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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-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
Nice lighthearted cozy mystery
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-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
The mystery part was good and interesting, but it wasn’t a great representation of the original book. Many of the characters acted in ways that don’t match the original and it fell into the trap of most historical fiction of trying too hard to match the time period that it’s unbelievable and seems forced. A cute book and a good intro to the cozy mystery genre but I’d probably prefer a non-Austen mystery and maybe a contemporary one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief
Minor: Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
What a pleasure it was to read a super faithful to Jane Austen's writing mystery, featuring Emma (formerly Woodhouse) Knightly as our sleuth. The plot is delicious and a bit silly.. The characters we love are all all present and accounted for, albeit one is dead. Yes. Ms. Kelly, who I have never read because I am not drawn to romance novels has brought us a mystery that extends the life of Emma and at least most of the characters from the original novel. I wonder, since this is Book 1, if we will feel worse about the next character to go or if she will spare us and kill a stranger.
People will like this book best if they have read Emma or have seen one or more of its many screen versions, but it's good without ever having known the characters. It is nicely plotted but not super hard to solve although some of the suspects seemed like possiblitties. And just the fun of watching the coroner and the constable themselves chase one suspect after another is worth the rather likely solution. Not that the bar was high, but it was nice to be smarter than those two.
Definitely 100% a rousing read this! As noted, I listened to the audio book of this and Polly Lee did a wonderful job.
People will like this book best if they have read Emma or have seen one or more of its many screen versions, but it's good without ever having known the characters. It is nicely plotted but not super hard to solve although some of the suspects seemed like possiblitties. And just the fun of watching the coroner and the constable themselves chase one suspect after another is worth the rather likely solution. Not that the bar was high, but it was nice to be smarter than those two.
Definitely 100% a rousing read this! As noted, I listened to the audio book of this and Polly Lee did a wonderful job.
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No