After cracking her first case in A Most Agreeable Murder, Beatrice Steele is now taking on London—both as a debutante and as a “lady detective”—in A Terribly Nasty Business.

While she’s supposed to be husband-hunting and maintaining propriety, she’s a little preoccupied with murders, attacking squirrels, art censorship, and the small matter of a killer on the loose in the posh Sweetbriar neighborhood.

This book is delightfully unhinged. Squirrel attacks, eccentric artists, over-the-top socialites, and sharp satire all swirl together in this story. The cast of characters—new and returning—has been expanded, both in breadth of additional characters and depth of existing ones. richer this time around. Detective Vivek Drake and Miss Bolton (and her hats!) have a larger role to play. I am so here for the slow-burn romantic subplot between Beatrice and Vivek—they are friends, partners, and most importantly, equals in Regency society—a reality that is even further emphasized when contrasted against the actions of the Neighborhood Association of Gentlemen Sweetbriarians (NAGS), one of the story’s primary antagonists.

The mystery itself kept me guessing the whole time. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, Seales tossed in another twist that had me second-guessing everyone.

A Terribly Nasty Business will be published June 24, 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Random House, and Julie Seales for this free, advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

As hilarious and interesting as the first!

It was such fun to return to this silly, alternative regency London with it's flying squirrel epidemic (can't wait for a British narrator to say squirrel over and over in the audiobook) and over-the-top hats. The social commentary is nestled into hilarious dialogue, so you sometimes pause to reread what you just laughed at. There's a larger comment about the vilification of the arts that is very interesting in this second book of the Beatrice Steele series.

The overall plot has Beatrice infiltrating an exclusive club during the London season along with her sleuthing partner, Vivek Drake. There are some characters from the first book who reappear in person and by letter, plus the addition of Sir Huxley, the detective who Beatrice helped from afar by solving his mysteries in her fan letters. The bodies keep dropping throughout the investigation and it turns out there are multiple villains in this story.

The romantic subplot between Beatrice and Vivek is a delightful, slow burn one. They are on the cusp of confessing their feelings for each other, but retreat to their safe corners every time.

The writing is witty and funny, but the pace is fast. This is definitely one I'll reread, as I did with the first book in the series.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for blessing me with this eARC. This series is so comforting to me. The way Seales writes is such a lovely balance of sarcasm, emotion, suspense, and wit. I loved the plot in this second installment even more than the first and was so happy to see that the sequel continued to be just as riveting. I will continue to read anything Seales puts out, as it is a genuinely great time. I only wish my sweet miscommunicating lovebirds had more time together. Hopefully that means more books in store!

This series continues to be so much fun to read! Although the story moves from Swampshire to London (the alternate-universe London of this series), it still features the same tongue-in-cheek humor and absurd but entertaning predicaments. After their success in solving a murder in book 1, Beatrice and Drake have launched their own investigation business, which Beatrice hides from her family and chaperone while pretending to be hunting for a husband. Beatrice has to go undercover at an exclusive social club to get to the bottom of a conspiracy surrounding a group of aristocratic (men mostly) trying to censor all art in the surrounding neighborhood. As the founders of the group are murdered one at a time, Beatrice and Drake are forced to stay one step ahead of their sort-of nemesis Sir Huxley to avoid an innocent man being executed for the crimes.

Similar to book 1, this will appeal to fans of Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series and lighthearted, semi-fantasy historical mysteries. Although there is a hint of romance, it looks like Beatrice and Drake may have a ways to go before fully opening up to each other (promising ending though!). Miss Bolton is an entertainingly quirky, if absentminded, chaperone to Beatrice here. The inter-chapter excerpts from local newspapers, Beatrice's mother's melodramatic letters to her, and general commentary add a fun extra layer to the story, as well.

Thank you to Random House for providing an ARC for review!

I adore this series! I had so hoped it would continue after the first book, & was thrilled to receive an ARC. This time Beatrice is adventuring in London away from her family, with only a couple of characters from the first novel making appearances (minus letters from home). She is still obsessed with murder & the writing is still delightful. This series pokes fun at cozy mystery tropes in the best way (meaning you can tell it is not mean-spirited, it is done by someone who loves the genre) & is delightfully zany. I really do feel like it is a cozy mystery Jane Austen would have written if such a thing had existed when she was alive. I look forward to more adventures with Beatrice & crew!

(I am really stingy with 5 star ratings, so 4 stars for me means I had a really good time! 5 stars are reserved for life-changers/books that leave a lasting impression)

Huge thanks to NetGalley & Random House for the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fictional England, maybe late Victorian / early Edwardian period where Manners Are Most Important: Beatrice Steele, after finding a killer in ‘A Most Agreeable Murder’, has moved to London to open a detective agency along with Inspector Drake (also from her previous case). Her mother, it should be noted, thinks Beatrice is in London to find a wealthy husband. Things are slow for DS Investigations until a new client walks - an actor who’s the prime suspect in a recent murder in an exclusive club. They immediately take the case even though it will be challenge just getting past the doors into the elite Rose Club. Also standing in the way is Sir Huxley; not only is he Drake’s former partner (and thus some bad blood between the two), he’s convinced DS Investigations’s client is guilty. He also appears interested in Beatrice which appears to raise some jealousy in Drake!

I have mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed it - I love Beatrice! - but sometimes the humor…got to be too much? For me, this would be the perfect read for the beach where you’d read a few chapters, go for a stroll along the water, then read a few more chapters. Having said that, I look forward to the next book - this one ends in the perfect set up for the next book.

Recommended. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley.com which I voluntarily reviewed.

ARC Review ~ A Terribly Nasty Business~

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After reading the first in the series, A Murder Most Agreeable, I was excited to see what happens next for the main characters. I enjoyed seeing our Ms. Steele escape her small town and venture into London to be a detective. It was great to see her interact with high society and attempt to find her place in the world and with her partnership with Inspector Drake. The mystery was fun, the banter with the characters was always enjoyable and had me chuckling along. I’m excited to see what happens next for the lovable but awkward duo!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC!

A good historical mystery. A mystery to solve is much better than finding a husband. There is some mild humor. A little suspense and a little romance. It made for a quick, easy, fun read. Looking forward to more.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love that it combines mystery and romance. Very well written and easy to follow along. Did not know this was part of a series, but was OK to read alone.

A Terribly Nasty Business is the second book by Julia Seales about wannabe investigator Beatrice Steele, set in Regency England. Beatrice has moved to London to open a detective agency with Inspector Drake but is also tasked with locating a husband by her mother, with the assistance of her chaperone Miss Bolton. The season starts off with a gruesome murder of one of the leaders of a local social club, and Beatrice and Inspector Drake find themselves tasked with locating the murderer by the lead suspect.
For readers who read the first book about Beatrice, there will be several familiar characters, as well as further development of Beatrice's work as a detective. There is also a touch of the same humor, that borders on satire and hyperbole. This is not an England that ever really existed, and if the reader can make peace with that, this book is as enjoyable as the previous novel. The murderer is caught, but how they did the crime and why is carefully plotted and revealed. And for those who want more from Beatrice and Inspector Drake, there is a cliffhanger at the end.
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

Goofy Regency era murder mystery with a side of romance!

This is a kooky mystery, and there were definitely confounding (and, at times, convoluted) twists and turns. The murder mystery plot doesn't take itself too seriously, which helped the humor shine through. The romance between the MMC and FMC was also an entertaining subplot, and this story left plenty of relationship development for the next book in the series. The FMC is absolutely the star, and I appreciate that she is an investigator in her own right who does not need to wait for a man to help her. The MMC comes off a little cold fish, but, to be fair, their relationship and his character development are not part of the primary plot line. I also appreciate that all of the supporting friendships are with ladies who help support the investigators.

The writing is easy to get through, which makes this feel like a quick read. There were a few too many letter asides sprinkled throughout the book, in my opinion. You don't need to read the first to enjoy this series. I read the first but it's been so long I didn't remember much and I was quite fine in the second. I will certainly read the next in the series!

Thank you, Random House, for the arc!

This très amusant (please forgive the French) installment of Julia Seales' Beatrice Steele series is a perfect follow-up to A Most Agreeable Murder. My powers of deduction tell me that many of this book's readers were thoroughly charmed by the first in the series but will jump into this one remembering very little of it. Worry not! My memory was hardly jogged by the references to the plot of the first book, but nothing in A Terribly Nasty Business requires you to properly recall any of it.

We follow Beatrice to London, where she is set to enter society and find a husband to obtain financial security for her family. She has very little interest in balls and visits to the modiste, preferring to spend her time finding crimes to solve with her investigative partner, Vivek Drake. Business is slow until a famous actor shows up at their door seeking their assistance as he is being framed for murder by none other than the famous (fraudulent) detective, Lawrence Huxley.

As murders pile up around her, Beatrice finds herself torn between her desire for independence and her growing appreciation for deeper friendships than she ever had in Swampshire, and trying to solve the case while attending balls and fielding suitors.

A Terribly Nasty Business is another well paced and very silly cozy murder mystery. The outcome seems a little more obvious in this one, but it's well worth the read to anyone who was charmed by the first. I'm holding out hope that Mary is brought to London in the next book and set upon the Ton.

Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC!

After quickly reading and LOVING the first book in the series, A Most Agreeable Murder, I was incredibly excited to read A Terribly Nasty Business and I absolutely was not disappointed.

This series has the elements I love in mystery books: historical, strong female lead character who doesn't quite fit societal norms, a hint of romance, and engaging mystery. This series takes it up a notch and adds eccentricity in its characters and storyline, throws in some hints that a sibling is a werewolf, and tops it off with great humour that is engaging and delightful.

Beatrice is a wonderful character - a young woman finding her way in the world, now living in London and having to lead a bit of a double life: one of a young debutante 'seeking' a husband (to make her mother's dreams come true) and also as a private investigator, now in partnership with Inspector Drake. The world's collide when Beatrice and Drake are tasked with solving a murder that took place amongst an elite social circle in London.
As they begin to investigate, Beatrice has to deal with the ongoing pressure from her mother, the misogyny of the older men in the society group, another murder, and the attentions of one Sir Huxley.

From start to end, this book kept my attention, had me laughing, and trying to figure out whodunnit alongside Beatrice and Drake. A very satisfying conclusion that also sets up for more books in the series. I will happily be reading the third book.

Thanks so much to Random House for the eARC; all opinions are my own.

Another super fun read from Julia Seales! I was delighted when I remembered that the sequel to A MOST AGREEABLE MURDER was coming out and was able to find it on here. I enjoyed this one just as much if not more than the first. I liked that the romance progressed, while also leaving open possibilities for future books (pleaaaaase tell me there will be more). Just the perfect mix of intrigue and silliness. It reminds me of a (slightly) less fantastical India Holton, and I can't really think of a higher compliment than that.

Funny and full of heart "A Terribly Nasty Business" is a wonderful continuation of "A Most Agreeable Murder." When picking up Seales' first book, I was uncertain that I would enjoy it, given that I tend to be more of a purist when it comes to Jane Austen, But to my relief and delight, while Seales relies on Austen parallels and references, her characters remain original and endearing.

Humor is a central part of this series and Seales' writing. From the naval captain who speaks solely in nautical metaphors, to Ms. Bolton's ever more improbable millinery, to the youngest Steele sister Mary (who will quickly become your favorite character) and her predilection for moonlit rambles - you cannot help but be charmed by the world that Seales has created. At turns clever or absurd - it's sure to get you smiling more often than not.

"A Terribly Nasty Business" does everything that you want a good sequel to do - raises the stakes, develops the characters and expands on the world. Beatrice and Drake are relatable as two highly independent people trying to fit a partnership into their lives. A partnership that they both desire, but struggle with - which makes their interactions all the more fun and engaging to read. As someone who likes her romance decidedly on the less spicy side, Beatrice and Drake are a joy.

While describing this book can be difficult - regency, murder mystery, comedy with a hint of the supernatural? - enjoying it is not. I devoured this book in one sitting. My only gripe is that I now have to wait for book three. (And four? And five? Please!)

3.5 rounded up. Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. Overall, though decent, I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first one. I was missing some of the witty quirky banter and fun from the first one. The plot dragged for me a bit in the middle with the lack luster romance drama. I really enjoyed the final third and the deeper investigation into the mystery at hand. I wish there were more of that in the middle. Overall it was an enjoy read. I will look for more by this author in the future

This was a fun and enjoyable read! This is definitely a very good cozy historical mystery! The romance and history of this book and the fun twists, you should absolutely give this book a try!! Thank you to NetGalley for the arc of this book.

I really loved “A Terribly Nasty Business” by Julia Seales. It features mystery, romance, beautiful cover art and is quirky and hilarious! Basically it has it all, at least in my humble opinion! Since this is a follow up to “A Most Agreeable Murder” I started off by reading the first book and was not disappointed! It has all the same mystery, humor and is a definite must read! “A Terribly Nasty Business” starts off with our unstoppable heroine turned detective Beatrice Steele finding herself in London. She quickly realizes London is a far cry from hometown country life in Swamphire, and struggles to find a balance between required social obligations (aka mother mandated husband hunting) and crime solving. A series of murders allows Beatrice to grow her detective partnership with Drake, a mysterious and guarded fellow. It is a hilarious and adventurous ride as we meet many intriguing characters and see whether Beatrice has what it takes to solve murders and manage the marriage mart. I love this book and it’s predecessor and I think you will too! Highly recommend!

Seales has done it again! One of the rare sequels that expertly blends the old and new, granting its readers splendid character development and plot twists at every corner. Beatrice's trade mark wit continued to delight throughout this second installment, quickly becoming the first book in a while to cause me to laugh aloud. Suspense built with every chapter, much like the tension between inspectors Steele and Drake. Much thanks to NetGalley, without whom, this review would have been a long time in coming.

After reading “A Terribly Nasty Business” I have come to the realization that I binged book two quicker than I did the first! I absolutely love this series and its characters that quite literally make me laugh out loud. The story flowed seamlessly from book one while also introducing new and exciting plots to the storyline. I’m also glad we were able to revisit characters from the previous book. This is an immersive and captivating story filled with mystery, suspense and romance! And the Jane Austen references really do just tie everything together.

Thank you Julia for writing another amazing book for this series and thank you Random House & NetGalley for my Advanced Reader’s Copy!