This is a review for I Died for Beauty by Amanda Flower for NetGalley, and my thoughts are my own, as I received a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.. It is book 3 in the series, but I didn't read the first two, but I understood this story without reading those two, and I might read those others as this book was interesting.  I would rate it 4 stars. It is a mystery, and was like a huge jigsaw puzzle that came together nicely in the end. During one of the worst winters in New England, Emily Dickenson, the poet, and her maid Willa, find themselves working together again to find out if a huge fire in the Irish section was an accident as everyone believes, or is it really a murder that's being covered up!

It was well written, but for my taste, I like more of a Christian aspect to the story, and Emily Dickenson's character didn't believe, so her motivation for doing good was because she saw it as a moral duty, which is fine.  I did like the story, thought it was interesting, was engaged from the beginning, but I would say it was a good story, not great. I'm glad I read it, enjoyed the characters and the plot, and would recommended it, but reading it was more like a good cup of coffee on a cold day. Maybe it would've been better if I read the other books, but not sure. So anyways, I do recommend it, I did like it, and I give it 4 stars.

Cozy, mysterious, witty, and at times, funny, too!

I have been a lifelong Emily Dickinson lover and this really fed that love for me. I love Emily’s confidence as a female lead and the way she interacts with each side character (a round of applause for Willa alone, please!). She is a vivid heroine and I’ll definitely be going back to read the other two books in this series (I read this one first, oops!).

Amanda Flower writes a compelling mystery and I enjoyed it so much. It was perfect for curling up under a warm blanket with many socks (like Emily) and some tea during this winter.

Thank you so much Berkley for the free ARC!

Amanda Flower gives us a third Emily Dickinson mystery in I Died for Beauty. In the very strong winter of i857 people died of the cold and could not get around with the snow so deep. An Irish family dies in a fire; the father was a worker at the college where Emily's father was influential A girl survived and there were rumours that the fire was deliberately started; murder!!!! Emily and her maid Willa have the child taken into their family until a relative could be found. The story showcases the Irish community in Amherst and college affairs. Crimes come to light and Emily and Willa have to keep safe. Interesting historical mystery with a view of the inner workings of the family of Emily Dickinson.

In Amanda Flower's latest installment of the Emily Dickinson mystery series, 'I Died for Beauty,' transports readers to Amherst, Massachusetts in January 1857. I should note that I have not read the previous installments, yet did not feel lost jumping into the series (I plan to start from book one.).

The realistic setting will immediately draw the reader into the story. Record-setting low temperatures and relentless snow set the stage in Amherst, while some families grapple with dwindling resources, fire safety concerns, and a desperation to stay warm.

Willa, Emily Dickinson's fictional maid, is an interesting character, and I like her camaraderie with Emily. While uncommon, though not entirely unheard of, this friendship helps form the foundation for their sleuthing adventures. The author skillfully handles the sleuthing, maintaining reader engagement as Emily, Willa, and her dog track down a killer (read book description for the plot).

'I Died for Beauty' artfully combines an engaging mystery and interesting characters with historical realism. Thought-provoking and filled with compassion, faith, and forgiveness, 'I Died for Beauty' is a historical mystery worth reading.

4.5

Thank you, #Partner @berkleypub and @netgalley for my gifted free copy.

First off look at that cover, it's gorgeous! This was such a great historical fiction series that I fell in love with. The writing is beautiful and it was just so darn addictive. Since this is the last book of the series I will definitely miss all the characters that I've grown to love. I definitely recommend this series!

I Died For Beauty by Amanda Flower is the last in her Emily Dickinson historical mystery trilogy and a terrific one it was. Flower gave us insight into the culture at the time as well as the Dickinson family. Of huge importance was the chasm between the upper and lower classes and this story was told primarily in the friendship between Emily and the home’s maid, Willa. They were Sherlock and Watson in many ways, working together to solve a crime. The reality was that the partnership paid off because they each had access to the people in the different stratas of society, leading to twice the information. Flower handled this divergence well and it led to not only interesting books, but interesting mysteries.

Emily and Willa were different in personality as well as their places in society. Willa was not fearless as was Emily, for one. Both well-written characters, they worked together seamlessly, although there were things about Willa’s life that Emily could never understand. I am sorry to see this lovely series end. It has been fun to read simpler, if you will, mysteries than ones today woven with technology. The mysteries have bee enticing and entirely time-period appropriate. Getting to know Emily Dickinson on a more personal level has been engaging. The books are a step above Flower’s already successful cozy and Amish series. Kudos Ms Flower.

I was invited to read I Died For Beauty by Berkley Publishing Group. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BerkleyPublishingGroup #AmandaFlower #IDiedForBeaut

Amherst, 1857 is experiencing one of its worst winters. Keeping warm creates disaster for one family in the Irish quarter, as only their 8 year old daughter survives, but is taken in by the Dickinsons. But why was the fire deliberately started and will any one care. Emily will her maid Willa investigate with the unofficial help of Officer Matthew Thomas
An entertaining and well-written slow paced cozy mystery with its cast of varied characters. Another good addition to this enjoyable series
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mysterious, atmospheric, and entertaining

In this latest novel by Flower, I Died for Beauty, we head back to 1857, where poet Emily Dickinson and her maid/sidekick Willa Noble now find themselves tangled up in a tragic investigation into a house fire that may not have been as accidental as it first appeared and which ultimately left two people dead and one little girl orphaned.

The writing style is fluid and light. The characters, including the intelligent, independent heroine, are well-developed, complex, and intriguing. And the plot is a well-paced, engaging whodunit full of twists, turns, amateur sleuthing, red herrings, suspects, customs, tradition, deduction, and danger.

Overall, I Died for Beauty is a cosy, enjoyable, satisfying tale by Flower that I thoroughly enjoyed and which is undoubtedly another wonderful addition to the Emily Dickinson Mysteries.

I Died For Beauty is the third and apparent final installment in author Amanda Flower's An Emily Dickinson Mystery series. This historical series features Willa Noble, maid to iconic American poet Emily Dickinson, who solves mysteries with her new employer, even though Emily's family tends to look down their noses at the relationship between the pair. This story takes place in Amherst in the year 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 and Willa Noble have never witnessed anything like it. There is a sharp class distinction between Emily’s upper-class family and the hired help. Emily’s family, especially Emily's sister Lavinia, can’t understand why Emily is friends with someone beneath them. Willa's boss, Margaret O'Brien (who was a real person), is often curious, and maybe jealous that Willa spends too much time with Emily. Willa is stuck in an impossible position. She is well aware the Dickinson's see her as someone beneath their class. Emily loves her family but is headstrong, confident, and full of ideas and opinions.

She is full of ideas and opinions that many consider bold. Her determination can be daunting to others. She doesn’t like rigid structures and has a keen sense of justice. As Amherst families attempt to keep their homes warm, fears of fire abound. As the Dickinson's are asked to help out a poor family in town by taking them food and other supplies, they are also awakened in the middle of the night by the ringing of bells – a house fire is blazing in the middle of town. Thanks to Carlo, Emily’s Newfoundland dog (a real dog who followed Emily all over town), Emily and Willa discover a child, Norah Rose, in the woods.

Her parents appear to have died tragically in the fire, but Emily finds herself harboring suspicions there may be more to the fire than meets the eye. While Emily's sister-in-law, and likely only real friend Susan, takes Norah Rose in temporarily as they attempt to find relatives for her to live with, Emily and Willa must withstand the frigid temperatures and discover a killer lurking among the deadly frost. As with previous novels, Flower tends to add real-life characters to her story, like Lucy Stone, who was one of the first women in the US to travel around the country fighting for women's rights. But as always, it is not the men who are the problem but the women.

Over the course of the story, and searching for the reason for the deaths of Norah Rose's parents, it seems as though Norah Rose will only speak with Willa, which makes for a very interesting dynamic later in the story. I found the ending to be pretty emotional. If you've read this series from the beginning, Emily seems to have had agoraphobia and only left the house with her dog, who she later penned a poem after he left this world. Meanwhile, Willa has been avoiding Officer Matthew, who wants more from her. With Norah Rose in the picture, could it be that Willa will finally take the plunge?

Note: Each of the three books in this series was named after poems written by Emily Dickinson.

Amanda Flower returns with the third and final book in the Emily Dickinson mystery series, I Died for Beauty. Once again great characterization and world-building are combined with deaths, mysteries, and personal opportunities and challenges. The story starts in January 1857 in Amherst, Massachusetts, five months after the last book.

The winter has been harsh. With record-setting cold, snowdrifts blocking the railroad tracks, and boats unable to move in the frozen harbor, supplies are getting low and families are struggling to stay warm amid fears of fire. Emily and her maid, Willa Noble, have never experienced anything like it.

A blaze breaks out down the street from the Dickinson homes, and a young couple is killed, leaving behind their daughter, Norah Rose. While their deaths initially seem like an accident, Emily has her doubts. Once again, she elicits help from Willa as they brave the temperatures, snow, and cold reception to their questions.

Emily loves her family, but is headstrong, confident, and full of ideas and opinions. She is full of ideas and opinions that many consider bold. Her determination can be daunting to others. She doesn’t like rigid structure and has a keen sense of justice. Willa loves reading and is conscientious about her duties. She’s also compassionate, loyal, kind, and curious. The story is from Willa’s point of view. Emily’s dog, Carlo appears again. He’s a companion and a bodyguard.

Mixing real-life individuals like the Dickinson Family, head maid Margaret O’Brien, and Lucy Stone with fictional characters such as Willa made this an engaging historical mystery story. This novel brings to life the conflicting sentiments that existed in America at the time. It included how people in different social classes were treated and viewed, the attitudes toward and expectations of women, and attitudes towards immigrants. I thought the treatment of and expectations of servants was particularly well-done. Emily’s friendship with a servant is not viewed with approval by others. The story did a particularly good job of exploring the chasm between the life experiences of Emily and Willa as well as how different individuals and organizations approached charity work.

Some of the plot twists were harder to see than others and made for a more intense novel. While the antagonist was relatively easy to discern, the reason behind the actions were not obvious. Based on my limited knowledge of the poet Emily Dickinson, she seemed to be well portrayed in this fictional portrayal of an early period in her life before she went into almost total seclusion. The story is moving and suspenseful at times, but the pace was a little slow on occasion. Additional themes woven into the story include protecting others, greed, loyalty, gossip, friendship, and family dynamics.

Overall, this entertaining and engaging book has twists with great characterization. Those who enjoy an amateur sleuth historical mystery series that is well-researched or are interested in Emily Dickinson will likely enjoy this novel. The note at the end is worth reading as well. I am sorry to see the end of this series, but I’m looking forward to the next book by this author.

Berkley Publishing Group and Amanda Flower provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for February 25, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

4.5 stars

This is the final book in the series, unfortunately, as they have been some of my favorites from Flower. Though this is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. It follows Willa, the fictional maid of Emily Dickinson. All of the books are named after a Dickinson poem. It is clear that the author did her research, as the period details add to the overall enjoyment of the story. The author quickly pulls the reader in and makes them feel a part of the Amherst, Massachusetts community. There is a small faith element to the story, but it is not overwhelming. The relationship between Emily and Willa is one that is not seen in many stories, as it is between a person of a wealthy family and her maid—a friendship that would be frowned upon by many people at that time (1857). It is fun to sleuth along with Emily and Willa, the unlikely detective duo, as they try to figure out the killer. And Carlo, Emily's dog, is a faithful and enjoyable character, as well.

I adore Amanda Flower's cozy mysteries, and this series is a fave. It features Emily Dickinson as an amateur sleuth alongside her housemaid, Willa.

Amherst, Massachusetts, 1857, and the Cold Storm, a historic severe winter storm, dropped temperatures to dangerous lows and brought heavy snowfall. Many are suffering, and a calculated murderer uses arson disguised as a housefire, leaving a young girl orphaned.

The world-building is so atmospheric. The snowy, bitter cold was palpable, as conditions inhibited the investigation. This is also brimming with fascinating historical detail. Life during that era is shown in vivid detail, including the class differences between Emily and Willa, marking their friendship as unusual, to say the least.

The characters are wonderfully vibrant and well-developed. The real Emily was viewed as an eccentric in her time. But Flower respectfully depicts her as intelligent, forward-thinking, kind, and idealistic, with a mind that often drifts to her poetry and writing. Willa is also a strong FMC. She's had a tough life and is smart, observant, big-hearted, and brave. The connection between the two is endearing.

Using imaginative storytelling, the mystery is intriguing, well-plotted, and layered with social commentary, feminist themes, and biographical elements. I was guessing until the end.

I didn't realize how much I would love Emily Dickinson as a sleuth until this series, and it was bittersweet to see it wrap up with this installment, but I loved this!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for the free book!

During one of the worst New England winters ever, a rash of fires breaks out in the Amherst area, especially in the areas where the less fortunate live. When a young couple is killed in one of these fires, leaving behind a young child, Emily and Willa set out to find out what really happened.

I have really enjoyed this series, despite wondering how realistic it is for Emily Dickinson to become such close friends with her maid. Yes, this is before Emily became famous, but it seems that the class differences alone would make this extremely difficult. I like both women, and always smile when Emily stands up to her family and speaks her own mind.

If the deaths resulting from the fire were indeed accidental, as the official line indicates, there wouldn’t be much of a book for us to read, so it’s obvious to the reader that someone deliberately set those fires. The investigation was slow but thorough, and the two women found themselves in danger before eventually learning – and proving – who was responsible. I wasn’t surprised at the reveal, nor by the motive.

I would love to read more from this series, but this book felt to me like it was the final book. Knowing the author’s tendency to keep most of her series rather short, I’m more inclined to think this is the end. If I’m wrong and there are more books, I will be excited to read them :)

This may be my favorite in this series to date. The perfect blend of setting, character and story really sing in this novel, which takes place during a very cold and snowy winter in 1857 Amherst, Massachusetts. While Amherst is now famous as Emily Dickinson’s birthplace and home, in 1857 Emily was just an eccentric member of the prominent Dickinson family, with scraps of writing spilling out of her pockets. And, in these novels, a penchant for sleuthing.

While today we experience cold and snowy winters, in 1857, those things made a much bigger difference in people’s lives. The cold and snow meant there were fires going all the time which also meant a greater chance of house fires. The snow cut off train deliveries (and travel) so food stores were hoarded. For the poor, the situation was worse, as the cold meant their firewood supply may not have kept up with the need to keep warm.

As the Dickinsons are asked to help out a poor family in town, by taking them food and other supplies, they are also awakened in the middle of the night by the ringing of bells – a house fire is blazing in the middle of town. Thanks to Carlo, Emily’s Newfoundland dog (a real dog who followed Emily all over town), Emily and Willa, her maid, discover a child in the woods. Her family has perished in the fire and Emily’s sister in law, Susan, takes her in temporarily as they attempt to find relatives for her to live with.

Willa is Emily’s Watson, and she’s often in an uncomfortable household position as Emily demands she accompany her, which means she does not always get her work done, to the anger of her superior in the kitchen. Emily is blithely unaware of this dilemma, and thinks Willa’s duties are limited to cooking, but of course she’s cleaning, dusting, ironing, laying fires and serving at the table, among many other tasks. This tension in their relationship makes it an interesting one, as Willa realizes Emily has no idea of her work and what’s more is uncaring about her social status, which also makes things uncomfortable for Willa.

Despite this, however, the two women make a good detection team and when it becomes clear the little girl’s parents died as the result of a murder and not an accident, the two women’s activity ramps up as they question various people around town, many of them tied to Amherst College, where the girl’s father had worked. The mother was a seamstress, providing another network of information as the women investigate.
At no time during the novel is the weather situation neglected, as snow and cold continue to envelop Amherst, making detection difficult. So does the young girl’s reluctance to talk to anyone but Willa, who feels a growing attachment to her. The solution is a wowser, perfectly set up by Flower and a good oh my gosh moment as the pieces fall into place. Flower also never neglects illuminating the pull of Emily’s writing, a pull that takes her out of herself. It’s a fascinating facet of her character. This novel was simply perfection.

This book is part of a series, but it is the first one that I have read by this author. It is an interesting concept to have Emily Dickinson and her maid Willa investigate a crime.
The story was intriguing and gave the flavor of Amherst Massachusetts and the community at the college. The writing was informative, interesting, and entertaining. Since this was a general market book, it had a faint faith thread showing the church caring about an orphan and the poor people facing the cold in the midst of a blizzard. The author portrayed Willa the maid as a friend of Emily, who helped sleuth and was a companion. But also that the family and especially the other servant frowned on the friendship.
This was a clean, read, in spite of mentioning unfaithful spouses. It is a unique concept that has Emily ferreting out clues, even as she stopped short in order to write the words of her poems that are clamoring to be released from her brain.
This was a quick and interesting story.
* A complementary copy was provided by Berkeley via NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone.*

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.