I Died for Beauty

An Emily Dickinson Mystery, Book 3

By: Amanda Flower

Narrated by: Barrie Kreinik

When a blaze takes both a neighbor’s home and his life, Emily Dickinson and her maid Willa have a burning desire to crack the case in this new historical mystery from Agatha Award–winning author Amanda Flower.

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.

©2025 Amanda Flower (P)2025 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Absorbing and well-written...hard to put down.”—Charles Todd, New York Times bestselling author of A Game of Fear

“Well-researched, richly textured, and skillfully plotted, readers will fall for Flower’s lyrical mystery—word, verse, and stanza.”—Anna Lee Huber, USA Today bestselling author of A Perilous Perspective

“Fascinating.... You will be delighted by this clever premise set in a little-explored historical time period.”—Victoria Thompson, USA Today bestselling author of Murder on Madison Square

Fascinating

I love this series. The historical details and the setting in Amherst is fascinating. I’m always so amazed by the Dickinson family, this Emily that writes poems & solves crime is great the winning combination!

The details about Emily and the history of the time.

Nothing. I enjoyed listening to it! Disappointed in The police at the time and their prejudice against the Irish.

Excellent description of characters and life in Amherst.

Love Amanda Flower’s mysteries. They are thought provoking and entertaining. I can highly recommend them.