The Tale of Two Elizabeth Blakes
Before diving into the reading orders, it is crucial to resolve a common point of confusion for mystery and romance readers alike. There are actually two distinct authors publishing under the name Elizabeth Blake. While their books are occasionally grouped together on online retail platforms, their genres, settings, and writing styles could not be more different.
The first author is Elizabeth Blake, a pen name for Carole Buggé. Buggé is a New York-based creative writing professor at New York University who uses this pseudonym to write lighthearted, literary-themed cozy mysteries, most notably her Jane Austen Society Mystery series. Under other names like Carole Lawrence and C.E. Lawrence, she writes historical thrillers and crime fiction.
The second author is Elizabeth Blake, who also publishes under the name Josephine Blake. Based in Portland, Oregon, she is a graphic designer and USA Today bestselling author who uses the Elizabeth/Josephine Blake moniker to write dark, atmospheric Victorian Gothic romances, specifically the Hands of Fate series. Knowing which author you are reading will help you set the right expectations for your next book.
Recommended Reading Path: Where to Start?
Because these series are completely unrelated, your starting point depends entirely on your preferred genre:
- For Cozy Mystery Fans: Start with Pride, Prejudice, and Poison (2019). This is the first book in the Jane Austen Society Mystery series, introducing the character of Erin Coleridge. It is light, witty, and perfect for fans of English village mysteries and classic literature.
- For Gothic and Romantic Thriller Fans: Start with A Brush with Death (2018/2023). This launches the Hands of Fate series, set in the dark, gritty streets of 1888 London. It features paranormal elements, romantic suspense, and a much darker tone.
1. A Jane Austen Society Mystery Series (Cozy Mysteries)
Written by Carole Buggé under the Elizabeth Blake pseudonym, this series is set in the picturesque town of Kirkbymoorside in North Yorkshire, England. The stories revolve around Erin Coleridge, an antiquarian bookstore proprietor who somehow always finds herself in the middle of local murder investigations connected to the Jane Austen Society.
Publication and Chronological Order
This series should be read in order of publication, as character relationships and the overarching story of Erin's life in the village progress chronologically across the books.
- Pride, Prejudice, and Poison (2019): Erin Coleridge is drawn into the drama of the local Jane Austen Society when its president, Sylvia Pemberthy, is poisoned during a meeting. Erin must team up with local detective inspector Peter Montgomery to clear her own name and find the real killer among a cast of eccentric suspects.
- Death and Sensibility (2021): During a Jane Austen conference held at a historic Yorkshire manor, another death occurs under mysterious circumstances. Erin once again puts her deductive skills to the test, navigating literary rivalries, family secrets, and hidden motives.
2. The Hands of Fate Series (Gothic Victorian Romances)
Written by the Portland-based Elizabeth Blake (Josephine Blake), this series transports readers to Victorian London in 1888. These books blend historical romance, gothic suspense, and paranormal elements, often featuring characters operating on the fringes of society or dealing with supernatural forces during the era of Jack the Ripper.
Publication and Chronological Order
While each book features a different central couple and a self-contained romance, they are tied together by their shared 1888 setting and recurring themes of destiny, art, and survival. Reading them in order of publication is recommended to fully appreciate the atmospheric progression of the series.
- A Brush with Death (2018 / Re-released 2023): The story follows Isabel Vanderton, a dying heiress stalked by madness and pursued by Death himself as a literal, persistent suitor. Set against the backdrop of the Ripper murders, Isabel must fight for her soul and her heart.
- A Twist of Fortune (2018 / Re-released 2023): This installment follows Luca Deval, a mysterious man living in the shadows of a traveling circus, who becomes entangled in a dangerous plot involving the kidnapping of a Duke's fiancée.
- A String of Lies (2024): Centered on Ginevra Allen, a talented violinist in London who is pulled back into the dangerous, glittering world of the aristocracy following the suspicious death of her secret fiancé.
What to Know Before You Start
If you are planning to read the Jane Austen Society Mysteries, expect a classic cozy formula: a smart amateur sleuth, a charming small-town English setting, quirky villagers, a slow-burn romance with a local detective, and no graphic violence. The puzzles are intellectual, often requiring a bit of literary trivia to solve.
Conversely, the Hands of Fate series is highly atmospheric, featuring dark, foggy London alleys, intense emotional stakes, supernatural elements (like the personification of Death), and sensual romance. It is much closer in tone to classic gothic novels like Jane Eyre or modern paranormal historical romances than a traditional whodunit.
Carole Buggé's Other Mysteries
If you enjoy the writing style of the cozy mystery Elizabeth Blake, you may want to check out the books she publishes under her other names. Under Carole Lawrence, she writes the popular Ian Hamilton Mystery series, beginning with Edinburgh Twilight (2017), which follows a police detective in late Victorian Scotland. Under C.E. Lawrence, she writes the Lee Campbell series, which are modern, fast-paced forensic thrillers set in New York City.