Call number
MYST GOO
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Publication
Berkley (2023), 460 pages
Description
"A high society amateur detective at the heart of Regency London uses her wits and invisibility as an 'old maid' to protect other women in a new and fiercely feminist historical mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Alison Goodman. Lady Augusta Colebrook, "Gus," is determinedly unmarried, bored by society life, and tired of being dismissed at the age of forty-two. She and her twin sister, Julia, who is grieving her dead betrothed, need a distraction. One soon presents itself: to rescue their friend's goddaughter, Caroline, from her violent husband. The sisters set out to Caroline's country estate with a plan, but their carriage is accosted by a highwayman. In the scuffle, Gus accidentally shoots the ruffian, only to discover he is Lord Evan Belford, an acquaintance from their past who was charged with murder and exiled to Australia twenty years ago. With Lord Evan injured and unconscious, the sisters have no choice but to bring him on their mission to save Caroline. What follows is a high adventure full of danger, clever improvisation, heart-racing near misses, and a little help from a revived and rather charming Lord Evan. Back in London, Gus can't stop thinking about her unlikely (not to mention handsome) comrade-in-arms. She is convinced Lord Evan was falsely accused of murder, and she is going to prove it. She persuades Julia to join her in a quest to help Lord Evan, and others in need-society be damned! And so begins the beguiling secret life and adventures of the Colebrook twins"--… (more)
Media reviews
The Globe and Mail (Canada)
A refreshing change from of pace from the blushing 21 year olds that dominate this genre, our heroine this time is ' old maid " of 42.... This one sparkles with intelligence and intriguing mystery almost as beguiling as the romantic plot.
User reviews
LibraryThing member kmartin802
This story set in Regency London is a mystery and contains a lot of social commentary. Lady Augusta Colebrook and her twin sister Lady Julia are unmarried and 42. Julia, who is still grieving the death of her fiance needs a distraction and Gus decides that looking into problems of society women
Their first adventure takes them to Vauxhall's Dark Walk to retrieve some compromising letters one of their friends wrote to a man who was quite a bit less than a gentleman. They manage to retrieve the letters without parting with the diamond necklace that was supposed to be payment. Their second case flows out of their first. Their friend's niece is in grave danger from her husband and needs to be rescued.
On their way to rescue the young woman, they are beset by highwaymen, but Gus is handy with a pistol and wounds one of the villains. He turns out to be Lord Evan Belford, a member of their social set, who was convicted of murder after a duel and sent to the penal colony at New South Wales in Australia. He's back because he has heard disturbing news about his younger sister. He escaped before completing his sentence and has both a Bow Street Runner and a thief-taker on his trail.
After a hair-raising rescue mission, Lord Evan goes his way leaving Gus disappointed but intrigued. There are two more cases - rescuing young girls kidnapped to work in brothels and rescuing Lord Evan's sister from an insane asylum. Each case exposes the dark side of Regency London. Each case also allows Gus to be both active and useful.
Historical detail includes the rights of women during the Regency which were minimal and the treatment of the mentally ill which were appalling. Lady Julia's possible breast cancer also illuminates the state of medicine at the time.
I enjoyed this story with its historical detail and engaging characters. I'm looking forward to more stories about Lord Evan, Lady Augusta, and Lady Julia.
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will be a way to distract her. Their first adventure takes them to Vauxhall's Dark Walk to retrieve some compromising letters one of their friends wrote to a man who was quite a bit less than a gentleman. They manage to retrieve the letters without parting with the diamond necklace that was supposed to be payment. Their second case flows out of their first. Their friend's niece is in grave danger from her husband and needs to be rescued.
On their way to rescue the young woman, they are beset by highwaymen, but Gus is handy with a pistol and wounds one of the villains. He turns out to be Lord Evan Belford, a member of their social set, who was convicted of murder after a duel and sent to the penal colony at New South Wales in Australia. He's back because he has heard disturbing news about his younger sister. He escaped before completing his sentence and has both a Bow Street Runner and a thief-taker on his trail.
After a hair-raising rescue mission, Lord Evan goes his way leaving Gus disappointed but intrigued. There are two more cases - rescuing young girls kidnapped to work in brothels and rescuing Lord Evan's sister from an insane asylum. Each case exposes the dark side of Regency London. Each case also allows Gus to be both active and useful.
Historical detail includes the rights of women during the Regency which were minimal and the treatment of the mentally ill which were appalling. Lady Julia's possible breast cancer also illuminates the state of medicine at the time.
I enjoyed this story with its historical detail and engaging characters. I'm looking forward to more stories about Lord Evan, Lady Augusta, and Lady Julia.
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LibraryThing member CelticLibrarian
Absolutely delightful historical mystery!
I fell in love with Lady Augusta (Gus) Colebrook and her twin sister, Lady Julia, in the first chapter of this novel set in Regency London. Both are unmarried ladies of a certain age and have been dismissed by most of the ton as old spinsters. Despite their
The plot was great, and the narrative was full of great details and dialogue. I liked the main characters and those associated with them as well. Truly an enjoyable read with just enough romance though the three different situations that Gus and her sister get involved in were dark, suspenseful, and dramatic. I believe this is the first in a new series that I will be following as I wait for the second installment with high anticipation.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. Don't miss this if you enjoy intriguing historical mysteries with unlikely heroines.
I fell in love with Lady Augusta (Gus) Colebrook and her twin sister, Lady Julia, in the first chapter of this novel set in Regency London. Both are unmarried ladies of a certain age and have been dismissed by most of the ton as old spinsters. Despite their
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younger brother's efforts to control them, the ladies put themselves into the position of rescuing women in distress. Their adventures are both dangerous and require clever ruses to outwit those who would hinder their efforts. Along the way, Gus meets her new partner in peril, Lord Evan Belford, shortly escaped from his prison sentence and on the run from Michael Kent, of Bow Street. The plot was great, and the narrative was full of great details and dialogue. I liked the main characters and those associated with them as well. Truly an enjoyable read with just enough romance though the three different situations that Gus and her sister get involved in were dark, suspenseful, and dramatic. I believe this is the first in a new series that I will be following as I wait for the second installment with high anticipation.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. Don't miss this if you enjoy intriguing historical mysteries with unlikely heroines.
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LibraryThing member Kathy89
Wow, I loved it. It is more of an adventure story than a mystery. Lady Augusta (who is a thoroughly modern woman for 1812) and her sister, Lady Julia (who is the proper by-the-rules) have set out to help a friend and embark on new calling. They manage to acquire the blackmail property and not pay
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the blackmailer in their first “adventure.” Along the way, the meet wrongly accused Lord and Bow Street Runner (both very handsome and honorable.) Three more exciting escapades occur with some horrific descriptions of surgeries and treatments at “madhouses.” There are some reminders of women were treated at the time. I would have liked to know though how Augusta and Julia had their own money and were able to buy their home without the consent of their brother. Show Less
LibraryThing member kaulsu
At times I found the book a bit slow, no doubt because Goodman was introducing new characters. But she built the tension nicely and I had to listen longer hours than I should have to make sure all ended well.
Atherton did a good job of narration.
Atherton did a good job of narration.
LibraryThing member foggidawn
Twin spinsters Augusta and Julia Colebrook are caught up in three adventures when Augusta (Gus, as she's known to her friends) decides that her life has grown too tame and she wants to occupy her time with helping other woman -- including her sister, who still mourns a dead fiancée, and who has
This book is a fun romp, though it does deal with serious issues in several places. It's not specifically a romance, focusing more on the women's escapades, but there are hints of romance throughout. If you enjoy Regency stories but would like to see more mature heroines and fewer balls, this is worth looking for. I'll be awaiting the second book in the series.
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recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. Their adventures involve blackmail, brothels, and a madhouse. Along the way, Gus meets Lord Evan Belford, an acquaintance from their younger days, who is now on the run from the law, but who proves himself loyal and honorable throughout their adventures.This book is a fun romp, though it does deal with serious issues in several places. It's not specifically a romance, focusing more on the women's escapades, but there are hints of romance throughout. If you enjoy Regency stories but would like to see more mature heroines and fewer balls, this is worth looking for. I'll be awaiting the second book in the series.
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LibraryThing member humouress
{first in series; Regency romance, feminist, adventure} (2023)
Lady Augusta (Gus) and her fraternal twin sister Julia are considered old maids at the age of 42 in Regency London and they (especially Gus) don't feel they need to pander to all of the restrictions the society of the day set around
Goodman showcases various ways in which women of that time had few or no rights in their own name and could get caught in horrendous situations; even Lady Augusta and Lady Julia, although about 5 years older than their brother, have been dependent on his whim as to whether he allows them to continue living in their childhood homes, since he inherited the title. Fortunately for them, they have their own inheritances so finances are never an issue. She also introduces other topics like a mastectomy done without the benefit of anaesthesia, taken almost verbatim from Fanny Burney's letter to her sister and related by (the novel's characterisation of) her to our heroines, and the horror with which same sex relationships were viewed.
Goodman, although obviously writing for a modern audience, presents an almost authentic feel of the period and country (despite being Australian) compared to the majority of 'Regency romance' authors. She does have to explain more to her audience than authors of the day, such as Jane Austen, did but the information is woven in seamlessly and is a testament to her research.
A lighthearted, adventurous look at serious topics with a touch of romance thrown in as well and including some (fictionalised versions) of real people of the period, such as Beau Brummell.
I was all ready to borrow the second book - but, darn it, it hasn't been published yet.
3.75****
Lady Augusta (Gus) and her fraternal twin sister Julia are considered old maids at the age of 42 in Regency London and they (especially Gus) don't feel they need to pander to all of the restrictions the society of the day set around
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women, of all classes, any more. After retrieving some compromising letters for a friend, she asks them to help rescue a lady whose husband her family suspects is holding her captive. After that, their butler reluctantly involves them in rescuing girl children from the slave trade and then, since they are now well and truly dedicated to helping women caught in unfair situations with no legal recourse, another friend asks them to help rescue his sister from a madhouse.Goodman showcases various ways in which women of that time had few or no rights in their own name and could get caught in horrendous situations; even Lady Augusta and Lady Julia, although about 5 years older than their brother, have been dependent on his whim as to whether he allows them to continue living in their childhood homes, since he inherited the title. Fortunately for them, they have their own inheritances so finances are never an issue. She also introduces other topics like a mastectomy done without the benefit of anaesthesia, taken almost verbatim from Fanny Burney's letter to her sister and related by (the novel's characterisation of) her to our heroines, and the horror with which same sex relationships were viewed.
Goodman, although obviously writing for a modern audience, presents an almost authentic feel of the period and country (despite being Australian) compared to the majority of 'Regency romance' authors. She does have to explain more to her audience than authors of the day, such as Jane Austen, did but the information is woven in seamlessly and is a testament to her research.
A lighthearted, adventurous look at serious topics with a touch of romance thrown in as well and including some (fictionalised versions) of real people of the period, such as Beau Brummell.
I was all ready to borrow the second book - but, darn it, it hasn't been published yet.
3.75****
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LibraryThing member quondame
When the "sensible" Augusta started getting fluttery over the wounded highwayman it was clearly not going to be a book I could endure. I like the idea and would have delighted episodes handled with patience, subtlety and forethought. But that in not this book.
LibraryThing member clrichm
I do love a story in which the supporting characters are just as fleshed out and knowable as the main character, and this book delivered on that. At times, I did feel as though the author was going a little hard at conveying how hard women had things during the early 1800s, from poor medical care
And I do look forward to the sequel, if only because I want to know Julia's fate, and also because I need to see their brother PAY. Except that now I'm afraid he'll try to have them committed, the prospect of which had me nervous through the entire last quarter of the book. Just goes to show how invested I'd become, I suppose.
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to forced reliance upon men to the risk of being locked away and tortured if they complained, but it was never precisely irrelevant. (Perhaps the extremely graphic depiction of cancer-related mastectomies will become less gratuitous in the sequel, should Julia face that prospect?)And I do look forward to the sequel, if only because I want to know Julia's fate, and also because I need to see their brother PAY. Except that now I'm afraid he'll try to have them committed, the prospect of which had me nervous through the entire last quarter of the book. Just goes to show how invested I'd become, I suppose.
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LibraryThing member BookConcierge
From the book jacket: Lady Augusta Colebrook – “Gus” – is determinedly unmarried, bored by society life, and tired of being dismissed at the age of forty-two. She and her twin sister, Julia, need a distraction. One soon presents itself: to rescue their friend’s goddaughter, Caroline, from
My reactions
What a delightful romp! These ladies are up to any task, it seems. They are intelligent, determined, resourceful and certain of their course. They move from crisis to crisis with a sense of purpose and quick-witted improvisations. Of course, Gus can’t stop thinking about Lord Evan, and she will prove he was wrongly convicted if it’s the last thing she does.
Gus and Julia are assisted in their efforts to right the various wrongs by their butler, Weatherly, footman Thomas, and stableman John Driver. And of course, Lord Evan, who seems to have recovered from having been shot by Gus, but not from being pierced by Cupid’s arrow.
I particularly appreciate that Goodman has given us women of a certain age, who would most often be ignored. That “invisibility” is a great asset to them. They adopt the mantel of doyennes of Regency society when it suits their purpose. But Gus, in particular, is just as comfortable donning a gentleman’s garb and going where no respectable lady would deign to visit.
The book ends on a bit of a cliff-hangar, and I hope Goodman is a fast writer, because I can hardly wait to find out what the sisters get up to in the next episode.
One final note -
“This book is dedicated to all the women out there who no longer have the patience or desire to put up with any nonsense.”
Amen to that!
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her violent husband. The sisters set out for Caroline’s country estate with a plan, but their carriage is accosted by a highwayman. In the scuffle, Gus accidentally shoots and injures the ruffian, only to discover he is Lord Evan Belford, an acquaintance from their past who was charged with murder and exiled to Australia twenty years ago. My reactions
What a delightful romp! These ladies are up to any task, it seems. They are intelligent, determined, resourceful and certain of their course. They move from crisis to crisis with a sense of purpose and quick-witted improvisations. Of course, Gus can’t stop thinking about Lord Evan, and she will prove he was wrongly convicted if it’s the last thing she does.
Gus and Julia are assisted in their efforts to right the various wrongs by their butler, Weatherly, footman Thomas, and stableman John Driver. And of course, Lord Evan, who seems to have recovered from having been shot by Gus, but not from being pierced by Cupid’s arrow.
I particularly appreciate that Goodman has given us women of a certain age, who would most often be ignored. That “invisibility” is a great asset to them. They adopt the mantel of doyennes of Regency society when it suits their purpose. But Gus, in particular, is just as comfortable donning a gentleman’s garb and going where no respectable lady would deign to visit.
The book ends on a bit of a cliff-hangar, and I hope Goodman is a fast writer, because I can hardly wait to find out what the sisters get up to in the next episode.
One final note -
“This book is dedicated to all the women out there who no longer have the patience or desire to put up with any nonsense.”
Amen to that!
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LibraryThing member fionaanne
A charming Regency-era adventure that is, hands-down, the most enjoyable thing I've read this year. Spinster sisters Gus and Julia rescue women and children from exploitive and abusive situations with the help of their butler and an old friend who is on the run from the law.
LibraryThing member SandyAMcPherson
The appalling social conditions for women and children are brought forward in this 1812 adventure. The main characters are two unmarried sisters, older women living independently in London. The elder (Lady Augusta) is a strong-willed woman, unconventional by the days' standards, having an admirable
The author has excelled in researching her novel's setting and the societal constraints of the day. Readers learn of the awful powers of the men in the family and the lengths they will go to in controlling the females and children. This story is not an easy read because the descriptions are so vivid involving this mistreatment. Nevertheless, it was a compelling read, though the sister's antics do beg us to suspend belief here and there.
The dedication completely resonated with me: This book is dedicated to all the women out there who no longer have the patience or desire to put up with any nonsense.
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sense of social justice. The younger (Lady Julia) appears as a milder, quietly assertive but conventional person, who comes into her own as she discovers the perfidy amongst the upper classes. The author has excelled in researching her novel's setting and the societal constraints of the day. Readers learn of the awful powers of the men in the family and the lengths they will go to in controlling the females and children. This story is not an easy read because the descriptions are so vivid involving this mistreatment. Nevertheless, it was a compelling read, though the sister's antics do beg us to suspend belief here and there.
The dedication completely resonated with me: This book is dedicated to all the women out there who no longer have the patience or desire to put up with any nonsense.
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LibraryThing member kakadoo202
Light and predictable but also insightful and shocking in regards to the madhouse.
Going to look for more books by this author.
Going to look for more books by this author.
Awards
ARA Historical Novel Prize (Longlist — Adult — 2023)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Adults (Selection — 2023)