Murder At Donwell Abbey by Vanessa Kelly

Murder at Donwell Abbey by Vanessa Kelly is book two in the Emma Knightley Mystery series, and can be read as a standalone novel.  Emma Knightly is taken aback when her father announces that he will be marrying Miss Hetty Bates.  Emma’s world is changing and she cannot believe her father’s choice and that she will be leaving Highbury.  Emma gives an engagement party for her father and Miss Bates and when Prudence Parr, Emma’s lady’s maid, is found dead on the stone terrace Emma’s world turns upside down.  Was it really an accident? 

Murder At Dowell Abbey is a wonderful cozy mystery that kept me guessing right up until the end.   I was so drawn into the story and captivated by the engaging characters, wonderful mystery, and lovely Regency setting.  I was guessing right up until the end who was responsible for the murder. 

The big highlight for me was that I felt like I had stepped back into the world of Jane Austen’s Emma.   The author did an incredible job continuing the story of Emma as a cozy mystery.  I loved getting to know everyone in the village of Highbury a little bit better. 

Murder at Dowell Abbey by Vanessa Kelly is an incredible cozy mystery that takes place in the world of Jane Austen’s Emma.  It will delight you with the engaging characters, the Regency setting, and have you wondering who murdered Prudence Parr right up until the end.  I highly recommend Murder at Donwell Abbey by Vanessa Kelly which will be a 2025 favorite for me.  

I was given a complimentary copy and not required to write a positive review.  

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. Vanessa also wrote USA Today bestselling contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels with her husband, under the pen name of V.K. Sykes.

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. She worked as a researcher for many years, and currently resides in Ottawa, Canada, with her husband.

Literary Agent: Adam Chromy, Movable Type Management at achromy@movabletm.com

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