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Ladies of WACK #2
A Practicum in Perjury
Lady Georgiana Spencer. A dream-shattering realization. A masked murder. Can Lady Spencer rise above her disappointments and save an innocent house maid from the hangman’s noose?
Georgi has been admitted to Grantabridge University, one of only four women to achieve this honor in 1870. Finally, she can attain her life-long dream and become a barrister. Or can she … her dream is shattered when she learns the law of Brythion prohibits women the right to claim a place in the legal world. A world ruled by men. Now what will she do?
When the Ladies of WACK stumble across a dead body at a masquerade ball, Georgi instantly puts her legal-minded intellect on a new path. She takes the fired house maid, Lotte, into her employ, only to discover Lotte is the number one suspect in the killing of Earl Taversham, a gentleman of the peerage.
Georgi sets her mind on proving Lotte’s innocence. But can she succeed in convincing the barrister assigned to defend Lotte to accept her investigative prowess before Lotte is judged guilty and sentenced to death?
A Practicum in Perjury is the second in Stephanie K. Clemens’ Ladies of WACK steampunk mystery series. If you enjoy intrigue, clashes between the sexes and the antics of daring women, then this book is for you.
Buy a Practicum in Perjury to discover if Georgi succeeds, or if Lotte is destined to hang!
Georgi has been admitted to Grantabridge University, one of only four women to achieve this honor in 1870. Finally, she can attain her life-long dream and become a barrister. Or can she … her dream is shattered when she learns the law of Brythion prohibits women the right to claim a place in the legal world. A world ruled by men. Now what will she do?
When the Ladies of WACK stumble across a dead body at a masquerade ball, Georgi instantly puts her legal-minded intellect on a new path. She takes the fired house maid, Lotte, into her employ, only to discover Lotte is the number one suspect in the killing of Earl Taversham, a gentleman of the peerage.
Georgi sets her mind on proving Lotte’s innocence. But can she succeed in convincing the barrister assigned to defend Lotte to accept her investigative prowess before Lotte is judged guilty and sentenced to death?
A Practicum in Perjury is the second in Stephanie K. Clemens’ Ladies of WACK steampunk mystery series. If you enjoy intrigue, clashes between the sexes and the antics of daring women, then this book is for you.
Buy a Practicum in Perjury to discover if Georgi succeeds, or if Lotte is destined to hang!
- GenresSteampunk
331 pages, Paperback
Published October 29, 2022
About the author
Stephanie K. Clemens
20 books77 followersStephanie K Clemens is known for many things: an author, photographer, dog mom, instagrammer, adventurer, teacher, lawyer, and more. When she’s not sitting behind her laptop she can be found on some adventure. Most of the time it’s a road trip with her two doggos, but recently it has been in the pages of a book.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 19, 2022
Wonderful read!
It was fun to be investigating with the Ladies of Wack again. I finished this book in one weekend and look forward to future stories starring the other characters.
It was fun to be investigating with the Ladies of Wack again. I finished this book in one weekend and look forward to future stories starring the other characters.
November 6, 2022
WACK to the Rescue!
In their second outing. The Women Adventurers' Consortium of Knowledge (WACK), a group of four who are paving the way for Victorian women in education and the professions, again use their unique skills to clear an innocent woman of murder charges. Lady Georgi takes the lead in the investigation due to her knowledge of philosophy and the law. She volunteers to help a barrister who is making no progress on the case.
A lecherous drunken nobleman has been murdered at his lavish masquerade ball. He was disliked by his wife, his business associates and his staff, so there are plenty of suspects to check out. Each of the WACK women has special skills that lead to identifying the killer.
Lady Georgi is beautiful, intelligent and insightful. She risks her reputation on behalf of a young parlor maid. But she is less knowledgeable about her own problems.
As in the first book, love and friendship prevail. This lighthearted steampunk mystery is a nice way to escape the problems of the present in a fantasy of the past. A third, and hopefully a fourth sequel are in the offing and a visit to the world of steam powered motorcycles and elegant dirigibles is certainly worth the trip.
In their second outing. The Women Adventurers' Consortium of Knowledge (WACK), a group of four who are paving the way for Victorian women in education and the professions, again use their unique skills to clear an innocent woman of murder charges. Lady Georgi takes the lead in the investigation due to her knowledge of philosophy and the law. She volunteers to help a barrister who is making no progress on the case.
A lecherous drunken nobleman has been murdered at his lavish masquerade ball. He was disliked by his wife, his business associates and his staff, so there are plenty of suspects to check out. Each of the WACK women has special skills that lead to identifying the killer.
Lady Georgi is beautiful, intelligent and insightful. She risks her reputation on behalf of a young parlor maid. But she is less knowledgeable about her own problems.
As in the first book, love and friendship prevail. This lighthearted steampunk mystery is a nice way to escape the problems of the present in a fantasy of the past. A third, and hopefully a fourth sequel are in the offing and a visit to the world of steam powered motorcycles and elegant dirigibles is certainly worth the trip.
October 25, 2023
a fun mystery!!
A Practicum in Perjury is the second book in the Ladies of WACK series and it is a worthy successor to a Study in Steam. You don’t need to read a Study in Steam to understand what is going on, but I do think it gives added depth to the characters and context for the story, especially the larger context of women being allowed at university for the first time in history.
Georgi is bright and analytical with a desire to help others, especially other women. This penchant for helping the downtrodden leads to her taking in a young maid who has just been fired and accused with the murder of her prior employer. Throughout the story, Georgi does some particularly adventurous investigation and brilliant analysis to help clear her new servant’s name.
This cozy mystery is sweet and fun, and very feminist. We love to see it! There’s also some light romance. The romance storyline is engaging but without overshadowing the main plot.
All in all, a great read! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys light mystery and romance, as well as anyone who enjoys feminist AND feminine stories. It’s all around a great book!
A Practicum in Perjury is the second book in the Ladies of WACK series and it is a worthy successor to a Study in Steam. You don’t need to read a Study in Steam to understand what is going on, but I do think it gives added depth to the characters and context for the story, especially the larger context of women being allowed at university for the first time in history.
Georgi is bright and analytical with a desire to help others, especially other women. This penchant for helping the downtrodden leads to her taking in a young maid who has just been fired and accused with the murder of her prior employer. Throughout the story, Georgi does some particularly adventurous investigation and brilliant analysis to help clear her new servant’s name.
This cozy mystery is sweet and fun, and very feminist. We love to see it! There’s also some light romance. The romance storyline is engaging but without overshadowing the main plot.
All in all, a great read! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys light mystery and romance, as well as anyone who enjoys feminist AND feminine stories. It’s all around a great book!
May 7, 2026
1.5*s. This book has good intentions, but the execution is working against them. The writing is juvenile, needlessly anachronistic, and so full of itself and hot air it's practically airborne.
The characters are flat and so rigidly obstinate, it completely negates the repeated assertions of their intelligence. None of them sound like they arrived to their declarations through independent thought (as opposed to blindly repeating the opinions of others), which unfortunately undermines many of their well-meaning arguments. Their actions suffer a similar fate.
This book proclaims to be feminist, but is executed so poorly that it might be accomplishing the opposite of its declared goals, especially given the portrayal of women deemed antagonistic to 'the cause'.
I picked the book up hoping for the steampunk setting to be relevant, but it's there just for window dressing.
The characters are flat and so rigidly obstinate, it completely negates the repeated assertions of their intelligence. None of them sound like they arrived to their declarations through independent thought (as opposed to blindly repeating the opinions of others), which unfortunately undermines many of their well-meaning arguments. Their actions suffer a similar fate.
This book proclaims to be feminist, but is executed so poorly that it might be accomplishing the opposite of its declared goals, especially given the portrayal of women deemed antagonistic to 'the cause'.
I picked the book up hoping for the steampunk setting to be relevant, but it's there just for window dressing.
December 29, 2024
Second installment of Ladies of wack is about Georgi Spencer’s turn to solve a crime after she stumbled upon a maid falsely accused of murder. She has to work together with an annoying , but handsome lawyer while also fighting for women’s equal rights. It is pretty cozy mystery where you don’t have to think too much.
My biggest issue was the writing. It was better than the first one because the characters actually have a purpose and are not cardboard cut outs, but the descriptions repeat each other.
Ex: “‘How dare you!’ Clearly angry at Declan and at what he was implying.” Don’t need to repeat what just happened.
My biggest issue was the writing. It was better than the first one because the characters actually have a purpose and are not cardboard cut outs, but the descriptions repeat each other.
Ex: “‘How dare you!’ Clearly angry at Declan and at what he was implying.” Don’t need to repeat what just happened.
February 13, 2023
The second book in the series is written from the viewpoint of Georgi, and the author has done very well to write this in a different way to how the first book was written in the voice of a young lady whose upbringing was very different to Georgi’s. There is an underlying theme of love in these books, as far as I can see so far, but still a mixed historical fiction and murder mystery genre is how I would class this book. Thoroughly enjoyable – overall 5 stars.
November 10, 2022
I was born not that far from this time
Although my world was not from
the Victorian era. I was born at a time when I expected a different acceptance than I found. It was only started about 30 years after women got the vote in the USA.
My older sister never thought college would be in her future. I did appreciate the story, and the class system portrayed here.
Although my world was not from
the Victorian era. I was born at a time when I expected a different acceptance than I found. It was only started about 30 years after women got the vote in the USA.
My older sister never thought college would be in her future. I did appreciate the story, and the class system portrayed here.
July 28, 2023
Despite being written in American rather than in English this is an excellent tale, well told. It has just the right amount of humour, peril, logic and romance and the characters are well drawn and believable.
I shall get the rest of the series when they come out.
I shall get the rest of the series when they come out.
December 26, 2023
Different Adventure
MsClemens has a unique flair for weaving a tale. She has a cast of characters that work together to flavor the suspense. This is not your typical mystery but one that walks you through the gathering of clues and piecing them together for a solution.
MsClemens has a unique flair for weaving a tale. She has a cast of characters that work together to flavor the suspense. This is not your typical mystery but one that walks you through the gathering of clues and piecing them together for a solution.
May 8, 2024
Home run again
Clemens spins a fascinating tale that keeps the reader guessing. Can’t wait for the next in the series. I’m also a writer and really enjoyed Clemens craft to tell an engrossing story.
Clemens spins a fascinating tale that keeps the reader guessing. Can’t wait for the next in the series. I’m also a writer and really enjoyed Clemens craft to tell an engrossing story.
May 30, 2024
The first one was really good. This one is not. Declan is a self-important abusive asshole. He wrecks the entire story and is not worthy of her. Probably won't read the rest so I never have to see him again.
February 6, 2023
Better and Better
Loving the Ladies of WACK and their adventures. Great story with several sub plots, to muddy the waters. Highly enjoyable read.
Loving the Ladies of WACK and their adventures. Great story with several sub plots, to muddy the waters. Highly enjoyable read.
April 5, 2023
Mysterious lassies
The story weaves like the proverbial yellow brick road in the plot itself, and in the personalities of each character.
The story weaves like the proverbial yellow brick road in the plot itself, and in the personalities of each character.
December 18, 2023
Great clean sluth story
I enjoyed reading this mystery story with a clean romantic interest. I recommend this story for the young adult reader.
I enjoyed reading this mystery story with a clean romantic interest. I recommend this story for the young adult reader.
October 19, 2024
Fantastic, fun, and fabulously frilly!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews