A Terribly Nasty Business had all the charm of a Regency romance, mixed with the intrigue of a classic whodunit and it was sprinkled with just the right amount of humor. Beatrice Steele is the kind of heroine you can’t help but root for: smart, determined, and just a little unconventional for her time.

This is the second in the series and loved being back in Beatrice's world. The banter between her and Inspector Drake was such a highlight - sharp, witty, and full of that will-they-won’t-they spark. The side characters brought so much color to the story, from the quirky city dwellers to Beatrice’s chaperone. And the mystery itself? Twisty enough to keep me turning pages late into the night.

Read if you love:
-clever, determined heroines
-banter-ey fun
-laugh-out-loud moments
-a dash of romance
-small-town intrigue (Regency-style!)
-murder with a side of wit

A Terribly Nasty Business is the sequel to A Most Agreeable Murder by Julie Seales. It has the same humorous, old-timey English vibes that I loved in the first book of the series. The main character, murder and mystery-loving Beatrice, has moved to London to partner up with Inspector Vivek Drake to solve murders and give the city's other inspector, Sir Huxley, some competition. Beatrice quickly learns that London is much more cutthroat than her hometown. The elite men of a group called NAGS are out to clear the city of artists in all forms - mimes, poets, actors, painters, sculptors, etc. Coincidentally, someone has begun murdering the men of NAGS. Beatrice wants to solve these murders, but she's still expected to find and marry a wealthy man and share her wealth with her family. Can she solve the case before the murderer strikes again?

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for a review copy of A Terribly Nasty Business.

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=3.5 | 😘=1 | 🤬=0 | ⚔️=2 | 14+

summary: sequel to A Most Agreeable Murder a quirky murder mystery set in Regency England feat. an inspector newly moved to London for the season and she solves a murder alongside her gruff companion

thoughts: cute! fun! just a classic historical murder mystery with a kind of ridiculous setup and silly villain monologue, but like, it was a good time with a protagonist I very much like! cleverly constructed and humorous anachronisms in historical fiction are far preferable to unacknowledged and nondeliberate inaccuracies, and I always love genres that play with that without being annoying; this toed the line, but ultimately I liked it a lot!

This was a great follow-up to the hilarious "A Most Agreeable Murder". Beatrice and Drake are back to solve another mystery, this time as partners. The characters are once again quirky, the mystery is fun but also intriguing, and the off-kilter regency world Seales has constructed is as delightful as ever. I cannot wait for the next book in this series. I would also take an entire novel on Beatrice's often overlooked but most-probably werewolf-y sister, Mary.

What I Loved:

The Murders. Sometimes, historical and cozy fictions sacrifice the murder mystery for the “trappings,” aka setting the scene, the love story, etc. Here, multiple NAGS (Neighborhood Association of Gentlemen Sweetbriarians, of course) are being murdered and there are clues with each body. The clues point to an intriguing pact, an old wrong buried for decades, and a raw red herring. The murders are being used to create panic around artists and theatrical types, pointing to a deeper conspiracy. I figured it out about 75% of the way in, but it was a fun and wild ride.

The Social Implications. While the Beatrice Steele series is always heavy handed with its metaphors, here, I really enjoyed it because while women’s rights and socioeconomic divides are front and center, Seales’ humorous writing style manages to keep it light. Suppression of arts and artists and noblemen controlling the lower classes are central to the plot but shown to be a problem that Beatrice and Drake can help fix, not have to succumb to. Seales also keeps it fun by doing things like replacing fog with flying squirrels, and have the “moral keepers” be called NAGS unironically.

The Love Plot. Without spoiling anything, I love the romantic and sexual tension between Beatrice and Drake. I also love that Seales shows a woman can find more than one man attractive, but only seriously consider one to be a real partner.

What Didn’t Work As Well:

The Austen Connection. As the series continues, Beatrice Steele moves further away from her Austenian roots. While there is still the requisite number of sisters, the hysterical matriarch, and aloof Darcy-type, the connection has become more tenuous, especially as Beatrice embarks on her London career. This is not quite a criticism, but more of an acknowledgment that some readers who were lured in by an homage to Austen may be disappointed.

The Tone. As a caveat again, I really liked that Nasty Business was a bit more grave than the first book. However, the tone shift is a little disorienting and Beatrice’s character is less sure of herself in this on. For people that absolutely adored the lighthearted and comical tone in book 1, book 2 may be an adjustment.

I really enjoyed this!! It's just as silly, witty, and clever as the first one. The twists kept on coming and it had me needing to find out what happens. I loved seeing Beatrice coming into her own throughout the book as she settles in London and navigates her partnership with Drake. If anything, I wished for more tension and passion between them. It's a SLOW burn though, and I can't wait for the next book to hopefully see them progress.
I had a fun time reading it!

Beatrice Steele is now in the Sweetbriar neighborhood of London, a partner in D&s investigations with bbb Drake. Though eager to tackle significant cases, they are relegated to solving small problems, such as nnnnnnnnn. This is because of the odious fake detective, Mr jjj Huxley, whose fame and successful resolutions to cases are reported regularly in the papers. (We know he uses tips and answers from fans, and the labour of others (e.g. Mr. Drake) without attribution, from book one.

Beatrice’s mother constantly urges her to take the Season seriously, as the Steele family’s financial fortunes are grave. Beatrice wishes she could avoid the whole thing, but her dedicated chaperone, and strange understanding of fashion,, miss Botton, eagerly takes her to events.though Beatrice is locked out of real opportunities till she takes matters into her own hands, gaining an entrée to local Society from a fashion setter in Sweetbriar.

The Sweetbriar neighborhood is plagued by two things, flying squirrels, and a group of extra conservative gentlemen eager to control, abuse and destroy the artists’ careers , shopkeepers whose goods are deemed too liberal or risqué, and the minds of the gentlewomen who reside in the neighbourhood.

When an actor is accused by NAGs (these hateful gentlemen), he comes to D&S for help. Beatrice is thrilled, and begins her inquiries with the local gentry, while pretending to her chaperone that she is husband hunting. Drake loathes Society’s conventions, and begins his own inquiries, causing friction between Beatrice and him. This is only exacerbated by her growing feelings for him, and Huxley, who is there at parties, and attempting to flirt with her.

I really liked this entry. Beatrice is inventive, imaginative, observant, and has good instincts, which she puts to good use in her investigation. She's also rightly upset with Drake, who on the one hand pushes her away and doesn't share what he's up to consistently, and on the other hand is clearly falling for her, as she is for him. When they finally begin working together on the case, which exposes the nastiness of the men of NAGs, they make a good team. While temporarily stopped in their tracks, Beatrice knows NAGs bear watching.

And, she proves that she's a good investigator, and by the end, has achieved a way to keep doing what she loves. I cannot wait for what she and Drake get up to next.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Random House Publishing Group - Random House for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Beatrice is a clever, determined heroine set on making her mark as a private investigator in Regency London—despite pressure to marry and save her family’s finances. She and her partner, Inspector Drake, get pulled into a string of murders in the upscale Sweetbriar neighborhood, competing with rival detective Sir Huxley to solve the case.

The story is fast-paced and fun, with some added texture from letters and newspaper clippings (though I found those a bit distracting at times). I really enjoyed A Most Agreeable Murder, and A Terribly Nasty Business is a strong follow-up.

A Terrible Nasty Business” by Julia Seales is a fun, low-stakes historical cozy mystery that offers a light, engaging plot and an eccentric cast of characters. This is the second book in the series, and I didn’t realize there was a book before it until I’d already started reading. That lack of background only caused minor confusion at the beginning, mostly due to how lightly returning characters are reintroduced.
For example, Inspector Drake: I learned through various chapters her’s Indian, tall, surprisingly muscular, and wears an eye patch. That’s it. My imagination may have gone a bit rogue in the absence of a definitive description. The only other thing that threw me a bit was the footnotes. They come across as like little stray thoughts of extra tidbit of information, which i had no problems with. But a handful of them make it almost seem like her sister is a werewolf? Which this was not a paranormal story so logically no but the footnotes suggest otherwise.

This book will spoil the major plot point of book 1 “A Most Agreeable Murder” so I would recommend reading it first.

This book kept my brain engaged without demanding too much heavy lifting, which is exactly what I was hoping for. I’ll definitely like to read the next book when it comes out, especially after how the final paragraph left things. All in all It’s a charmingly quirky, low-pressure read. perfect when you’re in the mood for something clever but not overly taxing.

I had so much fun reading "A Most Agreeable Murder" that when I saw that the sequel was available, I knew I had to request it. It did not disappoint. Beatrice and Drake are delightful protagonists, and their supporting crew is hilarious. (Beatrice's mother, as always, is a riot, and the sly references to Mary's potential...moon-issues...still had me rolling.) The mystery was well-plotted and executed (...pun, as is usual, totally intended), and it was just a really enjoyable read; it is at once a love letter to the genre, and a tongue-in-cheek spoof, and I can't wait for the next installment.

5 Stars!

I do not give out 5 stars easily. Before I even finished my ARC of this book I had gone to Barnes to get a physical copy. Loved this world and the characters. Such a fun read. Need a screen adaptation now!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for my arc in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

“Remember that you grow more decrepit and unmarriageable with each passing day. You must try to find a husband before the wrinkles take over. They are distinguished for men but unsightly in women."

A Terribly Nasty Business is a fun, enjoyable read that will charm and engage you with suspense, silliness, romance and a mystery that truly keeps you guessing.

Julia Seales did not disappoint with another entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own and completely voluntary.

Beatrice Steele is back trying to solve crimes in the big city of London all while navigating the society scene. Much like book #1 in the series, this one was slapstick funny at times with lots of dry wit and commentary about the sometimes absurd ways of this time period. The back and forth romantic tension with her sidekick, Drake, was also 10/10. I enjoyed this one and it will definitely appeal to fans of A Most Agreeable Murder! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

Beatrice Steele finally has what she wants: an agency where she can detect. The only issue is her mother's desire for a financial marriage as the home needs money for more and more repairs. When Beatrice and Drake are hired to clear the name of Percival Nash, a chain of events has Beatrice participating in the season as well as trying to find a killer, before it's too late. Drama, balls, murder, and ribbons adorn this story.

Where does one even start? Where the first book set-up Beatrice Steele, this book just shows how Beatrice has much to learn, but she can also solve a murder, but not alone. The mystery has many layers and red herrings. I followed Beatrice and Drake excitedly. It's hard not to give away so many lush details because this story just kept readers hooked when Beatrice starts the season. You're just going to have to read it.

If you read the first, this one is so much stronger. The story understands who it is and what it's doing. The author has found her stride with this work and I cannot wait for the next book. (Please say there will be more Steele and Drake adventures?)

⭐️4

Following the events of Book 1, Beatrice Steele finds herself in London—trying to secure a match while also starting an investigative business with Inspector Drake. As they compete for more intriguing cases with the famed Sir Huxley, they become entangled in high society and multiple murders.

This second installment to “A Most Agreeable Murder” is delightfully sarcastic and has plenty of fun intrigue, there are huffed laughs a plenty.

✨murder mystery
✨Clue/Knives Out meets Bridgerton/Jane Austen
✨ tongue-in-cheek humor, satire
✨period piece
✨slowwwww burn, almost inexistent pining, hands grazing

If you love Beatrice Steele, you'll love this second book in the series. Beatrice and Vivek Drake are starting up DS Investigations while Beatrice is under pressure from her family to marry rich ASAP. Beatrice earns herself a place among fashionable society while solving a mystery!

Readers get to find out how Beatrice balances detective work and romance, and if those two can coexist. The romance is a verrrry slow burn in the style of the time period. The mystery certainly keeps readers guessing, and if they can suspend their disbelief in the previous book, they might be able to handle the thrilling ending of this novel. Steele and Drake are back in a lovely way, and they find a few allies who are additions to the cast of characters to love.

I enjoyed this book. I also love Tirzah Price's Lizzie and Darcy mysteries and Claudia Gray's Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney Mystery series. If you enjoy a Regency-era setting with a modern twist on attitude, you'll like these stories by Julia Seales.

A Terribly Nasty Business by Julia Seales is the second book of the Beatrice Steele series!
Beatrice Steele has gone to London to start her own investigation business with Inspector Drake, who may be hot and strong- but it would be uncouth to admit that. Despite her morbid interest in murder, her mother wants her to enter the season and find a eligible husband. It’s just her luck, that her business and personal life collide when a string of murders start to happen at the very balls she must attend.

This book was just as funny as the first one, flying squirrels and suggestions in the footnotes that her younger sister might just be a werewolf. This book should be picked up if you need something cozy, interesting and outrageously funny. I enjoyed the female friendships created by Ms. Steele and the wide array of characters she runs into. One must suspend belief to enjoy this book, which is something I prefer to do. I look forward to the next book in the series, and will be keeping one eye on it like Inspector Drake.

It is possible to read this book without reading the first one, but I think I enjoyed it a lot more by reading the first one. This has proven to be one of my favorite lady detective books.

This series continues to grow on me. The MCs are just too cute together. Seales writing style is quirky, fun and just entertaining. The pace is right, the setting perfect, the character growth and interpersonal relationships just work. Hopefully the romance sorts itself out fully in book 3 with no lingering angst and love triangles.

#ATerriblyNastyBusiness #NetGalley

This was a wonderful sequel! I loved this more than the first. The silliness and even ridiculousness of situations Ms. Beatrice Steele is put in continues. There was a great balance between introducing new characters and settings while paying remembrance to the first story. Though this is a murder-mystery, the story is kept light through funny moments. I genuinely hope a third book is in the works!

I knew I was going to love this sequel, and I was not disappointed. Julia Seales is so witty and focused. The plot was equal parts fun and tense. An absolute must read!