
Member Reviews

This is a delightful addition to the Emma Knightley Mysteries! The plot was well-paced and captivating. The characters were charming and witty. This is definitely one I'll read again! Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and Kensington Publishing.
I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.
Emma world will be turned upside down when her father announces his engagement which will change her role as mistress of the house. She and her husband George host for them at the house they will moving in. But at the ball her personal maid is found dead from what appears to be a tragic fall. Something does not seem right to Emma as she question things. Who wanted her ma id dead? She will soon find out in this mystery.

Murder at Arleigh blends Gilded Age glamour with dark secrets, bringing reporter-sleuth Emma Cross back into action—this time amid society weddings, whispered threats, and dangerous pranks that might not be so innocent.
Set in 1903 Newport, this installment dives into the opulent world of the Vanderbilts and the scandal-tinged lives of the elite. I loved the historical details, the atmospheric setting at the Bellevue Mansion, and the way the mystery unfolds quietly at first before escalating into genuine suspense.
Emma is a grounded, observant narrator, and the storyline around Bessie Lehr’s suspicions felt emotionally charged and believable. While the pacing lags in a few spots, the central question—accidents or attempted murder?—kept me invested. The blend of high society drama and real danger was handled well.
Perfect for fans of historical mysteries with a Downton Abbey meets Agatha Christie vibe. Elegant, layered, and just dark enough to keep things interesting.

seriously did not want to put this book down! Though I’m not totally sure if I feel right about reading murder mysteries for entertainment, this book is well-done. I enjoyed both the canon and original characters, and the writing was excellent: faithful to Austen’s style. Emma and Knightley’s banter was a highlight, as was seeing Miss Bates occasionally have some depth of character! There was a good balance of comedy with the seriousness one would expect in a murder mystery, and the victim was treated with appropriate respect and grief. It is an interesting concept to have Emma turn her clever mind away from matchmaking and toward solving mysteries.
I give this 4.5 stars (some reasons include the marriage of Miss Bates and Mr. Woodhouse seeming too out-of-character, and I guessed the murderer pretty quickly), but will round up to 5! I was thrilled to receive an eARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the free eARC. I post this review voluntarily with my honest opinions.
Content warnings:
Violence: description of a body, grief after the death of a family member, mentioned minor injury to a child, implied abuse, a character in peril threatened with a weapon, mention of a character being drugged
Romance: non-explicit comment between a husband and wife about what they did “last night”
Language: some swearing, including taking the Lord’s name in vain; some characters make racist comments against an Irish Catholic character
This review is cross-posted to Goodreads and will be posted to Amazon and Instagram within a week of the book’s publication.

I was super estatic to find out there was a series featuring my favorite Jane Austen heroine Emma as a amateur sleuth! Now I haven't read the first book but i'm sure that I will in the future but coming across this arc and reading it made me super thrilled by this literary piece of work. I believe that the author really outdid herself and it was wondering experiencing these classic characters in a different type of element.
This novel starts out with it being winter and at a party being hosted it is announced Mr. Woodhouse is going to marry Hetty Bates. Although Emma is uneasy of losing the role of Mistress at her fathers house the good news is that she and George will soon be residing at Donwell Abbey! However, the party soon takes a upsetting turn when Emma's lady maid Prudence is found dead.
The death of Prudence is ruled an accident. However, Emma believes that something more menacing is afoot and will do anything in her power to get to the bottom of things.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.