A Terribly Nasty Business - by Julia Seales (Hardcover)

About the Book

"After achieving her lifelong dream of solving a murder, bringing a killer to justice, and proving she is not, in fact, a morbid creep, Beatrice Steele feels like everything is finally falling into place. She's traded her etiquette-obsessed community of Swampshire for the big city of London, accompanied by her ever-trusty chaperone Miss Bolton. They've settled in a lovely neighborhood, Sweetbriar, known for its proximity to the Sweet Majestic theater, picturesque pleasure gardens, and an unfortunate infestation of flying squirrels. But Beatrice's favorite part is that Sweetbriar is also home to D.S. Investigations, the new office she opened with the prickly, annoyingly logical Inspector Drake to solve the city's brutally thrilling crimes. However, nothing is turning out how Beatrice imagined it would"--

Book Synopsis

NATIONAL BESTSELLER - London provides fabulously deadly opportunities for a fledgling inspector in the twisty follow-up to Julia Seales's bestselling debut, A Most Agreeable Murder, hailed by People as a "delightful cocktail . . . of wit, hilarity, and suspense!"

After achieving her lifelong dream of solving a murder, bringing a killer to justice, and proving she is not, in fact, a morbid creep, Beatrice Steele feels like everything is finally falling into place. She's traded her etiquette-obsessed community of Swampshire for the big city of London, accompanied by her ever-trusty chaperone, Miss Bolton. They've settled in a lovely neighborhood, Sweetbriar, known for its proximity to the Sweet Majestic theater, picturesque pleasure gardens, and an unfortunate infestation of flying squirrels. But Beatrice's favorite part is that Sweetbriar is also home to DS Investigations, the new office she opened with the prickly, annoyingly logical Inspector Drake to solve the city's brutally thrilling crimes.

However, nothing is turning out how Beatrice imagined it would. Sir Huxley, famed gentleman inspector and Beatrice's former crush, is still considered the real investigator in London, so the only cases left for Beatrice and Drake are lost pets and spectacles. Not that Beatrice has much time for crime-solving anyway, as her mother still expects her to find an eligible (rich) husband to protect their family from destitution. Beatrice is struggling to balance all the demands on her and begins to wonder if she can become a true detective in a city that feels full of false promises.

That is until a string of murders thrusts Beatrice and Drake into the center of a scandal that pits the neighborhood's wealthiest against the arts community, spreading fear and chaos throughout the city. As they follow the trail through bewildering ballrooms, secretive shops, and odd operas, Beatrice must survive threats to her partnership, her business, and her place in society to break the case--before it's too late.

Review Quotes

"The word 'romp' was invented for Julia Seales's books. A Terribly Nasty Business is zany, absurdly charming, and frequently laugh-out-loud funny--having this much fun while reading about murder ought to be criminal."--Martha Waters, author of the Regency Vows series

"A hilarious, cozy, fast-paced mystery with seriously murderous Bridgerton vibes, it kept me giggling and kicking my feet with glee right to the end."--Kate Weston, author of You May Now Kill the Bride

"A Terribly Nasty Business is an effervescent delight of a Regency mystery, infused with wit, originality, and page-turning twists and turns. Julia Seales's writing sparkles, and her characters are as clever as they are endearing. . . . A must-read!"--Mimi Matthews, USA Today bestselling author of the Belles of London series

"I couldn't stop laughing (and swooning)! A Terribly Nasty Business is a hilarious and ridiculously charming Regency murder mystery romp that will tickle your funny bone and keep you on the edge of your seat through every clever plot twist and turn. I fell in love with the characters and with Julia Seales's witty, irreverent writing style and can't wait for the next book in the series!"--Syrie James, USA Today bestselling author of The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall

"The second book in Julia Seales's delightful Beatrice Steele series is as witty and charming as the first. With the hilarity of a screwball comedy and the sensibility of a murder-infused Jane Austen novel, A Terribly Nasty Business is sheer fun!"--Manda Collins, author of A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem

"Thank god we're back in Julia Seales's wonderfully irreverent version of Regency England, with its courting seasons, dead gentlemen, and flying squirrels. Seales's perfect blend of satire and earnestness reveals a deft hand. If you love mystery, you must read this book; if you love romance, you must read this book; if you simply love to laugh, A Terribly Nasty Business should shoot to the top of your TBR. This series is egregiously charming and preposterously delightful."--Ashley Winstead, author of Midnight Is the Darkest Hour

"Julia Seales has crafted another utterly delightful, devilishly cheeky, and compulsively readable Beatrice Steele mystery that had me laughing one moment, swooning the next. A Terribly Nasty Business is totally charming, and I can't wait to see what Beatrice and Drake get up to next!"--Celeste Connally, USA Today bestselling author of the Lady Petra Inquires series

"Seales follows A Most Agreeable Murder with a jaunty sequel that finds Regency era sleuth Beatrice Steele swapping the provincial environs of Swampshire for London's hustle and bustle. . . . Seales doesn't stray too far from what worked in the first book, probing the strict class and gender divides of Regency England while keeping the plot moving at a steady clip. This series deserves a long run."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Julia Seales is the author of A Most Agreeable Murder, and a screenwriter based in Los Angeles. She earned an MFA in screenwriting from UCLA and a BA in English from Vanderbilt University. She is a lifelong Anglophile with a passion for both murder mysteries and Jane Austen. Julia is originally from Kentucky, where she learned about manners (and bourbon).