All's Fair in Love and Treachery

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley, Minotaur and St. Martin Press.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Lady Petra finds out the death of her viscount three years ago was a case of murder and the murderer is her Scottish lover who been consoling her. Shea cannot let things go as she will hunt down her missing lover and get the truth as she feels betrayed. Love and treachery goes hand –to-hand as trust is a fleeting emotion. And things are not always clear cut.

4.0

If you’re looking for a fun engaging, somewhat-liberal-with-reality historical mystery with a tiny bit of (not explicit) spice with an irreverent lady as heroin, this is for you. Of course, as the second in this Lady Petra series, definitely start with number one.

Lady Petra is back. It’s hard to create a follow-up to a successful book, but this is a pretty good candidate. She is still foolish sometimes and does things that puts others in real danger.

I might have been more engaged with the first book’s premise, which was somewhat unique. I don’t know that I caught on to the orphanage scenario as much, but this one is really complex and covers an interesting part of history. I may have felt the same with the first book to start too. Obviously, much is made up from possible issues of the time, but the larger event, winning the war against Napoleon and the following celebrations, is real. I’ve never read anything about it in other fiction. The Victorians usually get all the love in historical fiction settings, especially mysteries, and then they are never of the more humorous, cozy variety. I use cozy in the broad sense, not the cat-lady, happy-murder-case kind with puns for titles.

There are a lot of allusions to having sex or talking about it in historic euphemisms, but no actual sex. Not with Petra, but also not with Caroline and her paramore who seem like animals in heat. On that note, I wish this book had explained quickly why Caroline can’t marry “her Whitfield”. I had to search the first book for her name to remember that she is married to a navy captain who is gay and gone all of the time and the marriage was more of platonic love and convenience.

I’m not sure that I like conveniently recreating Petra’s past and upending everything she knew, but it is an interesting twist. Hopefully this allows her to move forward without being caught up what could have been.

All in all, I enjoyed this. It took a little bit to sort out what was happening and you may need some patience to get into a story like this. This is not necessarily for the typical historical mystery reader who wants something serious like others of the era such as Lady Darby or Wrexford and Sloane, though I love those too. If you read the first book, you know if this is for you.

Thank you to Celeste Connally, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book for my unbiased review.

Good book, interesting twists and turns! Fast paced and leaves you wanting more. Duncan makes for a good mmc and leaves one wanting a relationship like theirs!

All’s Fair in Love and Treachery is an engaging and fun mystery with likable characters. There were a couple of times I felt like rolling my eyes at the FMC’s behavior, but I set that aside, just went with the story, and ended up having an enjoyable time. I really like the female friend group in this series.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

In ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND TREACHERY Lady Petra, who believes her fiancée suffered an accidental death, finds out in a letter that her current love interest, Duncan Shawcross, was responsible for her fiancée’s death. Lady Petra also learns that Queen Charlotte has assigned her to go to Lambeth at the Asylum for Female Orphans. Is Duncan truly responsible for the death of Lady Petra’s fiancée? What is the Queen requesting of Lady Petra at the Asylum for Female Orphans?

It is easy for me to return to Lady Petra’s world in this newest book in the Lady Petra Inquires series. I like the Regency Era setting, the characters who encompass Lady Petra’s life, and the intricate plot. The backstory involving Petra, Duncan, and Emerson (Petra’s dead fiancée) is as interesting as the main mystery. As I read this book, I am reminded of Rhys Bowen’s Royal Spyness series. Lady Petra is as headstrong as Georgiana Rannoch and also receives assignments from the Queen of England. I enjoy reading this Lady Petra Inquires series and look forward to experiencing the next book. Thank you, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE AND TREACHERY.

3.5
I don't know. This seems like the kind of thing that is specifically designed for one of my reading moods, but I never seem to catch it at the right time. It's, you know, fine.

I’m a new enthusiast of Regency era mysteries and this one was a winner! Compelling mystery and great fun, I didn’t feel lost having not read the first on the series and I will certainly go back and read it. Such fun!!

I enjoyed meeting Lady Petra and Duncan, the real love of her life. Her fiance Emerson Ingersoll was murdered, three years later she discovers this in a brutal fashion, blaming her lifelong friend, and the man she deeply loves Duncan, in the midst of trying to discover one murder, she is tasked with solving another, a request given by the Queen no less. In the midst of all of this we have the defeat at Waterloo and the celebrations that occured in London during this time period. A very entertaining story, well researched, and one I think you might enjoy.
I highly recommend. Thank you #Netgalley #MinatourBooks
carolintallahassee

I enjoyed this latest offering in the Lady Petra Inquiries series. I'm looking forward to the next offering.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced digital copy.

For fans of Bridgerton and Agatha Raisin, this cozy mystery set in Regency London, while the final battle with Napoleon is playing out, is such fun! It follows Lady Petra Forsythe, an early feminist of the noble class, who has some very forward-thinking ideas. When the matron of a home for orphan girls is found murdered, the Queen asks Lady Petra to find the killer. Meanwhile, her paramour, the dashing but very mysterious Duncan Shawcross, has disappeared, leaving some very difficult questions in his wake.

This mystery was such fun to read. The action moved quickly and the characters were colorful. I highly recommend it!

Thank you to St. Martin's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance review copy.

All is Fair in Love and Treachery is a Modern Regency mystery. Lady Petra is an unconventional aristocratic lady and because of her family connections, she can get away with it.
She discovers her lover was involved with her fiancé’s death. She is asked by Queen Charlotte to investigate the matron’s death at an orphanage. It is non-stop action! In spite of the modern air (I am a more traditional Regency reader) I do like Lady Petra and her friends. It is a very enjoyable book and it was an interesting mystery.

The story of a woman who loses her love only to be saved and then betrayed. It's a good story and had exciting plot lines but it did tend to drag a bit in the middle and I didn't find myself pushing to finish as much as I would have liked. The characters were well developed but I just couldn't get into the story line.

All’s Fair in Love and Treachery picks up right were left off from the first book - Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord. I love when books pick up right where left off. I throughly enjoyed the first book and couldn’t wait for the second (it was a long wait and well worth it).
In the second installment, you find out how her fiancé, Emerson actually died, Shawcross’ true familial lines. AND a plot to kill the queen. As far as intrigue goes in regency-era, this book is filled with it. Sometimes there is a lull in the writing, but overall I was entertained by the sequel. I’m looking forward to the next installment! Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Oh I do like Lady Petra. She is on a mission for the queen. There has been a death at the orphanage. Her fiancé was found dead years ago and she has an affair going on. I like her friendships and how they help each other. The window transparency idea is a cleaver one. It would have been a good way for everyone to see them by just walking by a house. I like all the side stories that pull together to make this a book not to miss.

All's Fair in Love and Treachery by Celeste Connally is a complex follow up to her first book of the series, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord.
In this installment, Connally continues to follow the (mis)adventures of Lady Petra, with misunderstandings both current and past playing a large roll in the storyline. While the plot line of a threat to the royal family and a secretive organization out to do them harm is interesting, the story gets off to a somewhat slow start; so much so that some readers may give up before the book truly takes off.
But take off it does, with intricately woven threads coming together to provide a surprising solution.
The book is well-written and full of clearly well-researched historical points of interest.
Thank you for the ARC of #AllsFairinLoveandTreachery to #NetGalley.

For Fans Of: Dianne Freeman & Sherry Thomas
Avail: Nov 12
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: 👑Regency Mystery
Violence: 🪓
Spice: 🔥

Synopsis: Sequel to 2023’s Regency-set Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord. Lady Petra reels as she learns her fiancé’s death 3 years earlier was not an accident, but murder. Could the culprit really be her new love, Duncan? Before she can confront him, he disappears leaving a cryptic message behind. In need of distraction, she agrees to assist the queen by looking into the suspicious death of an orphanage matron.

Thoughts: The novel intertwines the death of Petra’s fiancé with an orphanage matron’s murder & a violent political plot. While layering 3 seemingly unrelated mysteries could lead to confusion is less deft hands, Connally weaves a pleasingly complex tapestry in this tightly plotted sequel. Setting the story amid fascinating history lends verisimilitude to the fiction. Like the 1st, the focus on women’s rights especially engages. As a seasoned arm-chair detective, I picked up on a few of the clever twists, but there are many more I did not anticipate. The author’s storytelling prowess extends to excellent characterization. While all spark with life, her women—each unique in her own way—radiate wit & strength. Connally also provides a delightful romantic sub-plot that tip toes up to the closed-door line, giving a toe-curling bit of spice in an otherwise clean storyline.

New to the series? Check of my review of book 1: https://www.instagram.com/p/C71nqOnMGpT/

Another fantastic story by Celeste Connally. All the favorite characters from her first book return with a double murder to solve along with saving the monarchy from an insurrection that is being planned to occur during events near the end of the Napoleonic wars. It moves fast and there are lots of surprises. Hoping for another book in the series.

"All's Fair in Love and Treachery"' is the second book in Celeste Connally's Lady Petra series — something I didn't realize when I asked for the ARC. I found it difficult to follow initially but decided to just roll with it. As others have noted, it's a complex plot with many characters and subplots, and I might have enjoyed it more if I had started with book 1 in the series — nevertheless, the ending is clever; the author mixes romance and intrigue, along with a lot of period detail that makes for interesting reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I liked this book. I found that I enjoyed it more than I did the first one. I'm not sure if it was because I was familiar with the characters now, but I think it was more likely due to a more interesting and well developed plot.

I didn’t realize this was the second book in a series, I honestly was just to ecstatic by the description and book cover, I skimmed over that part 😂 but I will give an in depth review when I purchase the first book and read it for more information!

What I can say is I loved the story, finding out different secrets and who had a plan to take down the Queen. I love anything historical so it was easy for me to escape within the stories setting.

Such a great read! Highly recommend this one.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

After reading another series by the author, I followed her work thru pen names and landed on the Lady Petra Inquires series written by Celeste Connally. Set in early 1800s England, Lady Petra is kin and friend to the Queen and several members of Parliament and the royalty. She is known for being a snoop, and the strange death of her fiancé years ago has always made some wonder, especially when she now seems smitten with his best friend. In book two, we find out the truth... what happened to her beloved Emerson, the truth about Shawcross's family lines, and who has a plot to take down the Queen. Great time period. Love the diverse characters. A few too many, and sometimes there were repetitive descriptions or scenes, which likely helped to reinforce who was who. But I thought it was a little longer than needed in those spots. Still, the author has natural talents in helping readers jump back 200 years. I can't wait for the next in series.

The first title in this series was a fun read and I was happy to have been invited to read an early copy of this second story.

*character evolution deepens
*dogs
*smart MFC
*two mysteries
*regency London setting
*charming
*twisty

The story pulled me in right away and I was kept guessing til the end.

Fully enjoyable second book for the series.

Recommended.



Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the DRC

"All's Fair in Love and Treachery" is a good sequel. The qualities that made Lady Petra and her associates such enjoyable characters in the first book were on display again in this book. I particularly liked Frances’ ingenuity with the flower bombs and the tricks Lottie taught the dogs she trained. I was pleased to learn that the Asylum for Female Orphans was a real place, and that the painted transparencies that played such a critical role in the story were based on painted transparencies that were placed in the windows of many London homes to celebrate Napoleon’s defeat.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.

Read this if you like:
- regency era stories
- female sleuths
- complex and convoluted mysteries
- historical fiction

I am weary of sequels but this one was great! Fast paced, lovable characters, strong female leads, lots of great twists and turns and this had me guessing till the very end. I am excited for more of Lady Petra!

4 stars.

This novel is a delightful blend of Regency elegance and sharp mystery! The writing sparkles with period charm and a modern twist, capturing both the intrigue of a potential royal conspiracy and the emotional turmoil of betrayal. Petra's journey from uncovering a past murder to navigating a dangerous plot against the monarchy is as gripping as it is stylish. Romance and suspense mix seamlessly, making it a thrilling read with a refreshing feminist perspective. Fans of historical mysteries with a dash of romance are bound to be hooked, for sure.

I love a historical romance more than just about anything and this one has swiftly moved to the top of my list. As if the mystery itself didn’t have me hooked the entire time, the banter between our two MC’s was *chefs kiss* too perfect. I truly enjoyed this, I’ll definitely be following this author moving forward.

Okay so this book was an absolute delight!!

I’m not usually a big historical romance reader but I’m so glad that I took a chance on this one. The flirting. The banter. The sleuthing.

Had so much fun from start to finish. Maybe I’m a historical romance girlie afterall?

This book was a bit slow to get going, but soon found its footing. The 2 main characters are adorable. Hope Celeste writes more.

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

All's Fair in Love and Treachery by Celeste Connally is a fast-paced and witty novel that will captivate fans of headstrong female sleuths. This delightful period adventure is filled with pitch-perfect banter and effervescent charm. I was immediately drawn in from the beginning and left eagerly wanting more.

Another great installment of this delightful historical mystery. Lady Petra is a capable detective, so much that Queen Charlotte entrusts her with a matter of national security. The mystery was satisfying, and the national security issues were interesting.

All's Fair in Love and Treachery is a Regency-Era mystery with a delightfully determined female main character, Lady Petra Forsyth. Tasked by the Queen to find the truth about a death of the matron at the Asylum for Female Orphans, Petra's investigation soon uncovers deep connections radicals and her frequent companion Duncan. I found this story to be a very entertaining mystery filled with unexpected twists and a complex plot line. Petra's determination to pull out the truth is aided by a nice group of friends and companions. She is a likeable lead and I enjoyed seeing her work through the mysteries logically. There is a lovely romance as a backdrop, and as a couple Petra and Duncan are easy to route for. I especially enjoyed the fast pace of the story and the frequent action that moved the plot forward. This is the second book in a series with Petra as our investigator. I am looking forward to reading more of this series and see what the group investigates next.

This is book two in a series and it did not disappoint. This book was full of regency moments I live for (think Bridgerton) and mystery! The combination of romance, mystery and society standards was so well done. I was kept guessing the entire time. I am not someone who usually guesses the endings in mysteries, and I loved how this one kept me guessing the entire time! It was twisty and mysterious and I loved Petra and her tenacity. She was witty and determined and a fantastic detective.

If you like regency romances along with a who done it, you will love this one! It was so fun and I had the best time with it!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the free ARC.

Lady Petra and her friends are back for another exciting mystery and murder to solve. Goodness I love these characters! This series has some of my favorite main characters and side characters. I love the relationship with Lady Petra and Duncan, but what I love even more is that it isn't the #1 focus of the series. It really is about a strong female lead and her friendships and the mystery with some romance added in for good measure! I really hope that there is a 3rd book in the series. I want more mysteries to solve!

The description of "Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie" is so very accurate. If you enjoy the Veronica Speedwell series or even the A League of Extraordinary Women series then you'll love this one!

clandestine, extortion, suspicion, suspense, affaire, murders, romantic, witty, missing-persons, political-unrest, threats, royalty, unpleasant-suspect, situational-humor****

In the midst of some political underhandedness Lady Petra is instructed by the Queen to investigate the murder of the matron at an orphanage where illegitimate children of the wealthy are trained to go into service. Besides that, she has reason to suspect that her current lover had a hand in the murder of her fiancé. Good thing she has a cadre of trustworthy inventive friends to "help" with it all. Dandy book to read in bits and parts.
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected digital galley from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books Avail Nov 12, 2024 #LadyPetraInquiresBk2

Oh my goodness, I was so excited when a notification popped up in my NetGalley account that I was chosen to recieve this ARC. Thank you so, SO much from the bottom of my heart to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for picking me ❤️

Now onto the review!

For those of you who don’t know, this is the second book in a series about the main character, Lady Petra. The first book was excellent and it was an Aardvark Book Club selection last year. If you haven’t read it, I would highly recommend it.

The second book begins with Lady Petra discovering that her lover has disappeared, and on top of that, may have had to do with her fiance’s death, and may also be involved with a group of revolutionaries threatening to overthrow the monarchy. In addition, she is called to meet with the Queen, in hopes that she will be able to investigate the untimely death of the matron of the girl’s orphanage, where the illegitimate daughters of soldiers or the gentry are sent.

The novel actually comprises of two mysteries expertly weaved together by Connally: who killed the matron of the orphanage, and where exactly do her lover’s beliefs lie?

The conclusion is one that is brought about by extremely clever detective work done by Lady Petra, and is helped along by a colorful cast of side characters (some familiar from the first book). There are plenty of twists in this book, and just as you think you may know what direction things are headed in, a new surprise is around the corner.

Petra is a very clever heroine and the dialogue is witty and fun. I also enjoyed the historical context of the novel and how author blended this in to the story to create opportunities for the mystery to unfold.

I will also say I absolutely loved the ending of this book. The last several chapters are incredibly well done and brought the book to a wonderful close.

Fans of Bridgerton, London, smart heroines, dogs, and a good mystery—this book is for you.

All’s Fair in Love and Treachery releases November 12, 2024.

LOVE! This story was excellent. Kind of two different storylines going on for our FMC but both were done well and everything blended beautifully. I was hooked from the beginning with the mystery of what happened to her husband-that’s all I’ll say without spoiling it! A very fun, cozy mystery.

Those who try to solve the mystery before the characters will be thoroughly stymied by this one. Good luck! This was a delightfully complex mystery and a worthy second book in the Lady Petra series by Celeste Connally.

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. The suspects are the under-matron, an orphan who believes her father left her an inheritance, or outsiders. 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?

I loved the deeper insight into Petra’s late fiancé, Emerson and his family. The secondary characters still shine, as do the dogs. There was a great hint at a future storyline involving Petra’s best friend. I can’t wait for that!

Though I read an early version via NetGalley, I’ll be rereading when my physical copy arrives in November!

Celeste Connally's All's Fair in Love and Treachery is a historical novel and worthy successor to the first in the series. In fact, I was delighted to find that I liked this book even more.

We are back in London in 1815, where the beautiful and wealthy Lady Petra has just learned that her friend since childhood, the dashing Duncan Shawcross, may have been responsible for the death of her beloved fiancé three years earlier. Petra and Duncan have been carrying on a romantic liaison, and she can't bear to think Duncan might have betrayed her. At the same time and at the behest of the royal family, Petra is investigating the death of the matron at an orphanage, where one orphan is complaining that the inheritance she expected when she reached age 15 is nowhere to be found.

But there is a much more deadly plot that may affect Petra, Duncan, and others in her life. A cadre of those who believe the monarchy and Parliament are running the country into the ground and taking away the rights of citizens has turned dangerous, believing that only by violence will anything change. They have something planned in the aftermath of Napoleon's defeat that promises to be devastating and is so intricately planned that Petra and her cohorts are racing to figure it all out before tragedy strikes.

The book really picks up steam later in the book, with clever plot twists and an increase in exciting scenes of action and intrigue. I found Lady Petra to be a more relatable character in this series entry. I also enjoyed supporting characters such as a street urchin who has proven to be so much more, Petra's close female friends--including a dog trainer, an extraordinary archer, and an apothecary--and Duncan himself and his previously estranged half-brother. I look forward to the next book in the series.

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

Friendship, love, dogs, cryptic messages, clues, murder & mystery in Regency era London!

I loved the first book - it was so FUN! This book is more serious, following Petra as she's tasked with solving a murder. There's another murder in her not so distant past, that of her finace, which she doesnt know the whole truth about.

Her new love, Duncan, is dreamy yet mysterious and he's an integral part of this book.

Had me guessing until the last chapter when everything was pulled together.

The 2nd in a newer series starts just where the first ended with Petra being confronted with the possibility of her former fiancee’s death being a murder! And worse her new love, Duncan, was involved somehow. Before she can confront him, he disappears into the night leaving behind a cryptic message. Petra is then called upon by the Queen and her godmother to look into the death of a Matron at a local orphanage. Her investigation brings her to suspect friends, question motives, and track down the man she loves but doesn’t trust. Every clue she turns up only leads to more questions and danger is lurking in the form of republicans bent on violence who are connected to her former fiance and Duncan. Bringing some levity to the story are Petra’s assortment of friends with varying unique skills including archery and flower bombs. The mysteries and crimes weave together and are not completely undone until the last few pages of the story.

If you are a fan of Regency mysteries, you’ll love Alls Fair in Love and Treachery. I really enjoyed this book and am going to have to read more by Celeste Connolly.

A compelling, fast-paced sequel! Petra is stunned to find out her childhood best friend and current lover may have been responsible for her fiancé’s death. Duncan has fled the scene so Petra has no choice but to investigate while also helping the Queen with a murder case.

This was great - a very high energy mystery with a captivating romance between Petra and Duncan.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

This is a great sequel to the first book! Lady Petra is shocked to find her lover was the murderer of her viscount years ago and she now goes on the hunt for him. She feels betrayed and her trust has been shattered. The plot of this book is not always clear cut, but I still loved the book and rated it five stars.