Members of an Egyptian expedition fall victim to an ancient mummy’s curse in a thrilling Veronica Speedwell novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the Lady Julia Grey mysteries. London, 1888. As colorful and unfettered as the butterflies she collects, Victorian adventuress Veronica Speedwell can’t resist the allure of an exotic mystery-particularly one involving her enigmatic colleague, Stoker. His former expedition partner has vanished from an archaeological dig with a priceless diadem unearthed from the newly discovered tomb of an Egyptian princess. This disappearance is just the latest in a string of unfortunate events that have plagued the controversial expedition, and rumors abound that the curse of the vengeful princess has been unleashed as the shadowy figure of Anubis himself stalks the streets of London. But the perils of an ancient curse are not the only challenges Veronica must face as sordid details and malevolent enemies emerge from Stoker’s past. Caught in a tangle of conspiracies and threats-and thrust into the public eye by an enterprising new foe-Veronica must separate facts from fantasy to unravel a web of duplicity that threatens to cost Stoker everything. . . .
Love this edgy heroine. Definitely not your typical Victorian lady.
Wonderful story, lovely writing, fantastic characters. I enjoyed this instillment in the series, especially the audiobook version. Of course Stoker is an unforgettable leading man, but I’m rather in love with Tiberius. I thought it was great how he played into this story!
4.5/5 Another great installment of the adventures of Veronica Speedwell, although I don’t feel it was quite as wonderful as the second book (A Perilous Undertaking)…that’s my favorite of the three thus far. I did enjoy learning more about Stoker’s backstory and meeting his ex-wife, and how that will influence his relationship with Veronica going forward. There was also a bit more of a teaser with flirting going on between Stoker’s viscount brother and Veronica which I think will continue forward. This series just continues to get better and better with the character development, the storylines and the laugh-out-loud humor. This one is due out in January, and I highly recommend it and the entire series! Ms. Raybourn has become a go-to author for me in the historical mystery genre. Many thanks to Berkeley Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!
Once again, Raybourn takes the reader on an historic ride.
Marvelous, engaging characters. New back story reveals.
Egyptian mayhem!
London mayhem!
All in all, quite delicious and satisfying.
Another terrific story by Deanna Raybourn about the Victorian naturalists/sleuths, Veronica Speedwell and Stocker. The author meticulously researches the known science of the Victorian era and implants it into the story. Sir Hugo charges them with solving the disappearance or murder of photographer John de Morgan. The mystery of Stocker’s ex wife is revealed, the fascination with Egyptology at the time is explored and even a hot air balloon is used. As in the previous books, the characters are fascinating. A must read.
Any and every Veronica Speedwell novel is a must-buy for me. As with the opener in this series, A Curious Beginning, Raybourn combines hijinks, humor, fierce femininity, true history, and joyful inventiveness into a book that makes for a rollicking good time. You only need to read the first page of this one to know whether or not it’s for you.
This is the third book the late-Victorian Veronica Speedwell series. It features lepidopterist Veronica who is bold, unconventional, outspoken (to the point of being overbearing) and the handsome Revelstoke Templeton-Vane (Stoker). I read the first book in the series and loved everything about it except Veronica, so I decided to skip ahead in the series and see if she had mellowed any at all. She is still arrogant, superior, condescending and overbearing, but she’s not quite as bad as in the first book, so I’ll definitely try another one – hoping that she continues to mellow a bit. This author’s mysteries and writing are always top-notch, it is only the female lead for which I haven’t been able to work up any enthusiasm – I don’t hate her, I just don’t care for her very much and we’d never be good friends. I am excited to see where the series heads from here!
I am not going to complain because I dearly wanted to learn more about Stoker’s past – and I was delighted to learn a lot more – but that knowledge did come at the expense of the mystery. The mystery was still excellent, just not as intricately complex as the others in the series. We didn’t learn all about Stoker, but we did learn a lot more than we knew before. We meet his ex-wife and find out some of what happened between them – and it wasn’t pretty.
Veronica and Stoker are summoned to the sickbed of Sir Hugo Montgomerie of the Special Branch. Sir Hugo wants them to look into the disappearance of Stoker’s former best friend, John de Morgan. De Morgan had been working as a photographer on the Tiverton expedition in Egypt. The expedition made an extraordinary find and de Morgan disappeared with one of the priceless artifacts. Veronica and Stoker have to take on the investigation because of Stoker’s past with de Morgan – and it won’t be long before the newspapers track down that past and bring Stoker’s name into scandal again. Stoker might even be blamed for the disappearance and/or death of de Morgan.
The mystery rocks on and I began to wonder if they would ever get the clue to solving the case, but when they get it, things just explode and it is non-stop action from there on out.
I know I have said, repeatedly, that I don’t care for Veronica, but I do absolutely love how she protects and defends Stoker. No matter what she hears about him or from whom she hears it – she absolutely never doubts Stoker. She will look out for him even to her own detriment. (BTW – the author has really toned down the “Hey look at me I’m unconventional” rantings that were in the first book and I’m so very glad). Their relationship isn’t all one-sided though. Stoker is the same way about her.
One thing I find very entertaining is the role reversal in this series. Veronica has had liaisons and is very free with admitting them, speaking about sex, etc. and isn’t the least bit embarrassed about it. Stoker, on the other hand, is almost prudish. Not that he hasn’t had liaisons, but it just isn’t something he speaks about with ladies and he embarrasses so easily. So, in this series – she is uninhibited and he is missish. They are two societal outcasts who are absolutely perfect for each other – can’t wait until they realize they love each other.
I definitely recommend this author, this book and this series.
Deception, Betrayal, Adventure, and a Mystery
For Mature Readers
No sex, but adult situations
Little or no objectionable language
Veronica and Stoker are called upon to solve the disappearance of a member of an archaeological team. Complicating the matter is an Egyptian curse as well as the fact that the missing man happens to be the same man who stole away Stoker’s wife.
Thievery, treachery, intrigue, and misplaced loyalty combine to give us a terrific story.
Especially enjoyable is the deep friendship continually developing between Veronica and Stoker.
Highly recommended
Love this series! A must read!
Veronica and Stoker-our intrepid duo of amateur sleuthing-are back and better than ever! The third installment of their adventures involved-among other things-a short course in Egyptology, missing jewels, a missing ex-best friend, salvaging Stoker’s reputation, and meeting Stoker’s ex-wife (who was more horrid in person than I originally imagined)!
Stoker’s past comes back to..not haunt him exactly, but definitely be a nuisance. I was thrilled to finally learn more about him and his disaster of a marriage. I can’t say I blame the guy for not remarrying anytime soon; his ex was a real piece of work. Veronica was obviously Stoker’s staunch defender and-much to my enjoyment-had marvelous quips and comebacks whenever Stoker was put on the defensive.
Also, if you’re looking to expound your vocabulary, look no further. The language is just as resplendent as previous installments, but I really couldn’t imagine either character talking differently!
I loved the story! Stoker and Veronica have become a favorite couple with their loquacious conversations and scientifically approached adventures. The plot and characters were well developed and I felt the mystery was solid. Veronica and Stoker’s relationship also made progress. They’ve worked well together previously, but here they seem to be opening up to each other emotionally. There’s no romance; there’s just a sense of unique understanding between the two. Either way, I’ll take what I can get!
Favorite quotes:
“What is it about the pair of you that you must be so contrary?” “What is it about the rest of the world that it cannot take us as we are?”
“‘Impossible is a word only to be found in the dictionary of fools.’”
“…life is not about achievement. It is about the effort. If one takes pleasure in every step, one enjoys the whole journey.”
A Treacherous Curse by Deanna Raybourn
I kept hearing “Another fine mess you’ve gotten me into” as I read the adventures of Veronica Speedwell, new and most deserving member of the Hippolyta Club, which “does not permit gentlemen to enter” except for “extraordinary circumstances . . . only to the Parley Room . . . for twenty-nine minutes.” Rest assured, the gentleman is worthy of the exception, a brave and equal partner in extraordinary escapades. (A special nod to literacy with “Reader, I carried him” made me smile).
I was also reminded of the adage that if a prop is introduced, expect it to be used, as will knowledge of Egyptology and drains, and butterflies, at least metaphorically, with the lovely word eclosed.
I’m late to the series, ready to remedy my not having read the first two . . . and hoping to see many more.
Veronica Speedwell is a wonderful character and ahead of her time in her thinking. In this installment Veronica and Stoker are drawn into the disappearance of his former best friend, John de Morgan. I enjoyed the peek in Stoker’s past and it helped me to understand him and his relationship to Veronica better. I love the interaction between them and how they work together so well. They are a good pair and I can’t wait to see what happens in future books.
I absolutely love that Stoker got his history explained more, and I was LOVING Veronica standing up for him in every situation. I was so proud of both the characters. And I did not expect the ending!
A rollicking adventure in Victorian London. Veronica is a bold, intelligent and irreverent heroine. She and the darkly handsome Stoker are a perfect sleuthing team. Criminals don’t stand a chance against. “A Treacherous Curse” is full of wit and verve.
A Treacherous Curse is #3 in the series. I always enjoy these mysteries because of the quirky characters, lively banter, and terrific plots. This one includes info on Egyptology that I found very interesting. I am enjoying the series.
Please! Let there be more!! Please Please Please!!! I absolutely adore this series by Deanna Raybourn. Veronica and Stoker are the best heroine and hero that I have read in a long time (for this genre). This is the third book in the series and I hope and pray she and her publisher keep treating us to their stories. Veronica is a lepidopterist with very modern ideas about how women need live and love and natural historian Stoker is a disgraced younger brother of the Earl Templeton-Vane who seems to at times have modern ideas of how women should act and other times has a decidedly uptight view, but has given up on changing Veronica. They have a very unconventional situation living somewhat together, but not exactly at Lord Rosmorran’s estate while cataloging his art, specimens and historical items for an estate museum. This story brings Stoker’s ex-wife back into the picture who is a very sore point for Veronica. Veronica despises her with just cursory knowledge which deepens as we finally get to learn more about Stoker’s previous life with the ex. This is all tied into the latest mystery dealing with missing Egyptian artifacts and a curse. On the romance front between Stoker and Veronica – there isn’t much and I may have been yelling at the book on occasion (especially after what happened in the last book), but at the end, there is a spark of hope at least. I felt it was more than a spark, however, I have read other reviews and they seem to think nothing was there. I disagree quite decidedly! My only worry is in the next book (fingers crossed) that I am correct and that hopefully there will be more romance. I know it won’t be mushy or anything because they are both too stoic for that, but I believe there is love there to be explored. I received a free ARC of this book for an honest review and even though I have read it now – I purchased the hardback book of this entire series because I love it that much! FYI – I quit buying physical books years ago and even then it was paperback books. Update: I wrote this review back when this book came out. I’m happy to say there are several more books to come.
Love this series, Deanna Raybourn is one of my top three favorite authors.
Deanna Raybourn always writes a great book and the Veronica Speedwell mysteries are among her best. If you enjoy a protagonist with a rapier wit and a superior intellect, you won’t be able to resist these books.