A Terribly Nasty Business is the amazingly fun sequel to A Most Agreeable Murder. Witty, playful, intriguing with some supernatural references, yet still the message about women and arts in society really still resonates today. The mystery had a twist which I didn't expect. Seales mentioned that writing sequels can be a nasty business...but can we please have MORE? Drake and Steele are the perfect mystery solving duo...and their chemistry is through the roof.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #Random House for the ARC of this delightful tale.

After solving her first murder, Beatrice has moved to London to open up D.S. Investigations with inspector Drake. When a murder puts Beatrice and Drake in the middle of the fight between the artists and gentlemen of London, Beatrice must use all of her skills to catch the killer and solve this mystery. I enjoyed the first book in this series, and I thoroughly enjoyed this one, as well! Beatrice is a wonderful, witty, and brave character, and I enjoyed how her relationship with Drake progressed. Cozy with a side of humor, it doesn't get much better than this!

Beatrice is a feisty main character, determined to make her own way in a world in which women of her class are expected to marry well. And in Beatrice’s case, her mother keeps up constant pressure to do so, to save the family from penury. But Beatrice is determined to establish herself as a private investigator in London, with her business partner, Inspector Drake. Her partner, Drake, is determined to keep his relationship with Beatrice professional, and failing at that goal.

Beatrice, Drake, and Sir Huxley, London’s premier detective and DS Investigations major competition, find themselves investigation multiple murders when wealthy residents of the Sweetbriar neighborhood start turning up dead. It’s a race to see which detectives can (correctly) solve the murders first.

The format of the novel is narrative, interspersed with various letters, bulletins, and newspaper columns. I found this a bit distracting, but not enough to interfere with my enjoyment of the book.

A Terribly Nasty Business is a fast-paced romp through Regency England. I enjoyed A Most Agreeable Murder, the first book in the series. A Terribly Nasty Business is a great addition to this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an e-copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Beatrice has stepped out of the familiar swamps of her beloved home and into a new types of jungle: the London season. Accompanied by the surprisingly resourceful Miss. Bolton, Beatrice has the delicious opportunity to work as a private investigator with her new partner Drake-- if only the two of them would ever get a case. However, when the duo gets ensnared in a fight between the Sweetbriar upper crust and the arts community; Beatrice may find herself on a different sort of case (the mystery of how to find herself a husband).

As a satisfyingly sensational sequel that exceeds all envisioned expectations, I can only say well done to Seales! A TERRIBLY NASTY BUSINESS was even more fun for me than the first book (which is exceedingly rare and unexpected); perhaps its because I'm in a new Austen-era and have been craving more Regency-era fiction, and this was a delightful and hilarious read! The writing style is so unique, and even as the mystery fell into a somewhat predictable pattern, I still enjoyed the journey filled with flying squirrels (but, devastatingly few frogs), budding friendships, incredibly unique hats, and even (just maybe) some inevitable romance?

Very rarely does the sequel leave a stronger impression than the first, but I can say, without a doubt, that I will be one of the first in line for the next book in the Beatrice Steele series!

“If you are going to help catch murderers, you must do it the proper way: accompanied by an unmarried, middle aged woman!”

Oh how I adore this series! In this sequel, Beatrice once again joins forces with Drake, but this time in London, to man their detective agency and solve all the crimes and cases that are given to them. While doing that, also they must navigate the social scene and the increasing letters from Beatrice’s mother which makes for an amazing mix to humor, mystery, romance, and from time to time, flying squirrels. It’s a superb combination, what’s not to love?

Things to look forward to:
-secret societies
-outrageous hats
-mimes
-a small love triangle (I usually hate these but it’s fine so well here)
-an inspector rivalry
-Beatrice making friends

I cannot wait to read more of this series! I need a new book immediately!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review

“And then you find out that wherever you go … you bring yourself with you.”

We are back with Beatrice and Drake but London is definitely not Swampshire. The big city brings challenges for Beatrice. The gender roles she so despised in Swampshire are only more rampant in her new hometown. Apthough her family thinks she is working to keep the books for Drake’s detective agency, she’s his partner- well sort of- kind of- Drake grows in this sequel too.

One day, a prominent local actor comes in to ask for their help in clearing his name. He’s being framed for murder.

This case sends Drake and Beatrice right into the belly of the London elite and the path of Sir Huxley… 👎🏻 (if you know you know).

Although we miss the hijinks of Beatrice’s family. This sequel does its job allowing Beatrice more independence and setting the stage at what will surely be a third installment with a nefarious opponent.

@juliamaeseales keep them coming. I’m over here cheering you on! Can’t wait to see what these two get into next year!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for this #advancedreaderscopy - pub date was this week. Go grab it!!!!

#2025bookchallengebook51of100
#aterriblynastybusiness
#ewwwwwsirhuxley

What do you get when you mix a stand-out mystery with a heavy does of satire and a hint of parody? A Terribly Nasty Business!
Beatrice Steele is not your typical London Season debutante in this sequel to "A Most Agreeable Murder", set during the Regency era (or thereabouts). Her family has agreed to allow her to move to London with the unconventional Miss Bolton as her chaperone. Her mother's goal for Beatrice is for her to marry well and bring some money to the family, much needed to repair and maintain the family home in Swampshire. Beatrice's goal is to solve crimes with Vivek Drake, with whom she has established a new detective agency. When a local opera singer is accused of murder by Drake's nemesis, Sir Huxley. In order to gain access to the site of the murder, Beatrice finagles her way into the most prestigious salon with Drake as her escort. Seales satirizes most of the conventions of the period, from the subservience of women to fashion and the class system while providing the reader with enough clues to (in my case) almost figure the mystery out, adding an unexpected twist or two. The characters range from stereotypes to the quirky and interesting. Beatrice herself must adapt to the larger community of London and, over the course of the story, evolves from feeling out of her depth to recognizing her own strengths and regaining her confidence. A most enjoyable read!

A Terribly Nasty Business: A Beatrice Steele Novel by Julia Seales is the second book in this delightful historical mystery series.

I love this series. I don’t know if I have mentioned that yet or not? Lol. I enjoyed A Most Agreeable Murder, which is the first book, and I liked this almost as well…so close. (Probably because I knew what to expect specifically with the added humor aspect). It was still a good mystery, with action, intrigue, interesting characters and dynamics…along with funny quips, quick one-liners, and random observations and comments that kept me on my toes.

Will I read the next one? You bet!

I enjoyed the pacing, the content, and I look forward to the next case that Beatrice and Drake are pulled into.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Random House for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 6/24/25.

I read Seales’s first novel in this series “A Most Agreeable Murder” and loved it back in 2023. Since then I’d kept an eye out for another story in Beatrice Steele’s world. Finally, I saw and requested it on NetGalley and was approved (shoutout to the author and publisher!). I had just as much fun—if not more—with this part of Beatrice’s story. TNB was funny and ridiculous but more heartwarming than AMAM. Miss Bolton really shines in this story: bringing all her self-possession to the forefront. Drake finally is honest and vulnerable!! (And low-key hot tbh). Beatrice is now “Inspector Steele” mind you, and together, Beatrice and Steele better blend together their intuitive and analytical approaches to crime-solving. There are a few things I wasn’t a huge fan of: the pacing felt a little uneven with the story progressing much slower-towards the beginning. I also missed the screenplay writing style quite a bit at the beginning—though I get why it didn’t make sense for this set of murders. I also kind of wish we had more hilarious passive aggressive sparring between Beatrice and Caroline as well as more verbal sparring between Drake and Huxley. Also please god, let Huxley no longer be a love interest for Beatrice: it’s okay for him to stick around as an annoying foil to Drake but I could not condone Beatrice giving him any more positive attention. I have a feeling the next book will be even better: finding its stride with Beatrice and Drake being open and honest investigation partners and perhaps even lovers in the future (bow chika wow wow). I just hope we don’t have to wait another 2 years for the next one!

Beatrice Steele is back! She and her most dedicated chaperone Miss Bolton are off to London for the season. Excited to be partnering with Inspector Drake to establish D.S. Investigations as the most reliable crime solvers in London. When an actor in the Sweetbriar neighborhood is accused of murdering a prominent aristocrat, Beatrice and Drake are on the case. Unfortunately so is the famous Inspector Huxley. As Beatrice and Drake infiltrate Sweetbriar’s elite social club The Rose, they begin to uncover the many faces and secrets of its members. With Sir Huxley hot on their heels Beatrice and Drake must find the true murderer before Sir Huxley does.

Beatrice’s journey of self-growth and acceptance resonates with all women, especially with familial expectations weighing heavily. And the love triangle between her, Inspector Drake and Sir Huxley is highly entertaining. With Julia Seales’s whimsy, humor and wit this murder mystery/romance does not disappoint!

While I love reading about the regency era as well as mystery novels, I often find myself not enjoying most of the regency mystery novels that I read. There is always either too much focus on romance at the expense of the mystery, too little historical accuracy, forgettable characters, etc. Then, I picked up 'A Most Agreeable Murder' last year on a whim. And, it was immediately one of my favourite reads of the year. It was a no brainer, then, that I'd be excited about the sequel.

"A Terribly Nasty Business" by Julia Seales is the perfect sequel to the first book. Beatrice Steele is living her dream life in London after accepting Inspector Vivek Drake's partnership proposal. And, yet, nothing is as she hoped it'd be. They have no meaningful cases to work on, she must still sneak her way around to spend time on the few cases they do have and her family's financial state keeps going from bad to worse. But what happens when they are asked to investigate a case involving the star opera performer? Surely, nothing could go wrong.

This sequel took everything I enjoyed about the first book and made it even better. Higher stakes, entangled secrets, grander settings and even more ridiculously fun details that *still* somehow end up being relevant and useful.

We still get the 'paper clippings' at the end of each chapter. Be it letters, notes exchanged between characters, announcements or newspaper clippings, they are fun to read and actually help move the plot along. I always found myself looking forward to them.

While we still get some appearances from the characters in the first book, we are introduced to new ones that I found equally fun and memorable. There are enough nods throughout the plot to make me recommend reading the first book before digging into the sequel. You'd just have a much more fun experience that way.

Something that I admire about this series is while the book doesn't take itself too seriously, and at times it may break historical accuracy for the sake of fun, the mystery being solved is legit. It does have twists and turns along the way to keep the reader on their toes, but you *can* solve the mystery yourself. The clues make sense. The smallest detail from the beginning of the book could, and often does, become relevant later on. This makes it a very satisfying read.

The mystery is not a prop for the romance. Yes, there is a romance (a slow burn that I am actually enjoying), but while it does give us some swoonworthy moments, it does not steal the spotlight from the mystery. I've always hated it when I pick up a period mystery only to realize every scene is just a vehicle to further the romance, so you have no idea how much I appreciated this.

While I've gone on and on about the things I loved here, and while I know that the humour is subjective and what I enjoy may not be for everyone else, the reason I am giving this book five stars is because I genuinely enjoyed it. I found myself reaching out for it any minute I got. I remembered random funny quotes during work meetings. And I felt somewhat sad when it was over.

Now I will wait patiently for the next one. Especially after that very last letter.

4.5 / 5 stars

This is the follow-up installment of the Beatrice Steele series beginning with A Most Agreeable Murder which follows Beatrice Steele, a young woman obsessed with reading crime serials and longing to be involved in criminal investigations (the more horrific the better).

This finds Beatrice, after having solved her first successful case with Inspector Drake in her rural community of Swampshire, moved to London with her "trusty" chaperone Miss Bolton. While her family/Miss Bolton believes that she is working as a secretary with Inspector Drake in his new DS Investigations office (Drake and Steele), she is working to prove herself as a capable partner. As they investigate a series of murders centered around Beatrice's "Season" and the arts (particularly the theater), they must navigate competition from the reigning "King" of detecting, a growing attraction and the developing evidence against their client.

I enjoyed this episode but perhaps not quite as much as its predecessor? I think part of the charm of the initial book was in its rural setting in the bizarre hamlet of Swampshire and the eccentricity and hilarity of Beatrice's family of misfits. Having said that, Seales does portray the environs of London and its colorful citizens well. Her arc regarding the suppression and razing of the arts and creativity/imagination in general is deftly interwoven into the fabric of the story.

Beatrice is a lovable character for her tenacity, wit and brilliant forward-thinking mind, and she's a pleasure to watch. And as in the first book, the puns and absurdities abound here and caused some laugh-out-loud moments for me.

Well done and hopefully will see more of these adventures around the corner.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group / Random House for providing the free early arc of A Terribly Nasty Business for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

A delightful cozy mystery romance. I love how entertaining this story was; it was a great follow-up to "A Most Agreeable Murder." Beatrice Steele feels like everything is finally falling into place. The new office she opened, alongside the prickly and annoying Inspector Drake, to solve the city's brutally thrilling crimes, is exciting. However, nothing is turning out how Beatrice imagined. Sir Huxley, a famed gentleman inspector and Beatrice's former crush, is still considered London’s top investigator, so the only cases left for Beatrice and Drake are about lost pets and spectacles. That is, until a string of murders puts Beatrice and Drake at the center of a scandal that pits the neighborhood's wealthiest against the arts community, spreading fear and chaos throughout the city. Beatrice must survive threats and navigate her place in society to crack the case before it's too late. Each character is so outlandish and outrageous, making every scene super fun to read, with many laugh-out-loud moments. I like Beatrice—she’s not trying to conform to social norms. She’s smart, blunt, and witty. Entertaining read! If you enjoy funny historical mystery romance, this is for you. I recommend getting it. The content is clean.

This book had me grinning from the very first page! It’s fast-paced, smart, and absolutely brimming with witty charm. If you love period mysteries with a healthy dose of satire and sass, this is a series you need in your life!

There’s something magical about how Julia Seales balances satire with substance. Terribly Nasty Business is a romp, yes, but it’s also sneakily profound. Beneath the laughs and lacy gloves is a sharp-eyed look at gender roles, creative freedom, and the absurd hoops women have always had to jump through to be taken seriously.

Beatrice continues to be an absolute joy as a protagonist curious, awkward, deeply determined, and just enough of a rule-breaker to keep things spicy. Her chemistry with Drake smolders deliciously on the back burner, and the romantic tension is handled with just the right amount of restraint and longing.

But let’s not forget the real show-stealer: Miss Bolton. Still larger than life, she brings a delightful chaos to every scene. The cast is rounded out by a lively ensemble of new and returning characters. Each quirkier than the last. There are flying squirrels, murder suspects who are more dramatic than helpful, and endless gems of dry British humor that had me laughing out loud!

Thank you Netgally and Randomhouse for the ARC all opinions are my own!

Beatrice Steele finally solved a murder and has now traded her small Swampshire community for London and working with inspector Drake. Business for D.S. Investigations however is not what Beatrice was hoping for. Her former crush, Sir Huxley, is still considered to be a leading investigator even though Beatrice and Drake know him to be a fraud. Things are finally looking up from a business sense when multiple murders occur in London. Dragging Beatrice and Drake into the wealthy arts community to investigate the crimes.

This was a great follow up to A Most Agreeable Murder. I really enjoy Beatrice. She is smart and willing to put herself out there. I'm very excited about the developments in her relationship with Drake. The mystery was very interesting and had some good twists. I'm hoping there will be more to come from our dynamic duo because I will happily read more books in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good cozy Victorian English mystery and A Terribly Nasty Business was such a shear delight to read.

This gave me the vibes of Bridgerton meets Miss Scarlett and the Duke.

Julia Seales brings back the adorable Miss Beatrice Steele and the reserved Mr. Drake. This time they partner up to solve the murder at a high society club in Sweetbriar, London.

Miss Beatrice Steele has finally found her calling and is now the partner in DS Investigations. She undoubtedly revels in the role as Inspector Steele, even if she has to sneak around to work with Inspector Drake to solve what starts out as one murder, but leads to multiple ones. I so love that Beatrice always is witty, head strong, and undoubtedly clever, but also innocent when it comes to matters of the heart. She can never resist running into secret rooms, trapped doors or jumping literally head first into trouble to solve a case.
The banter between Beatrice and Drake turns up a little more, then add in the quirky side characters, dubious scandals and witty humour, A Terribly Nasty Business delivers a true Victorian cozy mystery.

Oh and the end of the last chapter 7* note - made me laugh out loud 🤭🤭

Thank you to NetGally and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this e-arc and provide a review.

A delightful historical romance with a dash of romance between a lady who is determined to become a professional investigator while also juggling the social life of a debutante... but with new suitors and murder afoot, its definitely going to be a busy season, and it doesn't help when her investigator partner has begun acting weird. Beatrice Steele is happy to finally get her name on the investigator office with her partner Inspector Drake.... but with her family pushing her to find a marriage partner, she's trying to juggle both lives. When Sir Huxley, a famous gentlemen inspector and Beatrice's former crush is on a new case Beatrice tries her own hand at it... all the while with these new string of murders, Beatrice and Drake find themselves at odds with one another... and maybe a secret Drake has been finding will completely change their relationship entirely. This was such a cute sequel in the series and I can't wait to read the next book in it! I love the balance of mystery and light touch of romance in it. It's a charming read and a series I'll definitely be recommending.

Release Date: June 24, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Random House for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Book review: 4/5 ⭐️
Genre: cozy historical mystery
Themes: female empowerment, murder mystery, secret societies, the arts
📖 Read if you like: The Murder of Mr. Wickham, Miss Austen Investigates

Once again my craving for murder mysteries this summer has been very well satiated! Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for this cozy mystery set in regency England with a badass female detective determined to break the mold. It was funny, with some good plot twists and some really quirky cameos. I liked the feminist spin in a patriarchal and overtly controlling society that saw the arts as an avenue to free thought and liberation.

In this second installment of the Beatrice Steele series, Beatrice has finally used her morbid curiosity to solve a murder and has established a detective agency in London with Inspector Drake. While she may have escaped the rigid society and etiquette obsessed Swampshire, London can be chaotic and dangerous and a wealthy suitor is still a family requirement to rebuild a crumbling estate. Along with her quirky chaperon Miss Bolton, the two have found a home in the neighbourhood of Sweetbriar full of artists and pleasure gardens and an unfortunate number of flying squirrels. Beatrice must balance solving mysteries while also keeping up with the social calendar of the year. When the two worlds collide Beatrice and Drake must complete with London’s top investigator Sir Huxley to solve a series of murders and defend a targeted actor and all that he stands for.

Beatrice must battle with disillusionment with the city and overbearing expectations, as well as wondering if she can truly hack it as an investigator. I enjoyed the sass and secrets in this number with just a hint of romance. It was charming and the undercurrent that men feared the arts and women so much they would be willing to burn buildings and commit murder may be been overblown, but mirrored reality. I enjoyed this light and humourous historical mystery and will be looking forward to the series continuing.

4.5⭐️

“A Terribly Nasty Business” is the delightful and entertaining sequel to “A Most Agreeable Murder.” I absolutely loved the first book in the series, and this was another fun and cozy historical mystery. Once again, I could not stop laughing out loud. The characters were as quirky and charming as ever. The mystery was compelling, and there were plenty of plot twists to keep me turning the pages. Loved this one, and can’t wait for the next Beatrice Steele novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Grab your self a cup of tea and a scone and get comfy to follow Beatrice Steele to London. Beatrice has left Swampshire and come to London with her chaperone, Miss Helen Bolton. She has told her family that she is looking for a suitable (meaning one with financial means to help her family's dwindling coffers) suitor to marry. What Beatrice has done is formed a Private Detective agency with Vivek Drake. Their first big case is to clear Percival Nash of stabbing Neighborhood Association of Gentlemen Sweetbriarians cofounder Walter Shrewsbury. Walter had received a note saying, "Confess, or die. Your choice." More murders follow after the other cofounders receive the same note.

This is a delightful sequel to "A Most Agreeable Murder". Beatrice is finding her way in Regency England. She knows she wants to be a detective and solve crimes, but society says she should marry and have a family. There is alot of humor, oh my, flying squirrels! The author keeps the plot moving at a good pace and we get some twists and turns. I am enjoying the slow burn romance between Beatrice and Vivek. This can be read as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend reading the previous book. It sets the stage for this one and introduces the characters Beatrice's family members are so much fun. I look forward to the next case Beatrice and Vivek investigate.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Random House, for an ARC. The opinions in this review are my own.