I received a gifted galley of THE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF ILL-MANNERED LADIES by Alison Goodman for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, PRH Audio, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

THE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF ILL-MANNERED LADIES is a historical fiction caper set in Regency London. Lady Agusta (Gus) Colebrook is considered an old spinster, unmarried at her ‘advanced’ age of 42 and a little too opinionated and outspoken for the proper folks. She and her twin sister Julia, also single after the death of her fiancée, are approached by a friend with a request. This friend’s goddaughter Caroline is married to an abusive husband and needs help to make an escape. Bored with their day to day existence, the sisters are on board to create a plan.

I didn’t know much about this book going in, but I was very pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it. I really loved Gus as our central character and her feisty attitude to the world. The book does a good job of showing how little agency women had in this time period and how Gus was shunned for being so strong as a woman.

While there is a lot of good humor in this book, it delves into some very serious topics including abuse against women and especially women branded as ‘mad’ for just speaking their mind or daring not to bow to the societal norms. Homophobia is also a serious topic of consideration. I think the author did a good job of showing this to the extent that it was at times hard to read about.

I think my only qualm with the book was that it did at times feel long. Gus goes on a couple different quests (for lack of a better term) throughout the book and while it very much does all tie together, it also felt like this maybe could have been split across more than one book.

This is the first book in a new series, so while some things are brought to a satisfying conclusion, there is an overarching plot which is set up to continue in book two. I will be looking forward to the next installment.

Thank you so much to Berkley for the gifted book!

I wanted to love this one so badly! The cover, the synopsis and all the early reviews I read sounded wonderful, so this must be a me problem. I couldn't get into it no matter how hard I tried and was bored most of the time.

I still think this will be a big hit and that i'll be the minority on this one!

This will be available for purchase on May 30th.

Thank you to Berkley Romance and Let'sTalk Books for the advanced reader copy and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

In regency England, the 42-year-old twins, Lady Augusta and Lady Julia, help other women in difficult straits. I loved that this focused on women who were more mature. Both are unmarried, and the two have quite distinct personalities and approaches to adventure.

The story is told in first person by Augusta, so we get her inner monologue. But we also get great insight into Julia through their shared looks and unspoken understanding. Both are so motivated to help people.

This book incorporates lots of intrigue, danger, heroes and villains, and just a touch of romance. I was disappointed when it ended because there were some parts deliberately left as loose ends and teasers for a future tale.

The book concludes with an amazing Author's Note about regency England. It added even more to my appreciation, and I am all the more eager for further books in the series.

Kristin Atherton did such a great job narrating the many characters. I had a sense of who each was from the moment of their first line of dialogue. The audiobook is on the longer side at just over 15 and a half hours. But as it is separated into three cases, that seemed just the right length.

CW: breast cancer, sexual assault, child trafficking

4.5 stars rounded up

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 Number One 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.

For posting on 5/29/23
I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence this review.

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is the newest release by Alison Goodman. The title may put you in mind of a warm/fuzzy mystery/romance with the cover illustration indicating the Regency Era. All of this is correct, but insufficient to describe this page-turner of an adventure story. It’s lengthy, but a quick read. It’s a book one, so not all loose ends are tied up, but it ends on a relatively satisfying note.

Lady Augusta Colebrook and her sister Julia are the ladies in question, though Julia is usually very well mannered. It’s not quite a society yet, but they are aided, at times by Charlotte, Lady Davenport, and there is room for more help in the future.

Augusta (Gus) and Julia are twins (not identical), unmarried, and 42 years old. So in the eyes of the ton, they are inconsequential and, to some extent, invisible. They have an inheritance and so a degree of independence. Julia was almost married two years earlier but her fiancé died in an accident. Gus is a more determined spinster, but she refuses to consider herself old and useless. The fact that their younger brother, who is now an earl, has always resented Gus and is now cruelly pleased to be head of the family and able to treat her with disdain is not making her life easier. And worst of all, Julia has recently been diagnosed with a canker of the breast, a disease that has taken other female relatives, including their mother.

However, Gus is indomitable. Owing Lady Charlotte a favor, she (and Julia) undertake to retrieve some incriminating letters Charlotte had written to a scoundrel of a lover who is now blackmailing her. The mission turns dangerous but succeeds. Gus is thrilled. And hooked on adventure. The fact that middle-aged, unattached ladies are underestimated gives them an edge. When the chance arises to undertake a rescue mission of a lady being imprisoned in the country by her evil husband, Gus is thrilled. She is even more thrilled when she thwarts a highwayman along the way and discovers he is actually a gentlemen who can be trusted – even if he is a convicted criminal.

A relationship blossoms between Gus and this highwayman, Lord Evan, despite Julia’s insistence (and Lord Evan’s) that any further contact is too dangerous. However, Gus is unable to refuse to help others in need and she is not above enlisting Lord Evan’s help. She is also determined to prove that he is not guilty of the crime he was convicted of.

The adventures continue. The danger mounts. And Gus and Lord Evan cannot stay apart.

This novel blends historical fact into the unlikely but thoroughly enjoyable storyline. Each of the adventures is based on ways that women and girls were abused and held powerless by the laws of the times. Readers will be aghast and indignant and root all the more for the success of the sisters and their accomplices. And this reader will eagerly anticipate the next installment.

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.

This was utterly delightful. I love a good regency adventure, especially with a feminist bent and a woman who defies societal norms to solve crimes and right wrongs. What I did not realize I was missing, however, was for said society-norm-defying-women to be a pair of 42-year-old spinster sisters. It was delicious.

I was immediately struck, upon starting, with how familiar the storytelling felt and how appropriate it seemed for someone setting out to solve mysteries. It reminds me of the Sherlock Holmes stories with the first-person narration of Dr. Watson. In this case we have the first-person narration of Lady Augusta Colebrook, using a similar dry and slightly amused tone. It also reminds me of the narration of the Enola Holmes novels (which are likely based on those about Sherlock).

I like that the mysteries Lady Augusta elects to solve and the crimes she seeks to address all involve women being wronged, from the initial retrieval of a packet of incriminating letters to the final adventure of rescuing the inhabitants of a brutal madhouse. Each is a step farther along the path and take her a step away from the 'neither seen nor heard' proper lady her brother wishes to force her to be.

Her relationship with her sister was wonderful (despite the less-than-likely entire conversations held entirely in gestures -- alongside the multi-sentence exchanges those gestures are purported to represent). Lady Julia is suffering from breast cancer (a disease which killed their mother and aunt) and is much more concerned with propriety than her sister, but she gamely shows up for Gus again and again, lending her skills to their rescue attempts and occasionally threatening the villains at gunpoint. The love and trust between the sisters really shines.

The disgraced Lord Evan - escaped convict, horse thief, and charming rogue - makes a wonderful partner in crime for Gus and it quickly becomes clear that he is her perfect match. I loved seeing them work together from the beginning and how their schemes grew more complicated each time but often relied on standing together and winging it moment to moment.

The villains in this are truly villainous and the misogyny and brutality against women of all ages and statuses are hard to stomach. From brothel to madhouse, the many, many ways that men have invented to be cruel to women are on display. It is hard to read in places and each encounter stokes Gus' (and the reader's) righteous fury.

Things worked out just a little too easily in some of the later more complicated schemes, but never enough that it took me out of the story.

I'm glad that Julia gest a love interest by the end and doesn't have to sink back into mourning for her deceased fiance forever, and greatly enjoyed how that happened and how Julia seems much more in control of the situation.

I can't wait for more of Gus and Julia and Lord Evan and Kent. It's clear by the end of this that their story is only beginning which makes me very happy what with how much I enjoyed this one.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an early copy for review.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book! I loved the characters, and their adventures were thrilling. I look forward to the sequel. 4.5 stars.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Berkley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Historical Adventure, Mystery (With a side helping of some romance.)
Heat Level: Sweet (Hmm—a kiss.) HOWEVER, the protagonists goes into some of the seediest places of the time. The abusive and awful stuff is not on the page, but heavily alluded to.
Representation: Both racisms and LGBTQ prejudice with tertiary characters.

I entered THE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF ILL-MANNERED LADIES thoroughly expecting the "spinsters" not to conform to society's wishes. But I did not expect the social issues and the correlation to our time period. That's not a bad thing—just a surprise.

Lady Augusta and Lady Julia (twin sisters) are deemed too old to have value in society—even their brother wants them to behave in a "respectable" manner. When these women are presented with an opportunity to rescue a woman from her husband, they go all in—Augusta full strength (toting a gun that might injure a ruffian) while Julia is more circumspect and proper, forever the peacemaker.

But saving one woman is only the beginning of their adventures.
And the ruffian? Who happens to be handsome and the convict, Lord Evans, who was sent to a penal colony for murder. Is it possible he's innocent?

For some reason Augusta can't put him out of her mind.

We don't see as many books with the underbelly of Regency England—but it was a time of political turmoil and social ills. This novel is both entertaining and instructive on how horrible the past has treated women. A feminist take on the Regency era is an apt description.

I felt like I never got a resolution on how Augusta's feelings about her father might have changed through the course of her adventures. And even though the cover is lovely, I wish it had a bolder color or something that might give a bigger clue to the contents besides the women cagily holding weapons. The smaller conflicts are wrapped up, but the biggest mystery is left unresolved for the next book. At least, I hope it gets resolved along with other new adventures. I will definitely read the next book.

This novel is for anyone who wants to delve into a mystery and adventure with middle-aged women who won't allow themselves to be condescended to by anyone. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

A glorious blend of historical romance, Jane Austen feels, and murder mystery. I was unsure if they'd all mesh, but they did and with perfection!

I can't think of any other book I've read quite like this mystery. For starters the book is divided into 3 different cases all involving women in serious and terrible situations. As well, Gus and her sister Julia are both a bit older than the typical main character and financially independent. Gus is daring and adventurous and willing to risk herself to help her friends and protect her sister. Julia is a bit quieter and nicer. Her edges are a bit smoother than Gus's in your face manner and she isn't quite so quick to jump without thinking. That said she is just as smart and brave and Gus is. As well these aren't typical mysteries. There are no murders but the situations Gus and Julia are involved in are perhaps even more serious with everything on the line.

I enjoyed this read and really liked the format of essentially 3 short stories but in chronological order. I enjoyed getting to know the main characters and understanding their motivations. Also, Julia's health issues were heartbreaking and it was interesting to see how breast cancer was treated and thought of in this time period. My main issue was that Gus's obsession with Lord Evan annoyed me a bit. She's an adult and is supposed to be mature but she just won't even pause to listen to anyone's advice.

This is my first experience with this author but it definitely won't be my last. I really enjoyed the writing style, the characters and the stories.

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is the first book in Allison Goodman’s new Ill-Mannered Ladies series of historical mysteries. It’s nicely told, featuring two older heroines who find themselves becoming detectives, which definitely alleviates the boredom of their orderly lives.

The Colebrook twins, Lady Augusta – called Gus – and Julia, are two well-heeled sisters who are currently completely without male companionship. They go to church, they go to tea – and they’re positively bored stiff. Since they’re past their mid-forties the word ‘spinster’ continues to pop up in conversations, if not precisely aptly. Julia is mourning her fiancé, and Gus is not of a marrying mind. Ergo, they use their position within society as benignly ignored figures to help up the vulnerable. In this case, they seek to help their friend’s daughter, Caroline.

Caroline is apparently being abused by her husband, and Gus and Julia seek to protect her and spirit her off to safety. But they find themselves accosted by a highwayman on the way to her home. Both women are shocked to find love along the way – in Gus’ case, with Lord Evan Belford…whom Gus has shot accidentally. He is accused of a crime he insists he never committed and had been exiled from polite society years ago. Gus vows to help him, and is definitely intrigued by his ways. Might love have arrived for her at last – along with an extra sense of purpose and a way to use her position in society for the betterment of the world?

My biggest problem with The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is that Julia doesn’t’ get as much time to bake as a character. I think she could have served to anchor more of the plot, but this is Gus’ show. Not that I really minded, since she’s a wonderfully lively character to follow. There’s a lot of twin magic going on with these characters, who can sometimes anticipate each other’s actions thanks to their twin-ness. But that’s a small quibble, as I really loved Gus’ determination.

The book spotlights three cases in which the two women help others and are surprised greatly by the arrival of romance. The book’s great at switching the plot up, making you suspect the unexpected. Be warned that the cases these ladies deal with are not ‘gentle’; they fight for the rights of prostitutes and the abused without fear.

The period research here is excellent, as is the way Goodman keeps her characters’ thought processes period apropos. Everything else about The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is just a little extra sugar in a cup of tea.

Oh my gosh, how have I been sleeping on Alison Goodman? I now have to scour the internet looking for all her novels because if they are anything like The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies, Goodman may be my new must-buy author. This cover doesn't do this book justice, the pretty pastel colors make you think this may be a light-hearted cozy mystery but little do you know this covers some dark heavy topics in its pages.

Goodman has absolutely hooked me with this book, which I hope is a series (I am pretty sure it is) because I will need to read the right away. I immediately fell in love with the logical, witty, and brave Augusta/Gus who although she takes a lot of risks in her need to help people (some of which I didn't agree with) is just absolutely divine. I even love Julia who plays the straight-woman to Augusta's rashness. I even loved the romance with Lord Evan, who I also really liked.

There are three cases, plus one over-arching case, all of which were incredibly interesting and different from each other. I love that despite the restrictions that Gus has because she is a woman she still goes above and beyond and gets things done. There were a few times that Like Gus I wanted to rage at how dismissive and stifling some of the men were, especially Duffy, Gus and Julia's brother.

Overall, I loved this book and will be waiting with bated breath for a second one.

Adventure, abuse, accosting, a little romance and more fill the pages of Ms. Goodman's new novel, THE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF ILL-MANNERED LADIES. Wow, this is a dangerous, exciting and a very unexpected historical romance! It stars an amateur sleuth, Lady Augusta Colebrook, known as Gus, who is a lovely, single maiden determined to defend other unfortunate women from mistreatment. Gus and help from her twin sister, Julia, they race to the aid of women all over London to extricate them from dire consequences. As their adventures take them to unsafe, seedy locations, brothels, taverns, a lunatic asylum, and other places deemed unworthy by society women, they meet a hunkalicious highwayman with a questionable past and a dashing, debonair Bow Street Runner with depth. Gus' resourceful butler helps her out a lot, while her jealous brother hinders her and spitefully alters the course of her well-ordered society life. What other risky escapades lay in store for Gus and her sister, Julia? Will they succeed in their quest to help out all the unfortunate ladies of London?

This lovely historical romance is a story of twin sisters bucking society and defying convention to live life as they see fit, while helping those less fortunate in compromising circumstances in the regency period of London. If romance happens that would be amazing too. Ms. Goodman spins a story so dramatic, magnetic and subtly romantic, I was spellbound throughout the entire tale. What a lively, twisty, dicey plot! Gus has eyes for the rugged highwayman, so I wonder if this will lead to a sizzling romance? Thankfully, there are other stories planned for this series. The beguiling secret life of the Colebrook twins is one I want to read more about! There is also humor and witty writing that I just love! THE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF ILL-MANNERED LADIES is a rippling, roaring debut!

This book delivers exactly what the title promised me: a fun romp with women aged above 40 choosing to elevate the grievances of the less fortunate among them, even when against the proprietal standards of regency London.

I loved that we have a strong female sibling bond where the women stand up for each other, but also some loyal friendships, as well as a dashing highway robber working with them on some endeavours. This was everything I wanted in a historical fiction book with this premise. Detailed review to come.

There was so much going on in this book, I almost wished each section got a book of its own to really breathe. Alison Goodman tackles some heavy subjects but isn't able to delve deeply into any of them. I also found that Gus and Julia read as far younger than they were described. Gus is 42 but her thoughts and actions are often naive and careless. Just an ok read for me.

I was so intrigued by this book from the start that I didn't even notice it wasn't marketed as a romance. While a little apprehensive, since that's normally all I read, I was pleased to discover that the story drew me in without the need for romance. Although we did get a little bit, which warmed my forever romantic soul, the story mainly focused on the lives of two independent women. Twin spinsters living together in spite of society expectations and looking for ways to keep themselves occupied, they delve into the darkest corners of society...and find their purpose in shining a light on them. Triggers abound in this book, so don't enter reading it lightly or expecting a cozy mystery. This is gritty, albeit with moments of humor and goodwill, and I think you'll see a side of British society during the Regency period that many historical romance books tend to sugarcoat.

Lady Augusta Colebrooke, being 42 years of age and firmly on the shelf, has little regard for society and what her brother thinks of her. Living alongside her twin, who lost her love before he could make it to the altar, both find meaning in pursuits aside from matrimony, which they find comfort in. While her twin battles the stress of finding a lump in her breast that may be quite serious, Lady Augusta, or Gus, tries to keep her mind off of it by pursuing opportunities to help others. From rescuing a woman kept homebound by her dastardly husband to freeing children from a life of enslavement and prostitution, she doesn't let any danger, great or small, prevent her from doing what she must. On one such journey, she runs into an old acquaintance, Lord Evan Belford, who has become a highwayman since she last saw him twenty years ago...not long before he was tried for murder and banished from the country. Yet there he is, in England, and robbing her coach. From there, her focus becomes much more entangled. Now she not only wants to help others...but perhaps help Evan locate his sister...and win his heart as well.

I had such enjoyment reading about Gus' adventures, because it felt like three mini mysteries wrapped into one. While quite dark at times, I appreciated how frank the author was in describing the conditions of living many faced during that time period. As well, I also found it fascinating to learn that medical treatment for breast cancer was a thing back then, even though they were still learning what it was exactly. The characters in the story were vibrant and welcoming to the reader as you dive into the world, and even the villains were engaging and had me on the edge of my seat, rooting for their demise. The romance was a wonderful cherry on top, not consuming the story but acting as a beacon of hope during the dark times. I adore the fact that we have a heroine who is long past what would be considered her prime in those days, and she can find happiness in spite of society setting her on the shelf. She hopped right off that shelf, found herself an occupation AND a man. I have no excuses in the 21st century after seeing that. None.

Be careful of triggers - I have them listed below. This is a wonderful story if you can get through those and come out on the other side. I look forward to reading more in this series.

Note of Triggers:

*Mention of Sexual Assault (minors and adults) and Incest
*Breast Cancer, Description of Breast Removal Surgery
*Suicide and Murder
*Graphic descriptions of insane asylum conditions

As an older woman, how can I not cheer these I’ll-mannered ladies on? What a fun read, and one I am happy to recommend to our readers!

This story set in Regency London is a mystery and contains a lot of social commentary. Lady Augusta Colebrook and her twin sister Lady Julia are unmarried and 42. Julia, who is still grieving the death of her fiance needs a distraction and Gus decides that looking into problems of society women will be a way to distract her.

Their first adventure takes them to Vauxhall's Dark Walk to retrieve some compromising letters one of their friends wrote to a man who was quite a bit less than a gentleman. They manage to retrieve the letters without parting with the diamond necklace that was supposed to be payment. Their second case flows out of their first. Their friend's niece is in grave danger from her husband and needs to be rescued.

On their way to rescue the young woman, they are beset by highwaymen, but Gus is handy with a pistol and wounds one of the villains. He turns out to be Lord Evan Belford, a member of their social set, who was convicted of murder after a duel and sent to the penal colony at New South Wales in Australia. He's back because he has heard disturbing news about his younger sister. He escaped before completing his sentence and has both a Bow Street Runner and a thief-taker on his trail.

After a hair-raising rescue mission, Lord Evan goes his way leaving Gus disappointed but intrigued. There are two more cases - rescuing young girls kidnapped to work in brothels and rescuing Lord Evan's sister from an insane asylum. Each case exposes the dark side of Regency London. Each case also allows Gus to be both active and useful.

Historical detail includes the rights of women during the Regency which were minimal and the treatment of the mentally ill which were appalling. Lady Julia's possible breast cancer also illuminates the state of medicine at the time.

I enjoyed this story with its historical detail and engaging characters. I'm looking forward to more stories about Lord Evan, Lady Augusta, and Lady Julia.

Lady Augusta and Lady Julia are unmarried twin sisters, past their "sell by" date at age 42. Their much younger nasty brother has inherited the family estate and title, and he and his despicable new bride are treating the sisters with disdain. To ease her boredom, Lady Augusta (Gus) agrees to help a friend secure some love letters that she wrote to a man who turned out to be a rogue. After the successful completion of their task, Gus realizes that she quite likes being useful and having something to do (other than make calls, serve tea, and see the same people every day). So she agrees to help another friend, and so on, and so on. Meeting a handsome highwayman doesn't hurt, either.
After a slow start, this became quite an enjoyable historical novel comprising three "cases" that the sisters solve. Unlike many novels set in the Regency period, there is less emphasis here on gowns, jewels, and balls. There is solid history about Regency life, especially among the middle and lower classes instead of just the bon ton. As in C. S. Harris' Sebastian St. Cyr novels, Gus and Julia can move in a variety of social circles, and they too have their faithful retainers to assist them. There are also a few splashes of romance but not enough to put off non-romance readers (like me). The first book in a planned series. Many thanks to NetGalley and th3e publisher for providing an eARC for review.