Manners, merriment, and mayhem abound in A Most Agreeable Murder, an Austen-inspired murder mystery by Julia Seales. The novel takes us to Swampshire, a fictional British township that conjures up visions of Pride and Prejudice, but with the fantastical additions of muddy squelch holes and a swamp filled with luminescent frogs. Everyone in Swampshire abides by the strict rules of decorum outlined by founding father, Baron Ashbrook, aware that the consequences for stepping outside the bounds of accepted behavior are fatal (for one’s reputation, that is). And that’s why Beatrice Steele keeps her unladylike obsession with solving murders a secret. Lively, curious Beatrice is the eldest of three daughters, and at twenty-five, knows she’ll have to marry soon in order to save her mother’s nerves and to protect the family estate from her greedy cousin Mr. Grub. But until then, she’ll keep devouring the crime stories she collects from the newspaper. When the Ashbrook’s annual ball arrives, and the Steele women find out that the mysterious, wealthy (and single) Mr. Croaksworth is the guest of honor, they immediately conspire to set him up with middle daughter Louisa. All is going according to plan—sparks are flying and a proposal seems imminent—when Mr. Croaksworth drops dead on the dance floor. Foul play is afoot, suddenly everyone in attendance is a suspect, and Beatrice knows it’s up to her to uncover the murderer… before another victim is claimed.
A Most Agreeable Murder is an absolute delight. Cheeky and imaginative, this novel brings fresh life to a genre that’s already quite oversaturated (not like I’m complaining… I’m always excited about an Austen-ish murder mystery). Seales leans into the absurdity of Swampshire to hilarious effect; her villains are foul-breathed and conniving, her heroine is spunky and surprisingly gifted at swordplay, and her characters faint, swoon, and gasp at every opportunity. The tongue-in-cheek style of writing makes the murder aspect not very scary at all, so if you’re looking for more of a fun—though still suspenseful—whodunnit then this book fits the bill. Beatrice is definitely the highlight of the novel; she has loads more gumption than your average Regency heroine, and she investigates the case with a delightful mix of practicality and intuition. One thing to note, the first couple of chapters felt a bit slow to me, but the pace really picks up once the murder occurs—after that, I was fully hooked. A Most Agreeable Murder is charming mystery, and I can’t wait to see what Seales does next.
I’d recommend this book to…
- Anyone looking for a well-written, inventive spin on Regency-era lit… it’s similar in style to A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin
- Anyone looking for a murder mystery that Jane Austen herself would enjoy… it’s similar in theme to The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray
- Anyone who loves a protagonist with wit, bravery, and heart… it’s similar in tone to Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
