The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is the first book in Allison Goodman’s new Ill-Mannered Ladies series of historical mysteries. It’s nicely told, featuring two older heroines who find themselves becoming detectives, which definitely alleviates the boredom of their orderly lives.
The Colebrook twins, Lady Augusta – called Gus – and Julia, are two well-heeled sisters who are currently completely without male companionship. They go to church, they go to tea – and they’re positively bored stiff. Since they’re past their mid-forties the word ‘spinster’ continues to pop up in conversations, if not precisely aptly. Julia is mourning her fiancé, and Gus is not of a marrying mind. Ergo, they use their position within society as benignly ignored figures to help up the vulnerable. In this case, they seek to help their friend’s daughter, Caroline.
Caroline is apparently being abused by her husband, and Gus and Julia seek to protect her and spirit her off to safety. But they find themselves accosted by a highwayman on the way to her home. Both women are shocked to find love along the way – in Gus’ case, with Lord Evan Belford…whom Gus has shot accidentally. He is accused of a crime he insists he never committed and had been exiled from polite society years ago. Gus vows to help him, and is definitely intrigued by his ways. Might love have arrived for her at last – along with an extra sense of purpose and a way to use her position in society for the betterment of the world?
My biggest problem with The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is that Julia doesn’t’ get as much time to bake as a character. I think she could have served to anchor more of the plot, but this is Gus’ show. Not that I really minded, since she’s a wonderfully lively character to follow. There’s a lot of twin magic going on with these characters, who can sometimes anticipate each other’s actions thanks to their twin-ness. But that’s a small quibble, as I really loved Gus’ determination.
The book spotlights three cases in which the two women help others and are surprised greatly by the arrival of romance. The book’s great at switching the plot up, making you suspect the unexpected. Be warned that the cases these ladies deal with are not ‘gentle’; they fight for the rights of prostitutes and the abused without fear.
The period research here is excellent, as is the way Goodman keeps her characters’ thought processes period apropos. Everything else about The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is just a little extra sugar in a cup of tea.
Sensuality: Kisses
Publication Date: 05/2023
Recent Comments …
I didn’t realize there was a new book out by this author. I liked Nina Hill and Adult Assembly Required…
Hopefully it will get onto the poll. I’m 100% sure there’s some obvious book that I forgot about.
Yes, sorry, I meant e-books – I don’t read anything else these days. My library is county-wide, too, but I…
You’re welcome. If you want to know more, I can add some information to the spoiler, just let me know.
Thanks for sharing that insight, Caz. I haven’t read *spoiler* but it’s helpful to read your thoughts as I assess…
Is that true for ebooks as well? Because my library (bless it!) is part of a county-wide system for ebooks,…