Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord, Celeste Connally

Mystery/Suspense, Romance

The second in a series, Connally’s work challenges her readers to challenge social restrictions and step outside their comfort zones. The book is understandable without having read the first, but I do plan to. Again, I’m initially drawn to this book because it is set in the time of Austen. Austenites are always looking for the adjacent read. While this book is significantly from Austen on the surface, I’m thinking Petra and Elizabeth Bennett Darcy would likely be friends. Petra is recovering from the loss of her husband and still reeling from the loss of her friendship with Duncan. After declaring her intent to remain a spinster, she has drawn the wrath of her Uncle Tobias who doubts her ability to make such a decision, she is working to maintain her place in society. At a ball she learns of the death of her acquaintance Lady Milford and the involvement of Drysdale and his asylum for “hysterical” women. Young Martin, who has useful information, is brutally murdered before he can share it. Petra is determined to find out what is happening. Against all common sense she finds herself deeper involved and more in danger every day.

Petra has a mind of her own and like Elizabeth Bennett will remain true to herself when others might find her crazy. I mostly admired her except when I wanted to urge her to calm down. I guess if she had, countless women would have continued to suffer in the fraudulent asylum. She is intelligent, resourceful, daring, and a bit stubborn. She has help from her best friend, young Teddy from the street, and I look forward to seeing him develop as the series grows. Because of my not reading the first books, I am not fully sure that I understood Duncan completely, but I enjoyed the dynamic between him and Petra. The ending clearly hints that we will see more of them together, or not.

I would absolutely recommend this to my Austen reading friends, my mystery loving friends, and my friends who prefer a gentle romance. It is a good reminder of how far women have come. I love that Petra is true to herself as she navigates her independent future, and I love the challenge to the reader to get to know herself (or himself, of course) and to live accordingly. The book also served, for me, as an uncomfortable reminder of how much we still need to progress with regard to how we deal with mental health. I was scared at the lack of power the women in this book had and the treatment they received. While I know we know more and are doing better at taking care of all people, I feel we still fail more than we should in areas of mental illness and health. I like that this book provokes this kind of thinking in the reader.

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.