Murder in Highbury - (An Emma Knightley Mystery) by Vanessa Kelly

Book Synopsis

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.

"Clever and charming, Vanessa Kelly brings Austen's world in Highbury village to life with beloved characters, twisty hijinks, and a mystery that will keep you guessing." --Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Keeper of Hidden Books

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 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. 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.

Review Quotes

Praise for Murder in Highbury

"Historical romance star Kelly deftly pivots to the world of historical mysteries with an elegantly crafted whodunit that delivers all the cozy British charm and careful cluing mystery readers crave while also paying loving homage to Jane Austen's Emma with its dry wit and artful social observations. This start to a series featuring Emma will have readers ready for more." --Booklist STARRED REVIEW

"Readers will be delighted to see many familiar characters return from Austen's novel, from the shy Harriet Martin to the rakish Frank Churchill. Emma herself makes a convincing sleuth with her inclination for discovering the truth about people and their relationships. Charming and witty with a well-paced murder to solve, this series starter is sure to delight both Austen fans and mystery lovers." --Library Journal STARRED REVIEW

"Kelly makes good use of the most memorable characters from Emma, including the impoverished Miss Bates and Emma's dim-witted father, folding them neatly into a well-executed mystery plot. The real draw, however, is the way Kelly effortlessly transforms Emma into a successful gumshoe by exploiting the same qualities Austen gave her heroine. Readers will be charmed." --Publishers Weekly

"Fans of Jane Austen will love this lively pastiche featuring one of her most beloved characters as a clever sleuth." --Kirkus Reviews

"Brimming with all the wit and charm one can expect from a visit to Jane Austen's world, Murder in Highbury presents Austen's beloved and interfering character Emma with a murder. When Emma puts her clever wits to use to discover the murderer who hides among them, danger and humor mingle to provide us with mystery, delight, and a clever new sleuth. Author Vanessa Kelly writes with an experienced touch and clear fondness for her well-beloved characters, giving us the sequel we formerly could merely long for and imagine." --Christina Dodd, New York Times bestselling author

"From purported matchmaker to cunning detective, recently married Emma Knightly is on the hunt for a murderer. Clever and charming, Vanessa Kelly brings Austen's world in Highbury village to life with beloved characters, twisty hijinks, and a mystery that will keep you guessing. Murder in Highbury is an exciting and edgy take on a classic tale we all know and love and will delight murder mystery readers everywhere." --Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Keeper of Hidden Books

"Kelly captures the essence of the "real" Emma who has left matchmaking behind in favor of crime solving. A delightful Regency mystery including some of my favorite Austen characters! What would Jane do? I say she'd approve!" --Dianne Freeman, author of the Agatha and Lefty award-winning Countess of Harleigh mystery series.

"Utterly delightful, with characters so true to the original, even Miss Austen would wholeheartedly approve." --Alyssa Maxwell, author of Murder at the Elms

"Murder in Highbury is DELIGHTFUL, if a story about deception and murder set in a bucolic countryside village of Regency England can be so called. Vanessa Kelly masterfully whisks her readers into the world of Jane Austen from the first page and holds them there, captivated until the last. Yet instead of manners and marriage schemes dominating the plot, murder and mayhem are the rule of the day. And who better to turn detective than the intrepid Emma Woodhouse Knightly? With no new Jane Austen novels to read, I was thrilled to find Vanessa Kelly a worthy successor." --Clara McKenna, author of Murder on Glenloch Hill

"An amusing whodunnit full of quirky characters, delicious local gossip, and an irresistible, witty protagonist." --K.D. Alden, author of Lady Codebreaker

About the Author

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 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. Visit her at VanessaKellyAuthor.com.