I love me some Lady Petra, she does not take anyone's crap or suffer fools. This is one of my favorite series and I can't wait to see what happens in the next installment. Celeste Connolly has now made it to my always-read list!

While I'd read the first book, I didn't really remember the characters well. I enjoyed some of the historical aspects, but there was not a whole lot of a mystery so if you read it, be aware it is more of an adventure through London. I found enough unbelievable that it was distracting. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC #sponsored

Lady Petra is enlisted to investigate the murder of an orphanage matron who might be linked to a radical plot against the monarchy. With her (possibly) traitorous lover missing, Petra must use all her cunning to expose a conspiracy and save innocent lives.

This fast-paced and emotional novel is full of intrigue. It’s clever and fun to read. Lady Petra is a strong character, and I love the dynamic between her and Duncan. I recommend reading the series in order. I enjoyed the audiobook narration.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Although I'm not the biggest fan of mystery novels, I think a strength of the Lady Petra Inquires series is that it appeals to multiple demographics. I like the historical setting, the romance is cute, our main character is fun to follow, and the mystery itself is pretty good. While these novels are not new all time favourites of mine, I think they're quite solid, competent stories. I'd definitely recommend them if you're a fan of mysteries or historical fiction!

I have mixed feelings on this book. I loved the premise and loved how intelligent and feisty Petra, the main character was. I also loved that there were different mysteries to solve. The scenes in the orphanage were especially well done.

On the other hand, there were a lot of characters and it was hard to figure who is who. I found it hard to connect with the plot and characters. I’m usually a lover of historical mysteries but this one just didn’t do it for me.

I really wanted to love this book since I read it was a mix between Bridgerton and Agatha Christie. I even got the audio book to listen to and read a long, but I just had a really hard time getting into it. Maybe it was because I didn't read the first book in this series...I'm just not sure. But if you have read book 1, Act like a Lady, think like a Lord, then definitely give this one a shot too!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 12 November 2024

This book was such a fun read! If Clue and Bridgerton had a baby, it would be this book. The characters were witty, and the plot twists were everywhere. It's a great read for the fall.

Tropes:
💜Historical Fiction
💜Mystery/Thriller
💜Romance

"All's Fair in Love and Treachery" is a fun blend of romance and drama that keeps you guessing. The story follows Petra, who finds herself caught in a web of love and deceit, making choices that challenge their heart and morals.

While I have not yet admittedly read book 1 when I received this book I did still enjoy the story. This book reminded me of a historical mystery with Bridgerton like vibes to it. I did not find it too difficult to jump into this series without having read the first one and think you could easily start here as well. I found myself really enjoying Petra’s bold personality and the way she challenged the “social norm” of the regency era.

This was definitely different from many of the books I’ve read this year which was nice to step out of my comfort zone some on. I think one big thing I struggle with was all the plot lines happening at once and keeping the characters straight. I do think had I read the first book in the series maybe that would have made it easier.

Overall, "All's Fair in Love and Treachery" is a captivating read for those who enjoy a mix of heartfelt romance and plot twists and historical mysteries.

Thank you so much to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for a digital ARC of this book! All opinions are my own and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

I loved the first book in this series and was glad to see Lady Petra return in All’s Fair in Love and Treachery.

This book got off to a slow start for me. I know it was necessary for the plot to work to keep Duncan “off-screen” for a part of the story, but I would have liked more of Duncan.

A slow start and some initial confusion aside, this book picks up midway, resulting in an engaging mystery with satisfying twists and well-woven threads.

I had fun in reading this enjoyable pastiche that mixes historical fiction and cozy mystery. It features a clever and strong-willed heroing, a solit and tightly knitted plot, humour
It's a lot of fun and i recommend it
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Well, when "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord" left us with a cliffhanger, this book picks up right where we left off. Lady Petra digs deep into investigating and finds many more questions than answers. I can't really say more without spoiling the novel, but I felt it was very well done.

Full disclosure: I didn’t read the first book. If I had, I might have enjoyed this one more. Unfortunately it took a lot of time for me to get to know the characters and several of them felt the same to me. Overall, I liked it. It took me forever to get through, because I just didn’t have a strong urge to pick it up very often. The first half felt a little slow, but it did pick up and the end was interesting how it all tied together.

2.0 stars

Lady Petra finds evidence that her betrothed's death may not have been an accident as was previously assumed. Then her current paramour flees in the middle of the night and she must decide what is really going on.

I feel I probably would've liked the book or understood the characters and their motives better had I read the first book in the series, but overall it just wasn't my cup of tea. However, lots of other people like it and I will still recommend the series if you're a fan of regency hijinks!

(Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC)

A Regency-Era Gem

This was my first time reading Celeste Connally’s work, but it certainly won’t be my last. All's Fair in Love and Treachery is a captivating continuation of the Lady Petra Inquires series. With this being my first introduction to Lady Petra, I was immediately taken with her. Her kindness, sincerity, and sense of justice are apparent right from Chapter One. Set in the vibrant backdrop of post-Waterloo London, this novel blends the elegance of the Regency era with the thrilling suspense of a classic whodunit.

Lady Petra Forsyth is a delightfully complex character. Ahead of her time when it comes to women’s rights and freedoms, she is somewhat of a rulebreaker when it comes to 1800s London society. Her betrothed’s death three years prior to the novel’s start permeates her existence, and it’s very moving to see her carry her grief from Emerson’s tragic passing and grow from it. The story begins with Petra receiving news that Emerson’s death was actually a murder plot and that her current paramour (someone she very much cares for) is the mastermind behind Emerson’s demise.

Determined to uncover the truth behind her fiancé's murder and a mysterious new plot threatening the monarchy, Petra sets out to find answers. Connally's writing is both witty and insightful, bringing to life a strong, independent heroine who navigates treacherous social circles with grace and tenacity. But those social circles aren’t all ringed with thorns. With friends like Lady Caroline and Lottie, there are wonderful moments of joy and levity.

All's Fair in Love and Treachery will keep readers on the edge of their seats while the historical details add a rich layer of authenticity. If you love mysteries with a feminist twist and a dash of historical intrigue, this book is a must-read. Dive into the world of Lady Petra and be prepared to be thoroughly entertained!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. The Lady Petra mysteries are very cute and this does pick up right where the last one left off so can be read right in a row. It is somewhat true to history but also not which makes it fun for readers to see exactly what is going to occur next. Another moment of communication gone awry which could have been easily resolved but this is the main conceit, You may know what you are getting as you go into this book but you will still enjoy the ride. 3.5 stars.

All’s Fair in Love and Treachery is the latest in the Lady Petra Inquires series. Once again Lady Petra is investigating a murder, but as she starts to gather the clues she believes Duncan killed her fiancé and is plotting against the Crown. As she gets closer to solving the murder she and her friends are caught in the killer’s crosshairs. Will she be able solve the murder before the killer strikes again, this time very close to home? Read All’s Fair in Love and Treachery to find out.
I love that the author has created several strong and independent female characters in this series including the main character. I loved catching up with Lady Petra, Duncan, and the rest of the gang and can’t wait to read what happens next for all of them.

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

I wouldn't call myself a fan of the Regency novels, but this series is a mixture of Regency and cozy mystery and just sucks you right into the pages! Lady Petra is a curious rule-breaker in 1815 England and her friends follow her where ever she leads them on adventures and investigating. I enjoy the pacing and the plot and the twists and the characters. And while I may start the novels in this series with a bit of dread for the frivolous phrases and wording from the 1815's, it does not take long at all before I am swallowed up by everything in the stories.

I could not love this series more!

This was such a fantastic read! I really enjoyed the first one, and I was excited to see where this one would go! Lady Petra has a lot going on, with her personal life, and with what she's been tasked by the Queen to deal with, yeah, I had to keep reading!

Petra's personal life is in turmoil. The idea that her current lover might have killed her fiancé when it was thought to be an accident, yeah, that's a horrible thought. But given that her instigation into the death of a orphanage matron tied into his looking into a group trying to take down the monarchy, things are messy.

The Napoleon War might just have been settled for good (the internet told me that he stayed in exile until he died this time) but it was a time of upheaval, and now that it's over, society has to find it's footing again. But many don't want to go back to the way that it was, leading to plots against the monarchy that Petra gets tangled up with.

Absolutely loved the mystery, it was so intriguing to read, and I love following Petra as she investigates. This book had a lot going on, and it was all so great! And I'm glad that this is a series, so we'll get more time with her, and more mysteries to solve!

Loved reading this book, and I can't wait to read more by Celeste Connally!

This is the second book in this series and since I enjoyed the first one so much I was excited to when this one came out. I found however that I didn't like it as much as the first. There are a lot of characters from the first book who make an appearance, but I often found that I couldn't keep them straight which made the story a little confusing at first. I also found that the story just wasn't as interesting as the first, and it took me longer to get interested in the book. I found the ending to be mostly satisfactory though and am glad I finished but feel like if I had not read it I wouldn't have been missing much. If the author chooses to publish a third I would give it a try, after all this might just be a blip, but this one wasn't as good as I was hoping it would be.

I received an advance copy from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

DNF @ 25%

I like (but didn't love) the first book in this series, but wasn't sure if the issues I had with it were debut book issues or if I just didn't connect with the author. All's Fair in Love and Treachery had a lot of the same elements that I didn't enjoy in the first book, so I think this is a not for me situation.

I love the vibes of a lady detective solving mysteries and having more agency over her life than we see in many historicals. What I struggle with is that the world felt so big and there were so many characters, I struggled to keep them straight. I also always felt like I was watcing a conversation between people who have known each other forever, and I have just met, and felt left out of much of the context.

While I do like cozy historical mysteries, I like mine to have as much focus on the romance as the mystery plot, so I think this series just reads more like a mystery than a romance, and I would recommend it to someone who enjoys that balance!