What a delightfully fun historical mystery starring Jane Austen's Emma Woodhouse (now Knightley) as an amateur sleuth. She's honestly perfect for the role. She's charming and very likable! Well-written and witty, with fantastic historical detail, this book is a love letter to both Austen and murder mysteries. However, you do not need to be familiar with Austen's original work to enjoy this, as it stands on its own. The mystery was solidly plotted and had enough misdirection to keep you guessing, as well as secrets and humor to keep you entertained. The pacing was good, and the mystery was interesting. This is the kind of book you'll want to brew a pot of tea and curl up with. Cozy and historical mystery lovers will want to add to their lists!

Thank you to Netgalley, Kensington Books, and Austen Prose for my gifted copy!

Murder in Highbury is the first book in the Emma Knightley Mystery series by Vanessa Kelly. This entertaining mystery is based on the characters and locations of the Jane Austen book Emma. Now I have a confession to make, and I admit I am very embarrassed about this... I have not read Ms. Austin's Emma. Even worse, I haven't read ANY Jane Austen books! I really don't live under a rock, so what kind of romance reader am I, not reading any classics?! (I watched Pride and Prejudice starring Matthew Macfadyen - totally dreamy - does that count?) However, not having read the book these characters are based on, I had no trouble following along. Such delightful characters!

Emma Knightley, formerly Miss Woodhouse, has been married less than a year to respected magistrate George Knightley, and things are going swimmingly. She has been managing her family's elegant estate and attending social engagements with friends and family; her only worry is her father's health. Things change suddenly, however, when Emma and her friend Harriet Martin arrive at the local church only to find Mrs. Augusta Elton, the vicar’s wife, dead on the altar steps, the expensive necklace she often wore ripped from her neck. The deceased wasn't particularly well liked, so there are many people in Highbury who wouldn't miss her. When suspicion soon lands on a harmless local, Emma is determined to clear the woman's name and find the true culprit. Could the killer be hiding in plain sight?

Since I have never read Emma (bad, bad Kat!), I cannot render an opinion on whether or not this story and characters are true to the original book. However, I can tell you that Ms. Kelly has written an engaging, charming story chock-full of interesting characters. The speech and social mores ring true to the Regency period, surrounding you in believable historical ambience. I enjoyed the character of Emma the best, of course - this is HER book and new series! She was witty and extremely likable; she would stand up for the innocent, and here she is determined to find evidence that the accused murderer is not the woman they arrested.. Her marriage to George Knightley, the local magistrate, is still in its honeymoon phase of less than a year of marriage, and I love the sweet relationship between Emma and George. He respected her intellect and determination, but at times could become exasperated with his wife when she possibly puts herself in danger and wants to be in the middle of the investigation. My favorite supporting character by far is Henry Woodhouse, Emma's beloved father, a dear man who appears to be quite the hypochondriac! He seemed more concerned that his loved ones would catch a chill than the fact that they were in the midst of a murder investigation. Philip Elton, the vicar whose wife is found murdered, is an odd duck. He professed to love his dearly departed wife, yet he seems to be overly fond of Emma. The mystery itself was a lot of fun, with twists and turns that will have you doubting yourself about whodunit. It's the citizens of Highbury, however, that will draw you into their fair village, and I look forward to spending more time with them soon.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I have received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are totally my own.

I do enjoy mystery adaptations of Jane Austen’s novels where her characters turn into amateur investigators and solve crimes. I have been reading quite a few lately and my latest favourite is Murder in Highbury by Vanessa Kelly, featuring Emma Knightley (former Miss Emma Woodhouse) and all the other characters from the novel involved in a murder mystery.

This was such an entertaining and intriguing read. I loved the characters of Emma and Mr. Knightley, who have been married for a year, who come together to find the murderer of one of the least likable characters in the original novel, Mrs. Augusta Elton. It’s up to Mr. Knightley, in his role as the local magistrate, to find the killer, helped by an inept constable and an arrogant coroner, but it’s Emma the one who finds the body in the church (together with her friend Harriet, now Mrs. Martin) and, of course, she sets out to investigate, asking questions around, wondering if the killer is one of her friends or an outsider, much to the constable and coroner’s irritation and her husband’s amusement.

The author did an amazing job bringing these Jane Austen’s characters to life. Not only Emma and Mr. Knightley, but also Mr. Woodhouse, Frank and Jane Churchill, Mr and Mrs. Weston, Mrs and Miss Bates and even the annoying Mr. Elton. The mystery was well-developed and there is quite a list of suspects that kept me guessing. I also enjoyed how the mystery blends with Emma’s everyday life as she now manages two estates, Hartfield and Donwell Abbey, indulges her father’s concerns for everybody’s health, and she has also some time to share a few romantic moments with her husband.

Murder in Highbury is a gripping and engaging cozy Regency mystery, the first in a series, and I am already looking forward to reading the next one!

A Regency murder mystery staring none other than Jane Austen’s, Emma! Where do we sign up? Author Vanessa Kelly could not have selected a more suitable amateur detective - no really! Jane Austen fans are sure to delight as Emma extends her social skills to sleuthing. A match made in heaven!

It is a delight to revisit all the familiar characters such as Harriet, Miss Bates and all the other villagers and let us not of course forget Emma’s now husband, Mr Knightley. How wonderful to revisit Highbury with this cozy murder mystery that is sure to appeal to Janeites and indeed anyone who loves a wonderful historical mystery.


‘Emma Knightley fancied herself quite adept at managing awkward social situations. Murder, however, was not one of them.’

Full disclosure, I am one of those who has not yet gotten around to reading Jane Austen (gasp!). What sold me on picking this one up is author Vanessa Kelly, whose novels are an automatic read.
In MURDER IN HIGHBURY, Vanessa Kelly has taken established and well-loved characters in a new direction. Emma Knightley is enjoying her new role in life when she stumbles upon the vicar’s wife, dead in the church. Of course, she can’t sit back and leave questions unanswered, especially when the clues don’t fit together. Kelly has created a world with interesting characters in a cozy historical mystery, replete with the witty dialogue I always enjoy.
Grab a nice hot cup of tea and a scone and cozy up with this one. This is the first in a new series and I am excited to see what hijinks Emma gets into next.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.

*Murder in Highbury* is an exceptional addition to the historical mystery genre. Vanessa Kelly masterfully intertwines the enchanting world of Austen with the suspense of a murder mystery, creating an irresistibly engaging read. The book’s rich themes and well-developed characters elevate it beyond a mere whodunit, offering a profound.
I urge you to pick up **Murder in Highbury** if you are a fan of historical mysteries, a Jane Austen enthusiast, or simply someone who appreciates a meticulously crafted, character-driven narrative. Vanessa Kelly’s novel is a shining example of her literary prowess and her deep affinity for Austen’s universe. Whether you have long cherished Emma or are just beginning to explore her world, this book promises to captivate and delight you. Don't miss out on this extraordinary journey!

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book for review from Austenprose/Kensington Books/Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity. All thoughts are my own*

Fans of Jane Austen’s Emma, rejoice! Vanessa Kelly’s Murder in Highbury is the start of a new murder mystery series featuring Emma Woodhouse (now Knightly).

Emma has been married to George Knightly the town magistrate not even a year, when she and her dear friend Harriet Martin stumble upon the body of Mrs. Augusta Elton inside Highbury’s church. The town is in a complete uproar as they grapple with the fact that a murder has taken place, and they have no idea who could have murdered poor Mrs. Elton. Emma decides to trade her match making skills for detective skills to assist George and the bumbling town constables.

I absolutely adored this cozy, Regency mystery! It was so well written; it felt like a continuation of Emma. It was wonderful to spend more time with Emma and George Knightly and the whole cast of characters. I appreciated the wit and humor throughout the story and found myself chuckling often. Although I had some suspicions about who the murderer could be, I enjoyed every minute of this story from beginning to end.

I do hope this series will continue as I need more detective Emma Knightly in my life! Sign me up!

Bottom line, I highly recommend for fans of Austen, mysteries and historical fiction.

A delightful cosy murder mystery set in the quiet village of Highbury. But as everyone knows, never underestimate the quiet village life. Intrigues and personal grudges run deep!

The story is set after one year of marital bliss for the Knightley’s. It’s high summer when Emma & Harriet are checking the church flowers, when they stumble across Mrs Elton’s bludgeoned body - a bloodied bronze candlestick nearby on the altar.

Was it a robbery disturbed? A desperate thief? Or someone more sinister and close to home? Mrs Elton’s murder sets the quiet village life in uproar! Gossip and speculation is rife and some villagers are turning on the vulnerable in society.

I love the charm and the wit of Emma & Harriet playing the role of detective. The author has stayed true to to the original characters, but skilfully introduced new characters and the murder plot line.

As a typical overthinker, I kept analysing who was the murder and was ‘hiding in plain sight’. What are the red herrings?

What could be improved, the plot did drag a little in the middle. I feel like too much plot time was spent on village speculation and the incompetent local authorities.

Overall, I love reading murder mysteries based on Austen’s world. They’re the perfect escapism for Austenites. Perfect for those who enjoy Claudia Grey and Stephanie Barron’s mystery novels!

Thank you to Netgallery for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

A really good regency who done it. There was no hint through out the book on who was the murderer. I enjoyed the story and the interactions with the characters.
I received and ARC from NetGalley and the Publisher and leaving a review by my own choice.

3.5/5

This was a cozy little historical mystery that takes place during the Regency era (1815 to be exact, I believe).

I thought it was really cool that there were so many "cameos" of other Regency era characters from other books of the time. I thought that was a super unique thing to do. So if you are a fan of Jane Austen, I think you'd have a lot of fun reading this book.

And there is a little touch of romance to add some more tension into an already tense situation of finding a literal dead body.

And these characters happen to stumble across a dead body and the story takes off from there, trying to solve the mystery of the murder.

This was a fun and easy read, although it did drag a bit at times for me. But I do tend to have that problem sometimes with cozier mysteries, so I think that's just the point of the cozy genre. So I can overlook that a bit, but now you know.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

When Jane Austen’s delightful Matchmaker stumbles on a body, Emma finds a new interest to devote her time. Vanessa Kelly has written some engaging historical romantic suspenses, but I was over the top thrilled when she took up her pen to write a murder mystery and sequel set in the world of Jane Austen’s Emma.

Attractive to both devotees of Austen or those who have never picked up one of her books or the movie adaptions, Murder in Highbury, takes readers into the Regency Era world of the classic novel Emma. The time is about a year after the final events of that book and Emma Knightley has settled into newly married life as leading lady of Highbury village and looking after her hypochondrial aging parent. She gave up her matchmaking ways, but now she and her friend, Harriet Martin stumble across the body of the vicar’s wife, Mrs. Elton, and her death was no accident. Emma’s keen observations and quick wit note evidence that her admiring husband who is magistrate gladly accepts and the coroner and the local constable don’t appreciate. George Knightley would rather Emma stay out of the investigation, but he can’t deny his wife is a good investigator since she knows all the principal people and can get more from the witnesses and suspects just being her sunny, caring, and interested self.

It didn’t take me long to cotton to the truth, but that didn’t diminish my enjoyment of being along as Emma poked into the lives of the locals and slowly worked the evidence and witness accounts to the surprising truth. Vanessa Kelly did an outstanding job creating the authentic historical backdrop, but also recreating Austen’s characters and world of her novel. She claimed to love this novel best and this shines through the story as Emma shows she has come into her own after the missteps she experienced before her marriage and she has a true loving and respectful partnership with George Knightley who balances out wanting to keep her safely out of danger and out of the official investigation, but acknowledging and using her superior skills that the official investigators lack.

Murder in Highbury was all I was hoping it would be and I really hope this becomes a series with more Emma the detecting Matchmaker in it. Those who enjoy historical cozy mysteries and also those who want an Austen novel sequel with a murder included should add this to their reading lists.

Emma by Jane Austen is one of my favorite classics. This cozy mystery picks up not too long after Emma ends, and stays true to Austen's work with the vocabulary and personality of the characters. Kelly does an amazing job bringing Austen's characters back to life to solve the mystery of who killed Mrs. Elton, and does so seamlessly. From Mr. Woodhouse’s constant fretting to Miss Bates and her consistent ramblings, this book just brings the whole setting back. I really enjoyed it. I had a couple of suspects along the way, but the ending will definitely surprise you. If you are a fan of Austen's novels, or just that time period, then this book is definitely for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Delightful, fun, and oh so charming! This is a wonderful cozy mystery and is the perfect read for all Austen fans. I enjoyed revisiting Austen's characters and seeing how Emma and the other characters handle this mysterious murder! The setting and characters feel true to Austen's world and original story, the speed of the plot is just right, the writing style is smooth, and the story is captivating and mysterious with the perfect level of cozy. This is a book that will keep you guessing and turning those pages! I enjoyed reading this book so much! It is well-written, mysterious, enthralling, original, and fun! If you love Jane Austen and her work or cozy mysteries in general you will enjoy this! 5 stars!

Thank you very much to the author Vanessa Kelly, Austenprose PR, Kensington Publishing Corp., and NetGalley for the wonderful opportunity of being a part of this book tour and for providing me with physical and digital copies to read and review honestly.

An Emma sequel where it is now 1815. One Saturday, Mrs Emma Knightley, wife of the local magistrate, and her friend Mrs Harriet Martin entered the local church only to find the body of Mrs Elton, the vicar's wife, presumably murdered. Emma disagreeing with the direction the local constable and coroner takes decides to become involved or meddle as is her wont.
An entertaining and well-written cozy historical mystery with its cast of likable and easily recognisable characters. A good start to which will hopefully be a new series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, charming, suspenseful and held my interest. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next book by this author.

Fans of Jane Austen and historical mysteries won’t want to miss Murder in Highbury, the first in Vanessa Kelly‘s new Emma Knightley Mystery series.

Now married to George Knightley, Emma is off of matchmaking and on to… solving crimes! When she and Harriet Martin stumble across the body of Mrs. Elton, it’s immediately clear to Emma that the woman has been murdered. But who in Highbury could possibly commit such a heinous crime? When the men in charge of the investigation leave a lot to be desired, Emma decides to take matters into her own hands and follow the clues herself. If she can make love connections, she can certainly connect the dots in a murder mystery just as well.

Tropes & Narrative Devices:
- Characters from Jane Austen’s Emma
- Incompetent professionals
- Much more competent amateur investigator
- Several red herrings
- Third-person narration

What I Liked:
- Humor! As with Emma, Murder in Highbury is full of wit and humor. Much of it comes from Emma herself, from her sometimes callous remarks and darkly funny jokes. George offers his fair share of dryly delivered jokes, too. There are also the outlandish things other characters (like Emma’s father) say in the face of all this chaos. Despite the themes of murder and villains afoot, this book was such fun to read.
- Feminist lens. From the beginning of the novel, Emma is pushing back against outdated thinking on what women can or should do. Why shouldn’t a woman be able to investigate a crime? Who says women aren’t capable of violence themselves? Why are women constantly considered to be so delicate and helpless and incapable? Emma proves to the constable and the coroner that she is just as able to investigate and solve a crime as they are… perhaps more so.
- Twisting mystery. There are some red herrings to watch out for, and I loved working through the clues and drawing my own theories alongside Emma and George. There was a certain character I began to suspect partway through the book, and I’m proud to say I was on the right track there! Emma should enlist my help for the next mystery!
- Revisiting the Highbury residents. If you’ve read Emma (and I hope you have), then you’ll recognize most of the characters here. I appreciate that their characterizations in Murder in Highbury are exactly on point; it feels like the author channeled Jane Austen herself, then poured in a healthy dose of her own storytelling magic. They’re true to the original characters, even in the face of wildly different circumstances. I especially loved seeing Emma and George interact one-on-one.

What Didn’t Work for Me:
- Nothing, this was great!

Final Thoughts
Murder in Highbury is full of humor and wit, pushback against outdated thinking on what women can or should do, and furthered connections among the residents of Highbury. I adored this book and can hardly wait to read the next Emma Knightley Mystery! In the meantime, I’ll be adding Vanessa Kelly’s other books to my TBR.

As a Jane Austen fan, I loved being back in Highbury with Emma, Mr. Knightley and all the principle characters from the original. The author perfectly captured the married relationship between Mr. Knightley and Emma. I thought the writing was true to Austen’s characters from Mr. Woodhouse’s fretting to the rambling conversations of Miss Bates. As a cozy mystery reader, I thought it was a great example of the genre complete with multiple suspects, overheard conversations, mysterious letters, and incompetent investigators. It was an enjoyable mystery with a dramatic conclusion. I don’t think you need to be familiar with Emma to enjoy this as a cozy historical mystery. I hope there will be more Emma Knightley mysteries in the future.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher via NetGalley. A positive review was not required and all thoughts and opinions are mine.

Murder In Highbury by Vanessa Kelly, book one in the Emma Knightley Mysteries, is a whodunit involving Emma & George Knightley who become involved in a murder, with a touch of humor, an unexpected twist, and a satisfying conclusion.

Emma Knightley and her friend Harriet Martin discover the murdered body of their nemesis, the annoying Mrs. Augusta Elto, the vicar’s wife, in the church. Playing amateur detective, Emma searched for clues trying to determine which of the people the vicar’s wife had angered could have done such a thing in their tranquil town of Highbury. With Knightley as the magistrate, it’s up to him and his incompetent constables to investigate the crime. When a dear, harmless, old friend is accused of the murder, Emma uses her innate charm and strong social network, to crack the case as chaos ensues across the village of Highbury.

I truly enjoyed this mystery and it was wonderful revisiting all the familiar characters of Jane Austen’s much beloved story: “Emma.”. From Emma & Knightley, Frank & Jane Churchill, the Martins, Miss Bates, & Emma’s father, to the annoying Mr. Elton, I felt like I was reacquainting myself with old familiar friends. The mystery kept me guessing with each new clue Emma discovers. There are quite a few suspects, and while I guessed who it might be fairly quickly, but couldn’t stop reading leading up to the dramatic conclusion; to make sure I was correct. I am hoping Emma and Knightley find another mystery to investigate.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#NetGalley #Kensington

Oh my goodness, this one was SO fun! Vanessa Kelly did something unbelievably creative here in inserting Emma and George Knightley into a murder mystery. This was the matchup I didn’t know I needed, but man does it work. Not to mention it’s widely entertaining to read!

This story is so well written. It starts off with a bang and it just continues to draw you in. It’s bingeable, easy to read, and honestly, just so loveable. It was so easy to believe that Emma would get herself caught up in the whirlwind of a murder mystery and I was here for all of it. It felt just like a continuation of Emma, with all the characters and the setting we have come to love. I really hope we get more from Vanessa Kelly in this series.

Pick this one up if you love:

-Jane Austen, especially Emma
-Regency Mystery
-A mystery that will keep you guessing
-A new story with characters we all love
-Light and easy to read mystery novels
-Whodunit?

"Murder in Highbury" is a mystery set in 1815 in England. The author took the characters from Jane Austen's "Emma" and changed them a bit. For example, Emma's very outspoken in criticizing men in authority to their faces rather than using the more subtle set-down of a well-bred lady. She poked through someone's desk looking for clues while asking Harriet to stand lookout. Austen's Emma was oblivious to subtle relational interplays happening around her and jumped to conclusions, but in this mystery, Emma noticed when things were subtly off. Also, Miss Bates didn't just ramble on but was a fainting, hysterical lady-in-distress when people asked her questions about the day of the murder. Mrs. Bates might be hard of hearing and slept a lot but she's very engaged with what's going on. While foundational aspects of the original characters were still present, they all felt modified to suit the story the author wanted to tell.

I guessed whodunit early on and was astounded that no one but Emma (at the very end) even considered a most obvious suspect (who had motive, access to the murder scene, and the ability to do the murder). While it's clear that the author did some research into the time period, the social relationships often felt too modern. The coroner and constable both wanted to investigate and arrest people at will, sometimes assuming Mr. Knightly role as magistrate behind his back even though they knew this would offend him. This just didn't seem realistic as the social hierarchy was still pretty rigid at that time. However, it did drag out the mystery because Mr. Knightly was busy trying to minimalize the damage done by two bumbling men bucking his authority rather than everyone working together in their assigned roles. I guess it was the excuse for why Emma had to investigate instead.

All that said, it was an enjoyable enough take on Emma as a sleuth. There were no sex scenes. There were only a few uses of bad language.