I don't know, this was just very messy? The author had so many ideas but this should've been several books instead of one single novel that ended feeling very clustered and confusing. The mystery was entertaining but I did see things coming around halfway through the book. Fun but nothing insanely good. 2.5 stars

Though this book was enjoyable, it seemed to have way too many elements. It was brimming with ideas and not always in a good way. I felt the author could have used less of them, and probably written multiple books with her ideas.

This book was not what I was expecting, but it was still a good read. A historical regency murder mystery with a dash of romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC copy of this book, in exchange for this honest review.

I wish I got on with this novel but I just don’t think it was really for me. I wanted it to have more of a Bridgerton vibe with Jane Austen sprinkled in but it didn’t hit that for me unfortunately.

3.5*

A Most Agreeable Murder was a delightful romp, silly with elements of being a cosy murder. I really enjoyed the mixed media elements of the storytelling, which helped to keep things diverse and stopped the storytelling from becoming repetitive. It also sets it apart from other stories in this genre, depending on your preferences.

Though the story does get a little messy in the last 100 pages, and you do need to suspend your belief a little (or a lot). I think if this had been edited and cut back just a little more, it would have been the perfect book.

A cross between Bridgerton and Jane Austen, I read? Yes please!

Unfortunately this didn't hit the spot for me, it's more of a pastiche than a tribute to Jane Austen. Clearly written by an American so some of the wording isn't accurate which jarred a little. Fun overall though.

I laughed a lot reading this book. It was a great riff on the ever popular Jane Austen horror mash up which rather seems to have taken over from the actual Jane books. From the off it is obviously written by an American. We don’t have swamps in this country for a start. What is wrong with calling them bogs? Let’s not go there. Aside from that I rapidly realised I would go with the flow as the story wants to be told with or without me.
Beatrice Steele is Eliza Bennett, the daughter who has no merits but really should be married off by now. The estate is entailed to a male heir and there is no sign of one other that the odious cousin who seems to have a knack of acquiring estates. Beatrice is obsessed with crime and secretly scours the papers and writes advisory letters to a London detective, Sir x Huxley
The ladies attend a ball where the honoured guest, Sir Edmund Croaksworth, drops dead. He had been accompanied by the former assistant to Huxley, Viveck Drake. He readily takes charge of the case and Beatrice is assigned by her friend Daniel Ashbrook, to help him keep propriety.
What we have then is a small group of people trapped by a storm and being investigated as potential murderers. There are some excellent supporting characters. Beatrice’s sister, Louisa, has enchanted Sir Edmund on their first meeting. Miss Mary Steele the youngest sister fades into the wallpaper despite her hirsute appearance. There are a lot of Jane Austen type characters, lovers who have been parted by lack of funds, a father who has affected illnesses, and another father who plays silly pranks, a mother desperate for her daughters to marry.
Despite my initial misgiving I think the book works really well and it has fun with the Regency period and it’s expectations. It also makes you realise how subtle Austen was in her comedies of manners. This is as subtle as a brick wrapped in muslin and placed in a reticule but none the worse for it.

It's not a perfect book but it's a very entertaining book, the one you love if you are a fan of the modern version of Regency stories or if you grew up reading Georgette Heyer
The author is full of ideas and somethimes there's too much ideas in this story but there's also a well researched and vivid historical background, a well plotted romance and a light mystery.
Beatrice is lovely and I would be happy to read other stories featuring this character
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I had high hopes fro this novel, assuming from the blurb that it would combine regency romance and victorian murder mystery. In fact it was a clumsy pastiche which I found hard to engage with. Not for me

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a young woman in possession of a fine mind must be in pursuit of a murderer. Or words to that effect.

With that in mind, Julia Seales certainly takes fun-filled inspiration from Jane Austen’s oeuvre in A Most Agreeable Murder, a sometimes mind-boggling mashup of the crime, romance, paranormal and historical fiction genres. In fact, there’s so much happening that it’s occasionally difficult to keep track of what is going on, although it’s a whole lot of fun trying to do so.

Beatrice Steele has a truly shocking secret: she’s obsessed with crime. Solving crime, that is. She might be happy to flout most of the social conventions of the time, but she hasn’t quite stooped so low as to be a criminal herself. Rather, she gets her fill of lawlessness by reading newspaper accounts of the investigations by noted gentleman detective Sir Huxley, that and sending the occasional tip regarding the identity of the likely culprit.

The one thing she can’t do is let anyone know about her criminological exploits, especially not anyone from her family, as it would certainly damage her marriage prospects if the news got out. However, when a murder occurs during the annual autumnal ball at Stabmort Park, Beatrice finally has a chance to put theory into practice and have a go at catching the killer herself, and with the approval of the neighbours too.

It’s all a bit bonkers from there on out, but A Most Agreeable Murder whizzes along at a cracking pace as Beatrice and unseemly former detective Drake interview suspects and search the house of clues. There are plenty of peculiar characters to serve as suspects, and there turn out to be a fair few reasons why the victim may have been killed. The murder mystery is the most complex, but it certainly is very entertaining.

For some reason there seems to be a number of Regency style books hitting the shelves and in this case, they all seem to have a murder or a mystery element to them. This one is no exception.

Beatrice Steele of Swampshire, a place full of swamp holes and with a specific set of rules for ladies to abide by finds herself at a ball.

Not the most ladylike of the Steele girls, Beatrice does things for appearances sake. Most of the time she is in her room, fascinated by crime and murder cases being reported in the capital.

Then she finds herself at the ball, with a dead body and a police Inspector. All her dreams have come true, and surely it must be someone at the ball, even more exciting that everyone finds themselves trapped at the ball, due to Swampshire’s inclement weather and the odd squelch hole or two. It becomes a race against time to find the culprit before they escape.

If you can call a book silly but fun, then this book fits the brief. Rather a lot is packed in, especially in terms of people and their place and role. Added to this, that you really do need to suspend reality slightly and be prepared to be swept along with it all, as we find out who the real murderer is.

If you want to escape, not on a holiday but an escape from reality, then this is the perfect book for you. For fans of Regency, Cosy Mysteries and general silliness, this book will tick all the boxes and leave you having had a bit of fun.

A historical recency mystery full of humour and wit with some wonderfully entertaining quirky characters that come to life on the page.

A light hearted feel good read with plenty of moments that make you chuckle.

Two things made me love this book when I saw it. First is the design and color of the cover. Green is currently my favorite color. Secondly the title. I love the Regency era and cozy crime. So, to find a blend of both was a pleasant surprise.

Beatrice is not comparable to the usual period girl. Finding a husband isn’t her thing. She is far too busy solving murder cases in the paper. So when a murder happens right in front of her eyes, her inner detective finally gets a chance to solve a crime from start to finish.

If you stay on the service of this story, you can follow a murder case and enjoy the drama between the characters. What this book makes even better are the themes that lie a bit deeper. Beatrice dares to defy society's expectations but also has the humanity, in the end, to see what effect her choices have on others. She learns not to assume that her first conclusion is always correct. A lesson I think is a good reminder for all of us.

I enjoyed reading this book. I would have liked the run-up to the murder to be quicker. Considering Swampshire's many rules, I understand that the author needs time to introduce the world. A most agreeable murder gets four stars. The last star is for the final chapters. The ending was a perfect way to tie up the story.

I really enjoyed this book! Specially because of how it mixed the feel of classics with murder mystery.

Beatrice Steele lives in Swampshire, a whimsical countryside with luminescent frogs and highest level of patriarchy. They even have guides on how women should behave! With multiple volumes 👀 But our girl likes what she likes, and that is reading, analysing, and solving crimes. And she's very fond of this particular detective in London - Mr. Huxley, whose cases she follows without a beat.
But when the Steeles are invited to Stabmort Park for their Annual ball, Beatrice and her sister Louisa need to find a husband in order to secure a fortune and save their father's as well. But how is Beatrice supposed to concentrate on that when Inspector Drake (Huxley's disgraced ex partner) is at this ball, which becomes a destination for murder!?

I really enjoyed the narration style of this book. It was funny, whimsical, witty, bashed patriarchy, and the conclusion to the mystery as a whole was pretty satisfying. Each character was very unique and had their own back story and characteristics. It sort of reminded me of My Lady Jane (book).

My only problem was the addition of too much detail in certain parts of the book... If each room or each person's perfume wasn't described in detail for me, the story would have been more tight, in my opinion.

Nevertheless, it was a great read and I thank NetGalley, Julia Seales, and Orion Publishing Group for an e-ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.

This truly fun novel is a cross between Jane Austen, Agatha Christie with a pinch of cozy mysteries. Perfect for fans of Regency and mystery novels.

This is a romp, a whodunnit with perhaps a bit of a parody of the times (Regency), especially with the never-ending list of rules ladies had to follow to avoid public censure and being banned from society for life.

My favorite character and character arc is definitely Beatrice, the protagonist. She has a strong personality, depth. I enjoyed the way she interacts with the characters she comes into contact.

The story is complex, with many twists and turns to keep us guessing. Turns out that, despite appearances, everybody has something to hide and what they show society is not who they truly are. Beatrice learns quite a few lessons along the way.

I am not sure about the “hints” that there might be a werewolf in the midst. It brings little to the story and a fantastical element is, in this particular novel, unnecessary.

It is a 4.75/5 read

I was definitely not expecting to have as much fun as I did while reading a historical crime novel. It featured a dynamic cast and the mystery was genuinely compelling. The writing sparkled with wit and an irreverence for the customs of the time period that helped make the book as entertaining as it was. I also enjoyed the short excerpts between the chapters that incorporated various letters, articles and play scripts. They added detail to the characters and made it more interesting to turn the page.

Beatrice was a great heroine. She was intelligent, brave and full of determination. Despite the restrictions put in place by society of what a lady should and should not do, Beatrice still pursued her passion for solving crimes. There was instant chemistry between Beatrice and the mysterious Mr. Drake. They had an easy repartee and the hints at romance were believable. I liked how the pair worked together, albeit somewhat begrudgingly, to put the pieces of the murder of Edmund Croaksworth together.

I liked the dynamic between the sisters – Beatrice, Louisa and Mary – as each were wholly different yet still cared deeply about one another. Louisa seemed like a simple character on the surface, so I liked how it was made increasingly clear that she was harbouring a secret. While Louisa was the focal point of the family, Mary was typically ignored and overlooked. I felt bad for her but I knew she would have her own hidden depths.

The mystery itself was truly gripping, especially as it ramped up in the final third. I got whiplash towards the end from guessing who the murderer actually was. Aside from the main murder investigation, there were many other revelations, each offering their own unique surprise. The novel ended with a bang of action and drama, wrapping up in a satisfying way.

Featuring a cast of characters that leapt off the page, this mystery was as compelling as it was entertaining. I enjoyed following the heroine’s investigation, truly not knowing where the story would take me.

DNFed at 15%. This is a book that relies heavily on humour, and unfortunately, the style of humour just really didn't click for me. I was never quite sure if it was satirical or not, as it sometimes leans to the absurd and paranormal, and sometimes feels very straight-laced and historical. I just found myself not enjoying it, sadly.

The description of this book about Austen meeting Christie was quite right as it gave both vibes while reading. I liked the central character and the mystery was definitely full of twists and turns, all good enough to keep me turning the pages.

A great debut work by the author, one I will definitely be recommending to fellow readers looking for a historical mystery that hits all the sweet spots.

What do you get when you mix Jane Austen and Agatha Christie? Well, that would be a combination of manners and murder, of course. And that is exactly what A Most Agreeable Murder gives us. This book can only be described as a closed-circle-mystery set during the Regency period. Throw in a large helping of humour, and you have a good idea exactly what to expect when you pick up this book.

We have a heroine, Beatrice, who struggles with societal rules and frequently breaks them secretly to satisfy her curiosity about crimes and solving them only to have her dream come true when she’s faced with a real murder in need of investigation. An investigation that will expose not just a murderer but also all the ways in which those around Beatrice may also have been playing hard and fast with the strict rules they’re supposed to be adhering to.

I guess this book may be best described as a romp. While I thoroughly enjoyed the story as such, it all felt a bit forced and over the top at times. The characters are a bit like caricatures, as is the setting of Swampshire, and those societal rules are pushed beyond credulity.

Caper is another word that springs to mind. The author has taken the strict societal rules from the Regency period and pushed them to such an extreme point that I couldn’t stop my eyes from rolling every now and again. But, at no point did it interfere with my reading enjoyment. In fact, I flew through this story, and found it all but impossible to put it down. Because while the social mores were somewhat ludicrous, the mystery and the road to the eventual solution worked perfectly. The clues were there for those perceptive enough to pick them up, the red herrings were clever and effective, and the denouement pulled everything together very satisfactory.

Quite a bit of suspension of disbelief is required, though. For example, for a woman who has never been allowed to do just about anything, Beatrice is quite self-sufficient when it comes to defending herself. Bareback horse riding doesn’t seem to be something a Regency period young woman would be proficient at either. 😊

However, caricatures or not, I really like Beatrice and Inspector Vivek Drake and the personal journeys of discovery they make while investigating the murders in Swampshire. And I can honestly say there isn’t a single dull or dead moment in this book.

To summarize: If you enjoy a light-hearted and comical period-piece featuring larger than life, over-the-top characters combined with a satisfying mystery, and a frantic murder investigation, you’re going to love A Most Agreeable Murder. Personally, I hope that the sequels the ending leaves room for will materialize. Because, rolling my eyes or not, I couldn’t put this book down.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

I really did love the theming of this book, it very much gave me Agatha Christie in the time of Pride and Prejudice vibes and I am a big fan of that. Beatrice was a great character and I loved her secret obsession with true crime and how she observed everything going on.

This book had a lot of twists and turns, maybe one too many twists but it didn't stop me from enjoying the book. For a debut novel, this book was great, just maybe threw a bit much at it. Saying that, I am looking forward to seeing what Julia Seales writes next!