“Working with your hands will drive your hardship away. Tears will make it worse.”
Hello Adventurers!
Long time, no write. Between facing health challenges (which eventually led to having surgery), hunting for and moving into a new apartment, and taking courses to hopefully change careers, life has been extremely busy. I haven’t had much time for reading. Luckily for me I was invited to join a murder-mystery-themed book club (which I might talk about more in another post), which introduced me to today’s read.
And what a treat of a read it was!
Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Amanda Flower takes us to Massachusetts in the 1850s, where we follow Willa Noble, a humble and diligent young housemaid as she begins work in the home of Emily Dickinson. When Willa’s brother dies in a stable accident and she suspects foul play, she and Emily become a somewhat unlikely investigating duo, uncovering a more complicated plot than either would have imagined.
I am so glad that I encountered this book, as there is so much to love about it. Those of you who have read my previous posts will know that I have never been much of a murder mystery reader. It’s not that I hate the genre; it just never actively piqued my interest before. Last year it had been my goal to venture out and try other genres, but as always, life got in the way. If it hadn’t been for the book club bringing this to my attention, I would never have read it, and I definitely would have missed out.
I am a sucker for a period drama, whether on the stage or the page, and this book does not disappoint. Amanda Flower transports us to 1855 Massachusetts in such a way that you feel at home there. It’s not that you feel that luxurious sort of ‘home’ that period pieces give you when they focus on the lives of the wealthy. Instead, it’s more of that feeling you get when you put on an old, tattered sweater that you’ve worn a hundred times to get things done around the house. The picture of the past painted for us feels easy to slip into, and it’s facilitated by the likeability of the protagonist.
Willa’s disposition and her station in society make her easy to sympathize with. I also happen to love seeing a historical figure reimagined, so I thoroughly enjoyed the portrayal of Emily Dickinson here. The two are a pleasant pair to follow. Emily’s forthrightness and bucking of traditional roles plays well against Willa’s more conservative and uncertain way of walking through the world, and both women are clever and sincere. They make for great companions in this investigation.
Flower walks a bit of a delicate balance, keeping the story from becoming too dark even while dealing with the difficult subject of runaway slaves. She focuses on the plight of our main characters while still treating the subject matter respectfully and giving it a significant presence. And the mystery is satisfying, too. You’re provided with enough breadcrumbs to puzzle things out as Willa and Emily go on their journey without being hit over the head. I won’t say that I was kept guessing entirely to the end, but it was pretty close.
Apparently this is the first in a series, so I am looking forward to the rest.
Have you read Because I Could Not Stop for Death? What did you think? Let me know down below in the comments, and I’ll see you on our next adventure! -Cozie
Family Friendly Content Considerations:
Recommended for Middle School and Up
Mild Warning for Light Violence and Adult Situations
Email: chat@nookandbook.club
Twitter: @TheNookAndBook
Instagram: @nook.and.book