Lady Petra is dealing with conflicting issues related to the death of her fiancé . While waiting for Duncan to return from wherever he's disappeared to, the Queen asks for her help determining what really caused the death of the matron of the Asylum for Female Orphans. When Petra overhears a plot to bring down the monarchy during the festivities celebrating Napoleon’s surrender at Waterloo, she makes her own plan to stop them, no matter the cost.

This is the second book in this series, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first. Several obvious questions left at the completion of the first book were answered – I think there might have been a readers’ revolt if they had *not been addressed! – and other assumptions were proven wrong.

I like Lady Petra and most of the people around her, even Duncan. Aside from the Queen who is in her own little world, the rest of them work well together and provide excellent support. We didn’t know much about the matron of the orphanage until Petra started poking around, so it was hard to make a list of suspects who might be responsible for her death. As the investigation continued and we learned more about her, the suspect list grew, and my list kept changing with each new revelation. I thought I had it figured out, but I was wrong.

I look forward to reading the next book in this series and to see what adventure awaits Petra, Annie, Duncan and the rest.

<i>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.</i>

“All’s Fair in Love and Treachery” by Celeste Connally should have been all the things I love: mystery and romance. The mystery part of the novel certainly delivered. I loved the plot line of a revolutionary group working against the crown to bring down the Monarchy. Petra and Duncan work side by side, even if they don’t always realize it, to stop the violent plot. All the while Petra learns more about her dead fiancé and grows closer to Duncan in the process.

As much as the mystery part of the book was spot on, I found the romance part of it lacking. I liked the friends to lovers, to enemies to lovers again premise but it was too much behind closed doors and also not till the second half of the book. The foreshadowing of heartbreak between Caroline and her Lord Whitfield also was not my favourite and I found I had to push myself to finish the book at times. Overall an ok read but I am not sure I would go back and read book one or book three, if there is a book three. It would have to have some pretty stellar tropes for me to want to read it based on this book. Not a miss but not a hit either in my opinion.

I thank NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advance reader copy of “All’s Fair in Love and Treachery.” All opinions and comments are my own.

Continuing from the events of “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord,” the world has come crashing down once again for Lady Petra Forsythe. No spoilers here, you’ll have to read book #1. And she has no way to find out the truth, or ask for an immediate explanation, for a certain someone has disappeared on a secret mission. And no time to worry about that, either, for she’s summoned on a secret mission of her own, by no less an august person than HM Queen Charlotte herself. And though a threat to the Queen’s Person is bad enough, Petra is also on a quest to uncover a murderer at a children’s orphanage. And never mind that, she needs to discovers how deeply the love of her life, Duncan Shawcross, is implicated in everything. (Got enough to keep you busy yet, dear reader?) How will a Georgian heroine keep track of it all? ‘Tis a tall order, but our intrepid amateur detective will find herself up to the task(s).

As you can probably ascertain from the title, “All’s Fair in Love and Treachery” is a complicated tale, and it will behoove a reader to pay attention as Lady Petra and her friends and associates work through a complex accounting of intrigue, manipulation, and deception, among loved ones as well as enemies. Author Celeste Connally has a firm grasp of time and place, and although she may stretch it a bit with her characters, her settings are always recognizable. Should note for those who are used to more “squeaky clean” cozy mysteries, this series has some, shall we say, slightly steamy scenes scattered throughout the book. Lady Petra and her Duncan are fully realized (fictional) people, and the author treats them as such.

“All’s Fair in Love and Treachery” offers up another exciting chapter in the lives of Petra Forsythe and Duncan Shawcross. Petra must use all her brains and all her thinking skills (and put aside thoughts of disloyalty and dishonesty) to discover the final truth to how all the cases she’s working on relate to each other. Readers will enjoy tagging along as two strong-willed characters resolve personal as well as “professional” issues during an exciting case involving King and Country. A definite page-turner.

I didn't remember much about the characters in this series, so figuring who was who took a bit of concentration. Certainly the book got off to a slowish start, with Lady Petra believing the worst of her friend and lover Duncan Shawcross on the strength of very little evidence.

I was glad I stuck with it, though, as Petra's and Duncan's investigations for the Queen focused on a treasonous plot, and Petra's investigation of *Duncan* revealed information about her late fiancé that changed much about her understanding of the past.

The audiobook is well read by Eilidh Beaton whose subtle changes in voice and intonation made the characters come to life.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lady Petra lives a happy life of nights with her paramour, Duncan Shawcross, and days of intellectual pursuit with the women she calls friends. She's currently mad at Duncan and wanting to have a nice, long talk with him, but an assignment directly from the Queen herself puts her on a path to unravel a threat against the Crown more important than anything Duncan could ever tell her. It all starts with the suspicious passing of the matron of the Asylum for Female Orphans and it will force Petra to walk down paths in memory lane that she would have preferred to stay in the past.

It's a solidly written story and there are definitely some good romantic tension and moments, but the case falls by the wayside for a large part of the story. I liked the first Lady Petra story because it was mostly about Petra going out there and solving a case that only she could investigate, but this one feels like merely a backdrop to Petra facing her past and deciding her future with Duncan Shawcross. She's so focused on those things that the discoveries on the case feel like happy accidents more than her making any inquiries.
What saved it in the end was an explosive conclusion that shows how expertly Connally sowed the seeds of it throughout the plot. You realize in hindsight that so many things are connected, and it adds depth to everything Petra has gone through to get to that end. It somehow manages to be the perfect wrap-up to the case and to Petra's romantic life, continuing the trend that started in the first book of balancing romance and mystery.

I didn't like it as much as the first volume in the series, but it's a solid entry nonetheless.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the fun read!

All's Fair in Love and Treachery is the second book in Celeste Connally's Lady Petra Inquires series. This book picks up after Lady Petra Forsyth has made the discovery that the death of her former fiancé was not an accident as she originally thought. It was actually a murder and the person that may be responsible is new object of her affections, Duncan Shawcross. She also finds that Duncan has fled in the night. While dealing with this Lady Petra is also brought into a mystery involving missing orphans and the death of the head of the orphanage. She soon discovers that this plot may have something to do with a group of radicals intent on the destruction of the monarchy that may also have ties to her past.

This series is so much fun. There is a good mix of mystery and romance. This book was slightly more mystery forward than the previous one. Lady Petra is a fun and clever protagonist. I loved the historical setting. Duncan and Petra are so much fun together. I liked the way the mysteries tied together. I can't wait to get the next installment of Lady Petra's adventures.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

The second in the Lady Petra Inquiries series gives off the same charm and whimsicalness as the first book. The characters are an absolute delight but I needed more of Duncan and Petra than the mystery. The duel plot lines were complex, and a bit confusing at times. The story takes 3/4 of the book for it to truly get interesting.

Even though I didn't enjoy this book as much as book 1, I interested to see where this series goes in the next installment.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for this digital ARC.

It was great to check in with Lady Petra Forsyth again, as this is book 2 in the series. Petra is given an investigative assignment from none other than Queen Charlotte herself... and she soon uncovers a plot to bring down the monarchy. Can Duncan and Petra escape unharmed from their latest adventure? And will Petra discover more about her former fiance's death than she can handle?

This series is so much fun. Lady Petra is always finding herself embroiled in some kind of crime that she needs to solve or is asked to solve. This time it is none other than the Queen herself that asks her to look into the suspicious death of the Matron of an all-girls orphanage. Except Lady Petra might learn some things about those she is closest too that she wasn't expecting.

"All's Fair in Love and Treachery" is the second installment in the Lady Petra series. She's a strong female character set in 1815 with very liberal and nonconforming (for the time) ideas.

I have to admit, it took me longer than I would have liked to reconnect to the characters I enjoyed so much in the first installment in the series (and to remember who everyone was).

And this time, some favorite characters come under suspicion, since a murder has taken place and secrets are uncovered that call into question who is being truthful and who is lying. Essentially, everyone is a suspect for one thing or another (whether murder or treason). And Lady Petra has to sort through all the information she's uncovered to determine what's real and what's a ruse.

While I enjoyed the story, I do think the first book was stronger. I'm hoping the next installment in the series brings Lady Petra and Duncan back together as a team, rather than working independently from one another. They're better together.

Thank you to Celeste Connally, the publisher, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

This was a wonderful second installment in the Lady Petra series! I thoroughly enjoyed the many historical details, and the complicated mysteries that Lady Petra is charged with investigating by Queen Charlotte. The book takes place during 1815, just after Napolean is defeated. Lady Petra, along with her friends, attempt to discover who killed the matron of the orphanage for young ladies. Lady Petra also still suspects that her current lover, Duncan, was involved with the death of her fiance, Emerson. She also begins to suspect that many of the people closest to her may be involved in a rebellious plot to overtake the monarchy. The many threads of this multi-faceted mystery were wrapped up in the satisfying conclusion. I alternated reading the ebook and listening to the audiobook of All's Fair in Love and Treachery, and both were equally enjoyable. The narrator, Eilidh Beaton, was very easy to listen to and really brought each character's personalities to life with varied accents. Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and author Celeste Connally for the librarian preview copy.

Title: All's Fair in Love and Treachery
Author: Celeste Connally       
Genre: historical fiction
Rating:  4 out of 5

June, 1815. London may be cheering the news of Napoleon’s surrender at Waterloo, but Lady Petra Forsyth has little to celebrate after discovering that the death of her viscount fiancé three years earlier was no accident. Instead, it was murder, and the man responsible is her handsome, half-Scottish secret paramour Duncan Shawcross—yet the scoundrel has disappeared, leaving only a confusing riddle about long-forgotten memories in his wake.

So what’s a lady to do when she can’t hunt down her traitorous lover? She concentrates on a royal assignment instead. Queen Charlotte has tasked Petra with attending an event at the Asylum for Female Orphans and making inquiries surrounding the death of the orphanage’s matron. What’s more, there may be a link between the matron’s death and a group of radicals with ties to the aristocracy, as evidenced by an intercepted letter. Then, Petra overhears a nefarious conversation with two other men about a plot to topple the monarchy, set to take place during three days of celebrations currently gripping London. As the clock counts down and London’s streets teem with revelers, Petra’s nerves are fraying as her past and present collide. Yet while all’s fair in love and war, she can never surrender, especially when more orphaned girls may be in trouble. And to save their lives, the monarchy itself, and even her own heart, Lady Petra must face her fears with the strength of an army of soldiers and fight with the heart of a queen.

This blurb isn’t strictly accurate, as Petra and Duncan’s relationship isn’t exactly a secret. And…I had trouble believing that Petra found a random anonymous scribble that’s less than two sentences long and suddenly believes that Duncan, who she’s known her entire life, murdered her ex-fiancé/his best friend. Nope. Not believable. Apart from that,  this was a solid Regency mystery read, and I enjoyed it for the most part, although it felt very contemporary.

Celeste Connally is an Agatha Award nominee. All’s Fair in Love and Treachery is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 11/16.)

Fun and lighthearted while also featuring a complex political movement - not an easy feat to achieve but this novel nailed it! Directed by the Queen, Lady Petra works to unravel the mystery behind the murder of the matron of the “Asylum for Female Orphans” and the connection her death has to an anti-monarchist political group that has begun to stir up trouble. The heart of the story for me was not the romance between Lady Petra and Mr. Duncan Shawcross, but rather the central friendships among strong and independent women who are thriving in a time where the odds are stacked against them. The dual mystery plots tangled in a way that complimented the pacing and the tone of the story. There were some moments that will truly pull on your heartstrings and some moments that will get your heart racing!

Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC and St. Martins Press for an advanced copy!

I want to thank everyone for this early gifted copy of All’s Fair in Love and Treachery.

What a fun mystery that was complex and kept you guessing. I like that the secondary characters shines and the story left you to believe more are to come!

I alternated between the e-book and the audio version of this book which was narrated by Eilidh Beaton. The narration was good, but I'll admit on this one I found the e-book a bit easier. There were so many characters that were referred to in different ways, that actually reading it gave me more of a chance to slow down and figure out who the character was.

The book takes place in 1815 and has to deal with several people, including Lady Petra and Duncan who are trying to solve a murder and the questionable events that those murdered may have been mixed up in.

The story was pretty good, but at times it seemed like it was just too wordy and it got in the way.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the copies. All thoughts are my own.

All’s Fair in Love and Treachery by Celeste Connally

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Macmillan, St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and Celeste Connally for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

All’s Fair in Love and Treachery was such a fun book! A super entertaining mystery set in the 1800s in England featuring likable characters and a well-written plot with several twists and turns that’ll keep you guessing until the very end.

While this is the sequel to Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord, it can definitely be read independently. What makes this one a super unique and interesting read is that it has three interconnected mysteries that the heroine, Lady Petra, tries to solve: the death of her fiancé, the murder of the orphanage headmistress, and a political plot against the monarchy.

Lady Petra, the heroine, is a wonderfully written character and her approach to solving mysteries is super interesting. The way in which the author highlighted Petra’s struggles adds a deeper dimension to the story as a whole. Duncan is an intriguing character and the chemistry between the two of them is palpable.

Overall, a fantastic mystery set in the Regency era that excellently combines a bit of suspense with romance!

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I read the first book in this series, and I liked it. I did not feel the same about this new book. Mainly Lady Petra Forsyth is investigating the death of a matron at the Asylum for Female Orphans. She also gets involved in investigating a plot to overthrow the government. I could not follow the flow of this story. Just when I thought I had figured out where the story was going, I felt lost again. There was also so many characters. It was hard to keep them straight. It seems like this was a good book for some other readers, but it just wasn't for me.

Celeste Connally introduced the intrepid, fearless, convention defying Lady Petra in last year’s Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord. Lady Petra is defying convention purposefully, declaring she will never marry, and since she’s given a house and allowance by her father, she is wealthy enough to do as she pleases. She also has the ear of the Queen. It’s 1815, and London is on the verge of Wellington’s triumph at Waterloo. Queen Charlotte was a force at court thanks to the mental health challenges of King George III. This affects Lady Petra, as the Queen invites her to investigate the mysterious death of the matron at an orphan’s home.

The matron had been killed in the chapel while the orphans were in their sleeping quarters for the evening, so Petra is quickly able to narrow her list of suspects. The death seems to be also tied to a threat to the Queen herself, as well as to the whole royal family.
Petra is not a widow, but she is bereaved – her fiancée had died suddenly shortly before their marriage. His death has never been fully explained. Petra has a current romantic partner who was a childhood friend. He also does some undercover work for the royal family, and of course, their investigative threads converge.

Connally paints a wonderfully vivid picture of 1815 London, whose citizens are enjoying the success of Napoleon’s defeat. All of London is a party for a few days. This gives Petra and her paramour cover for their sleuthing, but it also gives cover to the forces that want to take down the royal family. The investigation takes place at night as London is lit up with “transparencies” – window decorations with a lit candle behind them to illuminate them.

All of the clues uncovered by Petra and her paramour ultimately tie together but the history part of the narrative, if you aren’t familiar with the time period, is not always completely clear. The threads are disparate but of course connected, and further connected not only to the death of the matron, but to the death of Petra’s fiancée.

What I loved about the first book was Petra herself. Much like Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell, she’s an intrepid woman who has convenient ties to the upper classes (and is herself a member of the “ton”). I hope ladies like Petra and Veronica did indeed exist in their respective time periods. Petra’s band of investigators – who include a lady pharmacist and a fellow socialite who is good with a bow and arrow – add the to richness of the character tapestry in the book – now books.

I felt this was not quite as strong an outing as book one. I certainly enjoyed it, but I felt Petra herself, in all her brave glory, was a tiny bit muted despite some of the shenanigans she gets up to. I certainly look forward to book three, however, and with the resolution of Petra’s fiancée's death, I am now wondering about her vow to avoid marriage. We shall see, readers.

4.25/5⭐️

So happy to have discovered this mystery series set in 1815 London. It’s fun (with a smart, unabashedly original and funny heroine), has great storylines so far and introduces Lady Petra, a confident and courageous young woman for her time.

Lady Petra shockingly discovers that her current paramour Duncan Shawcross might have murdered her fiancé three years earlier. She’s also tasked by Queen Charlotte with an undercover assignment into a death that might be linked to a radical group with ties to the aristocracy. A plot to topple the monarchy is uncovered and a dangerous and possibly deadly situation ensues.

Lady Petra and Duncan are so sweet to watch as they take their lifelong friendship in another direction. Of course there’s the occasional butting of heads and disagreements, but underneath that is a strong and loyal bond.

Another great mystery series to keep up with and enjoy.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing the free early arc of All’s Fair in Love and Treachery for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

All's Fair in Love and Treachery picks up immediately after the end of Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord. Petra has a page from the villain's book from book 1. It accuses Duncan Shorecross of killing Petra's dead fiancé Emerson. This has Petra flying into rage and distrust of Duncan. These emotions cloud her ability to make progress in the new mystery that is presented her by Queen Charlotte.
The matron of a girls orphanage is dead and not from natural causes as the authorities have posited to the girls.
The mystery of the matron's death ends up being tied up in the larger issues faced in the book. There is a lot of intrigue and danger. But the love and intelligence of the investigating parties - Petra and Duncan with friends brings a satisfying outcome.
There is a large amount of talk about the sexual activities of the characters - Petra and Caroline most often but also references to others. The girls at the orphanage are illegitimate children of soldiers and aristocrats. I suppose that this may have been true to the history but does seem to be quiet the focus for the author. It places this series outside of the cozy mystery genre in my opinion.
I like this book more than the first.
Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to read this book.