Arsenic with Austen by Katherine Bolger Hyde is the first book in the Crime with the Classics series. Emily Worthing Cavanaugh receives a letter from an attorney letting her know that her Aunt Beatrice has just passed away, and Emily is a legatee (she is inheriting something in the will). Emily is a professor of literature at Reed College and school has just ended for the year (perfect timing). Emily heads down to Stony Beach, Oregon for the funeral and to speak with the attorney. It turns out that Emily inherited the bulk of her aunt's estate (and Emily was just hoping to get her library collection). Emily had always loved Windy Corner (her aunt's house) and is delighted to be able to live there (even it if is part-time). Emily is immediately approached by Vicki Landau, real estate agent, and Everett Trimble, the mayor (right after the funeral). The mayor wants to make Stony Point a resort town (with tacky shops, condos, hotels, and many, many tourists). Beatrice (who owned the land they needed) preferred a quiet, cozy town and would not cooperate with their plans. Emily likes Stony Beach just the way it is--a quiet, beach town. However, Brock Runcible, Horace's nephew (Beatrice's deceased husband) is all for the mayor's plans for the town. Out of the four blocks of shops in town, Brock inherited one of them. Agnes Beech was Beatrice's housekeeper and does not believe that she died of natural causes. When Sheriff Luke Richards (Emily's high school beau) is of a similar mind, Emily decides to explore it further. Before Emily can take action, she finds Agnes dead at the bottom of the cellar steps (and it was no accident). Something fishy is going on in this town. Can Emily and Luke get answers before the killer strikes again? With Emily and Luke working closely together is there a chance to rekindle their old romance?

Arsenic with Austen had too much romance and too little mystery. The romance between Emily and Luke dominated the book (along with Emily's thoughts of Luke which went on and on for many pages). These two have not seen each other in 35 years, but Luke loves her like it was just yesterday. Emily keeps obsessing over Luke from the moment she starts driving to the town (it was obnoxious). Emily acted more like a lovesick teenager than a woman in her 50s with regard to Luke. There is a Christian theme to the book (especially about forgiveness). The mystery seemed complicated, but it was really basic and simple to solve. There are quotes from various Austen books at the beginning of each chapter, and Emily compares people in the town with various characters from literature (mostly from Austen's books). I found the book easy to read (nice writing), but the pace was slow until the end (the pursuit). I give Arsenic with Austen 3 out of 5 stars. One character that I did not like was Emily's friend, Margaritte. I found her annoying (the feminine wiles and how she captivates every man). I wish the author had written her a little differently. Will I read the next book in the series? I probably will to see if there is improvement (every series deserves a second chance).

I received a complimentary copy of Arsenic with Austen from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel. The opinions and comments above are strictly my own.

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Arsenic with Austen definitely falls into the romantic cozy mystery category. Emily Cavanaugh inherits a fortune from an aunt she hasn't seen in years. The small beach town she remembers fondly for its peace and quiet is still much the same thanks to her aunt, who owned most of the place. There are those who are looking forward to developing, though, and wasn't it odd that Aunt Beatrice died after eating dinner with two of the most zealous promoters? Add in Emily's old flame from her teenage years who is now the sheriff, and a semi-cousin who is also a legatee.
It's a very cozy book and while I tend to want a bit more conflict, I enjoyed it. Emily is a thoroughly nice person who wants only the best for all her new tenants and the town in general. There's no impediment to the reuniting of Emily and her old flame, the villains are mustache-twirling obvious types, and it ends pretty much the way you expect it too. Pretty much, because right at the end there is a sudden burst of Christian piety and forgiveness that really isn't shown before. I did think it odd - forgiveness is blessed I'm sure but offering to pay for a great lawyer for someone who killed two people and tried to kill you...well, that's special. What if they get off?
Anyway. Emily is appealing - the way she deciphers clues and motives based on comparing living people to Jane Austen's characters is cute. There are cats. If you like cozies, worth a look.

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For the most part, Arsenic With Austen is a very enjoyable read. The author has created main characters that are both likeable and interesting. Emily in particular shows that she is not the usual inheritor of a fortune by the way she goes about dealing with the money and property she now has at her disposal. Much of her character is revealed in how she treats the other residents of Stony Beach.

The identity of the killer is rather obvious here, but it's the motivations that are at the heart of the mystery. One thing that did startle me however was the sudden religious piety that appeared at the end of the book. Yes, Emily behaved as a true Christian would throughout the book, but to start talking a great deal about God and concepts like divine pity when nothing like this had ever been spoken of before was jarring. It made me wonder if too much editing (or not enough) had been done.

Be that as it may, I did enjoy Arsenic With Austen, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in the next Crime With the Classics mystery.

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