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. But the Colebrook twins are far from useless old maids. They are secretly protecting women and children ignored by society and the law.

“Goodman skillfully blends mystery, adventure and a dash of romance.”—The Washington Post

"Ms. Goodman’s ill-mannered ladies are delightful company."—The Wall Street Journal

“An adventure, with plucky heroines, dishy heroes, and dastardly villains, featuring many carriage chases, narrow escapes, and daring rescues. Those who grew up reading Joan Aiken’s alternative history Wolves Chronicles will find themselves pleasantly at home.”— Crime Fiction Review

"A fabulous romp that handles weighty topics with grace."—Shelf Awareness

"Goodman writes with the perfect combination of historical detail and modern relevance."—Historical Novel Society

“Cannily sets full-blooded fantasies of female empowerment blooming in a thicket of stifling masculine rules.”—Kirkus

Praise for The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies

"If you love Georgette Heyer, you'll love The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies. Smart and sassy and featuring heroines of a certain age, this is the Regency I've been waiting for. Adventure! Mystery! A touch of romance! This delightful novel has it all!"—Jenn McKinlay, New York Times bestselling author

“A refreshing new arrival on the historical mystery scene! A wise, kind, and sharp-tongued sleuth solves crime in a well-portrayed Regency England. A must-read for lovers of the Regency and historical mysteries alike.”—Jennifer Ashley, New York Times bestselling author

"[A] rollicking feminist romp - think Jane Austen meets James Bond - that breaks the shackles of period genre fiction and liberates women from the forces arrayed against them."—Sydney Morning Herald

“A vibrant tale of two plucky women of a certain age who craved more from life than merely attending tea parties and balls, The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is a truly delightful romp through the Regency period. Alison Goodman has crafted a feminist adventure story that will have you cheering on the unconventional Colebrook sisters in all their exploits.”—Stephanie Marie Thornton, USA Today bestselling author

"For fans of historical fiction, romance, and ladies tired of being restricted by society!"—BookRiot

“Fans of Georgette Heyer’s Regency novels will savor this mystery …. Well-developed characters, a touch of romance, and cases involving social issues of the period enhance the experience.”—Library Journal (starred review)

"Fresh and fearless, Alison Goodman's exquisitely written, impeccably-researched genre-blending novel shines a light in the darkest corners of Regency England. The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is part heart-racing adventure, part gothic mystery, part tantalizing romance, and wholly wonderful. I can't wait for the next installment!"—Joanna Lowell, author of A Shore Thing