Reviewed by MurderByDeath on
This book's plot centers around Highbury and the characters from Jane Austen's Emma, one of the few remaining Austen books I haven't yet read. I think this hindered me with this story, as I had a terrible time keeping the characters and which estates they belonged to, straight in my mind while reading. More than once I had to go back to previous chapters to remind myself "who was this person??". This was more pronounced due to the author's choice of opening the book from the perspective of Emma, before the Darcy's arrive on scene.
Once I finally got most of the characters straight in my mind, I really enjoyed the mystery - it was delightfully convoluted with more than a few likely suspects. Unfortunately the murderer stuck out a bit like a sore thumb for me, but it in no way detracted from my enjoyment of the unfolding mystery and clues. I really enjoyed the incorporation of word puzzles too, as I felt like I could "play along" more actively in solving the clues.
An enjoyable series and The Intrigue at Highbury isn't the worst or the best book of the bunch, but one I'd probably read again - after I read Emma.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 10 February, 2013: Finished reading
- 10 February, 2013: Reviewed