Murder at Donwell Abbey - (An Emma Knightley Mystery) by Vanessa Kelly (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Emma's spirits are elevated after she and husband George Knightley host a joyful holiday celebration at the Hartfield estate. But it's instantly a bitter January when her father makes an unexpected announcement: he and Miss Hetty Bates have decided to marry. Not only must Emma relinquish her role as mistress of the household, but also accept the reality that the excitable Miss Bates will become her stepmother. More unwanted news arrives during an extravagant betrothal ball at Donwell Abbey, the grand Knightley estate where Emma and George will soon permanently reside. Nearly every villager in Highbury revels in the dazzling affair--except Emma's hardworking lady's maid, Prudence Parr. To Emma's horror, Prudence is found dead, sprawled across the stones of the library terrace"--

Book Synopsis

This latest Regency-era mystery from USA Today bestselling author Vanessa Kelly finds Jane Austen's clever Emma Knightley (nee Woodhouse) as an amateur sleuth, navigating shocking changes in her family--while meeting her match in a deadly adversary . . .

Emma's spirits are elevated after she and husband George Knightley host a joyful holiday celebration at the Hartfield estate. But it's instantly a bitter January when her father makes an unexpected announcement--he and Miss Hetty Bates have decided to marry. Not only must Emma relinquish her role as mistress of the household, but also accept the reality that the excitable Miss Bates will become her stepmother . . .

More unwanted news arrives during an extravagant betrothal ball at Donwell Abbey, the grand Knightley estate where Emma and George will soon permanently reside. Nearly every villager in Highbury revels in the dazzling affair--except Emma's hardworking lady's maid, Prudence Parr. To Emma's horror, Prudence is found dead, sprawled across the stones of the library terrace . . .

The woman's tragic fall is quickly ruled a terrible accident and whispers circulate around personal troubles leading up to her untimely demise. But Emma's instincts tell her that something far more sinister is at play. Now, Highbury's matchmaker-turned-sleuth vows to outwit a cunning criminal before an innocent man loses his freedom--or Donwell Abbey plunges into a darker mystery . . .

Review Quotes

Praise for The Emma Knightley Mysteries

"Kelly returns with another murder most Austen mystery that not only carefully and considerately celebrates the characters created by Jane herself but adds in a few unexpected new nuances of Kelly's own, including a delightfully resourceful Miss Bates. Match this up with an expertly evoked Regency setting and writing enriched with a generous measure of sharp humor and you have a treat for historical mystery fans and Austenites alike." --Booklist on Murder at Donwell Abbey

"Exciting...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 on 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 on Murder in Highbury

"Jane Austen's nosiest protagonist turns out to be an excellent amateur sleuth in this buoyant series launch...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 on Murder in Highbury

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

"Vanessa Kelly is a wonderful storyteller handling numerous plot twists and dramatic revelations with elegance and wit. The tone is delightfully Austenian: none of the characters utter a word that would be out of place in the original novel, and Highbury feels entirely familiar, despite a genuine sense of jeopardy and unease that lifts the story way out of the 'cozy crime' genre...I am already looking forward to many more [Emma] Knightly Mysteries." --Jane Austen's Regency World on Murder in Highbury

"Highbury in 1815 is a charming locale, and the author's love of Emma and her surroundings shines through clearly. The entire cast of characters from Austen's Emma is here - Emma's hypochondriac father is just as irritating as ever! - and they all sound very much like their Austen selves. This is a sprightly, engrossing mystery, sprinkled with wit and charm. Murder in Highbury should appeal to fans of Austen, Regency romances, and mysteries. Recommended." --Historical Novel Society on Murder in Highbury

"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 on Murder in Highbury

"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 on Murder in Highbury

"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 the Stella and Lyndy Mysteries

"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.