This is an average read that does not suffer from a sagging middle. Instead, the middle is sprightly and what makes this read at all likable. I wouldn’t describe the beginning and the end as sagging, so much as they are so abrupt the reader is left with a feeling that several chapters were cut from the finished manuscript.

Eugenia Baily’s cousin has lost ten thousand pounds playing cards, so Eugenia takes it upon herself to retrieve the money putting her gambling skills to use, and inciting the unpleasant Lord Durham to a card game to win back the money. But Lord Durham only gambles with ladies of no virtue, so what is Miss Eugenia the schoolmistress to do? Set a thief to catch a thief, or rather, enlist a scoundrel to teach her to be alluring to catch a scoundrel. In a card game, Eugenia wins the promise of help from the infamous Nathan Seymour; he sets her up as his fake mistress. Nathan has a bone of his own to pick with Durham, and improving Eugenia’s looks and skills at flirtation only furthers his own goals. But neither Nathan nor Eugenia expected their teachings would have consequences for their hearts.

While a great deal of To Catch A Scoundrel is from Eugenia’s viewpoint, the use of contrasting voices contributes to the speed and zest of the read. The interaction between Nathan and Eugenia is amusing and witty, even if she of course is proven to be beautiful once she slips into a pretty dress and does something about her hair. The supporting characters vary between the clichéd servants and the kind and engimatic Harriet, whom I would like to see as a heroine of a future romance.

My main problem with this book stems from the lack of background information. I still don’t quite understand why Eugenia decided she was the one to retrieve the money, having not seen anything of her family or her cousin. The reason she is able to leave her school for an extended time without a quibble from her employers is also quickly brushed aside. And while Nathan’s animosity towards Durham was perfectly understandable, his reasons for taking up with Eugenia was also on the sketchy side.

Overall, To Catch A Scoundrel helped me while away a few hours. This book isn’t bad, it just lacks about five chapters. As it is, I feel I’ve read three quarters of a book that was reasonably okay, but that missing quarter hurts.