I Died for Beauty

An Emily Dickinson Mystery #3

by Amanda Flower

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.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, Mystery Thriller, Cozy

352 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2025

About the author

Amanda Flower is a USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning author of over thirty-five mystery novels. Her novels have received starred reviews from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Romantic Times, and she had been featured in USA Today, First for Women, and Woman’s World. She currently writes for Penguin-Random House (Berkley), Kensington, Hallmark Publishing, Crooked Lane Books, and Sourcebooks. In addition to being a writer, she was a librarian for fifteen years. Today, Flower and her husband own a farm and recording studio, and they live in Northeast Ohio with their two adorable cats.

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amanda Flower returns with the third and final book in the Emily Dickinson mystery series, I Died for Beauty. Once again great characterization and world-building are combined with deaths, mysteries, and personal opportunities and challenges. The story starts in January 1857 in Amherst, Massachusetts, five months after the last book.

The winter has been harsh. With record-setting cold, snowdrifts blocking the railroad tracks, and boats unable to move in the frozen harbor, supplies are getting low and families are struggling to stay warm amid fears of fire. Emily and her maid, Willa Noble, have never experienced anything like it.

A blaze breaks out down the street from the Dickinson homes, and a young couple is killed, leaving behind their daughter, Norah Rose. While their deaths initially seem like an accident, Emily has her doubts. Once again, she elicits help from Willa as they brave the temperatures, snow, and cold reception to their questions.

Emily loves her family, but is headstrong, confident, and full of ideas and opinions. She is full of ideas and opinions that many consider bold. Her determination can be daunting to others. She doesn’t like rigid structure and has a keen sense of justice. Willa loves reading and is conscientious about her duties. She’s also compassionate, loyal, kind, and curious. The story is from Willa’s point of view. Emily’s dog, Carlo appears again. He’s a companion and a bodyguard.

Mixing real-life individuals like the Dickinson Family, head maid Margaret O’Brien, and Lucy Stone with fictional characters such as Willa made this an engaging historical mystery story. This novel brings to life the conflicting sentiments that existed in America at the time. It included how people in different social classes were treated and viewed, the attitudes toward and expectations of women, and attitudes towards immigrants. I thought the treatment of and expectations of servants was particularly well-done. Emily’s friendship with a servant is not viewed with approval by others. The story did a particularly good job of exploring the chasm between the life experiences of Emily and Willa as well as how different individuals and organizations approached charity work.

Some of the plot twists were harder to see than others and made for a more intense novel. While the antagonist was relatively easy to discern, the reason behind the actions were not obvious. Based on my limited knowledge of the poet Emily Dickinson, she seemed to be well portrayed in this fictional portrayal of an early period in her life before she went into almost total seclusion. The story is moving and suspenseful at times, but the pace was a little slow on occasion. Additional themes woven into the story include protecting others, greed, loyalty, gossip, friendship, and family dynamics.

Overall, this entertaining and engaging book has twists with great characterization. Those who enjoy an amateur sleuth historical mystery series that is well-researched or are interested in Emily Dickinson will likely enjoy this novel. The note at the end is worth reading as well. I am sorry to see the end of this series, but I’m looking forward to the next book by this author.

Berkley Publishing Group and Amanda Flower provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for February 25, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.16 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.

[Shirley Chapel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda Flower’s mysteries are always irresistible to this reader. I Died for Beauty is the best cozy mystery I’ve read this year. I’ve read all three books in this series and loved every one of them. This third book is the finale to the series. This was the best one in the series though it makes me sad that there won’t be anymore Emily Dickinson and Willa mysteries. I love the smooth flow and strong story line in this Authors mysteries. I get caught up in each one I read and don’t want to see the story come to an end. But I thought this ending was beautiful and had a nice surprise for readers. The fact that it is a historical mystery is a big plus for me.
In this book the mystery takes place during one of the coldest winters that Massachusetts has seen. It happens in 1857. It’s so cold that people have their fireplaces lite constantly which poses a fire hazard. When a home catches fire, is it a chimney with too much soot or was the fire deliberately set? That’s what police officer Matthew wants to know because two people died and a child is left without her parents. Of coarse Emily Dickinson and her maid Willa will help Matthew find clues he needs to help solve the mystery.
I highly recommend this book to readers of mysteries and suspense. Though this book is part of a series it can be read as a standalone but I would recommend that the other books be read first for a more enjoyable reading experience.
I borrowed a copy of this book from the local digital library. All thoughts and opinions expressed here in this review are solely my own.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

1857 Amherst, Massachusetts

This has been such a wonderful historical cozy mystery series. Sadly, this is the final book. The novels are written in first person from the perspective of Willa, fictional maid of poet Emily Dickinson. Willa is a second maid and forever in the cross hairs of first maid Margaret for going off with Emily on adventures. In Willa's defense, she tries to keep up with her job duties when in the Dickinson home, but Emily is a swirl of confidence and activity not to be denied.

The backdrop of I Died for Beauty is the Cold Storm of 1857, which generated a prolonged period of cold and snow. Emily adopts an Irish Family (much to the dismay of her father who wasn't consulted) and as a part of being in the Irish part of town learns of young Irish family's home destroyed by fire. When Emily discerns it was murder, she is on the case with her side kick sleuth Willa.

I love the period detail and bits of humor. The ending was a perfect conclusion to the series.

My gratitude to publisher Berkley for a complimentary NetGalley copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Andria Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my top favorite trilogies. I'm sad that it's over, but it was fun while it lasted. Emily Dickinson was a brilliant heroine and so was her friend and servant Willa. 5 ⭐

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Mystery / Historical
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Thoughts*

I Died For Beauty is the third and apparent final installment in author Amanda Flower's An Emily Dickinson Mystery series. This historical series features Willa Noble, maid to iconic American poet Emily Dickinson, who solves mysteries with her new employer, even though Emily's family tends to look down their noses at the relationship between the pair. This story takes place in Amherst in the year 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.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...

[Deborah Almada · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third and last book in Amanda Flower's Emily Dickinson series. I love this series, as everything written by Ms Flower it is a wonderful story. I love the attention to detail, the real sense of history, and the research into Emily Dickinson's life, the characters really come to life and we are settled into time and place so clearly that you can feel the cold, smell the smoke and understand the fear. This is a hauntingly beautiful but sad book. In many ways, it shows us that we haven't progressed as much as we would hope as a society. In the history settingly cold winter of 1857, Amherst Massachusetts, we have what just appears to be a tragic fire in the small home of Irish immigrants. When it becomes clear, it was arson, Willa, and Emily become involved as Willa has become attached to a small girl orphaned in the tragedy. Through the famous college campus, Irish immigrant village and homes of the wealthy and well-known, we try to figure out who had it out for this poor young family. It is a lovely book and series that I have truly enjoyed, so glad Willa gets some answers for herself in the conclusion of the series.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mysterious, atmospheric, and entertaining

In this latest novel by Flower, I Died for Beauty, we head back to 1857, where poet Emily Dickinson and her maid/sidekick Willa Noble now find themselves tangled up in a tragic investigation into a house fire that may not have been as accidental as it first appeared and which ultimately left two people dead and one little girl orphaned.

The writing style is fluid and light. The characters, including the intelligent, independent heroine, are well-developed, complex, and intriguing. And the plot is a well-paced, engaging whodunit full of twists, turns, amateur sleuthing, red herrings, suspects, customs, tradition, deduction, and danger.

Overall, I Died for Beauty is a cosy, enjoyable, satisfying tale by Flower that I thoroughly enjoyed and which is undoubtedly another wonderful addition to the Emily Dickinson Mysteries.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can an esteemed lady and her maid truly be friends? That’s what has blossomed between Emily Dickinson and her maid, Willa Noble. Moreover, they defy tradition in another way. When there are untimely deaths, which ultimately turn out to be murders, the duo goes above and beyond to solve the mysteries at hand.

Emily and Willa have proved instrumental when it comes to solving murders. Presently, a devastating fire has taken the life of a little girl named Norah Rose. Willa, along with Emily, work hard to find a safe new home for Norah Rose. It doesn’t take long when they discover that the fire where she lost her parents was no accident. In fact, her parents were killed and Emily and Willa are determined to find the person responsible.

Although I only had this third book to read for review, the series fanatic that I am led me to read the first two books, Because I Could Not Stop for Death and I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died. It was during my read of the second book that my curiosity about these titles led me to Google. Now I am aware that the titles in this trilogy are also the names of poems by Emily Dickinson. That immediately broadened the entertainment value of reading this series as a whole. In fact, I definitely recommend that other readers do the same.

With I Died for Beauty, as well as the first two books, Amanda Flower did a fine job blending real life characters into a fictional setting. Factor in the intrigue and any reader is in for quite a treat.

Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda Flower has done it again! This was excellent! I am only sad that it is the last one in the series.

[Brenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the latest in the series, though I haven't read the other 2. I enjoyed this. I had hoped there were more parts with the family and more time with the young girl that was taken in. But, overall, the story line moved along at a decent pace.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

During one of the worst New England winters ever, a rash of fires breaks out in the Amherst area, especially in the areas where the less fortunate live. When a young couple is killed in one of these fires, leaving behind a young child, Emily and Willa set out to find out what really happened.

I have really enjoyed this series, despite wondering how realistic it is for Emily Dickinson to become such close friends with her maid. Yes, this is before Emily became famous, but it seems that the class differences alone would make this extremely difficult. I like both women, and always smile when Emily stands up to her family and speaks her own mind.

If the deaths resulting from the fire were indeed accidental, as the official line indicates, there wouldn’t be much of a book for us to read, so it’s obvious to the reader that someone deliberately set those fires. The investigation was slow but thorough, and the two women found themselves in danger before eventually learning – and proving – who was responsible. I wasn’t surprised at the reveal, nor by the motive.

I would love to read more from this series, but this book felt to me like it was the final book. Knowing the author’s tendency to keep most of her series rather short, I’m more inclined to think this is the end. If I’m wrong and there are more books, I will be excited to read them :)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Paula Shreckhise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is part of a series, but it is the first one that I have read by this author. It is an interesting concept to have Emily Dickinson and her maid Willa investigate a crime.
The story was intriguing and gave the flavor of Amherst Massachusetts and the community at the college. The writing was informative, interesting, and entertaining. Since this was a general market book, it had a faint faith thread showing the church caring about an orphan and the poor people facing the cold in the midst of a blizzard. The author portrayed Willa the maid as a friend of Emily, who helped sleuth and was a companion. But also that the family and especially the other servant frowned on the friendship.
This was a clean, read, in spite of mentioning unfaithful spouses. It is a unique concept that has Emily ferreting out clues, even as she stopped short in order to write the words of her poems that are clamoring to be released from her brain.
This was a quick and interesting story.
* A complementary copy was provided by Berkeley via NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone.*

[Literary Redhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

This new addition to the Emily Dickinson series is an intriguing and historically accurate mystery that can be read solo, but will make you want to go back and savor the first two books as well. Recommended!

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my least favorite in the series, and I'm sad it was the last book. After knowing quite a bit about Emily's life this just seemed very unbelievable. I understand it's fiction, but it was so far off from how Emily was it was hard to believe. That being said, I did enjoy this series and I'm sad to see it's over.

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite things about this clever mystery series by Amanda Flower is getting to imagine poet Emily Dickinson as an amateur sleuth and the mysteries she solves as inspiration for the titular poems. It may only be a figment of Flower’s creativity but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it as a fan of both historical mysteries and Dickinson’s poetry.

I died for beauty, but was scarce
Adjusted in the tomb,
When one who died for truth was lain
In an adjoining room.
(Read the rest of the poem HERE)

I’ve also appreciated getting to learn a bit more about Dickinson’s family (parents, siblings, etc.) and her personality as I read this series. And I love the author’s choice not to make Emily the narrator – or the main character, really. Getting the family maid Willa’s point of view throughout has allowed us a different perspective on Emily and the rest of the Dickinson’s and also provides an insightful look at the social issues of the working class (and poorer) in New England at the time. I Died for Beauty specifically highlights the lives and struggles of the Irish immigrant community in Amherst and, like with the previous two books, Emily is the initial one to catch the bug for the mystery solving and drags Willa along with her. Willa holds her own in instinct and mental acuity though, and certainly is the more nurturing of the two. And the orphaned little girl at the center of this crime definitely needs some nurturing.

In I Died for Beauty, Flower introduces a new supporting character to complicate things for Emily and Willa (and the longsuffering Matthew) … the winter of 1857. You can learn more about it HERE but basically thirty-two different snowstorms came through that winter, dropping over six feet of snow, and the fierce winds turned that six feet into drifts up to 18 feet high! Supplies ran thin, thanks to roads and railways and waterways being impassable, and structure fires became a real threat. All of this weather-related drama – including the fear of homes catching fire – added to the overall tension of the novel and made for some interesting plot twists, too. And so did the varying relationships that the author explores in the process, not only the friendship between Emily and Willa but family relationships for both characters too, as well as Willa and Matthew’s romantic future.

Bottom Line: I Died for Beauty by Amanda Flower is an atmospheric final installment in this compelling mystery series that I’ve enjoyed as much for its impeccable period details as for its layered mysteries. The delightful combination of real historical people with the fictional ones is seamlessly executed, so much so that I kept having to remind myself that Willa falls into that latter category of characters, and I loved meeting them all. Sorting out the relevant clues from the red herrings in I Died for Beauty kept me both busy and entertained, and it’s the perfect book to curl up with in front of a roaring fire.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a mystery involving Emily Dickinson and her maid Willa Noble. Who along with others in Amherst are dealing with the worst winter weather in 1857. There is enough historical information as well as fiction. There is a fire in the Irish community. It is determined that it was a murder. I love the dynamics of the story and time period.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Died For Beauty
Book Three in the Emily Dickinson Mystery series
by Amanda Flower
Genre: Mystery/Historical Fiction
Pages: 352
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
Pub date: Feb. 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780593816462

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an e-copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

I Died For Beauty is the third and last book in Amanda Flower’s Emily Dickinson Mystery series. I’m sorry to see this series end. I’ve enjoyed reading it for multiple reasons.

One is the characters. Emily Dickinson is the mind behind solving the mysteries. But the stories are told through the eyes of Willa Noble, Emily’s maid. By employing Willa as the point-of-view character, the reader also learns much about the social expectations of the time. There is a sharp class distinction between Emily’s upper-class family and the hired help. Emily’s family can’t understand why Emily is friends with someone beneath them. Willa is stuck in an impossible position. She is well-aware the Dickinsons see her as someone beneath their class. Other servants perceive Willa as rising above her station. It’s a tightrope Willa is always in danger of toppling from. Through Willa’s character, the reader also learns how difficult it was to survive in a world that had no social safety nets. Women were the property of their husbands. Women didn’t have careers and no way of supporting themselves or their families if the husband died or abandoned them.

The historical details also pulled me into the story. The setting is the Cold Storm of 1857. That winter was one of the most brutal in New England's history and is the backdrop for this story. Flower has done her research, and it shows.

Another reason I like this series is the mystery. I Died for Beauty is a fast-paced book. Plenty of red herrings kept me guessing. I read I Died For Beauty in one sitting. Flower’s writing pulled me in from the start, and I couldn’t put it down until I was done.

5/5 stars.

[Janereads10 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This third installment in the Emily Dickinson Mystery series is a delightful blend of historical charm and intriguing mystery.

Flower's portrayal of Emily Dickinson is simply captivating. Our beloved poet turns amateur sleuth alongside her maid Willa, and their dynamic is pure gold. Emily's quirky personality shines through, while Willa's mysterious past adds an extra layer of intrigue. I found myself completely invested in their friendship, despite the social barriers of the time.

The story unfolds in Amherst during the brutal winter of 1857, and oh boy, can you feel the chill! But don't worry, the warmth of the community melts away the bleakness. It's like stepping into a snow globe filled with charming characters and small-town secrets.

Now, let's talk about the mystery at hand - an arson investigation that'll keep you guessing. It's not edge-of-your-seat thrilling, but more of a gentle unraveling that fits perfectly with the cozy vibe of the book.

What caught me off guard (in the best way) was the family drama. Both the Dickinsons and Willa have their fair share of skeletons in the closet, adding depth to the story. It's fascinating to see how women of different social standings navigate the expectations of the era - some conforming, others rebelling.

I will say, the ending felt a tad rushed. I was hoping for a grand reveal, but it was more of a quiet "oh, okay" moment. But honestly? That's my only gripe in an otherwise delightful read.

I paired the book with the audiobook, and it didn't disappoint. There's something about listening to the characters' voices that puts you on the scene. Barrie Kreinik's interpretation of Emily Dickinson and Willa's emotions makes it a worthy listen.

Thank you, Berkley, PRH Audio, and NetGalley for my free book.

[Wall-to-wall books - wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY THOUGHTS -
Fabulous, absolutely fabulous! Oh I was so glad to get back to this series! I am really loving these books so much!

This is a historical fiction series using Poet Emily Dickinson and her family as the main characters (as well as many other real-life historical figures)! Also as a main character is Willa, their maid. Willa is a wonderful character. She and Emily have become very close, beyond that of maid and mistress. The two of them are just wonderful together. And then there is also their mystery solving abilities.

These books have had me searching more about the real life Emily and her family and now suffragist Lucy Stone who is also in the book. I have always loved this time period (the mid 1800's). This is probably my favorite time to read about.

Unfortunately this is a tragic story. It also happens to be my favorite in the series. Very heartfelt and very real feeling. This one keeps you on the edge of your seat for sure.

I was highlighting parts of the book all throughout! So many great quotes in here.

A wonderful ending but I felt there were a few pieces of unfinished business I would like to see tied up. I was really hoping that there would be a fourth book in this series, but it looks like this might be the last. :-(

If you love historical fiction and/or are a fan of Emily Dickinson I highly recommend this series!

I would definitely read more by this author! Thanks Berkley | Penguin Random House for the e-book and chance to give my honest review.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

During a very cold January 1857 in Amherst, Emily Dickinson and her loyal maid Willa Noble investigate the deaths of two Irish immigrants who left an 8-year-old daughter behind when they died in a fire.

Their investigations take them into the drawing rooms of Amherst's high society. Many of the women had employed the dead woman as a seamstress and the dead man worked at the college as a janitor. He also assisted one of the professors with his botanical experiments.

Tensions rise as the temperatures plummet. Suffragist Lucy Stone is stranded in town and staying with the president of Amherst College's wife who has a childhood friend. She has strong opinions about the roles and rights of women and offers lectures.

Meanwhile, two competing organizations are working to provide for the mainly Irish Poor who are running out of food and fuel.

Willa is the narrator, and, in this episode, we learn about a tough decision she has to make about her future. Does she love her policeman boyfriend enough to marry him? And can they make a home and family with the young orphan?

This was another engaging historical mystery. I like Emily's portrayal as a woman who doesn't concern herself with social rules and who often goes off into her own mind when a poem comes to her. I like that Willa collects the bits of poems that Emily discards.

[Ang · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a review for I Died for Beauty by Amanda Flower for NetGalley, and my thoughts are my own, as I received a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.. It is book 3 in the series, but I didn't read the first two, but I understood this story without reading those two, and I might read those others as this book was interesting.  I would rate it 4 stars. It is a mystery, and was like a huge jigsaw puzzle that came together nicely in the end. During one of the worst winters in New England, Emily Dickenson, the poet, and her maid Willa, find themselves working together again to find out if a huge fire in the Irish section was an accident as everyone believes, or is it really a murder that's being covered up!

It was well written, but for my taste, I like more of a Christian aspect to the story, and Emily Dickenson's character didn't believe, so her motivation for doing good was because she saw it as a moral duty, which is fine.  I did like the story, thought it was interesting, was engaged from the beginning, but I would say it was a good story, not great. I'm glad I read it, enjoyed the characters and the plot, and would recommended it, but reading it was more like a good cup of coffee on a cold day. Maybe it would've been better if I read the other books, but not sure. So anyways, I do recommend it, I did like it, and I give it 4 stars.

[Helen Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cozy mystery series with Emily Dickinson as an amateur sleuth with her maid as her assistant is a fun to read series. Mixing some history with a murder mystery makes the story so interesting. In this one with a super cold and snowy winter in Amherst, Fires are a danger as the only way to stay warm is through fireplaces. If they aren’t clean they are more likely to cause a fire. When a fire breaks out in the poor Irish area and two people are killed. there are questions whether it is an accident or murder. After further investigation it is found to be a murder. The couple’s 8 year old daughter survived. Who is going to take care of this girl is a major plot point. Emily gets her friend and sister-in-law to take her in until relatives or others can be found to take care of her.

Figuring out who the killer is and why keeps Emily and her maid busy. They end up walking in freezing cold weather looking for clues. Who the killer is, is not as surprising as why.

A suffragette who wears pants is also stuck in Amherst due to the snow storms. She shares her ideas with the women of Amherst but is she also involved in the murder?

The characters are fascinating and I’m enjoying seeing how the recurring characters are developing.

I listened to most of the story on audiobook. The narrator did a great job.

[Sarah (sarahs_shelves_sc) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this historical fiction x mystery book, and now I need to go read the first two books of the series!

The story focuses on Emily Dickinson and her maid Willa and a fire that occurs in their town during a long cold storm in 1857. A young girl is the only survivor of the fire, and Emily is determined to not only find the girl a place to stay, but to solve the case of who started the fire.

I loved the characters and the period detail in this book! It was amusing to see how scandalized the women were about one woman wearing pants, and I thought it was great to see strong women fighting for equality so many years ago.

The friendship between Emily and Willa has made them into quite a team, and their determination and grit are admirable.

The audio was narrated beautifully by Barrie Kreinik, who handles multiple characters and accents with ease. I enjoyed listening to this one and would definitely recommend the audio, and am excited to listen to the first two since they are also narrated by Kreinik.

Thank you to Berkley Pub and PRH Audio for the gifted copies; all opinions are my own.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the "Emily Dickinson Mystery" series. I have read the first and third books.

I have loved Emily's poems ever since high school, and although the book doesn't concentrate on the poems themselves, I think the author has properly characterized, and in fact humanized Emily and her household. She and her maid, Willa, are investigating a tragic fire during an extremely cold and snowy winter in Amherst. I appreciate the wintry atmosphere so convincingly described in the book especially since it is currently like that here in the Northeast this month.

I really like the author's writing style and how she develops the relationship between Emily and Willa. There are plenty of other interesting characters in the book, too. I highly recommend this book, especially if you like Emily's poems or just a great historical mystery!

I obtained an advance copy of this book via NetGalley and Berkley Publishing.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a fan of poetry or poets but I really enjoy these mysteries. They’re from the point of view of Willa, Emily’s maid, with Emily in the background so there’s not so much poetry. What there was of the poetry, I found intriguing, particularly the concept of Emily having to put her thoughts down on paper before she was consumed by it. The mystery itself was interesting but where this series really shines is in the depiction of the time and place, 1800s Amherst, MA. The description of the treatment of the Irish in this time period and the extreme cold were very well done and easy to imagine. I look forward to the next of the series, particularly since this one ended with a little cliffhanger.

[Brittany RH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy, mysterious, witty, and at times, funny, too!

I have been a lifelong Emily Dickinson lover and this really fed that love for me. I love Emily’s confidence as a female lead and the way she interacts with each side character (a round of applause for Willa alone, please!). She is a vivid heroine and I’ll definitely be going back to read the other two books in this series (I read this one first, oops!).

Amanda Flower writes a compelling mystery and I enjoyed it so much. It was perfect for curling up under a warm blanket with many socks (like Emily) and some tea during this winter.

Thank you so much Berkley for the free ARC!

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Most of the facts of Emily Dickinson's known life are worked well into this three book series but I have trouble believing the real Emily Dickinson would act the way she does in this book. I like the series and enjoy the mysteries but I think I personally would have enjoyed them as well or moreso if an original character replaced Emily.

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. The historical details and the setting in Amherst, Massachusetts is fascinating. I’m always so amazed by (the fictional) Willa Noble & the historical Dickinson family. Emily writes poems & solves crimes with Willa which is quite the amazing combination!

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed the series of Emily Dickenson solving murders with the help of her maid. The titles and several issues in the book relate to her poetry and the setting is true. The gap between the working classes and the college group are well portrayed.

[Larae Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have absolutely enjoyed this book of three series. It is based on Emily Dickinson and her Maid, Willa. Emily and Willa name a great team in the course of three mysteries. I suspect this will be the end of the series, and I will definitely have to look toward the author for other books.