Jane Austen fans, of which I am one, are the ideal audience for this book but I think that it definitely has wider appeal to murder mystery readers in general. It is well written, engaging and ultimately satisfying. I look forward to reading more!

This book's characters all come from Austen novels, and many scenes are nods to the content in those books, so if you haven't read them all, you feel lost. I myself am only familiar with Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, so I kept getting the other cast members confused until I googled their stories to sort them out, but I still missed all the references to the books they were in. I'm not sure I really liked the characterizations of the characters I was familiar with, either. All the couples in the book bicker like they desperately need therapy. It was kind of disappointing to read them in that state.

The main plot is discovering who killed Mr. Wickham from Pride and Prejudice. He wasn't a likable character in the original book, but this book makes him out to be almost too evil. He's a financial con artist who has swindled all the other characters, and they disclose his history to discuss how he's ruined many women and has multiple illegitimate children. It seemed a bit over-the-top, and it also didn't make sense, given that his reputation is so far in the gutter yet all the characters still fell for his money schemes as if he were trustworthy. Everyone, essentially, wants him dead, so anyone might be guilty of the murder. But the identity of the killer and the reason for the killing were just a complete let-down to me. It would be a spoiler to disclose more, but I'll just say that the murder mystery ended up being secondary to pushing together the Darcy heir and a girl whose relations I really couldn't figure out, since I haven't read all of Austen's books.

I kind of liked the budding romance between the two teens. I really enjoyed following them along on their murder-solving shenanigans. The one thing that bothered me, especially about the girl, was that before thinking a thought or saying a word or making a move, everyone had to decide if it would be a proper thing to think, say, or do. I think the book would be halved in length if all that nonsense had been cut out. Of course it's understandable, in delicate situations, for characters of that era to consider their actions before speaking out of turn; but trust me when I say it is CONSTANT and quickly becomes GRATING. Sometimes you just wanted someone to say "please pass the salt" without them considering whether it would be too rude to speak to someone across the table instead of beside them. It was really just ridiculous. We understand the time period and didn't need a reminder with every breath a character took.

On the whole, I enjoyed this book. But I probably wouldn't have attempted it if I had known that an unfamiliarity with every single Austen character would leave me feeling so lost at times. I might continue the series to see what Darcy and Miss Tilney get up to the future, though, but maybe not until I've read Emma and Persuasion.

"The Murder of Mr. Wickham" brings together two of my favorite things: Jane Austen and historical mysteries. Gray shines as she enters into this world and gifts her readers with a fabulously written Regency-era whodunit. I can express just how much fun this book was to read.

I started and stopped this several times in the beginning. It was far too many POVs to keep track of. But once you get into it, it gets soooo good. I can’t wait to read the next book and the romance that’s starting.

What a fun tale! I loved the way Gray included characters from various Jane Austin stories and confined them to one house party, at Emma and Knightley's estate. But even better was the way in which the scoundrel Mr. Wickham met his demise.
This is both a mystery and a reacquaintance with some beloved characters.

The Murder of Mr. Wickham has all the promise of a delightful vintage read. The characters are familiar, the setting is well described and the plot is in line with what Austen herself might enjoy. The author shows her wit with some well turned sentences, however I found the pacing to be inconsistent. I also had trouble keeping track of who the characters were, but that's likely on me. I've read Austen but am no scholar. I also found that each time I put this book down, I had to refresh my memory when I restarted it. It would have been better for me to read straight through but that wasn't in the cards.
I think the book will be well received by all, but most especially by Jane-ites.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday publishing for this ARC of The Murder of Mr Wickham.

A fun idea for a book that was ultimately dragged down by some unfortunate pacing issues. However, I did enjoy getting to see all of our beloved Austen characters in a familiar setting, especially with the oh-so wicked Wickham as the victim of a crime.

I enjoyed the relationship between the two young characters in this book. The author did a good job of including a neurodivergent character even if it was overexplained at times.

It felt like visiting old friends, in the form of all your favorite Austenian couples. We had the Darcy’s, Knightley’s, Wentworth’s and more having a country house party that gets crashed by George Wickham. Obviously, based on the title, that does not work in his favor. A couple of new characters are added, including Jonathan who is the son of Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy. I truly enjoyed his character and watching him navigate the investigation that ensued upon Wickham’s death. I will say, I was a little disappointed that most of the characters were deeply unhappy, as I like to imagine them all having as much of a HEA as the 1800’s would allow them. The reasons behind unaliving Wickham were very Austen, and this whodunnit was an easy read. If you loved the original books, I think you will enjoy this one.

"The Murder of Mr. Wickham" is a gripping mystery novel that has its fair share of strengths and weaknesses.
The author demonstrates a keen ability to create an atmosphere of suspense throughout the book. The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers engaged as they try to solve the murder alongside the characters. This element of suspense is a definite pro, making it a page-turner.
The character development is another strength. The main characters are well-rounded and relatable, with their own quirks and motives. This adds depth to the story and enhances the reader's connection with the narrative.
But the novel's pacing can be inconsistent. At times, it moves briskly, but in certain sections, it tends to drag, causing some readers to lose interest temporarily. Additionally, the resolution of the mystery may leave some feeling a bit unsatisfied, as it may raise more questions than it answers.
In short, "The Murder of Mr. Wickham" is a compelling mystery with a strong atmosphere and well-crafted characters. Yet, the pacing issues and a somewhat enigmatic ending could potentially deter some readers. If you enjoy a complex mystery that keeps you guessing, this book is worth a read, but be prepared for a few bumps along the way.

I'm a Jane Austen and murder mystery fan so thought this would be a great read for my particular taste, but unfortunately I found it a bit too meandering to stay engrossed in the storyline. I had hoped for more chemistry between the young characters attempting to solve the murder, but it just fell flat for me. I DNFed at about 50%.

Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. I largely know which Austen characters are from which book, but in this book there were simply too many characters and pov changes for it to be enjoyable for me. The first part was a complete info dump, which immediately threw me off. I had to dnf this at 20%.

I loved this imaginative take on a classic! It's a great who dun it vibe with familiar characters reimagined in such a fun way! I also loved the cover and this was an easy sell to recommend playing on such a classic favorite!

I had a really hard time getting into the book. I felt there were to many charcters for me to keep track of. Claudia did an amazing job writing an Agatha Christie style novel but I just could not find that feeling where I couldn't put the book down till the end.

**I received an advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

It is not always easy to capture the essence of Jane Austen's characters in adaptations, especially when having said characters intermingle and become suspects. Overall, Gray does an amazing job at this task, setting a house party as a scene for Austen's characters (and offspring of other characters) to come together and for Mr. Wickham to be murdered. Gray crafts a splendid and plausible story for these connections. I did struggle a bit with Gray's interpretation of Fanny and Edmund Bertram, but that aside, everyone else seemed a bit true to form. The mystery itself was fun, with amateur sleuthing, red herrings, and a multitude of suspects showing motives.

I eagerly anticipate reading the next!

The Murder of Mr. Wickham take place at the Knightley's house now that they are married. The characters include Jane Austen's most famous creations. I love that we got to see so many of Austen's characters but the story really focused on Juliet, Catherine and Henry's daughter, and Johnathan, Darcy and Elizabeth's son. The two team up to solve Mr. Wickham's murder after he crashes the party and ends up dead.
This is everything I want from a retelling. New characters, old characters, a great mystery, and fantastic chemistry.

I wanted to love this book so much, but it was just meh for me. I’m a huge Pride and Prejudice fan so I was excited at the concept, but it fell kind of flat. The murderer felt obvious, and the book kept dragging on for me.

"The Murder of Mr. Wickham" presents a creative twist on the beloved characters from Jane Austen's world, offering a blend of mystery and Regency-era charm. While the premise is intriguing, the execution sometimes falls a bit short of its potential. The author's attempt to meld a classic whodunit with Austen's universe is commendable, yet the pacing and character development feel uneven at times. Despite this, fans of Austen might enjoy revisiting these familiar personalities in a new context. While not without its flaws, the book offers a diverting read for those seeking a mix of historical ambiance and suspense.

DNF'd but I will try again because I really am interested in the premise.

Thanks to NetGalley / Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for a review.

Several couples have gathered at the home of the Knightleys for a house party- the Darcys (along with their son Jonathan), the Wentworths, the Bertrams, and the newly married Brandons, along with young Juliet Tilney. When Mr. Wickham crashes the party, most are extremely upset. When he's murdered, it becomes apparent that a member of the house party is the one who did him in. This book was so much fun! As an avowed Janeite, I loved revisiting all of the couples from Austen's novels. I loved that Gray included a note at the beginning detailing her timeline of the original books in order to set the ages of each couple. If you love Austen novels, this will be for you. If you have never read or didn't like them, I don't think you'd like this nearly as much- you really would miss a lot if you don't have that background knowledge. I can't wait to read the next book in this series (which revolves around Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney as amateur sleuths).