Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. This book was a fun adventure perfect for the fans of Jane Austen. This book had mystery, romance, and adventure. I would definitely recommend if you enjoy historical of mystery novels.

I am, as usual, in love with this book.

We picked up right where we left off on the last one where Beatrice and Drake are now partners and our newest setting is London, right before the opening of the "Season"

We had big revelations, newly formed friendships, progression of the times. a woman finding who she is and what she is worth all while set in gorgeous misogynistic London

I really loved that impasse we came to with Drake and Huxley. Miss Bolton was one of the characters that I could not get enough of, she made me realize I need more Hats and Tassels haha! Beatrice is exactly who she was in the first book and I adore her even more now.

Everyone who has read any of my reviews knows that I love a good mystery and this book was wonderful. I still think I like the first one best, but this one is not far behind, please continue writing them.

Fun, breezy mystery. I missed the extreme quirkiness of the first book of the series but this was still enjoyable and charming. Some parts were very predictable, some parts at the end went pretty off the rails, but overall I enjoyed meeting up with Beatrice and Vivek again. I'm in for book 3!

My thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC via netgalley.

In the follow up to A Most Agreeable Murder, readers will be delighted to reacquaint themselves with Beatrice Steele. Now in London for her season, chaperoned by the eccentric hat-loving Ms. Bolton, Beatrice has partnered with Inspector Drake to form DS Investigations. When a wealthy member of an elite club is murdered, a local actor is suspected but he enlists the help of Beatrice and Drake to prove his innocence. To investigate, the two must find a way to enter the most exclusive club, the Rose, which surely hides the real killer.

A Terribly Nasty Business is another delightful romp from Julia Seales. The characters are charming, the mystery is great fun, the pacing is fast, and any lover of cozy mysteries will fly through this. I can't wait for the next installment.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

A Terribly Nasty Business (Julia Seales)
Publishing Date: June 24, 2025
Genre(s): Historical fiction (Regency), mystery, humor
Page Count: 320 pages
Rating: 4.5 stars

The first book in the Beatrice Steele series, A Most Agreeable Murder, was one of my favorite books of 2024, so I couldn’t wait to read book two of this delightfully madcap Regency mystery series. I was absolutely chuffed when I got approved for an Advanced Reader’s Copy (ARC) - thanks to @netgalley and @randomhouse !!

This second book did NOT disappoint. It’s just as silly and fun - for instance, the characters have to dodge flying squirrels that infest the London neighborhood of Sweetbriar. In this volume, intrepid amateur detective Beatrice Steele has moved from her small, quirky town of Swampshire to establish a detective agency in London with the prickly Inspector Drake. The new agency, DS Investigations, is off to a slow start, and Beatrice is concerned that Inspector Drake is not taking their partnership seriously. But then the arts-hating members of the Neighborhood Association of Gentleman Sweetbriarians (NAGS) are murdered one by one and Beatrice and Inspector Drake go undercover at the exclusive Rose Club to find the culprit.

After reading hard-hitting and intense books, it is so nice to have a comfort series where every time I pick up the book it makes me smile. There is action and suspense, but it is a guarantee that everything will work out in the end. Seales took everything I loved in the first book - the witty dialogue, the Beatrice/Inspector Drake romance, family shenanigans, a mystery that kept me guessing - and did it again, without falling into the trap of making the story too repetitive or over-the-top. I already cannot wait for the third book!

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 Kensington Books 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.

Sequels can be tough, but I'm happy to report that this book was just a delightful as the first. Beatrice is now in London partnering with Inspector Drake in a detective agency. Here we get to meet the infamous Inspector Huxley as they compete to solve a series of murders. There are a lot of satirical commentary about the upperclass and artists. Overall the book is good fun and with a clever outcome. When can I read the next one?!

Beatrice Steele is back again! If you were a fan of "A Most Agreeable Murder", you will find "A Terribly Nasty Business" just as loveable. This book picks up approximately where "A Most Agreeable Murder" left off. Beatrice has traveled to London for the social season and to solve murders with her partner, Inspector Drake. True to character, she is much more interested in catching criminals than catching a husband!

I have mixed feelings about this book. I spent the first half feeling unengaged and slightly annoyed by the absurdist humor - although having read "A Most Agreeable Murder", I knew this was par for the course. If you are prepared for that going in and enjoy farce/absurdist humor than this book is for you! As I read on, I really enjoyed the plot, the new characters, the twists, the social commentary, and the relationships between the characters. I felt this second installment benefited from a change of scenery - the last book felt a little too closed to me. I ended up enjoying it more than "A Most Agreeable Murder." Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Julia Seales, and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book so much. Of course this book has little things that could have made it better, but it's one of those books that I enjoyed so much that I can't think of much to criticize.
One of my favourite genres has to be historical mystery and this book was so fun and very interesting. I actually enjoyed it even more than the first book. The settings, characters, plot, and conflict were all done very well. The pacing was good and consistent, but it would be nice to have more significant subplots woven in. I love this author and her books and I will be reading anything else she releases.

quality rating: 9.5/10
enjoyment rating: 5 stars
vulgarity: none
spice: none
violence: very little

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC

Cozy and funny those are the two words i would use to define this book
I say julia certain did keep the level from a most agreeable murder the first one i loved so much i devoured
Fans of lysa keyplas julia quinn and other period books come here beatriz adventures are certainly funny to follow

This book was so wonderful to read. I enjoyed every second of it. Im grateful for the opportunity to read it. I might be obsessed with this author now! I can’t wait to read more from her.

Loved being back with Beatrice and her ever logical partner Vivek! This sequel did not dissapoint from gruesome murders to high society husband hunting this book had it all! Loved the romantic tension between Beatrice and Vivek as well as the excellent banter! I knew after book one this would be a series I would definitely continue and I'm happy to say I continue to be a fan! A special thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and the cover art for this series is BEAUTIFUL! I hope there are ten more books in this series!

I liked the first book in this series well enough, but this was a definite upgrade in humor, romantic tension, and multilayered mystery! Greatly looking forward to the next story in Beatrice’s life!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. A Terribly Nasty Business by Julia Seales is a quirky and entertaining mystery that blends humor with suspense. The story follows a group of intriguing characters caught up in a series of odd and unexpected events. Seales’ writing is witty, and the book’s fast-paced plot keeps readers engaged from start to finish. While the mystery itself may not be the most complex, the charm of the characters and their interactions make it an enjoyable read. If you’re looking for a lighthearted, fun mystery with a touch of humor, this book is a great pick.

'The Neighborhood Association of Gentlemen Sweetbriarians (NAGS) Presents: THE LONDON SEASON'

The second Beatrice Steele book A Terribly Nasty Business follows her to London as she solves her investigative firm's first real case with partner Vivek Drake and navigates the London season. The book is as wacky as the first, with flying squirrels and nostalgic mentions of glowing frogs, but Julia Seales' witty humor also aids discussing the themes of freedom (lack of) and gender inequality in the Regency era.

The story arc had enough space for Beatrice's introspective growth, even amidst the humor, and the plot progression made for an easy light page turner. The strength of the book on the whole, as well as the series, is Seales' parodic writing and satirical world-building. Recommended to anyone looking for a light-hearted funny murder mystery.

"I see the influence that a painting, a song, a performance, has on people’s hearts and minds. It can effect change. Topple the correct ways and order of society. Give power to those who have never had it..."

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Random House for an advanced copy, the review is entirely honest.

🌟🌟🌟1/4
[3/4 star for the premise and the whole book; 3/4 star for the writing; Half a star for the characters and their growth; Half a star for the world-building; 3/4 star for the story and themes - 3 1/4 stars in total, rounded down to an integer.]

Wait,
This book is an absolute gem! As a fan of mystery romance novels, I can confidently say this one stands out. The story is not only fun and engaging but keeps you guessing at every turn. Even though I had a few hunches, the execution blew me away. I was thoroughly captivated by the vibrant world. I’m especially drawn to the time period, which pulled me in right from the start. While the humor can be a bit cheesy at times, it adds to the charm and overall enjoyment. This was such a delightful read! I can't wait for its release, as I plan to grab a physical copy. Trust me, you won’t regret giving this book a try!

This book has taken elements of mystery and romance and turned them up a notch into full-blown farce. The result is highly stylized-there are plenty of Regency mysteries and Regency romances, but not many that take place in a fantasy locale only half-heartedly called London and with elements that are blatantly anachronistic (for example, painters did not use acrylics in the early nineteenth century, as I suspect the author is well aware.) All the anarchic humor led to some sacrifices in character development and the chemistry between the two leads. It took me a while to get into it, but I eventually did.

A Terribly Nasty Business is the second Beatrice Steele novel by Julia Seales. Like any good Murder Mystery, the prologue begins with blackmail and a Murder!

Beatrice and her Chaperone Miss Bolton have just arrived in Sweetbriar for the start of the London Season, or introduction to London society. But what Beatrice is truly looking forward to are new beginnings in London working with Inspector Vivek Drake, (who we met in book one) whom asked her to open a detective office with him.
Beatrice knows for the sake of her family back home in Swampshire that she must keep her reputation untarnished and at least try to secure an advantageous match, but she can’t ignore the pull to Drake and the investigations.

The story continues with Beatrice manipulating her way into the most exclusive Rose club, after her and Drake are hired to prove Mr Nash, a performer, is innocent of the murder that took place inside the Rose. Sir Lawrence Huxley is already on the case, and has his sights on Mr Nash. We met Sir Huxley in book one, and know that he and Drake are not on friendly terms. So it becomes a point of contention when Huxley begins trying to Court Beatrice.

Filled with London high society references, cheeky humor, and of course more murder-It is lively, and each of the characters adds to the fun. It is much more than a “whodunit”.

I believe it is the perfect blend of London regency meets murder mystery. Looking forward to Book 3!

i devoured this mystery/romance from Julia Seales! I remember reading the first book, A Most Agreeable Murder, and loving it-but i loved this one so much more! Julia writes the most addicting mysteries with SO MUCH humor embedded throughout. you’ll be laughing out loud! i couldn’t get enough. and the slow burn romance that grew throughout the story was exactly what i needed after book 1! i’m praying there is a third book!!

thank you to the publisher- Random House and Julia Seales for my early copy!!

I was so delighted to receive an early reader copy of A Terribly Nasty Business the sequel to Julia Seales’ debut novel A Most Agreeable Murder. In this new novel, our heroine Beatrice Steele is back and in London for her first season. Although her family sent her to London to pursue the lucrative marriage market, Beatrice feels she can finally pursue her passion without the same hindrances of country life: solving homicides. Although there are fewer squelch holes than in the first book, it has all of the same charm and whit. What I love about this book:
◦ Regency era
◦ Quirky characters
◦ Murder mystery
◦ Will they, won’t they (chaste) romance plot
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing House for giving me a chance to read and give my honest opinion.