Murder at Longbourn

June 29, 2009
Jane Austen fans will welcome Kiely's spirited debut, a contemporary cozy that introduces Elizabeth Parker, a fact-checker for a D.C.-area newspaper who's struggling to lead a healthier lifestyle. Elizabeth resolves to give up fatty foods, along with her two-timing lobbyist beau, before leaving northern Virginia for a restorative New Year's Eve at her great-aunt Winnie's bed-and-breakfast on Cape Cod. In tribute to Jane Austen, Winnie has named the property the Inn at Longbourn (Longbourn being the name of the Bennet family's residence in Pride and Prejudice
). There Elizabeth encounters dashing, Darcyesque Peter McGowan, her childhood antagonist; a Clue
-worthy clutch of guests gathered for Winnie's gala murder mystery fete; and then—you guessed it—an actual murder. That, and an abundance of clam chowder, are among the few predictable elements of an engaging adventure that will hopefully be but the first of many.

July 1, 2009
A quintessential chick-lit heroine quotes Pride and Prejudice, solves a murder and gets her man in this debut mystery.

Facing New Year's Eve alone, newly single Elizabeth Parker is just as ready as Bridget Jones to give up hope of finding her Mr. Darcy. An invitation to help at quirky Aunt Winnie's bed and breakfast on Cape Cod seems like her best option to ring in the New Year, even if her former adolescent nemesis Peter McGowan will be hanging around the place. Besides, Aunt Winnie is hosting a staged murder, a whodunit game with a troupe of actors. In a plot twist that will surprise only the kiddies, when the lights go out, the murder turns real; Gerald Ramsey, the wealthiest man in town, has been shot by one of the guests. Half the people in the room have a motive: his trophy wife Lauren; his cloistered daughter Polly; dashing Daniel, who's been suspiciously attentive to Lauren; and even Aunt Winnie, who's been threatened by Ramsey's legal maneuverings ever since she snatched the inn from under his nose. To clear Aunt Winnie, Elizabeth has tea with the widow and lingers in the bakery, pondering the gossip until a sudden flash of insight inspires her to reckless bravery.

Predictable romance and implausible social scenarios—strictly for fans of books about being a fan of Jane Austen.

(COPYRIGHT (2009) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

August 15, 2009
Desperate to escape her well-meaning family after a breakup, Elizabeth Parker accepts an invitation to a New Year's Eve murder party at her aunt's Cape Cod bed-and-breakfast, the Inn at Longbournone of several Jane Austen references that pepper this debut novel. Elizabeth soon learns that her aunt's invitation is an attempt to reunite her with a childhood foe. But he turns out to be the least of Elizabeth's problems when the wealthiest and most hated man in town turns up dead. With suspicion falling on her aunt, the hapless Elizabeth begins her own investigation. While sticking to the conventional cozy mystery plot, this fast read is more chick lit, featuring a love-seeking twenty-something heroine, self-deprecating humor, and pop culture references. VERDICT Jane Austen fans and modern cozy mystery readers will appreciate Kiely's debut. Best for those who enjoy Susan Kandel's Cece Caruso and Laura Levine's Jaine Austen series. [Minotaur First Selection; library marketing campaign.]Suzie Remilien, Long Island Univ. Brooklyn Lib., NY

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2009
When Elizabeth Parker finds herself single and alone for the holidays, she jumps at an invite from her aunt Winnie to attend a How to Host a Murder Party at Winnies new Jane Austeninspired bed-and-breakfast on Cape Cod. Though many of the crowd at Winnies are older, there are two handsome young men who provide a distraction: British playboy Daniel turns Elizabeths head with his suave charm, but shes irritated by the presence of her childhood nemesis, Peter. The participants gather, but when the lights go out for the fake murder, a real one occurs: Gerald Ramsey, a surly local businessman, is shot dead. Ramsey was aggressively pushing Winnie to sell her B and B to himand putting pressure on her by going to the local zoning boardwhich makes Winnie the prime suspect in his murder. Certain that her aunt isnt the killer, Elizabeth sets out to clear her. With echoes of Jane Austens characters sure to delight readers, Kielys first novel offers up a satisfying mystery and a charming heroine.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)