The Rake Mistake is a novella set between books 1 and 2 of Erica Ridley’s The Wild Wynchesters series. I haven’t read either book, or anything else by Ridley, but she’s been recommended frequently. And I am trash for heist plots. I thought I’d try this little bite and see what I thought. I liked it.
Miss Philippa York is starchy and entirely uninterested in men. She wants to read her books and spend time with her circle of Bluestockings. Her mother’s greatest wish and driving focus is to get her married, preferably to a Duke or someone who will become a Duke. Mrs. York is constantly interrupting Philippa’s time with her book club and threatening to get rid of her beloved illustrated manuscripts.
The heist comes in when one of the book club members, Grace, bursts in with the dire news that a known rake, Lord Rotherham, stole the hairpin she was wearing the night before, but the hairpin he stole has her twin sister’s name engraved on it. Grace’s sister is engaged to a man she loves, who will think her unfaithful if word gets around that Lord Rotherham has her hairpin. Fortunately a new member of the book club is also a member of a family that commits crimes to right wrongs – basically Regency era Leverage.
Heist plans are made, plans go awry, and the whole group travels to the countryside to try the heist again. Much to Philippa’s chagrin, the book club becomes Heist Club, and of course their is also a Fight Club joke. I liked Philippa and yes now I am more invested in finding out how she gets her happily ever after. I was so so on the resolution to the crime. A man learned something, but it felt a bit facile. Maybe we see more of Lord Rotherham in Perks of Loving a Wallflower and see the lesson sticks.
The Rake Mistake is not an advance reader copy since it was published last year, but I did read this through NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.