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The Ill-Mannered Ladies #2
The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin
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?
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?
432 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2025
525 people are currently reading
17310 people want to read
About the author
Alison Goodman
13 books4,565 followersAlison is the author of seven novels so far including the award winning Dark Days Club trilogy (aka as the Lady Helen trilogy) and EON and EONA, a New York Times Bestselling fantasy duology. Her upcoming novel --The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies-- is book 1 in a new series, and will be published in the USA, UK and Australia at the end of May 2023.
Alison lives in Australia and has recently completed her PhD, so can now call herself Dr Al.
Alison lives in Australia and has recently completed her PhD, so can now call herself Dr Al.
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May 2, 2025
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.
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My 4.3 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
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.
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My 4.3 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
June 1, 2025
Why didn't I love this book??? I raved and devoured book 1. It had humor and suspense. There were 3 separate instances of where the daring and thinking outside the box caused our sister duo to rescue a woman in trouble and save the day. I am the outlier here as most have loved this book the second in the series that can be read as a stand-alone (it has been a year since I read the first and well my memory of it was a bit fuzzy.) Since it is mainly a mystery my thoughts VERY MILD SPOILER
August 14, 2025
I was, to him, a competent and required presence. Not a worthless, overbearing spinster or deficient female. Was this how men felt all the time? This intrinsic acceptance of one’s significance? No wonder they walked through life expecting so much as their due.
Augusta and Julia do everything in their power to help Lady Hester (after rescuing her from a mental institution in the previous book) and her partner Miss Grant get to a safe place and live together freely, in addition to getting Lord Evan's name cleared in The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin - pushing both Colebrook sisters to confront their growing feelings for Lord Evan and Mr. Kent respectively, defend their stances on gender inequality and also revisit their complacency on class inequality, all while dealing with their health, annoying family and societal expectations of unmarried women.
The second book in series continues to deliver an adventurous plot with serious stakes, combined with romance and character growth. As much as the two sisters love and support each other, this book also sees them confront each other's behaviour and decisions, helping them to grow into better humans, while still being well-mannered except under duress. Their morality and growth is seen much better expecially when contrasted with their family and some acquaintances, representative of what was common in that era.
The plot moves quickly, neither sister shying away from difficulties, and Alison Goodman's writing does a great job interlacing the adventurous with the grave dangers as well as with the budding romances. New worlds are explored, in terms of where their actions lead them as well as where their health leads them, and Goodman writes all of this with a gritty level of detail evoking empathy from the readers. While some creative license was used at the end, both to help the couple and to clear Evan's name, all of it seems to have been drawn from real people and places combined with finite probabilities for various happenings.
On the whole, a great read delivering on all expectations from the first book. The series is recommended for anyone interested in Regency-Era stories backed up by good research and strong women helping each other.
The Ill-Mannered Ladies series:
Book 1: The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies
Book 2: The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin
🌟🌟🌟3/4🌟
[3/4 star for the premise and the whole book; 3/4 star for the characters; 3/4 stars for the plot and themes; 3/4 stars for the world-building; 3/4 star for the writing - 3 3/4 stars in total.]
Julia looked sideways at me, her mulishness shifting into a small smile: Behold the new Augusta.
I returned the smile: And behold the new Julia.
She gave a small, perplexed frown: I am not new.
I raised my brows: Are you not?
Augusta and Julia do everything in their power to help Lady Hester (after rescuing her from a mental institution in the previous book) and her partner Miss Grant get to a safe place and live together freely, in addition to getting Lord Evan's name cleared in The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin - pushing both Colebrook sisters to confront their growing feelings for Lord Evan and Mr. Kent respectively, defend their stances on gender inequality and also revisit their complacency on class inequality, all while dealing with their health, annoying family and societal expectations of unmarried women.
The second book in series continues to deliver an adventurous plot with serious stakes, combined with romance and character growth. As much as the two sisters love and support each other, this book also sees them confront each other's behaviour and decisions, helping them to grow into better humans, while still being well-mannered except under duress. Their morality and growth is seen much better expecially when contrasted with their family and some acquaintances, representative of what was common in that era.
The plot moves quickly, neither sister shying away from difficulties, and Alison Goodman's writing does a great job interlacing the adventurous with the grave dangers as well as with the budding romances. New worlds are explored, in terms of where their actions lead them as well as where their health leads them, and Goodman writes all of this with a gritty level of detail evoking empathy from the readers. While some creative license was used at the end, both to help the couple and to clear Evan's name, all of it seems to have been drawn from real people and places combined with finite probabilities for various happenings.
On the whole, a great read delivering on all expectations from the first book. The series is recommended for anyone interested in Regency-Era stories backed up by good research and strong women helping each other.
The Ill-Mannered Ladies series:
Book 1: The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies
Book 2: The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin
🌟🌟🌟3/4🌟
[3/4 star for the premise and the whole book; 3/4 star for the characters; 3/4 stars for the plot and themes; 3/4 stars for the world-building; 3/4 star for the writing - 3 3/4 stars in total.]
Julia looked sideways at me, her mulishness shifting into a small smile: Behold the new Augusta.
I returned the smile: And behold the new Julia.
She gave a small, perplexed frown: I am not new.
I raised my brows: Are you not?
August 7, 2025
This one got a bit complicated, but I still had a great time. The plot is going in a direction I definitely did not expect, I hope it gets back to them helping Regency ladies in need after the next book. (I hope there is more than three!)
The premise of The Ill-Mannered Ladies books is that because our two main characters, Gus and Julia, have the gift of independent wealth, and the questionable blessing of being constantly overlooked and underestimated due to their genders and ages (they are 42-year old unmarried twins), they can get a lot done under everyone’s noses in the name of progress, justice, and equality. In the first book they go through a series of almost episodic adventures, helping women and the dispossessed of Regency England.
This one, though, it really barely touched on that premise, because consequences from their previous adventures had to be dealt with, and all of sudden there’s espionage! State secrets! Agents provocateurs!
I continue to really like the way this series is portraying the dark underbelly of Regency society, though. Goodman doesn’t hold back, purposefully puncturing the more romantic depictions of the time with uglier reality (including frequent health conditions people in this time might have suffered and how they dealt with them, i.e. Julia has breast cancer, doctor’s remedies were often worse than the disease they were “treating”). I also really like the focus on actual historical events and figures that are woven very naturally into the plot. In that way it’s much more historical fiction than it is historical romance, even though there are romantic elements present.
Definitely recommend this series if you haven’t checked it out yet.
The premise of The Ill-Mannered Ladies books is that because our two main characters, Gus and Julia, have the gift of independent wealth, and the questionable blessing of being constantly overlooked and underestimated due to their genders and ages (they are 42-year old unmarried twins), they can get a lot done under everyone’s noses in the name of progress, justice, and equality. In the first book they go through a series of almost episodic adventures, helping women and the dispossessed of Regency England.
This one, though, it really barely touched on that premise, because consequences from their previous adventures had to be dealt with, and all of sudden there’s espionage! State secrets! Agents provocateurs!
I continue to really like the way this series is portraying the dark underbelly of Regency society, though. Goodman doesn’t hold back, purposefully puncturing the more romantic depictions of the time with uglier reality (including frequent health conditions people in this time might have suffered and how they dealt with them, i.e. Julia has breast cancer, doctor’s remedies were often worse than the disease they were “treating”). I also really like the focus on actual historical events and figures that are woven very naturally into the plot. In that way it’s much more historical fiction than it is historical romance, even though there are romantic elements present.
Definitely recommend this series if you haven’t checked it out yet.
July 27, 2025
I finally got my hands on this, and it was another super read.
Plot summary: This picks up where the first book ended, so if you haven't read that, please do first. It's worth it. This review contains multiple spoilers from book 1.
Lady Augusta and her sister, Lady Julia, are now harboring Lady Hester Belford and her paramour, Miss Grant, after rescuing Lady Hester from the insane asylum where her brother sent her. They are also looking for any clues that could prove Lord Evan's innocence (Hester's other brother) from killing a rival in a duel 20 years ago.
There is so much adventure and tons of twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. And there is so much I loved here.
*The plot is exquisitely planned, with every bit of information from the first page coming into play at some point in the story.
*The amazing characters, rich and detailed and different. There is a paragraph at the end where I laughed out loud because each lady was given a message from her love, and each message was so distinctly spot-on in its language.
*The incredible research that makes you feel like you're there without hitting you over the head with extraneous "I did my research" details.
*The feminism that doesn't feel out of place in a regency-era novel and also doesn't take away from the ladies wanting romance. The dialogue is sharp and witty, but the ladies can also be vulnerable and ladylike. In other words, very realistic.
*I love how the characters often have conversations without words with people they love and know. Gus and Julia can have full conversations with a tilt of the head, and we see what they're thinking.
*It doesn't shy away from some disturbing actions against women that really help the reader understand how they could be treated at that time. (I'm not sure things have changed all that much.)
Like the first one, this is a complete story on its own, but the end is a setup for another great adventure coming, and it will be hard for me to wait for it.
4.5 stars.
Plot summary: This picks up where the first book ended, so if you haven't read that, please do first. It's worth it. This review contains multiple spoilers from book 1.
Lady Augusta and her sister, Lady Julia, are now harboring Lady Hester Belford and her paramour, Miss Grant, after rescuing Lady Hester from the insane asylum where her brother sent her. They are also looking for any clues that could prove Lord Evan's innocence (Hester's other brother) from killing a rival in a duel 20 years ago.
There is so much adventure and tons of twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. And there is so much I loved here.
*The plot is exquisitely planned, with every bit of information from the first page coming into play at some point in the story.
*The amazing characters, rich and detailed and different. There is a paragraph at the end where I laughed out loud because each lady was given a message from her love, and each message was so distinctly spot-on in its language.
*The incredible research that makes you feel like you're there without hitting you over the head with extraneous "I did my research" details.
*The feminism that doesn't feel out of place in a regency-era novel and also doesn't take away from the ladies wanting romance. The dialogue is sharp and witty, but the ladies can also be vulnerable and ladylike. In other words, very realistic.
*I love how the characters often have conversations without words with people they love and know. Gus and Julia can have full conversations with a tilt of the head, and we see what they're thinking.
*It doesn't shy away from some disturbing actions against women that really help the reader understand how they could be treated at that time. (I'm not sure things have changed all that much.)
Like the first one, this is a complete story on its own, but the end is a setup for another great adventure coming, and it will be hard for me to wait for it.
4.5 stars.
July 12, 2025
I love the first book of the Ill-Mannered Ladies Series. This one, not so much. In fact, I seriously considered a DNF as the book's middle section dragged on and on. The main characters, Gus and Julia were continually upsetting the social norms, while that is not a bad thing, the book devoted a lot of page space to how everyone was upset with them. The ladies got into some really interesting situations and that action was great to read, but a lot of this book wasn't.
Twenty years ago, Lord Evan Balford was accused of murder and transported. He escaped and is not back in England trying to clear his name and at the same tile trying to save his sister from the evil clutches of his younger brother who committed her to an asylum. Lady Agusta and Lady Julia are helping Evan hide his sister, Hester, and her companion and friend, and helping Evan clear his name.
Evil thief takers, nasty gentleman and an evil club. Someone doesn't just want Evan captured, they want him dead. Gus and Julia are in the middle of it all.
Twenty years ago, Lord Evan Balford was accused of murder and transported. He escaped and is not back in England trying to clear his name and at the same tile trying to save his sister from the evil clutches of his younger brother who committed her to an asylum. Lady Agusta and Lady Julia are helping Evan hide his sister, Hester, and her companion and friend, and helping Evan clear his name.
Evil thief takers, nasty gentleman and an evil club. Someone doesn't just want Evan captured, they want him dead. Gus and Julia are in the middle of it all.
October 9, 2025
The second in the Ill-Mannered Ladies series, this book follows two primary plots: the continued quest to get Lord Evan's sister to safety and unraveling the mystery of who has hired someone to kill Lord Evan. It's more "thriller" than mystery but does a good job of weaving the two plots together while keeping them somewhat separate in terms of motive, goals, etc. The book also does a bang up job of ending every damn chapter on a cliffhanger so that you never quite feel you can put the book down. "Just one more chapter. I need to find out what happens with x" you'll say to yourself naively, not realizing that by the end of THAT chapter you'll now need to find out about y, and then z after that. It definitely makes for a compelling read, which bumped it up for me from 4 stars to 5.
May 10, 2025
4.5 rounded up.
Welcome to the Colebrook sisters, the protagonists of The Ill-Mannered Ladies series who live gloriously independently of both societal expectation and fear of family reprisal in the face of doing what’s right by their loved ones and society. The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin is book 2 in the series featuring these dynamos and I thoroughly enjoyed this ARC read from Berkley. My biggest advice-read book 1 first! It took me awhile to catch up but once I got through about the first 1/3 I picked up on enough to get back up to speed to appreciate the story. The Colebrook sisters are dynamos, and it’s refreshing to read a story about older women during this period of time. The central mystery is intriguing, but I think a reread/listen of book 1 is the best plan to fully immerse yourself in this plot. This is a must read for historical fiction fans who like a dash of romance and a whole lot of justice. Thanks to Berkley for the ARC-I can’t wait for book 3!
Welcome to the Colebrook sisters, the protagonists of The Ill-Mannered Ladies series who live gloriously independently of both societal expectation and fear of family reprisal in the face of doing what’s right by their loved ones and society. The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin is book 2 in the series featuring these dynamos and I thoroughly enjoyed this ARC read from Berkley. My biggest advice-read book 1 first! It took me awhile to catch up but once I got through about the first 1/3 I picked up on enough to get back up to speed to appreciate the story. The Colebrook sisters are dynamos, and it’s refreshing to read a story about older women during this period of time. The central mystery is intriguing, but I think a reread/listen of book 1 is the best plan to fully immerse yourself in this plot. This is a must read for historical fiction fans who like a dash of romance and a whole lot of justice. Thanks to Berkley for the ARC-I can’t wait for book 3!
May 9, 2025
The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin is the second in Alison Goodman’s Ill-Mannered Ladies series and follows directly on the action of the first book, The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies. And what an action packed story this turns out to be. Lady Augusta and Lady Julia are once again united in offering assistance to Lady Hester, sister of the beleaguered Lord Evan, and her close friend, Miss Grant, protecting them from the other brother that would return Hester to an asylum. And there is the continuing struggle to find proof of Evan’s innocence of a 20 year old crime. This series follows on traditions established years ago for regency era romances but does push the limits well beyond the days of Georgette Heyer.
What a romp this book is! So much happens and there are surprises and cliffhangers around many corners. Gus and Julia flaunt codes of their time to help those in need as they are able. And love appears to have entered each of their lives. Goodman provides historical background on some of the real characters used fictionally in this novel in a helpful and interesting afterword I recommend reading.
The ending of this book guarantees a third installment…I’m looking forward to reading it! And I recommend this book to readers of historical fiction, historical romance and period dramas.
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. This review is my own.
What a romp this book is! So much happens and there are surprises and cliffhangers around many corners. Gus and Julia flaunt codes of their time to help those in need as they are able. And love appears to have entered each of their lives. Goodman provides historical background on some of the real characters used fictionally in this novel in a helpful and interesting afterword I recommend reading.
The ending of this book guarantees a third installment…I’m looking forward to reading it! And I recommend this book to readers of historical fiction, historical romance and period dramas.
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. This review is my own.
June 27, 2025
The Ladies’ Guide to Utter Ruin, the sequel to The Benevolent Society of Ill-mannered Ladies, which I absolutely loved. I was so excited to read, but this one didn’t quite live up to the first for me. The sisters were still fun to follow, and I enjoyed some of the action and witty moments, but the plot felt slower and more repetitive this time. There were too many side stories that didn’t seem to go anywhere, and I missed the sharp pacing of the first book. Overall, it was entertaining but a bit disappointing compared to the first.
May 8, 2025
I wish I liked this book more than I did.
The first book was spectacular — incredibly fun while still addressing the dark underbelly of Regency England, especially for anyone who wasn’t a rich, white man. I loved all three of the main arcs and they felt very balanced, with characters like Duffy, Bertie, Lord Evan, and Mr. Kent appearing just the right amount in each part. I read the book twice in three months and thoroughly enjoyed myself both times.
Book two wasn’t bad by any means. But my expectations were so high that I couldn’t help but be disappointed. There were far too many coincidences, characters often appeared wherever and whenever they were convenient for the plot, and it felt like our characters had far less agency than in the first book. The plot happened to them rather than them being able to drive the plot. I was also frustrated by the fact that in spite of Lady Hester and her lover being physically present for most of the book, neither woman got much of a personality or a character arc. I literally cannot remember the lover’s name. Mr. Kent was far too solicitous — he can’t possibly be willing to break this many laws for love of a woman he’s met less than a half dozen times. If he has a reason for changing his behavior, we never learn it, and if he has family, friends, or honor that might convince him to keep his position at Bow Street by remaining on the right side of the law, we never hear about that either.
Duffy was also demoted to minor annoyance in this book, which was strange given how much we were made to loathe him in the first book. Across the board, there was not as much development of the characters as I would have hoped for the second book of a series.
Overall, I enjoyed the second instalment and will read a third if it is forthcoming, but I wish whoever edited this had done a better job. With a few tweaks to the plot, this book could have been spectacular instead of merely decent.
The first book was spectacular — incredibly fun while still addressing the dark underbelly of Regency England, especially for anyone who wasn’t a rich, white man. I loved all three of the main arcs and they felt very balanced, with characters like Duffy, Bertie, Lord Evan, and Mr. Kent appearing just the right amount in each part. I read the book twice in three months and thoroughly enjoyed myself both times.
Book two wasn’t bad by any means. But my expectations were so high that I couldn’t help but be disappointed. There were far too many coincidences, characters often appeared wherever and whenever they were convenient for the plot, and it felt like our characters had far less agency than in the first book. The plot happened to them rather than them being able to drive the plot. I was also frustrated by the fact that in spite of Lady Hester and her lover being physically present for most of the book, neither woman got much of a personality or a character arc. I literally cannot remember the lover’s name. Mr. Kent was far too solicitous — he can’t possibly be willing to break this many laws for love of a woman he’s met less than a half dozen times. If he has a reason for changing his behavior, we never learn it, and if he has family, friends, or honor that might convince him to keep his position at Bow Street by remaining on the right side of the law, we never hear about that either.
Duffy was also demoted to minor annoyance in this book, which was strange given how much we were made to loathe him in the first book. Across the board, there was not as much development of the characters as I would have hoped for the second book of a series.
Overall, I enjoyed the second instalment and will read a third if it is forthcoming, but I wish whoever edited this had done a better job. With a few tweaks to the plot, this book could have been spectacular instead of merely decent.
May 6, 2025
High drama indeed!
Firstly bother! This was such a great read I’m going to have to add the first in the series to my already teetering TBR pile!
Lady Augusta Colebrook and Lady Julia, her twin sister had previously enacted the rescue of Lady Hester Belford (along with Harriet’s convict brother Lord Evan Belford and Bow Street runner Mr. Michael Kent) from an asylum where she’d been incarcerated and treated dreadfully. She’d been placed there by her brother Lord Deere who’d inherited the earldom when his older brother was sentenced. Hester had refused to give up her relationship with Miss Grant and marry as the new Earl saw fit.
Lady Augusta already has a somewhat troubled relationship with her brother Lord Duffield, who keeps trying to make her moderate her behavior into what he sees as more suitable.
Now Gus is totally focused on getting Hester to safety and proving Evan’s innocent of murder.
Their lead is a club call Exalted Brethren of Rack and Ruin. There they discover truly heinous happenings.
Put that together with a menacing, renegade thief taker being after them, Hester’s brother also in hot pursuit, Gus and Julie becoming more involved, and we have a fast paced, dangerous regency read that left me wanting more on the shores of a smuggling community!
A Berkley Group ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Firstly bother! This was such a great read I’m going to have to add the first in the series to my already teetering TBR pile!
Lady Augusta Colebrook and Lady Julia, her twin sister had previously enacted the rescue of Lady Hester Belford (along with Harriet’s convict brother Lord Evan Belford and Bow Street runner Mr. Michael Kent) from an asylum where she’d been incarcerated and treated dreadfully. She’d been placed there by her brother Lord Deere who’d inherited the earldom when his older brother was sentenced. Hester had refused to give up her relationship with Miss Grant and marry as the new Earl saw fit.
Lady Augusta already has a somewhat troubled relationship with her brother Lord Duffield, who keeps trying to make her moderate her behavior into what he sees as more suitable.
Now Gus is totally focused on getting Hester to safety and proving Evan’s innocent of murder.
Their lead is a club call Exalted Brethren of Rack and Ruin. There they discover truly heinous happenings.
Put that together with a menacing, renegade thief taker being after them, Hester’s brother also in hot pursuit, Gus and Julie becoming more involved, and we have a fast paced, dangerous regency read that left me wanting more on the shores of a smuggling community!
A Berkley Group ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
June 21, 2025
I loved this every bit as much as the first one. Kudos to Alison Goodman for writing something kind of original - an actually dark suspense/adventure novel about a couple of spinsters in Regency England. And for doubling down on her themes in the sequel. This series has been an absolute highlight of my reading this year.
I wil read 10 more of these, please and thank you.
I wil read 10 more of these, please and thank you.
May 11, 2025
Delightful, comical, and absolutely charming! The Colebrook sisters are at it again—defying the expectations of high society, causing just the right amount of chaos, and bravely taking matters into their own hands to protect their friends. Their wit, heart, and knack for finding trouble make this story a total joy to read. It’s a perfect mix of humor, mischief, and sisterhood. I adored every page and sincerely hope there's a third installment on the horizon!
Thank you to Netgallery and Berkeley Publishing for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Netgallery and Berkeley Publishing for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 1, 2025
I think I liked the first book in this series better, but this one was still good! The storyline was not quite as intriguing, but still kept me interested.
May 24, 2025
This was such a delightful, cosy regency mystery that had me smiling ear to ear! All of the different characters and their quirks are charming in their own ways, particularly twin sisters/spinsters Lady Augusta and Lady Julia. They are absolutely hilarious as they adventure together to solve a mystery and get into their own mishaps on the way.
The romance was delightfully swoony too! 💕🌷
Thank you for @harpercollinsaustralia @harpervoyageraus for my gorgeous proof copy!
The romance was delightfully swoony too! 💕🌷
Thank you for @harpercollinsaustralia @harpervoyageraus for my gorgeous proof copy!
October 1, 2025
Thoroughly better than the first book, and I gave the first book 5 stars for context?????? I LOVED this!!!!!! The juxtaposition of genres in these books is just so so good. Miss Alison Goodman you have now secured your spot in my book series hall of fame, I will be telling everyone about these
December 1, 2025
Augusta and Julia Colbrook are eccentric. In Regency England, they are definitely "on the shelf," as 42-year old, unmarried ladies. Fortunately, they have their own money and are not dependent on their brother, Lord Duffield, because he is horrified about how they live their lives. Augusta and Julia met Lord Evan Belford, a man wanted for murder and escaping from the penal colony in Australia. He is trying to prove his innocence for his conviction of murdering a peer of the realm, twenty years earlier, for which he was transported. Now, a Bow Street Runner, Mr. Kent, knows Belford's secret and is conspiring to help him, against all laws and regulations. Julia and Augusta are also involved with helping a woman escape from a mental institution, where her husband had her incarcerated for falling in love with another woman. But there is more at play than uncovering Lord Evan's guilt or innocence. Someone high in government wants him dead. And Augusta and Julia must get their friends out of London to ensure their safety. The second in this series is just as charming as the first. Recommended for any reader who enjoys Regency period froth.
January 8, 2026
love love love!! this book flew by and has an amazing story that feels really well researched.
it does stretch what would have actually been possible in society back then with modern sentiments, but I don't really mind since the plot is based on actual historical events going on at the time. also the romances low-key has my frozen heart feeling something again, which was unexpected for a book that isn't marketed as a romance!
it does stretch what would have actually been possible in society back then with modern sentiments, but I don't really mind since the plot is based on actual historical events going on at the time. also the romances low-key has my frozen heart feeling something again, which was unexpected for a book that isn't marketed as a romance!
May 18, 2025
It took me longer than I wanted to read this book. And it was because I couldn't get into it the same way I was into the first book.
The first book I couldn't get enough of. I felt it had way more wit and gave me a few more chuckles than this one. Book 2 is an all serious mystery. There's a few things about this one that just felt...different than the first book. it almost felt like it was written by a different author!
Although I loved the constant action of this story, this book was one that, dare I say, needed more character development of some of the main characters.
For example, I actually disliked Hester and her partner because they were useless and did nothing to add to this story. They were just, there. This felt odd to me since they are one of the major topics of this entire book and a huge part in the last book.
Another example - Mr. Kent: it was as if he was a completely different character in this book compared to the first book. In book 1 he was hard on the rules, kind of a badass, and not a softie really much at all. This book, it's like he's beyond twitterpated since meeting Julia only a couple weeks ago and can barely function without her it seems lol. *eye roll*.
There are a lot of characters and names to keep up with in this one. Some of the character names I couldn't remember and probably should have written them down because they show up later on and had me confused a bit of who was who.
Lastly, maybe it was just me who got a bit lost at some of the focus points. For a while we were reading and focused on the mystery of the terrible gentleman's club. Then that isn't really much spoken about anymore and now we're focused on something else? The story seemed to jump like this and it lost me along the way. I suppose it tied together but the intense focus and then jump to something else to hyper focus on wasn't a smooth enough transition for me.
This one wasn't my favorite but I'd still recommend for regency era mystery lovers. (There's hardly any romance. All romantic gestures are briefly sprinkled in and only last for a sentence or two.)
Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the advanced copy.
The first book I couldn't get enough of. I felt it had way more wit and gave me a few more chuckles than this one. Book 2 is an all serious mystery. There's a few things about this one that just felt...different than the first book. it almost felt like it was written by a different author!
Although I loved the constant action of this story, this book was one that, dare I say, needed more character development of some of the main characters.
For example, I actually disliked Hester and her partner because they were useless and did nothing to add to this story. They were just, there. This felt odd to me since they are one of the major topics of this entire book and a huge part in the last book.
Another example - Mr. Kent: it was as if he was a completely different character in this book compared to the first book. In book 1 he was hard on the rules, kind of a badass, and not a softie really much at all. This book, it's like he's beyond twitterpated since meeting Julia only a couple weeks ago and can barely function without her it seems lol. *eye roll*.
There are a lot of characters and names to keep up with in this one. Some of the character names I couldn't remember and probably should have written them down because they show up later on and had me confused a bit of who was who.
Lastly, maybe it was just me who got a bit lost at some of the focus points. For a while we were reading and focused on the mystery of the terrible gentleman's club. Then that isn't really much spoken about anymore and now we're focused on something else? The story seemed to jump like this and it lost me along the way. I suppose it tied together but the intense focus and then jump to something else to hyper focus on wasn't a smooth enough transition for me.
This one wasn't my favorite but I'd still recommend for regency era mystery lovers. (There's hardly any romance. All romantic gestures are briefly sprinkled in and only last for a sentence or two.)
Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the advanced copy.
June 27, 2025
An absolutely delightful follow on to the first book in the series, we follow 42-year old Lady Augusta “Gus” Colebrook and her twin sister Lady Julia Colebrook as they continue to do everything in their power to save less fortunate women from untenable situations. Set during the Regency period in England, it was unheard of for women to do such things as go after thief takers, dress like men, and oh horror! liaise with an escaped convict and a Bow Streeter (policeman). The character development is top notch and the writing is excellent. The ending absolutely leads you to believe there will be at least one more sequel. You definitely need to read the first book in the series before this one; I wish I had read them closer together as I didn’t remember a lot from the earlier book which would have made for a bit easier read.
April 30, 2025
The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin is a fast paced, thrilling, romantic historical fiction. When I saw that I had been approved for an ARC copy of this book I was ecstatic! Not only is it my most anticipated 2025 release, it is the sequel to one of my top reads of 2024.
This book picks up right where book 1 leaves off putting our characters right in the heart of conflict. To speak on these amazing characters, I deeply enjoy the individuality of each character. Their motivations and emotions are so real. They pull you right into the story and really make you care about the stakes.
And did this book have stakes. We’ve got murderers, we’ve got debaucherous clubs, we’ve got carriage chases. And just when you think the characters have been through enough the story grips us again with another conflict. The weaving of the plot line and reveals was masterfully done.
Now to my favorite part of any book, the romance. It was extremely well done. The pining, the subtle glances, the interrupted moments. I’m a sucker for historical romances so this one hit the spot.
Overall, an amazing read! I couldn’t recommend this series more. And I’m already anticipating book three!
I would like to thank Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House along with NetGalley for the e-ARC.
This book picks up right where book 1 leaves off putting our characters right in the heart of conflict. To speak on these amazing characters, I deeply enjoy the individuality of each character. Their motivations and emotions are so real. They pull you right into the story and really make you care about the stakes.
And did this book have stakes. We’ve got murderers, we’ve got debaucherous clubs, we’ve got carriage chases. And just when you think the characters have been through enough the story grips us again with another conflict. The weaving of the plot line and reveals was masterfully done.
Now to my favorite part of any book, the romance. It was extremely well done. The pining, the subtle glances, the interrupted moments. I’m a sucker for historical romances so this one hit the spot.
Overall, an amazing read! I couldn’t recommend this series more. And I’m already anticipating book three!
I would like to thank Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House along with NetGalley for the e-ARC.
May 20, 2025
Rating 5 Stars
Fabulous title, amazing heroines, adorable love interests, suspenseful plot that definitely felt more on course than the first book.
I don’t know how I’m going to sit here and wait a whole year or more for the next adventure of characters that have captured my heart and I never want to let them go.
Fabulous title, amazing heroines, adorable love interests, suspenseful plot that definitely felt more on course than the first book.
I don’t know how I’m going to sit here and wait a whole year or more for the next adventure of characters that have captured my heart and I never want to let them go.
Want to read
August 30, 2024Immaculate title.
May 21, 2025
To be honest, I went into this pretty sceptical. I was afraid it wouldn't feel different enough from The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies, and that I'd basically be reading the same book twice. Luckily, I was wrong! This one is just as good as the first, only with the action cranked way up. I was already impressed by the pacing in book one, but this takes it to another level, there’s not a single dull page, and the writing flows so well.
One of my critiques with the first book was the repeated "saving someone from a dangerous situation" plot. So I was relieved to find that wasn’t really the case here. And when it did pop up, it felt natural.
At times, I thought this book was wrapping things up and it would just be a neat little duology, but nope, it clearly sets up a third book. I was surprised, because it doesn’t seem like there’s that much story left to tell, but I’ll probably be proven wrong. The plotting here is so well done, you can tell books one and two were planned together, building toward something layered. So odds are, there is enough left for a satisfying third.
There are still a few things I'm disappointed with, Goodman leans a bit too hard into the tired trope of women fainting constantly and being physically fragile. I doubt women of that time were keeling over at every minor discomfort.
Also, without giving away spoilers, there’s an activity in this book that’s portrayed in a really negative light. It feeds into already existing stigma, and I found that a bit harmful. I was hoping Goodman would address it in the author’s note, but she didn’t.
I’ll definitely read book three, but since there were two years between the first and second, I’m not expecting it to be released anytime soon.
One of my critiques with the first book was the repeated "saving someone from a dangerous situation" plot. So I was relieved to find that wasn’t really the case here. And when it did pop up, it felt natural.
At times, I thought this book was wrapping things up and it would just be a neat little duology, but nope, it clearly sets up a third book. I was surprised, because it doesn’t seem like there’s that much story left to tell, but I’ll probably be proven wrong. The plotting here is so well done, you can tell books one and two were planned together, building toward something layered. So odds are, there is enough left for a satisfying third.
There are still a few things I'm disappointed with, Goodman leans a bit too hard into the tired trope of women fainting constantly and being physically fragile. I doubt women of that time were keeling over at every minor discomfort.
Also, without giving away spoilers, there’s an activity in this book that’s portrayed in a really negative light. It feeds into already existing stigma, and I found that a bit harmful. I was hoping Goodman would address it in the author’s note, but she didn’t.
I’ll definitely read book three, but since there were two years between the first and second, I’m not expecting it to be released anytime soon.
April 29, 2025
I read the first book with the expectation that it was stand alone and was super unimpressed when I reached the end of the book only to figure out that it couldn't possibly be a stand alone. I can't say I was too excited about the second book because all I remembered of book 1 was how unhappy I was lol
No regrets in giving this series a second chance though because having the right expectations actually help me enjoy the book / story much better and I can even say that I'm so very much looking forward to book 3.
It was a rough start for the first third of the book as I was finding Gus super annoying; just as you would of a bossy sister *humph*. After that, it became practically un-put-downable. Thank goodness for character development! We can all aspire to do the same as Gus.
From that point on, it was a rollickin' ride through Regency England with these ladies who will let no injustice stand. Their male counterparts could do nothing to stop them, of course, so played nicely as sidekicks (mostly).
My thanks to HarperCollins Publishers Australia for ecopy of book via NetGalley in exchange of my honest thoughts
No regrets in giving this series a second chance though because having the right expectations actually help me enjoy the book / story much better and I can even say that I'm so very much looking forward to book 3.
It was a rough start for the first third of the book as I was finding Gus super annoying; just as you would of a bossy sister *humph*. After that, it became practically un-put-downable. Thank goodness for character development! We can all aspire to do the same as Gus.
From that point on, it was a rollickin' ride through Regency England with these ladies who will let no injustice stand. Their male counterparts could do nothing to stop them, of course, so played nicely as sidekicks (mostly).
My thanks to HarperCollins Publishers Australia for ecopy of book via NetGalley in exchange of my honest thoughts
July 5, 2025
Cannot believe I had to wait two years for this book, but it was definitely worth the wait! Evan and Augusta are my everything, and I just cannot get enough of the two of them. I loved seeing how these two continued to get thrown together as they pressed on in their mission to clear Evan’s name. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in this series, and I do hope it will not be another two years before I have it in my hands!
May 23, 2025
Mysterious, romantic, and entertaining!
The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin sweeps you away to the British countryside during the early 1800s and into the life of the independent, reliable Lady Augusta Colebrook who, after falling for the escaped convict, Lord Evan, will do whatever it takes to help hide his sister from there spiteful brother, finally discover what despicable behaviours are really going on behind the closed doors of the Rack and Ruin club, and once and for all prove her beloved is actually innocent of all the crimes he was accused of.
The prose is witty and sharp. The characters are resourceful, vulnerable, and passionate. And the plot is a fulfilling blend of family, friendship, danger, desire, societal expectations, scheming behaviour, tricky situations, awkward moments, secrets, attraction, and true love.
Overall, The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin is another charming, adventurous, action-packed addition to the Ill-Mannered Ladies series by Goodman, complete with characters I couldn’t help but root for and a swoon-worthy ending that left me smitten and satisfied!
The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin sweeps you away to the British countryside during the early 1800s and into the life of the independent, reliable Lady Augusta Colebrook who, after falling for the escaped convict, Lord Evan, will do whatever it takes to help hide his sister from there spiteful brother, finally discover what despicable behaviours are really going on behind the closed doors of the Rack and Ruin club, and once and for all prove her beloved is actually innocent of all the crimes he was accused of.
The prose is witty and sharp. The characters are resourceful, vulnerable, and passionate. And the plot is a fulfilling blend of family, friendship, danger, desire, societal expectations, scheming behaviour, tricky situations, awkward moments, secrets, attraction, and true love.
Overall, The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin is another charming, adventurous, action-packed addition to the Ill-Mannered Ladies series by Goodman, complete with characters I couldn’t help but root for and a swoon-worthy ending that left me smitten and satisfied!
August 13, 2025
3.5 While I enjoyed this, and the audio book narration was done very well, this suffered a bit from middle book syndrome. Most all of the narrative threads carried on from the first book - how to find the truth about the duel and clear Lord Evan’s name main among them. The cast of characters stayed about the same, with no major additions. I did enjoy the cameo by the Ladies of Langollen (sp?) whom I read about by chance a few years ago.
My major caveat is that the book is rather more violent than that pretty pastel cover would lead you to believe, and the writing is skilled enough to make bits of the book feel pretty unpleasant. Not only are prostitutes murdered in vile ways, we hear the blood-spattered details of how their bodies were sold and transported to the hospital for dissection. I am not sure why this part was left in the book, as it really wasn’t necessary to the rest of the plot, though obviously a fair amount of research had gone into it.
Then Lady Gus herself has a brush with sexual intimidation and assault. She reflects on how her sense of inviolability has disappeared, and that was obviously the point, to diminish her privilege. But, like, it was pretty grim and didn’t seem particularly necessary to me.
Duffy continues to be vile and verbally abusive to his sisters, and seems to have zero redeeming qualities. Again, men seem to be either “one of the good ones” (very few), or “nasty and dismissive of women in general” (most of the husbands and brothers in this book). I found myself wishing for a little nuance.
All in all it felt like the book was trying to show how very grim it can be to exist in a woman’s body, which I get to some extent, but I think that the intensity could have been turned waaaay down, and the ladies using the power they have emphasized yet more. I still like these more than the Veronica Speedwell novels by a country mile, and will continue to read. I am interested in the third book after the fun set-up at the end of this one!
My major caveat is that the book is rather more violent than that pretty pastel cover would lead you to believe, and the writing is skilled enough to make bits of the book feel pretty unpleasant. Not only are prostitutes murdered in vile ways, we hear the blood-spattered details of how their bodies were sold and transported to the hospital for dissection. I am not sure why this part was left in the book, as it really wasn’t necessary to the rest of the plot, though obviously a fair amount of research had gone into it.
Then Lady Gus herself has a brush with sexual intimidation and assault. She reflects on how her sense of inviolability has disappeared, and that was obviously the point, to diminish her privilege. But, like, it was pretty grim and didn’t seem particularly necessary to me.
Duffy continues to be vile and verbally abusive to his sisters, and seems to have zero redeeming qualities. Again, men seem to be either “one of the good ones” (very few), or “nasty and dismissive of women in general” (most of the husbands and brothers in this book). I found myself wishing for a little nuance.
All in all it felt like the book was trying to show how very grim it can be to exist in a woman’s body, which I get to some extent, but I think that the intensity could have been turned waaaay down, and the ladies using the power they have emphasized yet more. I still like these more than the Veronica Speedwell novels by a country mile, and will continue to read. I am interested in the third book after the fun set-up at the end of this one!
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