'I Died for Beauty' by Amanda Flower - Cozy Mystery, Intrigue, and Historical Realism
In Amanda Flower's latest installment of the Emily Dickinson mystery series, I Died for Beauty, transports readers to Amherst, Massachusetts in January 1857. I should note that I have not read the previous installments, yet did not feel lost jumping into the series (I plan to start from book one.).
The realistic setting will immediately draw the reader into the story. Record-setting low temperatures and relentless snow set the stage in Amherst, while some families grapple with dwindling resources, fire safety concerns, and a desperation to stay warm.
Willa, Emily Dickinson's fictional maid, is an interesting character, and I like her camaraderie with Emily. While uncommon, though not entirely unheard of, this friendship helps form the foundation for their sleuthing adventures. The author skillfully handles the sleuthing, maintaining reader engagement as Emily, Willa, and her dog track down a killer (read book description for the plot).
I Died for Beauty artfully combines an engaging mystery and interesting characters with historical realism. Thought-provoking and filled with compassion, faith, and forgiveness, I Died for Beauty is a historical mystery worth reading.
About the Book
I Died for Beauty
by Amanda Flower
(Retailer Description)
When a blaze takes both a neighbor’s home and his life, Emily Dickinson and her maid Willa have a burning desire to crack the case in this new historical mystery from Agatha Award–winning author Amanda Flower.
Amherst, 1857. The Dickinson family braves one of the worst winters in New England’s history. Trains are snowbound and boats are frozen in the harbor. Emily Dickinson and her maid, Willa Noble, have never witnessed anything like it. As Amherst families attempt to keep their homes warm, fears of fire abound.
These worries prove not to be unfounded as a blaze breaks out just down the street from the Dickinson in Kelley Square, the Irish community in Amherst, and a young couple is killed, leaving behind their young child. Their deaths appear to be a tragic accident, but Emily finds herself harboring suspicions there may be more to the fire than meets the eye. Emily and Willa must withstand the frigid temperatures and discover a killer lurking among the deadly frost.
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Title: I Died for Beauty
Author: Amanda Flower
Genres: Mystery, Historical mystery, Fiction Originally published: February 25, 2025
Language: English
Read by: Lizzie
Review Copy Source: NetGalley
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