Cozy Reading Vibes
Hello friends!
Just popping in to wish you a very happy October!
If you are in the mood for reading historical fiction and you enjoy Agatha Christie, consider joining us over at the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation community. This month we are reading The Mystery of Mrs. Christie for our book club. I’ve read this on already and it will not disappoint! I’ve been excited to read it again that’s how much I enjoyed it.
We are also having special guest Vanessa Kelly, who also happens to be a community member as well as an award winning historical romance author, join us to chat about her upcoming release Murder in Highbury. This is the first in a new series and I can’t wait to hear more about it from her!
In December 1926, Agatha Christie goes missing. Investigators find her empty car on the edge of a deep, gloomy pond, the only clues some tire tracks nearby and a fur coat left in the car—strange for a frigid night. Her World War I veteran husband and her daughter have no knowledge of her whereabouts, and England unleashes an unprecedented manhunt to find the up-and-coming mystery author. Eleven days later, she reappears, just as mysteriously as she disappeared, claiming amnesia and providing no explanations for her time away.
The puzzle of those missing eleven days has persisted. With her trademark historical fiction exploration into the shadows of the past, acclaimed author Marie Benedict brings us into the world of Agatha Christie, imagining why such a brilliant woman would find herself at the center of such murky historical mysteries.
What is real, and what is mystery? What role did her unfaithful husband play, and what was he not telling investigators?
Agatha Christie novels have withstood the test of time, due in no small part to Christie's masterful storytelling and clever mind that may never be matched, but Agatha Christie's untold history offers perhaps her greatest mystery of all.
Less than one year into her marriage to respected magistrate George Knightley, Emma has grown unusually content in her newfound partnership and refreshed sense of independence. The height of summer sees the former Miss Woodhouse gracefully balancing the meticulous management of her elegant family estate and a flurry of social engagements, with few worries apart from her beloved father’s health . . .
But cheery circumstances change in an instant when Emma and Harriet Martin, now the wife of one of Mr. Knightley’s tenant farmers, discover a hideous shock at the local church. The corpse of Mrs. Augusta Elton, the vicar’s wife, has been discarded on the altar steps—the ornate necklace she often wore stripped from her neck . . .
As a chilling murder mystery blooms and chaos descends upon the tranquil village of Highbury, the question isn’t simply who committed the crime, but who wasn’t secretly wishing for the unpleasant woman’s demise. When suspicions suddenly fall on a harmless local, Emma—armed with wit, unwavering determination, and extensive social connections—realizes she must discreetly navigate an investigation of her own to protect the innocent and expose the ruthless culprit hiding in plain sight.
What are you planning on reading this month?
I’m excited (and a little nervous) to be reading The Haunting of Hill House. This one is totally out of my comfort zone, but I’m looking forward to it. You can join in the reading hosted by
.Do love history?
Make sure you check out the amazing work Holly is doing over at
.Also, October means it release month for
! Go show Jillian some love for her debut novel The Rhino Keeper!
If you enjoy background sounds while you read, here are some of our Jane Austen Literacy Foundation YouTube ambience videos to enjoy.
🕯️For candlelight ambience - click here
🔥For crackling fireplace ambience - click here
🌧️For rainy day reading - click here
I hope your month is full of cozy reading that brings joy to your heart. ❤️
Happy reading,
Melissa
P.S. Do you know any English professor who would be interested in talk about Jane Austen? I’m working on a secret project for next year and would love it if you could send them my way!
Would you like to see a big smile on my face? Consider subscribing.😊
October if my favorite month! Unfortunately, summer continues to stubbornly remain with temps in the 70s and 80s. I need some temps in the 60s with cool breezes!