Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels  By  cover art

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels

By: India Holton
Narrated by: Elizabeth Knowelden
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.00

Buy for $18.00

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

A New York Times Notable Book of 2021

“The kind of book for which the word 'rollicking' was invented.” (New York Times Book Review)

A prim and proper lady thief must save her aunt from a crazed pirate and his dangerously charming henchman in this fantastical historical romance.

Cecilia Bassingwaite is the ideal Victorian lady. She's also a thief. Like the other members of the Wisteria Society crime sorority, she flies around England drinking tea, blackmailing friends, and acquiring treasure by interesting means. Sure, she has a dark and traumatic past and an overbearing aunt, but all things considered, it's a pleasant existence. Until the men show up.

Ned Lightbourne is a sometimes assassin who is smitten with Cecilia from the moment they meet. Unfortunately, that happens to be while he's under direct orders to kill her. His employer, Captain Morvath, who possesses a gothic abbey bristling with cannons and an unbridled hate for the world, intends to rid England of all its presumptuous women, starting with the Wisteria Society. Ned has plans of his own. But both men have made one grave mistake. Never underestimate a woman.

When Morvath imperils the Wisteria Society, Cecilia is forced to team up with her handsome would-be assassin to save the women who raised her - hopefully proving, once and for all, that she's as much of a scoundrel as the rest of them.

©2021 India Holton (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

One of the New York Times' 100 Notable Books of 2021

An Indie best seller

One of Bustle's Best New Books Out June 2021

A PopSugar Best Summer Read of 2021

"Holton is having as much fun as the English language will permit - the prose shifts constantly from silly to sublime and back, sometimes in the course of a single sentence. And somehow in all the melodrama and jokes and hilariously mangled literary references, there are moments of emotion that cut to the quick - the way a profound traumatic experience can overcome you years later." (New York Times Book Review)

"This melds the Victorian wit of Sherlock Holmes with the brash adventuring of Indiana Jones.... A sprightly feminist tale that offers everything from an atmospheric Gothic abbey to secret societies." (Entertainment Weekly)

"The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels is easily the most delightfully bonkers historical fantasy romance of 2021! Featuring lady pirates in flying houses and gentleman assassins with far too many names, I enjoyed every absorbing moment. I will never look at a cup of tea (with tea before milk, under pain of death) the same way again!" (Jen DeLuca, author of Well Played)

Featured Article: Go on a Swashbuckling Adventure with These Pirate Audiobooks and Podcasts


From classic sagas of buccaneers commanding the seas to fantasy novels featuring high-tech spacefarers, there's something about pirates that gets our hearts pumping and imaginations soaring! If you love a good adventure story, then you'll want to be sure to check out this list of the best audiobooks and podcasts with pirates, featuring both fiction and nonfiction. Whether you're a seadog or scallywag, a kid or grown up, find your next great pirate listen here.

What listeners say about The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    448
  • 4 Stars
    146
  • 3 Stars
    61
  • 2 Stars
    31
  • 1 Stars
    20
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    523
  • 4 Stars
    79
  • 3 Stars
    20
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    9
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    396
  • 4 Stars
    126
  • 3 Stars
    70
  • 2 Stars
    23
  • 1 Stars
    20

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I love these books!

India Holton is a fabulous author. I usually never write reviews but her 2 books are so fantastic, I can’t wait for another book. If you love English history/humor, it’s a not must read/ listen. Just wonderful!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

This was such a fun book to listen to! The narrator was fabulous and the story often made me laugh out loud. Excited for more from India Holton!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

AMAZING Book!

Uproariously funny and clever, occasionally extremely sensual, and all too much fun. Wonderfully read, too!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Delightfully Silly.

reminiscent of Dyana Wynn Jones, this book is whimsical, lighthearted, and utterly delightful. the perfect book to make your day better.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So Funny

It takes a couple chapters to get a feel for the writing style and understand what’s going on. Stick with it. Wonderful action romance peppered with so much humor.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Eh

I hate leaving a lukewarm review, because there were many great ideas and concepts, but, I genuinely restarted this book twice, and eventually just gave up trying to follow it completely, and just kept powering through with the story. The book has a lot of fun concepts, but, it just wasn't working for me.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Surprisingly delightful

If I had read the details of this fantasy adventure romance, I probably would never have listened to it. But I bought it quickly during the two for one credit sale and I’m so glad I did! The writing is really fun and, while completely fantasy, has a ton of accurate historical references plus cheeky giggles throughout.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fun story, favorite narrator

I found this story because I was looking for books narrated by Elizabeth Knowelden! She’s my absolute favorite narrator. So glad I ran across this one! It’s cheeky, fun, and definitely worth a listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Such fun!

Every minute of this book and especially the performance is great fun! The imagination and cheek is so refreshing and enjoyable!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Charming and sweet

If you can suspend disbelief for the first couple of chapters, this is a charming, clever, and surprisingly romantic book. Great narrator. Likeable characters, both main and supporting. I’ll gladly listen to more from this author.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!