{"title":"Celeste Connally","description":"CELESTE CONNALLY is the USA Today bestselling author of the Lady Petra Inquires series, an Agatha Award nominee, and a former freelance writer and editor. Her mysteries are set in Regency-era England and feature a headstrong heroine, and as many equestrian scenes as her plots and editor will allow. She delights in giving her mysteries a good dose of romance, too, and a few research facts she hopes you'll find as interesting as she does. Passionate about history and slightly obsessed with period dramas, what Celeste loves most is reading and writing about women who don't always do as they are told.","products":[{"product_id":"revenge-served-royal-a-mystery-hardcover","title":"Revenge, Served Royal: A Mystery - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBridgerton meets Agatha Christie in this dazzling third instalment to the captivating Regency-era Lady Petra Inquires mystery series.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ci\u003eSeptember, 1815.\u003c\/i\u003e Autumn is in the air as Lady Petra Forsyth and some of the most illustrious members of the ton descend upon Windsor Castle for a week of royal celebrations, with the highlight being Queen Charlotte's inaugural patisserie contest for the best bakers employed by England's finest houses. Not only is Lady Petra's own cook one of the contestants, but Her Majesty has requested that Petra herself serve as one of the judges. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePetra's happiness at tasting delicious cakes and biscuits only increases at finding her beloved Aunt Ophelia in attendance at Windsor, as well as Sir Rufus Pomeroy. As England's most famous former royal chef-turned-cookbook author, Sir Rufus is slated to present his best recipes to the Queen during the festivities, with Petra being granted an early viewing in the royal library. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Yet upon arrival, Petra instead encounters a frantic housemaid pointing to a body of one of Her Majesty's guests--and to the valet still tugging at the silk ribbon used to strangle the victim. What's more, the valet turns out to be Oliver Beecham, the ne'er-do-well brother of Petra's own lady's maid, Annie. But as Oliver is hauled away to the dungeons, he protests his innocence, claiming the late guest argued with several aristocrats, including the Prince Regent and Petra's Aunt Ophelia, and boasted about hiding a potentially scandalous document within the vastness of Windsor Castle. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWhen some poisoned tea meant for Petra is consumed by one of her fellow judges, it's clear the real killer is still walking the castle's halls. Indeed, in order to prove the innocence of Annie's brother and find the incriminating document, Petra will need to act like a lady, eat like a chef, and think like one of Her Majesty's best spies before a murderer can turn the celebrations from sweet to royally deadly.","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50102521299167,"sku":"9781250387394","price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/zNLH0s_3rg9781250387394.webp?v=1781083414"},{"product_id":"alls-fair-in-love-and-treachery-a-mystery-paperback","title":"All's Fair in Love and Treachery: A Mystery - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e*A \u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e bestseller* \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eBridgerton\u003c\/i\u003e meets Agatha Christie in this d\u003cb\u003eazzling next installment in a captivating Regency-era mystery series with a feminist spin.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003e21 June, 1815. \u003c\/i\u003e 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 \u003ci\u003emurder\u003c\/i\u003e, 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSo 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThen, 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAs 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.","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50102615834847,"sku":"9781250867629","price":19.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/OoCZh2YWsY9781250867629.webp?v=1781083602"},{"product_id":"act-like-a-lady-think-like-a-lord-paperback","title":"ACT Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBridgerton meets Agatha Christie in \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eAct Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord, \u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003ea dazzling first entry in a captivating new Regency-era mystery series with a feminist spin from Celeste Connally.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLondon, 1815\u003c\/i\u003e. Lady Petra Forsyth, daughter of the Earl of Holbrook, has made a shocking proclamation. After losing her beloved fiancé in an accident three years earlier, she announces in front of London's loosest lips that she will never marry. A woman of independent means--and rather independent ways--Petra sees no reason to cede her wealth and freedom to any man now that the love of her life is gone. Instead, she plans to continue enjoying the best of society without any expectations. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBut when ballroom gossip suggests that a longtime friend has died of a fit due to her \"melancholia\" while in the care of a questionable physician, Petra vows to use her status to dig deeper. Just as Petra has reason to believe her friend is alive, a shocking murder proves more danger is afoot than she thought. And the more determined Lady Petra becomes in uncovering the truth, the more her own headstrong actions and desire for independence are used against her, putting her own freedom--and possibly her life--in jeopardy.","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50104413946079,"sku":"9781250867575","price":18.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/W_o3ThBUWc9781250867575.webp?v=1781108256"}],"url":"https:\/\/blackandbarhe.com\/collections\/celeste-connally.oembed","provider":"Black \u0026 Barhe Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}