Petra and her former childhood friend Duncan join forces in this novel to investigate the strange disappearances of some of Petra's friends in this Regency send up. Since Petra's fiance, and Duncan's best friend, passed away unexpectedly right before the wedding, she has declared her intention to remain single, yet her uncle seems intent upon matching her up with potential husbands. Schemes abound as her own family members turn to scurrilous persons and pursuits to convince Petra to abandon her single-mindedness and her sleuthing, which can land her in deep trouble.

Readers who enjoy a Regency mystery might like this read, especially if they enjoy a lot of detail in plot and characters. There is a cliff hanger ending to this novel.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. ( )

Verity Bright is my standard for all period novels. I really love that writing team that created the Eleanor Swift cozy mystery novels which are set in the early 20th century. Having just discovered Celeste Connolly and completed her novel, “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord” I am declaring her the standard bearer for the 19th Century cozy mystery series with heroine, Lady Petra Forsyth. She is one amazing woman, defying social standards, wearing her brother’s trousers so she can ride astride instead of side saddle and who has declared that she will not marry and remain a spinster. None of this is going to be well accepted by society.

I am going to name drop once more to make a salient point. I recently finished “The Madwomen of Paris” by Jennifer Cody Epstein which centers on the plight of women who could be committed to institutions by husbands and men who got bored with their wives, lovers, sisters, mothers and only had to mention the word “hysteria”. This subject hovers around the edges of Celeste Connally’s book as well. Lady Petra Forsyth has her father’s support as well as her ladies maid Annie who is her friend and her conscience, but she also has so many detractors and is walking a very fine line. Nice society just isn’t ready for all the ways she flaunts the etiquette off the time in which she lives. The question becomes what will tip her over the edge and what will the consequences be?

There is humor while honestly exploring the constraints of early 1800 English society. The dialog is honest and interesting. The examination of the societal strictures was a constant eye opener how closely bright, adventurous women had to outthink any man who had any control. There is romance, almost, maybe, could be and that tension worked for me. The characters run the gamut from sympathetic to hateful and disgusting and are well described and acted.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy. ( )

Although the title is rather dreadfully boring l, the story itself is rife with mystery and adventure in 1800’s England. The characters are spirited and varied, the plot is detailed and active and Connallys writing is pleasant and engaging. Definitely a must read for period pieces with some intelligence.
*I received an arc from the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review ( )

Witty, dark and disturbing

Lady Petra Forsyth is a lively, secure woman whose fiancée, Emerson, Viscount Ingersoll, died just before they were to be married. Petra and Duncan Shawcross, who’d introduced her to Emerson, had been friends from an early age. After Emerson’s death they’d not spoken. Ever since, Petra’s gone about in society, secure in the knowledge that she’s loved by her father, has access to her own monies, and will remain a spinster.
Back home she rides astride, helping to care for her father’s string of hunters. Her father, the Earl of Holbrook breeds horses, and whilst he’s recovering from a broken ankle Petra has been assisting more than usual.
Petra returns to London for her godmother’s annual ball to find her childhood friend, turned enemy, Duncan has returned from Continent where he’d been for three years securing and improving the Duke of Hillmorton’s lands.
Duncan had been the one to rescue her after Emerson’s death where they’d been trysting together. Petra had written him letters whilst he was away but he never answered. Their relationship has been cut off.
When Petra is given the news of a close friend’s sudden death and is burial she’s shocked. She’s even more dismayed when her friend’s footman Martin tells her he’s seen his supposedly dead mistress in London. Then when Martin’s found dead and Petra herself comes under attack, the ghastly truth about women being sent to an asylum because they’re husbands or family desiring them to be out of the way for various and nefarious reasons, she’s shocked. During Regency times, such happenings were frequent. When Petra and her father come under attack from her dreadful Uncle Tobias, and Petra is incarcerated who will save her? Who will help these women.?
Petra is far too independent for the time and that is both the source of her joy and her sorrow.
A page turner and sleep depriver, I really enjoyed the characters met within the pages, even as I loathed and detested some.
The ending, poised on a troubling knife’s edge means there’s more to come but what, I can’t imagine.

A Minotaur ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher. ( )

Lady Petra Forsyth declared herself a spinster after the accidental death of her fiancé. However, London in 1815 isn't the best place for that declaration. Disgruntled men, especially her uncle who resents her control of her own money, are outraged. But Lady Petra has an advantage many of her fellow female society ladies do not: she has independent means.

When she learns that a friend of hers has passed away, she's surprised and even more surprised that the lady's husband is carrying on with no signs of grief. She is even more surprised when she meets one of the lady's dismissed servants who states that she was still alive after her husband declared her dead and buried.

As Petra looks into things, she finds herself the victim of a number of "accidents" but, with the help of some friends including a boy she grew up with but separated from at the time of her fiancé's death, Lady Petra unravels a plot to put inconvenient ladies into an insane asylum.

This was an engaging story that introduces an intriguing character in Lady Petra. ( )