Thank you @berkley.pub @prhaudio & @netgalley for my complimentary digital and audio copies. All opinions expressed are my own.

During the harsh winter of 1857, the town of Amherst, Massachusetts endures severe conditions as trains and boats are immobilized by snow and ice. Emily Dickinson and her maid, Willa Noble, witness the struggles of local families to stay warm amid fears of fire outbreaks. Their concerns become reality when a fire in the nearby Irish community kills a young couple and leaves their child orphaned. While the fire is deemed accidental, Emily suspects foul play and teams up with Willa to investigate the incident and find the potential culprit.

MY THOUGHTS: I have really enjoyed this unusual historical mystery series which follows poet Emily Dickinson and her maid, Willa. In this installment, Emily decides to investigate the recent deaths of a young couple whose house burned down. The mystery alone makes for a solid read, but the glimpse into the daily life of a female in the mid-1800s is especially compelling. This novel makes for an engaging read, perfect 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!

I really enjoyed this historical fiction x mystery book, and now I need to go read the first two books of the series!

The story focuses on Emily Dickinson and her maid Willa and a fire that occurs in their town during a long cold storm in 1857. A young girl is the only survivor of the fire, and Emily is determined to not only find the girl a place to stay, but to solve the case of who started the fire.

I loved the characters and the period detail in this book! It was amusing to see how scandalized the women were about one woman wearing pants, and I thought it was great to see strong women fighting for equality so many years ago.

The friendship between Emily and Willa has made them into quite a team, and their determination and grit are admirable.

The audio was narrated beautifully by Barrie Kreinik, who handles multiple characters and accents with ease. I enjoyed listening to this one and would definitely recommend the audio, and am excited to listen to the first two since they are also narrated by Kreinik.

Thank you to Berkley Pub and PRH Audio for the gifted copies; all opinions are my own.

This is the third book in the "Emily Dickinson Mystery" series. I have read the first and third books.

I have loved Emily's poems ever since high school, and although the book doesn't concentrate on the poems themselves, I think the author has properly characterized, and in fact humanized Emily and her household. She and her maid, Willa, are investigating a tragic fire during an extremely cold and snowy winter in Amherst. I appreciate the wintry atmosphere so convincingly described in the book especially since it is currently like that here in the Northeast this month.

I really like the author's writing style and how she develops the relationship between Emily and Willa. There are plenty of other interesting characters in the book, too. I highly recommend this book, especially if you like Emily's poems or just a great historical mystery!

"When a blaze takes both a neighbor's home and his life, Emily Dickinson and her maid Willa have a burning desire to crack the case in this new historical mystery from Agatha Award-winning author Amanda Flower.

Amherst, 1857. The Dickinson family braves one of the worst winters in New England's history. Trains are snowbound and boats are frozen in the harbor. Emily Dickinson and her maid, Willa Noble, have never witnessed anything like it. As Amherst families attempt to keep their homes warm, fears of fire abound.

These worries prove not to be unfounded as a blaze breaks out just down the street from the Dickinson in Kelley Square, the Irish community in Amherst, and a young couple is killed, leaving behind their young child. Their deaths appear to be a tragic accident, but Emily finds herself harboring suspicions there may be more to the fire than meets the eye. Emily and Willa must withstand the frigid temperatures and discover a killer lurking among the deadly frost."

I love the trope of famous authors turned sleuth.

I Died for Beauty by Amanda Flower is a meticulously researched and intricately woven mystery that captivates readers with its lyrical prose and clever plot twists. Flower's richly textured storytelling draws readers in, making them eager to unravel the mysteries hidden within each word, verse, and stanza.

Can an esteemed lady and her maid truly be friends? That’s what has blossomed between Emily Dickinson and her maid, Willa Noble. Moreover, they defy tradition in another way. When there are untimely deaths, which ultimately turn out to be murders, the duo goes above and beyond to solve the mysteries at hand.

Emily and Willa have proved instrumental when it comes to solving murders. Presently, a devastating fire has taken the life of a little girl named Norah Rose. Willa, along with Emily, work hard to find a safe new home for Norah Rose. It doesn’t take long when they discover that the fire where she lost her parents was no accident. In fact, her parents were killed and Emily and Willa are determined to find the person responsible.

Although I only had this third book to read for review, the series fanatic that I am led me to read the first two books, Because I Could Not Stop for Death and I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died. It was during my read of the second book that my curiosity about these titles led me to Google. Now I am aware that the titles in this trilogy are also the names of poems by Emily Dickinson. That immediately broadened the entertainment value of reading this series as a whole. In fact, I definitely recommend that other readers do the same.

With I Died for Beauty, as well as the first two books, Amanda Flower did a fine job blending real life characters into a fictional setting. Factor in the intrigue and any reader is in for quite a treat.

Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

This review first appeared in the Feb. 2025 issue of Historical Novels Review.

This is the third book in Amanda Flower’s mystery series featuring poet Emily Dickinson and her maid Willa Noble. The winter of 1857 is the coldest in living memory, and Emily wishes to help the families in Kelley Square, a poor Irish neighborhood in Amherst, Massachusetts. Then a house fire destroys one of the homes and kills a young couple, the Doolans, but their eight-year-old daughter, Norah Rose, survives. Emily’s brother and sister-in-law take in the girl temporarily, until any living relatives can be found. Emily is convinced the fire was no accident, and this is confirmed when Norah Rose, who has formed a close bond with Willa, tells her that she knows her parents were murdered. The murder may have had something to do with the work her father did as a janitor at Amherst College, and assisting one of the professors in his research. Emily and Willa ask questions around the town and college, hoping to find the killer as soon as possible. Until they do, Norah Rose’s life is in danger.

I loved Flower’s portrayal of Emily Dickinson. She is brilliant and insightful, with excellent observational skills which lend themselves to crime-solving. She writes down poems on scraps of paper, and goes into a trance-like state as her poems come to her. Willa is a great foil for her, with her practical mind in contrast to Emily, who often has her head in the clouds. As a maid, Willa is often invisible to the upper-class people she serves, and so she often overhears conversations and uncovers clues people inadvertently let slip. Together, she and Emily make a perfect team. The other members of the Dickinson family don’t understand her close friendship with Emily, who pays no attention to class distinctions. I highly recommend the whole series.

During a very cold January 1857 in Amherst, Emily Dickinson and her loyal maid Willa Noble investigate the deaths of two Irish immigrants who left an 8-year-old daughter behind when they died in a fire.

Their investigations take them into the drawing rooms of Amherst's high society. Many of the women had employed the dead woman as a seamstress and the dead man worked at the college as a janitor. He also assisted one of the professors with his botanical experiments.

Tensions rise as the temperatures plummet. Suffragist Lucy Stone is stranded in town and staying with the president of Amherst College's wife who has a childhood friend. She has strong opinions about the roles and rights of women and offers lectures.

Meanwhile, two competing organizations are working to provide for the mainly Irish Poor who are running out of food and fuel.

Willa is the narrator, and, in this episode, we learn about a tough decision she has to make about her future. Does she love her policeman boyfriend enough to marry him? And can they make a home and family with the young orphan?

This was another engaging historical mystery. I like Emily's portrayal as a woman who doesn't concern herself with social rules and who often goes off into her own mind when a poem comes to her. I like that Willa collects the bits of poems that Emily discards.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for allowing me to read an eARC of this book.

I Died for Beauty is Amanda Flower's newest book, and the third in her Emily Dickinson Mystery series. I initially came across this series at the Library, and enjoyed the first one so much, that I blazed through the second one just in time for this one to come out. If you like Historical mysteries, then you will love this series. I Died for Beauty was particularly touching and wholesome while still being thrilling and mysterious.

I Died for Beauty takes place in Amherst 1857, during one of the worst winter storms in New England history. I happened to be reading this ARC during our own recent Artic Storm, so it was very appropriate. Emily and her maid, Willa, are back in action after a deadly fire burns down a home in a nearby poor Irish community. The only survivor is an eight-year-old girl, little Norah Rose. The Classism is a very prominent story point in this book, with the wealthy citizens like the Dickinsons and their friends trying to help those who are less fortunate make it through the winter. The residents of Kelley Square in particular are very resistant to their help, as they don't think the fire was an accident. Emily and Willa are in a race against time (and the storm) to help Norah Rose and the community and also find the killer and bring them to justice.

I truly loved this book and the series. I can't say enough good things about it. I really enjoyed the ending, and I hope there's another book (even if it sounded like it may be the end of the series...).

I will definitely be recommending this one!!

This third installment in the Emily Dickinson Mystery series is a delightful blend of historical charm and intriguing mystery.

Flower's portrayal of Emily Dickinson is simply captivating. Our beloved poet turns amateur sleuth alongside her maid Willa, and their dynamic is pure gold. Emily's quirky personality shines through, while Willa's mysterious past adds an extra layer of intrigue. I found myself completely invested in their friendship, despite the social barriers of the time.

The story unfolds in Amherst during the brutal winter of 1857, and oh boy, can you feel the chill! But don't worry, the warmth of the community melts away the bleakness. It's like stepping into a snow globe filled with charming characters and small-town secrets.

Now, let's talk about the mystery at hand - an arson investigation that'll keep you guessing. It's not edge-of-your-seat thrilling, but more of a gentle unraveling that fits perfectly with the cozy vibe of the book.

What caught me off guard (in the best way) was the family drama. Both the Dickinsons and Willa have their fair share of skeletons in the closet, adding depth to the story. It's fascinating to see how women of different social standings navigate the expectations of the era - some conforming, others rebelling.

I will say, the ending felt a tad rushed. I was hoping for a grand reveal, but it was more of a quiet "oh, okay" moment. But honestly? That's my only gripe in an otherwise delightful read.

I paired the book with the audiobook, and it didn't disappoint. There's something about listening to the characters' voices that puts you on the scene. Barrie Kreinik's interpretation of Emily Dickinson and Willa's emotions makes it a worthy listen.

Thank you, Berkley, PRH Audio, and NetGalley for my free book.

"I Died for Beauty" is a mystery set in 1857 in Massachusetts. This is the 3rd in a series, but you can understand the story without reading the previous novels.

Historical details about the time (mainly the bad winter) were woven into the story and brought it alive in my imagination. The main characters were interesting and likable. This was a clue-based mystery. The author successfully diverted my attention from the true whodunit. Some things in the story were obvious, like a certain woman seemed to be having an affair (or two?), but is it significant to the murder? Emily was fairly direct in her questioning, while Willa tended to advise Emily, overhear clues, or observe things. Willa was also able to get the traumatized child to talk about what happened.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable historical mystery.

Emily Dickinson and her loyal maid, Willa Noble, return in “I Died for Beauty”.

Amherst is in the grip of a bitterly cold winter, and a deadly fire breaks out in the lower income part of town. Accident or murder?

Soon Will and Emily are on the trail to decipher the mystery.. Along the way, the duo encounters class prejudice and debates about aiding the needy; an eternal question evidently.

Changes are on the way for Willa’s personal life, and quotes from Emily foreshadow her future life.

A solid mystery and an intriguing glimpse into the Dickinson family.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery set in 1857 Amherst Massachusetts, and although this is the third book in this series, this is the first I have read, and I was not lost.
The story is told by Willa Noble, Emily Dickinson's maid, and we sure walked a lot in cold, the Cold Storm, one of the most brutal winters recorded. This is a college town, and their is a distinction between the classes here.
Miss Emily is always walking around with a lot of words in her head that is trying to make their way to paper, and as she goes about she brings Willa, whom should be home working. We see a big class separation here, and women are under their husbands control.
Was I surprised by how the facts unfolded here, oh yes, and they kept coming right to the end.
Be sure to read the authors notes, I loved how she tells us about the characters.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Berkley, and was not required to give a positive review.

1857 Amherst, Massachusetts

This has been such a wonderful historical cozy mystery series. Sadly, this is the final book. The novels are written in first person from the perspective of Willa, fictional maid of poet Emily Dickinson. Willa is a second maid and forever in the cross hairs of first maid Margaret for going off with Emily on adventures. In Willa's defense, she tries to keep up with her job duties when in the Dickinson home, but Emily is a swirl of confidence and activity not to be denied.

The backdrop of I Died for Beauty is the Cold Storm of 1857, which generated a prolonged period of cold and snow. Emily adopts an Irish Family (much to the dismay of her father who wasn't consulted) and as a part of being in the Irish part of town learns of young Irish family's home destroyed by fire. When Emily discerns it was murder, she is on the case with her side kick sleuth Willa.

I love the period detail and bits of humor. The ending was a perfect conclusion to the series.

I Died For Beauty
Book Three in the Emily Dickinson Mystery series
by Amanda Flower
Genre: Mystery/Historical Fiction
Pages: 352
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
Pub date: Feb. 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780593816462

I Died For Beauty is the third and last book in Amanda Flower’s Emily Dickinson Mystery series. I’m sorry to see this series end. I’ve enjoyed reading it for multiple reasons.

One is the characters. Emily Dickinson is the mind behind solving the mysteries. But the stories are told through the eyes of Willa Noble, Emily’s maid. By employing Willa as the point-of-view character, the reader also learns much about the social expectations of the time. There is a sharp class distinction between Emily’s upper-class family and the hired help. Emily’s family can’t understand why Emily is friends with someone beneath them. Willa is stuck in an impossible position. She is well-aware the Dickinsons see her as someone beneath their class. Other servants perceive Willa as rising above her station. It’s a tightrope Willa is always in danger of toppling from. Through Willa’s character, the reader also learns how difficult it was to survive in a world that had no social safety nets. Women were the property of their husbands. Women didn’t have careers and no way of supporting themselves or their families if the husband died or abandoned them.

The historical details also pulled me into the story. The setting is the Cold Storm of 1857. That winter was one of the most brutal in New England's history, and is the backdrop for this story. Flower has done her research, and it shows.

Another reason I like this series is the mystery. I Died for Beauty is a fast-paced book. Plenty of red herrings kept me guessing. I read I Died For Beauty in one sitting. Flower’s writing pulled me in from the start, and I couldn’t put it down until I was done.
5/5 stars.

I Died for Beauty by Amanda Flower
(An Emily Dickinson Mystery #3)

I first noticed this three book series when I was granted the opportunity to download this ARC from NetGalley. Because I don't like to read part of a series or a series out of order, I downloaded the audiobooks of book #1 and #2 via Libby and I've enjoyed this entire series very much. It's a cozy mystery historical fiction and does a good job with the cozy, mystery, and historical fiction. The author does a great job of incorporating what is known about Emily Dickinson and her family into the story while taking liberties with real history throughout the series. I love the titles of the books. Each title is from one of Emily's poems and we can see Emily thinking through the creation of each poem as she goes about her daily life.

Willa Noble has now been the second maid in the Dickinson household for two years. Emily is the reason Willa is still there, the rest of the household does not like how Emily has taken Willa under her wing, often treating her as a friend and confident rather than a servant. This actually makes Willa's life harder. Emily seems to have no lasting recognition that Willa is up hours before daylight to get the household running and up hours after everyone has gone to bed to finish her chores. Add in that Emily wants Willa to traipse around to who knows where to do her bidding and Willa is in the bad graces of everyone for not minding her place, for cavorting with Emily when she should be doing her work. Never mind that Willa barely sleeps so she can have her work done before Emily demands her undivided attention. The series really shows the pressures on servants who are lucky enough to work in good households, their work is never done and they rarely get to spend time with their own families as they take care of the needs of well to do families.

As with the first two books, something has happened and once it's determined to be a crime rather than an accident, Emily is not going to let matters rest. The family that has suffered is poor and it'd be so easy for their plight to be dismissed and forgotten. Two people are dead and a little girl is left orphaned. With no family to be found she's bound for an orphanage or to be sent to the west to work the fields for some farmer/rancher to pay for her keep. She really does not have a promising future ahead of her. But for the time being, Emily has the girl taken into the Dickinson household while a hunt for distant family is started.

You can read this book as a standalone but I suggest you start the series from the beginning. I really like the character of Willa, a woman who has had it hard from a very young age, has had heartache and loss and is afraid to care about another ever again. She's had to be independent and responsible for taking care of herself and she's afraid to let go of that independence when she's all she has had to keep her from total ruin. I love the way the story ends, I do think this is probably the end of the series and it's a good ending as far as I'm concerned. I also like how Emily is shown in this series. She fits all I know about her and so does the portrayal of her family and their interactions.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley for the AARC. This is an interesting series that provides a look at Emily Dickinson’s world through the eyes of a household maid. We can’t know who Emily Dickinson really was - what she thought and did, but a glimpse at a what if through Flower’s writing provides a fun adventure in Amherst with each new storyline.

This new addition to the Emily Dickinson series is an intriguing and historically accurate mystery that can be read solo, but will make you want to go back and savor the first two books too. Recommended!

I Died for Beauty is a well written historical mystery. I throughly enjoyed the plot and the characters. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased.review.

Amanda Flower weaves an intriguing mystery for Emily and her maid, Willa, to solve and as the story unfolds the reader is quickly drawn in.

I Died for Beauty takes place during the Cold Storm and Great Freeze of 1857, and it is known to be one of the worst ever in the recorded history of New England. This historic element is weaved perfectly with the plot and gives an atmospheric setting of time and place. The tragedy of the Dickinson’s neighbors losing their lives due to the house fire is heartbreaking and the Dickinson family and Willa's concern of the care and safety of the child is admirable.

I love the idea of Emily Dickinson and Willa being sleuths and that is what caught my interest when I first discovered this story. It wasn’t until after I finished reading that I realized this book is part of a series. I enjoyed the portrayal of Emily and her family and how they interacted with each other and the town folk. Emily’s personality in this story is what I’ve imagined it might be, and it really worked with the premise. She has her own mind about things and isn’t afraid to speak up. I also like how she questions people - no matter who - to better understand them or to better understand any given situation. In my view, that is what makes her a great writer and a great sleuth!

An intriguing mystery and wonderfully written. I will be adding the first two books to my to-read pile!