Book Review: A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge,from Berkley Publishing, via Netgalley, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it

This book fits perfectly into History Thursday too!

New York Times bestselling author of the Lady Julia Grey mysteries, returns once more to Victorian England…and introduces intrepid adventuress Veronica Speedwell.

a curious beginning cover


Synopsis:

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.



Excerpt:

Read an excerpt on the Author's website!

Review:
I am SO thrilled this is the beginning of a new series based on Veronica's travels! Think of a Victorian era Nancy Drew and you have Veronica! Only as she's an adult, she has a full background and experience, to make her even more interesting. Add in a secret that becomes a full fledged murder mystery, involving a hunky Stoker, and you have a recipe for a fun romp of a page turner, that will have you laughing at Veronica's sarcastic wit and Stoker's absolute flummox in dealing with it! There are just too many FUN twist and turns in this book, that really keep you guessing what the secret was that the Baron had to tell Veronica, and then when you discover it, you're like 'well duh, shoulda seen that coming!". It's also a fun look at Victorian times (how Veronica challenged conventional customs with her wardrobe for example) 
and thoughts (descriptions of the Queen for example,are so 'behind the door' comments, yet accurate for how many thought of her). This is one you HAVE to read this Summer, even though its listed as YA, this is a great Summer read for adults! 

A Perilous Undertaking, A Veronica Speedwell Mystery, #2  is coming out in January, and Deanna is already working on Book 3!


About the Author:


Deanna Raybourn, the author of the award-winning New York Times bestselling Lady Julia Grey series and several standalone novels, is pleased to introduce her new Victorian-set mystery series featuring Veronica Speedwell.  Deanna lives in Virginia with her husband and daughter. Check out her website for more info!

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