Every now and then, I need a vacation away from the police procedurals, legal thrillers and dark mysteries. But while I may want something light, I don’t want anything silly. The title here gave me hope; as did the blurb which described it as a “Regency mystery with a feminist spin”. But I was disappointed. This was a big miss for me.
Lady Petra lost her fiancé to a senseless accident three years ago and decided she was no longer of a mind to be married. Luckily, she has the independent means to make such a choice. She is, however, still mourning the loss of a deep friendship with Duncan over a squabble after her fiancé’s death. She learns of the death of a good friend but is confused when a footman says he saw the woman days after she supposedly died. Connally drops clues like breadcrumbs for the reader. It was a bit too predictable for my taste, and relied on one too many coincidences. And then it started coming across like some sort of weird psychological thriller, which is when it truly fell apart for me. This is not a cozy mystery and those who go into it expecting that are going to be truly disappointed.
Petra was a decent main character, self confident and bold, not afraid to speak her mind (even when common sense would have her be silent). But most of the men are cliched villains or weak, other than the love interest. And if I heard one more comment about his strong arm or other masculine body part, I was going to be sick. I wanted a mystery, not a romance.
Connally does a good job of setting the stage and giving a firm sense of time and place. Gossip is definitely the coin of the realm in the Ton. But Connally relied on it too much and spent a lot of time throwing out names and ranks at the reader that did nothing to advance the plot. And she has absolutely no sense of timing. If you played out everything Petra does during the climax, it would take many more minutes than the time allotted.
Maybe I read too much, but it seems every other historic mystery I pick up has a similar theme of men trying to rid themselves of bothersome women. It’s getting a little old. And other books have done it better.
It was also weird that Connally threw in little stories about several of the minor characters, like they were scenes from a previous book. It happened so often I actually checked to see if this was part of a series. But no, it’s a stand-alone. Or maybe I should say the first of a series.
My thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for an advance copy of this book.

Historical mystery is one of our favorite genres, because you get most of the fun of a historical romance (there's always a slow burn romantic b-plot) combined with a Holmsian emphasis on deductive reasoning rather than forensic investigation. Sadly, this one felt like we'd seen it all before: women are disappearing from Society, and their husbands are benefiting. If you've read Regency or Victorian novels (or historical romance), you know that placing women in asylums was a convenient way to get rid of them. Obviously Celeste Connally has read these books, too. Sadly, instead of a unique take, this book felt like a tired retread. We felt like we'd read it before, making it a struggle to get through.

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

Genre: historical mystery
England, 1815

Lady Petra Forsyth, daughter of an earl, is a self-proclaimed spinster. Upon her mother’s death, she was bequeathed a large sum of money with no restrictions, allowing her own financial independence. Raised primarily by her father, Petra has always been bold, preferring to cut her own path in society by wearing pants and riding astride and not caring how many dances she dances per night despite her marital status. She’s saddened to hear of the sudden passing of a dear friend, and starts to realize that pieces of her friend’s death don’t add up, despite proneness to illness. Not one to sit idly by, Petra takes it upon herself to find out what’s going on.

With an intriguing setup, I was eager to pick up this regency era mystery by Celeste Connally. I enjoy a good 19th century lady detective style mystery, but unfortunately this one fell rather flat for me. While many of the themes of the novel interest me - feminism/women carving their own paths in society - the story itself lacked an originality. (Unfortunately, while the reasons for this are easily guessed early in the story, they are spoilers, so I won’t write about them in this review.) I think if you are looking for an entry-point into the regency era with a mystery, this may be a good option to pick up! The themes will interest the contemporary reader, but for someone who reads a lot set in this era, it felt overly familiar.

That said, the writing is solid, and I’m honestly still interested enough to pick up a second book in this series. I enjoyed the narration by Eilidh Beaton, who gives Petra great character and whose storytelling helped keep my interest. The writing and narration earned this a rounded up rating.

Thank you to St Martins Press and MacMillan audio and NetGalley for an eARC and ALC for review. Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord is out 11/14.

The description that this novel is “Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie” had me intrigued, and I can definitely say that this description is spot on. Nonetheless, this did not provide as pleasurable read for me as I thought it would.

It got off to an extremely slow start for me. Yes, there has to be some setting the scene and introducing the characters to the reader before things can really get going, but that seems to have been overdone here. The mystery that eventually emerged was somewhat formulaic, and I was also disappointed in the ending, a cliffhanger of sorts (perhaps to lead into the next book in this series?) which attempted to wrap things up far too quickly.

All in all, this was a decent read, and now that the characters have been fully introduced, I look forward to the next in this series, should there be a next one.

“Act Like a Lady, Think like a Lord” is truly one of the best books I have read this year. It takes what we think Regency Era romance is and flips it on its head. What freedoms would a woman have if she made it clear that she would never marry after losing a man that was about to become her husband. What choices does she really have? And is there a man out there who would take her at her word?

Lady Petra Forsyth is a woman of independent wealth (an inheritance from her mother) who truly does not need to marry. And after the death of her fiancé, she finds she does not want to…ever. An independent woman, with her own wealth and her own mind? The gentlemen of the era will need their smelling salts and fainting couches!

Mr. Duncan Shawcross is the illegitimate son of the Marquess of Langford. He is a man born to a nobleman who will never be a nobleman. There is some freedom with that, but also many doors that will forever be closed to him. Not that he minds. He grew up along side Petra and introduced her to her late fiancé. And although they were once close, they haven’t spoken for years.

Duncan and Petra cross paths at a ball hosted by Duncan’s grandmother, who is also Petra’s godmother. It is also at this ball that Petra learns that one of her friend’s has died two weeks prior. But when she speaks to a footman who had previously been employed by her dead friend, she learns that there may have been a sighting of the dead friend being alive. And off we go on a mystery.

Petra hopes to find out what really happened to her friend and Duncan finds himself agreeing to help. As the mystery twists and Petra finds out that her friend isn’t the only woman to have died under suspicious circumstances, she finds that in the pursuit for the truth may end up in her in the crosshairs.

The story is highly entertaining with a wonderful cast of characters. Caroline, Petra’s friend, is a wonder and Juddy is the kind of adorable with one foot in boyhood and one foot in manhood. But I must admit, after the heart pounding culmination of the mystery, the scene where the evil doers get there reckoning….it was both chef’s kiss perfect and highly entertaining. To top it all off, the next mystery is hinted at in the book’s final pages the has left my entirely too eager for the next installment.

A perfectly fine historical mystery! Nothing memorable, but a fun ride nonetheless. I have a hard time with contemporary writers using similar styles to Austen, which I think was my major issue here. Thank you for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

4.5/5⭐️

First in the Lady Petra Inquires series, this is set in 1815 London and billed as Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie with a feminist spin. I loved Petra and am looking forward to seeing more of her.

Headstrong and independent, Petra Forsyth, daughter of the Earl of Holbrook, has made the decision (after losing her beloved fiancé three years earlier) that she will remain unmarried…and announces it to the ton. Why should she cede her wealth and freedom to any other than the lost love of her life?

As she enjoys her life without society’s expectations, she learns the news of a dear friend’s death from “melancholia” and decides to investigate further. She learns a shocking secret and uncovers the dirty laundry of the upper crust lords. Unfortunately, this knowledge lands her in a frightening situation in which she must use her own skills to extricate herself.

There were two things that I dearly loved about this book. First, Petra herself. She is a marvel. An unapologetic woman ahead of her time who is fearless and exceptionally keen. Second, there is a bit of a friends-to-enemies-to-friends romance (if that makes sense) which is very well done and adds some spark to what is overall the dark subject of how society women were treated during this period.

I’m definitely recommending this one and can’t wait to dive in again as there was a very surprising/perplexing cliffhanger here.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing the free early arc of Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord
By Celeste Connally

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The beginning started out a little slow but it kept getting better and better as the story continued. This book reminded me of Downton Abbey with some mystery. I am looking forward to next one!

What a lovely, female Sherlock type novel! Set in the early 1800s, Lady Petra is formidable woman; a chosen “spinster” and loyal friend with her own inheritance, she firmly believes in women having equal rights and isn’t afraid to hold her own against anyone who disagrees. ⁠
Though it was a little slow at the start, once I hit around 30% this book clipped along at a great pace, had a fun mystery, and championed the rights of women while challenging the class system as a whole. I really felt the fight and passion of Lady Petra as she battled the evil forces at work, and found myself really invested.

“Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord” by Celeste Connally
Entrancing Regency Mystery
Yes, I loved this mystery; ever so glad it was set in the Regency era. I will admit it took me a couple of chapters to become fully invested in this story. It was about at that point where I really began accumulating options for possible villain(s). You really do not want to know more than the book’s back cover description… because it just might spoil the story for you. It is scary what some people will do. And just how dangerous some people can be. Happy Reading ! !
Note: This review expresses my honest opinion.
I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley

Such a fun read after a very slow and confusing start, but it was worth it! Lady Petra is an unmarried , wealthy independent woman living in Victorian England. She has recently lost her fiancée and a good friend , both due to sudden deaths.
This story combines Bridgerton and Agatha Christie into one fun book! As the story continues, Petra discovers many of the women of her ton have died or have been sent to Fairwinds. She discovers that Fairwinds is not what it claims to be. This is when the story really clicked for me. Lady Petra is seen as a spinster by the men in her world. But in truth, she is a strong, independent woman who is not afraid of anyone or anything. ,. This books showcases a woman who is rare for her time!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

If you are in a reading slump or just need a quick read, this may be the book for you. Historical fiction, mystery and a fun main character.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord is a fun historical mystery with some romance on the side. Celeste Connally writes a protagonist, Lady Petra, who would fit in fine with Evie Dunmore's League of Extraordinary Women. Petra has lost her fiance in a horrible accident, and she finds herself with no desire to marry another. Her inheritance leaves her with the freedom to declare that she will stay a spinster. The ton does not approve, especially the men who were courting her in the past. Petra also gets news that a friend of hers has died under strange circumstances, sending her on a path to discover many secrets that the men of the aristocracy are hiding.

This was a very fun mystery with an interesting protagonist. It felt infuriating at times reading the way the men were able to control and treat women that did not conform to society's rigid expectations. The book ends with a setup for the next installment, and I am very excited to read more!

Overall, fans of Lex Croucher and Nancy Springer (Enola Holmes series) will love this historical mystery.

This was a cute regency-era cozy mystery with a feminist vibe. It's a quick read, but it took about 20 pages or so to get used to the writing style, which leans into the Shakespearean style a little. Thanks to MacMillan and Netgalley for the ARC.

This is a very interesting book because it turned out to be way more than a Regency romance. Petra has been raised by a father who breeds horses and she has been given free rein ( no pun intended) to help him run his estate. She rides in breeches and is very forthright. She claims no interest in marriage because her fiancee died in an accident. Duncan, her best friend growing up has quarreled with her and he leaves for the continent.
Then Petra becomes embroiled in a murder, and Duncan shows up.
Without giving away too much, we learn about a scheme to send troublesome wives and daughters to an asylum
This did actually occur in these times, and Petra becomes involved in a quite exciting and the harrowing investigation.
Petra at time is foolhardy, but always caring. She doesn't quite know her own mind. The book ends on a cliffhanger.🥺. I will be awaiting the sequel.
At times the book felt like it should be second in a series as it felt as if we should know some of the characters, but Petra as a character is very convincing. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my EARC. I highly recommend this book.

4 ⭐️ | it took me a bit to get into this book, it started picking up a third of the way in and was really hard to put down. Definitely agree that this is for mystery and Bridgerton lovers - it was a nice mix of both. It really took a dark turn, that I wasn’t expected but really liked.

This novel has all that most readers expect from a Regency: carriages, horses, a ball scene, sparks and snarks between the heroine and her love interest. There are few clues in the opening chapter to the Regency-Gothic plot, but get past that and it’s a socially relevant, intriguing tale of women successfully challenging of one of England’s longstanding, deeply inhumane ways of exercising patriarchal power and greed.

Our Heroine is no ingenue but a young woman who has loved and lost. Raised by an indulgent father, left independently wealthy by her late mother, she rides astride, runs the town and country households with the aid of faithful servants, and cherishes her equally unconventional friends. She’s recently announced she intends to never marry. It’s a declaration, we soon learn, that triggers a harsh reaction from her male relatives.

Several feisty female secondary characters band together with Our Heroine to rescue their downtrodden compatriots from controlling spouses and fathers, at similar risk to their own limited freedoms. The plot is inspiring and refreshing, part of the new wave of Regencies that include greater diversity of characters and tackle wider societal problems rather than strictly portraying a predictable heterosexual romance leading to a happily-ever-after

Those flaws in this opening: dialogue and inner monologues are rife with over-flowery language (as is common with neo-Regency novels), setting is generically ‘carriages and balls’ rather than demonstrably Regency, and far too many paragraphs are lost interspersing Our Heroine changing her clothes with clumsily introducing (through inane dialogue with her faithful ladies’ maid) characters we’ll meet later. There’s no way to guess from this opening that you’re entering a tale of human frailty, madhouses, and morals that would not be out of place in a Bronte novel.

Giving it a 3.5

PUBLICATION DAY: November 14, 2023

After losing her soul mate weeks before her wedding, Petra is determined (and has even announced to society) that she will never marry. She has her mother (and a generous inheritance) to thank for the option. But not everyone is content to see her voluntarily single, especially in this period of time. Add in the mysterious death of her friend Gwen and Petra has a lot to deal with. What will she find when she investigates the circumstances around Gwen’s death? And is her future as secure as she hoped?

PROS and CONS:
I really liked this author’s writing style, easy to read and quick to digest. Good variety of characters even if the plot was relatively easy to predict. Ending was a bit of a cliff hanger - maybe a series is in the works?

READ IT?
If you’re into period pieces and can’t get enough Bridgerton - then this one’s for you!

3.5 Stars

What a charming read! this one is for the Bridgerton lovers who love a winsome and intelligent heroine and a whiff of mystery

Think Lisa Kleypas meets Death Comes to Pemberley.

I will easily follow Connally wherever she takes me and I heartily recommended this sparkling and unputdownable new read!

Lady Petra Forsyth has sworn off marriage after the loss of her beloved fiancé who died in a tragic accident. Lady Petra’s mother was a woman ahead of her time and provided her with a sizable inheritance allowing Petra to have the independent life she desires. Petra uses her social status and inheritance to her advantage and enjoys the best society has to offer.

Lady Petra is devastated when she learns that a dear friend, Gwen, died of “melancholia” while in the care of a less than reputable physician. However, gossip soon circulates that Gwen has been spotted in London several times since she reportedly died. Petra begins to investigateo and uncovers a devious plot by the upper class men of London to have their inconvenient wives and daughters locked away. In her efforts to help Gwen and the other women, Petra finds herself in grave danger.

This Regency Era mystery was fast paced and intriguing. Lady Petra is a force to be reckoned with and I enjoyed getting to know her. This novel includes other strong female characters such as Annie, the lady’s maid, and Petra’s godmother, the duchess. Duncan, Lady Petra’s love interest, is an interesting and complex character. Some of the characters and their actions were a bit stereotypical but there are some more modern themes thrown in to balance it out.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord has been described as a combination of Agatha Christie and Bridgerton which is fairly accurate. This story does not have the spice of Bridgerton but the setting is the same and the story lines are similar. Some parts of the story were predictable but there were a few twists thrown in that balanced that out. The way the story wrapped up was perfect and the bombshell thrown in at the very end was shocking.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord is an intriguing mystery and thoughtful commentary on society and the challenges women face. This novel will satisfy all your Regency Era cravings!