4.25 stars

This is Book 2 in a series!! So if you don't want spoilers for book 1, don't read this review!

Absolutely loved being back in the world of Gus and Julia!

Gus and Julia are "spinster" twin sisters that have a strong drive to do what is right, whether society agrees with their actions or not. In book 1 they meet Lord Evan Belford, a man convicted of murder 20 years prior, and who recently escaped imprisonment to save his sister Hester from an ill fate at a "madhouse". Book 1 ends with that rescue mission and Lord Evan escaping from a Bow Street Runner with knowledge that a man has been ordered to kill him.

Book 2 follows Gus as she tries to find evidence of Lord Evan's innocence. All the while she and Julia are secretly housing Hester and her female lover Miss Grant, and dodging the thieftaker intent on killing Lord Evan.

Gus gets herself into a lot of horrifying and dangerous situations as she investigates the murder from 20 years ago. I absolutely love Gus and her strong conviction to keep those she loves safe and her immense goodness to help women in trouble. I also appreciated the continued romance between Gus and Evan. So incredibly wholesome and beautiful! We also get a peep of a blooming romance between Julia and a certain Bow Street Runner. Incredibly fun! Their brother Duffy is as insufferable as ever and an absolute nuisance to the storyline.

If you enjoyed book 1 you are sure to enjoy the sequel. My one complaint is I didn't want it to end because there is definitely going to be another book, and I don't want to wait for it!!! I also think I would enjoy this more in audio form, there were a lot of tense situations that I would have rather listened to than read.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC! This book will be published on May 6, 2025.

I enjoyed the first book in the series, and I was expecting to like this one even more. However, I found that as with the first book, what I was expecting and what I got were two very different things. I was planning to give it three stars, but as I was writing out this review, I found that there were more things I didn't like than things that I did.

I fully expected this book to have its main storyline be about clearing Evan's name, solving the murder mystery, and Evan and Gus falling even more in love. I was very much looking forward to that story, and the book was at its most interesting when it leaned into those elements. However, while it did touch on that storyline, so much of the story was taken up attempting to protect Hester and Miss Grant (from other people and themselves!) and moving them from place to place. It wasn't a bad story, just not the one I would have preferred to take precedence. Furthermore, that storyline had reached a fairly good conclusion in the previous book, so I was surprised to see it take up such a significant part of this book. Also, I found Hester and Miss Grant to be extremely unlikeable. I didn't mind as much with Hester because of the horrific things she's been through - it would make sense she wouldn't be at her best, however, Miss Grant felt ungrateful, rude, and entitled. Now to be clear, just because she's unlikeable doesn't mean I didn't want her and Hester to be safe, it just didn't make for very enjoyable reading. There was also a lot of angst and argument between Gus and Julia, which I did not enjoy. So I did get my murder mystery/romance that I enjoyed immensely, but I would have preferred that to have been way more of what I got.

It also felt like Julia's breast cancer was given rather haphazard treatment. It was such a significant plot point in the first book, and in this one it mostly seemed as though Julia just refused to talk about it and then it was tied up in a bow at the end. Lastly, I felt like both Deele and Duffy were a bit too moustache twirly in this book. Neither of them had very much depth, which made them feel like caricatures rather than real people. I will have to see how I feel when the next book comes out if I want to pick it up or not.

The second book in The Ill-Mannered Ladies historical mystery series is set during the Regency period in England. While largely set in London, there are adventures into the countryside. It features financially independent 42-year-old twin sisters Lady Augusta (Gus) Colebrook and Lady Julia Colebrook who have decided to help women and children in need. This often requires some amateur sleuthing and some danger.
When Lord Evan Belford, an escaped convict who has won Gus’s heart, needs to hide his sister Hester from their brother, Gus and Julia hide her and her lover in their home. Meanwhile Gus and Lord Evan work to clear his name and restore him to his rightful place as head of the Belford family. As past and present collide, bounty hunters, narrow-minded brothers, and gentlemen’s clubs take center stage in a dark and occasionally humorous story that highlights some of the social issues of the time.

Gus is witty, independent, courageous, clever, and has an adventurous spirit. She tends to push the boundaries with her outspoken manner. With a keen mind and a strong sense of justice, she is knowledgeable of current affairs. However, she can be high-handed and interfering. Julia sees a kinder world than Gus, isn’t as adventurous, and has a phenomenal memory. She fears being left alone and tends to be more diplomatic than Gus. Her ability to understand how people think and feel helps with this. Lord Evan is helpful, intelligent, has a droll sense of humor, and appreciates Gus’s humor and her keen mind.

There are multiple subplots in the story. These include the activities to clear Lord Evan’s name and the hiding and protection of Hester, as well as others. There are some exciting scenes, danger, and adventure in this well-written historical mystery novel. The additional cases kept me engaged throughout the book and added another layer of intrigue and depth to the overall story. The ending does a great job of setting up the next novel.

The author has obviously done a lot of research on the Regency time-period and brilliantly captured the characters, fashions, and lifestyles. Some serious themes are woven into the story including social classes, false imprisonment, grief, health issues, social power, death, and men’s attitudes towards, control of, and treatment of women.

At the end of the book is an author’s note that explains some of the real historical figures and situations that appear in the novel. There’s also a list of discussion questions that can be helpful to book clubs reading the novel.

Overall, this book is well-written and engaging with great characterization and extraordinary atmosphere. This novel should delight those readers who enjoy Regency mysteries with a slow-burn romance and that have strong female characters. The series should be read in order as there isn’t a lot of background given in this one relating to the events in the first novel. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Berkley Publishing Group and Alison Goodman provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for May 06, 2025.

This book is one of the very few I have read that I could not put down! No steamy adventures just tried and true team work along with intelligence and grit!
We have twins much later in life around 42 Gus and Julia! Ladies Augusta and Lady Julia compliment each other so well! Gus is fearless and brazen and wants to just rush in and plan as she goes along! Julia is methodical, thoughtful and likes to see the possible outcomes!
Beau Brummel has extraordinary power over the Ton and elite and he is not only Gus’s friend but believes they think alike!
Gus, Julia, Evan and Michael (Kent) championed Hester (Evan’s sister) and Miss Grant right to live as they wanted! In a society that condemns their relationship! They all risked their lives at times for their cause!
But men still wanted to silence Lord Evan and now Mr Kent by association! Gus has an awful experience and realizes the frailty of her sex when before her title and money protected her!
It seems they may never learn the outcome of the duel that fateful night! If so where does that leave Evan?
Can there be another solution all together! When Beau Brummell requests a favor in the future for his support of Hester and Miss Grant no one could possibly guess what it would be!? There only snippets given but it could mean finally Evan and Gus may have a future!? But it would mean a more perilous undertaking than any that have gone before! Are they strong enough and brave enough to take on this may be the last adventure!? Well we just have to hope they do! Bravo

A wonderful followup to The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies that will leave you wondering when the next book will be released! If you liked that book, this one is even more fun, and it leaves book leaves Gus, Julia, and the men they love ready to embark on an even more exciting adventure. I hope we don’t have to wait too long to read it.

3.5 stars.

2nd in a series featuring middle-aged (invisible, superflous) twins Lady Agusta (Gus) and Lady Julia. Readers need to read the first book (The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies) to get the most out of this title - the backstory from that book is necessary to events in this book.

The covers are pink and bouncy, the titles are witty, and the books are entertaining. But they are not fluff. Some very dark issues regarding the powerlessness of Regency era women, who are completely beholden to fathers, brothers, husbands, drive the plotlines. And if a woman steps out of line, or has a man who doesn't care about the women in his life, he can stomp on her (sometimes literally) with virtually no repercussions.

This story ended with a teensy cliff hanger, so I am anxious for the next adventure(s) for Gus and Julia.

The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin is a fresh take on two spinster sisters in their 40s. It's rare to see women over the age of 20 as leads, so I immediately was interested, and the story gripped me from the first page to the last. It's a tale of two women who try to help abused or trapped women in Regency England, which constantly puts them in danger. With the help of a suspiciously charming Lord Evan, who has his own dark past, will they be able to navigate London's seedy underworld?

This was a charming, poignant story and I found it utterly captivating. The characters, setting, and story whisks you away into the glittering high society and the gaming hells of London. Paired with the fact that the sisters are trying to save women who have been abused by their families, it's a charming yet high stakes novel about love, family, and believing in yourself.

"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?"

Oh my, I love Alison Goodman and everything about this book, but the "everyday threat of narrow-minded brothers" had me on the floor.

Ah this was so exciting! Augusta (Gus) and Julia are 42 year old spinster twins in Regency England, and I am *obsessed* with their adventures.

The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin is the second in the Ill-Mannered Ladies series. The first book in this series caught me off guard. It was much darker than I expected from the title. The two twin spinster sisters use their financial and social abilities to help women and children in need of help.
Make sure to read this book in order as the beginning is a continuation of the ending of the first book. Also, Goodman doesn’t waste any time or words giving the reader much background from the first book.
This time round, Gus and Julia are protecting Lady Hester from her brother’s attempts to find and return her to an asylum. Gus, meanwhile, is still trying to clear Evan’s name, which requires investigating a gentleman’s club. And Julia has developed feelings for the man tasked with finding and bringing Evan to justice. The series is not afraid to delve into dark themes and once again, does so. That said, it’s great entertainment and I tore through it.
Goodman does an excellent job of giving the reader a real feel for the time and place and the restrictions a lady faces. It’s obvious that she’s done her research and her Author’s Note was fascinating. While there’s an obvious romance theme to the book it’s of the slow-burn variety. The meat of the book is much more mystery and action oriented. And it’s obvious from the way it ends that there will be a third in the series.
My thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for an advance copy of this book.

Alison Goodman has given us the heroines we need with Gus and Julia. They are smart, savvy, and generally delightful women of a certain age in Regency England. They rebel (quite properly) against their prig of a brother to help other women gain their independence while also working to clear the name of Gus's love interest. There's intrigue, sharp dialog, and a slow burn romance wrapped up in a excellently written and well-plotted novel. I eagerly anticipate further adventures of these ill-mannered ladies. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Berkley for the preview.

3.75 stars

Another Regency romp with a strongly feminist bent, featuring moneyed twin sisters Lady Augusta and Lady Jane. This is more or less a continuation of their first adventure, where they sprung a wrongly imprisoned (in a horrific insane asylum) lady who committed the sin of loving another woman. Further complications: she was shut away by her brother, and rescued by her other brother who just happens to be a (wrongly accused) escaped prisoner and Augusta's love interest.

Confused? It can get a bit convoluted, sometimes with hilarious results. At one point, there is an absurdly comic weekend at a manor in which 4 or 5 different sets of guests, none of whom were expecting the others, get entangled with mistaken identities and hidden agendas. Is the plot over the top? Certainly. Is the action 100% believable? Not necessarily. Is it a roaring good time? Yes indeed. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was a riveting second installment! I continued to really enjoy the characters and their growth within the story. I can't wait for the third book! A must read for any historical fiction fans!

When I finished reading The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies, I immediately checked to see if there was a sequel and was pleased to find this ARC on NetGalley. I actually found this book to be even better than the first. The pacing felt more natural and it was just the right length. Gus and Julia are such wonderful characters and this novel gives us a deeper look at their relationship. It also reveals a love interest for Julia and a continued slow burn of Gus and Evan's relationship. I cannot wait to see what intrigues they get into in the next installment of this series. Gus and Julia are the strong, independent heroines we need!

This book is perfection! Book one in this series was outstanding and if you haven't read it, definitely start there. These two middle-aged sisters are so much fun to read. Their exploits get more and more adventurous (and dangerous). Check other reviews for trigger warnings though (although nothing is too graphic)

Second book in the Ill Mannered Ladies series and it does not disappoint! Feminism in the Regency period and it works really well.

Alison Goodman’s The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin is a captivating blend of Regency-era mystery, adventure, and feminist rebellion, driven by the indomitable Colebrook sisters. With wit and charm, Gus and Julia navigate the rigid expectations of high society while secretly championing the vulnerable, proving that so-called "old maids" can be formidable detectives. The novel masterfully weaves intrigue and romance, particularly through the enigmatic Lord Evan, whose quest for justice entangles them in a thrilling pursuit through the dark underbelly of England. Goodman’s storytelling is sharp and engaging, balancing humor, suspense, and social critique with ease. A must-read for fans of historical mysteries with strong, unconventional heroines.

I received an electronic ARC from Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley.
Ladies Augusta and Julia are back to continue their adventures. This second book picks up shortly after the first ended. They are harboring Lady Hester to allow time for her to heal and protect her from her brother. The ladies are also working to clear Lord Evan's reputation in rather daring ways. The story unfolds in London and the countryside and ends with a cliffhanger that leads directly to the third book.
Goodman does excellent research so readers feel they are also residing in this time period. Readers learn so much about life in England - both the good and the evil. She continues to develop and reveal more about her characters as the story unfolds. I appreciate that none are purely good nor purely nasty (with a couple exceptions). Her tone and pace work well to keep readers actively involved in anticipating the next piece of the adventure.
I do recommend reading these in order. It might be confusing to follow the references if you have not read the first book.

Make sure you read the first book in the series before this one, as the story builds on events in the first book, and you will miss a lot of important details otherwise. Both books are amusing, as Ladies Augusta and Julia Colebrook find themselves involved in situations and trying to fix situations that society women such as themselves should not be involved per societal standards. Granted they try their best to keep their activities private, although that is difficult since their actions have brought the attention of a Bow Street runner (Kent), a brutal thief-taker (Mulholland) who wants to capture Lord Evan (Augusta’s love interest), their uptight brother (Duffy) who has very strong opinions on what his sisters should and shouldn’t do, and other members of the nobility, some who are allies and some who are enemies.

I appreciate that the author makes the effort to include little historical details, such as prescriptions of "blue mass" pills (something I had to look up), and that she has Lady Augusta and Lady Julie learn important information from people that society overlooks, such as poor women selling flowers on a street corner.

Unbeknownst to me, this is the 2nd novel in this series. However, I was perfectly fine jumping in the story at this point and enjoyed the novel. I felt like I was in an episode of Bridgerton, just with some extra suspense. Anyone who loves period pieces, the "ton", and appreciates that with an added touch of modern flare, will adore this series!