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.
Although several authors have reimagined Jane Austen and her fictional characters in the role of mystery-solving sleuth, Emma Woodhouse Knightley is uniquely qualified for the appointment, in my opinion. Janeites can recall Emma’s penchant for meddling, in particular within the realm of matchmaking. See seems to notice details that others don’t, and while she does not always make the best choices, she is often wise in her assessments. Appreciating her uniqueness is George Knightley, who marries her in spite of, and possibly because of her foibles. He loves her for all that she is. These characteristics remain true in the new novel by Vanessa Kelly, Murder in Highbury. In this Austenesque murder-mystery, Emma sets aside her matchmaking hobby (for now) when she stumbles upon a gruesome death. Along with husband George, she pieces together the clues to determine the full picture of what has occurred in their otherwise quiet town.
Murder in Highbury does open with the discovery of a startling murder, but the general feel of the novel is very light and is a diverting tour of the characters from Jane Austen’s Emma. Vanessa Kelly most certainly has her fingers on the pulse of these vivid personalities, from Emma and her family members, down to employees on the estate grounds. Readers who are unfamiliar with the source material would do well to either read the original text or at minimum watch a faithful screen adaptation of Austen’s novel. The 1996 Emma movie with Gwyneth Paltrow is one of my favorites, and the faces from that film populated my mind as I read the book. Understanding the backstory of the main characters was helpful to me as I took in Kelly’s mystery and enjoyed the narrative.
From a content standpoint, Murder in Highbury does have a few adult moments, but they are quite tame. Of course there is the murder of Mrs. Elton, done in a somewhat dramatic way on the grounds of the church. There are also just a few instances of salty language, but those moments are rare and very PG-rated. I would feel comfortable recommending the material to just about anyone.
Vanessa Kelly has done fabulous work with Austen’s characters. She understands them inside and out, and she is also quite cognizant of the historical aspects of the period. Emma as a married female does not have the exact standing as her husband, a local magistrate. Women did not have the same place in courtrooms that men did. Kelly shines a light on these issues without being overly derogatory, and she also promotes the strength and intelligence of women as well. I particularly liked the manner in which Emma and George interacted with each other. George understood his place in society, but he never belittles his wife. He cannot fully endorse her “sleuthing”, as she is not an officer of the law, but he works in concert with her as she sniffs out information. Although they hold different positions in their community, they are nonetheless equals in their relationship with each other. It was refreshing to witness this type of loving interaction within a 19th century marriage.
I was excited to learn that Murder in Highbury is the beginning of a series. This opening volume was light, interesting, and kept me guessing. Now that I’ve finished the novel, I want to return to the opening chapters in order to suss out the clues that I missed all along the way. The answer to the “whodunnit” question was in front of me the entire time. Vanessa Kelly took me on a fun ride, and I look forward to seeing what she brings to her readership next.
AUTHOR BIO
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.
Austenprose Interview: Vanessa Kelly
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