8 of the Realm Series 

His American Heartsong: A Companion Novel to the Realm Series 

His Irish Eve

Angel Comes to the Devil’s Keep: Book 1 of the Twins’ Trilogy

The Earl Claims His Comfort: Book 2 of the Twins’ Trilogy

Lady Chandler’s Sister: Book 3 of the Twins’ Trilogy

The Heartless Earl: A Common Elements Romance Novel

I Shot the Sheriff: A Tragic Heroes in Classic Lit Series Novel 

Captain Stanwick’s Bride: A Tragic Heroes in Classic Lit Series Novel 

Lady Joy and the Earl: A Second-Chance Regency Romance 

Letters from Home: A Regency Romance 

Courting Lord Whitmore: A Regency May-December Romance 

Last Woman Standing: A Regency Christmas Romance 

The Courtship of Lord Blackhurst: A Regency Romance 

Lord Radcliffe’s Best Friend: A Regency Friends to Lovers Romance 

The Jewel Thief and the Earl: A Regency Romance 

His Christmas Violet: A Regency Second Chance Romance 

The Earl’s English Rose: A Regency Summer Romance

Bell, Book and Wardrobe: A Regency Romance

Loving Lord Lindmore: Book 1 of Strong Regency Women Duo

Taming Lord Truist: Book 2 of Strong Regency Women Duo

Beautified by Love: Two Regency Novellas 

Something in the Air: Two Regency Novellas

Escape to Love: Two Regency Novellas

Two Earls to Love: Two Regency Novellas

Second Chances: The Courtship Wars 

One Minute Past Christmas, a Holiday Short Story

Coming Soon . . .  

Obsession: The One Where the Princess Saves Herself 

Lady Glynis and the Earl

The Marchioness’s Madness

an upcoming Regency romance mystery series (5 books in total)

GIVEAWAY: I have one eBook copy of Crime and Culpability available for those who comment on this post. The winner will be chosen on Friday, September 13. Friday the 13th seems like a good day to read a mystery anthology. Good Luck!