Thanks to Celeste Connelly, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and listen to free ARCs in exchange for an honest review.

This was pretty good. I can't remember squat of the first one from a year ago, so this felt fresh to me. Could have been shorter, had a bit of a saggy middle and could have stood to lose a few unnecessary characters. I got a bit lost on the mystery between the beginning and the end, forgot what the objectives were and was distracted by Petra's rather annoying impetuousness. Her jump to a negative conclusion at the beginning soured me toward her character; she'd been friends with Duncan since childhood, sleeping with him for how many years, claimed to be in love with him---I mean, those demonstrate his loyalty at the very least---yet some nobody leaves her a vague note saying Duncan was a liar and a traitor, and she doesn't question it? Yeah I wasn't going to respect her much after that. The book tries to address it---if she wasn't silly she wouldn't be the woman Duncan loves *fart noise*---but she was telling herself an excuse to make herself feel better. She <i>should</i> be ashamed that she believed the worst of him without hesitation. She was also reactionary, headstrong, and a bit full of herself. she was probably what I disliked most about the story.

If you're a fan of regency and mysteries, this will fit the bill.

I enjoyed this more than the first book, but I truly find Petra exasperating. I really don't get the adoration that everyone in this book has for her, especially Duncan. That monologue she gives him is absolutely infuriating, and there is no repercussion for it.

Aside from that, I like the idea of there being women who were entrusted to infiltrate and investigate for the monarch. It's an intriguing premise for a series, I just wish Petra did more thinking before speaking.

***Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with the Audiobook for free via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

The second book in the Lady Petra Investigates series, All's Fair in Love and Treachery has Lady Petra investigating not only murder, but revolutionaries who want to overthrow the monarchy.
The first book ended with a cliffhanger and this second installment picks up exactly where things left off. The first two chapters are pretty stunning as Petra processes what she has learned about her late fiancé’s death and her childhood friend/current lover’s involvement. She doesn’t get much time, as she’s called to meet the Queen about an investigation.
There are actually two investigations in this book. First, Queen Charlotte asks Petra to investigate the murder of the matron at an orphanage where illegitimate children of the wealthy are trained to go into service. At the same time, Duncan seems to be involved with a group of reformists who are resorting to violence to overthrow the monarchy. For a time, Petra is unsure about Duncan’s beliefs - is he working with the revolutionaries or trying to undermine them?
Adorable as always and the ending is fantastic. Hoping for more from the intrepid Lady Petra.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*

This book is absolutely fantastic! The clever dialogue kept me laughing uncontrollably! I genuinely love the couple. The characters are incredibly well-crafted. I’m eagerly anticipating a book 3! 🤞🏻Thank you to @netgalley for the free audiobook review. My review is freely given.
Mature Topics
Closed door between unmarried couples

Thanks to NetGalley for the Audio ARC!

I really enjoyed this! It was such a fun Regency-era who-dun-it with a witty, clever, independent female lead and a spectacular cast of characters. It wasn't terribly difficult to figure out what was happening, but that wasn't the point - it wasn't a serious thriller but a fun mystery that was thoroughly enjoyable to experience. This one, however, was significantly more political and didn't feel quite as lighthearted or fun as the first, but it was still super fun!

I really loved Petra - she is so sure of herself, even as she goes against every grain of the society she's grown up in. However, we also get to see a lot more self-doubt in this one, which I really enjoyed getting to explore with her. She knows the rules and is clever enough to live within them just enough that she can break them, always for good of course! I honestly want to be like Petra when I grow up (I say as a 30 year old mother of a 4 year old...)

The story was well paced and the cast of characters of fun and quirky and each played into their role very well. I hated who I was supposed to hate, loved who I was supposed to adore, and felt true comradery with the women of Petra's group. I love how the characters and their relationships grew, and the new friends we met that were mentioned but not explored in the first. I also found it super interesting and satisfying that while this is the 2nd book, we actually got a lot more background on Petra, especially around her late-fiancé. It was tied together so well and I really appreciated the way it was crafted.

This is a fun, easy read that I highly recommend to anyone looking for a pallet cleanser or just something quick and fluffy!