The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies

A Washington Post Best Mystery Novel of 2023 A high society amateur detective at the heart of Regency London uses her wits and invisibility as an ΓÇÿold maidΓÇÖ to protect other women in a new and fiercely feminist historical mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Alison Goodman. Lady Augusta Colebrook,ΓÇ£GusΓÇ¥ is determinedly unmarriedbored by society lifeand tired of being dismissed at the age of forty-two. She and her twin sisterJuliawho is grieving her dead betrothedneed a distraction. One soon presents itself: to rescue their friendΓÇÖs goddaughterCarolinefrom her violent husband. The sisters set out to CarolineΓÇÖs country estate with a planbut their carriage is accosted by a highwayman. In the scuffleGus accidentally shoots and injures the ruffianonly to discover he is Lord Evan Belfordan acquaintance from their past who was charged with murder and exiled to Australia twenty years ago. What follows is a high adventure full of dangerclever improvisationheart-racing near missesand a little help from a revived and rather charming Lord Evan. Back in LondonGus canΓÇÖt stop thinking about her unlikely (not to mention handsome) comrade-in-arms. She is convinced Lord Evan was falsely accused of murderand she is going to prove it. She persuades Julia to join her in a quest to help Lord Evanand others in needΓÇösociety be damned! And so begins the beguiling secret life and adventures of the Colebrook twins.