If you have readers who love Jane Austen (and who have read all of her books) and also love mysteries, this is the perfect book. But, honestly, you can recommend this to readers who have never even heard of Jane Austen, but are looking for a good old-fashioned house-party type of mystery that takes place back in Regency England. It's lots of fun, and a good mystery that keeps the reader guessing until the end.

I initially clicked on this book because the cover intrigued me. I know the rule is not to judge a book by its cover, but in this case, I'm glad that I did. The Murder of Mr. Wickham is every Jane Austen and mystery lovers dream. A house party at the Knightley's home calls for invitations to all of Jane Austen's other leading characters as well as their children. Each couple comes to Donwell Abbey in the hopes of relaxation and comradely only to have this dream dashed by the murder of Mr. Wickham shortly into their stay. Each character has a motive but only one is a murderer. The only two who are known to be innocent are Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney. The two band together to solve the mystery - adding an air of scandal according to this time period.

For those who love a cozy mystery, this is the book for you. From the Jane Austen feel to the suspense strewn throughout, this book will keep you guessing till the very end.

While I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book I did find it to be a rather slow paced which would be my only critique. Aside from that, I could tell how much research Claudia Gray did to make this book as historically accurate as possible. Along with an intriguing mystery, I left this book feeling like I had learned so much more about the Regency era which I greatly appreciated.

I always thought that Wickham received better than he deserved at the end of Pride and Prejudice. Sure he was strapped with a frivolous, empty-headed wife, but he also got out of debt and was offered a new start thanks to Mr. Darcy. In this story, Wickham did not turn over a new leaf (not that I really expected him to) but continued his immoral behavior up until his very end. He crashes a house party at Donwell Abbey where nearly everyone there knows and hates him. The author did a good job of creating motives for most of the characters, though some were stretched a bit thin. I enjoyed trying to figure out which of Austen’s characters might have done it.

The timeline of the original books was altered here to suit the author’s purpose, which I first thought would bother me, but overall it did not. Though I had to remind myself a few times that the Darcys had been married 22 years, and the Brandons only a few months. In terms of an Austen sequel, it was a little disheartening to see all of the married couples withholding secrets from each other throughout the story. The majority of these secrets did not even pertain to the murder. Though in the end, there was resolution. The new characters and amateur sleuths Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy were both well written and likable. I enjoyed their dialogue and the time they spent putting together clues. There was a tiny hint of future romance between them that I wish had been more developed in the book. My favorite part was Frank Churchill as the inept Magistrate and Knightley’s feelings about him that were spot on for his character.

As an Austen sequel I would give this 3 stars, as a mystery 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Many thanks to the publisher for the eARC via NetGalley. A positive review was not required and all opinions are my own.

A grand whodunit

What an interesting mystery in The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray. Jane Austen was definitely the inspiration for the story, as her characters, come and join a party. However, Mr. Wickham, isn't invited, but the villain comes anyway, and then everyone becomes suspects in his murder. No one liked him, but who hated him enough to kill him. It is an entertaining, suspenseful, country mystery and unpredictable. Each suspect, I mean, the character was interesting and had his or her own personality, and motive. It is a very well-written plot, and I enjoyed it. It’s one of those embraceable stories. I really enjoyed this story. I look forward to reading more books by this author. This author is a great storyteller. The Murder of Mr. Wickham is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book and give my honest and unbiased review.

The Murder of Mr. Wickham - a book where Jane Austen meets Agatha Christie 🤝

In this new book, Claudia Gray turns your favorite characters from six of Austen's novels into murder suspects!

This is such a fun read for me. Eventhough I haven't read any Jane Austen books, I still enjoyed it because Gray did a great job in giving the characters' backstories which made me look forward to reading them all.

I really like the story and I had fun guessing who the murderer is however I just find the pace a bit bumpy. Overall, I'm giving it a 4/5⭐.

If you like cross-overs and murder mystery with a touch of romance, this is for you! ❤

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing House for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Read this if you like: Jane Austen spins, Agatha Christie spins, cozy murder mysteries

We begin with the happily married Mr. Knightley and Emma throwing a party at their country estate. Mr. Wickham (an Austen villian), whose latest financial scheme has netted him an even broader array of enemies was not invited. As tempers flare and secrets are revealed, it’s clear that everyone would be happier if Mr. Wickham were gone. Yet they’re all shocked when Wickham turns up murdered. The killer is hidden in their midst.

Nearly everyone at the house party is a suspect, so it falls to the party’s two youngest guests to solve the mystery. They are Juliet Tilney, the smart and resourceful daughter of Catherine and Henry, eager for adventure beyond Northanger Abbey; and Jonathan Darcy, the Darcy's eldest son, whose adherence to propriety makes his father seem almost relaxed.

This is a remix of Austen novels with the feel of Christie novels. I really enjoyed it. I have never read a historical mystery book. The world building and details were perfect. The characters were very well developed. This book pulled me right in. It was a great cozy mystery. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Claudia Gray, and Knopf Doubleday Publishing/Vintage for the gifted copy.

I loved the crossover between all of these classic characters in this story, and getting to meet some of the next generation! I thought this was such a delightful story, but it really did start to drag a bit in the middle. Overall it was a fun read!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is a great cozy mystery for any Jane Austen fan! I really loved seeing some of my favorite characters in a murder mystery setting.
The book was a real page turner, and I had a hard time putting it down. I would live to describe more of why I loved this book but I am afraid to give away any spoilers!

But what I did love:
-the regency era was well researched and written well
-the Agatha Christie style of murder mystery! Very entertaining and kept making you want to read more
-beloved characters in a new setting.

Over all 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Jane Austen meets Clue in this fun spin on the classic love stories of Austen. 20 years after Pride and Prejudice we meet Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy again but at a summer house party hosted by Mr. Knightley and Emma. All your favorite Austen characters are there as Mr. Wickham makes a surprise visit that ends in murder. But who did it? If you’ve ever wondered what happed to Austen’s characters and have always wished karma found Wickham, this is the book for you!

Adorable and lighthearted Austenverse book I didn't know I needed.

I can only imagine Gray had as much fun writing this — maybe more — as Austenites will have reading it. I somehow went into this blind, and was utterly delighted when I discovered that the Knightleys (Emma and George from Emma) were throwing a house party (you know, the kind people used to have when the gathering of guests would stay for a month or more—gasp) and a healthy handful of the Austenverse were invited — for one reason or another — including two newcomers. From Emma to Pride and Prejudice, from Persuasion to Mansfield Park, and from Sense and Sensibility to Northanger Abbey — so many of the gang are all here.

Gray plays with the timeline to a wonderful end — twenty-some-odd years have passed for seemingly all the crew except the Brandons . . . Colonel Christopher and Marianne Brandon. They've been largely happily married and, aside from life coming at them fast at various points over those decades, they have arrived hale and hearty to the house party. That is, except of course, in the way the nefarious Mr. George Wickham has dared to traverse the books authored by Austen and damaged more than just the lives of those he touched in his own Pride and Prejudice.

Another highlight, especially for those who have not read Austen's collected works, is that Gray covers the necessary backstories to round out her cast of characters as it relates to The Murder of Mr. Wickham. I haven't reread any other than P&P and S&S over my own previous decades, so Gray's additions were all welcome refreshers.

The tone Gray manages in the style and execution is spot on. This text feels like it fits right in with the originals, while still feeling fresh and modern (-enough) for today's audience. The middle portion went on a little long, and the mystery was stretched a little thin over the vast array of characters populating this novel, but that is easily forgivable considering how much ground Gray had to cover in order to flesh everyone out in this novel, rather than presuming readers had come into this with all their homework done.

Honestly, the opening and the closing of this novel were both so delightful that any slowness in the middle is a thought of the past already. I am eager to see what Claudia Gray has in store for herself next.

While the house party at Donwell Abbey was larger than the Knightleys ever intended, only one guest arrived uninvited. And that guest was none other than George Wickham, the well-hated Jane Austen villain. The other guests come from the mind of Austen as well: the Darcys, the Brandons, the Wentworths, the Bertrams, and a young Tilney hoping to experience a bit more of the world. As the narrative progresses, the characters realize that most have secrets to hide or connections to Wickham they would wish to forget. When Wickham is discovered murdered, the one responsible for his death must be one of the houseguests. Could your favorite Jane Austen character be capable of murder?

My previous experience with the brilliant mind that is Jane Austen is embarrassingly sparse. I have read Pride and Prejudice twice, both times as an academic requirement, and only finally read Sense and Sensibility as a buddy read with my friend, Phoebe, in late 2020. The single unread Austen title sitting on my TBR shelves is Emma. Needless to say, after reading The Murder of Mr. Wickham, Claudia Gray’s Janeite ode, I am dying to get better acquainted with such characters as Emma Knightley and Anne Wentworth. I am living proof that you can enjoy this 1800s murder mystery in the English countryside without reading (much of) Jane Austen, but I will also emphasize how fun it was when I did understand the subtle nods that Gray includes to these characters’ pasts.

My favorite characters by far originated from Gray’s mind, however! Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy, son of Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy, are the story’s duo sleuths. As Jonathan has an alibi and Juliet appears to be the only person without a doubt unrelated to Wickham in any way, the two youngest houseguests team up to solve the murder. Their chemistry is just brilliant. After a rocky start to their acquaintance, it was a pleasure to watch their relationship bloom into a genuine friendship…and maybe something more romantic. An aspect of their dynamic I especially loved is Juliet’s patience and acceptance of Jonathan’s “eccentricities.” I am not certain of Gray intentions when creating Jonathan Darcy, so my own interpretation may be wrong, but I felt that he could be categorized as a neurodivergent character. A lovely, underrepresented group that deserves more examples in today’s literature!

The mystery was admittedly slow-paced at times, but I personally appreciated the amount of time Gray invests in her characters’ personal affairs. The complexities are many, and I felt in no rush to leave Donwell Abbey. The added tension was certainly that a much loved Austen character killed a much hated one, and the former would possibly be sentenced to death for their deed. Whether you are a tried and true Janeite, someone who has dabbled in the Austen universe a tad, or knows nothing going into the novel, you are guaranteed to become heavily invested in these characters.

This is an honest review in exchange for an advanced reader’s copy of Claudia Gray’s The Murder of Mr. Wickham via Netgalley. The official publication date is 3 May 2022. I’ve already pre-ordered my physical copy! Go get yours today!

Thank you to Knopf Doubleday and NetGalley for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This novel includes Jane Austen’s most famous characters and the murder of the most wicked, Mr. Wickham in a plot that is similar to Clue or Knives Out. However, this book didn’t have the pacing or excitement that those two films did. It was slow at times, particularly at the beginning.

Throughout the novel different reasons each character may be the murderer are revealed and it does truly keep you guessing to who the culprit is up until the very end!

I did feel the author put a lot of research into the time period and did it justice.

Overall, this was a 3 star read for me.

Thank you to Netgalley for a free ARC of the Murder of Mr. Wickham! I loved this book! If you are into British mysteries and also Jane Austen stories, then this book is for you.

The Knightleys are throwing a houseparty! The Darcys are invited along with their 20-year-old son. The Tilneys' teenage daughter, Juliet, comes without them. The Brandons, newly wed. The Wentworths, who have been living in Highbury for a short time. And finally, the Bertrams. Unfortunately, an uninvited Mr. Wickham ruins everything....and he ends up killed. The houseguests must figure out who did it!

It was so much fun seeing what happened to some of my favorite characters after their stories ended, and learning about the few whose stories I haven't read. I think the author did such a good job writing as each of the characters, especially Elizabeth Darcy. She did a great job with the Eltons, as well, and I particularly enjoyed a debate between Elton and Edmund Bertram. The young Johnathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney are delightful together and apart, and I hope that there is another mystery in the future with the two of them on the case.

Thanks again for the opportunity to read this book, it has been one of my favorites this year

‘Murder’ and ‘Wickham’ in the same title makes any Jane Austen lover worth their salt sit up and take notice. Now, add that with an author name long associated with young adult sci-fi and fantasy, and that makes Claudia Gray’s The Murder of Mr. Wickham well-nigh irresistible.

The Murder of Mr. Wickham is both a historical mystery and pays homage as a sequel to not one, but all Miss Jane Austen’s completed six novels. There are multiple points of views to tantalize fans of Austen’s revered couples, but the spotlight is on two author original characters representing the next generation determined to get to the bottom of matters.

An Invitation to Donwell Abbey

“This is not like Northanger, Juliet thought, excitement mounting as her carriage drew closer to the great house where she was to spend the next few weeks.” (Loc 308)

Young, vibrant Juliet Tilney arrives fresh-faced and eager for her first adventure away from home. Egged on by a novel-writing mother who experienced her own first time traveling at Juliet’s age and a cautious practical-minded father, she is determined to make the most of the adventure while not disappointing her parents.

Emma Knightley is pleased to receive her husband’s distant cousin and his wife, Edmund and Fanny Bertram. The Wentworths were invited to stay while repairs are made on Emma’s former home, Hartfield, which they are leasing. Emma is curious to meet her husband’s old friend from university, Fitzwilliam Darcy, along with his wife and oldest son. The recently wed, Colonel and Marianne, are a study in contrasts. Mr. Knightley doesn’t miss the fact that his wife has slipped in a young lady when she learned the Darcys were bringing their son. Matchmaking again, Emma? Donwell Abbey is full of guests, and she anticipates a successful country house party until the party sits down to dinner.

“Certain mishaps befall every dinner party. Gravy is spilled, seating arrangements prove awkward. An adept hostess, and congenial guests, can smooth away such small imperfections and allow the party to proceed pleasantly. There was no smoothing over the sudden appearance of Mr. Wickham.” (Loc. 588)

A Murderer in Their Midst

Juliet and Jonathan both sense from the beginning that the house party will not be an easy one. For one thing, all the guests are caught up in personal drama of their own. That is nothing to the appearance of Mr. Wickham with his smirks and nasty behavior and threats. When a storm prolongs his stay, matters come to a boiling point leading to Juliet’s late-night discovery of the murdered Mr. Wickham.

Beyond their own natural inclinations to discover the truth, both Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney realize early on that the magistrate, Mr. Frank Churchill, has preconceived ideas and justice is in jeopardy. They separately decide to get to the truth no matter to whom the trail leads.

“The moment in which politeness demanded that anyone else nearby withdraw to a point where they would not overhear, Jonathan didn’t move. Miss Tilney didn’t either… Juliet Tilney was as curious about the murder as he.” (Loc 1535)

Not So Happily Ever After

The Murder of Mr. Wickham starts slowly as the large cast of characters and their present situations are introduced. All of Austen’s romantic pairs save Catherine and Henry Tilney are present and their marriage lives have not been a bed of roses once the blush of early love has settled into daily lives. And this is a story of them as much as a murder mystery. The author masterfully provided the sad, bitter atmosphere their plaguing issues have on the gathering and the setting. The emotional tone carried weight and couples I loved were now disappointing me. I had to push through the first half especially the dragging moments and trust that the dreariness would be dispelled as people dealt with what lay between them in their respective marriages.

Emerging Detectives and Budding Feelings

Of course, the balance to all those grown-up troubles was the optimism and sparkle of the amateur detecting team determined to get a solution.

Juliet Tilney is in her mother’s image in curiosity about people and wanting an adventure, but she is also very much her keen-witted paternal parent’s offspring, too. She is inexperienced yet applies herself to finding the evidence and paying attention to people’s actions and words without prejudice since she alone is impartial. She also experiences her first-time attraction for someone unlike her and out of her sphere as she sees it.

Her partner in detecting, Jonathan Darcy, would likely be placed, in modern times, on the Autistic spectrum. He has endured through a disability that wasn’t known to exist in that time, but he is a fabulous fellow and after a poor first impression, Juliet thinks so too and gives him quite a boost of encouragement. He has never met her clear-eyed honesty and earnestness in any of the girls of fashion and much prefers Juliet.

“All his life, his habits had been a source of consternation to his parents. To others, they had been the cause of contempt. Jonathan’s ears still burned with some of the insults that had been hurled at him in school. Miss Tilney either would be bewildered or would laugh at him… “It is peculiar, of course,” Miss Tilney said, “but my mother has often told me that most people are really very, peculiar, once you get to know them. The only difference is in how well we hide our peculiarities.” (Loc 1824)

All’s Well That Ends Well

At the risk of giving anything away, I will at least share that readers needn’t be worried that the whole thing is doom and gloom—not even for the Bertrams who have the longest path to change of them all. The heaviness that permeated the earlier half of the book lifts as Austen’s couples work through their marital struggles and the relief is great when the murder is solved. The solution was a surprise, and my heart was in my throat until the case was closed. Anyone could have done it and I appreciated this even as I was pulling a Frank Churchill and hoping a stranger did it.

I wasn’t sure I was going to like this one through the early chapters, until the book won me over. I was very taken with Juliet and Jonathan and was deeply impressed with the author’s sensitivity to Austen’s characters and their ongoing story. While initially I was unsure about some of the portrayals of Austen’s characters, the resolve came, and I could nod with quiet approval. Well done, Ms. Gray.

While this will resonate best with those familiar with Austen’s novels, there is enough background for any reader to pick it up and appreciate a slow build old-style historical mystery.

I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not a huge fan of the murder mystery genre. I’ve never read an Agatha Christie novel, I’ve only tangentially interacted with Sherlock Holmes, but I do love Jane Austen.
The Murder of Mr. Wickham is a murder mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed.
First and foremost, I loved the tone of the novel. It echoed Austen’s original works enough to have the vibes of Regency but still kept the readability of modern historical fiction. The storyline was easy to keep track of but kept the aesthetic intact.
I also enjoyed how the characters interacted with each other years down the line from the original timelines. The idea of seeing Elizabeth and Darcy not as the heroes of their own stories, but the side characters that we happen to know all about. I loved how they interacted as an established married couple outside the throes of new love.
Additionally, I appreciated the mystery itself. The almost the entire time I was constantly guessing who was at fault and how the consequences were going to fall. The stakes never felt contrived to me, it felt very real with the the threat of false accusations driving our main characters in their search for answers.
Finally, I loved our main characters. Jonathan and Juliet were absolutely delightful. I particularly loved Jonathan and how he was “more Darcy than Darcy.” I hope I’m correct in my reading but I saw Jonathan as squarely on the autistic spectrum. As someone with a close family member falling similarly on the spectrum, I really appreciated a glimpse into both of their inner worlds. *
All in all, I adored this book and have already recommended it to like minded friends.


*This quote and information pulled from the BookPage q&a article by Elyse Discher in the May 2022 edition.

A murderous tale featuring our favorite characters from Austen's novels. The Murder of Mr. Wickham will keep you guessing until the end!

If Jane Austen and Agatha Christie teamed up to write a novel, they couldn’t have done better than Claudia Gray. I loved that Gray brought back to life some of the most beloved Austen protagonists, wove together the lives of characters across Austen novels, and created a few new relatives who are influenced by multiple characters from those books. The tone, pacing, social customs, and environment are true to Austen - reading this book felt like coming home. The mystery, based on the oh so satisfying murder of Wickham, is cleverly crafted and resolved, with clues explored by young Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney. It was fun to get in their minds as they rationalized risking social disgrace as they met in secret late at night to share their findings in the hopes of keeping an innocent person from accusation. There were a few moments in the story where I thought, “ok, we get the message, let’s move on,” but these were rare and did not detract from my overall love of this story. I will definitely be buying a print copy (rare for me now) to add to my Jane and friends shelf.

Thank you to Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, Vintage, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this delightful mystery.

Quite enjoyable and creative. I loved the concept, bringing together numerous Jane Austen's characters from her novels into one house party which turned into an Agatha Christie style whodunit. What's not to love? The writing was good, some funny lines and moments (perhaps not quite as funny as Austen herself, of course), a lot of proper etiquette, some improper etiquette, a little bit of modernizing, and a decent mystery with many potential suspects. The ending wasn't as surprising as I expected, but I did love the build up to the murder, the excitement of knowing it's about to happen and it could be anyone perpetrating. All in all jolly good fun.

If you enjoy Jane Austen, I don't think there's any way you won't find this book somewhat enjoyable. For me, it was a fun ride and an absolute joy! Think of it as a crossover between Clue and Jane Austen.

We follow the main characters from all of Jane Austen's 6 novels as they're invited to a month-long house party at Emma and Knightley's home. I thought the reasons the characters were there made sense and were explained completely. Claudia Gray's explanation at the beginning of when each Austen novel took place for her timeline was also appreciated. It helped me keep straight in my brain which of the couples had been together for a long time and which were newly together.

Bringing in Johnathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney as Gray's new characters was so fun! I loved their interactions and thought Gray did an excellent job making it plausible that they could be working together.

I don't think it's a spoiler since it's in the title: Mr. Wickham is murdered! Gray did a fantastic job giving multiple suspects who would have significant reasons for wanting Wickham dead. I wasn't expecting the ending, either. It was fun to try and piece together who did it for myself. I created wildly unrealistic suspects in my own head. XD

I honestly cannot recommend this book enough to anyone who enjoys Jane Austen. It pays homage to the original stories while bringing in something new and fun. I think Jane Austen would approve.

My only complaint was some parts were slow.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my honest review. I loved this book so I'll be buying a physical copy when it releases!

If you are a fan of Jane Austen's work, then The Murder of Mr. Wickham should definitely be on your TBR! Claudia Gray did a great job of recreating the world and characters of Austen. She entwines their backstories seamlessly and creates motive for many different characters. And let's be honest - who wouldn't want to see Wickham dead? I also enjoyed the new characters she brought into the mix and would love to see a sequel to learn more about their futures. Overall this was a charming whodunnit with beloved characters. In fact, it might make an even better board game than the original Clue. 4.5 stars