The New York Times bestselling author of the Lady Julia Grey mysteries returns once more to Victorian England and introduces intrepid adventuress Veronica Speedwell…. London, 1887. After burying her spinster aunt, orphaned Veronica Speedwell is free to resume her world travels in pursuit of scientific inquiry—and the occasional romantic dalliance. As familiar with hunting butterflies as with … with hunting butterflies as with fending off admirers, Veronica intends to embark upon the journey of a lifetime.
But fate has other plans when Veronica thwarts her own attempted abduction with the help of an enigmatic German baron, who offers her sanctuary in the care of his friend Stoker, a reclusive and bad-tempered natural historian. But before the baron can reveal what he knows of the plot against her, he is found murdered—leaving Veronica and Stoker on the run from an elusive assailant as wary partners in search of the villainous truth.
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I really enjoyed this first Veronica Speedwell mystery. Veronica is smart and bold and unapologetic, and I loved Stoker and am dying to know what his big secret is. A traveling curiosities show, taxidermy, and lepidopterology (the scientific study of butterflies) were all fun and unexpected elements. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
I do like a forceful, desicive heroine, and Veronica definitely was one. However, the plot was both too thin to carry to the end without a lengthy stretch in the middle filled with non-plot-related events, and over the top, which made for a weak story. But the main characters were interesting enough to keep me reading. Romance relied on deliberately avoiding it, which from such a forceful heroine was odd. And Stoker keeping his past as such a great secret got old pretty fast. It didn’t add sufficient mystery to his character.
I absolutely loved this book. I read the second one in the series and look forward to reading the 3rd one….when it is available at the library. I tried this book on a whim, wanted something different. The man-woman relationship is wonderful, they are quirky, fun, and you find yourself laughing out loud.
A very fun period mystery.
Looking forward to the 2nd!
This is everything I want! A little historical, a little romance, a lot of mystery, a whole bunch of independent heroine who rejects society’s expectations of her…
In the unexpected area of romance, very much a slow burn and I’m here for it! In the area of mystery, very well done! Loved it. I cannot wait for more! I’ve already got book to on the Kindle so, “Excelsior!”
One long chase scene revolving around some fantastic, original characters, science, and a mystery.
This is the first book that I have read by Deanna Raybourn and I enjoyed her writing style. It was an easy read that flowed from one chapter to the next. I liked the sexual tension between Veronica and Stoker and how they play off each other but also work together to solve the mystery. Veronica is a strong character with her own opinions and she isn’t afraid to express them. Stoker has many secrets and talents and I think that we’ve only touched the surface in this book. The mystery was interesting and I enjoyed learning about Victorian London. I am looking forward to the next book to see where things go between Veronica and Stoker, and what their next adventure will be.
This is my first Deanna Raybourn novel, but it won’t be my last. The main character, Veronica Speedwell, is a literary treat. Loved the interactions between Veronica and Stoker. I hope their relationship grows through the series.
Book 56 towards my goal of 270! 5/5 stars for this Historical Fiction reread! Great start to a series. Follows such a fun main character! I forgot how much intrigue was in book 1! Highly recommend! Narration was great. One of my favorite covers!
What a fun and resourceful Victorian woman; Victoria Speedwell is bossy, opinionated, and perfectly suited to rebellion against the roles society set for women. The audio-book truly brings the story and characters to life. I enjoyed the plot twist very much.
A Curious Beginning is the first adventure in Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series, and it is quite a Victorian romp. The book opens as narrator Veronica buries the second of the “aunts” who raised her and prepares to set out on a new adventure. It turns out to be not quite the adventure she had planned. Already an accomplished lepidopterist, Veronica has seen much of the world (and quite a few men), and she’s ready to set out on a new butterfly hunting expedition.
Instead she’s thrown into unexplained danger, as her aunt’s cottage is invaded and ransacked. She accepts a ride to London with a German baron who appears to know more about her past than she does herself, but refuses to tell her about her mother until he speaks to someone else. He parks her with a man called Stoker (no, nothing to do with Bram or vampires), an apparently anti-social taxidermist/naturalist who is trying to mount a smallish elephant.
And that’s only the Beginning. There are murders, burglaries, a traveling circus, eccentric friends (or are they?), and a search for Veronica’s true parentage. Stoker’s background is even more complicated, and much of that will tempt the reader on to the next book in the series (A Perilous Undertaking, waiting on my Kindle).
Veronica is a delightfully independent and uninhibited lady, quite out of place in the England of the mid 1880s and glorying in it. Stoker is brooding, cranky, loaded with baggage, and very attractive. Each has reasons to keep the other at arm’s length, and other reasons to keep the other close. I’ll be most interested to see where this relationship goes.
Who is Veronica Speedwell you may ask? Its gonna take you most of this book to answer that question! It really was a curious beginning on what I’m sure is going to be a slow burn romance. This series has an interesting cast of characters, and some great dialogue. I look forward to more adventures with Miss Speedwell! Happy Reading!
It takes a masterful storyteller to weave together a daring female seeker of butterflies, a traveling circus of misfits, a tattooed brooding naturalist, and Queen Victoria’s Jubilee into an intriguing murder mystery, but the author definitely succeeds. I would have given this book 5 stars, had I not figured out the central mystery driving the plot way before the protagonists.
This is the first book of a wonderful series.
You can always count on Deanna Raybourn for a great historical mystery. Veronica is a unique heroine and I enjoy her a lot. I’ve just read the latest instalment in this series but start here at the beginning!
Orphan Veronica Speedwell intends on returning to traipsing the world in search of exotic butterflies after she buries her aunt. A break-in and the appearance of a kindly German baron takes her to London when the man mentions he knew her parents. When the baron is killed, Veronica must follow the trail of her parentage to learn the truth.
Try as I might, I just couldn’t like Veronica. To me, she seemed too modern for the time. It took about half the book before she takes any action to investigate. Stoker was a little bit more interesting but not enough to carry the book.
The plot moved fast and then slowed to a snail’s pace before accelerating once again. The writing was alright, and none of the supporting cast was very memorable.
Though I wish I could have enjoyed a new series, I doubt I will continue.
Veronica Speedwell is an unconventional but interesting character; she is selfish and cynical, but she adheres to her own code of honor. The narration moves briskly and the descriptions are vivid.
A fabulous beginning! and the sequels are equally wonderful
Kind of a cross between a Georgette Heyer and a Peters (Amelia Peabody series): well-drawn, interesting characters, historical setting, a really good read. I’ve read 2 of these, will continue to follow.