Book Review: A Most Agreeable Murder

When it comes to genres that mix, murder mysteries and romantic period dramas are not something you often see. Despite their uncommon mixture, that didn’t stop Kentucky-born author Julia Seales from putting pen to paper to write a story that utilizes both genres together admirably. The end result is a commendably witty and funny reading experience found in a book titled A Most Agreeable Murder.

Beatrice Steele has never fit into the mold of a proper lady. Born into a family of three sisters as the oldest, Beatrice has always been called on by her frantic mother to do what’s right for the family and marry a gentlemen of renown class and wealth. Being a proper lady has been anything but Beatrice’s true intentions however, as she secretly yearns for a life of adventure and to be anything besides a proper lady. She finds her small escapes through the newspaper columns of London detective mysteries which she reads shamefully on a regular basis. Despite her resentment for the dull and restrictive etiquette of the 19th century lady however, Beatrice is called upon one night to fulfill her family duty and attend the Autumn ball to help her sister attract the attention of Lord Edmund Croaksworth. As the night goes on and Beatrice is forced to mingle with the eccentric guests of the ball, a murder soon transpires that puts Beatrice in a precarious situation as she seeks to assist a visiting detective in deducing the murder and capturing the foul culprit before the nights out.

I really enjoyed my time experiencing the narrative of A Most Agreeable Murder. I think Julie Seales did an incredible job in making this a story on two different fronts. While Beatrice is clearly a reflection of many central female characters who yearn for something more than conforming to society, it’s given a compelling variation in the fact that that difference comes from a far different motivation. Beatrice doesn’t yearn for another man, she yearns for herself, to be free and to work in a role so unbefitting of any kind of women. The fact that the story utilizes an actual murder mystery to put Beatrice on the forefront and showcase her strengths and flaws helps humanize her in a really smart fashion. It really helps that the writing in this story has a largely comedic flair to it. I think in a story like this, the key aim is to not take itself so seriously that it can’t enjoy the holes it’s poking at itself. The personal narrative, the wide cast of characters and the mystery that ties everyone together is so amusing to follow and Julie Seales should be really proud at managing to mix these two kinds of narratives together in such a seamless fashion.

In terms of tone and pacing, the story doesn’t like to waste too much time on itself which is duly appreciated. I think Julie manages to deliver just the right amount of context and structure to her chapters in a way that you can catch what is occurring clearly but never feel weighed down by it. It’s structured in such a way that a lot of clever hints and red herrings littered all throughout too, which will make re-reads a rewarding experience. That comedic tone I touched on earlier deserves another bit of recognition too because I found this book a thoroughly humorous ride to be on. It knows perfectly all the right elements to address and make light fun at. There a nice balance between comedy and sincerity that really surprised in this story.

Balance is a key word I’d use to describe a lot of what Julie Seales does in this novel. She has woven a tale here that is capable of recognizing the true quality behind period piece dramas and murder mysteries in a wonderful mixture. Both elements compliment one another in a truly commendable way and it’s a testament to the writing ability of Julie Seals that she was able to pull this all off in a debut novel of all things.