Tomorrow, September 10, marks the release of a new Jane Austen Mystery Anthology. Crime and Culpability features seven short story mysteries, including one from our own Always Austen author, Riana Everly, as well as Jeanette Watts, Elizabeth Gilliland, Michael Rands, Linné Elizabeth, Emma Dalgety, and me. I also wrote the book’s foreward.
My story 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 have been called 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
*****************************
8th Annual Dixie Kane Memorial ~ SOLA Finalist
*****************************
2014 Yellow Rose Romance Writers ~ 2nd Place Romantic Suspense
**********************
Honorable Mention – General Fiction 2023 San Francisco Book Festival
************************
2024 Mystery/Suspense – Romantic Suspense – Finalis
*******************************
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
*********************
2015 Finalist for the Frank Yerby Award for Fiction
***************************
2016 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense
**************************
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 . . .
Lady Glynis and the Earl
The Marchioness’s Madness
Lyon in the Way (June 18, 2025)
Lyon’s Obsession (September 17, 2025)
Lyon in Disguise (December 17, 2025)
Lost in the Lyon’s Garden (March 18, 2026)
Lyon on the Inside (June 20, 2026)
Leave a Reply