4.25/5 stars! I really enjoyed this Regency romance crime novel. I liked that the main characters were older and there was a more humorous Sherlock Holmes vibe to the book. I would definitely read another book by this author.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really wanted to love this and tried several times to get into it but there's just something about a period romance written in first person that bothers me. I didn't get far into the book for this reason and, no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't take to it.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that single women over forty don’t exist in regency fiction except for bitter spinsters and evil widows but hark! Alison Goodman is here to reset the genre hooray! Lady Augusta ‘Gus’ Colebrook has committed the grand crime of reached the age of 42 unmarried, her overbearing younger brother doesn’t know what to do with her, she’s an embarrassment. To escape him and is awful wife Augusta plans to set up her own establishment with her recently bereaved younger sister and to help distract her from her grief they endeavour to help an acquaintance out of a dangerous marriage. Violent husbands, handsome highwaymen and accidental gunshots occur.
This was really good fun, I enjoyed Goodman’s last series so was looking forward to this and was not disappointed. Goodman has studied the period so it’s pretty historically sound. The book is sort of separate into three interconnected episodes and each cover an aspect of this historical period that Goodman has obviously studied and it leaks out here and there causing the romance aspect of the book to take somewhat of a backseat. I liked this, it was a nice change of pace and offered a different view of the life of women in this period and the control that a men and wealth held over them for their entire lives be they married or not.

eARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A powerful and often humourous story full of wit and charm, pulling back the curtain of the often romanticised Regency Britain. Not shy from showing the underbelly of society and the darkness that comes with it, this well-researched story leads the sisters directly into it.

Described as opposites, the sisters balance each other out perfectly resulting in the perfect team. Gus, a powerful feminist for her time, is headstrong and a proud spinster and Julia, the peacemaker, takes on multiple quests to help the less fortunate, landing them in wild situations that they take in their stride.

The hint of romance weaved its way through the 3 separate adventures slightly helping the disconnect between them, I would have preferred them to be there own shorter books per adventure. Overall, I loved this book and can't wait to carry on with the adventures with book two.

A fun new series that is just a delightful read. This series opener was a whole lot of fun and it put a massive smile on my face. I can't wait to read more adventures. Highly recommended and a new favorite of mine.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

5*, 100% recommended.

When the days are dull and lifeless and you feel you're old and tired, then the remedy you need is The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies. It is a thrilling read, with real heart and intelligence, and an absolute delight.

Which is strange, because it is not dealing in delightful topics. It's not all ballgowns and swooning. Instead, we have a marvellous 'older' (at 42) unmarried woman, bored with society life and champing at the bit to do something more useful than trying to get herself a husband. Intelligent and feisty, Gus finds herself being asked to help women in dire situations. A genuine, fierce feminist rage against a society that condones and allows abuse of women permeates the novel -- a rage that is as valid today as in the 18th century.

This is social satire at its best, blending humour, action and great dialogue into a story that rips along. The historical setting is beautifully and convincingly reproduced. The events and behaviours don't feel anachronistic, despite themes that would never have been addressed (or at least not as directly) in contemporary novels. (To the best of my knowledge: I can't think of any other novels written during the period ~1790-1830 where the lightness of Regency and the darkness of Gothic overlap in the one book.)

The main characters make a wonderful trio; Gus, her sister Julia - fragile but brave - and Lord Evan, who Gus is convinced was falsely accused of murder. I enjoyed every moment of their adventures and will snap up any sequels. I can't wait!

Bored of the life she is leading, a spinster in her forties, ‘Gus’ or Lady Augusta Colebrook wants to inject some excitement into her life and that of her twin sister Julia. Which is how they come to find themselves down a dark alley, trying to pay off a blackmailer, instead she injures him and comes away with the items.

Suddenly struck by how they could be useful Gus and her sister, set out in this book, through three different cases to right some wrongs. On the first mission, they are hijacked by a highwayman and Gus ends up shooting him. Not killing, injuring enough to discover that he is in fact an acquaintance of theirs – Lord Evan Belford. Banished to the colonies, but suddenly back in England.

As he helps them with their first case, and the disappears into the night. Gus cannot but wonder about him and whilst trying to acknowledge how handsome he is, his conviction doesn’t seem right. She sets out to find out the truth and by doing so puts herself into some more situations where it looks likes she might need his help. But will he come and put himself at risk if she asks?

Set in Regency times, this book has a few modern flourishes which perhaps don’t read right, but that is easily forgiven, if you simply enjoy this book for what it is. A romp through the society of two bored ladies who are simply trying to get justice done, even if it is by their own hand.

For fans of Bridgerton and Heyer novels, this is a diverting book which defies its mild mannered cover!

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is yet another historical novel that I enjoyed lately and one of my favourites. It is fun and witty, suspenseful and intriguing, and with a cast of interesting characters.

The protagonist of the novel is Augusta. In their forties, Augusta and her twin sister Julia are considered spinsters, women who should find a quiet occupation and behave as society – and their brother – tells them. However, Augusta has very little interest in staying idle and, in the hope of distracting her sister from the grief over her betrothed’s death, she accepts to help one of their friends retrieving a few incriminating letters from a former lover. This scary and yet exhilarating adventure leads Augusta and Julia to help another woman abused by her husband, but their rescue is first interrupted and then helped by a highway who Augusta recognizes as Lord Evan Belford, who should be in exile in Australia following a murder charge. After this other enterprise full of dangers and nearly escapes, Augusta and Julia promise each other that their detective days are over, but, when they hear of another woman in trouble, the thrill and excitement of the adventure, the desire of not feeling powerless and useless, and in Augusta’s case, the chance of seeing again Lord Evan (who she believes innocent of the murder charge) prevail.

I really enjoyed this novel. I loved the plot, which is full of twists and suspense as well quite a few entertaining and funny scenes. It’s full of historically accurate facts as well as historical figures, like the writer Frances Burney. It also addresses themes like the very poor state of asylums where powerful men confine women who don’t conform to society or the poor who are left in dreadful conditions.

I adored the characters. Augusta is a fantastic heroine. Because of her sex and her age, she is constantly underestimated by society. Her desire of independence and her sharp wit is usually frowned upon: “it was a fact that many men of our acquaintance did not think a woman capable of a genuine sense of humour, or if she did exhibit something of the kind, that it was a singular and unfeminine trait.”. But she doesn’t let society and powerful men dictate her life. She has a very close relationship with her twin sister Julia, so much so that they often communicate telepathically, and she is very protective towards her, while she has a strained relationship with her snobbish brother who thinks women should just do as they are told. In their adventures, Augusta and Julia are helped by their loyal butler Weatherly and by Lord Evan Belford. Accused of murder twenty years earlier, he was exiled to Australia. However, he’s back in England and he professes his innocence and Augusta has every intention to prove it as the two develop a romantic relationship.

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is a well-written, captivating, and superb novel with a fantastic ending that makes me eager for the sequel. Highly recommended!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book so I'm half delighted and half furious that there's going to be a sequel! I never thought I'd read a Regency romance with a heroine more or less my own age given that a 40-something spinster may as well have one foot in the grave by the standards of the day! Gus was a joy to spend time with, I can only hope she's even more ill-mannered in the sequel, and Evan was suitably dashing. Julia was a bit too goody goody so I suppose I should be glad that book 2 will be a sequel rather than her story (I hope)! All in all a fabulous blend of well researched historical detail, adventure, and a sprinkle of romance!

If it was possible to give a book more than 5 stars I would give them to this book.

A regency novel with one main difference. A strong female lead. A roguish highway man love interest, A same sex couple who defy their families and the law to be together, Murder, Kidnap, child trafficking and so much more.

I can not wait to see what happens to Gus in future novels

I was so happy when I discovered this is the first in a series and there will be more stories featuring Gus, Julia and the lovely cast of characters.
It's fast paced, action packed and entertaining Regency story that mixes mystery, romance and comedy of manners.
Gus and Julia are lovely, clever, and strong. They're considered on the shelf, invisible old maids.
There's the ton, there's the gossips, but there's also remarks and observations about historical facts.
I loved every moment of this story and can't wait to read the next one.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

This novel was a wild ride – something I didn’t think could be said about regency fiction. It quickly jumped into action, keeping up this exciting pace for most of the book. It took some breathers to allow for more tender moments between Gus and Julia, and more swoony ones between Gus and the Lord-turned-convict-turned-highwayman Evan Belford.

The book was bursting with fantastic characters, none more so than Gus and Julia. They were both genuinely kind, wanting to help others no matter the personal cost, as well as intelligent, despite society carelessly brushing aside this. Their bond of sisterhood was impenetrable. They were each other’s home. Gus was the more plucky and determined of the two. She was the real driving force behind their operation. It was admirable to watch her finally take hold of her life and strive to make a difference. Gus had a spiky, quick wit, which made her narration all the more fun to read. She was naturally inquisitive and capable in a crisis, but was also deeply caring, especially when it concerned her sister. I felt so sorry for Julia, having tragically losing her fiancée and now battling cancer without trying to make a fuss – a completely harrowing prospect given the era. I was glad Julia got to dip her toe into some of the action and get her own well-deserved hero moments.

I appreciated how this novel placed two single 42-year-old women at its helm and covered topics that are rarely seen on the pages of historical fiction. It highlighted how women were viewed purely as wombs, and once they surpassed child-baring age, they were deemed useless. It was empowering to watch Gus and Julia fight against this warped notion – you can live a life of adventure at any age. The novel also didn’t shy away from the hidden horrors of the regency era. In this way, the novel didn’t romanticise the era, instead portraying it in a more well-rounded way. It was filled with both horror and hope.

The romance between Gus and Evan was a heart-fluttering added bonus. I loved how their relationship grew from an almost instant connection (thanks to their effortless banter) to a partnership built on admiration and adoration.

The novel ended on a teetering cliffhanger, making me desperately need another instalment NOW.

Review of ‘The Benevolent Society for Ill-Mannered Ladies’ by Alison Goodman
Gus and Julia are two very different twins in both look and personality. Gus, standing at 5 foot 9 is independent, intelligent, daring, and feisty. Julia is more demure, empathic, loving, fiercely loyal and stands at a ‘ladylike’ 5 foot 2. We meet the twins on the second anniversary of Julia’s fiancée’s death. Still mourning his loss, the twins are navigating regency life as aging spinsters. A dear friend, Charlotte, finds herself on the brink of scandal when the twins step in. A favour that will lead to adventures and heroics that no-one could have predicted. A beautiful journey of deception, violence, fear, romance and above all sisterly love.
What a joy this book was to read, I really didn’t want to put it down. There was never a dull moment in the lives of the Colebrook twins. The book was split into sections, each following a new ‘case’. And I say ‘case’ because it’s not like they are a detective agency taking on new clients, these are just situations that the twins find themselves in as their reputation for fairness and fearlessness goes before them. Do not fear, although these cases are not connected as such, there are connections within them. Relationships are built, characters developed, and longer-term stories evolved.
I particularly liked how Goodman brought in topics that are so important today, like LGBT rights and mental health, and used real historical artifacts to present them in the Regency era. Some of the beliefs and therefore outcomes for people in the story are really quite horrendous so if you are triggered by these topics read with care, it’s especially difficult knowing that some of the accounts are based on real reports of the day. But it’s clear Goodman knows her regency history, you can see it in the world building, the context setting, the small details, that no stone was left unturned. I have read a lot of regency era novels and I still learnt some facts from this book.
This book was written from the perspective of Gus and I’m so glad it was, because she is fierce! If you like historical settings where women act with modern attitudes, then this is a book for you. Gus in a lot of ways reminds me a bit of Elizabeth Bennet, if Lizzy had had a twin that brought her down to earth. Like Lizzy and Jane, Gus and Julia’s relationship is a wonder. It made me wish I had a twin sister. They both use the unspoken to communicate their feelings and ideas. A pause here, a nod there and a whole conversation has been divulged, it showed a love and intimacy that trumped all others.
And I can’t go any further without commenting on the romance. At first it all happened a bit too quick for me. Gus’s love interest was calling her, ‘my dear’ (cringe! Regency language always gets me.) way too quickly. I’m all for love at first sight but the immediate use of endearments in a regency setting just didn’t work for me. Even if they felt that way, they would have such a wall of reserve that it made it feel artificial. Having said that as soon as it was out there, I pretty much forgot about it and boy was I invested. There was even a [spoilers ahead: skip to the next paragraph] there’s only one bed scenario and who doesn’t love that!
I would definitely recommend if you like your historical fiction light hearted and easily digestible. A great summer read and a good foot in the door if you are trying the genre out for the first time. I can’t wait for the next instalment.

I absolutely loved every word of this clever, funny, thougtful and original regency novel.

Alison Goodman takes all the usual Regency conventions - the Season, reputation, marriage - and gives them a strong feminist twist. Her heroines are twins, unmarried women in their forties, women who convention (and their stuffy brother) decree should take up as little space and air as possible. Luckily for Gus (Augusta) and Julia they have independent means - as Gus points out, their lot would be a miserable one if they were dependent on their family. Gus is tall, intelligent and acerbic, whilst quieter Julia is battling both a broken heart after the death of her fiance just two years previously, and ill health having discovered a lump in her breast similar to the ones responsible for the untimely death of their mother and aunt. But when a favour for a friend turns into an adventure, Gus is delighted to see Julia regain some of her old sparkle. So how can she turn down another favour, even if it is a lot more dangerous than the retrieval of some ill advised letters?

Before they know it the twins are swept up into a world not at all suitable for gently bred ladies, a world of highwaymen, brothels, Bow Street Runners, murder, kidnapping, a world where women are nothing but possessions no matter their age, title or status, a world full of injustice.

Taut, exciting, in turns angry, funny and poignant, with a fabulous romantic subplot, this is the new regency series I didn't know I was waiting for, Highlu highly recommended.

The Benevolent Society of Ill- Mannered Ladies is a fabulous read, full of compelling characters with wit and depth, heart breaking and heart pounding moments make this a complete page turner. I have not read a book on the Regency period that has captured it so well and accurately.
Lady Augusta (Gus)and her twin sister Julia are spinsters in their early 40’s, both highly intelligent and have a good understanding of the politics of the time. Women are in their husbands control and domestic violence and worse are ignored. The Lunatic asylums are well described, and the treatment of women sent there by husbands using any excuse that they are ‘mad’ is frighteningly accurate.
Gus and Julie do what they can to help these women though they themselves are ruled by their younger brother’s whims.
There is romance but that takes a back seat to all the action, though from the ending of this book I’m hoping this is an author that can write really fast so we can have the next instalment as soon as possible as we are slightly left hanging….well I was because I didn’t want it to end!
I read a lot of books and cannot recommend this book highly enough.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

What a thrilling ride this book was! With men’s reputations to restore, women to save from their dastardly husbands and young girls very lives in the balance, it’s certainly guaranteed not to be a bore with the benevolent society of ill mannered ladies.

The two main characters, the gentle Julia and no nonsense and headstrong Gus, were a fair pair to head up the society and the book as a whole. They were both compelling characters to follow and I was truly invested in their stories.

It felt like three books in one, with three exciting cases to follow. I loved all of them and my eyes danced over the pages in super quick time because I couldn’t slow down! It was written so well and had me on the edge the entire time. All of the cases were perfect at investing you, enrolling you into the madness of Lady Augusta’s schemes (which always surprised and amused me. I always looked forward to seeing how she was going to get out of scrapes!). And the relationship between the two sisters was just lovely to read!

I had thought this book would be a one off but there are more to come?! Massive yes please. I am now hooked and won’t stop thinking about how everything will unfurl in the next one. I eagerly await!

I do love a historical read so grabbed this with both hands!

Lady Augusta, aka Gus, and her sister, Julia investigate a series of cases to help women who need it!

I loved Gus, she was such a strong character and knew what she wanted even though the pressures of society in those days said she should want different things!

Another fave of mine was Lord Evan - hearts!

This was a totally fun read, I loved the 3 cases in this book and absolutely loved the historical details! Would love more!

This book was an absolute riot to read. The central cast is very well fleshed out and are a joy to get to know. The book seems to end with the promise of a sequel, and I wish it was out already lol.

There are a lot of traumatic topics covered though, and I think the book would definitely benefit from a content warning page so readers can be better prepared. Though the overall tone of the novel is quite positive, the author has stayed true to history and encapsulated the horrors of the time period in a way that feels very real and dark in comparison to what would otherwise have been a good natured adventure romp.

4/5.

I absolutely adored the focus of this being on women supporting other women!
The strength, warmth and cleverness of twin sisters - Augusta and Julia was a delight to read. Although they do have some help from men, they are so clearly the leaders of the ‘cases’ they take on. They drive the action and the rescuing of other women from dire situations.

There is a little bit of romance and I enjoyed it. Yet, I really valued how it took a back seat in this novel, with more of a focus on the important tasks of helping others.

A really refreshing regency read that’s a little bit different!