BOOK REVIEW: Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews

I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence this review.

I’m a huge fan of Mimi Matthews, and I’m excited that she now has a new Victorian Romance series, The Crinoline Academy Novels. Book 1 is Rules for Ruin.

Effie (Euphemia Flite) is a graduate of Miss Corvu’s Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies, better known in the area as The Crinoline Academy. Effie doesn’t believe in the school’s benevolence. She’d been scooped up by the proprietress, Artemisia Corvu, when she was a very young street urchin, and had been denied any opportunity to learn about her past. She’d been educated, somewhat against her will, to the extent that she can now pass among the upper classes as one of them. But she’d also learned the means to take care of herself. When she was 18, after yet another infraction of the school’s rules, she’d been “cast out,” sent to Paris to be a lady’s companion. Now, five years later, she is called back to the school. Miss Corvu has a job for her. If she completes it to her benefactor’s satisfaction, her debt to the woman will be repaid with a bonus, enough for her to live independently, which is all that she thinks she wants.

Miss Corvu wants Effie to play the part of a debutante. She is to ingratiate herself with a man named Lord Compton, an influential politician, a man of (supposedly) spotless reputation. Then she is to find information that can ruin him. Lord Compton not only stands against an upcoming women’s property bill being brought before Parliament, but, years ago, he ruined a young lady and stole her fortune. It’s time to take him down.

Effie accepts the terms. Unfortunately for the plan, as she meets Lord Compton at a social event, she also meets Gabriel Royce. 

Gabriel was also born to the underclass, but he built a fortune for himself (in shady businesses) and adopted aristocratic manners in order to better go where the money is. He rules the Rookery, a slum, by way of a significant financial investment in a gaming house. He wants to reform the slum for the betterment of its inhabitants. In this, he is being thwarted by aristocrats who would rather take over the Rookery and push out the poor. Gabriel needs politicians on his side. So he leans on Lord Compton for introductions to persuadable men. Gabriel is able to influence Compton because he has damning evidence against him. Evidence that could destroy him.

Gabriel’s strength lies in keeping control of that evidence. Effie’s goal is to locate that evidence, though at first, she doesn’t know what it is or where it is. Gabriel and Effie are quickly attracted to one another, but soon find out they are working at cross-purposes. Effie wants to destroy Compton. Gabriel needs him to stay in power so that his own operation will be protected. So what happens when Effie learns that the evidence she needs is in Gabriel’s possession?

Mimi Matthews is a master of the closed-door romance, and Rules for Ruin is a thrilling story of intrigue, corruption, and a battle of wills. It’s a great start to a new series!