ABOUT THE BOOK
Less than one year into her marriage to respected magistrate George Knightley, Emma has grown unusually content with 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 the 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 and the ornate necklace she often wore stripped from her neck . . . As a chilling murder mystery unfolds 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 fall on a harmless local, Emma decides to discreetly investigate. Armed with wit, unwavering determination, and extensive social connections, she will protect the innocent and expose the ruthless culprit hiding in plain sight.
SIX QUESTIONS FOR VANESSA KELLY
Vanessa, how did you come up with the idea of turning Emma Knightley into a sleuth in "Murder in Highbury"? Was there a specific moment of inspiration?
I will happily admit that the original idea was not mine, but my editor’s. I’d reached the point where I’d decided to switch genres from historical romance to historical mystery. My romances always contained a mystery element, which often drove the plot. So, it seemed a natural evolution. When I suggested this to my editor, he asked if I would be interested in writing a historical mystery based on the character of Emma, shortly after her marriage to George Knightley. Since EMMA is just about my favorite book in the world, I was utterly thrilled and leapt at the chance! It was a true joy to develop and write this first book in the Emma Knightley Mysteries.
Jane Austen's characters are beloved for their complexity and charm. How did you balance staying true to Emma's original character while adapting her to this new role as a detective?
I naturally had a bit of trepidation in trying to recreate Austen’s characters and world, but EMMA is such a rich source of inspiration and material. The characters jump off the page and feel so real—which is one of the reasons her books lend themselves so well to TV and movie adaptations. This was so helpful for me in recreating Emma’s world. As for her character adapting to this new role, I think Emma is a natural fit for amateur sleuth. She’s clever, insatiably curious, and confident (sometimes a bit over-confident). She’s also at the top of the social structure in Highbury, which she can leverage to her advantage when investigating. It also doesn’t hurt that she’s married to the local magistrate, and so has the inside track on the investigation!
The setting of Highbury in "Emma" is so vividly portrayed by Austen. How did you go about expanding on this setting to incorporate the elements of a murder mystery?
Highbury is a small but rich environment, with lots of opportunities for encounters among characters. I started with Hartfield—Emma’s home base—but there’s also the village church, the vicarage, various shops like Ford’s millinery shop, Mrs. Goddard’s school, as well as locations like Randalls, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Weston. I also used locales like the Crown Inn, where the all-important ball took place in EMMA. In MURDER IN HIGHBURY, I utilized the Crown as the setting for the murder inquest. I loved working with the setting of the ballroom, which had been beautifully decorated in the original book, and transforming it into a rather grim courtroom. And small towns can quickly go from cozy and comforting to claustrophobic when suspicion and paranoia start to build—I had fun playing with that dynamic, too!
Can you share some insights into your research process for "Murder in Highbury"? What historical details did you find most fascinating or challenging to incorporate?
When one is writing a historical mystery, one needs to know the legal system! This did present a challenge, since the operations of the law were fairly chaotic during the Regency Era. Fortunately, I was able to draw on some great resources that allowed me (I hope) to portray the legal aspects of the story quite accurately. As for the fun stuff, I really love studying the architecture of the period, especially the layout of houses. This helped me visualize how locations like Hartfield or the village church would actually “operate” in the story.
Jane Austen's works often explore themes of social class and relationships. How do these themes play into the murder mystery plot of "Murder in Highbury"? Are there particular societal commentaries you wanted to highlight?
Class does come into play in MURDER IN HIGHBURY, especially in how various suspects were treated by the law. The higher you were on the food chain, the better you could expect to be treated. The book also highlights the role of women in the Regency Era, particularly when they step outside the expected boundaries of female behavior. Emma is a woman of a certain social standing, and therefore certain behaviours are expected of her, i.e., acting like a proper lady. What is NOT acceptable is taking on the role of amateur investigator, so Emma finds herself having to navigate quite carefully—especially around the various males in her life—to achieve her objectives.
What’s next up in your writing career?
I’m currently writing the next book in the Emma Knightley Mysteries. It’s called MURDER AT DONWELL ABBEY and will be out in fall of 2025.
ABOUT VANESSA KELLY
Vanessa Kelly is a multiple USA Today bestselling author of historical mysteries and historical romances published in eleven languages. She has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Maggie Medallion for best historical romance. 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, including Jane Austen and Frances Burney. She lives in Ottawa, Canada, with her husband.
@VanessaKellyAuthor
For more information, visit KensingtonBooks.com.