I have to say, I am thrilled at how many Jane Austen-ish mysteries have been published in the last 3-5 years. These authors are expanding Austen’s universe in such creative but thoughtful ways that never “take you out” of the original novels. And I think that this novel is one of the best! If there ever was an Austen heroine who would find herself solving a mystery, it would without a doubt be Emma. Murder in Highbury by Vanessa Kelly has been one of my most enjoyable books of 2024 and it is a must-read for any Austen fan!
Thank you to AustenProse for providing an eARC.
Murder in Highbury, Vanessa Kelly
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.
Why You Should Read This…
I have to say, this “generation” of Austen retellings are spectacular. I love that authors are choosing to continue these stories for more than their romance- it allows for more creative stories without feeling like they are simply an afterthought, and I’m glad that so many have embraced it. They don’t “interfere” with Austen’s novels in any way but expand out so beautifully.
Murder in Highbury continues on Emma and Knightley’s story in the perfect way. We get to see what their married life might be like and we get to shift to a Austen-ish mystery. I think that setting Emma up as our amateur sleuth is also spot on, as I cannot name an Austen character more likely to be digging around in a murder investigation. This is blasphemy, but I found Emma’s character slightly irritating in the original novel due to her meddling. However, in a murder mystery? It is put to its best use and I am here for it!
Kelly also utilised Austen’s supporting characters well; Mr Woodhouse was a standout in particular. (Continuously musing on a murder and people’s characters is absolutely in his wheelhouse…) There are more than enough callbacks to the original characters and stories to grab an Austenite but it is also a fresh story that is very entertaining for those who are less familiar with Emma.
The author has also clearly done her research on both Austen’s novels and the period. Cosy mysteries with a historical setting can sometimes end up reaching beyond the period in more than few ways but there is no such problem with Kelly’s novel.
This is a must-read for anyone who loves The Murder of Mr. Wickham or Emma itself! Here is hoping that this will be continuing on as a series, as well.
Is Murder in Highbury by Vanessa Kelly on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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