The Murder of Mr. Wickham

Series: Murder of Mr. Wickham, Book 1

By: Claudia Gray / Narrated By: Billie Fulford-Brown

Length: 12 hrs and 3 mins

Apparently Claudia Gray channeled Jane Austen to write a Regency Mystery…!

First, afore I get into the story and such-all, lemme just address the language of The Murder of Mr. Wickham… WOW! Okay okay okay, p’raps you didn’t like this audiobook cuz o’ the characters devolving with their greatest flaws being exacerbated by things getting all charged and whatnot by MURDER -and- SUSPICIONS galore, but the language Gray managed to write was drop-dead (Grooooan, got a bit punny!) glorious. It’s as tho’ Ms. Austen decided to have a few giggles and wrote a Murder Mystery.

How’d she do THAT?!

Adding to my enjoyment? Why, this story has EVERYbody in it, much-loved characters, and the characters who’ve earned mighty Boooos! as well.

The story opens with Emma and Mr. Knightley happily married but in the midst of a tiff. They’ve over-extended themselves with invitations to their home, some kvetching, but soon Emma reframes it all as A House Party. One unintended, but one that is suuuuure to be wonderful fun and invigorating. And so, the Darcys descend, Fannie and Edmund are there, the newly-wed Marianne and Colonel Brandon, and Catherine Tilney’s daughter, Justine, joins as well, leaving her country home for an exciting time Out With People, for gosh sake! She’s thrilled, and as they all start to mingle, she starts attempting to make friends with all, but especially with Marianne, who’s closest to her in age. Besides, Jonathan Darcy, Elizabeth’s eldest son, juuuuust offended her, and he’s a total Odd Duck.

George Wickham, however, barges into dinner one evening, and he snidely refuses to leave. He’s got business with pretty much everyone there. They either owe him money from failed business ventures, or he stole their nest eggs… with failed business ventures, or he’s outright blackmailing them. And, dude! he’s rude rude rude the whole time, making cutting remarks, and responding with hostility when being called on to discuss… failed business ventures, and his lowly actions and unapologetic behavior.

Yikes, does everyone haaaaaate him, or what?!

Gray gives everyone a reason for wanting him, well, off. So when he turns up dead (And Justine finds his body with his somewhat bashed-in skull), there are a plethora of suspects. And this is where things miiiiight turn people off the story. Because, you see, Wickham and Wickham’s murder, brings out the worst in people. Now I kinda liked that Gray did this because Austen wrote the flaws in there to begin with; it’s not as tho’ Gray up and decided to make everyone despicable and twisted and turned them willy nilly. No, rather, let’s look at a few examples: Fannie and Edmund. Now Fannie weeps CONStantly throughout this, and Edmund is a judgmental stick in the mud. Austen already planted those character flaws when she originally crafted Mansfield Park. Captain Wentworth being a hothead because his pride has been damaged? Of COURSE that pride was written into Persuasion. Elizabeth getting sauced one evening when she’s bitter after tragedy? I could totally see that happening. Ditto Darcy not grieving openly. Gray took no liberties, but she wrote the characters as tho’ they were suddenly in the hot seat, and their unfortunate traits were tweaked under extreme pressure.

Back to the story. Who should be investigating the murder but one Frank Churchill who, initially, is a bit of a dense cookie. This leaves the inquisitive Jonathan (Who observes everything!) and Justine (Whose Mama, Catherine, writes novels, leading Justine to have a truly truly keen imagination) kinda in cahoots as they both seek to derail possible injustice. Churchill initially posits that the murder HAD to be committed by servants, and THAT’S not right.

Justine, especially, is a breath of fresh air as a character. She’s steadfast, determined, she’s also clever and can put 2 and 2 together as diligently as her mama can craft a wicked plot. But Jonathan is a fine character as well. He has a bit of a social anxiety disorder, is perhaps a trifle neurodivergent, and he worries ALL the time that his missed beats, or vocalized thoughts, will cause offense. And that’s cuz… they do… So when Justine comes at him, simply wanting to suss things out, and she’s not judging him? Well, it’s a relief to him to be accepted. These two are a charming pair.

Now onto Billie Fulford-Brown’s performance. Wicked good, except! that her male voices at times are all growly and are sometimes obnoxious, esPECially when the men become obnoxious. Kinda grated on the ear, kinda made me dislike the characters whilst they were in Negative Personality Mode, -BUT- I never wanted to jam an ice pick into m’ ears. So, PHEW! Further, I did love the women but they, as written, were just all-around awesome to begin with. Soooo, minor boo for Peeved-Off men sounding like growling bears, but Brava! for crafting women to love!

All said, all done?

I’m just sorry that Gray has but one more audiobook available at the moment.

Cuz I truly wish to see what Justine and Jonathan get up to again. Besides, WHICH character is gonna get the ax Next Time?!

I wanna know!!!