I found this book to be really engaging and I loved the premise. I'm a sucker for regency lady detective stories so this story was right up my alley. I am looking forward to reading other books by the author.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord is the first in a new mystery series by Celeste Connally. As the title indicates, the focus is on how even high-born women were often treated like second-class citizens--or worse--in 1815 London.

After the tragic death of her fiancé and abandonment by her greatest male friend, Lady Petra avows to everyone who will listen that she has decided to remain unmarried. It is a scandalous statement to most, and some take it to mean she prefers women to men. But Petra is proud and determined, and her money and good looks afford her some freedom to live the life she desires. When one of her friends disappears mysteriously and is then declared dead, Petra starts to discover that a deadly conspiracy is afoot, and that other women, including herself, may be in grave danger.

The book takes quite a while to get going, setting the scene and the many characters. The last part of the book is much more interesting--though quite distasteful at times--as Petra gets closer to unmasking the villain(s). I found the plot to be a bit too over-the-top, with the main villain being utterly without redeeming qualities. Men, in general, come off as unsympathetic to say the least, with the exception of Petra's former male friend and a young guttersnipe who admires her enough to help her out when needed. The women are the stars, especially Petra, who often throws caution to the winds to accomplish her goals. The epilogue contains a cliffhanger, which will mostly likely be dealt with in the next book of the series. Personally, I prefer the author's three Ancestry Detective books, under the name of SC Perkins.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

“If only stays, and all like it, would deteriorate at the same rate as my language, we women would rejoice.”

If you are looking for a regency mystery, pick up Celeste Connally's Act Like a Lady Think Like a Lord. Connally's writing is lyrical, funny and relatable. The mystery was very interesting......but that clifhanger!!??!! How dare she end the book like that.

"After all, she thought, even headstrong spinsters who flout the rules are allowed some secrets, are they not?"

True historical mystery vibes right here, which is one of my faves! Loved the suspense of the disappearing women along with the murder, and there was plenty of action with romance sprinkled on top. Strong female lead which was definitely needed in a story like this, especially when highlighting a suppressed period of history for women.

I know the tagline is Agatha Christie meets the Bridgertons, but for me it’s more akin to Cindy Anstey’s books. Petra, shockingly Original in Regency England becomes caught up in a murder investigation that veers into a case that is far more than the sum of its parts.

Full disclaimer: I didn't read the description before diving in and was pleasantly surprised to be met with an exciting, well-thought out mystery.

In this novel, Petra has declared herself a spinster. After her fiance died a tragic death, she has no interest in marrying—why would she, when she's already met (and lost) the love of her life? This creates a wave of controversy in the ton. When women begin to go missing, Petra takes it upon herself to get to the bottom of it. I've torn through Lisa Kleypas and Julia Quinn's regency novels and Petra is unlike any regency heroine I've ever come across. I adores this title!

I am a big fan of Regency/Victorian mysteries with a strong willed female lead and a slightly questionable but handsome love interests — think Tasha Alexander’s Lady Emily series, Rhys No Wen’s Lady Georgie series, and Deanna Raybourne’s Lady Julia series and Veronica Speedwell series. This book gives similar vibes.

Lady Petra is an independently wealthy lady who lost her fiancé and decided to stay a spinster. When her friend mysteriously dies, she sets out on a quest to discover why. Enter Duncan, her childhood playmate whom she had a falling out a few years ago.

I thought the first third of the book could have been trimmed down, the mystery doesn’t really start until then and the pacing felt a little off. However, once Petra is involved in the mystery the book took off. I was a bit annoyed it ended in a cliffhanger, but I’m intrigued and will probably read the next one when it comes out!

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press - Minotaur Books and Celeste Connally for the ARC.

"Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord" provides a good escape read. Celeste Connally's descriptions of dresses, riding, and manners bring the textures of the Regency period to life. While I wanted to love the story itself -- what is not to love about a protagonist who declares herself a spinster after the death of her fiancee and refuses to ride a horse sidesaddle?? -- the oddly dated yet casual language itself kept getting in the way of the story. This passage about Petra wearing a "lady's riding ensemble", for example, landed awkwardly for me, both because of the use of the word "togs" and the qualifying sentence-that-isn't-a-sentence:

"The garments were also constricting and impractical, which was why Petra preferred to ride in her brother's old togs. When safely on her father's lands, or course"

Other readers may not be as bothered by using faux-arcane language but it kept pulling me out of the story.

The book comes into its own once the plot turns to the villainous Mr. Drysdale and ends with a tempting cliffhanger...but one that left me wondering why Petra was so willing to believe aspersions cast by clear villains about people she knows and has trusted?

Set in the early 1800's during the Regency era, the female protagonist, Lady Petra, is most definitely a feminist. Often doing things that the gentleman of the time do, such as ride a stride and have very strong opinions about things and actually state he opinions, she declares her self a spinster when her fiancé dies. When a close friend dies quickly under what seems to be slightly odd circumstances, Petra decides to investigate. This of course leads to more strange deaths and odd incidents that are connected to her. The story is well written and shows the double standard of how men are allowed to act and how women are seen and treated if they act in a similar manner.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord is an enjoyable read about Lady Petra investigating some things she's noticed in her social circle not adding up. I actually thought this was a romance novel but it's mainly a mystery with a bit of romance mixed in. I love that Lady Petra is a spinster by choice and her family and friends support her. It's clear early on to the reader what is happening to the women but some of the characters still keep you guessing. The story wraps up dramatically and generally happy until the last shocking line leaves you questioning if there's more to come.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC!

I like historical fiction and mysteries; so, the combination of these two made for an interesting read. The main character is strong and independent. Unfortunately, some men during this time period don't find these characteristics to be their strength. The protagonist discovered that difficult women were being sent to asylums to be rid of them. With her sleuthing and some help from friends, she was able to rescue them. Enjoyable read. Thank you, NetGalley, and the publisher for the ARC.

A fun book to read with its quirky characters. The story line was interesting and well written. This book is definitely a more light hearted current take on historical fiction.

I received a copy of this from netgalley in exchange for a review.

3.75 stars rounded up to 4.

This story started slow. It took me a bit to really get into it, but once I did, I got really into it. Once it really got into the core mystery - what was happening to the Ladies of London and who was all involved was worth the wait. I did stay up late to finish it because once Petra was out of London, I had to know what was going to happen. I thought it wrapped up well, but then the last line being such a huge cliffhanger!! Oh my goodness, there’s gotta be another book for that.

Charming, cozy, engaging, and with real historical details -- a perfect book for curling up with on a rainy weekend! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read it early.

What a fun read! While there is a touch of romance, this is a historical mystery that centers on Petra, an engaging lead character who has decided she will never marry after her fiancé suddenly dies just before their wedding. Petra starts noticing that women in her circle are disappearing or dying, so she investigates … an intriguing mystery ensues, with well-written characters and a terrifically imagined universe.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this first entry in what I very much hope is a long series about Lady Petra Forsyth, a 24-year-old woman of independent means (almost impossible during this time) who has become a curiosity in London society since she declared herself a permanent spinster after the tragic death of her fiance. At the start of this novel, Petra is at odds with her uncle, who disapproves of her unwomanly behavior (riding astride, having opinions, not being interested in marriage), and she decides to leave her father's country estate to return to town. She soon learns that one of her closest friends, who she had seen not long before, had suddenly died. The circumstances of that death turn out to be suspicious, and Lady Petra finds herself in the middle of a bit of a conspiracy to deal with inconvenient women. She is accompanied by her maid, Agnes, her friend Lady Caroline, and her childhood friend and potential romantic interest, Duncan. The end of this was just *chef's kiss* and I can't wait to read the next entry in this series. Content warning for violence against women, next-level gaslighting, kidnapping, and references to sexual abuse.

Cozy mystery with regency elements! I loved this one! Petra and Duncan are a great couple! I loved how this followed their relationship from the marriage on and we got to see all their struggles together.

Prepare to be swept up in this mystery!

Set in Regency England, a time when laws favored males, women had few rights and were subject to rule first by their fathers and then by their husbands.

Lady Petra Forsyth is a woman ahead of her time, independent and thinking. Connally does an exceptional job in depicting the life, manners, times and morals of both the ton and the servant class of the early 1800’s.

I eagerly await the next chapter of Lady Petra’s story.

Many thanks to NetGalley & St.Martin’s Press for a complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I've read and enjoyed the author's work (under a different name), so when I saw this new release, I grabbed an early copy. Loved that it's set in 1815, a period I don't know a ton about. My historical fiction often gravitates toward America's Gilded Age, but I might need to turn back the clock by another 75 years, eh? Petra is a formidable lady, and what happens to her is deliciously horrible. I was more irate than she when it came to the way men, in particular her uncle and the doctor, treated this woman. That's a sign of great writing, when an author can conjure an emotional outburst of passion and hatred all at the same time. The mystery was expertly weaved together in a normal storyline about what it was like for a woman during this time period. Meeting the various duchesses and ladies and lords made the setting and history come alive. The ending, which I wish had a bit more comeuppance, delivered a solid sense of reality... and really made me hope this becomes a series. Petra makes a brilliant main character, and her exploits could continue to entertain for many more books.

If you like historical mystery with a side order of romance, this the book for you. The characters are fun and it is filled with humor and charm.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC. #Netgalley