I Died for Beauty by Amanda Flower

I Died for Beauty
by Amanda Flower

ISBN-13: 9780593816462
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: February 25, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Amherst, 1857. The Dickinson family braves one of the worst winters in New England’s history. Trains are snowbound and boats are frozen in the harbor. Emily Dickinson and her maid, Willa Noble, have never witnessed anything like it. As Amherst families attempt to keep their homes warm, fears of fire abound.

These worries prove not to be unfounded as a blaze breaks out just down the street from the Dickinson in Kelley Square, the Irish community in Amherst, and a young couple is killed, leaving behind their young child. Their deaths appear to be a tragic accident, but Emily finds herself harboring suspicions there may be more to the fire than meets the eye. Emily and Willa must withstand the frigid temperatures and discover a killer lurking among the deadly frost.


My Review:
I Died for Beauty is a mystery set in 1857 in Massachusetts. This is the 3rd in a series, but you can understand the story without reading the previous novels.

Historical details about the time (mainly the bad winter and how it affected people) were woven into the story and brought it alive in my imagination. The main characters were interesting and likable. This was a clue-based mystery. The author successfully diverted my attention from the true whodunit. Some things in the story were obvious, like a certain woman seemed to be having an affair (or two?). But with whom, and is it significant to the murder? Emily was fairly direct in her questioning, while Willa tended to advise Emily, overhear clues, or observe things. Willa was also able to get the traumatized child to talk about what happened.

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.