3.5 stars

This had me at "Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie" for its description... but its more Agatha Chrstie than anything else.

Lady Petra is an absolutely fantastic FMC. She is strong willed and determined to not marry following the death of her fiance. But that isn't the only death as Lady Petra finds herself searching for answers regarding the death of her friend who passes questionably. Who is Mr Drysdale? Is her Uncle who she thinks he is? So much is happening in London during this1800s read.

Feminism, equality, women's rights were at the forefront of this book as Lady Petra is far from the norm (at the time) and well on her way to being a badass, self proclaimed spinster with an inheritance - who seeks out justice.

There were a lot of side characters which did get lost on me sometimes and I do feel the romance aspect was a bit forced but overall it was a fairly enjoyable, mystery read. Second half picks up significantly, as the first half was a bit slow. I would probably read more of Lady Petra to see what else she's gotten herself up too and because I want to know what's going on with Duncan!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC
Petra is a woman in her mid-20s whose fiancé died pretty well on the eve of their wedding several years ago; however, her mother has managed to leave her some money so she doesn't have to marry or stay with her father. Her childhood friend Duncan (who she has been mad at since the fiancé's death - because Duncan was his best friend and 'ran away' after the funeral) has recently returned to England. Of course we know that she will end up with Duncan somehow or other.
The main thrust of the story is based on Petra having declared at a party that 'I am now a spinster' and that this has caused a huge scandal. I found it unfortunate that most of the plot was dependent on this, because I found it didn't ring true, and she seems to use it as a rationale to do all manner of things that she wouldn't be able to do as a youngish female member of society (I don't need a chaperone because I've said I'm a spinster...). Much of the book is involved with her 'investigating' the rumoured death of a friend, which takes a dark turn.
The book is well-written, it's very 'Regency' with all its descriptions and whatnot, but it was like it wanted to be a historical fantasy like Lady Sherlock, and yet it didn't. It's not awful, but it's a bit naive and fluffy, so I'm going to say 3-3.5 out of 5 (also see below)
(note to reviewers who are objecting to the idea that some of the characters are having sex - the book starts off with her sleeping with her fiancé, why are you shocked?)
I read this because I was low on books, and I got an invitation from the publisher (I had seen the blurb and passed over it previously). The author in her Afterword basically excuses herself for any anachronisms used in service of the story, but I had a hard time all the way through with the 'spinster' concept. I think that the same effect could have been achieved without all the 'oh but I can do this because I have said I'm a spinster' speeches by Petra - just didn't work for me.
I had previously read The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman (highly recommend, it's great!), part of which dealt with a similar plot line (men sending their wives to an asylum for financial gain) and thought that it was written better, more realistically and more sensitively, so that's affecting the way I've read this book.

(Thank you to Minotaur Books for providing me with an eARC to review)

The premise was interesting, but the actual mystery and plot were predictable. Some of Petra's decisions made no sense for her character. Why would she reveal information she found to someone likely working with the villain? She wasn't even skeptical of what they told her. She also accepted a drink from her uncle, whom she clearly despised, even though he was suspicious. It felt like the author threw away Petra's thinking only to advance the plot. Regarding the other characters, there was a huge cast of side characters that made it easy to forget who everyone was. Most appeared or were mentioned only once or twice in the book with no distinct character to them.

In terms of the writing, there were random cliffhangers at the end of chapters, like when it describes an angry face staring back at Petra in the window and the chapter ends, then the beginning of the next chapter lets the reader know it's just her friend waiting outside for her.... The story also ends on a weak cliffhanger. I'm not interested enough to read the next book in the series.


(CW: confinement, forced institutionalization, sexism, misogyny, homophobia, classism, racism, domestic abuse, murder, brief mention of death, mentions the death of a parent)

I was intrigued by this title because I love period writing and I also love mysteries & thrillers. This book has them both. What I didn't like is that the author added in some romance and it just didn't really build too much. In my opinion there wasn't enough character building for Duncan (the romantic interest of the heroine) and it just felt smacked together at the end. And then the shocking ending...wow. It did leave me thinking about the book.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord by Celeste Connally is a fun romp through Regency England.

Lady Petra is a self-declared spinster, who after her fiancé dies, decides to embrace the life of having money and no commitments entails. After she receives word that her good friend has died, but there will be no funeral or memorial service for her and then Gwen is reportedly sighted AFTER her death, she decides to investigate and find out what really has happened. She finds that other women have gone missing and is then determined to find out what’s going on. With the help of her childhood friend and ultimately his grandmother, they solve the mystery and help the victims.

I don’t know that I would consider this a Bridgerton equivalent, other than the era, because it’s not spicy and I don’t know that I would consider it a romance. It’s more a mystery/general fiction book, but that doesn’t have any effect on the way I enjoyed it.

Ms. Connelly has a way with words, describes the ton and life in that era nicely.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

To be a spinster in her era was a bold choice. Women had so little rights if they married but frown on if they did not. But women are disappearing. I like that Petra stood for her friend. The book was interesting and disturbing that men had such power over the women in their lives. I enjoyed the story.

This was such a delightful Regency era mystery with a slight touch of romance - definitely a great start to a new mystery series.

Regardless of being of upper British society, Lady Petra has been dealt a tough hand or not, depending on one's perspective. Her mother passed away a number of years back; her fiancé suddenly perishes and her best friend abandons her right when she needs them the most. Yet thanks to her mother, she received an inheritance and can remain an independent woman if she so chooses. Oh yes, the thought of such independence makes her deliriously confident and happy. She receives word that a dear friend has passed. Yet, something about all that seems rather suspicious and she is eager to get to the bottom of it. Meanwhile, that abandoner of a friend has returned to London after several years and its vexing Petra ever so much.

Author Celeste Connally has crafted a wonderful mystery full of wit, charm and warmth. As this is the start to this series, the book starts rather slowly as the reader is introduced to a myriad of players. It builds gradually and accelerates as the climax nears, adding tension and drama to the mix. The writing is lovely and highly descriptive. The mise en scène is exquisite and sets a beautiful stage. This is not a light mystery. The theme of the story focuses on the helplessness of married aristocratic women. They are but chattel and are subject to the whims and desires of the men controlling their lives. Petra is a strong female protagonist and will not subjugate herself to any man which garners her quite a bit of grief within society. All in all, this was a rewarding and enjoyable diversion.

I am grateful to Minotaur Books for having provided an uncorrected digital galley of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: November 14, 2023
ISBN: 978-1250867551
No. of pages: 304

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord, is fist off a fantastic hook of a title, and I was happily hooked into reading it. It is a cup of historical fiction, plus a cup and a half of Regency-era cozy mystery with a dash of romance sprinkled on the top of this sweet dessert of a book.

Will you like it? If you enjoy any or all of the ingredients listed above, I think you will enjoy it. I certainly did.

Is it all cozy fluff? No. There is a surprising amount of complicated depth to Lady Petra, our heroine, and a nice juicy backstory for her as well. Plus they mystery is a good and believable one.

Twist ending leading to a sequel? Yep! Nice twist, not hokey. This is one of those books that makes you grateful that it's going to be a series. Lady Petra is someone I want to spend a great deal of time with.

Overall, this is a journey I think you will enjoy to take. I personally, am grateful I was given a ticket.

Thank you to Celeste Connally, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley fora chance to read this book.

According to the description of this novel that I read before reading, it is a “cross between Agatha Christie’s writing and Bridgerton. The story was similar to Bridgerton because it took place during the Regency period and referred to Queen Charlottte. Its plot involved intrigue involving members of the nobility and, like an Agatha Christie novel, a murder that is methodically analyzed by the detective, who is a the daughter of a lord. I found it fascinating and exciting.
The “murder” of the friend of Lady Petra leads her to investigate what caused it when circumstances caused
her to disbelieve the reports of Gwen’s death. As she dug deeper into the mystery, the plot becomes more complicated and disturbing. Celeste Connolly does an excellent job creating such fast paced, riveting details that made me not want to stop reading. In that respect it differs from any writing by Agatha Christie. It was more exciting. I really liked this book. I will definitely recommend it to my friends and family to read.

For readers like me who were brought up on Georgette Heyer, this new Regency Romance is both fresh and familiar.

All of the conventions of the genre are firmly in place, yet the period novel is a step beyond the traditional Regency romp due to its serious and sinister plot. Our intrepid heroine protests a wee bit too much about her determination to lead a Spinster’s life ( no reader will be fooled by these declarations) and yet that doesn't spoil a reader’s pleasure in following both her adventurous quest to help a friend and her attempt to mend a friendship of long standing.

This was a perfect tonic for a hot summer day.

It is 1815. Ladies are expected to dress up, attend balls, and act in their docile ways to secure suitable marriage proposals. However, 24-year-old Lady Petra Forsyth, who has recently lost her betrothed, has declared to the ton that she never wishes to marry and will become a spinster by choice! (Gasp!) When she is told that her friend suddenly passed away and begins hearing about a new doctor who treats women’s ailments, Petra becomes suspicious about the circumstances of her friend’s death and seeks to get to the bottom of the matter… only to discover this mystery runs deeper into the ton than she anticipated!

Since this book was set in the Regency Era, I expected this to be a romance-mystery novel.
In my estimation, this is probably 5% romance (0% spice), 10% social commentary on feminism and women’s rights and equality, and 85% mystery/crime/detective novel. I read this book while reading one of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple books, so it was fun to compare and contrast the spinster, sleuthing lifestyles of Petra and Miss Marple! While Miss Marple is an experienced sleuth and uses her powers of observation based on events occurring in St Mary Mead, Petra is new to investigative work and brazenly goes against social convention by tenaciously engaging in her pursuit for justice and the truth.

Overall, the book was an entertaining, straightforward mystery novel. There were quite a bit of characters with different titles, last names, and then eventual introductions of first names, but I thought Celeste Connally did a good job fleshing out her characters so that the characters weren’t too confusing. The author also dropped hints and clues here and there so that the reader could follow along and make certain guessworks as to what was going on. Truthfully, the book felt a tad bit long, but the pace picked up in the second half of the book with an action-packed end. Also, I can see this becoming a serious and, with the twisty finish, I’m sure there’s more to explore with Lady Petra and the ton!

Thank you @netgalley for this eARC. Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord comes out on November 14, 2023!

I liked the premise of the story. Her mother left her money so that she would not be dependent on a man. When her fiancé dies she declares she will be a spinster for the rest of her life. I didn’t really connect with the main character, but if there is a sequel I would probably give the author another chance.
Goodreads

I truly enjoyed this book. It took a little time for it to develop a flow most likely due to the number of relationships to get straight. I think this could be developed into a great series.

I received a free copy of, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord, by Celeste Connally, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I think Lady Petra Forsyth is ahead of her time, she lost the love of her life, and proclaims she will never remarry. This book was so slow to start the end was so much better then the beginning. I am not really a fan of historical books but this was ok.

In this first historical mystery by Celeste Connally, she introduces Lady Petra, an independent young woman, who decides to defy society's expectation by declaring she will remain a spinster following the untimely death of her fiancé. The mystery she must solve in the novel further deals with the rigid notions of acceptable behavior for women of this era (Regency England), as well as the limitations on their rights following marriage.

The mystery itself is very suspenseful, and although the cast of characters is somewhat standard for this type of book, the author does not render them as one-dimensional cliches. Lady Petra is a woman who knows her own mind and is not afraid to speak it. I look forward to reading more of her adventures.

There are several references to a previous instance where Lady Petra and her friend Lady Caroline helped a woman in distress, which made me think I had somehow missed an earlier installment of her story. I suppose these are included to further our understanding of Petra's character, but I found it confusing. This is a minor complaint, however, and the ending of this book provides a twist that hints of investigations to come!

I highly recommend this for fans of strong female characters and readers of Sherry Thomas, Tasha Alexander, and Anna Lee Huber.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Downloaded on a whim thanks to an email inviting me to do so. A historical/romance/mystery type story. Lady Petra has gumption & the story line moves along. Infuriating how women were treated/thought of in the time period. A quick read, drama in all the right parts. Thanks to NetGalley, Ms Connally, & St Martin's Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This Regency-era mystery, presumably the first in a series, follows some of the basic lines of the Regency romance formula. It is set in 1815, mostly taking place in London and its immediate environs.

The protagonist, 24-year-old Lady Petra Forsyth, daughter of the Earl of Holbrook, is extremely liberal-minded for the time. In addition, family circumstances provided her with her own financial resources. This situation enabled her not only to live independently of a man but to contemplate other freedoms denied to so many women - even among the wealthy - in Regency society.

Petra grew up in the company of Duncan Shawcross, grandson of the Duchess of Hillmorton. Petra and Duncan had a close bond, and when Petra was 20, Duncan introduced her to Emerson, Viscount Ingersoll, Duncan’s most trusted friend from Oxford. The introduction swiftly turned into a love match. Just weeks before the wedding however, Emerson died from a broken neck after a tragic fall down a set of stairs in Duncan’s London town house. Then, only a day after the funeral, Duncan left for the Continent in his new role as the Duke’s agent. Petra was bereft at the double loss, and she and Duncan quarreled bitterly. They hadn’t communicated since.

Meanwhile, Petra, beset by marriage proposals, announced to society she would not marry. She was widely scorned for this by both men and women, although her true friends stuck by her and even admired her.

As the story opens, Petra attends a ball given by Duncan’s grandmother. Duncan returns at last, also in attendance, and she needs to deal with her feelings about him. In addition, she receives news at the ball that two weeks earlier her friend Gwen, Lady Milford, had died. A footman confides to Petra he saw Gwen just two days previously. Petra arranges to meet the footman later in a park to hear more about what he has to say, but she was overhead and accused of planning a romantic assignation with an underling. Nevertheless, she goes to the park, only to find out the footman has been murdered. And more women have gone missing.

Petra is determined to discover what is actually happening, even though she almost loses her life in the process. And there is a whopper of a twist at the very end of the book.

Evaluation: Beneath the predictable Regency elements of this crime mystery/romance, there are darker aspects to the story not usually found in the genre. The Epilogue promises more to come from Petra’s exposure to and exploration of the hidden underside of Regency life.

Thank you Minotaur Books for this ARC.

I love Sherry Thomas’s lady Sherlock series and Regency romance so I said yes when given a chance to read this early.

It wasn’t for me. It has slow pacing until the last act and then it speeds up. It didn’t hook me.

Petra while forthright and feminist, wasn’t a compelling heroine to me. She was a very cerebral character, and I couldn’t connect with her. However, the author does create a rich world with Jane Austen worthy dialogue at times. And the villain is truly terrible, so you root for Petra.

My thanks to Katie Holt and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC written by Celeste Connally. This books offers all the scenery and depth of the Bridgerton era of England with all the mystery and stealth of Sherlock Homes. The main character, Lady Petra, declares that she will wed no one after the loss of her first love. At an all night ball held in London at a family friend’s, events take a turn and soon Lady Petra is on the trail of odd doings when a woman who originally died is reported alive, Along with a cast of friends and loyal help, she tracks the possibility that Lady Milford is still alive. The action and pace are great and the characters themselves are amazing (those you love to love and those you love to hate). Looking forward to more stories about Lady Petra in the future

Novels like this are so important to read. This novel is fiction but events like what took place in this novel absolutely happened in the past. This is a novel for anyone who likes a good historical mystery. It is also a novel that points out just how difficult life has been for women in the past.

Petra, is a spinster. She had been engaged to be married but her fiance died a tragic death. Petra considered him the love of her life and has not wanted to remarry. Due to her desire not to remarry, Petra is seen as unusual and there are several men who want to put her in her place. There are disappearing women and a murder that Petra is determined to find out what is really happening. There was lots of action and even a hint of romance. A good read for anyone who wants to get sent back in the past with a strong heroine.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for this ARC.