I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died

An Emily Dickinson Mystery #2

by Amanda Flower

When a literary icon stays with the Dickinson family, Emily and her housemaid Willa find themselves embroiled in a shocking murder in this new mystery from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Amanda Flower.

August 1856. The Dickinson family is comfortably settled in their homestead on Main Street. Emily’s brother, Austin Dickinson, and his new wife are delighted when famous thinker and writer Ralph Waldo Emerson comes to Amherst to speak at a local literary society and decides he and his young secretary, Luther Howard, will stay with the newlyweds. Emily has been a longtime admirer of Emerson’s writing and is thrilled at the chance to meet her idol. She is determined to impress him with her quick wit, and if she can gather the courage, a poem. Willa Noble, the second maid in the Dickinson home and Emily's friend, encourages her to speak to the famous but stern man. But his secretary, Luther, intrigues Willa more because of his clear fondness for the Dickinson sisters.

Willa does not know if Luther truly cares for one of the Dickinson girls or if he just sees marrying one of them as a way to raise himself up in society. After a few days in his company, Willa starts to believe it’s the latter. Miss Lavinia, Emily’s sister, appears to be enchanted by Luther; a fact that bothers Emily greatly. However, Emily’s fears are squashed when Luther turns up dead in the Dickinson’s garden. It seems that he was poisoned. Emerson, aghast at the death of his secretary, demands answers. Emily and Willa set out to find them in order to save the Dickinson family reputation and stop a cold-blooded fiend from killing again.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery, Historical, Audiobook

352 pages, Paperback

First published November 14, 2023

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

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

"My dear Willa, at times, I think solving a murder is easier than comprehending a poem."

Yes, I would agree to that. 🕵️‍♀️

Amanda Flower is a genius! I love that she brings literary novelists together in her cozy historical fiction. This is book 2 with Emily Dickinson and her maid Willa Nobel.

It's 1856 Amherst, MA, and Emily's brother Austin and his new wife Susan return from their honeymoon. The new couple is expecting an honored guest Ralph Waldo Emerson and his secretary to stay at their homestead while in town for a literature symposium at a local college. They would need an extra hand and Willa would be working at both homes during their visit.

Luther Howard is Emerson's young secretary and aspiring writer who's found dead in Dickinson's garden. A social climber, Howard only had eyes on wealthy ladies. He's also known for stealing other people's work and publishing them as his own.

Hmm, plenty of suspects...🤔

Emily and Willa are back at solving murder once again. I love these two characters! But the old guys hanging around at the post office are nice too. I love the time period and atmosphere in general. I like how Emily would bring her maid to a literary lecture when others find it absurd. But Emily knows Willa loves to read. They are blunt and push boundaries. Also in town with her father for the lecture is Louisa Alcott. What a party!

Stellar writing and wonderful characters. A fine cozy mystery!

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the DRC.
Published November 14, 2023

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great characterization and world-building combine with a literary theme in the second book in the Emily Dickinson history mystery series, I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died. The story starts in August 1856 in Amherst, Massachusetts. Literary legend Ralph Waldo Emerson and his secretary Luther Howard come to Amherst to lecture at a local literary society. They’re staying with newlyweds Austin and Susan Dickinson who live next door to the family homestead where Emily, her parents, and sister Lavinia live.

Emily is an admirer of Emerson’s writing and determined to impress him and maybe share a poem. Willa Noble, the second maid in the Dickinson home and Emily’s friend, encourages her to speak with him. However, she is intrigues by Luther, who seems to have an immediate fondness for Lavinia. Soon there’s a death and the Dickinson family reputation is on the line. It’s time for Emily and Willa to solve the mystery. While Emily didn’t change much during the novel, Willa was more dynamic and grew more confident as the story unfolded.

Emily loves her family, but doesn’t want change to affect it. She seems easily distracted, is independent (up to a point), moves quietly, and is bold in her opinions. 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.

Mixing real-life individuals like the Dickinson Family, Louisa May Alcott, and others 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, but appalling.

Plot twists and multiple red herrings made the antagonist harder to discern. 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. This is before she went into almost total seclusion. The story is moving and suspenseful at times, but the pace felt somewhat slow. Additional themes woven into the story include grief, protecting others, greed, loyalty, revenge, friendship, the importance of reputations, 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. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. The author’s note at the end is worth reading as well.

I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date was November 14, 2023.
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My 4 star review is coming soon.

[Shirley Chapel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m getting to love these historical cozy mysteries by Ohio Author Amanda Flower. I think this book is one of the best mysteries that she has written and all her mysteries are really good. I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died is the second book of the Emily Dickinson Mystery series. Her third book in this series will soon be released. I’ve wanted to read this book since it became available and have had it on hold at the library all this time. I was so happy to get it as a Christmas present and it’s a keeper on my bookcase shelf.
This is an edge of seat mystery as far as this reader is concerned and that’s the way I like my cozies. I especially enjoyed the time era of the book. Every character played their role perfectly and I just couldn’t put the book down. I’m never disappointed in any Amanda Flower mystery . I couldn’t guess who the whodunnit was and I think I’d rather wait to the end of the book and be surprised. To be kept guessing and on the edge of my seat makes this book a five star read. Can’t wait for book three to become available.
I highly recommend I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died to readers of Cozy Mystery and Historical Fiction. If you read the first book in the series you will want to read this second book also.
I purchased my own copy of this book with a gift card. All comments about the book here in this review are my own thoughts and opinions after finishing this book.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

1856 Amherst, Massachusetts

What a fun series! It includes fascinating historical details and persons. Emily Dickinson's character is quirky and bold while her maid Willa brings about understanding of those in service. Together they are a powerful detective pair.

The novel is told from fictional character Willa's point of view. She loves the Dickinson family, especially Emily. Officer Matthew is starting to grab Willa's attention a bit more in this second of the series. Will her heart soften enough for to begin a relationship with Matthew?

Witty dialogue in the pages such as this line by Emily: "Sleep well, Willa, because tomorrow we catch a killer."

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

[Scott Rezer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great second novel in the series, and Willa and Emily still shine as the main characters, though the story is from Willa’s perspective only. It would be fun to see things from Emily Dickinson’s POV, but alas, it is not to be I’m afraid. Still, great fun, and with the additional appearances by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Louise May Alcott, the plot simmers along until the final resolution. Definitely worthy of five stars!

[Andria Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very good! Read in one day sort of good! RTC

[Kathy Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily Dickinson is excited when Ralph Waldo Emerson comes to stay with her newlywed brother in order to give a series of lectures at Amherst. However, when his private secretary is killed, Emily is drawn into the murder investigation along with her maid Willa Noble.

Willa tells the story from her viewpoint as a servant to the high-class Dickinson family. She's a keen observer who reluctantly trails Emily into dangerous situations. She is also in position to hear things that she brings to Emily's attention.

Mr. Luther Howard is a sort of shady character. He's been Emerson's secretary for a while as he hones his own skills as an author. Unfortunately, he chooses theft to hone his skills. When he finds a writer he admires, he offers to show Emerson their work and then claims it as his own. Howard is also a social climber who romances a variety of women and drops each one as the next, higher status woman comes along. At the time of his death, he is just starting to romance Emily's younger sister.

There are a variety of suspects for the killing. An itinerant Italian peddler has reason to hate Howard because his false romance caused the peddler's niece to commit suicide. Even Emerson is a suspect since he's just discovered that Howard was trying to sell one of Emerson's earlier unfinished works as his own.

This story is packed with literary figures of the day beyond Emerson and Dickinson herself. Louisa Alcott makes an appearance as a woman unabashedly writing to make money which is so very different than Emily's own purpose for writing.

I enjoyed this story and think that I would have caught more of the brief snippets of Emily's thoughts as parts of her later poems had I been more familiar with Dickinson's work. One that I did catch was the idea that hope is a thing with feathers which Emily mentions when a young workman talks about sending his sweetheart in Ireland a carved wooden bird to keep her hopes for their future alive. I'm sure there were more that I missed.

This was an engaging story firmly set in the 1850s with its social rules. The abolition movement was there as a background to the story as was the way immigrants were treated and the way the social class distinctions were so fixed.

Fans of historical mysteries will enjoy this story.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not a huge poetry fan so this wasn’t at the top of my TBR list. Despite that, I really enjoyed this story. It’s not so much about poetry but it does mention Emily Dickinson’s writing and does have snippets of her writing; I have read and enjoyed those portions but am still not a huge poetry fan. What makes this story shine is Willa and her observations while working as a maid for Emily Dickinson. I enjoyed seeing things through her eyes, be it about the mystery itself or her thoughts on the class distinctions and social mores of the time. The mystery was interesting and have many facets that kept me guessing until the end. I look forward to reading the next in the series.

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I had found Emily always had a purpose for everything she did, even if she was the only one who understood it.”

As I said in my review for Because I Could Not Stop for Death, I’m a big fan of Emily Dickinson’s poetry, and I love that Amanda Flower is using her poems as titles for this series. I had never really thought of how well several of Dickinson’s poems fit with a mystery mood until considering these first two books in Flower’s series.

I heard a Fly buzz – when I died –
The Stillness in the Room
Was like the Stillness in the Air –
Between the Heaves of Storm –

In this newest mystery, we are once again taken through the story through the first person POV of Emily’s maid Willa, the poet’s oft-reluctant sidekick in amateur sleuthing. In the first book, I saw their relationship as a unique friendship and partnership that crossed the social classes, and in many ways I think that’s exactly how Emily’s character sees it too. But in this book, I was a bit more sensitive to the relationship dynamic from Willa’s perspective and noticed some things I didn’t pick up on in book one. Seeing it through her eyes made me realize how selfish Emily can be in the friendship. Her casual indifference to how much extra work she caused for Willa at one point in the book really made me sympathetic for Willa, for example. Yet in spite of the fact that Willa is clearly the better friend, I can’t help but enjoy the indomitable team they make when it comes to solving murders. Their different roles allow them each to be perfect for investigating in different circles, giving readers (and the case) the best of both worlds. And, mild annoyance notwithstanding, I do like the way the author has characterized Emily in this series. I did get a little tickled though at how Louisa Alcott’s blunt personality irked Emily, because most of the difficult aspects mirrored Emily’s own (though they definitely differ on why they write).

The mystery is complex and layered and brings in key literary figures of the day like Ralph Waldo Emerson and the aforementioned Alcott. It was fun to theoretically rub elbows with them and see how the author represents them on the page. There were a couple of things I thought would go a certain way but didn’t, and I loved the surprising twists that were nowhere on my radar but delighted me all the same. Through dialogue and description, Flower does a great job of creating a certain mood that permeates the whole story, and I just wanted to sit by a roaring fire and curl up with a mug full of hot chocolate while reading it.

Bottom Line: Move over Sherlock and Watson, Emily and Willa are on the case! The juxtaposition of social classes and gender roles, the mix of ‘real’ people and fictional, the witty dialogue, and the clever murder mystery are just a few reasons to enjoy this historical mystery. In I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died, we continue to get insight into Emily’s evolution as a writer, her personality, and her family, but we also come to appreciate Willa even more as well. (For the record I am still rooting for Matthew to break through Willa’s defenses and win her heart.) I’m already eager to read the next book & find myself wondering which of Dickinson’s poems will be the inspiration for its title. An entertaining mystery that also serves as an ode to American classic literature!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In August 1856, Emily Dickinson's brother Austin and his new wife, Susan, returned to Amherst from their honeymoon. They would live in the newly built home called Evergreens, next to the Dickinson homestead on Main Street. During their trip, Susan learned about plans for a symposium hosted by the Amherst Literary Society at the college, with Ralph Waldo Emerson as the honored guest speaker. Susan envisioned the Evergreens as a cultural center of Amherst and was thrilled that Emerson and his secretary Luther Howard would be their first guests. Little did Emily know then that her elation for the opportunity to speak to Emerson would be short-lived, taking an unexpected turn into an urgent quest to save her family's reputation.

It's exciting to see the author's use of poem titles as book titles in the series, accompanied by a relevant poem as the epigraph. The story told by Emily's maid, Willa Noble's POV, enables the reader to learn the family dynamics that, together with the hierarchy interplays and experiences of the staff, give a broader overview of the Dickinson households. The author's combination of meticulous research and creativity brings the 19th century to life, highlighting women's experiences during this period and the differences in socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. The seamless integration of literary figures of the period, like Louisa May Alcott, adds an intriguing dimension to the storyline.

I encourage everyone to read The Author's Note at the end of the novel.

I look forward to the next mystery in the series.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Heard A Fly Buzz When I Died is the second book in An Emily Dickinson Mystery series by Amanda Flower.

Emily Dickinson and Dickinson’s maid, Willa, are back and solving a mystery again.

Emily’s brother, Austin, and his new bride, Susan, have returned from their honeymoon and have set up residency in Evergreen, the home Mr. Dickinson had built for them. They will host Ralph Waldo Emerson, who is in town to deliver a literary symposium at the local college. Also traveling with Emerson is secretary, Luther. One afternoon, Willa overhears an argument between Emerson and Luther. Emerson accused Luther of stealing some of his works, telling him he was fired when their current visit ended. That evening, everyone is gathered for the evening meal when suddenly Luther excuses himself, saying he’s not feeling well and needs some fresh air. Shortly after that, a gardener asks to speak with Willa and informs her that Luther is lying dead in the garden. No one can believe this, as Luther had made it known when he first arrived how allergic he was to pollen. The police will discover that Luther was poisoned. Emily asks Willa to help her find the killer, as the murder could damage the Dickinson family’s reputation. Emily and Willa had worked together a year before to find the killer of Willa’s brother. Emily remembers that maids seem invisible to their employers, so Willa should be able to overhear conversations and gather backstairs gossip from other maids and workers.
They soon learn that Luther was a “lady's man” and have several suspects to pursue. Some suspects could include family, close friends, and an immigrant peddler.

This series is an astounding addition to my favorite historical cozy mysteries. I love how well Emily and Willa work together. I feel sorry for the family cook as Emily is constantly removing her from her kitchen duties. I found the book to be well-written, charming, and historically accurate. The characters are interesting, believable, and well-developed.

I’m looking forward to the next book in this engaging series. Mainly to see if any romantic interest will develop between Willa and Matthew, a local policeman.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily Dickinson’s family is thrilled when Ralph Waldo Emerson comes to Amherst to speak at a literary society. To have the great writer and his secretary, Luther, stay with her brother and sister-in-law is even better, as it will give her the opportunity to meet Emerson – and maybe show him one of her poems. But when a body is found in the Dickinson’s garden, Emily and her maid Willa, must save the family’s reputation by finding the killer.

This is the second book in this series, and I liked it even more than the first. I like Emily and Willa and the way they work together, despite the differences in their social stations. Those differences give them access to different ‘worlds’ when asking questions, which increases their likelihood of picking up on helpful information. I’m not much of a fan of the rest of the Dickinson family, although I appreciate that Mr. Dickinson doesn’t try to prevent Emily from getting an education.

The murder victim in this book was a stranger in town, so there weren’t many viable suspects to consider. As more is learned about him, a few possibilities come to mind, but none of them leapt to the top of my list. I was starting to put it all together just before it was revealed in the story, but the motive was something I never would have guessed.

I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

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

[Sarai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a far cry from the TikTok induced books that have been on my reading list these past couple weeks. Something that actually has good grammar and is written well. And a !! mystery !! and not just any mystery but an ✨Emily Dickinson Mystery✨

Loved not knowing who the killer was but also the *very* subtle sentences here and there indicating Emily pining for Sue but if you didn’t know the backstory then you wouldn’t catch on 😎

Loved it, can’t wait to go and read the first book (😅) and then the 3rd book that’s coming out early next year!!!! I just L.O.V.E. period pieces. I know they all complained about corsets, but wish they were still a thing with the beautiful gowns 😔

[Holly Bleggi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this mystery by Amanda Flowers. I love how she blends fiction with an actual person. I felt like the story was engaging and I wanted to know what happened next. I love how the story was suspenseful and kept us guessing right along with the characters. I think this is a great mystery series and I can’t wait to read more with these characters.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t like Emily’s character. She is eccentric but also selfish. Since the story is told from Willa’s perspective, she had to be present at critical moments and sometimes that didn’t fit. All that being said, the mystery was interesting and the outcome held some surprises. I am not sure if I will read another in this series, assuming there is one. I would have liked to have seen the relationship between Matthew and Willa develop more and less of Emily’s character.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good second book in the series. I enjoy the characters and it was fun having other literary contemporaries of Emily’s included. The mystery was good and I enjoyed seeing the resolution come about.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Historical facts and a mystery. What could be better.

[K Houghton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great recommendation from a friend! Historical fiction + murder mystery = an interesting read. I love the Dickinson family, Louisa Alcott, and Emerson characters.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died
Book 2 in the Emily Dickinson Mystery series
By Amanda Flower

Summary
The way Amanda Flower writes it, before Emily Dickinson was a published poet, she was an amateur sleuth, solving murders in her hometown of Amherst, Massachusetts, with her sometimes reluctant maid, Willa Noble.
In I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died, the murder victim is Luther Howard, Ralph Waldo Emerson’s personal secretary. The eminent poet was invited to Amherst by Susan Dickinson, Emily’s dear friend and her brother, Austin’s, new wife. Things were going well with the visit; Emerson was a popular speaker with people flocking to hear his talks. Dinners were held at Austin and Susan’s new home, a wedding present from his parents. At dinner one night, Luther excused himself. He was acting oddly and was later found dead in the gardens at Emily’s father’s house, next door to Austin’s home.
When a suspect is arrested, Emily is certain the police have the wrong man. Emily and Willa investigate on their own and risk becoming a murderer’s next target.

My Thoughts
Even though the books are in the Emily Dickinson Mystery series, Emily isn’t the point of view character. Willa Noble, Emily’s maid, is the one telling the story, and through her eyes there is more to the books than just the mystery. The series is set in the years before the Civil War and class distinctions are firmly rooted in society. Maids, like Willa, are part of the working class and aren’t friends with their wealthy employers.
Emily refuses to acknowledge this distinction, even though the rest of her family and her friends don’t hesitate to remind Willa of her place. It is a friendship that frequently places Willa in awkward positions, which Emily doesn’t see. But Willa can also talk to people that, because of the class division, wouldn’t speak freely to Emily. Without Willa, Emily couldn’t solve any mysteries.
I also like the different, albeit fictional, take on Emily Dickinson. She is a woman before her time-independent, rejecting social expectations of women’s roles and class distinctions. This independent streak drives Emily to take the steps she does in order to solve whatever mystery she’s involved in. There were plenty of viable suspects for Emily to deal with and that kept me guessing the murderer’s identity up until the reveal. The killer was one I didn’t see coming.
I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died is a stellar addition to the Emily Dickinson Mystery series.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress #MinotaurBooks for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This is a great historical fiction mystery featuring Emily Dickinson and her maid Willa in 1856 Amhurst. This is book two in the series, but can be read as a stand-alone. I haven't read the first book, but didn't feel like I was missing much because of it.

Emily's brother and best friend have returned from their honeymoon and announce that Ralph Waldo Emerson will visit Amhurst for a literary symposium and will be staying with them. Emily is excited because she respects his writing and hopes to gather the courage to show him some of her writing. Emerson's personal secretary, Luthor, however proves to be a distraction to Emily's family, including her youngest sister Lavinia. When Luthor is murdered during a dinner party, the Dickinson families troubles increase even more.

Feeling that the police are pinning the killing on an innocent man, Emily and Willa are determined to discover the real murderer. I am not sure how accurate the author's portrayal of Emily is, but I enjoyed her forthright manner. She spoke her thoughts without a care for others and did what she thought was right. It did get annoying that she constantly said the equivalent of "do you know who I am" and threw her family's name around all the time, giving the impression that the rules didn't apply to her and that she and her family could basically do whatever they wanted. Perhaps that's the way things were back in the day, it wouldn't surprise me. Willa was clever and knew how to be in the right place at the right time to discover information relevant to the case. I liked her relationship with her police officer beau and hope that their relationship moves forward in future books.

I figured out the killer early in the book, but I enjoyed seeing how the author got there. It was also cool how the author included several other prominent writers throughout the story and I found myself looking each up and finding out more about their life. They definitely could have crossed paths with Emily during her life.

If you like historical fiction mysteries utilizing famous characters, this book is for you. I look forward to reading more books in the series.

I was given a complimentary e-copy of this book by Berkley/Penguin Random House. All opinions are my own.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

 It's 1856 Amherst, Massachusetts. Emily Dickinson's maid, Willa, finds the body of a visitor in the Dickinson family's gardens. Worse, it appears to have been murder. The victim is the secretary of the famed Ralph Waldo Emerson. Due to the nature of the secretary's character, there is no shortage of suspects.


Emily immediately becomes involved in investigating the murder. Among other reasons, she wants to clear the family name since the victim and Mr Emerson are staying with the Dickinsons. This in turn involves Willa. 


While both Emily and WIlla investigate, the story is told from Willa's point of view. It becomes clear that the duo of Willa and Emily make a good pair. One of them can ask questions of the townspeople while the other can ask questions of the servants and can eavesdrop on people since often people pay no attention to the presence of a servant. Also Willa has a tie to one of the police officers which can be both helpful and a hindrance.


The mystery itself is well done. Mr. Luther, the victim, is not a likeable character. There are many suspects. There are red herrings. And the method of the murder was interesting. I had not considered that someone would use that manner, especially in a literary crowd. 


The resolution of the murder, when it came, came rather quickly. The person of interest was unexpected as was what followed upon the revelation. I liked that so much was unexpected, although I might have preferred a tad more foreshadowing as to who the killer was.


Overall, I enjoyed this book. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. I liked reading about a young Emily and her adventures with Willa. This was the second book in the Emily Dickinson mystery series. It can be read as a standalone. There are references to book one, but they are all explained with a sentence or two. I'm looking forward to book three. I'd recommend this book for fans of historical mysteries with literary characters. Also, you would probably enjoy it if you are an Emily Dickinson fan.


I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinion.

[Wall-to-wall books - wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY THOUGHTS -
I was so excited about reading this book because it was a historical mystery using Emily Dickinson and family as characters! I did not realize it was the second book in a series. But, no worries - I used one of my Audible credits and listened to the audio of the first one - Because I Could Not Stop For Death.

These two books were such a joy to read! I loved them both. I’ve love historical fiction. I have just lately gotten into historical mysteries. I think this is going to be one of my favorite genres!

I’ve always loved Emily Dickinson’s poems and writings. She had a very sad life, especially in the later years.
I loved Emily's character in these books! I don’t know if I would’ve liked her in real life, but I loved her in here. She certainly was a strong woman who spoke her mind. I love that kind of female character in a book.
😱 There are a couple of other famous guest appearances in these books… Ralph Waldo Emerson is one of the main characters and Louisa May Alcott, author of little women (and a lot more!) is in the second half of this book. I loved her! I do think I would have liked her in real life!

Both of these books were told in the voice of Willa, Emily Dickinson’s maid. She was an absolute delight!
The mysteries in both these book were fun. And it was great going along with Willa and Emily to try to solve them.

Listening to the audio version of the first book was amazing. The reader did an excellent job!
As soon as the character, Emily Dickinson spoke for the first time my whole body changed. I got this big smile on my face, and felt as if I was starstruck! I mean, I know it wasn’t really her lol but still! It was amazing and it did feel real!

"Could a woman really be a writer and support herself while doing it?" This was a thought in both books and it reminded me of A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf which is about the injustice to women and especially women writers of that time. I loved that book. If you haven't read it give it a try.

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

[Julie Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily Dickinson's brother and new wife are home from their honeymoon and now they are getting ready to host some very prestigious company. Ralph Waldo Emerson is coming to give lectures at the college so everyone is excited. When Mr. Emerson's secretary is found dead in the garden Willa and Emily are on the case!

This is the second book in the Emily Dickinson Mystery series. I really enjoyed it. I always find myself getting upset when female characters are treated like sub-humans, but that was the times. Women were there to produce heirs and take care of the household. They were to be petted and taken out to show off when the need arose. They were told they were incapable of understanding the workings of the world. They were protected and sheltered. So there were some things that I definitely didn't like about the male characters in the story. The secretary was definitely one of those characters! I actually think he got what he deserved! I loved Emily's spunkiness with her father. I've not read enough about Emily Dickinson's life to know how she really was, but I found her character to be very interesting. A bit headstrong and flighty, yet actually one of the only ones that treated everyone kindly. Her maid Willa is still trying to decide what she feels for officer Matthew. I like how her character developed a little bit more in this book. She knows her place, yet she is brave enough to help Emily in their pursuit of finding the killer before someone innocent is charged. An entertaining read for sure. And definitely one I'd recommend.

[Tristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5

Short synopsis: A fictional story told from the perspective of one of Emily Dickinson’s maids Willa Noble. The dead body of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s secretary is found in the garden and Willa and Emily are on the hunt to find the killer.

My thoughts: This was a fun cozy mystery based on historical people. We get old literary geniuses such as Emily Dickinson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Louisa May Alcott.

Another thing that really shown in this book was the female activist strides. In the book Emerson encourages a female author to write under a male pen name, because being a woman isn’t good enough. I’m so glad for the women who fought to give the women of today equal rights!

It was fun to hear the thoughts from a servant of the wealthy, and how Willa was essentially a fly on the real overhearing many secretive moments between the more elite. You can see where there was a huge class disparity between those in service and those of privilege, but I especially enjoyed how the author portrayed Emily and her friendship with Willa. You could tell that she really looked to her as a friend.

Read if you love:
- Classical authors
- Women’s rights
- Cozy mystery
- Unlikely friendship
- A look inside differences in social class

Thank you Berkley and PRH Audio for an early copy of this free book! Publication date is set for Nov 14, 2023

QOTD: What did you read this weekend?

[Helen Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent historical cozy. Emily Dickinson’s bother and best friend are married and living next door. Ralph Waldo Emerson is invited to stay with them while he gives lectures at a local college. He brings his male secretary who causes havoc. When he is murdered, Emily with the help of her maid, Willa Noble set out to solve the murder and find more suspects than the police do. They accuse an Italian immigrant while one of the Dickinson’s Irish immigrant gardeners is trying to avoid the police. In time, Emily and Willa find the killer, an unexpected one.

This story gives a snapshot of life at the time. It’s very difficult for female writers to get published in their own name, although Louisa May Alcott, who is also a character, is able to do so.

Women are denigrated, especially where money is concerned. Husbands or fathers usually control the purse springs and women are not allowed to have accounts unless a male signs go it. Unfortunately this practice was in place until the 1970’s as women were unable to get charge cards unless a man co-signed for it.

Immigrants, especially Italians and Irish, were discriminated against and often easy scapegoats when a crime is committed. Unfortunately immigrants, especially newer ones are still still being discriminated against today.

[Tessa Talks Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I instantly recognized the title as the title of one of Emily Dickinson's most studied poems, so I was immediately intrigued and couldn't wait to find out where this story would take me.

I loved this interpretation of Emily Dickinson, before she became a recluse, as a cozy detective. The real woman is known for being unusually observant with an amazing understanding of human motivations - what could be better for a natural detective? I particularly loved how specific observations sparked the poet in her, and I could imagine that it was very similar to how she created a poem in real life. This story is an entertaining mystery and a remarkable literary imagining.

The mystery is a beautiful mix of literary history and universal truths, keeping me glued to the page. With plenty of possibilities and delightful red herrings, I kept guessing until the end, when everything was revealed. I also loved that Flower took some liberties with the timeline and had Ralph Waldo Emerson as part of the mystery. To imagine the lives of this country's two most studied writers is beyond surreal and simply gratifying.

[Destiny || readingisyourdestiny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Berkley for the free book and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook!

I'll start by saying that when I began reading this book I wasn't aware that it was #2 in a series (the first one is called Because I Could Not Stop for Death). The story was easily understood for me on its own though!

This is a historical cozy mystery about Emily Dickinson's and her encounter with Ralph Waldo Emerson that left one man dead on her property. Many possible scenarios were played out and I thought the ending was clever. The characters had a fun charm to them as well and it was a light and breezy read for me.

I'd recommend if you're looking for a break from the typical mystery/thriller and want something light but interesting.

This book will be available for purchase on November 14th.

3.5 Stars

[Denise Mullins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid historic cosy in which poet Emily Dickinson and her maid Willa join forces to solve the murder of Ralph Waldo Emerson's amanuensis. Although some might dismiss it for leaning heavily towards a chick-lit mystery, the author makes a solid effort to deal objectively with issues of class differences, gender inequality, and racism to merit more serious consideration.
The use of Willa's first person POV, handled virtually as stream of consciousness, kept the plot steadily flowing with a pacing that never lagged. Additionally, the diction and attitudes expressed by someone in service during this period seemed quite authentic, rendering this a truly enjoyable read.
I also think this would be an excellent option for inquisitive YA readers interested in the era as they would enjoy learning the intricacies and realistic lifestyles of more affluent landowners back then.

[Deborah Almada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I really enjoyed the first book in the series and this one is even better! I really wondered if the author would be able to include real people, actual historical characters in a mystery and make it believable, and she has, superbly, not once but twice. Willa, maid to Emily Dickinson has quite the interesting life, with quite an fascinating family. The author's research is very evident and when you throw other real literary folks from the time period, i.e. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Louisa Alcott into the mix, we get an interesting look at a time and place and events that could certainly have unfolded. We get a real picture of the times, the restraints on women, the prejudices against immigrants and the classes is society. We also get a very interesting mystery that will keep you guessing until the end.