A Most Agreeable Murder is a cozy historical mystery by Julia Seales. Released 27th June 2023 by Penguin Random House, it's 352 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in 4th quarter 2023 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a chaotic mish-mash of genres, styles, pacing, and periods, with anachronisms and paranormal aspects tossed in throughout. The book's been compared to a cross between knives out and Agatha Christie, and that's an apt analogy.
It's quite exuberantly written and is completely campy and tongue-in-cheek throughout. Readers looking for a serious and contemplative classic mystery should steer clear. There are some quite random paranormal details (one of the sisters is apparently a lycanthrope) which don't add a lot to the narrative and can safely be ignored or skimmed over.
Three and a half stars. Silly. Very silly. Sort of Monty Python silly. For all that, it's an engaging romp and impressively well written for a debut author. Given the auspices and resources of the publishing house, it's somewhat surprising that the author wasn't reigned in a bit, and subjected to a more scrutinous editorial process.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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