“I have received many love notes about my wit. Though they are often disguised as strongly worded letters which request I hold my tongue.”
A Most Agreeable Murder is a 2023 murder mystery by Julia Seales. A clever mystery that blends Regency-era charm, Austen-style comedy and plenty of shocking twists and turns, it is a tale that pokes fun at high society through the lens of an unforgettable strong-willed female lead. Which is why we here at What We Reading thought we would pay homage to Julia Seales’ bestseller by delving into some of our favourite books like A Most Agreeable Murder. From other period mysteries jam-packed with biting wit to novels that put a fresh spin on the classic detective tales, join us for the best cosy mysteries that are sure to satisfy your craving for sleuthing in elegant settings.
Death Comes To Pemberley – P.D. James
Kicking off our list of the best books like A Most Agreeable Murder is P.D. James’ Death Comes to Pemberley, a continuation of Pride and Prejudice with a murder mystery twist. The year is 1803, six years since Elizabeth and Darcy set off for their life together at Pemberly. They have two fine sons, Fitzwilliam and Charles. Elizabeth’s sister, Jane, and her husband, Bingley, live nearby. Her father visits frequently, there is hopeful talk about Darcy’s sister, Georgiana, getting married, and preparations are underway for the much-anticipated autumn ball.
Then, on the eve of the event, a coach pulls up the drive carrying Lydia, Elizabeth’s disgraced sister, and the very dubious Wickham, who has been banned from Pemberley. She falls out of the carriage, shrieking hysterically that Wickham has been murdered. In an instant, Pemberley is plunged into a terrifying mystery.
The Windsor Knot (Her Majesty The Queen Investigates #1) – S.J. Bennett
The morning after a dinner party held at Windsor Castle, eighty-nine-year-old Queen Elizabeth II is shocked to learn that one of her guests has been found murdered in his own room with a rope around his neck. When the police begin to suspect her devoted servants, Her Majesty knows that they are looking in the wrong place.
That is because the Queen has been living an extraordinary double life ever since she ascended to the throne. Away from the public eye, she has a brilliant ability to solve even the most bizarre mysteries. With her household’s happiness on the line, her secret cannot be allowed to get out. But, will the Queen, along with her trusted secretary, Rozie, catch the killer without being caught themselves?
A Quiet Life In The Country (Lady Hardcastle Mysteries #1) – T.E. Kinsey
Another one of the best cosy mystery books similar to A Most Agreeable Murder that is both lighthearted and silly comes from T.E. Kinsey in A Quiet Life in the Country. Lady Emily Hardcastle is an eccentric widow with a secret past. Florence Armstrong, her maid and closest confidante, is an expert in martial arts. The year is 1908 and they’ve just moved into a country home from London, hoping to find some peace and quiet.
But, it isn’t long before Lady Hardcastle is forced out of her self-imposed retirement. There’s a dead body in the woods, and the police are pursuing all the wrong leads. Lady Hardcastle makes some enquiries of her own, and it appears she knows a surprising about investigating crimes. As Lady Hardcastle and Flo dive deeper into rural rivalries and resentment, they discover a web of intrigue that stretches far beyond their idyllic village.
Miss Aldridge Regrets (Canary Club Mystery #1) – Louise Hare
In London in 1936, Lena Aldridge is wondering whether life has passed her by. The successful theatre career she had been hoping for hasn’t worked out. Instead, she’s stuck singing in a sticky-floor basement club in the heart of Soho. What’s more, her married lover has just left her. But, as a mixed-race girl passing for white in a city unforgiving of her heritage, her life has always been complicated.
She’s feeling totally hapless until a stranger offers her seemingly the opportunity of a lifetime: a starring role on Broadway and a first-class ticket on the New York-bound Queen Mary. The timing could hardly be better, and Lena jumps at the chance to escape England. There, she is pulled into the orbit of the wealthy Abernathy family and their bizarre dynamics. When one of them is murdered, however, she realises that her greatest performance might not be for an audience, but for her life.
A Useful Woman (Rosalind Thorne Mysteries #1) – Darcie Wilde
If you loved the Regency setting in A Most Agreeable Murder, Darcie Wilde’s A Useful Woman is the perfect cosy mystery to follow it up with. The daughter of a baronet and minor heiress, Rosalind Thorne was nearly left destitute when her father abandoned the family. In order to survive the only world she knew, she began managing the affairs of London’s most influential women, all of whom relied on her wit and discretion.
When aristocratic wastrel Jasper Aimesworth is found dead in the city’s most glamorous and exclusive ballroom, Almack’s, Rosalind must use her skills and connections to unmask a killer. Finding herself torn between her old love and her growing feelings for a compelling Bow Street runner, Rosalind has to not only unravel the mystery surrounding Jasper’s death but also those wrapped in her own heart as well.
Magpie Murders (Susan Ryeland #1) – Anthony Horowitz
Alan Conway is a bestselling crime novelist. His editor, Susan Ryeland, has worked with him for years, and she is intimately familiar with his detective, Atticus Pund. Atticus specialises in mysteries plaguing sleepy English villages, and Alan’s style of storytelling is a homage to queens of classic cosy mysteries similar to A Most Agreeable Murder. It’s a formula that has proven to be hugely successful. So successful that Susan is forced to put up with Alan’s troubling behaviour just to keep her job.
When she receives his latest manuscript, in which Atticus investigates a murder at Pye Hall, a grand manor house, Susan has no reason to suspect it will be any different from all the stories that came before. But, the more she reads, the more Susan begins to realise that there is another story hidden within the pages. One that will soon lead to a murder in the real world.
Check Out These Mysteries For Your Book Club
Pride And Premeditation (Jane Austen Murder Mystery #1) – Tirzah Price
Another one of the best historical mystery books like A Most Agreeable Murder puts a spin on Jane Austen comes from Tirzah Price in Pride and Premeditation. When sixteen-year-old Lizzie Bennet hears about a scandalous society murder, she sees an opportunity to prove herself as a solicitor by solving the case and ensuring justice is dished out.
Except the man accused of the crime already has a lawyer on his side: Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy, the stern young heir to the lauded Pemberley Associates law firm. Eager to prove that women can be just as good as men, Lizzie is determined to solve the murder before him. But, as the case gets more complex, Lizzie and Darcy may have to start working together to avoid becoming the next victims themselves.
The Right Sort Of Man (Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery #1) – Allison Montclair
In London slowly recovering from the Second World War, two very different women join forces to found a business venture in the heart of Mayfair – The Right Sort Marriage Bureau. Miss Iris Sparks, quick-witted and spontaneous, and Mrs Gwendolyn Bainbridge, pragmatic and widowed with a young son, are determined to achieve independence and do some good in this bold new world.
However, their promising start to their marriage bureau is threatened when their newest client, Tillie La Salle, is discovered murdered. What’s more, the man charged with the killing is the husband the woman paired her with. To clear his name and rescue their fledging operation’s reputation, Sparks and Bainbridge decide to investigate on their own, unaware of how it will put their own lives at risk in the process. Sharp, witty and full of banter, Allison Montclair’s The Right Sort of Man is the perfect follow-up for any fans of A Most Agreeable Murder.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
