A Most Agreeable Murder by Julia Seales

 

Title: A Most Agreeable Murder

Author:  Julia Seales

Narrated by:  Fiona Hampton

Publisher: Random House Audio

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 7 minutes

Source: Audiobook Purchased from Audible

Which fictional character would you love to have as a best friend?

Beatrice Steele has a secret.  She is obsessed with true crime stories.  She not only loves to read them, but also to send letters detailing her thoughts on the crimes to a famous detective.  This is not a ladylike occupation and if known, could ruin her chance of marriage.  Eligible bachelor, Edmund Croaksworth is in town and attending the autumnal ball.  Beatrice and her sisters are attending the ball with marriage in mind to save their estate from entail along the male line which would leave it to their disgusting cousin, Martin Grub.  When a man is murdered, will Beatrice be able to solve the crime?

My thoughts on the novel:

·       This was the January pick for the JASNA Northwoods Book Club.  I sadly had to miss the meeting yesterday as my daughter’s basketball tournament conflicted.

·       This was the first book in a Beatrice Steele mystery.  I was very excited to find out that this is going to be a series.

·       This novel had shades of Pride and Prejudice with a matchmaking mama with daughters.  The youngest sister, Mary, is a lot like Mary from Pride and Prejudice.  She is also shown to have a lot more to her than everyone gives her credit for.

·       I laughed out loud several times while reading this book.  It had a very fun, quirky, witty humor.  One-character talks with silly metaphors.  The characters have fun descriptions.  The names are hilarious like Stabmore Park where the murder takes place, and Martin Grub for the disgusting cousin.

·       I also thought it was funny that a murder has taken place, and the servants are completely unaware.

·       It seemed like the mystery was solved, but so much more happened after that – it was a really exciting conclusion!

·       The sexual tension between Drake and Beatrice could be cut with a knife.  They had great banter between them, but no real romance in the book.  I look forward to seeing where this leads in the future.

·       I liked that Vivek Drake had an Indian mother and there was diversity in the novel.

·       It was a locked room mystery as they were all stuck at the party due to the weather.  The action all took place during one meeting.

·       It was also a cozy mystery.

·       The audiobook narrator was enjoyable.  There were excerpts between the chapters that were interesting, but they also at times, interrupted the flow of the story.

·       I would love to see this as a movie.

·       If you enjoyed The Benevolent Society of Ill Mannered Ladies or The Murder of Mr. Wickham, you would enjoy this novel.

Overall, A Most Agreeable Murder by Julia Seales is a witty, fun cozy mystery.  I recommend it!