The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies (THE ILL-MANNERED LADIES)
A Washington Post Best Mystery Novel of 2023
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 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.
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 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.
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Community Reviews
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 4 stars
Let me start off by saying that if this book hadn't been recommended to me I most likely would have never picked it up and that would have been most unfortunate.
Charming, smart, witty, and fun; this regency mystery romance is a darling read full of adventure and amateur sleuthing.
I definitely see myself in Augusta "Gus"; independent, determined, and unwilling to take no for an answer. But that's not to say that I don't adore Julia, because she is fierce, strong, and resilient in her own way.
And Lord Evan; if you are drawn to the "bad boy" like I usually am, you won't be disappointed in this highwayman on the run.
The end of the book leaves us a bit in limbo and I am really looking forward to seeing how it all plays out in the next.
Let me start off by saying that if this book hadn't been recommended to me I most likely would have never picked it up and that would have been most unfortunate.
Charming, smart, witty, and fun; this regency mystery romance is a darling read full of adventure and amateur sleuthing.
I definitely see myself in Augusta "Gus"; independent, determined, and unwilling to take no for an answer. But that's not to say that I don't adore Julia, because she is fierce, strong, and resilient in her own way.
And Lord Evan; if you are drawn to the "bad boy" like I usually am, you won't be disappointed in this highwayman on the run.
The end of the book leaves us a bit in limbo and I am really looking forward to seeing how it all plays out in the next.
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