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The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies (Alison Goodman, HarperCollins)

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman is a joyous romp through Regency England that is equally entertaining, revealing, feminist, heartbreaking and humorous. Our protagonist, Lady Augusta, is living a rather unconventional life for a woman in her 40s in Regency-era London. She is a self-sufficient spinster living alone with her sister, Julia. Lady Augusta is quick-witted, intelligent and outspoken—all things a lady should not be. However, her life becomes even more unorthodox when she and Julia become involved in a series of ‘cases’ that bring them face to face with some of the most heinous crimes occurring to women of that era, privileged and unprivileged alike. Setting out to help the women around them, the sisters find the courage to stand up for themselves and others while meeting handsome rogues and new friends along the way. This book suffers a little in the beginning, with the roaring pace at the start hindering the fleshing out of the characters in the first act, making them distant and unapproachable. However, the middle considerably works to correct this, and one can’t help but root for Lady Augusta’s cause. The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is an unexpected delight that blends historical romance with adventure, crime-solving and a bold feminist undertone. This book would be loved by anyone looking for a historical adventure that breaks the bounds of convention to feature women ‘past their prime’ taking matters into their own hands.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Jess Lewis is a writer, publishing editor and science communicator residing in Naarm. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

 

Category: Reviews