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The Ill-Mannered Ladies #1
The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies
A high society amateur detective at the heart of Regency London uses her wits and invisibility as an ‘old maid’ to protect other women in a new and fiercely feminist historical mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Alison Goodman.
Lady Augusta Colebrook, “Gus,” is determinedly unmarried, bored by society life, and tired of being dismissed at the age of forty-two. She and her twin sister, Julia, who is grieving her dead betrothed, need a distraction. One soon presents to rescue their friend’s goddaughter, Caroline, from her violent husband.
The sisters set out to Caroline’s country estate with a plan, but their carriage is accosted by a highwayman. In the scuffle, Gus accidentally shoots and injures the ruffian, only to discover he is Lord Evan Belford, an acquaintance from their past who was charged with murder and exiled to Australia twenty years ago. What follows is a high adventure full of danger, clever improvisation, heart-racing near misses, and a little help from a revived and rather charming Lord Evan.
Back in London, Gus can’t stop thinking about her unlikely (not to mention handsome) comrade-in-arms. She is convinced Lord Evan was falsely accused of murder, and she is going to prove it. She persuades Julia to join her in a quest to help Lord Evan, and others in need—society be damned! And so begins the beguiling secret life and adventures of the Colebrook twins.
Lady Augusta Colebrook, “Gus,” is determinedly unmarried, bored by society life, and tired of being dismissed at the age of forty-two. She and her twin sister, Julia, who is grieving her dead betrothed, need a distraction. One soon presents to rescue their friend’s goddaughter, Caroline, from her violent husband.
The sisters set out to Caroline’s country estate with a plan, but their carriage is accosted by a highwayman. In the scuffle, Gus accidentally shoots and injures the ruffian, only to discover he is Lord Evan Belford, an acquaintance from their past who was charged with murder and exiled to Australia twenty years ago. What follows is a high adventure full of danger, clever improvisation, heart-racing near misses, and a little help from a revived and rather charming Lord Evan.
Back in London, Gus can’t stop thinking about her unlikely (not to mention handsome) comrade-in-arms. She is convinced Lord Evan was falsely accused of murder, and she is going to prove it. She persuades Julia to join her in a quest to help Lord Evan, and others in need—society be damned! And so begins the beguiling secret life and adventures of the Colebrook twins.
464 pages, Paperback
First published May 30, 2023
About the author
Alison Goodman
17 books4,126 followersAlison is the author of seven novels so far including the award winning Dark Days Club trilogy (aka as the Lady Helen trilogy) and EON and EONA, a New York Times Bestselling fantasy duology. Her upcoming novel --The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies-- is book 1 in a new series, and will be published in the USA, UK and Australia at the end of May 2023.
Alison lives in Australia and has recently completed her PhD, so can now call herself Dr Al.
Alison lives in Australia and has recently completed her PhD, so can now call herself Dr Al.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,791 reviews
March 5, 2023
Had I not noticed this book was by Alison Goodman, an old favourite of mine, it would have gone sailing right by me. Who could have guessed this pastel-coloured cover featuring fine ladies in bonnets could contain such a dark, disturbing tale of abuses of power in Regency London?
The book is split into three sections called "cases". In each one, Lady Augusta Colebrook and her sister, Julia, (with some help from dashing ex-con Lord Evan Belford) set out to help other women in need. From Caroline, who has been imprisoned by her abusive husband, to Hester, who is trapped in a mental institution living in horrific conditions.
But "Gus" herself must contend with the restrictions placed upon her as a woman, with men frequently dismissing her concerns and her brother using his position as head of the estate to control and spite her.
Goodman knows this time well and manages to strike a perfect balance between staying true to the times and not making me hate everyone. Well, the main three at least. I hated a good many others throughout this book. In fact, it was probably my fury that made this such an engaging read. That, and Gus' unyielding spirit.
The book is split into three sections called "cases". In each one, Lady Augusta Colebrook and her sister, Julia, (with some help from dashing ex-con Lord Evan Belford) set out to help other women in need. From Caroline, who has been imprisoned by her abusive husband, to Hester, who is trapped in a mental institution living in horrific conditions.
But "Gus" herself must contend with the restrictions placed upon her as a woman, with men frequently dismissing her concerns and her brother using his position as head of the estate to control and spite her.
Goodman knows this time well and manages to strike a perfect balance between staying true to the times and not making me hate everyone. Well, the main three at least. I hated a good many others throughout this book. In fact, it was probably my fury that made this such an engaging read. That, and Gus' unyielding spirit.
May 28, 2023
The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies
by Alison Goodman is funny, dark, and highlights some of the social issues of the Regency period in England. It features financially independent 42-year-old twin sisters Lady Augusta (Gus) Colebrook and Lady Julia Colebrook who decide to help women in need. This often requires some amateur sleuthing and some danger.
Gus is witty, independent, courageous, clever, and has an adventurous spirit. Julia sees a kinder world than Gus, isn’t as adventurous, and has amazing recall of her experiences. Their younger brother Duffy, Earl of Duffield is jealous of Gus and the relationship she had with their father while he was alive. He also doesn’t think women should have political opinions. Instead, they should be pleasant and pious. Lord Evan Belford is an acquaintance from their past who was charged with murder and exiled to Australia twenty years ago. He’s also helpful, intelligent, has a sense of humor, and appreciates Gus’s humor and imagination. The main characters and many of the supporting characters are well-developed. Gus and Julia change and grow as they respond to events.
The book is divided into three cases that Gus and Julia attempt to solve involving women needing different types of help from them. There are some exciting scenes, danger, and adventure in this well-written historical mystery novel. The cases kept me engaged and urging them to a successful conclusion. Besides the three cases, readers get insights into Gus’s and Julia’s everyday lives as well as another mystery that Gus attempts to solve throughout the story line. This added another layer of intrigue to the overall story.
The author has obviously done a lot of research on the Regency time-period and brilliantly captured the characters, fashions, lifestyles, and treatment of women during it. Some serious themes are woven into the story including blackmail, social classes, false imprisonment, grief, health issues, and death, as well as men’s attitudes towards, control of, and treatment of women.
At the end of the book is an author’s note that explains some of the real historical figures and situations that appear in the novel. There’s also a list of discussion questions that can be helpful to book clubs reading the novel.
Overall, this book was well-plotted with emotionally rich characters. This novel should delight those readers that enjoy Regency mysteries with a bit of romance that have strong female characters. This is a great start to a new series and I am looking forward to reading the next one as well as reading some of the author’s other novels.
Berkley Publishing Group and Alison Goodman provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for May 30, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.18 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Gus is witty, independent, courageous, clever, and has an adventurous spirit. Julia sees a kinder world than Gus, isn’t as adventurous, and has amazing recall of her experiences. Their younger brother Duffy, Earl of Duffield is jealous of Gus and the relationship she had with their father while he was alive. He also doesn’t think women should have political opinions. Instead, they should be pleasant and pious. Lord Evan Belford is an acquaintance from their past who was charged with murder and exiled to Australia twenty years ago. He’s also helpful, intelligent, has a sense of humor, and appreciates Gus’s humor and imagination. The main characters and many of the supporting characters are well-developed. Gus and Julia change and grow as they respond to events.
The book is divided into three cases that Gus and Julia attempt to solve involving women needing different types of help from them. There are some exciting scenes, danger, and adventure in this well-written historical mystery novel. The cases kept me engaged and urging them to a successful conclusion. Besides the three cases, readers get insights into Gus’s and Julia’s everyday lives as well as another mystery that Gus attempts to solve throughout the story line. This added another layer of intrigue to the overall story.
The author has obviously done a lot of research on the Regency time-period and brilliantly captured the characters, fashions, lifestyles, and treatment of women during it. Some serious themes are woven into the story including blackmail, social classes, false imprisonment, grief, health issues, and death, as well as men’s attitudes towards, control of, and treatment of women.
At the end of the book is an author’s note that explains some of the real historical figures and situations that appear in the novel. There’s also a list of discussion questions that can be helpful to book clubs reading the novel.
Overall, this book was well-plotted with emotionally rich characters. This novel should delight those readers that enjoy Regency mysteries with a bit of romance that have strong female characters. This is a great start to a new series and I am looking forward to reading the next one as well as reading some of the author’s other novels.
Berkley Publishing Group and Alison Goodman provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for May 30, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.18 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
July 15, 2023
4★
“’I see you found your mark, my lady. I think he is dead.’”
Oh no, had I really killed the man? I sat up. ‘It was not intentional.’ I placed the spent pistol back in the box and slid across the seat. ‘Quick, let me see.’”
Typical Gus, Lady Augusta Colebrook. Shoot first and ask questions later. She’s the opposite of her twin, Lady Julia, who is a gentler soul. Julia is in mourning for her fiancé, Robert, who died in an accident two years ago. Both have an independent streak. When their father died, they did what needed to be done.
“He had been a good father and a better man. Yet in the eyes of society, his sordid death atop a rookery whore five years ago had become the sum of him.
It had nearly tainted my sister and me too, for I had recklessly gone to the hovel to retrieve my father—I could not bear to think of his body gawped at by the masses, or a source of their sport. As fate would have it, I was seen at the brothel. An unmarried woman of breeding should not even know about such places, let alone debase herself by entering one and speaking to the inhabitants. I became the latest on-dit and it was only the staunch support of our most influential friends that silenced the scandalmongers and returned us to the invitation lists.”
This is Regency England, the early 1800s, when men were men and women were their property. Their brother Lord Duffield, Duffy, has inherited the family estate after their father’s death, plans to marry and move his bride into the home the sisters have lived in all their lives, letting them ‘have’ his smaller, darker house.
Meanwhile, they discover a friend who has not been able to fall pregnant in her five years of marriage is being brutalised by her husband, who doubtless intends to murder her so he can remarry. Not on their watch! Julia is unwell but determined to save Caroline.
This is Case 1 “Till Death Us Do Part”
They decide to rescue her – somehow – but on the way there they are set upon by highwaymen, which leads to the gunshot episode in the opening quotation. It’s a delightful (and dangerous) adventure, although as with most cosy mysteries, we’re pretty sure they will survive.
“Sir Reginald Thorne emerged from the gloom of his house. Just the physicality of the man made my hackles rise. He was all bullythreat: chest thrust out, meaty shoulders held back, and a thick corded neck that gave the impression of rammish intransigency.”
The twins are forty-two years old, not the winsome, helpless young ladies usually featured in these stories. Augusta reckons they got away with their plan “because Sir Reginald marked us as ape-leaders. Old maids with no juice left.”
I had never heard the term “ape-leader” before, and I doubt I’ll hear it again. I had a quick google. “An old maid's punishment after death, for neglecting to increase and multiply, was said to be the leading of apes in Hell.”
Augusta has found her calling!
“For myself, I no longer believed that this world was mere preparation for the next. This was all the life I would have, and I had to do as much with it as possible.
‘Then it is settled. We shall be useful. But just as importantly we shall be defiant, occasionally ill-mannered, and completely indomitable.’
‘Surely not ill-mannered,’ Julia said.
I smiled. ‘That, dear sister, remains to be seen.’”
The handsome highwayman becomes an interesting character, as do the butler and other staff. There is no magical realism, but the twins do share the ability to convey feelings to each other with the lift of the chin or a small movement of an eyebrow. As it is narrated by Augusta, anything she indicates, or thinks Julia is indicating, is written in italics.
When they receive the letter asking them to help their friend, this is their ‘conversation’. Because I use italics in my reviews for dialogue, I will have to mark their unspoken dialogue differently.
“ ‘Lady Augusta, I have nowhere else to turn and I fear time is running out.’ Millicent shook the letter, the paper crackling with urgency. ‘This was sent a week ago.’
I looked across at Julia: {We must say no; it is impossible.}
She lifted her brows: {But the poor girl in that house—can we really refuse?}
I frowned: {It is quite illegal. Besides, your health.}
She tilted her chin: {I am well enough. Could we live with ourselves if Caroline ends up dead?}
I ducked my head: {Of course not. It would be too awful.}
Julia nodded: {I think we must try.}
I released a long breath: {I suppose so.}”
It’s the same kind of code couples use at parties, especially when one needs rescuing.
This is a most entertaining romp, which I think could be trimmed a bit without losing any of its charm. You will have to suspend some disbelief at the speed with which they perform their tasks, but I didn’t mind.
I enjoyed the author’s note at the end, too, where she explained how she came to create this. I think she has left herself the option of continuing more ill-mannered adventures, but if she doesn’t, the ending is satisfying as it is.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the copy for review.
“’I see you found your mark, my lady. I think he is dead.’”
Oh no, had I really killed the man? I sat up. ‘It was not intentional.’ I placed the spent pistol back in the box and slid across the seat. ‘Quick, let me see.’”
Typical Gus, Lady Augusta Colebrook. Shoot first and ask questions later. She’s the opposite of her twin, Lady Julia, who is a gentler soul. Julia is in mourning for her fiancé, Robert, who died in an accident two years ago. Both have an independent streak. When their father died, they did what needed to be done.
“He had been a good father and a better man. Yet in the eyes of society, his sordid death atop a rookery whore five years ago had become the sum of him.
It had nearly tainted my sister and me too, for I had recklessly gone to the hovel to retrieve my father—I could not bear to think of his body gawped at by the masses, or a source of their sport. As fate would have it, I was seen at the brothel. An unmarried woman of breeding should not even know about such places, let alone debase herself by entering one and speaking to the inhabitants. I became the latest on-dit and it was only the staunch support of our most influential friends that silenced the scandalmongers and returned us to the invitation lists.”
This is Regency England, the early 1800s, when men were men and women were their property. Their brother Lord Duffield, Duffy, has inherited the family estate after their father’s death, plans to marry and move his bride into the home the sisters have lived in all their lives, letting them ‘have’ his smaller, darker house.
Meanwhile, they discover a friend who has not been able to fall pregnant in her five years of marriage is being brutalised by her husband, who doubtless intends to murder her so he can remarry. Not on their watch! Julia is unwell but determined to save Caroline.
This is Case 1 “Till Death Us Do Part”
They decide to rescue her – somehow – but on the way there they are set upon by highwaymen, which leads to the gunshot episode in the opening quotation. It’s a delightful (and dangerous) adventure, although as with most cosy mysteries, we’re pretty sure they will survive.
“Sir Reginald Thorne emerged from the gloom of his house. Just the physicality of the man made my hackles rise. He was all bullythreat: chest thrust out, meaty shoulders held back, and a thick corded neck that gave the impression of rammish intransigency.”
The twins are forty-two years old, not the winsome, helpless young ladies usually featured in these stories. Augusta reckons they got away with their plan “because Sir Reginald marked us as ape-leaders. Old maids with no juice left.”
I had never heard the term “ape-leader” before, and I doubt I’ll hear it again. I had a quick google. “An old maid's punishment after death, for neglecting to increase and multiply, was said to be the leading of apes in Hell.”
Augusta has found her calling!
“For myself, I no longer believed that this world was mere preparation for the next. This was all the life I would have, and I had to do as much with it as possible.
‘Then it is settled. We shall be useful. But just as importantly we shall be defiant, occasionally ill-mannered, and completely indomitable.’
‘Surely not ill-mannered,’ Julia said.
I smiled. ‘That, dear sister, remains to be seen.’”
The handsome highwayman becomes an interesting character, as do the butler and other staff. There is no magical realism, but the twins do share the ability to convey feelings to each other with the lift of the chin or a small movement of an eyebrow. As it is narrated by Augusta, anything she indicates, or thinks Julia is indicating, is written in italics.
When they receive the letter asking them to help their friend, this is their ‘conversation’. Because I use italics in my reviews for dialogue, I will have to mark their unspoken dialogue differently.
“ ‘Lady Augusta, I have nowhere else to turn and I fear time is running out.’ Millicent shook the letter, the paper crackling with urgency. ‘This was sent a week ago.’
I looked across at Julia: {We must say no; it is impossible.}
She lifted her brows: {But the poor girl in that house—can we really refuse?}
I frowned: {It is quite illegal. Besides, your health.}
She tilted her chin: {I am well enough. Could we live with ourselves if Caroline ends up dead?}
I ducked my head: {Of course not. It would be too awful.}
Julia nodded: {I think we must try.}
I released a long breath: {I suppose so.}”
It’s the same kind of code couples use at parties, especially when one needs rescuing.
This is a most entertaining romp, which I think could be trimmed a bit without losing any of its charm. You will have to suspend some disbelief at the speed with which they perform their tasks, but I didn’t mind.
I enjoyed the author’s note at the end, too, where she explained how she came to create this. I think she has left herself the option of continuing more ill-mannered adventures, but if she doesn’t, the ending is satisfying as it is.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the copy for review.
June 3, 2023
First let me rave about this book and say how much I enjoyed it. Historical mysteries and romances and are my main favorites. Goodman has taken the limits of the Regency era and worked to make a wonderful story of 2 woman working with what they had (and often coming up with solutions on the fly). The long distance romance with Lord Evan falsely accused of murder and transported is a wonderful hero and so supportive. The book is broken into 3 cases that involve mistreatment of women. These are harsh realities of the times for woman.
I am so excited and can't wait for the next book.
I am so excited and can't wait for the next book.
February 18, 2023
Alison Goodman is excellent at writing Regency novels, which is no surprise considering she has PhD in historical research and Regency era. Historical details were the best part of Goodman's Dark Days books, and this novel as well. Selfishly, I hope one day the author would choose to write a Regency romance, as, I have to admit, things got really dark in this book.
Unlike the Dark Days trilogy that had a paranormal fantasy angle to them, The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is a mystery, or, rather, it is structured as a series of cases solved by twin sisters and spinsters Julia and Augusta Colebrook. If I am to be even more precise, this is a novel about rescue operations to save women (young and old) from dire circumstances. Goodman takes us on a journey from ballrooms, to brothels, and madhouses. I found all historical details extremely fascinating and terrifying. Social lives of the Colebrook sisters, rich, but single and thus vulnerable to mistreatment were well drawn. There is even a bit of romance.
While I found the structure of the book slightly repetitive, the historical and social setting kept me glued to the story. So I'll be coming back for more, if there is more. I hope there is.
Unlike the Dark Days trilogy that had a paranormal fantasy angle to them, The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is a mystery, or, rather, it is structured as a series of cases solved by twin sisters and spinsters Julia and Augusta Colebrook. If I am to be even more precise, this is a novel about rescue operations to save women (young and old) from dire circumstances. Goodman takes us on a journey from ballrooms, to brothels, and madhouses. I found all historical details extremely fascinating and terrifying. Social lives of the Colebrook sisters, rich, but single and thus vulnerable to mistreatment were well drawn. There is even a bit of romance.
While I found the structure of the book slightly repetitive, the historical and social setting kept me glued to the story. So I'll be coming back for more, if there is more. I hope there is.
July 15, 2023
Not your Grandmother's Tea Cozy
The cute cover suggests a sly light hearted romp of Regency Era ladies solving crimes.
However, amid the dry humor resides a seriousness regarding the plight of women in the period - even if wealthy and well connected.
Two resourceful sisters take it upon themselves to assist others under the table while maintaning their societal positions.
I loved the wonderful writing style combining history and a feminist bent and I won't soon forget the two heroines Julia and Augusta.
The cute cover suggests a sly light hearted romp of Regency Era ladies solving crimes.
However, amid the dry humor resides a seriousness regarding the plight of women in the period - even if wealthy and well connected.
Two resourceful sisters take it upon themselves to assist others under the table while maintaning their societal positions.
I loved the wonderful writing style combining history and a feminist bent and I won't soon forget the two heroines Julia and Augusta.
Read
May 29, 2023A pair of middle-aged sisters solve crimes, mostly against women.
The research is solid--only one thing pinged me (unfortunately, given the violence in the novel, it cropped up often) which was the use of the word "gun" for pistol, in a time when guns were specifically artillery pieces, that is, cannon. Other than that, wow, a deep dive into the underbelly of Regency-era life and crimes.
My problem with it lies not at all with the book, or the story Goodman wanted to tell. She did an admirable job not only with the research, but in crafting Gus, our narrator, in particular, who reminds me a great deal of Mary Wollstonecraft. My problem is that the covert art, and the title, as well as the ad language, caused me to expect a comedy of manners.
Nope. Murder, breast cancer, slavery, human trafficking, etc etc are vital subjects, but not ones I want to read fiction about. I read enough real history about the dark side of human nature, and of course there is the news and daily life to provide plenty of misery and anxiety, which is why I want my fiction to make me smile. I lauded the sisters' good work, but I didn't smile much while reading this, which is a fault with me as a reader, and not with the writer.
The research is solid--only one thing pinged me (unfortunately, given the violence in the novel, it cropped up often) which was the use of the word "gun" for pistol, in a time when guns were specifically artillery pieces, that is, cannon. Other than that, wow, a deep dive into the underbelly of Regency-era life and crimes.
My problem with it lies not at all with the book, or the story Goodman wanted to tell. She did an admirable job not only with the research, but in crafting Gus, our narrator, in particular, who reminds me a great deal of Mary Wollstonecraft. My problem is that the covert art, and the title, as well as the ad language, caused me to expect a comedy of manners.
Nope. Murder, breast cancer, slavery, human trafficking, etc etc are vital subjects, but not ones I want to read fiction about. I read enough real history about the dark side of human nature, and of course there is the news and daily life to provide plenty of misery and anxiety, which is why I want my fiction to make me smile. I lauded the sisters' good work, but I didn't smile much while reading this, which is a fault with me as a reader, and not with the writer.
July 16, 2023
4.5 stars for this fabulous Regency romantic adventure.
This is not a fluffy rom-com. There is just enough wit and humor to lighten the serious subjects that our heroines are tackling, and to balance out the sometimes grim details of the difficulties they face.
I loved both women--bold, angry, adventurous Lady Augusta and her milder-mannered, clever sister Lady Julia. The author did a great job of giving us two fully-realized characters, with the strengths, weaknesses, and quirks of real people.
Please let there be a second book, the sooner the better. I need to find out What Happens Next for our ladies.
This is not a fluffy rom-com. There is just enough wit and humor to lighten the serious subjects that our heroines are tackling, and to balance out the sometimes grim details of the difficulties they face.
I loved both women--bold, angry, adventurous Lady Augusta and her milder-mannered, clever sister Lady Julia. The author did a great job of giving us two fully-realized characters, with the strengths, weaknesses, and quirks of real people.
Please let there be a second book, the sooner the better. I need to find out What Happens Next for our ladies.
January 6, 2024
The historical detail of this book was incredibly pleasing (the afterword notes that she submitted 2/3 of it as her dissertation for her PhD!) and I am definitely in for reading more from this series. My favorite thing from this author that I've read by quite a large margin.
I was pretty sure going in that this was a romance, because of the cover and the ladies in dresses, but like the cover (which hides its weapons amidst the folds of a dress) this book is actually a historical mystery and adventure book, with some elements of romance, and things get pretty intense. The focus was on Lady Augusta Colebrook and her twin sister, Julia, who are both "old maids" (they hate that term)—Augusta ("Gus") by choice, and Julia because her fiancé died in an accident several years before. As single women with their own money, they have some measure of freedom, but still regularly have to deal with the expectations put on their gender and women of their class, not to mention their awful younger brother, who teems with envy over his older sister Gus's everything.
We meet the sisters as they embark on the first of many adventures. They have decided to help their friend Charlotte recover letters from her lover, as he is blackmailing her, and then this dovetails into Charlotte asking for a bigger favor: can the two sisters rescue a woman from her husband who is about to murder her? The way that Goodman seemingly effortlessly incorporates historical detail into this story was so great. While planning their capers and rescues, and dealing with the patriarchal forces that oppose them. Husbands literally own their wives, and it is not illegal, for example, for a man to keep his barren wife locked up in her room and drug her, starve her; nothing in fact is illegal until he murders her, which the sisters aim to prevent.
The book is structured in three "cases," each of which finds the sisters righting wrongs and solving crimes against women and children, some of whom are not of their class, but are at the mercy of it because of their class or their race. It also features Gus falling in love with a convicted murderer (she thinks he's innocent and vows to prove him so, but that's for another book, one assumes).
I'm very pleased I finally got around to this one and hope Goodman publishes the next book soon.
[4.5 stars]
I was pretty sure going in that this was a romance, because of the cover and the ladies in dresses, but like the cover (which hides its weapons amidst the folds of a dress) this book is actually a historical mystery and adventure book, with some elements of romance, and things get pretty intense. The focus was on Lady Augusta Colebrook and her twin sister, Julia, who are both "old maids" (they hate that term)—Augusta ("Gus") by choice, and Julia because her fiancé died in an accident several years before. As single women with their own money, they have some measure of freedom, but still regularly have to deal with the expectations put on their gender and women of their class, not to mention their awful younger brother, who teems with envy over his older sister Gus's everything.
We meet the sisters as they embark on the first of many adventures. They have decided to help their friend Charlotte recover letters from her lover, as he is blackmailing her, and then this dovetails into Charlotte asking for a bigger favor: can the two sisters rescue a woman from her husband who is about to murder her? The way that Goodman seemingly effortlessly incorporates historical detail into this story was so great. While planning their capers and rescues, and dealing with the patriarchal forces that oppose them. Husbands literally own their wives, and it is not illegal, for example, for a man to keep his barren wife locked up in her room and drug her, starve her; nothing in fact is illegal until he murders her, which the sisters aim to prevent.
The book is structured in three "cases," each of which finds the sisters righting wrongs and solving crimes against women and children, some of whom are not of their class, but are at the mercy of it because of their class or their race. It also features Gus falling in love with a convicted murderer (she thinks he's innocent and vows to prove him so, but that's for another book, one assumes).
I'm very pleased I finally got around to this one and hope Goodman publishes the next book soon.
[4.5 stars]
February 11, 2024
4.5*
Practically a one day read that hit on many levels and made *think* when it ended - that authors note 🥺😬
I really loved AG's Lady Helen series even if more YA leaning it didn't feed into tropes as heavily as other series and I was so excited to see a new release of hers coming out this year - when I found out it was about spinster sisters in their 40s in Regency times undertaking dastardly plans to help out women and girls in need I couldn't *wait* to get my greedy grubby mitts on this and now I cannot wait for book2 🤩
🤬 Duffy can take a long walk off a short pier - the less said about him the better. I am so glad the sisters aren't beholden to him cos 😤
I did cackle at their new digs and am so invested in what might be to come for both of them. AG has sown some wonderful seeds on many levels for this series to build upon please don't make me wait forever 🤞🤞🤞
Practically a one day read that hit on many levels and made *think* when it ended - that authors note 🥺😬
I really loved AG's Lady Helen series even if more YA leaning it didn't feed into tropes as heavily as other series and I was so excited to see a new release of hers coming out this year - when I found out it was about spinster sisters in their 40s in Regency times undertaking dastardly plans to help out women and girls in need I couldn't *wait* to get my greedy grubby mitts on this and now I cannot wait for book2 🤩
🤬 Duffy can take a long walk off a short pier - the less said about him the better. I am so glad the sisters aren't beholden to him cos 😤
I did cackle at their new digs and am so invested in what might be to come for both of them. AG has sown some wonderful seeds on many levels for this series to build upon please don't make me wait forever 🤞🤞🤞
February 25, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
I was so pleasantly surprised by this book, both in terms of just how fun it was but also how unexpected it was given the cover art. The cover art led me to think this would be a genteel regency/cozy mystery-romance. It's really not; actually, it's kind of edge-of-your-seat drama, with more violence than I could have anticipated. The violence and mayhem in this story is interestingly at odds with the primary world in which the characters reside.
Gus and Julia are early middle-aged twin sisters living in high society London where they routinely socialize at dinners and balls in the evenings and spend their days crocheting and reading. Gus is bored mindless though, and she craves a life where she is valued for her mind and ability to do something of value in her world. Her outspokenness has landed her in trouble though with her brother, the patriarch of the family, and some of her more rebellious actions have led to more scrutiny. Her family ties keep her afloat, and her wit and charm are appreciated by more progressive figures in the ton. Still, she is on thin ice but can't seem to stop herself from conforming to the rigid rules demanded of women, especially unmarried women. The story opens with Gus confronting a blackmailer on behalf of an aristocratic woman in need of mediation. Gus's form of mediation immediately lets us know that she isn't your typical regency woman, as she brings a pistol and isn't afraid to use it. While the opening scene is exciting, it's a mere prelude to the adventures Gus encounters during the course of the book.
The book is divided pretty evenly after the prelude into three separate "cases" Gus undertakes on behalf of women in dire need of help. Each case builds on the previous as she becomes increasingly confident in her resources and her resolution that these cases represent a mission she wants to undertake, even if her life is threatened. At first I felt much less interested in Julia but as the book develops, she too becomes a fully-faceted character with her own motivations in accompanying her sister.
Both sisters have a central romance develop and both romances are completely engaging. I deducted minor points for what I found to be a bit of a lack of development in Gus's love interest. He has a great backstory and lots of potential, and I would like to see him emerge from Gus's shadow a little more. Gus is so well drawn and alive and complex though that everyone else fades a bit in her presence. I love too that the feminist issues explored in this book are ones that aren't discussed enough in historical romances. I hope there is a follow up to this book soon. There are plenty of threads to pick up and I'm excited to read more soon.
I was so pleasantly surprised by this book, both in terms of just how fun it was but also how unexpected it was given the cover art. The cover art led me to think this would be a genteel regency/cozy mystery-romance. It's really not; actually, it's kind of edge-of-your-seat drama, with more violence than I could have anticipated. The violence and mayhem in this story is interestingly at odds with the primary world in which the characters reside.
Gus and Julia are early middle-aged twin sisters living in high society London where they routinely socialize at dinners and balls in the evenings and spend their days crocheting and reading. Gus is bored mindless though, and she craves a life where she is valued for her mind and ability to do something of value in her world. Her outspokenness has landed her in trouble though with her brother, the patriarch of the family, and some of her more rebellious actions have led to more scrutiny. Her family ties keep her afloat, and her wit and charm are appreciated by more progressive figures in the ton. Still, she is on thin ice but can't seem to stop herself from conforming to the rigid rules demanded of women, especially unmarried women. The story opens with Gus confronting a blackmailer on behalf of an aristocratic woman in need of mediation. Gus's form of mediation immediately lets us know that she isn't your typical regency woman, as she brings a pistol and isn't afraid to use it. While the opening scene is exciting, it's a mere prelude to the adventures Gus encounters during the course of the book.
The book is divided pretty evenly after the prelude into three separate "cases" Gus undertakes on behalf of women in dire need of help. Each case builds on the previous as she becomes increasingly confident in her resources and her resolution that these cases represent a mission she wants to undertake, even if her life is threatened. At first I felt much less interested in Julia but as the book develops, she too becomes a fully-faceted character with her own motivations in accompanying her sister.
Both sisters have a central romance develop and both romances are completely engaging. I deducted minor points for what I found to be a bit of a lack of development in Gus's love interest. He has a great backstory and lots of potential, and I would like to see him emerge from Gus's shadow a little more. Gus is so well drawn and alive and complex though that everyone else fades a bit in her presence. I love too that the feminist issues explored in this book are ones that aren't discussed enough in historical romances. I hope there is a follow up to this book soon. There are plenty of threads to pick up and I'm excited to read more soon.
April 26, 2023
An absolute delight from start to finish.
Alison Goodman captures the Regency period with all the wit and charm of Jane Austen while grounding her characters in an all too real world. I adored this book and was equally parts bereft when I was done and thrilled to realize there is more to come.
Whatever your interests be they terrifying acts of daring do, salacious scandal, or ballroom intrigue Goodman brings it all to her wonderful tale of twin sister's bucking society and defying convention to live life on their own terms and perhaps find love along the way. Couldn't recommend this more highly if I tried.
Alison Goodman captures the Regency period with all the wit and charm of Jane Austen while grounding her characters in an all too real world. I adored this book and was equally parts bereft when I was done and thrilled to realize there is more to come.
Whatever your interests be they terrifying acts of daring do, salacious scandal, or ballroom intrigue Goodman brings it all to her wonderful tale of twin sister's bucking society and defying convention to live life on their own terms and perhaps find love along the way. Couldn't recommend this more highly if I tried.
May 12, 2023
Review coming soon.
May 22, 2023
We loved this really enjoyable combo of traditional Regency plus amateur private eye mystery. Lady Augusta, Gus to her intimates, is forty-one. When the book opens, she's outspoken, funny, and satisfied with her life as a well-off spinster living with her twin sister, Julia. OK - we said she was satisfied with her life, but she's also open to adventure. So when her friend Charlotte asks her to pay off a blackmailer, she returns with the purloined items instead. Since she was so successful in this endeavor, Charlotte hooks her up with another opportunity to use her adventuring skills.
The book reminded us (very slightly) of the The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series in that Augusta and Julia are two middle-aged ladies with no special skills: just confidence in their own abilities and the will to use them. The book is split into three sections, each dealing with a different "case." Although Augusta does not set herself up as a consulting detective, she develops a taste for helping other women who don't have her advantages. She also falls in love with a highwayman who used to be a nobleman, which is 100% AWESOME.
The book is written in the first person from Augusta's perspective, giving this a slight "Victorian memoir" feel (yes, it's set in the Regency, we know). Although we said it's similar to a traditional Regency romance, there is no HEA. We do have high hopes for a continuation of the series!
CW: All of the women Augusta helps are oppressed in some way, and the following topics are all introduced at one point: DV, SA, medical abuse, incarceration in a "madhouse," cancer, blood, violence, starvation, and more.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the book.
The book reminded us (very slightly) of the The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series in that Augusta and Julia are two middle-aged ladies with no special skills: just confidence in their own abilities and the will to use them. The book is split into three sections, each dealing with a different "case." Although Augusta does not set herself up as a consulting detective, she develops a taste for helping other women who don't have her advantages. She also falls in love with a highwayman who used to be a nobleman, which is 100% AWESOME.
The book is written in the first person from Augusta's perspective, giving this a slight "Victorian memoir" feel (yes, it's set in the Regency, we know). Although we said it's similar to a traditional Regency romance, there is no HEA. We do have high hopes for a continuation of the series!
CW: All of the women Augusta helps are oppressed in some way, and the following topics are all introduced at one point: DV, SA, medical abuse, incarceration in a "madhouse," cancer, blood, violence, starvation, and more.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the book.
July 15, 2024
I loved this book! The sisters are smart, witty and clever. The mad house scenes are heartbreaking but I'm so glad Gus and Lord Evan went there to help. There is a lot going on in this book, it's nonstop and at parts is fluffed. However it still keeps your interest and wanting to read more.
Would recommend.
Would recommend.
May 6, 2024
This book put me in mind of the C.S. Harris series "Sebastian St. Cyr" Series, but here we have two twin sisters, Augusta and Julia, that have fallen into helping those in need, but not by choice or design. The book is funny in parts and depressing in parts. The issues faced by women of that time are truly horrid to contemplate. At 42 years old the twins are considered well into spinsterhood. They are all but ignored by their asshat of a brother and overlooked by a lot of others. But our sisters use that to their advantage. I loved how they rather blundered their way through the situations they found themselves in, with the help of Lord Evan. Lots of action and rather scary situations. Gus is really the feisty one and Julia more the voice of propriety and reason. Love the developing attraction between Gus and Lord Evan, I really hope they get an HEA down the line. Same for Julia and her Bow Street Runner. The supporting characters were wonderful and the book as a whole is different than most other historicals I have read.
Being spinster matrons in 1812 means your role in society is quite restricted, not as much as that of a young woman, but still with certain strictures and expectations. When a friend of Augusta and Julia Colebrook finds herself being blackmailed, the sisters agree to do the exchange, which doesn't go according to plan. Emboldened by their lucky success, they go on to another adventure but end up with a surprise companion, Lord Evan Belford, who proves to be quite helpful in several situations even as he is on the lam from a Bow Street Runner and has his own mission to accomplish. Gus is quite taken with the dashing Lord Evan; Julia is more cautious. Gus is determined to "investigate" the duel that got Lord Evan transported and to prove his innocence. But first, there is a woman to rescue, children to save and a horrid mental asylum to destroy.
They didn't quite get around to clearing Lord Evan's name, maybe in the next book.
4 1/2-Stars
Being spinster matrons in 1812 means your role in society is quite restricted, not as much as that of a young woman, but still with certain strictures and expectations. When a friend of Augusta and Julia Colebrook finds herself being blackmailed, the sisters agree to do the exchange, which doesn't go according to plan. Emboldened by their lucky success, they go on to another adventure but end up with a surprise companion, Lord Evan Belford, who proves to be quite helpful in several situations even as he is on the lam from a Bow Street Runner and has his own mission to accomplish. Gus is quite taken with the dashing Lord Evan; Julia is more cautious. Gus is determined to "investigate" the duel that got Lord Evan transported and to prove his innocence. But first, there is a woman to rescue, children to save and a horrid mental asylum to destroy.
They didn't quite get around to clearing Lord Evan's name, maybe in the next book.
4 1/2-Stars
Shelved as 'not-going-to-finish'
July 24, 2023Only 12% in but considering I can't think of one thing I enjoyed in those 55 pages, I'm going to do myself and the inevitable 1 star review I would write a favor and quit while I'm ahead.
The book has a ton of promise. If the idea of twin spinsters solving mysteries and helping the women of Regency England when the law won't (with maybe a romance thrown in for good measure?) appeals to you, it appealed to me too. But then the story kicks off with tales of rape, blackmail, spousal abuse, breast cancer, and a crisis of faith...well, that was a lot. I was still willing to roll with it. The author clearly did significant research.
It is Augusta, the main heroine, who finally lost me. She appears to have the 'correct' (twenty-first century) view of just about everything, including germs. Despite having an heir, her father seems to have 'trained' her mind in more masculine pursuits and allowed her to pursue shooting and current events instead of mundane female activities. Those she can leave to her twin sister.
Perhaps it gets better. I can see why it garnered so many high reviews. I just don't see this one appealing to me any time soon.
The book has a ton of promise. If the idea of twin spinsters solving mysteries and helping the women of Regency England when the law won't (with maybe a romance thrown in for good measure?) appeals to you, it appealed to me too. But then the story kicks off with tales of rape, blackmail, spousal abuse, breast cancer, and a crisis of faith...well, that was a lot. I was still willing to roll with it. The author clearly did significant research.
It is Augusta, the main heroine, who finally lost me. She appears to have the 'correct' (twenty-first century) view of just about everything, including germs. Despite having an heir, her father seems to have 'trained' her mind in more masculine pursuits and allowed her to pursue shooting and current events instead of mundane female activities. Those she can leave to her twin sister.
Perhaps it gets better. I can see why it garnered so many high reviews. I just don't see this one appealing to me any time soon.
May 30, 2023
I approach every new author with trepidation: as I’ve said before, I’m a cautious reader who likes the tried and true…I tend, with apologies to the readers of this blog, not to review too many new-to-me authors. The fact is, duds outweigh the stars, but I have two new-to-me stars added to the auto-buy list: James Kestrel from my previous review and Alison Goodman.
What a gem of a romance-adventure-mystery these intrepid Ill-Mannered Ladies are. I admit to the superficiality of being attracted by the fabulous cover, but it’s as good on the page. To launch us into what makes this hybrid romance-intrigue-morality-tale, the blurbish details, which don’t do it justice:
Lady Augusta Colebrook, “Gus,” is determinedly unmarried, bored by society life, and tired of being dismissed at the age of forty-two. She and her twin sister, Julia, who is grieving her dead betrothed, need a distraction. One soon presents itself: to rescue their friend’s goddaughter, Caroline, from her violent husband.
The sisters set out to Caroline’s country estate with a plan, but their carriage is accosted by a highwayman. In the scuffle, Gus accidentally shoots and injures the ruffian, only to discover he is Lord Evan Belford, an acquaintance from their past who was charged with murder and exiled to Australia twenty years ago. What follows is a high adventure full of danger, clever improvisation, heart-racing near misses, and a little help from a revived and rather charming Lord Evan.
Back in London, Gus can’t stop thinking about her unlikely (not to mention handsome) comrade-in-arms. She is convinced Lord Evan was falsely accused of murder, and she is going to prove it. She persuades Julia to join her in a quest to help Lord Evan, and others in need—society be damned! And so begins the beguiling secret life and adventures of the Colebrook twins.
Goodman comes to us via Austen-Heyer with a dash of what I dub “feminist melodrama”. If you look to other reviews, Goodman’s Ill-Mannered Ladies is lauded as “feminist”, which is not a dirty word I hope (you never know these days) but there’s nothing subversive in her tale. Rather, her heroines are “subversive” for their time and place. To that Goodman brings Heyer’s high spirits and Austen’s caustic wit; the pathos and depth, all her own. I am thoroughly in love with her feral spinsters, Gus and Julia; her hero, Lord Evan, rivals Biller’s Eli (Hotel of Secrets) for my adorable, loving, PERFECT hero of the year (it’s going to be a tough year-end post); and her ethos brings the best of romance, hisfic, and adventure together. Truth be told, I knew I would love Goodman’s novel from the “dedication”: “This book is dedicated to all the women out there who no longer have the patience or desire to put up with any nonsense.” (OMG)
At 42, twins Gus and Julia truly are spinsters, which Goodman treats with great sensitivity, in keeping with the times, and portrays how trapped they are in roles Regency England delegates to unmarried women of a “certain age,” what Gus calls the “horror of our long spinsterhood.” Goodman writes in the spirit of romance, that is, where women break out of social constraints to forge a life of their choosing. As for the love interests, they are pure, delicious fantasy: handsome, respectful, admiring, equals in body, mind, and spirit, the best romance can serve up.
I also want to talk about a theme rare in romance, especially of the duke-filled Regency kind: religious faith. Goodman has taken the religious mores and tensions of the time and encompassed them in Gus and Julia. Julia is a woman of deep faith and Gus recently lost hers. Gus’s struggle and then Julia’s when she finds out how Gus has been thinking is vividly and believably rendered. Julia and Gus are twins, friends, supporters and confidantes: this doesn’t tear them apart (hey, HEA in all ways). Witness Gus’s thoughts: “From birth, we had walked together through our lives, hand in hand. Now it was possible she was forging ahead, her faith promising her everlasting life. That promise, however, was no longer mine. If I eschewed God and everlasting life, I also eschewed heaven. There was no place for us to reunite beyond the grave…I had conceived that brutal separation — without God and the hope of heaven — over and over again, always amazed to find myself still standing, still breathing. when the thoughts receded. Doubt, I think, took as much courage as belief.” The “separation” continues to the novel’s end: Julia doesn’t come to see Gus’s loss of faith as anything but tragic, but remains her stalwart companion, loving sister, and friend. Julia’s faith, in turn, does not cause Gus to turn away, or feel alienated. They remain loving sisters and confidantes…
and the best part? Companions-in-arms, resolved to look and be beyond the narrow definition of their spinster lives in a world that doesn’t respect, or value them. (Mind you, they have the privilege of wealth, but use their gifts, natural and of birth and wealth, for good.) The scene where the “ill-mannered” ladies are born is my favourite (well, equal to the “one bed” possibilities with Lord Evan and the marvellous few instances of epistolary amour…this book has it all!): ” ‘…frankly I do not wish to go back to sewing and taking tea and shopping my life away. What do you say?’ ‘What are you asking me? To help save Lord Evan?’ ‘Not only him. Anyone who needs our help…I doubt anyone would ever believe two old maids could even take on such a venture.’ ‘Old maids. I really do hate that expression,’ Julia said. ‘Then let us be something else.’ ‘Useful,’ Julia said. ‘I would like to have some purpose…’ ‘We shall be useful. But just as importantly we shall be defiant, occasionally ill-mannered, and completely indomitable.’ ‘Surely not ill-mannered,’ Julia said. I smiled. ‘That, dear sister, remains to be seen.’ ” Finally, someone given Miss Bates independent wealth, a fine mind, a pilgrim soul, a thirst for justice, and mad rescue skills.
Therein lies my one quibble with Goodman’s wonderful Gus and Julia, the novel’s structure: in three disparate parts, each one comprising the rescue of women and children trapped by the injustices of Regency society, unfair laws, inequality, prejudices, misogyny, sexism; you name it, Goodman has tossed it into her novel-salad. On a literary level, her novel is episodic, without a smooth, unified narrative arc. My litcrit mind wagged a finger, but my heart was happy to spend more time with Gus and Julia, Lord Evan, the butler Weatherly, even the mysterious Bow Street Runner Kent, on their redressing of wrongs, rescuing of waifs, and championing of the wrongly accused. (Be warned, there are some difficult scenes to be read, but outcomes will see you cheering.) I hope we get more Gus, Julia, et. al. Given the cliff-hanger ending, I’m optimistic. Miss Austen would be happy to join me in praising Goodman’s benevolent, ill-mannered ladies as possessing “no charm equal to tenderness of heart,” Emma.
Alison Goodman’s The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is published by Berkley, releases today, and arrives highly recommended by yours truly. Please note I received an e-ARC from Berkley, via Netgalley, for the purpose of writing this review. This did not impede the free expression of my opinion.
What a gem of a romance-adventure-mystery these intrepid Ill-Mannered Ladies are. I admit to the superficiality of being attracted by the fabulous cover, but it’s as good on the page. To launch us into what makes this hybrid romance-intrigue-morality-tale, the blurbish details, which don’t do it justice:
Lady Augusta Colebrook, “Gus,” is determinedly unmarried, bored by society life, and tired of being dismissed at the age of forty-two. She and her twin sister, Julia, who is grieving her dead betrothed, need a distraction. One soon presents itself: to rescue their friend’s goddaughter, Caroline, from her violent husband.
The sisters set out to Caroline’s country estate with a plan, but their carriage is accosted by a highwayman. In the scuffle, Gus accidentally shoots and injures the ruffian, only to discover he is Lord Evan Belford, an acquaintance from their past who was charged with murder and exiled to Australia twenty years ago. What follows is a high adventure full of danger, clever improvisation, heart-racing near misses, and a little help from a revived and rather charming Lord Evan.
Back in London, Gus can’t stop thinking about her unlikely (not to mention handsome) comrade-in-arms. She is convinced Lord Evan was falsely accused of murder, and she is going to prove it. She persuades Julia to join her in a quest to help Lord Evan, and others in need—society be damned! And so begins the beguiling secret life and adventures of the Colebrook twins.
Goodman comes to us via Austen-Heyer with a dash of what I dub “feminist melodrama”. If you look to other reviews, Goodman’s Ill-Mannered Ladies is lauded as “feminist”, which is not a dirty word I hope (you never know these days) but there’s nothing subversive in her tale. Rather, her heroines are “subversive” for their time and place. To that Goodman brings Heyer’s high spirits and Austen’s caustic wit; the pathos and depth, all her own. I am thoroughly in love with her feral spinsters, Gus and Julia; her hero, Lord Evan, rivals Biller’s Eli (Hotel of Secrets) for my adorable, loving, PERFECT hero of the year (it’s going to be a tough year-end post); and her ethos brings the best of romance, hisfic, and adventure together. Truth be told, I knew I would love Goodman’s novel from the “dedication”: “This book is dedicated to all the women out there who no longer have the patience or desire to put up with any nonsense.” (OMG)
At 42, twins Gus and Julia truly are spinsters, which Goodman treats with great sensitivity, in keeping with the times, and portrays how trapped they are in roles Regency England delegates to unmarried women of a “certain age,” what Gus calls the “horror of our long spinsterhood.” Goodman writes in the spirit of romance, that is, where women break out of social constraints to forge a life of their choosing. As for the love interests, they are pure, delicious fantasy: handsome, respectful, admiring, equals in body, mind, and spirit, the best romance can serve up.
I also want to talk about a theme rare in romance, especially of the duke-filled Regency kind: religious faith. Goodman has taken the religious mores and tensions of the time and encompassed them in Gus and Julia. Julia is a woman of deep faith and Gus recently lost hers. Gus’s struggle and then Julia’s when she finds out how Gus has been thinking is vividly and believably rendered. Julia and Gus are twins, friends, supporters and confidantes: this doesn’t tear them apart (hey, HEA in all ways). Witness Gus’s thoughts: “From birth, we had walked together through our lives, hand in hand. Now it was possible she was forging ahead, her faith promising her everlasting life. That promise, however, was no longer mine. If I eschewed God and everlasting life, I also eschewed heaven. There was no place for us to reunite beyond the grave…I had conceived that brutal separation — without God and the hope of heaven — over and over again, always amazed to find myself still standing, still breathing. when the thoughts receded. Doubt, I think, took as much courage as belief.” The “separation” continues to the novel’s end: Julia doesn’t come to see Gus’s loss of faith as anything but tragic, but remains her stalwart companion, loving sister, and friend. Julia’s faith, in turn, does not cause Gus to turn away, or feel alienated. They remain loving sisters and confidantes…
and the best part? Companions-in-arms, resolved to look and be beyond the narrow definition of their spinster lives in a world that doesn’t respect, or value them. (Mind you, they have the privilege of wealth, but use their gifts, natural and of birth and wealth, for good.) The scene where the “ill-mannered” ladies are born is my favourite (well, equal to the “one bed” possibilities with Lord Evan and the marvellous few instances of epistolary amour…this book has it all!): ” ‘…frankly I do not wish to go back to sewing and taking tea and shopping my life away. What do you say?’ ‘What are you asking me? To help save Lord Evan?’ ‘Not only him. Anyone who needs our help…I doubt anyone would ever believe two old maids could even take on such a venture.’ ‘Old maids. I really do hate that expression,’ Julia said. ‘Then let us be something else.’ ‘Useful,’ Julia said. ‘I would like to have some purpose…’ ‘We shall be useful. But just as importantly we shall be defiant, occasionally ill-mannered, and completely indomitable.’ ‘Surely not ill-mannered,’ Julia said. I smiled. ‘That, dear sister, remains to be seen.’ ” Finally, someone given Miss Bates independent wealth, a fine mind, a pilgrim soul, a thirst for justice, and mad rescue skills.
Therein lies my one quibble with Goodman’s wonderful Gus and Julia, the novel’s structure: in three disparate parts, each one comprising the rescue of women and children trapped by the injustices of Regency society, unfair laws, inequality, prejudices, misogyny, sexism; you name it, Goodman has tossed it into her novel-salad. On a literary level, her novel is episodic, without a smooth, unified narrative arc. My litcrit mind wagged a finger, but my heart was happy to spend more time with Gus and Julia, Lord Evan, the butler Weatherly, even the mysterious Bow Street Runner Kent, on their redressing of wrongs, rescuing of waifs, and championing of the wrongly accused. (Be warned, there are some difficult scenes to be read, but outcomes will see you cheering.) I hope we get more Gus, Julia, et. al. Given the cliff-hanger ending, I’m optimistic. Miss Austen would be happy to join me in praising Goodman’s benevolent, ill-mannered ladies as possessing “no charm equal to tenderness of heart,” Emma.
Alison Goodman’s The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is published by Berkley, releases today, and arrives highly recommended by yours truly. Please note I received an e-ARC from Berkley, via Netgalley, for the purpose of writing this review. This did not impede the free expression of my opinion.
December 28, 2023
Lady Augusta Colebrook and her twin sister Julia, now in their early 40's, are clearly permanent spinsters in Regency London. But they are lucky, as they have financial means of their own. After they successfully help one friend avoid scandal, they find themselves asked again -- and again -- to aid other women in dire circumstances. How can they say no?
I enjoyed this quite a bit! Gus, as she prefers to be called, has a strong voice and even stronger opinions about the status of women in England at the time, which is decidedly awful all around. (I haven't heard any young women assert "I'm not a feminist, but ..." to my face in a while now, but if I do again, I will be tempted to smack them with this book.) The story maintains a fairly upbeat tone, but the positions of the women receiving aid are truly terrifying and gritty, and all the worse because they are true.
This features action, romance, plotting and planning, derring-do, and spines of steel. There are about four episodes/rescues, and all are carried out cleverly and brilliantly, with this reader barely able to breathe through them and the many chances for failure.
My only complaint is that the book felt a bit long to me. The first chapter dragged a bit, the middle flew by, and then with about 100 pages left I just wanted to be done. I'm not sure if it's because the sheer misery of experiencing being chattel who could be tortured, abused, or murdered at male whim was wearing on me or if it was the deep level of detail of Regency life (the author has a degree in Regency studies, and while I appreciated her knowledge and its accuracy, it was still a bit much). But overall the story was gripping and entertaining.
I'm not sure I personally need another book in this series, but I will look for Book 2 when it comes out and see how I feel then.
February 21, 2024
2.8 stars
-Reto Popsugar #28: Un libro en el que el personaje principal tenga 42 años-
Don't be fooled by that cover, because this is not a cozy nor light book. It is from the point of view of an aristocratic spinster lady past the age of 40, where it presents the most sordid of English society in 1812: domestic abuse, child prostitution, insane asylums...; and of course the part where "you are worthless if you are not married, nor is your opinion valid."
It is not a mystery book either, as I understand it, but rather about certain 'rescue missions'. Well, Lady Augusta is best represented by a statement from her twin sister when she says that she seeks validation for her existence.
The author seems to want to leave the story of Augusta and her meeting with Evan, who adds excitement to her life, intertwined with the basis of the worst of the society of the time, but in my opinion she fails to connect both aspects. Maybe if she had made a couple of novellas giving more details (as seems to be the fashion for several authors) instead of gluing several 'cases' together , instead of presenting EVERYTHING she wanted to say at once. As if the formula: unconventional protagonist, diversity (race and sexuality), feminism, and romance were insufficient.
On the other hand, many of the protagonist's decisions are so childish, clearly presenting someone who has been privileged all her life, as she jumps without rhyme or reason to her 'rescues' without any clear idea of what she is going to do. Without even thinking about covering up her presence or her name!
By this I don't mean that I don't sympathize with Agusta, because who wouldn't, nor with Evan, the falsely accused and fugitive nobleman, but there is something missing from the execution of the novel that could have been much better considering the career of this author.
-----------------------------
No os dejéis engañar por esa portada, porque no es un libro acogedor ni ligero. Es el punto de vista de una dama aristocrática solterona de más de 40 años, donde se presenta lo más sórdido de la sociedad inglesa de 1812: abusos domésticos, prostitución infantil, manicomios...; y por supuesto la parte donde “no vales nada si no estás casada, ni tu opinión es válida”.
Tampoco se trata de un libro de misterio, según yo lo tengo entendido, sino de determinadas 'misiones de rescate'. Bueno, Lady Augusta está mejor representada por una declaración de su hermana gemela cuando dice que busca validación para su existencia.
La autora parece querer dejar la historia de Augusta y su encuentro con Evan, quien añade emoción a su vida, entrelazada con la base de lo peor de la sociedad de la época, pero en mi opinión no logra conectar ambos aspectos. Tal vez si hubiera hecho un par de novelas cortas dando más detalles (como parece ser la moda de varios autores) en lugar de pegar varios 'casos' juntos, en lugar de presentar TODO lo que quería decir de una vez. Como si la fórmula: protagonista poco convencional, diversidad (raza y sexualidad), feminismo , y romance fueran insuficientes.
Por otro lado, muchas de las decisiones de la protagonista son muy infantiles, presentando claramente a alguien que ha sido una privilegiada toda su vida, que salta sin ton ni son a sus 'rescates' sin tener una idea clara de lo que va a hacer. ¡Sin siquiera pensar en encubrir su presencia o su nombre!
Con esto no quiero decir que no simpatice con Agusta, porque quién no lo haría, ni con Evan, el noble fugitivo y falsamente acusado, pero falta algo en la ejecución de la novela que podría haber sido mucho mejor. considerando la carrera de esta autora.
-Reto Popsugar #28: Un libro en el que el personaje principal tenga 42 años-
Don't be fooled by that cover, because this is not a cozy nor light book. It is from the point of view of an aristocratic spinster lady past the age of 40, where it presents the most sordid of English society in 1812: domestic abuse, child prostitution, insane asylums...; and of course the part where "you are worthless if you are not married, nor is your opinion valid."
It is not a mystery book either, as I understand it, but rather about certain 'rescue missions'. Well, Lady Augusta is best represented by a statement from her twin sister when she says that she seeks validation for her existence.
“Ah, now I understand. Now I see the reason for this self-appointed mission.” She took my hand, her skin dry against my damp palm. “You cannot save everyone, Gus. It is God who saves us.”
(...)
I still wanted to be more than this world allowed me to be, just a spinster past her prime.
The author seems to want to leave the story of Augusta and her meeting with Evan, who adds excitement to her life, intertwined with the basis of the worst of the society of the time, but in my opinion she fails to connect both aspects. Maybe if she had made a couple of novellas giving more details (as seems to be the fashion for several authors) instead of gluing several 'cases' together , instead of presenting EVERYTHING she wanted to say at once. As if the formula: unconventional protagonist, diversity (race and sexuality), feminism, and romance were insufficient.
On the other hand, many of the protagonist's decisions are so childish, clearly presenting someone who has been privileged all her life, as she jumps without rhyme or reason to her 'rescues' without any clear idea of what she is going to do. Without even thinking about covering up her presence or her name!
By this I don't mean that I don't sympathize with Agusta, because who wouldn't, nor with Evan, the falsely accused and fugitive nobleman, but there is something missing from the execution of the novel that could have been much better considering the career of this author.
-----------------------------
No os dejéis engañar por esa portada, porque no es un libro acogedor ni ligero. Es el punto de vista de una dama aristocrática solterona de más de 40 años, donde se presenta lo más sórdido de la sociedad inglesa de 1812: abusos domésticos, prostitución infantil, manicomios...; y por supuesto la parte donde “no vales nada si no estás casada, ni tu opinión es válida”.
Tampoco se trata de un libro de misterio, según yo lo tengo entendido, sino de determinadas 'misiones de rescate'. Bueno, Lady Augusta está mejor representada por una declaración de su hermana gemela cuando dice que busca validación para su existencia.
La autora parece querer dejar la historia de Augusta y su encuentro con Evan, quien añade emoción a su vida, entrelazada con la base de lo peor de la sociedad de la época, pero en mi opinión no logra conectar ambos aspectos. Tal vez si hubiera hecho un par de novelas cortas dando más detalles (como parece ser la moda de varios autores) en lugar de pegar varios 'casos' juntos, en lugar de presentar TODO lo que quería decir de una vez. Como si la fórmula: protagonista poco convencional, diversidad (raza y sexualidad), feminismo , y romance fueran insuficientes.
Por otro lado, muchas de las decisiones de la protagonista son muy infantiles, presentando claramente a alguien que ha sido una privilegiada toda su vida, que salta sin ton ni son a sus 'rescates' sin tener una idea clara de lo que va a hacer. ¡Sin siquiera pensar en encubrir su presencia o su nombre!
Con esto no quiero decir que no simpatice con Agusta, porque quién no lo haría, ni con Evan, el noble fugitivo y falsamente acusado, pero falta algo en la ejecución de la novela que podría haber sido mucho mejor. considerando la carrera de esta autora.
Read
May 3, 2023Regency Atrocities for Dummies, including almost every awful thing you can imagine committed against women and children. Oh, and a love story, with lines like
Lud, I had just shot a marquess's son. Even worse, I had shot an acquaintance.
It's a foregone conclusion that Lady Augusta Colebrook, the shooter, will fall for Lord Evan Belford, the victim and an outlaw with a price on his head. Mix in two evil brothers, a Bow Street Runner, and a host of helpful and capable servants and you have a narrative that ricochets from one adventure to another to a third and more. I can't imagine what Goodman saved up for the next in what is obviously going to be a series. Fun.
Lud, I had just shot a marquess's son. Even worse, I had shot an acquaintance.
It's a foregone conclusion that Lady Augusta Colebrook, the shooter, will fall for Lord Evan Belford, the victim and an outlaw with a price on his head. Mix in two evil brothers, a Bow Street Runner, and a host of helpful and capable servants and you have a narrative that ricochets from one adventure to another to a third and more. I can't imagine what Goodman saved up for the next in what is obviously going to be a series. Fun.
August 9, 2023
This was an odd one. I really liked the main characters - two unmarried fraternal twins in their early 40s (aka old maids in Regency England). The sisters take it upon themselves to save a number of other women from tragic circumstances (prostitution, abusive husbands, and a mental hospital). My issues were with the pacing and length - this is a 450+ page book with three “cases” and I think it would have been better served with just one main investigation, especially as this appears to be set up as a series. There was clearly a lot of historical research. I also think the cover could have alluded better to the very dark and difficult subject matter.
September 22, 2023
The premise of this is great. Going against the traditional view of women for the time to live a fulfilling life after being deemed “too old to marry?” (They were IN THEIR 30s) Yes please. But the plot got lost in the repetitive nature of the story line. This is to put the twins in situations (in which they always seem to be “ankle deep in excrement”) where they could not possibly get away with it and then juuust manage to squeak by without getting caught. I found it repetitive and infuriating.
September 4, 2023
5 Stars
I was captivated by this book from the very start. The two lead characters, twin but not identical sisters, aged 42 and both single in a society that considered them past their prime even though as Ladies, they moved in the highest echelon of London and English society. Endowed with their own sources of income, they tried to elude their younger brother who had inherited all the family lands, homes, and other assets, and also considered himself their “keeper”. After all, it is a time when women are to be seen and not heard, are not permitted to make any legal or business decisions for themselves, and upon marriage, become the chattel of their husbands. Bored with polite society, the sisters undertook a dangerous caper to recover a friend’s property being held for ransom by an unseemly gentleman. Suspense ensues, and then other assignments present themselves. Along the way, they meet up with two interesting men, and the plot thickens. The book is charming—a treatise on the manners, customs, and attire of the Regency period. The time is 1812. But there is a dark side to this society, as the sisters know well but then find worse than they thought. There is also suspense, as the sisters’ undertakings sometimes put them and others in danger. I note with pleasure that this title is captioned “Book 1”, which implies that a sequel is in the offing. I cannot wait to read it! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys well-researched historical fiction, with interesting characters, and written to entertain and charm the reader.
I was captivated by this book from the very start. The two lead characters, twin but not identical sisters, aged 42 and both single in a society that considered them past their prime even though as Ladies, they moved in the highest echelon of London and English society. Endowed with their own sources of income, they tried to elude their younger brother who had inherited all the family lands, homes, and other assets, and also considered himself their “keeper”. After all, it is a time when women are to be seen and not heard, are not permitted to make any legal or business decisions for themselves, and upon marriage, become the chattel of their husbands. Bored with polite society, the sisters undertook a dangerous caper to recover a friend’s property being held for ransom by an unseemly gentleman. Suspense ensues, and then other assignments present themselves. Along the way, they meet up with two interesting men, and the plot thickens. The book is charming—a treatise on the manners, customs, and attire of the Regency period. The time is 1812. But there is a dark side to this society, as the sisters know well but then find worse than they thought. There is also suspense, as the sisters’ undertakings sometimes put them and others in danger. I note with pleasure that this title is captioned “Book 1”, which implies that a sequel is in the offing. I cannot wait to read it! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys well-researched historical fiction, with interesting characters, and written to entertain and charm the reader.
June 15, 2023
There is a lot going on in this book. The cases in the book hit all the main highlights of the oppression of women in the period. Any of these would be fine as a central part of a stand alone book or as part of a continuous connected case, but here it just comes across as a tour through historical atrocity, plus a serious disease! Also, why so much focus on patriarchal titles when the male character clearly asks the main character to call him by his new name? That stands in opposition to the apparent themes of the book. I'm fine with darker themes but this was just kind of all over the place.
August 29, 2023
(Probably mild spoilers, read if you dare). NOT PLEASED AT ALL with the hanging plot threads, especially with the recent publish date and nary a book 2 in sight. Lame. The rest was ok - though much darker than I had anticipated. I loved Gus and Julie and the fact that they are 40-something "spinsters." But there is a LOT happening, and felt a bit rushed/frantic, when any one of the several "atrocious things that happened to women in the regency era" plotlines could have sufficed for a stand-alone book. Also, I actually do surgical assisting and regularly have my hands in peoples innards and even I had a hard time reading the account of a mastectimy sans anaesthesia. I will probably continue the series just to get bloody Gus/Evan closure, but I am IRRITATED about it.
January 29, 2024
Well this was absolutely delightful!!!! Sharp and witty and full of so much heart!!!!! so many of the observations about the role of women in society were poignant bc of the regency time period, but still managed to feel very relevant and fresh. perfect blend of darker topics and historical commentary mixed with irreverence, wry humor, and fun I loved ittttt
June 2, 2023
When I first saw the cover of The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies, I was instantly interested. It is so pretty, and the story and characters sounded compelling, so I was excited when asked to be part of the blog tour for it. And it didn’t disappoint! It’s an immersive and intriguing mystery, and I adored the sisters, the adventures, and the love story.
The two main characters, Augusta “Gus,” and Julia are single sisters in their 40s, and they are firmly on the shelf of spinsterhood. Treated as an afterthought and a bit of a burden by their brother, the twins live together and have created a fulfilling, if a little mundane, life for themselves. Gus and Julia use much of their free time to help women and children in precarious, and sometimes dangerous, situations.
Augusta and Julia are fantastic characters, and they complement each other well. Augusta (Gus) is the more adventurous and daring sister, and Julia is the more reserved peacemaker of the two. They have such a great relationship, and I enjoyed the little ways their deep connection was shown. It’s almost as if they can read each other’s thoughts, and I always love a little twin magic.
The book follows the sisters through three different cases they work on, all involving women and children in trouble. Each investigation leads the sisters into the dark and dangerous corners of London, and they do everything in their power to right the wrongs of the women and children affected. Gus and Julia are so brave, and they face some despicable and ruthless villains. But their investigations don’t always go as planned, and sometimes they need a little help from their friends.
Lord Evan Belford is one such friend, though initially he appears to be a dishonorable man. I loved his character. He’s super swoon-worthy, and he often puts himself at risk to help Gus and others. I can’t wait to learn more about his past, what really happened that led to his imprisonment and punishment, and how he will prove his innocence. Though the romance isn’t at the forefront of the story, it is a lovely addition to the plot, and he and Gus have great chemistry. I can’t wait to see how this slow-burning love story progresses as the series continues.
I think I hate Gus and Julia’s brother as much as I love Evan. He is so sexist and selfish, and he thinks he is better than his sisters. The way he constantly insults her and women is deeply condescending, yet his views make him a paragon of the patriarchy. I wish he saw his sisters as the fierce and intellectual champions they are and stopped pushing and pressuring them to conform for the sake of his own reputation. I found it interesting that the man who is accepted into society is a sexist snob, and the man who is vilified by society is a good and honorable man.
I thought this was a great read. It was smart and exciting, and Gus and Julia are wonderful. I love that the story highlights so many of the issues women faced, and though many of the issues presented were dark, they are balanced nicely with a slow-building love story, themes of sisterhood, and great banter. I would definitely suggest checking out the content warnings, though. There are situations that include abuse, cancer, child trafficking, maltreatment in institutions, and other darker topics.
Thanks so much to Berkley Books for providing me with a copy of the book and for having me on the tour. All thoughts are my own.
The two main characters, Augusta “Gus,” and Julia are single sisters in their 40s, and they are firmly on the shelf of spinsterhood. Treated as an afterthought and a bit of a burden by their brother, the twins live together and have created a fulfilling, if a little mundane, life for themselves. Gus and Julia use much of their free time to help women and children in precarious, and sometimes dangerous, situations.
Augusta and Julia are fantastic characters, and they complement each other well. Augusta (Gus) is the more adventurous and daring sister, and Julia is the more reserved peacemaker of the two. They have such a great relationship, and I enjoyed the little ways their deep connection was shown. It’s almost as if they can read each other’s thoughts, and I always love a little twin magic.
The book follows the sisters through three different cases they work on, all involving women and children in trouble. Each investigation leads the sisters into the dark and dangerous corners of London, and they do everything in their power to right the wrongs of the women and children affected. Gus and Julia are so brave, and they face some despicable and ruthless villains. But their investigations don’t always go as planned, and sometimes they need a little help from their friends.
Lord Evan Belford is one such friend, though initially he appears to be a dishonorable man. I loved his character. He’s super swoon-worthy, and he often puts himself at risk to help Gus and others. I can’t wait to learn more about his past, what really happened that led to his imprisonment and punishment, and how he will prove his innocence. Though the romance isn’t at the forefront of the story, it is a lovely addition to the plot, and he and Gus have great chemistry. I can’t wait to see how this slow-burning love story progresses as the series continues.
I think I hate Gus and Julia’s brother as much as I love Evan. He is so sexist and selfish, and he thinks he is better than his sisters. The way he constantly insults her and women is deeply condescending, yet his views make him a paragon of the patriarchy. I wish he saw his sisters as the fierce and intellectual champions they are and stopped pushing and pressuring them to conform for the sake of his own reputation. I found it interesting that the man who is accepted into society is a sexist snob, and the man who is vilified by society is a good and honorable man.
I thought this was a great read. It was smart and exciting, and Gus and Julia are wonderful. I love that the story highlights so many of the issues women faced, and though many of the issues presented were dark, they are balanced nicely with a slow-building love story, themes of sisterhood, and great banter. I would definitely suggest checking out the content warnings, though. There are situations that include abuse, cancer, child trafficking, maltreatment in institutions, and other darker topics.
Thanks so much to Berkley Books for providing me with a copy of the book and for having me on the tour. All thoughts are my own.
December 22, 2023
This book is UNDERHYPED. It's really too bad that it hasn't been given the attention it deserves. Gus is a magnetic character with charisma and depth. She is truly iconic.
June 15, 2023
Long past the days when a lady is considered as a potential wife, a determined woman fired with feminist fervor and her sister set out to aid other women in desperate situations when no one else can or will help. A historical mystery not in the traditional sense with non-traditional heroines set against the well-drawn backdrop of the Regency era world.
I’ve already enjoyed an earlier book by Alison Goodman so knew I was in for a colorful and exciting reading experience though this time there are no supernatural elements woven in.
Lady Augusta ‘Gus’ Colebrook has had it up to here with insipid High Society and its rules that put women at the mercy of unworthy men and she is not daunted by the darker underbelly of the glittering wealth. She knows full well what getting involved means for her feminine reputation, but she has a heart and fire in her that can’t turn her eyes from others’ plights. Gus decides to enlist her grieving twin sister and go to the rescue.
Along the way, they have an encounter with a highwayman that has a bizarre twist to the story in that he turns out to be a surprising new ally and a man with a criminal past. They operated in secret and I enjoyed pursuing the various types of mysteries they worked on from the first case of abuse to a horrid mental institution
I ended up having to make some mental adjustments when I read this one. First, I had it in my head that it would be lighter- more cozy and bantering- than it was. Once I realized that this would deal with social ills and mysteries that were darker like human trafficking, abuse, and cruel mental asylums, I was fine with what I got. And, secondly, this is actually a story broken into three parts based on three different cases the sisters, Gus and Julia, and Lord Evan are working on with the aid of their loyal serving staff and a Bow Street Runner. It is also not an end all, but the spring board for further books in a series- at least I hope that’s why the end was somewhat abrupt.
It was frustrating for Gus that men wouldn’t heed her and Oys, I wanted to smack her spiteful brother for her the way he acted toward her. Gus and Julia might be considered past it by society, but they were smart and used their spinsterhood to advantage. They also had Twin Power- or at least a fun and helpful way of silently communicating that aided them in their work. The mysteries were great, but I loved that there was a romance brewing for Gus, too. Lord Evan was a fab tarnished hero who wasn’t the criminal that all of society thought him, but he was on a mission about all that and helping the sisters, too.
All in all, this was a good start to the series and I want more Gus, Lord Evan and their team hot on the trail of social injustice and misery in their Regency times. Historical mystery fans who like it a bit grittier and darker with social injustice elements and bold characters should give this a go.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer on May 31st.
I’ve already enjoyed an earlier book by Alison Goodman so knew I was in for a colorful and exciting reading experience though this time there are no supernatural elements woven in.
Lady Augusta ‘Gus’ Colebrook has had it up to here with insipid High Society and its rules that put women at the mercy of unworthy men and she is not daunted by the darker underbelly of the glittering wealth. She knows full well what getting involved means for her feminine reputation, but she has a heart and fire in her that can’t turn her eyes from others’ plights. Gus decides to enlist her grieving twin sister and go to the rescue.
Along the way, they have an encounter with a highwayman that has a bizarre twist to the story in that he turns out to be a surprising new ally and a man with a criminal past. They operated in secret and I enjoyed pursuing the various types of mysteries they worked on from the first case of abuse to a horrid mental institution
I ended up having to make some mental adjustments when I read this one. First, I had it in my head that it would be lighter- more cozy and bantering- than it was. Once I realized that this would deal with social ills and mysteries that were darker like human trafficking, abuse, and cruel mental asylums, I was fine with what I got. And, secondly, this is actually a story broken into three parts based on three different cases the sisters, Gus and Julia, and Lord Evan are working on with the aid of their loyal serving staff and a Bow Street Runner. It is also not an end all, but the spring board for further books in a series- at least I hope that’s why the end was somewhat abrupt.
It was frustrating for Gus that men wouldn’t heed her and Oys, I wanted to smack her spiteful brother for her the way he acted toward her. Gus and Julia might be considered past it by society, but they were smart and used their spinsterhood to advantage. They also had Twin Power- or at least a fun and helpful way of silently communicating that aided them in their work. The mysteries were great, but I loved that there was a romance brewing for Gus, too. Lord Evan was a fab tarnished hero who wasn’t the criminal that all of society thought him, but he was on a mission about all that and helping the sisters, too.
All in all, this was a good start to the series and I want more Gus, Lord Evan and their team hot on the trail of social injustice and misery in their Regency times. Historical mystery fans who like it a bit grittier and darker with social injustice elements and bold characters should give this a go.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer on May 31st.
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