Fast and Fastidious, R. M. Caldwell
Fast and Fastidious, R. M. Caldwell
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Fast and Fastidious
A Novel

Author: R. M. Caldwell

Narrator: Fiona Hardingham

Unabridged: 9 hr 22 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/14/2026


Synopsis

Pride and Prejudice meets The Fast and the Furious in this rollicking, romantic Regency adventure in which a meticulous young woman must abandon the rules of propriety to save Britain—and perhaps even find love along the way. . . . England, 1810. Lucy Elliot has often been described as fastidious, given her belief that there is an objectively correct and logical way to do things. And while she strives to be proper in every way, she does have one rather scandalous secret: Lucy, the prim and gentle lady, is  a frequent attendee of the entirely disreputable and illicit Night Races, where unchaperoned men and women from all social classes gather on dark country lanes to gamble on the outcomes of furiously fast carriage races.But her secret might become more than just a danger to her reputation when her mysterious new neighbor, Captain Dashwood, begins partaking in the races. Lucy can’t help but feel there’s something more to the handsome Captain Dashwood than meets the eye, and she suspects that his arrival in the neighborhood in the midst of a spate of curious and alarming carriage robberies is no mere coincidence—something is most certainly afoot in the county, and it’s a mystery Lucy intends to solve. Though Lucy prides herself on her preparedness, she never could have anticipated the web of lies, deceit, and espionage that she finds herself and Captain Dashwood entangled in; nor could she have known that the very fate of Britain would hang in the balance. But will her meticulous nature be the very thing that saves her, or will it be her—and England's—undoing?

About R. M. Caldwell

R.M. Caldwell is based in Hamilton, New Zealand, and writes and directs theatre, as well as being on the board of an independent theatre.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle on April 05, 2026

This book really said, what if Jane Austen watched The Fast and the Furious once and thought, yes, but what if everyone had bonnets and suppressed emotions. And honestly? I respect the audacity. Fast and Fastidious drops us into 1810 England with Lucy Elliot, our resident precision queen, who believe......more

Goodreads review by Erin on March 28, 2026

3.5 stars Fast and Fastidious by R. M. Caldwell is a refreshing, high-octane twist on the Regency romance genre. This debut novel manages to balance the delicate social structures of 1810 England with the grit and adrenaline of illicit carriage racing. It is a quick, well-written read that manages to......more

Goodreads review by Erin on March 08, 2026

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review. Expected publication date: Apr. 14, 2026 “Fast and Fastidious” by R.M. Caldwell is absolutely perfect for anyone looking for a mystery novel with Bridgerton vibes a......more

Goodreads review by Adele on April 13, 2026

Rating: 4/5 Tropes/themes: found family, Regency era, romance, mystery, 'fast and furious' races, autism rep In the Regency-era England countryside, Lucy Elliot is well known as 'peculiar.' Extremely logical, struggles with social context and social situations where it's loud, and fixates on certain......more