Lifting the petticoats: the underbelly of Regency England

Regency England wasn’t all balls, bodices, and beaux for those in high society. Markets and gentlemen’s clubs hid secrets, scandals, spies, escaped convicts, ruthless bounty hunters, and murders most foul, as revealed in two new books by Kelly Gardiner and Sharmini Kumar (Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Investigator) and Alison Goodman (The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin). The panel will tell all to fellow author, A M Stuart.

Kelly Gardiner’s most recent novels for young readers include a time-slip adventure trilogy called The Firewatcher Chronicles; and 1917: Australia’s Great War, set in Flanders and Melbourne during the First World War (all published by Scholastic). Her novel Goddess (HarperCollins) is based on the life of the remarkable Julie dAubigny, also known as Mademoiselle de Maupin, a 17th-century opera singer and swordswoman. Kelly’s other books include the acclaimed young adult novels The Sultan’s Eyes and Act of Faith (HarperCollins); and for younger readers, Billabong Bill’s Bushfire Christmas (Random House) and the Swashbuckler! trilogy (HarperCollins). Kelly taught creative writing at La Trobe University for many years and now runs writing retreats and masterclasses. She is President of Sisters in Crime.

Sharmini Kumar is the founder and artistic director of 24 Carrot Productions. She has written, directed and produced many performance pieces and short films including Shakespeare in Therapy and The Regina Monologues, as well as radio documentaries for the ABC. Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Detective (HarperCollins Australia) is her debut novel. When not writing and directing, she works as a doctor and teaches medicine.

Alison Goodman is a writer of crime, fantasy, and historical fiction. She is the author of nine novels including The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin (HarperCollins Australia), the second in the Ill-Mannered Ladies series. The first book, The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies, won the 2024 Readers’ Choice Davitt Award and was a Washington Post Best Mystery Book of 2023 and an Amazon Editors’ Best Mystery Book of 2023. Her novels also include the award-winning Lady Helen trilogy, and Eon and Eona, a New York Times bestselling fantasy duology. Alison holds a PhD focusing on creative writing, historical research, and the Regency era and is currently working on the third novel in the Ill-Mannered Ladies series. She is fuelled by strong coffee and air-fried chips, and will travel a long way for a good high tea.

A M Stuart, creator of the popular Harriet Gordon Mystery series, has travelled extensively and lived in Africa and Singapore, experiences which she brings to her writing – the Harriet Gordon series is set in Singapore during the 1910s. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked as a lawyer across a variety of disciplines including the military and emergency services. As Alison Stuart, she has written historical romances and short stories, spanning different periods of history with settings in England and Australia.

Men or ‘brothers-in-law’ welcome.

Sun Bookshop stall: Sisters in Crime members receive a 10% discount

Bookings: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/lifting-the-petticoats-the-underbelly-of-regency-england-tickets-1256230522309?aff=oddtdtcreator

Additional information: Carmel Shute 0412 569 356 admin@sistersincrime.org.au; www.sistersincrime.org.au