Murder in Highbury by Vanessa Kelly (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What is your favorite type of jewelry?  Or do you prefer to not wear any jewelry?  I lovw my pearl necklace that my husband bought for me a gift years ago.  A missing pearl necklace is featured in Murder in Highbury by Vanessa Kelly.

Emma Knightley is newly married and enjoying life.  Life takes a turn in Highbury when together when her friend Harriet, they discover the murdered body of Mrs. Elton.  Who murdered Mrs. Elton and why?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I greatly enjoyed this cozy mystery.

·       Vanessa Kelly has perfect captured Jane Austen’s characters from Emma. This was a great continuation from the classic novel.  It starts about one year after the conclusion of Emma.

·       I liked getting to see the married couples of Emma and George Knightley, Harriet and Robert Martin, Jane and Frank Churchill.

·       I felt like there were hints that perhaps Mr. Woodhouse could have feelings for Miss Bates.  I would like to see this storyline develop in further novels.

·       This is labeled “An Emma Knightley Mystery.”  In the press release, it states that this will be a series featuring Emma as the detective and in the future, there may be crossovers from other Austen novels.  I would love to read more in this series.

·       There were many red herrings in this mystery, and I enjoyed the journey.  I guess the murderer early on, but I didn’t fully believe they were the killer until the very end.  The mystery had a satisfying conclusion.

·       I loved that Emma retains her wit from the original novel and had many funny and witty conversations.

·       I liked that George Knightley is the magistrate.  This makes sense and really gives him an intricate role into the investigation.

Favorite Quote: “I cannot believe Mrs. Elton would approve of so frugal a state of affairs.  She is no doubt looking down – or up  from wherever she is, mortified at such cheeseparing ways.”

Overall, Murder in Highbury by Vanessa Kelly is an engaging cozy historical mystery full of witty banter and it is a great continuation of Jane Austen’s classic novel Emma. 

Book Source:  Review copy from Kensington Books as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

First in a captivating new series, Jane Austen’s Emma Knightley entertains a different role in Highbury—going from clever matchmaker to Regency England’s shrewdest sleuth.

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.

ADVANCE PRAISE

“Brimming with all the wit and charm one can expect from a visit to Jane Austen’s world, Murder in Highbury presents Austen’s beloved and interfering character Emma with a murder. When Emma puts her clever wits to use to discover the murderer who hides among them, danger and humor mingle to provide us with mystery, delight, and a clever new sleuth. Author Vanessa Kelly writes with an experienced touch and clear fondness for her well-beloved characters, giving us the sequel we formerly could merely long for and imagine.”— Christina Dodd, New York Times bestselling author

AUTHOR BIO

Vanessa Kelly is a bestselling author of historical mystery and historical romance. She has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Maggie Medallion for best historical romance. She is a USA Today, Barnes & Noble, BookScan, and Amazon bestseller several times over. To date, her books have been published in eleven languages. After receiving her MA in English literature from Rutgers University, Vanessa spent several years in the Ph. D program at the University of Toronto, studying women authors of the 18th Century. She worked as a researcher for many years, and currently resides in Ottawa, Canada, with her husband.