Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday for this free digital copy in exchange for an honest review. This book will be available 5/3/22!
Reader friends, when I say I squealed upon getting approved for this arc, I mean I SQUEALED. This was one of my most anticipated books of 2022 and for me, it didn’t disappoint!
I was so pleased with Claudia Gray’s The Murder of Mr. Wickham. I will say, the story does start a bit slow as it introduces all of the characters of the house party. Those who are Austen fans will recognize (and be thrilled by) the cast of characters who show up to Emma and Mr. Knightley’s home! Characters from each of Austen’s six novels make their appearance. It definitely picks up when the murder occurs and I spent the remainder of the book riveted. It was already easy to loathe Mr. Wickham and in this story, there is literally nothing redeeming about his character left. By the time it occurs, I felt ready for someone to get him “out of the way”! I absolutely loved seeing Gray’s take on “where are they now.” Not all is sunshine and roses and many, if not most, of the characters experience some sort of growth of sorts. Gray does a great job of helping the reader anchor in time and figure out where all of the characters are in time in relation to when their books ended.
While the story is primarily told through the point of view of Jonathan Darcy (son of Lizzie and Darcy) and Juliet Tilney (daughter of Catherine and Henry), you get the point-of-views of all of the other characters as well. I will say, part of me wishes the POV had stayed just with Jonathan and Juliet because I think having the POV of everyone slowed it down a bit. It was also so refreshing to see a new generation! However…I don’t know…while it did make the story feel a little slower, I also loved being in the heads of some of my favorite characters!
If you are a fan of Austen, or Christie, or both, I highly recommend! I don’t know if a sequel has been planned, and while the ending was wrapped up completely, it does seem like it was left open for the possibility of a sequel! I certainly hope so.
The Bookish Bird 
I squealed as well. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Gray did a great job blending all of Austen’s characters and introducing new ones too.
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