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nose_in_a_book 's review for:
The Murder of Mr. Wickham
by Claudia Gray
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This book was charming in a lot of ways especially the relationship between Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney. It's also incredibly impressive how natural 12 different perspectives felt without ever feeling chaotic or unnecessary. If you like cozy mystery shows like Murder, She Wrote or Midsommer Murders, you'll sink right into this one.
Despite enjoying it, I had mixed feelings on how the book handled diversity. There are certain restraints that an author trying to tell a story in an existing world has to work within. The sexism found frequently throughout the book, for instance, is baked into the source material and would be inauthentic to remove. Much like how Austen challenged the senseless nature of sexism in the past, Gray endevors to do the same in present day.
I believe she also tried to do that with the homophobia subplot but much like her antiquated use of the g word for Roma people, I honestly think that absolutely nothing would have been lost from just not including it in the first place. Reading how disgusting my lifestyle is in the middle of what is otherwise a very light piece was disorienting to say the least. It put me on edge until the situation was resolved many pages later. That's not what I want out of a cozy read.
On the other hand, Gray handles the autistic-coding of Jonathan with a deft hand. It feels authentic to the world without being othering as a reader. I didn't feel like she had to sacrifice the world in order to maintain modern views.
As a queer, autistic woman, this combination of things made me feel simultaneously seen and unwanted which was a strange sensation. I finished the book invested in Jonathan and Juliet to the point where I will likely read the next one but it is with a wary edge.
Despite enjoying it, I had mixed feelings on how the book handled diversity. There are certain restraints that an author trying to tell a story in an existing world has to work within. The sexism found frequently throughout the book, for instance, is baked into the source material and would be inauthentic to remove. Much like how Austen challenged the senseless nature of sexism in the past, Gray endevors to do the same in present day.
I believe she also tried to do that with the homophobia subplot but much like her antiquated use of the g word for Roma people, I honestly think that absolutely nothing would have been lost from just not including it in the first place. Reading how disgusting my lifestyle is in the middle of what is otherwise a very light piece was disorienting to say the least. It put me on edge until the situation was resolved many pages later. That's not what I want out of a cozy read.
On the other hand, Gray handles the autistic-coding of Jonathan with a deft hand. It feels authentic to the world without being othering as a reader. I didn't feel like she had to sacrifice the world in order to maintain modern views.
As a queer, autistic woman, this combination of things made me feel simultaneously seen and unwanted which was a strange sensation. I finished the book invested in Jonathan and Juliet to the point where I will likely read the next one but it is with a wary edge.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Ableism