Fast and Fastidious by R.M. Caldwell

 

Title:  Fast and Fastidious

Author:  R.M. Caldwell

Narrated by:  Fiona Hardingham

Publisher: Harper Perennial

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 22 minutes

Source: Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @harperperennial for the review copy of the physical book.  Audiobook purchased from audible.

Do you like to watch any type of racing?  My daughter is in track so I’m often at track meets these days.

Lucy Elliot strives to be a proper lady, but she secretly attends the Night Races.  The Night Races are carriage races on country lanes where unchaperoned men and women gather from all social classes.  When her new neighbor, Captain Dashwood starts racing, Lucy is afraid her secret will come out.  As carriage robberies start to take place in the neighborhood, will Lucy and Captain Dashwood be able to find the culprit?

My thoughts on this audiobook:

·       This a fun adventure story which was what I needed during a stressful week.

·       This novel is set during the Regency time period.

·       I loved how Lucy is a mechanical engineer at heart with her “fastidious” mind and she works on several item to make racing carriages go faster.  I love engineers in novels – especially lady engineers as I am an engineer myself.

·       Lucy seems like she is on the spectrum and it was interesting having her as a neurodivergent character.

·       The audiobook was entertaining.

·       I liked the unique concept of having racing in this novel.

·       The description on this book cover was Pride and Prejudice meets Fast and Furious which is accurate.

·       This is not really a romance even though it is labeled as one, it is more a mystery with espionage.

·       The loved the relationship between Lucy and her very different sister, Margaret.

·       This is a debut novel.

Overall, Fast and Fastidious by R.M. Caldwell was a light and fun regency historical mystery.

Murder at Donwell Abbey by Vanessa Kelly (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What is a book that you couldn’t put down?  I couldn’t put down Murder at Donwell Abbey by Vanessa Kelly!

Emma Knightley is surprised to discover that her reclusive father is engaged . . . to the always talkative Miss Bates!  While hosting an engagement party for the couple, a person is discovered dead.  Did they fall out of an upper story window or were they pushed?   Emma is on the case to solve this crime.

My thoughts on the novel:

·       This is the second novel in the Emma Knightley mystery series.  You can read this novel as a standalone, but I think it adds to the story to read both books.

·       This was a delightful mystery that was very readable.  I read it quickly and didn’t want it down.

·       I loved that the characters from Jane Austen’s Emma have their stories continued in this novel.

·       The characters are true to Austen’s creations.

·       Emma is a good sleuth with her eye for detail and for knowing everyone’s business.  She doesn’t leave things alone until she gets an answer.

·       I liked that Miss Bates becomes Emma’s mystery solving assistant.  This character was fleshed out more in this novel while remaining true to the original.

·       Emma and Mr. Knightley (George) make such a cute couple.  I enjoyed their interactions.

·       There were plenty of red herrings in this mystery to keep one guessing.  It had a great climax and conclusion.

·       It was a witty and fun book.  I enjoyed the reference for “excellent boiled potatoes’ that I felt was an Easter egg for Austen fans (in particular fans of the 2005 Pride and Prejudice adaptation).

·       This is a historical cozy mystery set during the Regency period.

·       It is a clean read.

·       This story is set during the Christmas season.

Overall, Murder at Donwell Abbey by Vanessa Kelly was a very entertaining cozy historical mystery novel and a great continuation of Emma by Jane Austen.

Book Source:  Thank-you to @vanessakellyauthor @kensingtonbooks @austenprose for a review copy of this novel as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. 

The Red Cottage by Hannah Linder (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What color is your house or place of residence?  What color would you like it to be?  My house is a very light beige, almost white with white trim and dark green on different siding on the top of the house.  I would like a blue house, but I live in a house on the historic registry, so a color change is not in the future.

Meg Foxcroft lives with her Uncle in the apothecary and loves Tom McGwen.  They dream of living in their own cottage painted red.  After Meg is brutally attacked, she loses all her memories and wakes up in the arms of young Lord Cunningham.  Will she regain her memories? Why was she attacked?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This novel had two tropes I enjoy, the amnesia and second chance romance tropes.

·       It was a clever mystery that was full of suspense.  I really wanted to know how this book would end!

·       I loved how Meg and Tom had to rediscover each other and their romance.  They had great chemistry. 

·       I liked that Tom remain devoted to Meg throughout the novel.

·       The story had a lot of twists and turns and started off with a bang.

·       It is set in 1818 Cornwell and has Gothic Regency vibes.

·       This was a clean read with a kisses only romance, but there was also sexual assault, prostitution, and violence as part of the storyline.

·       The story had a good ending that tied up all the storylines.

Overall, The Red Cottage by Hannah Linder was an engaging Regency romance and mystery with Gothic vibes.  I loved and really enjoyed this story!

Book Source:  Thank-you to @hannahlinderbooks @barbourbooks @austenprose for a review copy of this novel as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. 

The Rushworth Family Plot by Claudia Gray (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

Which fictional character makes you feel safe and happy?

Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney would like to take their relationship to the next level, but their families would like them to forget about each other and find a more appropriate love. Unbeknownst to their families, they have both been sent to London to experience the season. After a murder occurs, they are once again on the case. Will they be able to find the killer and convince their families that they should be together?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I LOVE this series.

·       Jonathan and Juliet are great characters and I love their romance.  Jonathan is neurodivergent and Juliet understands him.

·       I loved that this was a continuation of the Mansfield Park story.  Maria reappears with a child and Mr. Rushworth is thinking about remarrying her, but Henry Crawford is still on the scene.

·       Fanny has the heartbreak of losing a child and being told she can never have a child.  She feels jealous over the fact that Maria has had a child.

·       I still love that Catherine Tilney is an authoress and that she feels comfortable traveling to London to do her own business.

·       This was a clean read and a cozy mystery.

·       The Rushworth Family Plot is the fourth book in the series.  It is best to read the entire series in order.

·       Jonathan and Juliet have both a slow burn and a friends to lovers’ romance.  They had a few romantic moments in this novel. The former Caroline Bingley is back on the scene to try to split them apart.  I admit, at this point, it is feeling contrived to keep them apart.  I think they should just be together engaged or married and solving mysteries.

·       Austen’s characters feel like Austen’s characters in this book.  Author Claudia Gray writes them perfectly.

·       I did not guess the murderer in this book, and I thought the mystery had a satisfying ending.

Overall, The Rushworth Family Plot by Claudia Gray is a terrific addition to the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney Mystery Series with an intriguing mystery and great characters. I cannot wait for the next book!

Book Source:  Thank-you to @claudia_gray @ireadvintage @austenprose for the review copy as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour.

 

COVER REVEAL - Murder at Donwell Abbey by Vanessa Kelly (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

Do you like cozy historical mysteries, Jane Austen, and great characters? Then you may be interested in a new novel, Murder at Donwell Abbey by Vanessa Kelly. I'm happy to share all that I know about this new novel and reveal the beautiful cover.  This new novel will be available on November 25, 2025.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

In this latest Regency-era mystery, Jane Austen’s clever Emma Knightley navigates shocking changes in her family—while meeting her match in a deadly adversary . . . 

Emma’s spirits are elevated after she and husband George Knightley host a joyful holiday celebration at the Hartfield estate. But it’s instantly a bitter January when her father makes an unexpected announcement—he and Miss Hetty Bates have decided to marry. Not only must Emma relinquish her role as mistress of the household, but also accept the reality that the excitable Miss Bates will become her stepmother . . .

More unwanted news arrives during an extravagant betrothal ball at Donwell Abbey, the grand Knightley estate where Emma and George will soon permanently reside. Nearly every villager in Highbury revels in the dazzling affair—except Emma’s hardworking lady’s maid, Prudence Parr. To Emma’s horror, Prudence is found dead, sprawled across the stones of the library terrace . . .

The woman’s tragic fall is quickly ruled a terrible accident and whispers circulate around personal troubles leading up to her untimely demise. But Emma’s instincts tell her that something far more sinister is at play. Now, Highbury’s matchmaker-turned-sleuth vows to outwit a cunning criminal before an innocent man loses his freedom—or Donwell Abbey plunges into a darker mystery . . .

AND THE BEAUTIFUL NEW COVER .....

What do you think? This is the second novel in the Emma Knightley Mysteries series. I am so looking forward to this follow-up novel!!

Miss Austen Investigates: A Fortune Most Fatal by Jessica Bull (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What real life person would you like to see as an investigator?  I love seeing Jane Austen as a sleuth, but I also like stories where Agatha Christie is an investigator.

Jane Austen is visiting her brother Edward to help with his children as his wife Elizabeth will be delivering another child soon. The year is 1797.  Jane has recently had a romance with Tom Lefroy, and Cassandra’s fiancé, Thomas Fowle, has just died from yellow fever while in the Caribbean on a military expedition.  Jane has taken Cassandra’s place visiting Edward so that Cassandra can have time to grieve.  Edward’s adopted mother, Mrs. Catherine Knight, has taken in a woman who proclaims that she is a foreign princess.  As Jane realizes that Edward’s future fortune may be settled upon this “princess,” she decides she must discover who she really is before it is too late.

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I loved reading a book with Jane Austen as a main character living in her world.  She is at a hopeful period of life, still young enough to hope for love and marriage, and working on her novels.

·       I loved when Jane Austen was reading her novel (the first draft of Sense and Sensibility) to Mrs. Knight and she falls asleep.  It made me laugh.  I wish I could have been around to listen to Austen reading her own work and providing voices!

·       Edward “Neddy” and Elizabeth were interesting.  Elizabeth annoyed me at times, but I can see why you would be upset about your inheritance that you are counting on to support your family potentially being ripped away.  She also thought she was being helpful with trying to find Jane a husband.

·       I enjoyed the mystery within this book and it kept me riveted all of the way through. I don’t want to ruin it for someone else – but I did enjoy it and its resolution.

·       Jane at times reminded me of Catherine Morland in this novel with all sorts of interesting theories.

·       This is the second book in the series.  I have the first book, The Hapless Milliner, and I need to read it soon!

·       There is a great author’s note at the end of the novel on changes to history made for this historical fiction novel as well as real life inspirations.

·       The elephant in the room is that this is the second series with Jane Austen as the sleuth that I have read.  I loved the Jane Austen mysteries by Stephanie Barron. That series has ended with Jane’s death.  This new series is telling different stories in a different way.  The real-life characters have different personalities, which is interesting. 

Overall, Miss Austen Investigates:  A Fortune Most Fatal by Jessica Bull is a wonderful historical mystery that puts you firmly into the Regency world of Jane Austen.  It was an interesting mystery and I loved the historical time period and characters.

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

BOOK DESCRIPTION

A witty, engaging murder mystery featuring Jane Austen as an intrepid sleuth—the second installment in the Miss Austen Investigates series.

1797: A broken-hearted Jane Austen travels to Kent to look after her brother Neddy’s children and further her writing. She soon realizes it’s imperative she uncovers the true identity of a mysterious young woman claiming to be a shipwrecked foreign princess before the interloper can swindle Neddy’s adoptive mother out of her fortune and steal the much-anticipated inheritance all the Austens rely on.

ADVANCE PRAISE

“It’s rare to encounter a book that brings fresh delight with most every page, but such is the case with A Fortune Most Fatal. The reader is immersed in the world of Jane Austen, and what a fascinating world it is. Crisply written, sharply observant, and with a self-deprecating wit, Jessica Bull delivers a twisty and intriguing mystery that is delightfully Austenesque.” —Vanessa Kelly, bestselling author of The Emma Knightley Mysteries

“A delightful return to the world of Jane Austen’s sleuthing! Jessica Bull delicately balances the details of Jane’s life alongside a richly developed set of mysteries. Rendered in Jane’s signature wit and equal parts light and dark, I enjoyed every moment I got to spend with Jane in this brilliant follow-up.”— Kristen Perrin, international bestselling author of How To Solve Your Own Murder

AUTHOR BIO

Jessica Bull lives in South East London with her husband, two daughters, and far too many pets. She’s addicted to stories and studied English Literature at Bristol University, and Information Science at City University, London. She began her career as a librarian (under the false impression she could sit and read all day), before becoming a communications consultant.

Her debut novel, Miss Austen Investigates, sold to Penguin Michael Joseph at auction for six figures and is published in 18 territories worldwide. A Fortune Most Fatal, the second book in her cozy crime series exploring the life of Jane Austen, will be published in March 2025. Connect with her online at www.jessicabullauthor.com.

A Most Agreeable Murder by Julia Seales

 

Title: A Most Agreeable Murder

Author:  Julia Seales

Narrated by:  Fiona Hampton

Publisher: Random House Audio

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 7 minutes

Source: Audiobook Purchased from Audible

Which fictional character would you love to have as a best friend?

Beatrice Steele has a secret.  She is obsessed with true crime stories.  She not only loves to read them, but also to send letters detailing her thoughts on the crimes to a famous detective.  This is not a ladylike occupation and if known, could ruin her chance of marriage.  Eligible bachelor, Edmund Croaksworth is in town and attending the autumnal ball.  Beatrice and her sisters are attending the ball with marriage in mind to save their estate from entail along the male line which would leave it to their disgusting cousin, Martin Grub.  When a man is murdered, will Beatrice be able to solve the crime?

My thoughts on the novel:

·       This was the January pick for the JASNA Northwoods Book Club.  I sadly had to miss the meeting yesterday as my daughter’s basketball tournament conflicted.

·       This was the first book in a Beatrice Steele mystery.  I was very excited to find out that this is going to be a series.

·       This novel had shades of Pride and Prejudice with a matchmaking mama with daughters.  The youngest sister, Mary, is a lot like Mary from Pride and Prejudice.  She is also shown to have a lot more to her than everyone gives her credit for.

·       I laughed out loud several times while reading this book.  It had a very fun, quirky, witty humor.  One-character talks with silly metaphors.  The characters have fun descriptions.  The names are hilarious like Stabmore Park where the murder takes place, and Martin Grub for the disgusting cousin.

·       I also thought it was funny that a murder has taken place, and the servants are completely unaware.

·       It seemed like the mystery was solved, but so much more happened after that – it was a really exciting conclusion!

·       The sexual tension between Drake and Beatrice could be cut with a knife.  They had great banter between them, but no real romance in the book.  I look forward to seeing where this leads in the future.

·       I liked that Vivek Drake had an Indian mother and there was diversity in the novel.

·       It was a locked room mystery as they were all stuck at the party due to the weather.  The action all took place during one meeting.

·       It was also a cozy mystery.

·       The audiobook narrator was enjoyable.  There were excerpts between the chapters that were interesting, but they also at times, interrupted the flow of the story.

·       I would love to see this as a movie.

·       If you enjoyed The Benevolent Society of Ill Mannered Ladies or The Murder of Mr. Wickham, you would enjoy this novel.

Overall, A Most Agreeable Murder by Julia Seales is a witty, fun cozy mystery.  I recommend it!

The Matter of the Secret Bride by Darcie Wilde (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

Do you prefer series or standalone novels?  I like both!

King George IV is trying to get a divorce from his queen.  This has caused great strife in London.  It has also brought back up rumors that King George was married previously to Maria Fitzherbert and that is his true bride.  Rosalind Thorne is known for helping women through difficult situations.  She is summoned by Mrs. Fitzherbert and told that her marriage certificate to King George did exist and has been stolen.  Who stole it and why?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I enjoyed this mystery in this novel.  I have read before about the rumors of Mrs. Fitzherbert.  It was interesting to get to know her as a character and wonder how history would have been changed if this document were to be released to the public.  With murder, riots, romance, and more, this was a great mystery that kept me reading.

·       Ex Bow Street Runner, Adam Harkness, helps Rosalind with her investigation.  Rosalind and Adam had a nice slow burn romance in this novel.  It made me wonder about them.  I need to read more of this series to find out! 

·       There are other friends that help Rosalind, including Amelia who poses as a lady’s maid to gather intel from inside Mrs. Fitzherbert’s home.  I loved reading Amelia’s perspective.

·       This novel is set in 1820 in London.

·       There were a lot of characters thrown at the reader at once in the beginning of the novel.  It got better once the action picked up.  This is the eighth novel in the Rosalind Thorne series, but the first one I’ve read.  This can be read as a standalone, but just be aware that there are a lot of characters at first.  I need to go back and read the rest of this series.

·       I loved the ending of this novel.  There is also a great author’s note that points out that most of the story about Mrs. Fitzherbert was true.  She really did have a signed marriage certificate kept in a lock box, but it wasn’t stolen (that we know of).

Overall, The Matter of the Secret Bride by Darcie Wilde is a riveting well-written Regency historical mystery that involves real life historical people from that time as well as intriguing fictional investigators.  I recommend this novel for all lovers of historical mystery.

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

Jane Austen meets Fleabag in Regency London, as a resourceful young woman with a talent for helping ladies of the ton with their most delicate and pressing predicaments finds herself facing a task of royal proportions. Literally.

King George IV is petitioning Parliament for a divorce from his queen on the grounds of her adultery. But rumor has it that the king secretly married Maria Fitzherbert—long before he married the queen. Now Mrs. Fitzherbert has been robbed—and she’s frantically calling on Rosalind for help.

Because what those thieves took is proof that she and King George did really marry. That single piece of paper could destroy Mrs. Fitzherbert and her family—or it could prove the king guilty of bigamy.

Rosalind races to investigate. With her is ex-Bow Street officer, Adam Harkness, with whom Rosalind shares a complex and rapidly intensifying bond. But a case of theft soon turns to murder . . .

Josiah Poole, a disreputable attorney specializing in helping debtors—and who was seen entering Mrs. Fitzherbert’s house—is found brutally murdered. Mrs. Fitzherbert has debts. Could she have staged the theft, and employed Mr. Poole to sell the marriage certificate? Or is the truth even more complicated? Mrs. Fitzherbert’s daughters have secrets of their own. And Poole himself had no shortage of enemies.

With suspicious coincidences mounting, and more danger encroaching, Rosalind and Adam must move quickly to unravel a history-making mystery that might just lead them straight to the palace itself . . .

AUTHOR BIO

Darcie Wilde is the award-winning author of stylishly adventurous historical mysteries and romances, including the Rosalind Thorne Mysteries, a Regency-set series inspired by the novels of Jane Austen, as well as the Regency Makeover Trilogy. She has also written, under the name Sarah Zettel, Locus and Philip K. Dick Award-winning novels, including Fool's War, a New York Times Notable Books of the Year selection. She lives in Michigan and can be found online at DarcieWildeRomance.com.

COVER REVEAL - The Rushworth Family Plot by Claudia Gray (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

Do you like cozy historical mysteries, Jane Austen, and great characters? Then you may be interested in a new novel, The Rushworth Family Plot by Claudia Gray. I'm happy to share all that I know about this new novel and reveal the beautiful cover.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

The fourth book in the Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney Mystery series, which finds the amateur sleuths caught up in the whirlwind of the London Season—and in a murderous scheme involving the family of Edmund and Fanny Bertram

Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney understand each other perfectly; it's a pity their families do not. A series of misunderstandings, misplaced pride, and—indeed—prejudice, has led their parents to deem the pair unsuited to wed. Now, with the Season approaching, Juliet's grandfather, General Tilney, has sent her to London with a new wardrobe and orders to prove herself worthy of someone better than the snobby Darcys. Meanwhile, Jonathan has been forced to accept an invitation to stay in town with old friends Edmund and Fanny Bertram at the house of Edmund's brother, Sir Thomas. Oblivious to and undesiring of female attention outside of Juliet's, Jonathan is at risk of being ensnared by Caroline Bingley's previously rebuffed plans to make herself—or her daughter—mistress of Pemberley.

But when Mr. Rushworth, the former husband of Edmund's sister Maria, is discovered dead in his home, Jonathan and Juliet find themselves with problems far weightier than the marriage market. In one of the greatest scandals of its day, Maria abandoned her new husband in favor of the notorious rake Henry Crawford, and when he wouldn't marry her, was forced to flee to the continent in disgrace. Now Maria is back, accompanied by a daughter she claims Mr. Rushworth fathered after their divorce—and who he wrote into his will just before his death. To spare Edmund and Fanny further social shame, Jonathan and Juliet must unmask a killer before the drama surrounding the Rushworth family fortune claims another victim.

AUTHOR BIO

Claudia Gray is the pseudonym of Amy Vincent. She is the author of the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney Mysteries, which began with The Murder of Mr. Wickham. She is also the writer of multiple young adult novels, including the Evernight series, the Firebird trilogy, and the Constellation trilogy; in addition, she’s written several Star Wars novels, such as Lost Stars and Bloodline, and is one of the story architects of the High Republic series. She makes her home in New Orleans with her husband Paul and assorted small dogs.

AND THE BEAUTIFUL NEW COVER .....

What do you think? This fourth entry in the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney Mystery series. I have read and loved the first three books in the series. You can read this new novel as a standalone or as the latest in this great series.

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.