I Died for Beauty - Amanda Flower

 

5 Stars!

ABOUT THE BOOK -

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.

Amazon link - HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR -

Amanda Flower is the USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning mystery author of over forty novels, including the nationally bestselling Amish Candy Shop Mystery Series, Magical Bookshop Mysteries, and, written under the name Isabella Alan, the Amish Quilt Shop Mysteries. Flower is a former librarian, and she and her husband, a recording engineer, own a habitat farm and recording studio in Northeast Ohio.

Photo credit - David M. Seymour 2021

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. Here are just a couple:

“This gift will lead to daydreams,” Emily said. “ Daydreams are important. There are times when they are all that we have.“

“The truth about writing, Willa, is that you are never in complete control of it. Words will lead you down new paths. Not all those paths you want to take, but sometimes those paths open your eyes to an understanding that you could never reach in the practical world. You must be willing to go where they lead, Willa. You need to understand that. If you do not follow them, they will not return to you another day.“

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.