A treacherous curse - Deanna Raybourn

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. . . . 

Paperback, 320 pages
Published January 9th 2018 by Titan Books
Veronica Speedwell #3
Historical mystery
in exchange for an honest review

My thoughts:

Veronica is a hoot! LOL. It opens with her unboxing things for their collection and then she and Stoker has a discussion about the phallus  she finds. She is so NOT a proper Victorian lady. While Stoke is SO the proper gentleman who blushes as such things.

So yes Veronica is not your average kind of woman. She collects butterflies, has written about them and been published, been around the world, and slept with men and is not afraid to talk about it.

Stoker is more proper. Raised an aristocrat and been around the world too. But he sure needs her to drag him out of the hole he is in.

Together they solve crimes and are unstoppable!

This time there is a Mummy curse, a missing artifact, and one gentleman gone missing. On to the mission they are. And then there is that thing about her ancestry which makes certain people look after her more carefully. I like that.

They are so great together (hook up!). There is silliness and seriousness. Oh this would make such a fun tv series (looking at you BBC).

Conclusion:
Fun times!

A perilous undertaking - Deanna Raybourn

"London, 1887." Victorian adventuress and butterfly hunter Veronica Speedwell receives an invitation to visit the Curiosity Club, a ladies-only establishment for daring and intrepid women. There she meets the mysterious Lady Sundridge, who begs her to take on an impossible task saving society art patron Miles Ramsforth from execution. Accused of the brutal murder of his artist mistress Artemisia, Ramsforth will face the hangman s noose in a week s time if Veronica cannot find the real killer.

But Lady Sundridge is not all that she seems, and unmasking her true identity is only the first of the many secrets Veronica must uncover. Together with her natural historian colleague Stoker, Veronica races against time to find the true murderer a ruthless villain who not only took Artemisia s life in cold blood but is happy to see Ramsforth hang for the crime. 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...." 

My thoughts:

We learned some truths about Veronica in book 1, and by that I mean who her father is. *wink wink* In this one she meets another family member. I do like how she does not let it mess with her work. She is a strong independent woman. Also, she does have the right to be pissed at them, but she really is not. She is above it. But sure, it lingers.

A mystery set in a historical setting is always awesome. It just works for me you know. It's the atmosphere and the fact that it's harder to solve the case. It takes more legwork too.

Anyway, I need to get back on point. An artist is accused of killing his muse, so someone asks Veronica to solve the case.

Oh and she and Stoker need to get it on! Soon! But I like him, he is rather prudish at times. His family is something else too. But they are such a good pair, great chemistry.

Conclusion:
It was a nice mystery, I kept thinking I knew who did it, but like always I just suspected everyone so that is kind of cheating ;)

Cover
Eh

Paperback, 320 pages
Published January 10th 2017 by Titan Books Ltd
Veronica Speedwell #2
Historical mystery
For review

A curious beginning - Deanna Raybourn

London, 1887. As the city prepares to celebrate Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee, Veronica Speedwell is marking a milestone of her own. After burying her spinster aunt, the orphaned Veronica is free to resume her world travels in pursuit of scientific inquiry—and the occasional romantic dalliance. As familiar with hunting butterflies as she is fending off admirers, Veronica wields her butterfly net and a sharpened hatpin with equal aplomb, and with her last connection to England now gone, she intends to embark upon the journey of a lifetime.

But fate has other plans, as Veronica discovers when she thwarts her own abduction with the help of an enigmatic German baron with ties to her mysterious past. Promising to reveal in time what he knows of the plot against her, the baron offers her temporary sanctuary in the care of his friend Stoker—a reclusive natural historian as intriguing as he is bad-tempered. But before the baron can deliver on his tantalizing vow to reveal the secrets he has concealed for decades, he is found murdered. Suddenly Veronica and Stoker are forced to go on the run from an elusive assailant, wary partners in search of the villainous truth. 

My thoughts:

Was Veronica a woman of her time? No. But then why would she have to? There are always rebels. She had wit, courage and a no nonsense attitude. She loved butterflies and was an avid collector, and financed her trips with that. Oh and she had affairs, but only with foreign men who can not tell the tale.

She lives with her aunts (and now there are no aunts left). A mysterious man shows up and tells her she is in danger, she does not care, but goes away with him. And she ends up with another mysterious man called Stoker. He was rather brooding, had secrets in his past and a chip on his shoulder. I could see them end up together, since they could fit.

But the story! Yes there is danger. Who killed the Baron? Who is after Veronica? Who were her parents?

At first I read and enjoyed the book, but then I become even more hooked! I Needed to know who here parents was. It turned into a nailbiting one for me, I was so curious. It's a good mystery, and I even woke up a bit early to finish it the next day.

Conclusion:
Mysteries, danger and a woman ahead of her time. Interesting tale, I wonder what happens in the next book. 

Cover

Not for me. But still good and it fits

Paperback, 320 pages
Expected publication: October 2nd 2015 by Titan Books Ltd
Veronica Speedwell Mystery #1
Historical mystery
for review