Because I Could Not Stop for Death is the first book in a new historical cozy series by prolific author Amanda Flower. Released 20th Sept 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 338 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a promising start to a "famous-person-as-amateur-sleuth" cozy subgenre. Emily Dickinson's new housemaid loses her tearaway brother in suspicious circumstances and although it's treated by the police as a mostly routine accidental death, there are troubling inconsistencies which Miss Dickinson and young Willa investigate.
The writing is consistent and engaging, with well turned prose and clear and clearly rendered characters. Some of the characters' motivations are less compelling, and the dialogue is occasionally a bit stilted (not just because it's a period mystery). Overall, however, it's a good start and eminently readable. It's not at all derivative, but for fans of J.C. Briggs' excellent Dickens Investigations, this series checks many of the same boxes and will likely appeal.
Four stars. An entertaining start to a new historical cozy series.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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