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.

This book promises an intriguing blend of Regency-era mystery and a feminist perspective. .
While this book does have a slow buildup, it does gain the traction in its final sections, where the pace quickens and the plot thickens, offering a compelling resolution that ties together the earlier threads. I found this to be a fun and enjoyable read.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord by Celeste Connally is a great historical fiction mystery! This novel has everything that you would want in a cozy mystery – mystery, intrigue, anticipation, and a little romance. Lady Petra Forsyth is the strong protagonist who has decided that she will never marry after the sudden death of her fiancé. She has enough wealth to live comfortably for the rest of her life and doesn’t need to take direction from anyone. While enjoying a night on the Ton she learns of the tragic drowning of a close friend Gwen, an event that would catapult Petra into the biggest mystery to hit the Ton.
Lies, deceit, and sexism are at the center of the mystery surrounding the death of Gwen, the sudden death of her footman, and the mystery of what is happening to the women of the Ton. Suddenly Petra has a target on her back, and it will take everything to survive.
I highly recommend this novel if you’re a fan of historical fiction and mystery! Celeste Connally’s writing and character development is phenomenal. She spends the beginning half of the novel setting the scene and introducing you to all the major characters, their backstories, and motivations, and in the second half the reader is so wrapped up in the mystery that it was so difficult to put the book down. Petra faces roadblock after roadblock as she gets to the bottom of what really happened to her friend Gwen and her footman. This book reminded me of Miss Scarlet and the Duke, if you enjoy mysteries like Ms. Scarlet or just want to read a great mystery about a strong female protagonist you should read this one.
I loved the cliffhanger at the end as well, and I am hopeful that Connally will publish a second book in the series as I’m looking forward to reading more of her work! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Celeste Connally combines all of my favorite genres in this fun novel Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord. Equal parts historical fiction, regency romance, and cozy mystery, Connally develops her protagonist, Lady Petra Forsyth, into a strong female lead. What a fun romp as Petra uses her ingenuity to figure out where her peers are disappearing to when they become inconvenient to their male partners and relatives. Hopeful that this series continues for a long time as the next volume is schedule for release in November of this year.

Absolutely delightful! Oh how I love cozy mysteries and this was just a fantastic read. From the beginning you love Petra and respect her. She knows who she is and what she needs. I found this really refreshing compared to many of the fmc I have been reading lately. I loved this and will look forward to more!

Read if you love:
- an exceptional main character
- great surround cast
- cozy mystery
- heartwarming moments
- empowerment

Thank you NetGalley for the eArc!!!

I enjoyed the sleuthing aspect very much! The feminist take on the 1800’s societal mores was gratifying, as well, if not wholly genuine-feeling to the time period. I especially enjoyed the characters of Annie, Teddy, and the Duchess. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book, and I look forward to the author’s future works.

Thank you Netgalley and Celeste Connally for the ARC. It was a slow burn but then it sped it half way through the book. I loved Lady Petra! I recommend this book - 10/10.

I wanted to love this. But it felt historically inaccurate and definitely needed more romance, especially since it was billed as Agatha Christie meets Bridgerton. While the mystery was intriguing, this just didn't live up to my expectations.

Thanks to Netgalley for my complimentary e-arc. All opinions are my own.

This okay - I didn’t love it but didn’t hate it. I think it was more of a personal preference I wasn’t a big fan of the writing style and there were a few things in the storyline that bothered me, in particular the ending. That said, I did enjoy the characters and the deeper messages in the book and I loved the Bridgerton mixed with Sherlock Holmes vibes!

This book was a delight to read. After being on a Bridgerton kick I needed something fun to fill the void and this was the perfect match with the addition of a mystery on the loose! I look forward to reading more.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord follows the story of Lady Petra as she tries to determine what has happened to her friend Gwen when mixed information about her death comes to light. Will she be able to determine it before her own life is at stake?

I absolutely loved this book. I love the Regency period and this was perfect. It has mystery and intrigue. Petra is strong and fierce and I love her as a character. The only reason this wasn't a 5 star read for me is because of the last line of the book. I did not want it to go down the road that it did right at the end and here we are. I look forward to the next book because, if this becomes nothing, I will come back, amend my review, and say that I was wrong. I love her relationship with Annie and her kindness towards everyone. The beginning of the book started slow but when the action started I could not stop reading. This is such a fun story with dense characters and the action had my angst at an all time high. Such a great read and I look forward to the next in the series!

I didn't know what to expect when I picked up Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord by Celeste Connally. I knew it was going to be a Regency historical novel, but that's about it. I usually don't read the back of books before I start. LOL. I can't wait for book #2. I hope we get a book #2. I love Lady Petra. She's strong and independent. I really enjoyed the mystery that was so much more than a mystery. I got lost in the world of London long ago. I loved the descriptions and all the societal norms. It's so different from our current day. This book had so much to offer and even if you've never read a regency novel, I think you would enjoy it too. The title says it all and really encompasses what the book is about. I laughed so hard at the end. This book will make you have all the feels. You will laugh. You will cry. You will fall in love. It's so good. It will leave you wanting more.

I enjoyed this women’s fiction, historical mystery. I did however feel a bit like I was thrown into relationships with characters without backstory and then expected to understand the character interactions.

# Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord
# 2/14/2024 ~ 2/16/2024
# 3.0 / 5.0

DNF

I’m sure that this is a very lovely book, but I don’t think it is for me personally. Hence why I will not be giving this a rating. I think there is more telling rather than showing and I was getting all of the characters confused because of how many names were thrown at me. I would love to come back to this when I am in a better mindset!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review