Murder in Highbury transports you back into an Austen classic, staying true to the original tones and characters, while also bringing a fresh take on the world of Emma. When Emma Knightley and her friend Harriet accidentally stumble about the murder scene of the vicar’s wife, life as they know it takes a dramatic turn. Between dealing with the hysterics of friends and family, inept coroners and constables, and trying to investigate on her own without angering her husband, Emma has her hands full. I like how this book still portrayed the characters in much the same manner as Austen’s original novel, so it really does feel like a sequel of sorts.
Polly Lee does a wonderful job bringing every character to life. I particularly liked her portrayal of Harriet and Mr. Woodhouse as her voices did a great job capturing their quirks and attitudes.
All in all, this was a very entertaining return to a beloved classic setting, as well as a clever mystery that had me questioning my suspicions until the end. I am excited to see what comes next.

Murder in Highbury is a humorous and enjoyable mystery.

We follow Emma Knightley as she stumbles on a body in the local church. Emma is determined to find the killer and solve the mystery.

I enjoyed delving into this story, it is a very good cozy historical murder mystery akin of Agatha Christie. It was very well written and the audiobook was excellent. I really enjoyed the narrators different voices for different characters and she really brought out the humor in the book.

4.5 stars

Thank you Tantor Audio for the gifted audiobook. This one’s out now!

I love Jane Austen and “Emma” is my favorite, so I always enjoy retellings and reimaginings. This one begins a few months after the events of “Emma” and features all of the characters you know and love from the original. It’s so fun to go back to Highbury and see what’s next for these beloved characters. The author does a pretty good job of keeping the characters true to themselves, though Emma herself does seem a bit more levelheaded than she is in the original, but as she’s traditionally a bit high strung, that’s probably for the best. You can definitely still read and enjoy this one if you haven’t read “Emma” — there’s plenty of introductions to the characters and the backstory you need is shared.

It’s a murder mystery (obviously!) and a pretty good one at that. I was convinced I knew who did it, but I was wrong (and I LOVE being wrong about whodunnit)! It’s maybe a little bit longer than it needs to be and felt somewhat slow at times, but not so much that I lost interest.

It’s not really a romcom since Emma and George are together, but it reads like an Evie Dunmore or Violet Marsh, so I’d recommend it to fans of theirs. I’d also recommend it to those who enjoy Austen retellings, reimaginings, and continuations.

Audio: Fabulous performance! The narrator does such a great job with different voices that I had to look up whether there was someone else reading the male voices — nope, she’s just that good! This is a great option for audiobook lovers!

Tried all day today to get into this book but it just isn't for me. The narrator is a bit older sounding than what I expected and it really took me out of the story. I dnf'd at the 36% mark because I just wanted really resonating with the story or the mystery. I know this is more of a cozy mystery than a thriller but it did not really catch my attention or grip me the way I wanted it to.

I enjoyed the humor and the writing style of this author so that is why I'm giving it three stars. I think that it could be a good mystery but at this point in time, I am not feeling into it at all. I am hoping to circle back to this in the future but for now, I am not very impressed.

Thank you Netgalley and Tantor Audio for this audiobook arc!

What a delightful read. I confess that I was hesitant about reading this book because I am not an Austen fan and know next to nothing about her characters; but I am pleased to report that a knowledge of Austen is completely unnecessary to enjoyment of this cozy historical mystery. There are references that I am sure relate to events in Austen's "Emma," and they likely will mean more to Austen fans; but they were easily followed and had no significant bearing on this story. These characters are well developed. Some are comical; others annoying, as intended; but I loved the relationship between Emma and George Knightly. Emma is a strong protagonist, but George is no shrinking violet. They play well off of each other, and the affection and respect between them is heartening. The mystery is solid, and although I knew who the villain was early on, it was interesting to watch the investigation. I do hope Ms. Kelly continues this entertaining series.

Polly Lee does an excellent job of voicing these characters.

4🌟

Thank you netgalley for the arc! I am new to regency reads and was never a huge fan of Jane Austen (but I'm starting to get into those stories more as well!). This was a delightful cozy read, perfect for the beach or while snuggled under some blankets. I loved the way the author portrayed and called back to elements of Emma and Knightly's past. A wonderful whodunit that kept me guessing. Parts seemed slightly slow, but that is the way of regency, lots of gossip around town! I definitely recommend this read to lovers of cozy mystery, regency, or Jane Austen fans!

I’ll be honest this book was much different than I expected . Typically I am not a historical fiction and I some how missed that when requesting the ALC probably late at night!

But I really enjoyed the story and the historical references etc.. The narration was ok. It didn’t especially draw me
In but I didn’t mind it except to speed it up. The one thing I’ll mention is the production value didn’t seem to have the “polish” that I am used to from Tantor Audio.

For those that love Regency period and especially Jane Austen. Loved getting to experience Emm Knightlet in a new circumstance as well!

So if you’re a Regency, historical fiction and murder mystery fan be sure to put this on your TBR as it comes out today!

I am thankful to have gotten an eARC for free from Netgalley and Tantor Audio to enjoy which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

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!

Audiobook
Polly Lee does on excellent job of narrating Murder in Highbury. I appreciate the different voices she adopts for each character (but also that she doesn't overdo it, either); it made it easier to follow who was speaking during dialogue. She makes the story engaging and enjoyable throughout.

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.

Jane Austen meets Agatha Christie. I loved returning to one of my favorite Austen heroines for some a cozy murder mystery.

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. When Emma and Harriet Martin, now the wife of one of Mr. Knightley’s tenant farmers, go to arrange flowers in the church they discover the body of Mrs. Augusta Elton, the vicar’s wife & the ornate necklace she often wore stripped from her neck. When suspicions suddenly fall on a harmless local, Emma realizes she must discreetly navigate an investigation of her own to protect the innocent and expose the ruthless culprit hiding in plain sight.
A regency cosy mystery featuring some classic characters, I loved it. Emma is a delight & can’t help but poke her nose into the investigation. I loved the dynamics between the characters & the way the author developed the characters & relationships whilst still keeping true to the original book. I loved the twists & turns as the case unfolded. A very well written cosy mystery with excitement interlaced with humour. I also listened to the audio book & thoroughly enjoyed it as Polly Lee brought the book to life
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

I tried to like this book so much. The description was right up my alley. I just had trouble getting invested in the characters and the story. It did start off good, which was right after the murder happened. I might try to re-read this another time in case I am just not in the right mindset. I did like the narrator.

Emma Knightly is determined to uncover a murderer. With clever wit and charm, Vanessa Kelly breathes life into Austen’s Highbury village, featuring beloved characters, unexpected twists, and a mystery that keeps you on your toes. "Murder in Highbury" offers an exhilarating and fresh perspective on a classic story we cherish, promising to captivate murder mystery enthusiasts everywhere. Keep me on the edge of my seat until the very last moment! It's almost a 14-hour audiobook.
Thank you to @netgalley for the audiobook. My opinions are freely expressed.

Murder in Highbury is a most excellent fan fiction novel featuring Highbury’s most famous resident, Emma Woodhouse Knightley. Now married, Emma cannot help but investigate the murder of Augusta Elton, in the guise of helping her beloved husband who is now the town magistrate. With more suspects than chickens in this little town, Emma has her work cut out for herself. Thankfully she is up to the task with the usual wit, wisdom, and charm found in the Jane Austen novel. I listened to the audiobook version of this story narrated by Polly Lee who did an admirable job. Brava, Vanessa Kelly!

Polly Lee is a pretty good narrator. She is very captivating and not at all monotone. She excels with quite a range of female voices. Her male voices are a trifle too low for her vocal capacity, but not as bad as some other narrators. The characters that are supposed to be annoying, really are annoying, lol, and I can't complain because she's doing her job very well, according to the script. Just be aware that you may need to adjust the volume occasionally.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

'Murder in Highbury' is a regency mystery and a Jane Austen 'retelling', with Emma of Austen's popular novel married to Mr Knightly and now solving a murder!

The novel is rather cute and funny, even though it's about a murder case. It involves a lot of the original novel's characters and the audiobook's narrator gives each and every one a unique voice which resembles a lot the ones of the movie!

Also, the novel includes a lot of Regency novel scenes other than the investigation, which adds to the enjoyment of the story.

A cozy mystery set in Emma's world from Jane Austen's Emma. I'm not as familiar with this world as Austen's others but I could jump right into listening to this book! The narration is fantastic, easy to listen to and just the right amount of drama that makes you interested but not overly hyped.

The story itself is engaging and kept me interested/guessing. The character development and side characters here are entertaining - even when there is a death involved.

I haven't read this author before but I will again!

I really loved this book I thought it was very interesting it kept me roped in from the beginning until the very end I honestly was not expecting the ending to unfold the way that it did It was very surprising to me I was not able to even guess who the killer was and was very surprised when the ending happened I thought the writing was really well done and it was really interesting there was really good details provided in the book but things were not overly described to where it was two detailed there was a really good balance between the two just don't have to detail where I can picture what was going on but not too much to wear it was just ragging on I also found that the storage is overall was very interesting it was different from any other mysteries that I've read and I definitely think it is something that a lot of people will love

Thank you to Vanessa Kelly, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF 39%. This book has been on my radar for months, endorsed by many of my favorite authors. Supposed to be highly anticipated, or at least that's the impression I got. (Great job, marketing team!) I was so excited to see this pop up on NetGalley.

Aaaand it's boring. Quickly became a chore to listen to. All the characters, with the exception of George and Emma, are dicks and wasps with nothing better to do than be dicks and wasps. I heard the words "gossip" and "society" enough times to make me want to puke. And all the characters, with the exception of George and Emma, are neurotic as hell. Also, everyone whines to George. Do something, George! Make this stop, George! Do this, George, do that, George! Help us, George! George, George, George.

When after over 4 hours I realized I still had about 8 hours more to listen to (at 1.25 speed, because the narrator talked ssssllllooooowww), I called it. Why is this book FOURTEEN hours long?!? Why?!? Absolutely no reason it needs to be! If it had been eight or nine, I might have stuck it out, but god.

I've never read the Austen book that features Emma, so I didn't have any previous attachment to the characters going in, and it feels like Kelly expects readers to already know and love Emma and George. Nope, sorry, you've made an ass out of u and me.

Others may think this book is perfectly fine, but it was not my cuppa. FOURTEEN hours for a cozy mystery!

Audio Version via Netgalley

This was a great whodunit with one of my favorite Jane Austin characters. This was so well written and was such a fun and cozy Regency mystery. I love getting to see what Emma is up to after she married. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope there are more to come.

The narration was spot on with 5 stars.