The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray is a delightful murder mystery set in the world of a Jane Austen novel. Or, more specifically, a world in which all of Jane Austen’s novels collide. Using a Clue-type format, Gray takes the characters from Austen’s six beloved novels and throws them together in one big house, whereupon one guest is murdered and the rest find themselves as suspects. The novel begins with Mr. and Mrs. Knightley feeling a bit overwhelmed about the number of guests coming to visit Donwell Abbey. Without quite meaning to, they’ve taken on a proper house party — there’s Colonel Brandon and his new wife Marianne, Captain Wentworth and his wife Anne, Mr. and Mrs. Bertram, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy with their son Jonathan, and Miss Juliet Tilney, the young daughter of novelist Catherine Tilney. The result is a home filled with old friends and new ones, made cozy by good company and a storm outside. However, one unexpected visitor upsets the balance — Mr. Wickham appears, come to collect on debts from his dishonest financial schemes. Wickham inspires distaste wherever he goes, and Donwell Abbey is no different, but all are shocked when Mr. Wickham turns up murdered in the middle of the night. Suddenly, everyone is a suspect, all with apparent motives and secrets to hide. The only guests with alibis are Jonathan and Juliet, and the two take it up on themselves to solve the mystery before an innocent person is sent to the gallows… or before another guest ends up dead.

Let me first say that you don’t need to be a Jane Austen fan to enjoy this novel. Gray has crafted a smart murder mystery with likable characters, a charming setting, and plenty of twists and turns. She makes it easy to imagine each character with a murder weapon in hand, but leaves the reader in suspense until the very end. And, in the spirit of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, her sleuthing protagonists are equally impressive and endearing; I found myself as invested in Juliet and Jonathan’s relationship as I was in the mystery itself. However, if you are an Austen fan, your enjoyment of The Murder of Mr. Wickham is likely to be amplified tenfold (mine was, at least). Gray depicts Austen’s beloved characters in a way that feels both authentic and nuanced, and I had so much fun watching them all interact with each other. Imagine Emma Woodhouse and Elizabeth Bennet as friends! It’s a wild world. Plus, there are plenty of easter eggs sprinkled throughout the book which makes for a highly amusing reading experience. The Murder of Mr. Wickham is the perfect murder mystery homage to Jane Austen, a well-written novel that left me absolutely charmed.

I’d recommend this novel to…

• Anyone looking for a witty, fun, and surprising novel, especially one set in the Regency Era… it’s similar in tone to A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin
• Anyone who prefers a murder mystery with quirky characters and elegant settings… it’s similar in style to The Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
• Anyone who loves a reimagining (or continuation) of a classic… it’s similar in theme to Jo & Laurie by Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz