Lady Petra Forsyth is a fiercely independent woman and a force to be reckoned with, which is shocking to her Regency-era contemporaries. After the death of her fiance, she swears off marriage and soon finds herself embroiled in a mystery that may end with her locked away by the very men she is trying to expose.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord is a deeply feminist Regency-era mystery that takes readers through the highs and lows of society. From dashing balls to squalid asylums, Lady Petra is fearless in her resolve to do right by her fellow women. I loved having a mystery in this time period, as so many Regency novels are strictly romance. The mystery itself was well done with several twists that kept things fresh. Lady Petra is a fun, ferocious character that really puts the title of the novel into perspective. All in all, a very enjoyable mystery novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur books for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all views expressed are my own.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord was a fun period mystery with a hint of romance. I enjoyed the premise and the commentary on the treatment of women. While set in the Regency era, the thoughts about women are relevant in today's society as well. Interesting spin on a Regency mystery.

This book surprised me in a mostly good way. I thought it was going to be a fluffy romance/cozy mystery, but was quite a feminist take on the time period. It was a little stressful at times, and a good reminder of what little power women had during the period, even those with financial means. It wrapped up nicely at the end, and then left with a new cliffhanger so I expect there will be a sequel which sounds very enticing!

Act Like A Lady, Think Like a Lord by Celeste Connolly
#netgalley published 11/14/2023
#minotourbooks
#historicalfiction #mysteries

This book almost lost my interest in the very beginning as the author was introducing the characters. Everyone had a name, a title and where they were from. I mean EVERYONE! Even the not important characters. At least that is what it felt like. If this wasn't an arc, I would have already DNF'd this book. But once I got past all of the introductions, everything got so MUCH better.

One of Lady Petra's very good friends, Gwen, died. And she only finds out about it at a ball/party 2 weeks later. Then upon learning a little bit more, she finds that just before she died, all of her staff was fired. Why? Gwen loved her staff. Then Lady Petra bumps into one of Gwen's former staff members working at the ball. Martin says he just saw her 2 days ago. WHAT IS GOING ON? The she hears of another Lady's death. Did someone else die in this small town? Huh?

Lady Petra decides she has to investigate and her childhood best friend, who she has not spoken to in the last 3 years decides he is going to help her. It becomes quite the quest. It does end up being a fun whodunit. It's just that first bit I could not get my head around. I might give another book by CC a whirl if I like the sound of the synopsis. But if her intros are similar, I'm out!

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Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord by Celeste Connally is a period piece with umph. I was expecting frothy and got backbone and grit. It did take me a while to get into, but was worth it.

"Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord" by Celeste Connally is a captivating Regency-era tale that skillfully combines romance, mystery, and societal defiance. The story introduces Lady Petra Forsyth, a woman of independent means, whose determination to live life on her own terms becomes a driving force in the narrative.

Petra's shocking proclamation in the face of her fiancé's death sets the stage for a character with strength and resilience. Refusing to remarry and rejecting societal expectations, she uses her title to navigate elite spaces and enjoy the best of society. Connally paints a vivid picture of a woman challenging the norms of her time, and Petra's journey is both empowering and relatable.

The plot takes an intriguing turn when Petra, driven by ballroom gossip, unravels a dark secret involving a private asylum. Her quest for justice leads her to confront the grim reality of men imprisoning their wives and daughters. This adds depth to the narrative, elevating it beyond a typical romance and introducing a compelling mystery that keeps the reader engaged.

The strength of the novel lies in its exploration of Petra's character and the societal norms of the Regency era. The author skillfully captures the essence of the time, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the world of ballroom gossip, elite spaces, and the challenges faced by women seeking independence.

While Petra's headstrong actions and thirst for independence are admirable, they also become the source of jeopardy for her own freedom. This internal conflict adds a layer of complexity to the character, making her more nuanced and relatable. The tension between societal expectations and personal freedom is a central theme, and Connally navigates it with finesse.

The writing style is engaging, and the pacing keeps the reader invested in the unfolding mystery. The dialogue is sharp, and the author successfully creates an atmosphere that transports readers to Regency London.

In conclusion, "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord" is a compelling historical romance with a strong female protagonist, a dash of mystery, and a thought-provoking exploration of societal expectations. Celeste Connally delivers a well-crafted narrative that will appeal to fans of Regency romance and those who appreciate heroines breaking free from societal constraints. This four-star review reflects the novel's ability to blend romance and mystery against the backdrop of a richly portrayed historical setting.

A bit too anachronistic for my tastes. While there were definitely independent-minded, feminist women like Petra in Regency times, the way she presents her views doesn't seem to fit the time period. The mystery itself was good but not particularly memorable.

When Lady Petra declares to society that she will intentionally be a spinster, she finds a certain freedom. With the freedom from society's expectations, when she starts questioning the circumstances of her friend's death, she decides to investigate. Her investigation leads to her horrifying private asylum.
Initially, I didn't think I would like this book, but once the mystery happens, it becomes captivating.
My problems are that the romance was poorly developed, and there were public rumors that the main character was a lesbian. Because of a mix of sexism and homophobia, the idea of women being sexually attracted to anyone, let alone to other women, wouldn't have been a thought in people's heads.

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for my honest review.*

Lady Petra is bucking convention in this regency era mystery where a lady should be civilized and act like a lady. Petra is way before her time though and quite a feminist to boot. And when she gets conflicting information about another woman in her circle of friends, she is determined to get to the bottom of it.

I ended up listening to this book and found the first few chapters to be quite confusing with all of the names, but then I realized who was important and who was not and I found myself quite enjoying the novel! Yes, regency era writing can be a bit wordy and frivolous, but I really enjoyed it in the end and had quite a few little chuckles from Petra's antics.

Looking forward to the next in the series!

I really enjoyed this first installment in the Lady Petra Inquires historical mystery series. I tore through it in just a couple of days.

Lady Petra is an interesting main character to read about; she is independent, modern, and curious. The perfect main character to base a new series upon!

The mystery itself was a little uninspired… women are going missing because their husbands and fathers were having them declared insane. I’ve read this before and seen it in Regency/Victorian mysteries.

I live for the romance subplots in historical mysteries and this one didn’t disappoint. I liked that at least a part of the romance subplot is resolved…in the short term at least.

The book ends with an intriguing new fact that has me looking forward to the next book in the series.

4.5 rounded up

Wasn't my fave and I wasn't hooked from the beginning. This was disappointing because the premise sounded very appealing. It just fell short.

This one took me a little while to get into, and I even set it aside for some time. But once I got back into it, I really enjoyed it. I’m not used to this type of genre, but I was intrigued by the premise. The final act was pretty wild, and I liked where it went. And then the final line really took me by surprise. I do love an ending like that.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord is the first book in the Lady Petra Inquires series. This is a fantastic Regency-era mystery that is about a lady who decides to investigate the death of one of her friends, only to come across the body of a man who used to work for said friend. Could her dear friend really be alive? Will she be able to solve the man’s murder and everything that is going on before she becomes the next victim? Read Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord to find out.
I loved this historical mystery and the very independent Lady Petra and can’t wait to read what happens next. I just wish that she constantly didn’t think the worst about Duncan, whom was her best friend for most of her life.

Fans of Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James and the new Claudia Gray series featuring Mr. Jonathan Darcy and Miss Juliet Tilney, can add this new series to their TBR list, Lady Petra Inquires. Petra is the daughter of the Earl of Holbrook. She prefers riding horses and the country to being a simpering miss in the ballroom. When the love of her life takes a tragic tumble down the stairs, she declares she shall be a spinster for life, never to marry.

This declaration shocks the upper crust of England. How can a very eligible lady not wish to marry? There must be something wrong with her and rumors abound. The wagging tongues send barbs Lady Petra's way but she can't be bothered. However when a dear friend supposedly dies under mysterious circumstances, Lady Petra is intent on finding out what happened. When her friends favorite footman tells Petra he saw the lady on the streets of London after she "died" , Petra knows something unsavory is going on.

Can she uncover the truth and find her friend, Gwen?

I found this to be an interesting book. I look forward to more.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review

"Agatha Christie meets Bridgerton" is how this book has been described. Unfortunately it is not nearly as sexy as Bridgerton and the mystery was just OK. I really found the characters unlikeable in this book. They gossip. They judge. They look down on the little people. This made me more skim the story than really get invested in it. The romance had no chemistry and no real crescendo.

Overall, this clearly wasn't the book for me. But if you love historical mysteries, it may be up your alley. This book is the start of a series I will not be continuing.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of this book for my honest opinion.

I had trouble getting into Act Like a Lady, I think it's just the wrong genre for me. The hook of Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie was appealing, and I expected it to be a bit quicker and wittier, having me laugh out loud the way Julia Quinn's books do. I found there was a lot of info-dumping at the beginning, which had me zoning out while reading it, and I didn't love the heroine, Petra. I think regular readers of Regency might enjoy this more than I did -- my exposure has really only been the Bridgerton books, which are lighter and faster.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord
By Celeste Connally
Historical Mystery
Minotaur Books
November 2023

Lady Petra Forsyth may be an only daughter of an aristocrat, but she's no simpering society miss. She loves riding horses, speaking her mind and standing up for herself. And she doesn't need a man to prove her worth. Not many in the British aristocracy are like her.

In Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord, a novel that sets up a series of historical fiction equal parts mystery and romance, Petra is her own woman who hasn't let bad things keep her down. For instance, her best friend hasn't spoken to her in three years. This is after she and that friend, Duncan Shawcross, grew up together. He was a by-blow who was farmed out by his lordly father to Petra's household. Their mutual love of horses and daring each other was the basis of such a strong friendship that Duncan covered for Petra and her fiancé when they spent nights together before marriage. Then her fiancé died, and Duncan didn't answer Petra's letter while traveling through Europe.

As a way to avoid her stodgy, complaining Uncle Tobias when he invades her father's country estate to chastise them, Petra and her friend Lady Caroline attend the ball of the Duchess of Hillmorton. The episode is written with precisely the tone of dialogue and people weaving in and out of conversations that are a mainstay of Regency romances. Petra is not there to gossip, but to find out what she can of the untimely death of another society friend. Whose husband doesn't appear to be in mourning.

Her friend wasn't the only one to disappear. An asylum in the country seems to be involved. When Petra arranges to meet her late friend's house servant in the park, he is killed and Petra hit by a rock. Fortunately, the rock was thrown by Teddy, a street urchin who didn't know he was paid to hit his benefactress.

Petra soon forms a circle of like-minded folk determined to find out what is happening to the disappeared or dying women. She has her society friend Lady Caroline, Baker Street Irregular urchin Teddy, a young woman who trains society dogs and, eventually, Duncan. Even though their misunderstanding continues, as it does in romances, they are soon on the same side in the investigatory side of the story.

When Petra gets closer to solving the mystery, her own life is imperiled. Because author Celeste Connally has created a can-do heroine, don't assume she will be waiting for a knight in shining armor to rescue her.

The novel has two distinct tones. Half of the story is a wittily written Regency romance. The other, even when the whodunit tropes are observed, delves into dark territory concerning the rights of women in a society that dictates how free they actually are -- even women in the higher reaches of society. There also are psychological complexities that are woven into the story involving women sent to an asylum.

More traditional readers may wonder at how enlightened Petra and her circle are. She is not the type to wait for marriage to express how she feels about a lover. In that, she is staying true to her character. The unlikely aspect is that her partner supports her decision. The ways in which some LGBTQ characters lead their own lives fit into the constraints of the society in which they live, as long as there is discreteness.

Connally sets up a second novel at the end of this one that fits in with the characters. As long as she can navigate the dual nature of the circle she has created, Lady Petra could well feature in a long series of entertaining fictions. She is heiress to the early Amelia Peabody mysteries by Elizabeth Peters and the Lady Julia Grey mysteries by Deanna Raybourne.

I really liked this book, it was different than anything else I've read which was a breath of fresh air. I will be recommending this to my friends, and auto buy this author!

It's been a long time since I've read a book that has equal parts entertained and angered me lol I really enjoyed the mystery, and the exploration of 19th century society life, with the exception of the very real depiction of women's rights during that time. It definitely made for a good read! I gotta day though, I'm a little upset that ot ended on a cliffhanger! Totally rude to write a fantastic debut that's not only the first in a series, but also ends in the way it did! Now I have to wait for the next book, and it's not fair! (Totally kidding, I'm happy to wait! Kind of...🫠) lol It's safe to say I'll be eagerly awaiting the next installment of this fantastic new series!