The premise of the book was what caught my eye because I love Edith Wharton and the Gilded Age but I could not get into the story as I read. I finished the book because I had to know the ending but was not impressed with the style of writing. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

In New York City, 1911, Edith Wharton is growing tired of writing. Her marriage is on the rocks, her sharp tongue is still getting her into trouble, and she’s yearning for change.

When fellow novelist, David Graham Phillips, is shot to death, it seems the perfect opportunity for Ms. Wharton to add some excitement to her life by investigating his murder. She didn’t particularly like Mr. Phillips, but being a fellow novelist, she feels compelled to find out who would kill him and why.

I enjoyed this book, though I did find it a bit slow in the beginning. I loved the name dropping of authors and the atmospheric feel throughout. I was quite interested in Edith Wharton’s escapades and found her to be intelligent but constrained by being a woman in the early 1900’s. I give this 3 stars and recommend this well researched novel to those of you who enjoy historical fiction.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.

Edith Wharton is the heart and soul of this suspenseful historical mystery and her world fascinates. After an arrogant male writer is shot outside the Princeton Club, Edith, living in New York City with her mentally unstable husband, decides to use her exceptional brain and her many contacts to find out who killed the writer, partly as a way to distract herself from her tense and unsatisfying personal life but also in a quest for justice. This novel vividly brings late Gilded Age New York to life with real-life characters, from Henry James to Alice Vanderbilt. As the mystery deepens, we see situations from deep in the point of view of Edith Wharton, author of The Age of Innocence and many other classics. Witty, haunting, poignant, and provocative all at the same time, this is a book with many rewards, richly told.

It was really intrigued by the concept here, I thoroughly enjoy Edith Wharton's novels and was looking forward to a book featuring her as a character. I did really enjoy the glimpse into Old New York , but beyond the atmospherics I struggled with this one. Unfortunately, I found the overall story to be incredibly slow going and Wharton herself to be a not terribly engaging or sympathetic character. It was really difficult to see why she would become so involved in the murder of a man she could not stand and met once, making the whole point of the book somewhat unclear...

“The Wharton Plot” is a historical fiction mystery by Mariah Fredericks. What I liked about this book was that it very nicely captured the “dying” days of The Gilded Age in NYC. This book took me a while to get into and even by the end, I’m still not sure I was “into” it completely. I still don’t really understand Wharton’s motivation to going after the killer of a man she, honestly, didn’t like (besides the fact that they were both authors). There were a number of characters in this book, some of whom I had trouble keeping separate. I’d say if you like Edith Wharton, The Gilded Age, or mysteries - this book may be right up your alley. Overall, for me, a 3.25 rating.

A great historical mystery, featuring the author Edith Wharton as an amateur detective. While having tea with her publisher (1911, New York City), she meets an author, Phillips, who she immediately dislikes. When he turns up dead, she suspects it is because the killer had reason to stop the publication of Phillip's next book. So, she investigates. There is so much interest in the Gilded Age now, thanks to the streaming series, and this book gets all the historical details right.

I enjoyed this story! Novelist Edith Wharton is caught solving a murder in 1911 New York City. A fellow author, David Graham Philips, has been shot. There are a number of suspects because his writing was somewhat controversial. Mrs. Wharton was quite the character, and it was interesting to learn about her life. I also like to read stories that take place in the Gilded Age. It's also fun to go on-line and find out about the real characters in this story. A great mystery!
Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press, Minetour Books for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

I was really looking forward to reading “The Wharton Plot” by Mariah Fredericks as the only thing I knew about Edith Wharton was that she was the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.. This was such an informative and interesting story which gives great insight into Edith (she was quite a character) and shows her obsession for solving the murder of a fellow author who has scandalous ideas about society and a woman’s place in it. We learn a lot about the Gilded Age and the famous people of that time who were part of her world. The writing style took me a chapter or two to navigate, but once I became comfortable I totally enjoyed this novel.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Writers on writers. That's the real focus of this novel, centering the internal life of Edith Wharton in a setting of old New York, and moving in the framework of detective fiction, Is the central mystery about who shot a famous writer near Gramercy Park or is it what it means to be a writer, to one's self, one's publishers, one's readers, and one's peers.
Recommended for all readers of historical mysteries and for enthusiasts of the Sunday Philosophy Club Series (Alexander McCall Smith), which also operates on a plane of intellectual and moral accounting in the setting of a genteel adventure.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I requested The Wharton Plot but have greatly enjoyed Mariah Fredericks’s Jane Prescott series. I’m delighted to say this was another well done historical fiction mystery. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for DRC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’ve not read any of Edith Wharton’s books but may have to after digesting this tale. She was not always the most likable character but she was a honest one, which I appreciated. It was clear she struggled with her life’s situation and the ever changing world around her. The expectations for men and women during this time period were starkly made as were the differences in thoughts between “classes”. It made me reflect on how far society has and has not come.

A well done mystery rounded the story out and I enjoyed puzzling over it. This was a definite hit for me and I hope this may be the beginning in a new series.

I really loved this plot, as we follow Edith Wharton in Gilded Age as she works to uncover a mystery and figure out a killer. The author does an excellent job of ensuring Edith is a strong character in this book, and the mystery itself was also fun to try to unravel! I also liked the incorporation of the Gilded Age and a great depiction of how society functionated at that time in history. A really cool, fun read, and highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
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Mariah Fredericks' mesmerizing novel, The Wharton Plot, follows renowned novelist Edith Wharton in the twilight years of the Gilded Age in New York as she tracks a killer.

New York City, 1911. Edith Wharton, almost equally famed for her novels and her sharp tongue, is bone-tired of Manhattan. Finding herself at a crossroads with both her marriage and her writing, she makes the decision to leave America, her publisher, and her loveless marriage.

And then, dashing novelist David Graham Phillips—a writer with often notorious ideas about society and women’s place in it—is shot to death outside the Princeton Club. Edith herself met the man only once when the two formed a mutual distaste over tea in the Palm Court of the Belmont hotel. When Phillips is killed, Edith's life takes another turn. 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 stay hidden. Though unconvinced, Edith is curious. What kind of book could push someone to kill?

Inspired by a true story, The Wharton Plot follows Edith Wharton through the fading years of the Gilded Age in a city she once loved so well, telling a taut tale of fame, love, and murder, as she becomes obsessed with solving a crime.

Ahhhh the gilded age: this book is perfect for fans of Wharton and the TV series (aptly named: The Gilded Age” as well, it features a fiercely strong female cast including the sublime Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski and Meryl Streep’s daughter Louisa Jacobson Gummer and costumes and houses that will make you drool!) or anyone in search of a great novel to read.

That aside, Edith Wharton is a pip (shades of Archie Bunker there who misused the meaning) and determined to get to the bottom of the mystery that has overwhelmed her life. Excellently crafted, this is highly recommended to book clubs and individual readers alike who are in search of strong characters and a great mystery.

Interesting read - #shortbutsweetreviews

Edith Wharton has returned to New York to sell her home and make serious decision about her future. While meeting with her publisher she is introduced to David Graham Phillips, a challenging and opinionated author. When he is gunned down shortly after their meeting she investigates. She needs a distraction and solving his murder provides one. I love the way the author has presented the moral and social norms of the time and how they are changing.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an eGalley of this title.

The Wharton Plot by Mariah Fredericks is an entertaining historical fiction that also provides an engaging murder/mystery plot as well.

I enjoyed this early 20th century murder/mystery taking place in NYC with the true historical figure and author, Edith Wharton.

It was interesting, engaging, presented with a solid pace, and kept me interested throughout.

I always enjoy a good historical mystery and this did not disappoint.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/23/24.