"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.

I loved the first book in this series but sadly the sophomore addition did not live up to the original. In the first book, I found Lady Petra to be refreshingly original and sassy but in this one she is hot headed and shrew. She lets her temper get the better of her and jumps to conclusions rather than being level-headed, deliberate and focused as in the first book. I found it surprising that she was perfectly willing to accept the worst of those closest to her with little more than a mere suggestion of their wrongdoing. And the mystery itself seemed unnecessarily convoluted and was confusing. It was disappointing.

Loved book one, couldn’t get into this one. Two mysteries going on and I know they’ll come together but I didn’t really care about either one. Also so many characters to manage, and I got tired about reading about them having tea and what they were eating. May try reading it again later

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.

If you like Regency and a good mystery this novel is a great blend of both. It has a lot of period charm. Romance and suspense mix, making it an awesome read.

The second Lady Petra Investigates mystery by author Celeste Connelly, All's Fair in Love and Treachery, brings us back to London - this time at the end of the Napoleonic Wars. While the capital is abuzz with revelry, a secret plot to overthrow the monarchy and establish a republic is underway, and danger lurks around every corner. Is there a connection to Petra's late fiancé and an orphanage for girls? When Petra is asked to investigate by the Queen herself, she has no choice but to discover the answer to these and other questions! A+

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.

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!

What a great follow to the first book! It was a great balance of mystery and love story. Once i got to around 15% I couldn't put it down!

I honestly just could not get into this book. The introduction is very jarring and confuses the reader, who naturally is trying to figure out the lay of the land. It's a bit awkward to bring up the main love interest so soon and talk about a back story, before we've even gotten to know the setting and the main heroine.

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

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!

Another okay book in this series. While the supporting cast is good, Lady Petra can have a do over with her know it all attitude. Pacing can be improved with a strong edit on repetition of ideas and dialogues / monologues / internal debates.

Lady Petra sets out to solve 2 problems, one personal (involving her dead fiancee and current lover), one charged by the Queen. The mysteries merge together to be resolved in the end.

#netgalley #allsfairinloveandtreachery

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.