Secrets in the Snow: A Novel of Intrigue and Romance

By Michaela Maccoll

Jane Austen's family is eager to secure her future by marrying her off. But Jane is much more interested in writing her novels, and finds every suitor lacking—until the mysterious Mr. Lefroy arrives. Could he be the one? Before Jane can find out, she must solve a murder, clear her family's name, and face a decision that might cost her true love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chronicle Books Digital
• Release date: Oct 4, 2016
• ISBN: 9781452138022

Reviews for Secrets in the Snow

[curioussquared · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received Secrets in the Snow through the Early Reviewers program and have received a few of MacColl's other books this way, too. I've always enjoyed MacColl's lighthearted, fun spins on historical figures. While I enjoyed Secrets in the Snow, it fell a little flat for me compared to MacColl's other novels. The mystery seemed a little forced and the take on Jane Austen wasn't very believable and didn't seem very necessary. Other MacColl novels seem built around the historical figure they feature - this one felt kind of thrown in last minute. Maybe I'm being extra critical because I love Jane Austen!All in all, Secrets in the Snow was a fun, quick read, but not a MacColl novel I'll be revisiting.

[aya8herron · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Young Jane Austen is busy working on a draft of Elinor and Marianne when a family friend introduces her to a charming young man, Tom Lefroy. Jane is amused and annoyed at the prospect at the same time. Since the Austen family is poor, it is important for the daughters to be married off. However, clever Jane has a habit of turning every single suitor away. Before she has a chance to get to know Mr. Lefroy, mystery arrives by way of her sophisticated cousin. It seems the War Office is keeping an eye of the vivacious, beautiful widow. With clandestine meetings and a gruesome murder, readers will get plenty of mystery and suspense in this well-researched novel. The Bottom Line: This delightful imagining of a young Jane Austen is a fun, quick read sprinkled with romance and suspense. Recommended for teens and adults interested in historical fiction and Jane Austen.

[foggidawn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jane Austen is swept up into shocking events when her cousin Eliza's husband, who was reportedly guillotined a year ago, makes a surprise reappearance, demanding money from Eliza. When Jane finds his indisputably dead body the following day, can she solve the murder before the magistrate is called in and scandal envelopes the family?This was an interesting game of "what-if" about a historical figure. I found the various elements of the book (writing, character, plot) rather mediocre. It was a moderately enjoyable read, I'm not sorry that I read it, but I would only recommend it to those who devour all things related to Austen.

[liindasnow97 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

**Actual rating 3.75/5**Aw, this was such a cute read! I enjoyed reading Secrets in the Snow. I've been a fan of Jane Austen for about a year now, and he stories always warm my heart. Of course, I was really excited when I received a copy of this book.The book was alright. The romance and the daily life in the first 120 pages was really cute and kind of reminded me of Mr. Darcy and Lizzie's relationship. However, the mystery made the book duller when it appeared. Firstly, it was pretty obvious since the beginning who it was, and I feel like it needed more work. I didn't feel intrigued while reading it. I actually kept making plot twists in my head, thinking the answer couldn't be that obvious, but suddenly it was over and what seemed like the obvious was actually it.And COME ONE. Jane was the daughter of a reverend. Do you REALLY think she would have condoned a murderer? Why did people protect a person that killed? And why did they try to sell it as if it was the only good think they could do? I don't want to spoil anyone, so I won't say whodidit, but the reasons Jane gives to protect them are completely out of character (and stupid).Don't come to this book expecting mystery and amazing detective skills. I know the book may give that impression by its summary and blurb, but the actual "mystery" doesn't come around until we're on page 160-170, which only leaves around 60 pages for the whole "mysterious murder". Overall a nice read that may not fill the requirements for an unforgettable story, but doesn't make you feel like you lost your time. I would recommend any fan of Jane Austen (or anyone, really) to read it, because it did make me finish it in one day, which is something most books aren't able to do lately.

[ang709 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I love Jane Austen, and I enjoy mysteries, but the combination did not work well for me here. At times I felt I was switching back and forth between two books. For example, the scene where Jane went to visit George was sweet and gave us a chance to know Jane and Tom better. However, since it had nothing to do with the mystery surrounding Eliza, it didn't feel like it belonged here. And yet I felt the book's strongest scenes were those depicting Jane's every day life. If the author ever writes a book about Jane that does not include an mystery element, I would be very interested to read it, as she really made Jane's world come to life.Besides feeling that Jane Austen and mysteries don't fuse well, a couple of other factors detracted from my enjoyment of this book. Twice while reading this book my brain screamed at me, "Jane would never do that!" In those two instances it seemed Jane had been stripped of her moral decency. I know this is a work of fiction, but if I'm reading a book about Jane Austen, I want it to feel like she's acting in the way the real Jane would have.My final issue with this book is what seems to be the moral of the story: If you're mad at or hurt by someone, it's totally cool to kill them, as long as they're a bad person. If you disagree, you lack compassion.I can not recommend this book. In fact, I had some friends who are Jane Austen fans and wanted to read it but won't now for the reasons stated above.*Note* I received a copy of this book from Library Thing Early Reviewers for my honest opinion.

[hawaiianmermaid701 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this quick read!I loved getting to know Jane Austen when she was a young woman who had not been published yet. I really enjoyed having quotes from her novels as chapter headings, it gave some clues as to where the plot was heading and helped tie this book to her novels. The mystery was fun and led to an interesting conclusion! I wished that Jane hadn't been allowed by her brother to investigate the mystery so that there would have been a layer of sneaking around- which I personally enjoy.Honestly, the one thing I wasn't looking forward to was the romance. (Shocking-especially for me!) The thing is I already knew how it would pan out because I have read about Jane Austen's life. I didn't want to get invested in character's lives just to be sad at the end. All in all, it was a good book! I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun mystery and a quick read!

[bucketofrhymes · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received a free copy of Secrets in the Snow in exchange for an honest review as part of the Early Reviewers program -- thank you!This is an absolutely delightful book, for people looking for an intro to Jane Austen and devoted fans alike. Jane is a clever, strong main character. And, perhaps best of all, she gets a chance to shine in her own story -- not a retelling, not a biographical tale, but a full-fledged mystery filled with conspiracies and murder. And, of course, the romance was everything I would expect from something associated with Jane Austen's name.Overall, an engaging read!

[nekomonster · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Recovering from a very bad cold, restless and unable to sleep or focus on anything too involved, this book was just the right thing. I liked the weight of the book (heavy for such a small volume) and quality of the page stock. Story in itself was perfect for someone not really a Jane Austen fan and left me curious to learn more about this famous author. The end was a little fast but I did enjoy the build up.

[vampiregirl76 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When I received this book, I hadn't heard of it. I wasn't sure I was gonna read it. But when I read it involved Jane Austen, it definitely peaked my interest. This was a wonderful read for me. I loved the mystery and intrigue that Secrets in the Snow offered. I would have loved to seen more Jane and Lefroy, other than that it was great. Ms. MacColl does an amazing job bring Jane Austen and her world to life. If you love Jane Austen and a good mystery, this one is for you.On a side note if you want more Jane Austen and Mr. Lefroy I would suggest the movie Becoming Jane. I recently watched it and loved it.

[bearette24 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. It was better written than most Austen spinoffs. In this story, Jane is an avid writer, not yet published, who becomes enmeshed in a murder mystery. Tom Lefroy, which whom Jane may have had a romance in real life, is also a character in the story. (This made me remember the movie, Becoming Jane, but the plot of this novel is very different). I would definitely try another book by this author, although it looks like most of her previous books are YA.

[vesper1931 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jane Austen's visit to her brother home at Godmersham Park is cut short because of worries over her cousin Eliza and the belief by the Government that she is a French spy. With Eliza and Jane at home at Steventon, life gets complicated for Jane with the arrival of Tom Lefroy.
A delightful well-written cozy mystery