*For my personal thoughts on The Murder of Mr. Wickham, check out my review of the book.
“What is more improper, she argued toward the imaginary versions of her parents, pursing the truth of a murder, or allowing the murderer to go free?
...
I have corresponded with an unmarried man, Juliet thought. How unladylike.
How unfortunate for public morals that being unladylike feels so...exciting.”
Author: Claudia Gray
Title: The Murder of Mr. Wickham
Category/Type: Adult Fiction
Genre: Mystery
Subgenre(s): Historical / Regency
Publication Date: May 3, 2022
Number of Pages: 379 pages of story text; includes an Author’s Note, Acknowledgements, and a reading group guide
Geographical Setting: The English countryside
Time Period: Late Regency era
Series (if applicable): This book is part of an unnamed series
Plot Summary: C’mon, no one really like Wickham anyway…especially not after what he did to Mr. Darcy and the Bennet family… is that a possible motive for murder?
The Knightleys (you might remember Emma, perhaps?) are throwing a house party and all their dearest friends, who just so happen to be Jane Austen’s beloved leads, are all invited. Just as everyone is ready to settle in for some fun and relaxation, one Mr. Wickham crashes the party. Besides being endlessly annoying, it seems everyone has a reason to dislike the man. It doesn’t help that Wickham’s arrival coincides with missing jewelry, blackmail, and bad moods. That is until the stormy evening when he’s found dead in the gallery. When everyone seems to have a motive, how will anyone determine whodunnit?
Luckily, Lizzy and Darcy brought along their oldest son, Jonathan, who has an eye for details and deduction. Who better to team up with Jonathan than the intelligent and chatty Juliet Tilney, attending in lieu of her parents Catherine and Henry? Trapped at the Knightley estate, they work together to track clues, interview suspects, and uncover secrets. It’s only a matter of time before they figure out who the murderer is.
Fall back in love with your favorite Austen characters in this witty and suspenseful Regency-era murder mystery.
Content warnings (may contain SLIGHT SPOILERS): Ableism, violence, death, death of a loved one, death of child, homophobia (due primarily to the time period)
Subject Headings: Mystery & Detective - Historical, Romance - Historical - Regency, Adaptations & Pastiche, Jane Austen Adaptations
Representation:
Well-developed lead on the autistic spectrum
Queer romance
Appeal/Characteristics of Mystery (may contain SPOILERS)
An imbalance of justice drives the plot. Readers understand “whodunit” and why by the book’s conclusion- There are several imbalances of justice driving the plot of this book. Some are minor, such as missing jewelry, but the major one is murder; murder cannot go unpunished. By the end of the book readers know who committed the murder and why.
The story focuses on the investigator or an investigative team. Mysteries are often written as a series, following the investigator through several cases. Secondary characters, whether suspects or supporting characters in the investigation, play an important role in the appeal of the Mystery and may also be series characters- The story focuses on the investigative team of Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney. While there are scenes featuring other characters and their viewpoints, the unfolding of the investigation is the primary focus.
This book is part of a series, the investigators will team up again to solve another murder in a book scheduled to release in May 2023, The Late Mrs. Willoughby.
The secondary characters are very important and may be the reason many readers pick up this book: they include the leading couples from each Jane Austen novel.
The frame in which the Mystery is set—whether a physical location or fascinating background details—plays a crucial role in its appeal- Set on the Knightley estate in the late Regency era in Jane Austen’s English countryside, the physical location is very important and likely a draw for many readers.
The tone of Mysteries ranges from dark and gritty to lighthearted and witty with a multitude of variations in between- While there are many dark moments throughout the novel, overall the story is witty and somewhat lighthearted as readers get a glimpse into the lives of some beloved historical literary characters. The book ends on a heartfelt note.
Pacing is compelling, sometimes slowed by details of time and place, but always moving inexorably toward the reestablishment of equilibrium- While this book is not fast-paced, it moves along at a steady speed. When chapters explore the point of view of secondary characters, there are always details revealed to the readers that could be important for the investigators; the pace of the plot never slows.
Amateur detectives are not licensed to work a case, nor are they employed by the police force. Instead they are everyday characters (or aristocratic ones) who somehow stumble upon, or are drawn into, an investigation - Jonathan and Juliet are amateurs who stumble upon a murder in the dead of night. There situation, what is basically house arrest required from the local authority, forces them to become investigators.
The setting of Historicals must be immersive and dimensional—and, above all, convincing -From clothing to décor to manners and speech, this setting evokes Regency-era England convincingly.
3 terms that best describe this book:
Witty
Suspenseful
Energetic
Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors
Jane Austen’s England by Roy and Lesley Adkins - this tome details the true historical details of Regency England. While Austen’s work focuses on the well off, this volume also explores what daily life would have been like across the class spectrum. Readers wanting to know more about the setting of The Murder of Mr. Wickham and its source material will find this volume enlightening.
A Brief Guide to Jane Austen: The Life and Times of the World’s Favorite Author by Charles Jennings - for readers new to the world of Jane Austen, this book is a handy guide. It provides a biography of the author as well as an overview of her complete works and some background information about the Regency era.
The Maul and the Pear Tree by P. D. James and T. A. Critchley - In 1811, Londoners were shocked by seven brutal murders that took place in the dock area of the city. Eventually known as the Radcliffe Highway murders, a possibly innocent man became the prime suspect and ultimately killed himself in his jail cell. In this book, a mystery writer and police historian team up to investigate the case details of this real life Regency murder mystery.
3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors
Death Comes to Pemberley by P. D. James - The character everyone loves to hate has been murdered before… This novel offers another story about how Wickham met his untimely end. Unfortunately, this time it happened on the grounds of Pemberley and the Darcys must determine what happened. The layered plot and characters’ secrets will be familiar elements for fans of The Murder of Mr. Wickham.
Murder at Mansfield Park by Lynn Shepherd - This book reimagines Fanny Price as a conniving character who meets a tragic end at Mansfield Park. Enter Mary Crawford to solve the case. Readers who are looking to explore other ways Jane Austen’s novels have been retold will enjoy this twist that puts a side character on center stage.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - Dive into where the trouble with Mr. Wickham began in Austen’s classic tale. Will intelligent Elizabeth Bennet and stubborn Darcy be able to overcome their differences and find love or will Mr. Wickham charm his way between them?
Reading the Whole Collection
Readers who enjoyed The Murder of Mr. Wickham and want to know where it all began but don’t have the patience to read Austen’s novel may enjoy the movie adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
Readers who enjoyed the reimagining of historical literary characters and their authors will also enjoy Glass Town: The Imaginary World of the Brontës, by Isabel Greenberg. This fictional graphic novel follows the adventures of the Brontë siblings as they build an imaginary world known as Glass Town.
Citations
Characteristics of Mystery novels taken from
Wyatt, N. and Saricks, J. (2019). The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction. Third edition. ALA Editions.