I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died by Amanda Flower

I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died
by Amanda Flower

ISBN-13: 9780593336960
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: November 14, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
August 1856. The Dickinson family is comfortably settled in their homestead on Main Street. Emily’s brother, Austin Dickinson, and his new wife are delighted when famous thinker and writer Ralph Waldo Emerson comes to Amherst to speak at a local literary society and decides he and his young secretary, Luther Howard, will stay with the newlyweds. Emily has been a longtime admirer of Emerson’s writing and is thrilled at the chance to meet her idol. She is determined to impress him with her quick wit, and if she can gather the courage, a poem. Willa Noble, the second maid in the Dickinson home and Emily's friend, encourages her to speak to the famous but stern man.

His secretary, Luther, flirts the Dickinson sisters. Willa does not know if Luther truly cares for one of the Dickinson girls or if he just sees marrying one of them as a way to raise himself up in society. Miss Lavinia, Emily’s sister, appears to be enchanted by Luther; a fact that bothers Emily greatly. Then Luther turns up dead in the Dickinson’s garden. It seems that he was poisoned. Emily and Willa set out to find answers in order to save the Dickinson family reputation and stop a cold-blooded fiend from killing again.


My Review:
I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died is a mystery set in 1856 in Massachusetts. This is the 2nd in a series. This story didn't spoil the first one. You can understand the story without reading the first novel, though Willa's relationship with her policeman will make more sense if you've read the first story.

Willa's gaining confidence in investigating, and she mainly did this by observing people and overhearing conversations. Emily's much more direct in her questions as she's used to getting her own way. They asked questions, poked around, and found clues. It's a clue-based puzzle mystery. Whodunit was guessable, and though I guessed correctly, I wasn't sure until nearly the end. Historical details about the time and the Dickinson's lives were woven into the story and brought it alive in my imagination. The main characters were interesting and likable.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable historical mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.