Publication: 25th November 2025 – Kensington Books
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 . . .
I was delighted to return to this wonderful series that sees Emma Knightley turning into an amateur detective to solve mysterious murders. I do love Jane Austen, I do love cozy mysteries, and the author manages to create intriguing and engaging plots that keep me so engrossed that I usually read these novels in one sitting.
In Murder in Donwell Abbey, the second book in the series, Mr. Woodhouse manages to shock his entire family when he announces his engagement to the family’s long-time friend, Miss Bates. And even more shocking, he wants to throw an engagement party at Donwell Abbey. However, the party ends in tragedy when a young maid, well-loved by everyone, is found dead. While the local constable is convinced that it’s a suicide, Emma is sure that the young woman was murdered and finds an unexpected ally in Miss Bates.
Murder in Donwell Abbey is another witty, charming, and entertaining novel and I enjoyed it even more than the first book in the series, Murder in Highbury. We see Emma both struggling with the fact that she will no longer be the mistress of Hartfield and excited that she and Mr. Knightley can now move to Donwell Abbey permanently. And while the peace of Highbury is disrupted by the presence of smugglers and Emma is busy helping Miss Bates organizing the wedding, she is determined to find out the truth about what really happened to her maid.
Murder in Donwell features the right dose of mystery and humor with a pinch of romance (between Emma and Mr. Knightley which I found adorable). The story is well-written and well-developed and the characters are familiar and intriguing. I can’t wait for the next novel!
A huge thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this gripping novel.
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.
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