Delightful, engaging and a beautifully written cozy regency murder mystery. Emma is one of my favourite Jane Austen novels, and this had all the feels and witty dialogue. I felt truly in the world of Emma and George, their life and the people in the village of Highbury.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and AustenprosePR for my advance copy. My opinions are my own.

It isn't a big leap for Emma Knightley (nee Woodhouse) to go from meddlesome matchmaker to meddlesome sleuth. Emma and George Knightley have been married for less than a year when Emma and Harriet Martin stumble on the murdered body of Mrs. Elton, the vicar's wife, in the church. Now, between balancing the running of the Knightley household, social engagements, and worrying over her father's health, Emma is working hard to find the murderer and protect one of her oldest friends in the village. But it's not as easy as you would think--after all, a young lady--no matter how well-placed in society--investigating a murder is frowned upon by society.

I probably wouldn't have thought of it on my own, but Emma as a meddlesome sleuth is not hard to arrive at. After all, she's smart enough to need the mental stimulation, and she does enjoy pulling people's strings to see what happens. Having read Jane Austen's Emma already makes this book much more enjoyable, but isn't required. Though this was a fun cozy mystery, it was also a serious reminder of how misogynistic Regency England was and in what a vulnerable place a woman was, even one with the supposed protection of a man. And if you've read it but it's been a while, there are lots of reminders of the events that took place to keep you from having to dig out your old copy. I understand this is to be a series, so I'm looking forward to reading the next one!

Of all the spinoffs of Jane Austen novels and characters (and there are many!) this one is actually quite good!! There are definitely a few things in the book that Jane Austen would never have included, like some hinting at sex, even though it is in a marriage setting. Still, overall, I feel it's quite true to the original characters in Jane's books. The mystery is also quite good!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of this book! All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Cute mystery in the Emma universe. I enjoyed going back to these characters. The author did a good job of keeping their characters similar tothe original. Emma most certainly would want to be involved in solving a mystery!

I received a copy of this title from the publisher; all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Murder in Highbury is the first mystery by Vanessa Kelly after writing numerous historical romances that featured some mysteries. The main character is Jane Austin's Emma Knightly and takes place after her marriage to Mr. Knightly. This is a departure from all the mysteries and stories that typically feature Mr. Darcy and other characters from Pride and Prejudice. Emma is still a bit of a busy body and can't help herself from investigating the death of the vicar's wife when she finds the woman dead in the local church, despite her husband's wishes that she not become involved. Unfortunately for the town, the locals investigating the murder focus on a local spinster who is good friends with Emma's father. Ms. Kelly does an excellent job of setting up the series by introducing readers to an amusing cast of characters, including Emma's hypochondriac father, and establishing her relationship with Mr. Knightly. I enjoyed the mystery as well and thought there were some excellent twists and turns to keep the reader engaged throughout. I look forward to visiting Highbury, Emma, and her friends many more times in what looks to be a very entertaining series.

Emma by Jane Austen imagined as a murder mystery is so much fun! Emma and Knightley are so adorable!
When Emma and Harriet find Mrs. Elton murdered, Emma sets out too solve the murder.
Every character is just perfect. Her father is just as annoying, Harriet as scatter brained as ever, and Mr. Elton obsequious and overbearing at the same time. Miss Bates can't get a word out without fluttering.
There are red herrings galore, as well as a chicken thief. The coroner and sheriff are very misogynistic, and the way Knightley as the magistrate handles them is perfect. I just loved the whole premise. I can't wait to see how she writes the sequel.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the EARC. I highly recommend this book. This is my honest opinion.

"First in a captivating new series, Jane Austen's Emma Knightley entertains a different role in Highbury - going from clever matchmaker to Regency England's shrewdest sleuth.

Less than one year into her marriage to respected magistrate George Knightley, Emma has grown unusually content in her newfound partnership and refreshed sense of independence. The height of summer sees the former Miss Woodhouse gracefully balancing the meticulous management of her elegant family estate and a flurry of social engagements, with few worries apart from her beloved father's health...

But cheery circumstances change in an instant when Emma and Harriet Martin, now the wife of one of Mr. Knightley's tenant farmers, discover a hideous shock at the local church. The corpse of Mrs. Augusta Elton, the vicar's wife, has been discarded on the altar steps - the ornate necklace she often wore stripped from her neck...

As a chilling murder mystery blooms and chaos descends upon the tranquil village of Highbury, the question isn't simply who committed the crime, but who wasn't secretly wishing for the unpleasant woman's demise. When suspicions suddenly fall on a harmless local, Emma - armed with wit, unwavering determination, and extensive social connections - realizes she must discreetly navigate an investigation of her own to protect the innocent and expose the ruthless culprit hiding in plain sight."

First, good on the killer for going for Mrs. E. Secondly, the killer is Frank Churchill right? I mean, we all know he has problems. Possibly ones that can only be slacked by the blood of his victims?

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC!

This is a cozy mystery starring Jane Austen's Emma. Of all the Austen heroines, Emma was the noisiest and most interfering. She would be an ideal amateur sleuth. This was a fun and easygoing read. I preferred it over the PD James's Death in Pemberley and most other published Jane Austen sequels that I've read. It didn't try to be too serious or provocative. I thought all the characters were true to the original canon both in relationships and dialogue. My minor criticism is that the novel was a bit too long and padded with red herrings. The actual murderer ending was a tad over the top. Then again, it was so silly and in line with this lighthearted read.

Emma and George Knightley? JAFF? A historical murder mystery? Sign me up.

Murder in Highbury was a wholly fun read, and one I very much enjoyed; I loved the writing and appreciated how natural an extension of Emma it read and Ms Kelly’s appreciation of Jane Austen is evident in this story. I adored this one.

This was my first time reading the author and I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next title in the series 🙂



Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the DRC

Emma Woodhouse Knightley, handsome, clever, and rich, has lived with very little to distress or vex her since her recent marriage to her longtime friend and now husband, George Knightley. With Emma and Knightley now happily settled into her childhood home alongside Emma’s hypochondriac father, and their neighbors in the village of Highbury all seemingly content, all seems well. That is, until Emma and her best friend Harriet Martin stumble upon the corpse of the vicar's wife, Augusta Elton, in the local church. And Mrs. Elton is not just dead. She’s been murdered.

While Mrs. Elton has never been the most pleasant individual, a violent death in the village of Highbury is truly shocking. With Mr. Knightley being the local magistrate, it is his job to help the investigation, but when the coroner and constable set their sights on the wrong person, Emma takes it upon herself to get to the bottom of Mrs. Elton’s murder.

The author provides enough background information on the story of Jane Austen’s Emma that you could read this murder mystery sequel without having read the original tale. However, I think you will enjoy it more if you’re familiar with all of the characters. It was truly a delight to see what Emma, Mr. Knightley, and their friends have been up to—even if a murder investigation causes Mr. Woodhouse to worry even more than usual. Emma and Mr. Knightley are my second favorite Jane Austen couple after Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, but they have not received nearly as many continuations as the latter couple. It was very nice to see them get their due in this lighthearted mystery, and I enjoyed seeing the Knightleys be very much in love. (Of course, Emma's behavior still sometimes causes her husband grief, because she wouldn’t be Emma otherwise.)

We even get to meet some characters referenced in the original story that did not appear on the page, such as Mrs. Elton’s brother-in-law, Mr. Suckling. (Yes, the famous Sucklings of Maple Grove! Have you heard about the placement of their staircase? And how much the morning room at Hartfield is like the one at Maple Grove? Astonishingly like!)

I did think that sometimes the dialogue read more modern than Regency. For instance, Mr. Suckling’s behavior would be considered rude today, and even ruder in the Regency. He makes no effort to hide his distaste for those around him, and while I understand that the author was trying to make him obviously unlikable, I just didn’t find it realistic that a Regency gentleman would act this way, considering manners were so important to their society. Regency ladies and gentlemen mastered the art of subtle digs, and that's one of the things I love about Jane Austen. I felt like the character of Anne Cox was also giving a little bit too much mean girl energy and again wasn’t as subtle as a character in this time would actually be.

I did suspect who the true murderer was all along, but I would recommend this book for Emma devotees who are looking for a fun continuation. If you want to spend some more time with your favorite Highbury residents and possibly solve a crime along the way, this book is worth checking out.

Emma and her friend, Harriet Martin, discover the body of the vicar’s wife, Augusta Martin, in the church rectory. Knightly, the magistrate and Emma’s husband, is tasked with solving the crime. Knightly is assisted by the constable and the mortician, both of whom are rather inept. Once Emma’s friend becomes a suspect she joins the search to uncover the murderer. I enjoyed the witty banter between Emma and Knightly. There are several twists and turns as different suspects come to light before the real killer is revealed. This was a quick, easy, light read.

Newly married to magistrate George Knightley, Emma finds her idyllic life shattered when Mrs. Elton’s corpse is discovered at the local church, her necklace stolen. As a murder mystery unfolds in the tranquil village of Highbury, Emma uses her wit and connections to navigate her own discreet investigation, protect the innocent, and unmask the ruthless killer.

This historical cozy mystery is a treat for Austen fans. It’s fun to see Emma up to her old tricks and to revisit the denizens of Highbury. The book is fast-paced, clever, and kept me guessing until the end.

Thanks, NetGalley for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Murder in Highbury by Vanessa Kelly beautifully portrays the essence of Emma, who has traded in matchmaking for crime-solving. This delightful Regency mystery features some of my favorite Austen characters. I can't help but wonder, what would Jane Austen herself think? I believe she would wholeheartedly approve!

Murder in Highbury by Vanessa Kelly is a fun regency era murder mystery featuring the characters from Jane Austen's Emma, and it is such a fun read, you won't want to miss it.

I am a huge fan of all Jane Austen's books, but Emma is not my favourite, so I was a bit dubious about this book going in, but I needn't have worried because it was fantastic. To be honest, I think I loved this more than Emma, but at the same time it was important to know the characters and their quirks from the original, in order to really appreciate what a great job the other does in bringing them back to life.

In Murder in Highbury we get to revisit all of the characters from the original book, along with all their quirky character traits, all while Emma puts her mind to solving the murder of Mrs. Elton, the vicar's wife.

This was such an entertaining read, and to be honest, if I hadn't known better, I could easily have believed it was written by the Jane Austen, it was just that good. If you love Jane Austen's writing I think you will love this regency mystery, and especially visiting with old friends from the original book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Confession. I’ve only read the book EMMA once, but I’ve seen the movie dozens of times (the Gwyneth Paltrow version). The author does an amazing job of capturing these beloved characters that are near to my heart. The banter between Emma and Knightley, Father’s hilarious worries about drafts, Miss Bates’ quirkiness, Emma’s and Harriet’s friendship, plus dozens more. It was all there. And add a murder in the mix, I was instantly hooked.

This is my first book from Vanessa Kelly. She does a perfect job with the setting and characters. I enjoyed seeing Emma as an observant detective, as she tried to get a sense of the who and why. While still being her kind, but funny self. There are surprising twists and turns and red herrings thrown in the mix. I enjoyed every page. I hope there is another book in the works.

Huge thank to the publisher for the NetGalley link and a paperback ARC. All views expressed are mine.

Absolutely Austen with a mix of mystery! Love that Kelly brought Austen’s characters back out of the shadows of the shelves for another adventure! Can’t wait to read more in this series!

Murder in Highbury
by Vanessa Kelly
Pub Date: Oct 22 2024

Less than one year into her marriage to respected magistrate George Knightley, Emma has grown unusually content in her newfound partnership and refreshed sense of independence. The height of summer sees the former Miss Woodhouse gracefully balancing the meticulous management of her elegant family estate and a flurry of social engagements, with few worries apart from her beloved father’s health . . .  

But cheery circumstances change in an instant when Emma and Harriet Martin, now the wife of one of Mr. Knightley’s tenant farmers, discover a hideous shock at the local church. The corpse of Mrs. Augusta Elton, the vicar’s wife, has been discarded on the altar steps—the ornate necklace she often wore stripped from her neck . . .  

As a chilling murder mystery blooms and chaos descends upon the tranquil village of Highbury, the question isn’t simply who committed the crime, but who wasn’t secretly wishing for the unpleasant woman’s demise. When suspicions suddenly fall on a harmless local, Emma—armed with wit, unwavering determination, and extensive social connections—realizes she must discreetly navigate an investigation of her own to protect the innocent and expose the ruthless culprit hiding in plain sight.

Totally new author and series for me. A big thank you to #Netgally, #Kensingtonbooks, and the author for an opportunity to discover this delightful read. I love the concept of Emma Knightley, the main character from Jane Austin's Emma as our amateur sleuth. Emma, her husband, and all the likely characters are present and involved in our story. Emma, as a married lady, has taken her place in the community and has arrived at the church with her friend Harriet and flowers to freshen up the altar for the weekend's service. Unfortunately, what they find is the vicar's wife, murdered. A recent, and though not totally well loved member of the community, this is still a shock. As Emma's husband is the local magistrate and Emma found the body, they are definitely going to be involved. I truly enjoyed Emma's clever mind, her relationship with her husband, and how she used her place in the town to find answers to questions her husband would have a hard time getting. Some of the flowery language and manners of the day do drag things down here and there, but for the most part, this is an interesting, multilayered mystery. I will definitely come back for more. #MurderinHighbury #VanessaKelly #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

Such a fun read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is a well-written, entertaining, historical fiction, mystery novel. It has a likable, intelligent and astute female protagonist, an engaging and supportive male protagonist, murder, mystery, wit, a touch of humor, an unexpected twist, and a satisfying conclusion. I am looking forward to reading the next entry in this wonderful new series with great anticipation. Many thanks to Ms. Vanessa Kelly, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, from whom I received an advanced reader copy of this delightful novel. This is my honest opinion.