The Murder of Mr. Wickham

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Description

A summer house party turns into a thrilling whodunit when Jane Austen's Mr. Wickham-one of literature's most notorious villains-meets a sudden and suspicious end in this brilliantly imagined mystery featuring Austen's leading literary characters. "Had Jane Austen sat down to write a country house murder mystery, this is exactly the book she would have written." -Alexander McCall Smith The happily married Mr. Knightley and Emma are throwing a party at their country estate, bringing together distant relatives and new acquaintances-characters beloved by Jane Austen fans. Definitely not invited is Mr. Wickham, whose latest financial scheme has netted him an even broader array of enemies. As tempers flare and secrets are revealed, it's clear that everyone would be happier if Mr. Wickham got his comeuppance. Yet they're all shocked when Wickham turns up murdered-except, of course, for the killer hidden in their midst. Nearly everyone at the house party is a suspect, so it falls to the party's two youngest guests to solve the mystery- Juliet Tilney, the smart and resourceful daughter of Catherine and Henry, eager for adventure beyond Northanger Abbey; and Jonathan Darcy, the Darcys' eldest son, whose adherence to propriety makes his father seem almost relaxed. In this tantalizing fusion of Austen and Christie, from New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray, the unlikely pair must put aside their own poor first impressions and uncover the guilty party-before an innocent person is sentenced to hang. A VINTAGE ORIGINAL

Reviews

ONE OF THE WALL STREET JOURNAL'S BEST MYSTERY BOOKS OF THE YEAR

Had Jane Austen sat down to write a country house murder mystery, this is exactly the book she would have written. Devotees of Austens timeless novels will get the greatest possible pleasure from this wonderful book. Immense fun and beautifully observed.Delicious! Alexander McCall Smith

A well-done pastiche that balances menace with wit, recrimination with reconciliation, sin with redemption and justice with mercy. The Wall Street Journal

Satisfying.... Readers looking for a charming mystery will adore this book. Gray captures Austens tone perfectly, allowing fans to step back into the Regency authors beloved world. BookPage

An astonishingly convincing and tremendously entertaining pastiche.... Written elegantly, with a keen eye for Regency detail as well as a deep knowledge and affection for Ms. Austens oeuvre, this is an entirely plausible continuation of the Austen canon that stands as a worthwhile read in its own right. Criminal Element

What a splendid conceit! ... Gray provides plenty of backstory and enough depth to her characters that even those who mix up their Pride and Prejudice with their Sense and Sensibility will delight in the Agatha Christiestyle mystery.... Theres so much fun to be had in this reimagined Austen worldand the mystery is so strongthat one can only hope, dear reader, that more books will follow. Booklist (starred review)

The Murder of Mr. Wickham illuminates Jane Austens best-loved (and lesser loved) characters, introduces a dynamic sleuthing duo, and delivers a most satisfying murder mystery in the grand tradition of Clue. Jane Pek, author of The Verifiers

Jane Austen is spinning in her grave: shes trying to climb out and shake Claudia Grays hand. The Murder of Mr. Wickham delivers in spadesand in diamonds, hearts, and clubs! Alan Bradley, author of the Flavia de Luce series

Claudia Grays The Murder of Mr. Wickham is a charming, sharp, and engrossing mystery that evokes the meta wonder of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen with the evocative depth of the Jane Austen librarydelivered in a voice and tone that is modern and mesmerizing. Gray has crafted a book that one wont easily forget. Alex Segura, author of Secret Identity

[An]enchanting mystery.... Gray perfectly captures the personalities of Austens beloved characters. This is a real treat for Austenites. Publishers Weekly

Who would NOT want to read a book in which one a literatures most notorious rakes meets his final demise ... Adelightful Agatha Christie meets Jane Austen romp. Laurel Ann Nattress, Austenprose

Author Bio

CLAUDIA GRAY is the pseudonym of Amy Vincent. She is the writer of multiple young adult novels, including the Evernight series, the Firebird trilogy, and the Constellation trilogy. In addition, she's written several Star Wars novels, such as Lost Stars and Bloodline. She makes her home in New Orleans with her husband Paul and assorted small dogs.