Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Murder in Highbury by Vanessa Kelly
Series: Emma Knightly Mystery #1
Published by Kensington Books on October 22, 2024
Genres: Romance, Historical Mystery
Pages: 403
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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Less than one year into her marriage to respected magistrate George Knightley, Emma has grown unusually content in her newfound partnership and refreshed sense of independence. The height of summer sees the former Miss Woodhouse gracefully balancing the meticulous management of her elegant family estate and a flurry of social engagements, with few worries apart from her beloved father’s health . . .
But cheery circumstances change in an instant when Emma and Harriet Martin, now the wife of one of Mr. Knightley’s tenant farmers, discover a hideous shock at the local church. The corpse of Mrs. Augusta Elton, the vicar’s wife, has been discarded on the altar steps—the ornate necklace she often wore stripped from her neck . . .
As a chilling murder mystery blooms and chaos descends upon the tranquil village of Highbury, the question isn’t simply who committed the crime, but who wasn’t secretly wishing for the unpleasant woman’s demise. When suspicions suddenly fall on a harmless local, Emma—armed with wit, unwavering determination, and extensive social connections—realizes she must discreetly navigate an investigation of her own to protect the innocent and expose the ruthless culprit hiding in plain sight.
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 principal 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.
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Great review Sophia! I heard Vanessa Kelly is an awesome author. This cover is so cute!
I’ve read a couple of her historical romances and there was a side suspense plot in both. I was happy to see how it went when she crossed fully over into mysteries.
I’m glad this one was so good for you.
Thanks, Mary! I had a blast.
I love historical mysteries, and this looks like a fun read! Adding to my TBR.
I have a feeling you’ll enjoy this one, Katherine. 🙂
Great review Sophia Rose I hope you get your wish that it gets turned into a series
Yes, that would be fabulous news, Debbie. 🙂
This sounds so good. Emma is one I’m familiar with too!
I had a good time with Emma as detective in her home village.
Yay for 5 stars! I’m really looking forward to reading this one. 😀
You are in for a treat, Lark!
This sounds absolutely charming!!
Oh yes! I was so excited when I spotted this one.