I'm so mad that I put this one off so long! The idea of a regency mystery novel was so far off my radar that I didn't even think to want one! What a fun romp and kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going on!

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC!

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Within the pages of this captivating narrative lies a world waiting to be explored. With its compelling characters, vivid settings, and thought-provoking themes, this book offers a journey that transcends the ordinary. From the highs of triumph to the lows of despair, the story weaves a tapestry of emotions that resonate deeply with readers. As the plot unfolds, it unveils layers of mystery, intrigue, and revelation, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page. Whether seeking adventure, solace, or simply a momentary escape, this book promises to captivate and inspire, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of its readers.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martins press for an copy in exchange for an honest review!

DNF at 32%. I just couldn't get into this. I tried several times, even switching to audio, but it wasn't keeping me interested. I didn't feel any connection to the characters or the plot.

4 out of 5 stars - if you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

I love book written by this author. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and look forward to more story lines. I will say that I remember having parts of the book make me think there was a book before this.

A fun regency romp, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord is a delightful read. Perfect for fans of Jane Austen and Bridgerton who love some adventure with their romance as well as a strong heroine at the helm.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

While I enjoy historical mysteries, I must admit romance is not my favorite genre. Having said that, I tried and tried to get into this book. Then I tried very hard to find a way to explain why I had such a problem.
I was a little lost in the beginning with all of the character names and all of the details of everyone. That kept me having to look back a little to see "who was whom" so to speak. Since I hate having to turn back, I was already off to a bad beginning. Then, I met Lady Petra, a main character I didn’t like. Not liking the main character always makes it a little tough to get into something. There were so many prejudices mentioned that she struck me as one of those people who is a champion against every possible prejudice and really believes in nothing.
I am giving this book a four-star rating because having not read the whole book, I can’t really tell if it’s a three or a four. From what I read it’s a three, but…

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord was advertised as "Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie" which are two of my favorite bookish things in life. While it didn't quite live up to that assessment, I was entertained throughout and really felt myself rooting for Lady Petra. I really loved the setting and the sprinkle of flirting and romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Short synopsis: Petra uses her title as a “Lady” to uncover a suspicious death.

My thoughts: Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie had me so excited for this one! The setting was fun, and I enjoyed the feminist look into a Regency time period.

It did take a bit for me to get into, and the ending was quite dark but set up nicely to continue the series.

Read if you love:
- Historical romance mystery
- Strong women
- Series
- Fun settings

Lady Petra is not like the other ladies in the 1800's. After Petra's fiance passed away she preferred to remain a spinster. She enjoys riding her horse in pants instead of dresses. She is very opinionated and isn't afraid to share it even with men. The secondary characters are interesting but not all are likable. The mystery was well-plotted with plenty of twists. I am happy with the ending.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, I have not been influenced by anyone.

This was a delightful historical regency book with a bit of mystery that I throughly enjoyed. I am anxiously awaiting the next book to find out what Lady Petra will do with the news that she discovered at the end of this book. I appreciated that this book had a bit more substance than other books in this genre. The issue of women's rights in 1815 were nonexistent and it was shocking to learn that men could lock up their wives, daughters and/or sisters if they were proving to be too much "trouble". Lady Petra is such a strong female role model, I hope that she is featured in many more books to come, and that I can learn more about the social issues of that time period.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord is the first book in the Lady Petra Inquires series set in 1815. Women were supposed to get married, have children and let their husbands do whatever they wanted. when her fiancé and soulmate dies just weeks ahead of their wedding, Lady Petra vows never to get married, in many eyes, becoming a spinster is unacceptable. She lives with her wonderful father, her mother having passed away. Her mother's brother, is incensed that she is besmirching the family name. When friends of hers begin to die and/or be declared ill with melancholia and hysteria, she becomes worried. The physician that runs the home/hospital is a smarmy, questionable man and Lady Petra decides she needs to investigate, but things get dangerous for her. Will she find out what is going on between the doctor and the husbands of her friends before more than one of them dies?

I enjoyed this book and meeting Lady Petra Forsythe and her friends. I liked the setting and the activities during this time period. Petra a a smart, independent, determined young woman and is lucky to have people around her that are okay with that. She is loyal and that is what sends her on her search for her friends and answers to the mystery/puzzle. The plot where men have their wives and daughters locked away in private asylums is uncomfortable, but true to the times. I am so glad that this is not happening today. I enjoyed meeting the various secondary characters and seeing their friendships. The were well developed and I look forward to seeing more of them in future books. The ending of this one was satisfying, but I would have liked to see the culprits get more punishment after all they had done. I enjoyed the first book in this series and hope to see more of Lady Petra. I listened to this audiobook narrated by Eilidh Beaton. She is a voice that I enjoy and love what she adds to my listening. If you enjoy a fun historical cozy mystery, I recommend Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord.
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Lady Petra Forsyth, returning to London from the country after the loss of her fiance, seeks answers. She's learned that one of her friends has died, but has been told by a footman that he saw the same friend a week after her death. Knowing that both things can't be true, Petra tracks down answers with the help of her estranged friend, Duncan.

There is a lot of healing in Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord; Petra's quest helps her to be more secure in herself as a woman who bucks society's standards. She also finds a way to manage her grief and finds that her feelings might not be as certain as she thought. Of course, nothing might be certain, as suggested in the MASSIVE CLIFFHANGER ENDING - if you don't like this book for any reason (and that's very unlikely), this alone will make you want to read the next one.

I love historical romance and historical mystery and so this book sounds perfect for readers like me!

I had higher hopes for this new historical mystery but found it to be too slow moving and wanted to skip forward in parts. I didn't particularly connect with the main character Petra and the other characters were a bit one dimensional. As this is the start of a series, I expect the series will improve.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ebook for review.

I loved the mystery aspects of this book. When I read Bridgerton and Agatha Christie in the description, I was sold! This was a decent read.

Book 14 of 2024 - ☑️! Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books & Celeste Connally for the ARC of Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord by Celeste Connally in exchange for my honest review.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord has been on my TBR for quite some time, and I’m sad to say I’ve had it in my NetGalley queue since July. The book was published in November and it’s almost April…I’m just now getting to it!

I love a period piece, and I have to say that I was sold on the Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie comps in the description. It’s been a while since I’ve read a good mystery and admittedly, it took me a second to become fully invested, but I will say that I was all-in in the 2nd half of the book. It leans much more heavily on the mystery side than the romance side (I feel like the Bridgerton comp is referring to England high society, and not the romance). Petra, the protagonist is a strong & progressive woman who I enjoyed following throughout the book, though, as I mentioned earlier in the review, the book felt like it really picked up in the 2nd half.

This is my first Celeste Connally book, but it won’t be my last. 3.5/5 ⭐️ overall, and there was no spice here, just people alluding to it (briefly), so I won’t give it a spice rating. 🔎🛏️🕯️ #NetGalley #ActLikeaLadyThinkLikeaLord

Lady Petra Forsyth decided after the death of her fiancé that she would never marry, shocking London's Society. She has wealth, and enjoys socializing and riding her horse. When she receives word that a longtime friend has died of "melancholia" while under the care of a physician around whom there are questions, Petra decides to find out what really happened.

Knowing her wealth and status will open doors for her, she questions and pokes into things, and eventually discovers that not only may her friend be alive, but she and other wealthy women (wives and daughters) are likely prisoners at an estate, sent there by their husbands, fathers, and brothers, eager to shed themselves of noncompliant or "troublesome" women.

Petra's father, normally loving and tolerant of Petra's independent ways, suddenly decides she is too headstrong, after meeting the physician of the dubious reputation, and Petra ends up at the estate, and has to find a way to save not only herself, but the other inmates, who are kept in terrible conditions.

So, this had a lot of potential, in that it's a feminist take on the practice by many wealthy men of dumping any woman from their lives into essentially prison, where the women would be abused and forgotten, allowing the men to move on to the next gullible and naïve woman that they wanted.

Petra is intelligent, not totally conformist, action-oriented, but that's balanced out by her negative qualities of being quick to judge and impulsive. When Petra is being shocking, her words and actions never seem to land her in the kind of trouble another Lady might, which is inconsistent with how I would have expected the others to respond to her.

Petra does follow clues and figures out a way to escape from the physician and save a bunch of women, so this should have been an enjoyable romp. Author Celeste Connally examines the darker aspects of Regency gentry society in their bigotry (misogyny, racism, homophobia, classism), lack of women's legal rights, and abuse. I'm always up for taking harder looks at things that many stories set in this time period gloss over, so this book should have been up my alley. But I wish I could identify exactly what never quite worked for me in this story.

Was it a case of the author trying to do too much, or that Petra was not quite believable? Or that she and her romantic interest not really having chemistry? Or was it that after reading Alison Goodman's "The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies" (which was excellent!) I expected more from this book?

Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press this ARC in exchange for my review.

I raced through Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord by Celeste Connally in just a few sittings! This delightful debut novel is the perfect blend of historical mystery and feminist flair.

Lady Petra, our quick-witted and fiercely independent protagonist, stole the show from the very first page. Recent heartbreak has left her determined to never marry, a radical notion for a woman of her social standing in Regency England. But her life takes an unexpected turn when she suspects foul play in the supposed "death" of her dear friend.

Connally masterfully weaves a thrilling mystery into the opulent backdrop of Regency society. I found myself alongside Petra, piecing together clues and navigating the labyrinthine world of London's elite. The historical details felt rich and authentic, transporting me directly into the drawing rooms and ballrooms of the era.

What truly sets this book apart is the feminist undercurrent. Petra's defiance of societal expectations is both empowering and refreshing. She's a heroine who uses her intelligence and social status to carve her own path, a quality I deeply admired.

While the romance takes a backseat to the mystery, the tension between Petra and her childhood friend Duncan is undeniable. Their witty banter and mutual respect for each other's intellect left me eager to see where their dynamic might lead in future installments.

Overall, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord is a captivating historical mystery with a strong, independent heroine. I thoroughly enjoyed the well-crafted plot, the witty dialogue, and the subtle feminist message. If you're looking for a smart and entertaining read with a hint of romance, then this book is definitely for you!

This was an interesting and unique historical mystery novel!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

I wanted to love this sooooo much. I love historical mysteries. They are so fun, especially in a Regency setting. Yet, I struggled so much with the character development. It felt so flat. I could hardly tell who anyone was, which for a mystery is a real struggle. By the end, I just didn't care.