Review by Kelly Jarvis: Murder in Highbury by Vanessa Kelly

Do you love Jane Austen? Do you love murder mysteries? If you answered yes to these questions, then add Vanessa Kelly’s novel, Murder in Highbury to your list today! The novel takes place in the summer of 1813, a year after Emma’s marriage to the magistrate George Knightly. Emma and her friend Harriet Martin discover the body of Mrs. Elton, the vicar’s wife, on the steps of the church, and when they notice bruises on her neck and a blood-smeared candlestick on the altar, foul play is suspected, and an investigation filled with twists and turns ensues.

In addition to offering her readers a satisfying mystery, Kelly provides a faithful adaptation of Austen’s characters in her novel. Kelly’s Emma is the Emma generations of readers have fallen in love with, and her new role as a wife has not changed her personality or dampened her wit. Emma has evolved from matchmaker to detective, but her dialogue retains the witty banter and keen observations of Austen’s original character. Readers will also delight in the stern but loving George Knightly, the hysterical Harriet, and the humorous Mr. Wodehouse who claims the vicar “should not have allowed his wife to go off and get murdered in the first place.” The novel ends with George’s hope that his wife’s detective days are over, a sentiment the reader will certainly not share.

I loved the cozy vibes of this murder mystery which immersed me in Regency Era inquests and funeral customs. The subtle plot twists and endearing character portrayals kept me reading, and Vanessa Kelly continues the fun with her sequel Murder at Donwell Abbey! You can purchase the first book in the Emma Knightly Mystery Series here.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

Kelly Jarvis works as the Contributing Writer for The Fairy Tale Magazine and teaches writing and literature at Central Connecticut State University. Her work has been featured in A Moon of One’s Own, Blue Heron Review, Corvid Queen, Eternal Haunted Summer, Mermaids Monthly, The Chamber Magazine, The Magic of Us, and Mothers of Enchantment: New Tales of Fairy Godmothers. Her debut novella, Selkie Moon, was released in 2025. You can connect with her on Facebook (Kelly Jarvis, Author) or Instagram (@kellyjarviswriter) or find her at https://kellyjarviswriter.com/