The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin - (The Ill-Mannered Ladies) by Alison Goodman (Paperback)

About the Book

"In Regency England, the eccentric Colebrook sisters are amateur detectives who use their wits and invisibility as "old maids" to fight injustice in this delightful and fiercely feminist novel of mystery and adventure from New York Times bestselling author Alison Goodman. To most of Regency high society, forty-two-year-old Lady Augusta Colebrook, or Gus, and her twin sister, Julia, are just unmarried ladies of a certain age-hardly worth a second glance. But the Colebrook twins are far from useless old maids. They are secretly protecting women and children ignored by society and the law. When Lord Evan-a charming escaped convict who has won Gus's heart-needs to hide his sister and her lover from their vindictive brother, Gus and Julia take the two women into their home. They know what it is like to have a powerful and overbearing brother. But Lord Evan's complicated past puts them all in danger. Gus knows they must clear his name of murder if he is to survive the thieftakers who hunt him. But it is no easy task-the fatal duel was twenty years ago and a key witness is nowhere to be found. In a deadly cat-and-mouse game, Gus, Julia, and Lord Evan must dodge their pursuers and investigate Lord Evan's past. They will be thrust into the ugly underworld of Georgian gentlemen's clubs, spies, and ruthless bounty hunters, not to mention the everyday threat of narrow-minded brothers. Will the truth be found in time, or will the dangerous secrets from the past destroy family bonds and rip new love and lives apart?"--

Book Synopsis

In Regency England, the eccentric Colebrook sisters are amateur detectives who use their wits and invisibility as "old maids" to fight injustice in this delightful and fiercely feminist novel of mystery and adventure from New York Times bestselling author Alison Goodman.

To most of Regency high society, forty-two-year-old Lady Augusta Colebrook, or Gus, and her twin sister, Julia, are just unmarried ladies of a certain age. But the Colebrook twins are far from useless old maids. They are secretly protecting women and children ignored by society and the law.

When Lord Evan--a charming escaped convict who has won Gus's heart--needs to hide his sister, Hester, from their vindictive brother, Gus and Julia take Hester and her lover into their home. But Lord Evan's complicated past puts them all in danger. Gus knows they must clear his name of murder if he is to survive the thieftakers who hunt him. No easy task--the fatal duel was twenty years ago and a key witness is nowhere to be found.

In a deadly cat-and-mouse game, Gus, Julia, and Lord Evan must dodge their pursuers and investigate Lord Evan's past. They will be thrust into the ugly underworld of Georgian gentlemen's clubs, spies, and ruthless bounty hunters, not to mention the everyday threat of narrow-minded brothers. Will the truth be found in time, or will dangerous secrets from the past destroy family bonds and rip new love and lives apart?

Review Quotes

"Goodman skillfully blends mystery, adventure and a dash of romance."--The Washington Post

"Ms. Goodman's ill-mannered ladies are delightful company."--The Wall Street Journal

"An adventure, with plucky heroines, dishy heroes, and dastardly villains, featuring many carriage chases, narrow escapes, and daring rescues. Those who grew up reading Joan Aiken's alternative history Wolves Chronicles will find themselves pleasantly at home."-- Crime Fiction Review

"A fabulous romp that handles weighty topics with grace."--Shelf Awareness

"Goodman writes with the perfect combination of historical detail and modern relevance."--Historical Novel Society

"Cannily sets full-blooded fantasies of female empowerment blooming in a thicket of stifling masculine rules."--Kirkus

Praise for The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies

"If you love Georgette Heyer, you'll love The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies. Smart and sassy and featuring heroines of a certain age, this is the Regency I've been waiting for. Adventure! Mystery! A touch of romance! This delightful novel has it all!"--Jenn McKinlay, New York Times bestselling author

"A refreshing new arrival on the historical mystery scene! A wise, kind, and sharp-tongued sleuth solves crime in a well-portrayed Regency England. A must-read for lovers of the Regency and historical mysteries alike."--Jennifer Ashley, New York Times bestselling author

"[A] rollicking feminist romp - think Jane Austen meets James Bond - that breaks the shackles of period genre fiction and liberates women from the forces arrayed against them."--Sydney Morning Herald

"A vibrant tale of two plucky women of a certain age who craved more from life than merely attending tea parties and balls, The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is a truly delightful romp through the Regency period. Alison Goodman has crafted a feminist adventure story that will have you cheering on the unconventional Colebrook sisters in all their exploits."--Stephanie Marie Thornton, USA Today bestselling author

"For fans of historical fiction, romance, and ladies tired of being restricted by society!"--BookRiot

"Fans of Georgette Heyer's Regency novels will savor this mystery .... Well-developed characters, a touch of romance, and cases involving social issues of the period enhance the experience."--Library Journal (starred review)

"Fresh and fearless, Alison Goodman's exquisitely written, impeccably-researched genre-blending novel shines a light in the darkest corners of Regency England. The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is part heart-racing adventure, part gothic mystery, part tantalizing romance, and wholly wonderful. I can't wait for the next installment!"--Joanna Lowell, author of A Shore Thing

"Well-plotted with emotionally rich characters. This novel should delight those readers that enjoy Regency mysteries with a bit of romance that have strong female characters."--Mystery and Suspense Magazine

"The book is well-paced, excellently researched (with several fun historical characters like Fanny Burney), funny, romantic, and action-packed."--Historical Novel Society

"A rollicking and joyous adventure, with a beautiful love story at its heart, about two rebellious sisters forging their own path in Regency London."--Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

"Fierce, funny, and often dark, this is an eye-opening portrait of a colorful yet misogynistic period in English history. Readers will be eager to return for the duo's next adventure."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Alison Goodman is a Melbourne-based author. Her other novels include the Lady Helen trilogy, an award-winning mix of Regency adventure and dark fantasy, and Eon and Eona, a New York Times bestselling fantasy duology published in twenty countries. Alison recently completed her PhD in creative arts, focusing on historical research and the Regency era.