Review - - Murder in Highbury

Murder in Highbury

by Vanessa Kelly

An Emma Knightley Mystery - Book 1

Publisher: Kensington Books

Release Date: October 22, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

 

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.

PJ's Thoughts:

If you like Jane Austen, if you like cozy mysteries, or if you just enjoy a well-written story with intriguing characters set in the bucolic English countryside, Murder in Highbury is a book that should be added to your fall reading list. 

Vanessa Kelly is one of my favorite historical romance authors. I enjoy the humor, passion, danger, and adventure I've come to expect from her books and wasn't sure how I felt about her move to this new genre. After reading Murder in Highbury, I can say, without reservation, that I love it. Kelly's homage to Austen's Emma is charming and cozy, with a tightly-crafted mystery, lively characters who light up the page, and a beautifully descriptive setting that immersed me in the small village of Highbury and the secrets she's been keeping.

I enjoyed this book so much that I wanted to read it in one day but the leisurely pace of the village and her citizens forced me to slow down, savor the story, and give it the time it deserved. It enabled me to fully appreciate the nuances that Kelly has infused into the characters as well as the subtle twists and turns that kept me guessing as to who among the citizenry may have been involved in the murder.

I am hooked and already looking forward to Emma Knightley's next foray into amateur sleuthing. I would be happy if Vanessa Kelly planned many more books for this delightful series.