Curious about the title? Well, I absolutely love it when an author writes a book that treats me as an adult. I came across this word while reading this book and it stopped me in my tracks. Naturally I had to look it up. Here's what I found: quotidian - 1. daily; of every day; 2. commonplace; trivial. And I can tell you this book is definitely not commonplace or trivial. It is a delicious, exciting mystery story written in the style of Jane Austen. If you love Jane and all things regarding Jane, this book will give you hours of reading pleasure. If you have yet to make a foray into the fascinating world of Austen fan fiction, this can be your very satisfactory starting point.

How could I lose with a novel that combines two of my very favorite subjects? Stephanie Barron has one of the best Jane Austen voices I've read in a long time and she mixes that with an honestly good mystery. The characters are a mixture of true and fictionalized characters with very good descriptions of the places and culture of 1813 England. Jane has convinced her brother Henry that what he needs to help him over the first dark period of grief for his wife Eliza is a short stay in Brighton. Henry repays her kind solicitude by suggesting that she accompany him. On the trip to Brighton Jane rescues a young woman who is being kidnapped by none other than George Gordon, Lord Byron. Has the man gone mad? How did this young girl who is probably fifteen years old become the prisoner of the man who is the toast of all England and the favorite of the ton? I love mysteries and I read a lot of them so I'm really glad to say that the plotting for this story was well thought out and made me work hard for the solution. Definitely not an obvious murderer who stood out in the first moments of being introduced into the narrative.

Given that I've stated so many things I enjoyed about the book you may be wondering why I have assigned four stars instead of what you might have expected, the full five stars. Well, it is simply because the mystery took quite some time to show up. Granted the novel was interesting and I was enjoying it, but ultimately I wanted the mystery to begin. And it didn't for a little too long. I understand why, but it still made me a little restive. Once it began though, it was absolutely perfect from my standpoint. I do highly recommend this title as well as the other books in this series. References are made throughout the book to other mysteries Jane has been involved in and they are sure to pique your interest also.