The “wickedly clever and devilishly amusing” Veronica Speedwell returns for a rousing adventure from the New York Times bestselling author of the Lady Julia Grey Mysteries.London, 1887. At the Curiosity Club, a ladies-only establishment for daring and intrepid women, Victorian adventuress Veronica Speedwell meets the mysterious Lady Sundridge, who begs her to take on an impossible task—saving … to take on an impossible task—saving society art patron Miles Ramsforth from execution. Ramsforth, accused of the brutal murder of his mistress, Artemisia, will face the hangman’s noose in a week’s time if the real killer is not found.
But Lady Sundridge is not all that she seems, and unmasking her true identity is only the first of many secrets Veronica must uncover. Together with her natural-historian colleague, Stoker, Veronica races against time to find the true murderer. From a Bohemian artists’ colony to a royal palace to a subterranean grotto with a decadent history, the investigation proves to be a very perilous undertaking indeed…
SusanElia MacNeal
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This book was entertaining but at times it was predictable. I felt that the author belabored at times especially the descriptions of taxedermy techniques.
The Veronica Speedwell series is very entertaining and original
Great new series!
Loved these characters and their adventure! They speak and act as I would expect people to do so in that era; and being very much individuals who do what they want to do makes for interesting interactions with those they come in contact with. The author packs a lot of interesting information in the book and I found the whole package very real and great reading. A good mystery solved by fascinating protagonists!
Veronica Speedwell is a refreshing character and all three books in the series are well excellent.
Love it!
Great characters!
The second of a series. The characters at first are hard to like but by then end of the first book I wanted to read more. After reading this second in the series I am looking for the next one. It was a fun read.
Another exciting tale from Deanna Raybourn. Veronica Speedwell is an adventuress and lepidopterist, who found out in the previous book that she was the illegitimate daughter of the Prince of England. In the previous book she also became close friends and colleagues with natural historian and taxidermist, Stoker Templeton-Vane. The two of them have been hired by Lord Rosemarran to catalogue and organize the generations of collections filing up the Belvedere, a building on the grounds of Marylebone Estate, with the eventual goal of establishing it into a museum. Shortly after an expedition to the South Pacific was postponed after Lord Rosemarran, injured himself, the duo were approached by Veronica’s “aunt” to investigate a murder. The Princess is convinced that art patron Miles Ramsforth did not murder his mistress, but he refuses to say anything and is scheduled to be hanged.
In the tradition of Sherlock Holmes and Dr, Watson, Veronica and Stoker, followed clues and use their minds to track down the truth. The author paints a rich scenery with words instead of pigments and an exciting plot, filled with danger, some wit and lots of interesting facts.
Loved this book even more than the 1st one. Love the characters, especially Veronica. Could not put it down. Can’t wait for the next one.
The mystery was good. I did figure out the killer right away, but it didn’t detract from the story. It was well written in that sense. Why two stars? There was too much talk about sexual stuff. There was talk of the main characters sexual history, preference and requirements. One of the historical venues was a club known for orgies etc. Many of the characters were not faithful to their spouses. I just thought there was way too much of that subject for a good read.
Just finished this book and need to go back and read the first Veronica Speedwell mystery. While this is a stand alone mystery novel, I loved the characters so much, I want to know about them. Easy read, good plot, perfect for a summer afternoon read!