Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale

This book has a magical premise - there is a place called Austenland where modern romance-starved adults can experience Regency England, a place where Fashion Bug-attired women can change into empire-waisted gowns and spend their days in the leisurely manner of Jane Austen characters. Well, that's the place Shannon Hale writes about, again, in "Midnight in Austenland," this novel that is not quite a sequel to her previous book on the topic. This time, the heroine of the book is a divorced mother of two called Charlotte Kinder, who goes to Austenland as a vacation from the troubles and sorrows of her real life.

Unlike Hale's first "Austenland" novel, this book is more mystery than history. Charlotte has these "Inner Thoughts," which drive her forward into all kinds of dangerous ~ventures. Since there is no TV or other electronic amusement in this artificial 18th century world, the small group gathered at Pembrook Park play
a game called "Bloody Murder." But Charlotte does find a dead body during the hide-and-seek game which takes place in the darkened manor house. She doubts herself, and then has a hard time figuring out who to trust as she puts the pieces in the murder mystery together. She is almost killed twice, but figures out what really happened to vulgar Mr. Wattlesbrook by the end.

And yes, Charlotte does have a romantic encounter or two during her weeks in Austenland, finally ending up with the actor who was playing her brother in the fantasy scenario. And while she is willing to leave him behind in order to return to her children (who are staying with the ex-husband in the States), her relationship with the murderer means she has to remain in England as the chief prosecution witness. Being a good mother, she arranges for her children to come stay with
her there.

This is not as good a book as "Austenland." But Hale has several clever turns of phrase. Still, for me, the "Inner Thoughts" voice is maddening by the end of the book, and many times, Hale is just trying too hard to be clever. For example, this quote from the middle of the book. "Suddenly, her lungs did fine imitations of rabid dogs, snarling and snapping at her. MUST HAVE AIR, they said. Her eyeballs hurt, the cold pressure of the water unbearable. She released her held breath in a flurry of bubbles and beat her way to the surface." Not impossible to read through, but harder to read than it needs to be in such a light-weight novel.

As an Austen-related book, "MIA" is guaranteed some fans. And while a pleasant diversion for people who are not "lost in Austen," for me it is not Hale's best effort. It feels forced, as if her agent (or the public) demanded another book about this world of Austenland.

Submitted by Gerti