Act like a lady, think like a lord

Lady Petra, daughter of the Earl of Holbrook, lost her fiancé to an untimely accident and has announced to Regency society that she will not marry. Hoping to avoid her uncle's maneuvers to change her mind, she flees to London to attend the springtime ball given by her godmother, the Duchess of Hillmorton. Society gossip reports that her friend Gwen is dead, but, shockingly, Gwen's husband is hosting a hunt soon after the funeral. A footman overhears whispers that Gwen has been seen. Petra, concerned for her friend, arranges an early-morning ride in the park to meet the footman to learn more. Before they can meet, she is assaulted and the footman is found dead. As she and her friends ask more questions, Petra is threatened. Is it just her independence in wanting to make decisions for herself, or is there something more sinister lurking beneath the veneer of society? With the opulence of the ton on full display, this first in a series is refreshing for the complexity of its lead characters and will be popular with Bridgerton fans.

This delightful Regency mystery series launch from Connally, a pseudonym for S.C. Perkins (the Ancestry Detective Mystery series), draws readers into the life of Lady Petra Forsyth, whose unconventional behavior and affinity for sleuthing is frowned upon by most of her acquaintances and, especially, her nosy uncle Tobias. After her fiancé dies and her dearest friend, Duncan, decamps to mainland Europe to work for his grandfather, Petra announces at age 24 that she'll remain single, shocking the public and moving her contemporaries to label her a premature spinster. Despite the undue scrutiny, Petra takes an interest in some of the women in her social circle, particularly after she learns that Gwen, wife of Lord Milford, has died suddenly in a physician's care. When Gwen's footman swears he's seen the woman days after her supposed death, Petra starts digging, and soon uncovers a growing network of wives who've disappeared from society's upper crust under mysterious circumstances. Soon Duncan reappears in England, arousing Petra's suspicions further, and her determination to get to the bottom of things may put her own life in danger. Petra is marvelously drawn--an easy-to-love, instantly memorable heroine--and Connally equips her with a brisk, page-turning adventure. This is catnip for historical suspense fans. Agents: Chrstina Hogrebe and Jess Errera, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Nov.)

An effervescent noblewoman probes a disturbing mystery. From dressing in a harness room rather than her chambers to publicly declaring that she'll never marry, Lady Petra Forsyth enjoys flouting the conventions of early 19th-century England and shocking her noble friends and family. Her biggest problems seem to be a diminution of invitations resulting from her plainspeaking and free-spirited nature, as well as a related estrangement from her cousin Lynley. Little wonder, then, that she latches onto a baffling mystery and vigorously investigates it. While attending a ball with her bestie, Lady Caroline, Petra learns of the death a fortnight earlier of their mutual friend Lady Gwen Milford, who suffered from a highly nervous disposition and a difficult marriage. At the same event, Petra spots Gwen's footman, Martin. Despite the social stigma attached to speaking with a servant, Petra's curiosity prompts her to quiz Martin, who tells her that he and several other servants, all loyal to Lady Gwen, were recently dismissed by Lord Milford. Then he shocks Petra with the claim that he saw Gwen only a couple of days ago. What can Petra do but delve further? Before long, there's a murder to solve. At length, Petra uncovers an outrageous and dastardly plot. The return of a dashing former lover complicates both her investigation and her commitment to singlehood. Connally's series kickoff, which moves at a leisurely pace, is more notable for its sparkling repartee than its mystery. Her Regency England resembles the buoyant world of Jane Austen. A delightful period adventure with pitch-perfect banter. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.