Mariah Fredericks has written a book with an interesting premise: Author Edith Wharton as the protagonist in a murder mystery. This historical novel was quite compelling. Based on a true story, Fredericks keeps the real victim, perpetrator and motive, but inserts Wharton into the narrative. At a time when the aging Wharton was facing personal problems, writer’s block and disappointing sales, she is drawn into the drama surrounding the murder of another author. The novel may have a plot that centers on a murder mystery, but it is really an exploration of the declining Gilded Age society. Wharton confides in her friends who are also famous authors and some of the suspects are part of high society. The character driven drama within the book is well written and kept me invested in the story. Since I am a fan of both historical fiction and mysteries, I was happy to review this book from Saint Martin’s Press through Netgalley. If you are simply looking for a compelling murder mystery, you will be sorely disappointed by the weakly crafted plot. However, if you like historical fiction that includes real people you will love this book. Fredericks captures the era with picturesque prose and creates vibrant characters that had me reading more about the various authors and adding some of their books to my classics reading list.

The Wharton Plot was a fast paced mystery. The murder and mayhem kept the book moving forward and kept me intrigued and on my toes.

I loved the strong personality of the main character, Edith Wharton. Her musings about the people around her were very entertaining. The unsavory and quirky character surrounding her provided enough suspicion to keep you guessing.

To find out this book is based on true people and true events fascinated me.

I received this NetGalley widget via Minotaur Influencer program.

I have posted this review on Instagram

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Goodreads

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And Amazon

Mariah Fredericks' "The Wharton Plot" is a mesmerizing journey into the twilight years of the Gilded Age, with renowned novelist Edith Wharton at the helm. Set against the backdrop of New York City in 1911, the novel weaves a gripping tale of mystery and intrigue as Wharton finds herself entangled in a web of murder and secrets.

Edith Wharton, tired of Manhattan and facing uncertainties in her personal and professional life, decides to leave America, her publisher, and her loveless marriage behind. The narrative takes an unexpected turn when the dashing novelist David Graham Phillips is shot to death outside the Princeton Club. Despite having met Phillips only once, Edith's life becomes intertwined with the investigation as Phillips' sister believes he was killed to halt the publication of his upcoming book, one that threatened to unveil powerful secrets.

"The Wharton Plot" is inspired by a true story, adding authenticity to the narrative. Fredericks skillfully captures the essence of the fading Gilded Age, portraying Wharton's obsession with solving the crime against the backdrop of fame, love, and murder. The novel keeps readers on the edge with its taut storytelling and intricate plot.

Edith Wharton's character is portrayed with depth and complexity, and the exploration of societal norms and women's roles in the early 20th century adds layers to the narrative. Fredericks masterfully combines historical elements with a gripping mystery, creating a novel that not only entertains but also provides insights into the challenges of the time.

While "The Wharton Plot" may not reach the pinnacle of a five-star rating, it undoubtedly earns a solid four stars for its compelling storytelling, well-developed characters, and the seamless integration of historical events into a suspenseful plot. Fans of historical mysteries and those intrigued by the enigmatic Edith Wharton will find this novel a captivating and satisfying read.

I'm always a sucker for a good historical fiction story set during the Gilded Age. All the money, glitz, and glamour provide such a rich setting for rich people behaving badly! And Mariah Fredericks definitely nailed it with this novel!

I honestly didn't expect a murder mystery when I picked this one up - those aren't the type of novels I gravitate toward. However, Ms. Fredericks really kept me glued to the pages with this one. Of course, as soon as I finished this novel, which is based on a true story, I went down a rabbit hole researching all of the characters she touched on - what a fascinating group she brought together in this book!

And who doesn't love a story about authors! I've honestly never even heard of Edith Wharton or David Graham Phillips until now🙈, so I was certainly captivated.

Looking for a book filled with intrigue and suspense based on a true story about two authors? Here's your ticket!

Many thank to partners, Minotaur Books and NetGalley, for this gifted review copy!

The Wharton Plot is a historical fiction about an aristocrat who is also a writer. This takes place in 1910. A time when women still did not have many rights and still considered a husband's property.

Edith Wharton is a writer. She meets David Graham Phillips also a writer with often notorious ideas about society and women’s place in it. As they discuss their views on women, each thinks the other has no idea what they are talking about. Later Phillips is shot to death outside the Princeton Club. Edith gets involved with solving the murder.

I was so looking forward to this book. I was disappointed with the lead character. She is portrayed as a snob, arrogant and not very nice. I did not care for this character; therefore, it makes it hard to enjoy the book.

With her Jane Prescott series ("Death of No Importance" and three sequels), Mariah Fredericks proved she was an adept plotter of mysteries with a talent for creating memorable, three-dimensional characters. "The Wharton Plot" shows off her ability to plumb deep into a character and show off her bad as well as good qualities, all while still making the character someone you want to spend time with. Here, the character is Edith Wharton—yes, that Edith Wharton, post "House of Mirth" and pre "Age of Innocence." Edith is judgmental, petty, and self-centered but also loyal and oddly sentimental. Above all, she's observant and smart, which makes her an ideal amateur sleuth.

"The Wharton Plot" is based on the real-life murder of author David Graham Phillips, and the book captures all the restrictions and rules of Gilded Age society. The pacing is quick, and all the characters, not just Edith, are well drawn. The mystery itself is arguably the weakest part of the book, but given how strong all the other elements are, that's not much of a complaint.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Wharton Plot by Mariah Fredericks is a witty and delicious Historical Fiction Mystery which takes place in New York City in 1911. Edith Wharton is one of my most beloved Classics authors so when this title appeared it was enough to pull me in. But there are many reasons to stay and enjoy the story based on true facts.

Brilliant writer Edith Wharton is disenchanted with New York City and is bored with her marrage and life in general. She needs some oomph to shake her out of her funk. Fellow writer David Graham Phillips is just the ticket...when they met they riled and infuriated each other. But he is shot dead soon after. As Edith has an insatiable curiosity and can't resist a good mystery, she begins her own amateur investigation. She didn't like the man but she grew to know more about him as a person. She even attended his funeral. His death conveniently occurs hours before his masterwork is published. He is known for his brutal honesty and salacious hints. Edith realizes the risks involved but hasn't felt so vibrant and inspired in awhile. She now has purpose.

Though I am not fond of Wharton's character portrayal here, there is much to admire about her quirks, wit and quiet intelligence. She is outspoken as a female and she sometimes causes eyerolling but she certainly had spunk when in her element.

Mariah Fredericks' writing is lovely and fascinating and her choices in women to highlight in her novels are unique. I always learn something and am left curious enough to do further research. Her sharp witticisms caused me to giggle out loud more than once. I love her sense of humour!

My sincere thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this captivating novel.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Romance: Discussed in passing at it related to the characters
Content: Clean/Mild

Attempting to keep this spoiler free, but everyone has a different view on what is and isn't a spoiler.

This was an interesting read. It's a fictional story inspired by true events that centers around novelist Edith Wharton and the death of fellow author David Graham Phillips. After briefly meeting the day before, Wharton is informed by her publisher that Phillips was shot by an unknown person. From here we follow Wharton as she investigates his death, works through her next novel, and deals with issues in her marriage. Set in New York during 1911

I do not feel like it is absolutely necessary to have read an Edith Wharton novel before embarking on this one, but it definitely aids in some understanding. Her books are discussed and referenced throughout, in more than just name. The novel did keep me interested because I enjoyed reading about the accurate facts of the characters' live (which I did research as I was reading), and I wanted to know what happened to David Graham Phillips.

Read if you enjoy
• Historical Fiction inspired by real events
• Gilded Age Era
• Reading about Writers
• Mystery
• Amateur Sleuths

Likes
• Historical Fiction
• Dual POV at the beginning (Wharton & Phillips)
• Setting
• Learning about characters' lives
• Mystery

Dislikes
• Edith frustrated me
• Calling Henry James, HJ
• Out of place descriptions
• Noddlehead/Doodlewit
• Very Amateur Detective
• Plot Holes
• Too Much being focused on


Questions I have -
• Why did Wharton's publisher feel that he needed to inform her of Phillips's death before she saw it for herself?
• Why did Wharton feel the need to go to Phillips's funeral when she found him awful, and only met him once (the day before)?
• Why would she investigate the murder of someone she didn't really know, and didn't even like based off the one meeting?
• Where were the cops? at 50+% there still hadn't been any police presence just the mention of taking notes to the police

I felt that was a lack of connections. It did not make sense for Wharton to become involved in anything to do with Phillips. She met him once, the day before he was shot, and found him to be awful. She even told her publisher (who was at the meeting) that she wouldn't forgive him for a year because of inserting Phillips into their meeting and causing her to interact with him. So why did her publisher feel the need to even tell her about Phillips's death before it was in the paper? They didn't even belong to the same publisher. This issue made the rest of the book difficult to understand because there was just this nagging thought throughout, "Why are you even involved in any of this?"

Edith was a very unlikeable character. She was full of herself, insufferable, and treated her husband terribly which made me feel so sorry for him. I don't think we had enough background on their relationship to see it any other way than Wharton being cruel to her husband who seemed to be struggling with extreme depression. She was terrible at investigating the death and constantly speculated. I get that she is a writer, and writers enjoy plots but she wasn't a mystery writer which I feel makes a huge difference. She wrote about the inner lives of the rich and elites, so how did that make her a good candidate to investigate this. This "plot" is different than the "plots" she writes about. The fact that what really interested her was the "plot" surrounding Phillips's death made it worse. A man was shot, be more concerned with that. The plot reasoning, to be involved, just seemed like a throwaway explanation. I think just following Edith Wharton's life, after the success of her first few books and without the murder, would have been a more interesting story. There was already a lot going on with that to begin with.

Historical fiction based on true stories/events is a genre I usually enjoy, but I think the plot hole is just a little too difficult to overlook. Why would Edith Wharton be involved in this at all? I think there needed to be more background between Wharton and Phillips before the murder. There needed to be something that connected the two to make the investigation by Wharton make sense.


Thank you Minotaur Books for the Advanced Reader Copy

Remember: The above are all my own thoughts and opinions. If you don't agree with them then that's okay, because it just means we have different likes and thoughts.

I was familiar with Edith Wharton from reading one of her books several years ago, so the title of this grabbed my interest. During her time, she was a prolific writer and the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize in fiction.

The story opens during a time when Edith had already become known as a successful writer. While enjoying lunch with her editor, she meets another writer and the two immediately clash. However when the writer is later killed in broad daylight, Edith becomes obsessed with finding out what happened. She even manages to get family approval to read his upcoming novel to find out if anything was written that could be a thereat to someone.

Soon, Edith receives some threatening notes and through the notes and interviews with people, she manages to get some clues and eventually solve the murder.

The story moves at a slow pace and Edith is not portrayed very favorably much of the time.
I love a good whodunit, but found this one to be just a tad boring. On the positive side, it did get me motivated to learn more about Edith Wharton and I just might read another of her books in the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to give my honest review.

Edith Wharton meets novelist, David Graham Phillips, who is shot to death the next day. We follow her story as she investigates who could have been jealous enough to kill him.

I enjoyed this novel set in the gilded age inspired by a true story. Prior to this, the only thing I knew about Mrs. Wharton was that she was a novelist herself. While the mystery is prevalent, there is a great balance into who she was as a person. She's a formidable woman and I found this dive into her character interesting. The way this novel took shape and not only highlighted Wharton and Phillips, but a woman's place in gilded age society was an entertaining read.

There were times when it felt like background information on the characters and their relationships was expected. At points I felt like details were missing and in some places the story really slowed. Wharton jumped to conclusions at time, sometimes almost comically. I appreciated a bit of levity placed throughout in what could have otherwise been a depressing story dealing with death, relationships, affairs, jealousy, etc... All that, the ending really was great! It felt like there was some ambiguity and in this case I thought it was a great way to find the shooter and an even greater way to dive into the motive.

Inspired by a true story, this book takes place in New York City, 1911. Edith Wharton, famous author who is also known for having a sharp tongue and a love for dogs, has come back to New York from Paris in order to sell her home in Manhattan and also, possibly, leave her husband for good. During a meeting over tea at the Palm Court, she is introduced to novelist David Graham Phillips—a writer with often notorious ideas about society and women’s place in it—and the two take an instant dislike to each other. The next day he is shot to death outside the Princeton Club. , Edith becomes obsessed with trying to solve his murder. His sister is convinced Graham was killed by someone determined to stop the publication of his next book, which promised to uncover secrets that powerful people would rather stayed hidden. Though unconvinced, Edith is curious. What kind of book could push someone to kill?

I have read (and loved) previous books by this author, so I was excited to read this one. Unfortunately, this one fell a little short of expectations. Even though this was a fairly short book, it moved so slowly I didn't think I would ever finish it. It wasn't until the final few chapters that the pace really picked up. I didn't know anything about Ms. Wharton other than the fact she was a famous author, before reading this book. After reading it, I am not impressed......she had very few positive attributes on display. Overall, this is a solid 3 stars.

Inspired by a true story, The Wharton Plot by Mariah Fredericks “follows renowned novelist Edith Wharton in the twilight years of the Gilded Age in New York as she tracks a killer.” This was an interesting character-driven work of historical fiction. I think what threw me a bit was that it was rather slow moving which I hadn’t expected from the description. I was engaged in the story to meet Edith and hear the story told from her point of view–to be around 50 years old in 1911 New York City was fascinating. She has a strong voice and I could picture her perfectly. It seemed, though, to take awhile to get to the murder. It felt more about Edith and her life than about a mystery.Certainly not a bad book–well written and clearly well researched, just not what I was expecting. This novel publishes January 23, 2024.

The Wharton Plot is an historical mystery in which (no surprise) Edith Wharton figures prominently as do the privileged of the world in which she lived. For example, early in the book Wharton attends a musicale that is given by Alice Vanderbilt in her very large home. She is acquainted with Henry James.

Readers may choose this book for the historical, the mystery or indeed both. I especially enjoyed the historical as I was familiar with a number of the locations mentioned in the book. Among these were the Arts Club on Gramercy Park, Calvary Church (where those like Roosevelts and Morgans attended) and others in New York City.. 

I also found it fascinating to learn more about Wharton. There are insights into her writing, her troubled marriage, her possible lover, the places where she lived (and wanted to live) and her writing. Readers also witness her strength of character.

A fellow writer, David Graham Phillips, is murdered. Wharton did not especially like him or his writing. She also did not like his scorn for the novels she wrote. Nevertheless, she wants to figure out what happened. Readers will enjoy spending time with her as she does in this novel based on historical fact.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

The Wharton Plot is based on the murder of American novelist David Graham Phillips, who was known for provocative and often inflammatory commentary on social issues. Phillips was shot in 1911 outside of the Princeton Club in New York City. In the novel, Fredericks casts well-known author Edith Wharton as an amateur detective who becomes obsessed with solving the murder.

The story opens as Wharton is meeting with her publisher in a tense conversation about her latest book. Her publisher notices famous author David Graham Phillips passing through the hotel lobby and invites him to join. Phillips, known for his muckraking novels, couldn’t be more different from Edith Wharton, and the two writers instantly despise one another.

It isn’t long before Wharton learns of Phillips’ murder outside of the Princeton Club. The polarizing figure has been shot, and the murderer fled the scene. Over the course of the book, Wharton becomes increasingly obsessed with the mystery of who shot Phillips (and why).

Wharton attends Phillips’ funeral and continues looking into the murder. Wharton uses the case as a distraction from an unhappy marriage. She fixates specifically on Phillips’ upcoming publication, Susan Lenox: Her Rise and Fall. Though Wharton doesn’t necessarily like the book, she wonders if it holds the source of truth that led to the author’s murder.

This was a compelling mystery, made even more intriguing knowing it was based on a true story. Wharton pursues a number of leads, weighing each as she comes to it, and dismissing many.

The case also serves as a distraction for Wharton as she struggles with her husband, Teddy. Wharton is unfulfilled in her marriage. At one point she muses that Teddy’s greatest fear is that Edith will leave him, while her greatest fear is that she never will.

The conclusion to the mystery builds off the real-life conclusion (don’t look it up if you don’t want to be spoiled), but also adds some additional theorizing that ties everything together. As with most good historical fiction, Fredericks ties together known truths with some creative liberties.

Elegant writing, expert-research, and a voice that captures the sharp wit of the legendary Edith Wharton make this book successful and gratifying for the reader.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.

Thank you @minotaur_books for the #gifted copy of this book!

This story is based on a real person Edith Wharton in the early 1900s. She is quick witted, definitely a woman not of her time and above all a no nonsense person. She is at the point in her life where she is questioning her marriage and her career as a writer. Another writer, David Graham Phillips is shot to death outside a busy club. Edith finds herself immersed rather quickly as David’s sister invites her to look into her brothers death. She is convinced it was to try to stop him from publishing his new book. Edith can’t imagine why someone would do such a thing…especially over a book.

Thoughts: This book is a perfect book for someone looking for a cozy historical mystery. I actually really enjoyed the history discussing the Biltmore’s, Vanderbilts and other historical people and places discussed in this book! I’ve visited some of the places mentioned which helped me relate to this book even more. I did find some of this book a bit dry and slow which made the pacing seem a little off. I think overall if I had to describe this book I liked the history more than the mystery. As always I am always thankful for a copy of this book however this was more of a like not love book for me.

I really wanted to like this one, but Edith Wharton as a super sleuth didn't work for me. Also, I think a book that is touted as based on a true story really needs some Author’s Notes explaining the history of the event. I read an ARC, so hopefully the finished copy will have some Author’s Notes/historical notes for the reader.

The mystery was a little ho-hum for me. Edith Wharton may be an excellent author, but she does not make for an interesting sleuth. I found the details of her life dark and depressing; she didn’t want to be in New York and I didn’t want to be there with her. Her life is a mess. I thought that her solving or wanting to solve a murder of someone she didn’t even like was preposterous and far-fetched, but now I hear it is based on a true story.

I recommend this book for historical fiction readers who like to read books set during the Gilded Age. Edith Wharton fans might also find the book entertaining.

I'm so disappointed by this book!! I absolutely devoured "The Lindberg Nanny" and was so excited to see that Mariah Fredericks had another book coming out. While I'm incredibly grateful to have gotten this ARC , the book was so flat.

My main issue with this is that the narrator (Edith Wharton for the most part) was entirely unlikeable. I understand the snobbery and narcissism that came with her life and society standing at the time, but in the book she came across as annoying and patronising. If it was meant to then great! If not then yikes. I also feel like the entire plot of the book was way too far fetched. A guy you met once (that you didn't even like) dies and now all of a sudden you're investigating the murder on your own and are making up wild theories? It read more obsessive and manic than I think Mrs. Wharton would have been in real like.

I'm also hesitant to say it, but I think there was a lot of excessive name dropping. Sure it's of a time in New York where all the contemporary authors seem to reside at the time, but for them to be so interconnected I find hard to believe. It was noted a few times that authors find themselves as recluses, so why are they always socializing with one another? And just because it's the Golden Age of New York doesn't automatically mean they were all chummy with the Vanderbilts.

Finally, even from a very general Wiki search there are major plot points that are historically inaccurate. I won't go into too much detail cause it's gonna spoil the ending, but even the most basic look into the facts of DGP's murder would point them out. I didn't get an author's note or historical note at the end of the book, like we did in "the Lindberg Nanny" so when the book is published I'll see if I can read it. But yeah, not a fan of this one.

The Wharton Plot, by Mariah Fredericks, casts the novelist, Edith Wharton, into the role of sleuth as she tries to uncover who murdered another author and what was the motive. Wharton’s own story is worthy of mention as she was born into high society and spent a good portion of her life maintaining her position and simultaneously flouting the rules. She was the first woman to win a Pulitzer for Fiction. Many reviewers have questioned what possibly could motivate Wharton to get involved in such a murder investigation. The answer is threefold. First, she was avoiding several issues in her own life that desperately needed resolution. Second, one motive suggested to Wharton was that the author was murdered to prevent publication of a potentially controversial novel. Third, this is fiction. Although I found the pace sometimes tedious, I was fascinated by both Wharton’s critical observations and full participation in the social life of the “Gilded Age.” The novel is well written and left a bigger impression that I expected. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, Minatour Books for the opportunity to read a digital ARC.

I love when I read a book that’s a stray from my normal reads, but really surprised me. I haven’t read too many historical mysteries, but this one was right up my alley!

The main character is Edith Wharton, the famous author. She is in New York City between her trips to Paris to see her editor. While out one day, she meets David Graham Phillips, a writer on the precipice of publishing his biggest novel. It’s a hard look at socirty and people of means. It’s caused some controversy and many people don’t want to see it published. Edith is strongly dislikes this man and goes on with her life. However, a dear friend has asked that she read the novel and lend her good name to support him. The next day, Phillips is shot dead outside the Princeton club in the bright daylight.

Edith can’t get over that she just met with this man and now he’s been murdered. She decides she must know what is written in this book and goes to his publishing house to read it. His editor advises that Phillips had been sent several threatening letters. Edith is fascinated by these and can’t stop thinking about Phillips. When she returns back to her hotel, she finds she is also the recipient of the same kind of notes. Who is this person? Why would they want her? Would they harm her?

I really enjoyed the time period of Gilded Age NYC. If you are a fan of the @hbomax show Gilded Age, I think you will enjoy. Edith goes to an opera at the new Metropolitan Opera House which was a huge plot on the newest season of the show. Edith was a fun character as she was in high society, but didn’t entirely love what it meant. She was also on the brink of separating with her husband and she’s trying to figure out life without him.

Thank you @minotaurbooks and @mariahfredericks for my advanced reader copy. The Wharton Plot is out January 23!

I love Edith Wharton and her classic novels, so I was very excited to read this one. It didn't move quite as quickly as I thought it might, but I think it portrayed Wharton in the later years of her life quite well and very realistically. We're all familiar with the younger Wharton, or the successful one, and this is a different version of her entirely, which I liked. A truly fascinating and clever take on the Gilded Age and its residents.