Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by lynguy1
Murder in Highbury by Vanessa Kelly
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
Vanessa Kelly has written a charming cozy Regency historical mystery, Murder in Highbury. It features Jane Austen’s Emma Woodhouse Knightley as the lead character and takes place one year after her marriage to magistrate George Knightley. When Emma and Harriet Smith Martin discover a dead body in the local church, the story is off to a creative start. With suspicions falling on multiple people throughout the novel, Emma is determined to solve the case and protect the innocent.
Full of humor and wit, this book is clever and easy to read with well-developed characters. The atmosphere of a rural village was presented well. However, the dialogue did not feel realistic to the period and the incompetence of some of the characters felt overdone. Additionally, the pacing was a little slow in places and the real murderer was relatively easy to discern. Despite this, it is a charming and enjoyable read and the character dynamics was well-done.
Overall, this is an entertaining and amusing read that will likely appeal to those who enjoy Jane Austen’s original novel and those who like cozy historical mysteries.
Kensington Books provided a complimentary physical copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date was October 22, 2024.
Full of humor and wit, this book is clever and easy to read with well-developed characters. The atmosphere of a rural village was presented well. However, the dialogue did not feel realistic to the period and the incompetence of some of the characters felt overdone. Additionally, the pacing was a little slow in places and the real murderer was relatively easy to discern. Despite this, it is a charming and enjoyable read and the character dynamics was well-done.
Overall, this is an entertaining and amusing read that will likely appeal to those who enjoy Jane Austen’s original novel and those who like cozy historical mysteries.
Kensington Books provided a complimentary physical copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date was October 22, 2024.