I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Lady Petra Forsyth has made a proclamation after her betrothed dies, she will never marry. She has her inheritance when her mom passed and she can do as she pleases. However, the men of society look down on any woman who does not have a man and is docile, obedient, demure. At a ball after her fiancé's death, gossip is running amok that one of Petra's friends has died. There was a small private funeral that virtually no one attended. A staff member of the house claims to have seen Gwen within the last few days; however, Gwen died over a week ago. As Petra digs into this, she learns of an asylum where women are being taken when they are no longer..... "convenient." However, Petra does not realize that she will be going there herself soon.

This Regency mystery is intriguing and entertaining. Lady Petra is shocked to find out about the death of her friend. Suspicious of the circumstances, she begins to investigate. At the same time, her father is manipulated into thinking that she is crazy and needs to be committed to an asylum for not wanting to marry after the death of her first love. Intriguing and with shocking discoveries at every turn, this will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Regency-era set novels will inevitably get compared to the Bridgerton series these days, for better or worse. In the case of Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord, the comparison feels like a bad marketing choice. While the book shares a few things with the series - the setting, the gossipy ton, and a strong female protagonist - it has far more differences than similarities.

Perhaps because this book serves a series starter, a lot of things ultimately felt like filler used to introduce characters and put the reader in the particular time and place before truly getting to the heart of the story.. Which meant that by the time Petra was well and truly on her way to sleuthing and solving a mystery, things felt rushed.

Undecided on if I would pick up more of this series, but it's not one that will be at the forefront of my mind when recommending books to patrons.

Overall, I liked this book in the end. It took me to about twenty percent in for it to grab my attention, I had to go back and reread a bit before that because my mind kept wandering, but after that I was interested and involved in my reading. There were a ton of characters and I still don’t know if I had them all straight in the end, but I figured out the main players and their position in the story. I like that this is a new series and there will be more mysteries with Lady Petra. She’s a wonderful character full of strength, integrity and empathy. Definitely worth the read and I will look forward to the next installment.

This is the first book in the series. Petra faced devastation, and has declared she will not marry. THis causes a lot of gossip about her, but she doesnt care. When her married friends start disappearring though, this is when the story begins.

I enjoyed this boook. It was a fast read and kept me on my toes.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord by Celeste Connally was a fun read, I truly love books from this time period and look forward to reading more from Celeste Connally.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I really liked it, super predictable but charming nonetheless. Seemed like a book 2 but is actually book 1??

Connally's work has an interesting mystery woven throughout, and I found myself occasionally liking Lady Petra and her dedication to being herself and solving the mystery. I can see why this work was nominated for an award, but sadly I can also see why it didn't win. Don't get me wrong there are some good things about this work, and I know that there are many readers of historical mystery that will love this work.

The other characters and often even Lady Petra pulled me away from fully enjoying the story. I enjoyed the setting and appreciated Connally's use of language and description.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

It took me a moment to get into ACT LIKE A LADY, THINK LIKE A LORD by Celeste Connally, but as soon as I was hooked, I couldn’t stop reading. I like that the book blurb lists it as a “Regency-era mystery series with a feminist spin” because that is a perfect description for this first book in the series.

Usually, Regency-era novels have the FMC, feminist or not, aching for love, but unlike the typical crowd, Lady Petra Forsyth, in a proclamation, has declared she will never remarry and remain a spinster, shocking the ton. This allows her to get into the best places and investigate why ladies of the ton are starting to disappear.

If you like the gossip of Bridgerton and the mystery of Agatha Christie, this is a book for you. It was a refreshing take on the ton compared to the typical Regency reads. And I’m looking forward to Lady Petra’s mystery in the next book!

Thanks, Minotaur Books, for the arc!

Content warnings: misogyny, forced institutionalization, gaslighting, medical trauma, panic attacks, drug abuse

Phew. The parallels you could draw between this story & real life. 😳This was an interesting story and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

3.5 stars, rounded up because I really did like it! My 1st venture into the Regency era of 'upper -crusts', aristocrats & debutantes, of 1815 England.....historical fiction....& I even learned a bit about that time period that I hadn't been aware of...always a plus in review! I guess this might be presented as a 'cozy' mystery, but I kind of think it has a bit more of an 'edge' to it.....which I enjoyed. The story contains some real historical aspects, some hint of sexual situations, no bad language or gore, a bit of romance, some mystery & chase scenes.....so there's a little something for everyone in this! It's mostly kind of fun, with also some scarier/threatening parts too. This begins a series & I enjoyed it so much that I'll be watching for the 2nd! There's some great continuing characters introduced here!
I received a complimentary digital ARC from publisher St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley for review purposes.

I love Agatha Christie and Bridgeton, so I was drawn to this book. I found the book very slow paced until midway through then wow did it take off. Lady Petra Forsyth is quite progressive for the time period and scandalous. I will look forward to reading more in this series to see what Petra does next. A good rainy day book.

Thank you #NetGalley, #St.Martin’sBooks, #MinotaurBooks, #CelesteConnally, #StephanieC.Perkins and #ActLikeALadyThinkLikeALord for the ebook for my honest review.

This is the first in a new Regency mystery series by Celeste Connally. I love a good historical mystery, and this one was no exception! Lady Petra is clever, brave, impetuous, and caused me a lot of anxiety while reading. She's headstrong, sure, but it works, and her passion and intensity make her an amazing character. I loved her.

Eilidh Beaton brings this story to life and I enjoyed her narration. As this story dealt primarily with the unequal distribution of power between men and women in the Regency period, there were many moments when I felt angry by what was happening--and I think this shows Connally's skill as an author. I'm so excited to read the next book in the series (which I believe is coming out this fall?) especially because of THAT ENDING.

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!

(Shared on Goodreads)

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.