Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord

Lady Petra Inquiries Book 1

Celeste Connally

Nov 14, 2023

Minotaur Pub

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord by Celeste Connally is the first in a series. This book explores women’s rights during the 1800s within a mystery/thriller setting.

The main character, Lady Petra Forsyth, had her soulmate and fiancé die shortly before their wedding.  She makes a proclamation that she will never marry to not cede her wealth and freedom to any man. Instead, she uses her title to gain access to elite spaces and enjoy the best of society without expectations. She is fortunate that her father values her intelligence and adventurous spirit and has allowed her more freedoms than most young women of her class. At the same time, she lost her fiancé, she lost her best friend, Duncan, (who had introduced her to her fiancé) who announced he was leaving England for Europe, and Lady Petra felt betrayed. 

Several years have passed and after Duncan returns, he and Petra must navigate their relationship. She also is trying to understand how her longtime friend, Gwen, died.  She suspects foul play and starts to dig, uncovering a private asylum where men pay to have their wives and daughters locked away, or worse. With the help of her lady’s maid, a clever street urchin, and Duncan, Lady Petra searches for the truth about what happened to Gwen.

Petra is headstrong, independent, and a tomboy who prefers riding horses in her brother’s breeches to dressing up as society expects. She tends to speak her mind, and in general gets away with behaving in ways that most of her peers cannot including with Duncan. With her unconventional behavior and affinity for sleuthing she plans to uncover this outrageous plot where a network of wives disappeared from society’s upper crust under mysterious circumstances. She discovers her life is at jeopardy after a servant who was helping her turns up dead and an attempt is made on her life. 

The backstory between Duncan and Petra, including their banter, enhances the story.   Readers who like this period will await anxiously for the next installment. 

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