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I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
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MY REVIEW:
Genre | Tropes: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Regency
Rating: 5 out of 5 ⭐
An absolutely delightful read that had me laughing and cringing at the same time! Emma Knightley, classic Jane Austen character, is rewritten as an investigative sleuth. She’s married to the local magistrate and together they are trying to solve the murder of a local woman that no one really liked.
Emma is witty and incredibly smart. Plus her uncanny personality trait of tending to say what’s on her mind without thinking through proper etiquette, tends to put her in uncomfortable situations more often than not. But she always recovers quickly and handles herself with the utmost respect for others.
Her husband is wonderful too, very supportive of his wife’s untraditional interest in his work, they pair well reviewing all the clues and bouncing ideas off one another. There are lots of supporting characters throughout this piece as well and I think my favorite was Emma’s widower father. He’s so sweet and caring about his family, but also a little quirky in his anxiety about everything having the possibility of going awry.
So many laughs and giggles throughout this one that I enjoyed every second of it. I did however guess the outcome of this one from the very start, but that didn’t deter me from enjoying how the clues unfolded and the path that led to the conclusion. A great adventure and characterization of Emma Knightley!
GET IT HERE:
The delightful debut of a Regency historical mystery featuring Jane Austen’s indefatigable Emma Knightley! Perfect for fans of Anna Lee Huber, Darcie Wilde, Claudia Gray, and Stephanie Barron.
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.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vanessa Kelly
Vanessa Kelly is a bestselling author of historical mystery and historical romance. She has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Maggie Medallion for best historical romance. She is a USA Today, Barnes & Noble, BookScan, and Amazon bestseller several times over. To date, her books have been published in eleven languages. After receiving her MA in English literature from Rutgers University, Vanessa spent several years in the Ph. D program at the University of Toronto, studying women authors of the 18th Century. She worked as a researcher for many years, and currently resides in Ottawa, Canada, with her husband.
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