Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

“He planned to have a life deserving of a memoir.” (Regarding Henry Noble)

I was in awe of this author’s first historical cozy mystery! This series already rocks! To me, it is mesmerizing, at times heartwarming, at times heartrending. It is 1855, with slavery already an explosive issue. Each character is defined with excellence, people I would want to know. The settings of Amherst, and Washington DC sound so realistic that I often felt as if I were with Willa and Emily. I saw the delightful tearoom in Mount Vernon, the partially finished Washington Monument in DC, and the stables in Amherst.

Willa Noble is our eyes, ears, and narrator. She is a young woman hired as a maid at the Dickinson home where she has the luxury of her own room. After she was there a couple days, her brother Henry came to her window to visit. Willa was twelve and Henry only ten when their mother died, and Willa became their breadwinner. Henry has been involved in various schemes so he could get a real home for them. He began working at the town stables, and she would visit him on Sunday, her day off.

Sunday didn’t come for Henry, however. Michael, a police officer who was a friend to the siblings for several years, and a detective came to see Willa just days after Henry’s visit. Willa’s beloved brother and only family member was killed at the stables. They claimed it was an accident, his own fault, due to his lack of experience with horses. Willa knew better; Henry could handle any animal he was around. The detective planned to close the case.

Emily Dickinson overheard much of that conversation. She spoke with Willa and decided they had a mystery to solve, determined to help Willa. Emily learned more about her, including that she loved to do gardening, so she could help Emily.

The first time Emily and Willa went to the stable, they learned from Jeremiah, a young Black man who worked there, that Henry was killed by a horse named Terror. Jeremiah was a free man and had worked with Henry in the past. Henry was the best friend Jeremiah ever had. He told them what little he knew about his death. The horse had fresh burns on his flank, and Jeremiah believed someone burned the horse to cause it to strike Henry. Terror had adored Henry and was lying next to his body as if trying to protect him, even in death, and stopped eating after Henry died. Jeremiah gave Willa a small parcel that Henry asked to be given to her if anything happened to him.

It was his diary, alluding to things he might be involved with. That, coupled with information they began to learn from others, led them to believe that Henry was murdered either by his boss or by slave catchers. Runaway slaves had been routed to the stables. A few were released to go to Canada. Others were held for slave catchers to pick up.

This is not the Emily Dickinson that we are familiar with; there isn’t any evidence of her helping to solve any murders. The author depicts many of her characteristics, including the huge dog she owned, the poetry she wrote, and the sheltered life she led. I felt as if I knew Emily and Willa by the end of the novel. I also enjoyed meeting Michael, the police officer, Margaret, the primary maid, and Buford, Mr. Dickinson’s driver in DC during his stay as a congressman.

This gripping novel held my attention from the first page to the last. Plot twists eliminated several of my suspects. I could not imagine the two young women, one a congressman’s daughter and the other a house servant, working together to find who killed a well-liked, dirt poor, young man and discover who the slave catcher and other bad guys were. It was simply not done by women of their time or Miss Dickinson’s station in life. I appreciated the historical content and touches of authenticity and was very pleased with the ending. I highly recommend this outstanding first in a new series!

“He lived up to his name Noble as he died for a noble cause.”

I’m a big fan of Emily Dickinson’s poetry, and my favorite poem by her is the one used in the title of this new cozy mystery from Amanda Flower:

Because I could not stop for Death—
He kindly stopped for me—
The Carriage held but just Ourselves—
And Immortality…

So of course the title grabbed my attention right away … and then I saw the cover and was completely in love. When I found out that this new series features Emily Dickinson and her maid Willa Noble as amateur sleuths, well, I absolutely had to read this book!

We begin our story from Willa’s point of view, as she is dodging a torrential downpour on her way to interview for a new position at the Dickinson home in Amherst, Massachusetts. She’s just as surprised to be hired as the housekeeper is to hire her, but Emily’s decisive intervention on behalf of Willa during that interview sets the tone for their relationship forthwith. As Willa quickly becomes an important part of the Dickinsons’ small staff, she suffers a great tragedy – the loss of her brother – and Emily intervenes once again. While Emily and Willa at first may seem an unlikely investigative team, you will soon find yourself unable to imagine them as anything else. I found their relationship dynamic to be fascinating – a young woman and her maid…. a pair of amateur sleuths … and a form of friendship that straddles both incarnations.

Along with the clever mystery – perhaps because of it – we are also treated to intriguing historical details into Massachusetts & US politics of the day, including both the courageous personalities of the Underground Railroad and the cowardly & evil people who made such bravery necessary. We also get unique insight into Emily Dickinson as a woman, as a daughter, as a sister, and I very much enjoyed these glimpses into the real person, even as many of the scenarios we encounter are of course fictional. For as much as I love her poems, I’ve never really taken the time to read much about her as a historical figure but after meeting her on the pages of Because I Could Not Stop for Death I want to learn more.

Bottom Line: Because I Could Not Stop for Death is the kind of book you want to curl up with on a rainy day. Or a snowy day. Or a completely sunny day…because you shouldn’t let the weather stop you from reading this delightful cozy (though the former two options fit the mood of the book better). The combination of actual historical individuals with fictional ones, the juxtaposition of classes & gender roles, the tension of life for freedmen and escaped slaves alike… it all results in a captivating story that will keep you absorbed and engaged throughout. Add a dash of romance for Willa (if she’ll only open her heart to the man who loves her), and I’m looking forward to more books in this series!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Amanda Flower is her newest series and features Emily Dickinson as one of the sleuths. This is a departure for Flower as most of her work has been centered on the Amish. She is stretching her wings with this series and it started off with a bang. Willa Noble has just started working for the Dickinson family as a maid when her brother climbs up the outside of the house and knocks on her bedroom window. He is full of mirth as usual and exuberant about the future, in which he takes Willa away from her life as a servant. It was just a few days later that the police arrive at the Dickinson home to tell Willa he has been killed in an accident at the stables where he worked. She was distraught. Her employer’s daughter, Emily, decides they will investigate and off they set to visit the scene of the crime. There they meet Jeremiah, a young black man who purported himself to be Henry’s best friend. He believed it was murder and helped as much as he could and gave Willa a small package from her brother.

Flower’s strong point is her character development and she has it it out of the ballpark with the characters in this novel. Willa is a good character, but at this point doesn’t have a ton of personality. She is well-liked by all the town folks. She has lived there her entire life and they know how kind and good she is. Emily Dickinson is brought alive in this book, with many of her foibles and odd sensibilities. Matthew, a young policeman who saw good in Henry even as he was getting jams, and kind of adopted the two. He has proposed marriage to Willa several times but she is hesitant. He is going to develop into a stellar character. Emily’s sister Lavinia (Vinnie) is another who will surely develop into an even more interesting character than she is here. The story revolves around the underground railroad in Amherst and was a decent mystery. All-in-all, it was a lovely read.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Because I Could Not Stop For Death by Berkley Publishing Group, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Berkley #Amanda Flower #BecauseICouldNotStopForDeath

I love a good mystery in a historical setting; and this was such an original idea- to include the poet Emily Dickinson in the drama!

1855: Willa is hired to be a maid in the Dickinson household. She forms a bond with Emily Dickinson, a daughter of the house. When Willa’s brother is murdered, Willa and Emily work together to solve the crime.

I didn’t realize Emily’s father served in Congress. He was a member of the Whig party, known for not taking a stance on slavery. This story incorporates the Underground Railroad in the days leading up to the Civil War. It is told through the eyes of Willa. The action moves at a good pace. I loved the setting, the commentary on lifestyles and the politics of the time. This made for an engaging read, great for historical fiction/mystery lovers.

I love to combine listening to the audio version of books with physically reading the book. I enjoyed both the book and the audio versions!

Thank you @PRHAudio for the complimentary audiobook and thank you @netgalley @berkleypub for my digital copy! My thoughts are my own. Thank you @letstalkbookspromo for providing this opportunity and for including me in the buddy read.

Thank you to Berkley, NetGalley and @letstalkbookspromo for the #gifted copy of the book.

I will be honest and say this is not one I would normally pick up. I don't gravitate towards historical fiction, but historical mystery? Okay, I am in.

I didn't know much about Emily Dickinson's life prior to reading this book. I was fascinated with how well the author tied together the mystery and what was going on during the era - slavery, Whig party, underground railroad. It was very well done.

I adored Emily as a character. She was not afraid to stand up for her beliefs in a time where women typically did whatever they were told.

I am so glad that I got to read this #buddyread.

Willa Noble needs this maid position in the Dickinson home so her and brother can survive after their mothers untimely passing. Believing its a long shot, Willa can’t believe it when Emily Dickinson and her dog, Carlo, demand she’s perfect for the job.

Willa soon finds herself the trusted ladies maid to Emily. It is Emily who believes something is not quite what it seems after Willa’s brother is killed in the stables he worked. It was only just a few days prior he secretly visited his sister in her room saying he was onto something big that would uplift their lives for the better.

What was Willa’s brother involved that not only has them but others sneaking around for answers? Was it murder or simply an accident? Together, this duo, unearth clues to what really happened that fateful night of her brothers death. This mystery is a fast-paced, cozy read that I would not have picked-up myself if not for the buddy read.

Rating 3.5 stars. Thank you Berkley for the #gifted copy to read and review.

This was a really good book by Amanda Flower. I have never read anything by her before but after reading this book, I am more likely to pick up another book by her. I thought the idea of Emily Dickinson as being a sleuth was a great idea. I liked that this was written from the maid’s perspective because we got to see how others may have viewed Emily. I liked the mystery and how it was connected to the Underground Railroad. I thought there were enough twist and turns that it took a while to finally know who was at fault but once you knew it was like, “oh! That makes sense.” I thought this was a good book and I hope she writes more with these characters.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

Young Willa Noble is thrilled to be able to leave her position at the beck and call of an overbearing boarding house mistress to go into service in the home of one of Amherst, Massachusetts’ most prominent families instead. Her new superior, Margaret O’Brien, is demanding but fair, and the pay is much better. The Dickinson family too is far more complicated and interesting than Willa ever imagined. Eldest daughter Emily is independent and, to Willa’s surprise, her biggest supporter in the Dickinson household.

This becomes an unexpected boon when Willa’s beloved younger brother Henry is found dead one night at the stables where he recently began work. The siblings have depended solely upon each other since the death of their mother, with Henry constantly dreaming of saving up enough money to either buy them a house to live in or to move out West. Willa had far more modest dreams than her brother but is still utterly devastated by his death, throwing herself into her work on Margaret’s advice. Emily is dismayed to discover this, telling the younger woman:

QUOTE
“I do not know what I would do if my brother Austin died. I would not be able to get on with it. I would crumble like a centuries-old retaining wall and be nothing but a pile of dust.”

That was because she was in a different class than I was. It was because she lived in this grand house and had a father who had wealth and prestige. In the lower classes, like mine, we didn’t have the option to crumble. I was proud of myself when I didn’t say any of this aloud.
END QUOTE

While the two women may be of different social classes, they’re both determined to get to the bottom of what actually happened to Henry on the fateful night he lost his life. The police and the stable owner insist that it must have been an accident caused by Henry’s clumsy handling of a spirited racehorse, but Willa knows that her animal-loving younger brother was much smarter than that. Headstrong, justice-minded Emily is intrigued by the mystery of it all, and isn’t afraid to use her social position to help them both get answers.

When the trail leads our heroines south from Amherst to Washington DC and Mount Vernon, George Washington’s historic estate on the banks of the Potomac, Emily arranges for Willa to accompany her and her sister Lavinia as their ladies’ maid so that they can continue investigating together. But the further afield they travel, the more they uncover of the festering secrets of their own hometown, leading to their return and a reckoning that could have fatal consequences for Willa and Emily both.

I fell a little bit in love with this imagining of Emily Dickinson as intrepid sleuth, a position that is not at all contradictory to what we know of the historical figure and poet. Amanda Flower does an exemplary job of extrapolating from the real Ms Dickinson’s life to construct a clever, socially-conscious historical mystery that isn’t afraid to confront the United States’ troubled past, especially in regard to slavery. While kind, retiring Willa is our main viewpoint character – in what’s hopefully the first in a series which will see her grow even more than she already has in this novel – Emily is just as much of a driving force in the narrative. She’s never afraid to pursue her interests, whether serious or frivolous, nor to defend said pursuits, even at her father’s dinner parties:

QUOTE
“Men’s work, women’s work. I can scream the number of times I have heard that. What if my interests are supposed to be reserved for men? What am I supposed to do with those?” Emily wanted to know.

“They can’t be your interests,” the young and bearded Mr. Allen said.

“How can you tell me how I can and cannot feel?” Emily asked. “If you stub your toe and experience pain, what should I say to you? Well, as a man you should be stronger than that. That should not hurt you. I don’t think you would like that.”

“That is not the point I’m making.”

“I see, but it is the point I’m making, which is the difference.”
END QUOTE

Emily would be appalled by the modern rise of the toxic masculinity that embraces exactly the ridiculous supposition she presents here, but at least in 1855, her dinner companion has the grace to be ashamed of, and perhaps re-evaluate, his rank sexism.

While this isn’t the first fictional adaptation of Ms Dickinson’s life, it’s certainly the only one I know of where she helps solve a murder. More importantly, Because I Would Not Stop For Death is unafraid to tackle the very American questions of class and injustice, using the framework of a historical mystery to get its point across. It is a superlative effort, and entertaining to boot.

I was skeptical of Emily Dickinson as a character—especially one who solves a mystery. However, I was quite pleased with Flower's rendering of Emily. She and Willa, her maid, set out to discover who murdered Willa's brother, Henry. He had been a supporter of the Underground Railroad in Amherst, but rumor had it that someone in town was helping to return fugitive slaves to their masters. Did Henry run afoul of slave trackers? Will Emily and Willa identify Henry's killer before becoming the next victims?
Pacing and plot are good, and there's a bit of history to learn, too. My only complaint was that I guessed the killer too quickly!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC!

Content Warning: death, murder, violence, animal cruelty, racism, misogyny.


Willa Noble is over the moon when she's employed as a housemaid by the Dickinsons. It isn't by chance that she is hired, however: it's Emily Dickinson herself who instructs the head maid to take Willa on. Not much time has passed when tragedy strikes, and Willa's brother, Henry, is killed in what the police are calling an accident. Emily and Willa suspect that something else is afoot, however, and with the help of her eccentric employer, Willa is determined to find out who killed her brother -- at any cost.

What is it about Emily Dickinson that still fascinates us to this day? Her rich, private inner life? The way she still remains somewhat shrouded in mystery, even after all this time? We are always looking for a glimpse into her world, however small. When I picked up Because I Could Not Stop for Death, that's what I was hoping for, in spite of the fact that it takes place from the point of view of her maid -- an insight into Emily's secretive world. Disappointingly enough, though, we never quite get that chance.

To start with, all of the characters in this book are, sadly, strangely shallow. Many of them feel like caricatures, and despite the fact that Flower attempts to add depth to them through stories of their backgrounds, it does little to enrich them or add to their personalities. Willa, our main character, suffers from this same problem too -- although we're seeing everything happening through her eyes, all of her thoughts and observations feel rudimentary. Even now, I'm not exactly sure what I'd list as her character traits. Emily, Willa's brother, the rest of the Dickinson family, and, essentially, every character in these pages has a dearth of charisma.

The plot and mystery itself are basic, never able to rise above the average, everyday mystery you might pick up. The historical setting is certainly well-researched, but the stilted dialogue doesn't transport you to the era, but instead makes it feel as if everyone is clunky and awkward. Emily's dialogue suffers the most from this, probably because there are attempts at capturing her unique way of writing through her voice, but it just doesn't work. Willa and Emily claim to be investigating the death of Willa's brother, but the steps they take to do this are basic, never really fleshed-out. The "investigation" doesn't really yield any interesting clues or hints that help the reader to make their own assumptions.

Ultimately, this book just doesn't succeed in what it sets out to do. The questions raised here, about class and race, are good, but as with the rest, underdeveloped and overstated. The writing is so blunt, so set on making sure you're understanding what's going on, that it seems to imply the reader is too stupid to figure it out.

Not for me, but I'm sure there are many people out there who will enjoy the historical setting and time period, which Flower pulls off pretty well!

Prolific cozy mystery writer Amanda Flower takes readers in a different direction with this debut historical mystery BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP FOR DEATH featuring a young Emily Dickinson and her maid Willa Noble. Obviously well researched, there are real people, places, and events woven throughout the story. The mystery is clue based, and though I figured out the killer’s identity early on, I enjoyed following alongside of Willa and Emily as they investigated. I particularly liked learning about Amherst, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C., in 1855. Seeing the world through Willa’s grateful eyes is humbling.

I admit I did not immediately fall in love with the characters. They are well drawn, but I hope they continue to grow and mature in future books. I like Willa, and I can sympathize with her grief and awkwardness, but she is such a timid sleuth that I did not think she would ever get to the bottom of things. Emily is in many ways her complete opposite. What is meant to be confidence comes across more as entitled. Perhaps this is simply me looking through a twenty-first century lens. I do not like Emily’s waspish sister Lavinia. I do, however, greatly enjoy stable hand Jeremiah and carriage driver Buford.

BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP FOR DEATH deals with the prominent issues of its time. Class distinctions and opportunities, the Underground Railroad, and women’s roles are all important aspects of the story. The pace is a bit slow at times but feels authentic to the era.

There is great series potential here, and I do look forward to reading more adventures featuring Willa and Emily. Recommended to any historical mystery/fiction reader.

Murder or accident? What really happened to Henry that night at the stables? This is a cozy historical mystery featuring house maid Willa Noble and her employer Emily Dickinson as they try to figure out what happened to Willa's brother Henry.

The title of this book caught my attention as it's the first line of an Emily Dickinson poem. I enjoyed the setting of 1855 Amherst, Massachusetts and the focus on the underground railroad.

Emily comes off as intrepid but a bit entitled as she feels very secure about her family's wealth and class. We see snippets of her early writing too. Willa by contrast has been working in service since she was 12. She balances her worries of continued employment with her need to find out what happened to her brother. This was a nice cozy mystery for fall reading. Thank you to the publisher for my e-copy of this book.

I requested this book because I've always liked Amanda Flower's books. This one doesn't disappoint. It is different from her usual more lighthearted cozy mysteries. We met Emily Dickinson before she is famous. Emily pushes her maid, Willa, to investigate Willa's brother's murder. I liked the characters and there were some nice twists to the story. It is a nice historical mystery. I'd like to know what happens with Willa and the police officer.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley. for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Amanda Flowers
Book #1 in Series
Publication Day: Today!

Willa shows up for a job interview at the Dickinson home in 1855, drenched from the rain and covered in mud. Thanks to the timely intervention of the aloof Emily Dickinson, Willa secures the position. When Willa’s brother turns up dead, Emily takes Willa under her wing and together they strike out to find answers.

I know next to nothing about Emily Dickinson except that she was an American writer. Before starting this book I couldn’t even tell you what kind of things she wrote (which turns out was poetry and which probably explains this particular gap in my knowledge). I can’t speak to whether the story portrays her accurately or whether events ever actually happened.

This is in no way a historical account of a famous figure. I don’t think Emily being Emily Dickinson was integral to the story. In fact, she really could have been anyone because her personality didn’t really have a lot of depth. This particular mystery is very plot oriented and the personalities of both Willa and Emily are outshined by the events that take place. My favourite aspect of the book was the mystery itself as clues were only offered up in tiny breadcrumbs. It took a while for it to become clear to me who the culprit was and that was only because I was overanalyzing.

The book touches on slavery and women’s roles during the 1850s. I think it did a pretty good job of simply demonstrating what life was like during that period, including neighborhood dynamics, the role of the church, and government.

I’d recommend this one for those looking for something that lies between a cozy mystery and that with darker, more serious undertones.

Thank you Berkley for an advanced reader’s copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Amanda Flower brings great characterization and world-building to Because I Could Not Stop for Death, the first book in the Emily Dickinson historical mystery series. The novel begins in January 1855 with Willa Noble applying for a job at the Dickinson home in Amherst, Massachusetts. Despite being late, drenched, and covered in mud, Willa gets the job as a housemaid with Emily’s help. Tragedy strikes when Willa’s brother Henry is killed in an accident at the town’s stables. Willa tells Emily about it as well as her belief that it wasn’t an accident, but murder. Emily offers to help her investigate.

Mixing real-life individuals like the Dickinson family with fictional characters such as Willa and Henry made this an engaging historical fiction story. Both Willa and Emily are well-developed characters. Willa has a tendency to sacrifice herself for family and duty and is compassionate, hard working, and loyal, but lacks self-confidence. Emily is curious, aloof, writes furiously, and is willing to use her family’s wealth and prestige to get what she wants. While Emily didn’t change much during the course of the novel, Willa was more dynamic and grew more confident as the story unfolded.

This historical mystery brings to life the conflicting sentiments that existed in America at the time. This included how people in different social classes were treated and viewed, the attitudes toward and expectations of women, and the need for some to carry papers everywhere they went to prove they were free. The novel seems to be well-researched including the travel to and experiences in Washington D.C. that felt right for the times.

There are a few plot twists, but I was able to discern the antagonist relatively early with the clues provided. Despite this, I enjoyed the story and felt transported to the mid 1800’s. Based on my limited knowledge of the poet Emily Dickinson, she seemed to be well portrayed in this fictional portrayal of an early period in her life. The story is moving and suspenseful at times, but the pace felt somewhat slow. Additional themes woven into the story include grief, protecting others, bullying, politics, greed, and family relationships.

Overall, this story is engaging, well-written, and well-researched. This book is somewhat darker than most of the cozy mysteries I have read by this author. Those that enjoy historical mysteries, amateur sleuths, or are interested in Emily Dickinson will likely enjoy this novel. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Berkley Publishing Group and Amanda Flower provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for September 20, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

Are you looking for an intense book that will keep you completely consumed and at the edge of your seat the entire time? Because I Could Not Stop for Death, is the book you need to read!

WHOA! What did I just read? Amanda Flower, you are a powerhouse and a force to be reckoned with.

Now, we have all heard of Amanda Flower, correct? Flower has over 35 mystery novels out and is a USA Today best-selling author and also the recipient of the Agatha Award.

I have read quite a few of Flowers previous books and have always enjoyed them! I would describe her previous work as cozy mysteries but Because I Could Not Stop for Death has broken the mold. I have never read a book quite like this and I can tell you I absolutely loved it!

Because I Could Not Stop for Death is book one in An Emily Dickinson Mystery Series and even though I have just finished, I am already anxiously awaiting book two!

I will tell you this is NOT a cozy mystery and has some pretty dark content but if you love a great murder mystery (and historical at that!) than you will enjoy this storyline as I did !

Five Stars!

Thank you Berkley, Amanda Flower and Netgalley for trusting me to read and review this incredible book prior to the big release, in exchange for an honest review!

Many well wishes to Flower, I was always a fan but this one just set the bar for what is to come !

Because I Could Not Stop for Death is the beginning of a great new series that left me wanting to read the next book tomorrow.

Willa is the new maid for the Dickinson family and together with Emily they desperately want to solve the murder of Willa's brother.

I loved getting to know the characters, the Dickinson family and all the history surrounding them.

It is a very atmospheric read that kept the pages turning and me guessing to no avail.

I am looking forward to Book 2 in the Series and I will be one of the first in line to read it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley for an exciting new series that is a must read.

A historical mystery centered around a young Emily Dickinson and her fictional maid Willa. Willa has just be hired by the prosperous Dickinson family when she is notified that her brother has died in what is ruled to be an accident. Emily takes interest in the new maid and the two start to investigate the death. The setting is well realized and makes this historical mystery an interesting read. Any rich, young woman with an inquiring mind could have been substituted for Emily Dickinson in the story without taking away from it but the name recognition will draw some readers to this book. Historical mystery fans will not be disappointed.

"Emily Dickinson and her housemaid, Willa Noble, realize there is nothing poetic about murder in this first book in an all-new series from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Amanda Flower.

January 1855 Willa Noble knew it was bad luck when it was pouring rain on the day of her ever-important job interview at the Dickinson home in Amherst, Massachusetts. When she arrived late, disheveled with her skirts sodden and filthy, she'd lost all hope of being hired for the position. As the housekeeper politely told her they'd be in touch, Willa started toward the door of the stately home only to be called back by the soft but strong voice of Emily Dickinson. What begins as tenuous employment turns to friendship as the reclusive poet takes Willa under her wing.

Tragedy soon strikes and Willa's beloved brother, Henry, is killed in a tragic accident at the town stables. With no other family and nowhere else to turn, Willa tells Emily about her brother's death and why she believes it was no accident. Willa is convinced it was murder. Henry had been very secretive of late, only hinting to Willa that he'd found a way to earn money to take care of them both. Viewing it first as a puzzle to piece together, Emily offers to help, only to realize that she and Willa are caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse that reveals corruption in Amherst that is generations deep. Some very high-powered people will stop at nothing to keep their profitable secrets even if that means forever silencing Willa and her new mistress...."

It was only a matter of time until Emily Dickinson started solving crime...

Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Amanda Flower is the debut of An Emily Dickinson Mystery series. The author takes us back to 1855 in Amherst, Massachusetts where Willa Noble gets a position as a maid in the Dickinson household. Not long after she begins her new position, Willa learns that her younger brother, Henry is dead. The police are calling it an accident, but Willa does not believe it. Willa receives Henry’s diary from his friend at the livery. When she reads it, Willa knows that Henry was murdered. Emily Dickinson believes they should look into Henry’s death. The pair team up to learn the truth. The author’s vivid descriptions bring Amherst to life as well as Washington, D.C. I especially enjoyed the depictions of the Washington Monument and Mount Vernon. The Dickinson family travels to Washington to visit their father and Emily brings Willa along. I thought the story was well-written with developed characters. I did find it to be a slow-moving story. I can tell the author did her research for this story. The story does include the subjects of slavery, differences between social classes, and gender roles. The mystery was nicely laid out. There are a couple of suspects, misdirection, and good clues. I appreciated the epilogue that nicely wrapped up the whodunit. I was able to solve the mystery early on. However, it was interesting following Willa and Emily’s investigation to see what information they would uncover. I did find this book to be very different from the author’s other novels. It is missing the lighthearted humor that is normally present in Amanda Flower’s stories. Because I Could Not Stop for Death is a dark tale with a departed brother, a revealing diary, a threatening note, a helpful employer, tasty strawberry ice cream, a trip by train, and a revealing arrest.