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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
An interesting murder, if a bit too aligned with the original jane Austen book .
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Review to follow
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Sexism, Blood
Minor: Misogyny, Classism
Newly married to magistrate George Knightley, Emma finds her idyllic life shattered when Mrs. Elton’s corpse is discovered at the local church, her necklace stolen. As a murder mystery unfolds in the tranquil village of Highbury, Emma uses her wit and connections to navigate her own discreet investigation, protect the innocent, and unmask the ruthless killer.
This historical cozy mystery is a treat for Austen fans. It’s fun to see Emma up to her old tricks and to revisit the denizens of Highbury. The book is fast-paced, clever, and kept me guessing until the end.
Thanks, NetGalley for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This historical cozy mystery is a treat for Austen fans. It’s fun to see Emma up to her old tricks and to revisit the denizens of Highbury. The book is fast-paced, clever, and kept me guessing until the end.
Thanks, NetGalley for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
mysterious
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
An Emma sequel where it is now 1815. One Saturday, Mrs Emma Knightley, wife of the local magistrate, and her friend Mrs Harriet Martin entered the local church only to find the body of Mrs Elton, the vicar's wife, presumably murdered. Emma disagreeing with the direction the local constable and coroner takes decides to become involved or meddle as is her wont.
An entertaining and well-written cozy historical mystery with its cast of likable and easily recognisable characters. A good start to which will hopefully be a new series.
An entertaining and well-written cozy historical mystery with its cast of likable and easily recognisable characters. A good start to which will hopefully be a new series.
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A whodunit involving Emma & George Knightley? Yes please! I adored this Regency mystery! Vanessa Kelly brilliantly captured the essence of Jane Austen’s beloved couple so well. It felt like a natural extension of Emma with a mystery that kept me completely enthralled.
When Emma & her friend Harriet Martin discover the body of their nemesis Mrs. Augusta Elton in the church, it’s apparent she’s been murdered. But, which of the people she ran afoul with could have done such a thing in their tranquil town of Highbury? With Knightley as the magistrate, it’s up to him and his somewhat inept constables to investigate the crime. When an old, seemingly harmless friend is accused of the murder, Emma sets out to discover the truth.
I loved this mystery! It was so fun revisiting all the familiar characters of Jane Austen’s much loved Emma. From Emma & Knightley, Frank & Jane Churchill, the Martins, Miss Bates, & Emma’s father, to the annoying Mr. Elton, I felt like I was reacquainting myself with old familiar friends. The mystery kept me guessing with each new clue Emma discovers. There are quite a few suspects, and while I guessed who it might be fairly quickly, I was riveted leading up to the dramatic conclusion.
Highly recommend this lovely cozy Regency mystery, especially to Jane Austen fans. I’m hoping Emma & Knightley find another mystery to investigate, maybe that elusive poultry thief… I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher. All opinions are my own & voluntarily provided.
CW: a few instances of mild swearing, brief violence, mild description of murder scene.
When Emma & her friend Harriet Martin discover the body of their nemesis Mrs. Augusta Elton in the church, it’s apparent she’s been murdered. But, which of the people she ran afoul with could have done such a thing in their tranquil town of Highbury? With Knightley as the magistrate, it’s up to him and his somewhat inept constables to investigate the crime. When an old, seemingly harmless friend is accused of the murder, Emma sets out to discover the truth.
I loved this mystery! It was so fun revisiting all the familiar characters of Jane Austen’s much loved Emma. From Emma & Knightley, Frank & Jane Churchill, the Martins, Miss Bates, & Emma’s father, to the annoying Mr. Elton, I felt like I was reacquainting myself with old familiar friends. The mystery kept me guessing with each new clue Emma discovers. There are quite a few suspects, and while I guessed who it might be fairly quickly, I was riveted leading up to the dramatic conclusion.
Highly recommend this lovely cozy Regency mystery, especially to Jane Austen fans. I’m hoping Emma & Knightley find another mystery to investigate, maybe that elusive poultry thief… I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher. All opinions are my own & voluntarily provided.
CW: a few instances of mild swearing, brief violence, mild description of murder scene.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing, Violence
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Absolutely loved this! Characters and relationships were true to original while telling a new story. I particularly liked Mr. Woodhouse. Also managed to included poultry thieves. Knightley and Emma as a married couple was totally believable. Was nice to see them making the situation of living with Emma's father work. Mystery kept me guessing to the end. Just a fabulous read! So happy to have gotten print ARC.
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
When Jane Austen’s delightful Matchmaker stumbles on a body, Emma finds a new interest to devote her time. Vanessa Kelly has written some engaging historical romantic suspenses, but I was over the top thrilled when she took up her pen to write a murder mystery and sequel set in the world of Jane Austen’s Emma.
Attractive to both devotees of Austen or those who have never picked up one of her books or the movie adaptions, Murder in Highbury, takes readers into the Regency Era world of the classic novel Emma. The time is about a year after the final events of that book and Emma Knightley has settled into newly married life as leading lady of Highbury village and looking after her hypochondrial aging parent. She gave up her matchmaking ways, but now she and her friend, Harriet Martin stumble across the body of the vicar’s wife, Mrs. Elton, and her death was no accident. Emma’s keen observations and quick wit note evidence that her admiring husband who is magistrate gladly accepts and the coroner and the local constable don’t appreciate. George Knightley would rather Emma stay out of the investigation, but he can’t deny his wife is a good investigator since she knows all the principle people and can get more from the witnesses and suspects just being her sunny, caring, and interested self.
It didn’t take me long to cotton to the truth, but that didn’t diminish my enjoyment of being along as Emma poked into the lives of the locals and slowly worked the evidence and witness accounts to the surprising truth. Vanessa Kelly did an outstanding job creating the authentic historical backdrop, but also recreating Austen’s characters and world of her novel. She claimed to love this novel best and this shines through the story as Emma shows she has come into her own after the missteps she experienced before her marriage and she has a true loving and respectful partnership with George Knightley who balances out wanting to keep her safely out of danger and out of the official investigation, but acknowledging and using her superior skills that the official investigators lack.
Murder in Highbury was all I was hoping it would be and I really hope this becomes a series with more Emma the detecting Matchmaker in it. Those who enjoy historical cozy mysteries and also those who want an Austen novel sequel with a murder included should add this to their reading lists.
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Vanessa Kelly brought back all of our favorite characters from Jane Austen’s - this time to solve the murder of one of their own. Per usual, Emma is meddling in the best way possible. I absolutely loved this book and this concept and found myself kicking my feet and giggling at the witty banter between Emma and Mr. Knightley, just as I did in the original novel. I recommend this book for anyone who loves Jane Austen retellings and is looking for a cozy murder mystery vibe!