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Emma Knightley Mysteries #3
Murder at Enscombe Park
Not yet published
Expected 24 Nov 26When Jane Austen’s Regency-era heroine Emma Knightley visits her pregnant friend Jane and her husband Frank Churchill at their Yorkshire estate, a proper country house party soon becomes the site of a ghastly murder . . .
Emma, her husband George, and her father and his new wife have journeyed to Enscombe Park, the grand estate where Jane and Frank live with his uncle, who adopted Frank as a boy. Upon their arrival, they are concerned to find Jane wan from her condition, Frank bruised from a mysterious accident, and Mr. Churchill in an ill temper, as well as surprised by additional houseguests including Miss Caroline Bingley and a distant cousin from the West Indies.
Emma worries this might all be too much for Jane, but it is Mr. Churchill who is decidedly out-of-sorts, possibly due to his heart medication. When Frank’s uncle is found dead in the library, it appears he’s fallen victim to heart seizure. But Emma—despite George’s admonitions to stay out of it—begins to wonder if he may have been poisoned.
Experience has taught Emma that her matchmaking instincts may not always be spot-on, but her sleuthing skills are as sharp as ever. As a recently altered will and secret debts come to light, suspicion falls on Frank Churchill of all people. Now it’s up to Emma to save her friend’s husband from the gallows . . .
Emma, her husband George, and her father and his new wife have journeyed to Enscombe Park, the grand estate where Jane and Frank live with his uncle, who adopted Frank as a boy. Upon their arrival, they are concerned to find Jane wan from her condition, Frank bruised from a mysterious accident, and Mr. Churchill in an ill temper, as well as surprised by additional houseguests including Miss Caroline Bingley and a distant cousin from the West Indies.
Emma worries this might all be too much for Jane, but it is Mr. Churchill who is decidedly out-of-sorts, possibly due to his heart medication. When Frank’s uncle is found dead in the library, it appears he’s fallen victim to heart seizure. But Emma—despite George’s admonitions to stay out of it—begins to wonder if he may have been poisoned.
Experience has taught Emma that her matchmaking instincts may not always be spot-on, but her sleuthing skills are as sharp as ever. As a recently altered will and secret debts come to light, suspicion falls on Frank Churchill of all people. Now it’s up to Emma to save her friend’s husband from the gallows . . .
Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 24, 2026
About the author
Vanessa Kelly
39 books1,797 followersVanessa Kelly is a bestselling author of historical mystery and historical romance. She has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Maggie Medallion for best historical romance. She is a USA Today, Barnes & Noble, BookScan, and Amazon bestseller several times over. To date, her books have been published in eleven languages. Vanessa also wrote USA Today bestselling contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels with her husband, under the pen name of V.K. Sykes.
After receiving her MA in English literature from Rutgers University, Vanessa spent several years in the Ph.D program at the University of Toronto, studying women authors of the 18th Century. She worked as a researcher for many years, and currently resides in Ottawa, Canada, with her husband.
After receiving her MA in English literature from Rutgers University, Vanessa spent several years in the Ph.D program at the University of Toronto, studying women authors of the 18th Century. She worked as a researcher for many years, and currently resides in Ottawa, Canada, with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have loved every book in this Jane Austen-themed series and this book did not disappoint. Emma, Knightley, Mr. Woodhouse, and the new Mrs. Woodhouse travel to visit Jane & Frank at Enscombe Park. Unfortunately, some uninvited guests are staying there at the same time, including Caroline Bingley and Mr. & Mrs. Hurst. They quickly notice that Frank's Uncle, Mr. Churchill, is overly sensitive and disagreeable to everyone. Frank is quick to react with his own uneven temper to him and all around him. When Mr. Churchill dies, there is some disagreement over whether it was his bad heart or something more sinister. The mystery becomes more complicated by various wills that Mr. Churchill has left, with surprising changes involving a little-known branch of the Churchill family in the West Indies. One of these family members is a guest who has traveled to help close the breach using his skills as a barrister. Woven into the story are the staff in the house and their possible involvement in crime, and friends of Mr. Churchill who are also staying at the house, who are not entirely honest about why they are there. Emma is determined to protect Jane and discover if Mr. Churchill was murdered and why.
I can't wait for the next book in this series!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy.
I can't wait for the next book in this series!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I had such a fun time with this one! I love when a familiar literary world gets turned into a mystery, and seeing Emma step into the role of amateur sleuth was such a treat.
The setting at Enscombe Park was atmospheric, and I really enjoyed the mix of familiar characters and new faces. There was a great sense of tension from the moment everyone arrived, with secrets, suspicious behavior, and just enough unanswered questions to keep me turning the pages.
What I especially enjoyed was Emma herself. Her curiosity and determination felt very true to her character, and watching her investigate despite being told to stay out of it made for some entertaining moments. The mystery kept me guessing, and I appreciated that there were plenty of suspects and motives without giving everything away too quickly.
I went into this expecting a cozy, character-driven mystery with a Jane Austen twist, and that’s exactly what I got. It was entertaining, atmospheric, and a really enjoyable read. Definitely one I’d recommend to readers who love historical mysteries, classic-literature retellings, and amateur sleuths.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
The setting at Enscombe Park was atmospheric, and I really enjoyed the mix of familiar characters and new faces. There was a great sense of tension from the moment everyone arrived, with secrets, suspicious behavior, and just enough unanswered questions to keep me turning the pages.
What I especially enjoyed was Emma herself. Her curiosity and determination felt very true to her character, and watching her investigate despite being told to stay out of it made for some entertaining moments. The mystery kept me guessing, and I appreciated that there were plenty of suspects and motives without giving everything away too quickly.
I went into this expecting a cozy, character-driven mystery with a Jane Austen twist, and that’s exactly what I got. It was entertaining, atmospheric, and a really enjoyable read. Definitely one I’d recommend to readers who love historical mysteries, classic-literature retellings, and amateur sleuths.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
To be 100% clear, I LOVE this series. I think Emma and George are delightful and Emma's father CRACKS ME UP. Kelly thinks up great stories, and Murder at Donwell Abbey (Book 2) has been my favorite of the series. And Enscombe was shaping up to be a good whodunit, but honestly, I don't know what happened.
I feel like Kelly had a short story plot that was made into a novel. For so long there was just Frank being angry (again, and again, and again - so much so he was VERY unlikable) and Jane not being worked up - and a bunch of sourpuss house guests.
Now, that's not to say that the elder gentlemen napping and complaining about drafts weren't delightful (because they were), but there seemed to be a lot of excess fat in this one that could have been trimmed to make a tighter story.
Thank you to the publisher via netgalley for this book.
The last 15 (or so) percent of the book really did a lot of heavy lifting to save the ending. I am quite sure that book 4 will return us to Donwell where Emma will find another way to solve a murder, all while avoiding gruel and drafts!
I feel like Kelly had a short story plot that was made into a novel. For so long there was just Frank being angry (again, and again, and again - so much so he was VERY unlikable) and Jane not being worked up - and a bunch of sourpuss house guests.
Now, that's not to say that the elder gentlemen napping and complaining about drafts weren't delightful (because they were), but there seemed to be a lot of excess fat in this one that could have been trimmed to make a tighter story.
Thank you to the publisher via netgalley for this book.
The last 15 (or so) percent of the book really did a lot of heavy lifting to save the ending. I am quite sure that book 4 will return us to Donwell where Emma will find another way to solve a murder, all while avoiding gruel and drafts!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Another charming addition to the Emma Knightley Mysteries series!
In this installment, Emma and George travel to Enscombe Park to visit with the Churchills. While there, they find themselves embroiled in another whodunnit when Mr. Churchill, Frank's uncle, is found dead in the library. It is once again up to the Knightleys to put together the pieces behind Mr. Churchill's erratic behavior in the months preceding his death, which included a recently altered will and secret debts, and to figure out why Frank, who is short-tempered and impulsive, is seemingly being framed for the crime. Will Emma be able to unearth the real culprit before an innocent man is charged?
Once again, this was a cozy little escape that was the perfect balance of mysterious, humorous, and enjoyable. Even though Frank felt wildly volatile at times and the plot meandered somewhat longer than necessary, I still found this to be a pleasant read. I look forward to more from this series in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my review.
BOOK BLOG
In this installment, Emma and George travel to Enscombe Park to visit with the Churchills. While there, they find themselves embroiled in another whodunnit when Mr. Churchill, Frank's uncle, is found dead in the library. It is once again up to the Knightleys to put together the pieces behind Mr. Churchill's erratic behavior in the months preceding his death, which included a recently altered will and secret debts, and to figure out why Frank, who is short-tempered and impulsive, is seemingly being framed for the crime. Will Emma be able to unearth the real culprit before an innocent man is charged?
Once again, this was a cozy little escape that was the perfect balance of mysterious, humorous, and enjoyable. Even though Frank felt wildly volatile at times and the plot meandered somewhat longer than necessary, I still found this to be a pleasant read. I look forward to more from this series in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my review.
BOOK BLOG
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A creative imagining of what the life of Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax were like after the events of Jane Austen’s Emma. I enjoyed seeing how Jane Austen’s worlds collided between Emma and Pride and Prejudice at Escombe Park. I also enjoyed another opportunity to see Emma and George Knightley investigate a suspicious death premises.
Emma makes a great sleuth detective and as she tries to uncover secrets around the manor she has a variety of delightful characters including her health obsessed father and the chatty Miss Bates (if you know you know) at the park in addition to Caroline Bingley, Mr. and Mrs. Hurst and a acquaintances of the Churchills.
The book brought up some interesting relationship dynamics (since Frank’s character is not always shown in the best light in Emma and his relationship with Jane is kept hush) as well as inheritance changes since Frank was raised by his aunt and uncle. Overall, another great installment in this series. I was very invested in the story and see what happened next!
Emma makes a great sleuth detective and as she tries to uncover secrets around the manor she has a variety of delightful characters including her health obsessed father and the chatty Miss Bates (if you know you know) at the park in addition to Caroline Bingley, Mr. and Mrs. Hurst and a acquaintances of the Churchills.
The book brought up some interesting relationship dynamics (since Frank’s character is not always shown in the best light in Emma and his relationship with Jane is kept hush) as well as inheritance changes since Frank was raised by his aunt and uncle. Overall, another great installment in this series. I was very invested in the story and see what happened next!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley, SKensington Publishing and Kensington.
I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.
Emma and her newly husband visits her pregnant friend and her husband at the estate home that is owned by his uncle who adopt[ted him as a child. On arrival they find her friend pale and her husband showing bruises from a mysterious accident. Also the uncle seems to be mis--tempered and a distant cousin who recently arrived from the West Indies, The uncle seems out of sorts due to medication but he ends up de ad seemingly from a heart seizure. Was it naturally or dd someone wanted him dead? Emma wll undercover the truth n this mystery. A Jane Austen type mystery read.
I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.
Emma and her newly husband visits her pregnant friend and her husband at the estate home that is owned by his uncle who adopt[ted him as a child. On arrival they find her friend pale and her husband showing bruises from a mysterious accident. Also the uncle seems to be mis--tempered and a distant cousin who recently arrived from the West Indies, The uncle seems out of sorts due to medication but he ends up de ad seemingly from a heart seizure. Was it naturally or dd someone wanted him dead? Emma wll undercover the truth n this mystery. A Jane Austen type mystery read.
September 5, 2026
I enjoyed MURDER AT ENSCOMBE PARK. The author conducts thorough research of the time period from the customs to the vocabulary used throughout the story. The setting and the characters are well-written making it easy for the reader to picture. The secondary characters add depth, drama and humor to the story making it so much fun to read.
There were plenty of suspects in this story and once again, Emma finds herself fully in the middle of the investigation. This was a house party like no other and finds Emma and George doing all they can to help their friends, Frank and Jane Churchill.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy Jane Austen themed historical fiction, cozy mystery stories.
There were plenty of suspects in this story and once again, Emma finds herself fully in the middle of the investigation. This was a house party like no other and finds Emma and George doing all they can to help their friends, Frank and Jane Churchill.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy Jane Austen themed historical fiction, cozy mystery stories.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
1817 The Knightleys and Woodhouses are invited to Enscombe Park home of the Churchills. Only to find they are not the only guests. Among them there seems to have underlying tensions. But soon a death occurs. Will Emma be able to solve the mystery before an innocent person is charged.
An entertaining and well-written cozy mystery with its cast of mainly likeable and interesting characters. Another good addition to this enjoyable series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
An entertaining and well-written cozy mystery with its cast of mainly likeable and interesting characters. Another good addition to this enjoyable series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Book 3 in this splendid Emma Knightley series continues the fun with a terrific Austen-adjacent mystery involving Frank Churchill, his pregnant wife Jane, and an unexpected death during a country house party in Yorkshire, with Emma acting as a sleuth once more. Recommended!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I LOVED the first book in this series and enjoyed the second, so I was looking forward to seeing what the third would provide. It did not disappoint and was an par with the first! This continued to be a delightful reimagining of the original characters with some additions from Austen's other books as well. 'Enscombe Park's takes place in the home of Frank Churchill, and centers around the sudden death and mystery of his adoptive father.
I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery, I had some suspicions but it had me guessing right up to the end. I loved the characters and their dynamics (even those you love to hate) - especially between Emma and her beloved and long suffering Mr. Knightly. I did feel that they made Frank unnecessarily volatile - strong emotions were understandable and suspicion warranted - but he was exhausting and I was losing sympathy by the end. But otherwise, this was intriguing and delightful and I binged it on a recent flight!
I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery, I had some suspicions but it had me guessing right up to the end. I loved the characters and their dynamics (even those you love to hate) - especially between Emma and her beloved and long suffering Mr. Knightly. I did feel that they made Frank unnecessarily volatile - strong emotions were understandable and suspicion warranted - but he was exhausting and I was losing sympathy by the end. But otherwise, this was intriguing and delightful and I binged it on a recent flight!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Another well written and riveting mystery murder in this regency set series. I enjoyed all the characters, the plot and mystery flowed well and I was guessing to the end on who it could be. A little suspense and pace towards the end gave this story that extra something.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews