A review by leandrathetbrzero
The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray

adventurous funny hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 While the house party at Donwell Abbey was larger than the Knightleys ever intended, only one guest arrived uninvited. And that guest was none other than George Wickham, the well-hated Jane Austen villain. The other guests come from the mind of Austen as well: the Darcys, the Brandons, the Wentworths, the Bertrams, and a young Tilney hoping to experience a bit more of the world. As the narrative progresses, the characters realize that most have secrets to hide or connections to Wickham they would wish to forget. When Wickham is discovered murdered, the one responsible for his death must be one of the houseguests. Could your favorite Jane Austen character be capable of murder?

My previous experience with the brilliant mind that is Jane Austen is embarrassingly sparse. I have read Pride and Prejudice twice, both times as an academic requirement, and only finally read Sense and Sensibility as a buddy read with my friend, Phoebe, in late 2020. The single unread Austen title sitting on my TBR shelves is Emma. Needless to say, after reading The Murder of Mr. Wickham, Claudia Gray’s Janeite ode, I am dying to get better acquainted with such characters as Emma Knightley and Anne Wentworth. I am living proof that you can enjoy this 1800s murder mystery in the English countryside without reading (much of) Jane Austen, but I will also emphasize how fun it was when I did understand the subtle nods that Gray includes to these characters’ pasts. 

My favorite characters by far originated from Gray’s mind, however! Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy, son of Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy, are the story’s duo sleuths. As Jonathan has an alibi and Juliet appears to be the only person without a doubt unrelated to Wickham in any way, the two youngest houseguests team up to solve the murder. Their chemistry is just brilliant. After a rocky start to their acquaintance, it was a pleasure to watch their relationship bloom into a genuine friendship…and maybe something more romantic. An aspect of their dynamic I especially loved is Juliet’s patience and acceptance of Jonathan’s “eccentricities.” I am not certain of Gray intentions when creating Jonathan Darcy, so my own interpretation may be wrong, but I felt that he could be categorized as a neurodivergent character. A lovely, underrepresented group that deserves more examples in today’s literature!

The mystery was admittedly slow-paced at times, but I personally appreciated the amount of time Gray invests in her characters’ personal affairs. The complexities are many, and I felt in no rush to leave Donwell Abbey. The added tension was certainly that a much loved Austen character killed a much hated one, and the former would possibly be sentenced to death for their deed. Whether you are a tried and true Janeite, someone who has dabbled in the Austen universe a tad, or knows nothing going into the novel, you are guaranteed to become heavily invested in these characters.

This is an honest review in exchange for an advanced reader’s copy of Claudia Gray’s The Murder of Mr. Wickham via Netgalley. The official publication date is 3 May 2022. I’ve already pre-ordered my physical copy! Go get yours today! 

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