A Curious Beginning - (Veronica Speedwell Mystery) by Deanna Raybourn (Paperback)

About the Book

Contains excerpt from A Perilous Undertaking, the next Veronica Speedwell Mystery.

Book Synopsis

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 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.

Review Quotes

Praise for A Curious Beginning

"Wickedly clever and devilishly amusing...Veronica Speedwell is a joy--unflappable, unrepentant, and thoroughly delightful."--Susan Elia MacNeal, New York Times bestselling author of the Maggie Hope series

"The eccentricities of Victorian England receive a rousing look in the highly entertaining A Curious Beginning...Energetic storytelling."--South Florida Sun-Sentinel

"Creating strong character pairings, placing the action in unexpectedly unusual but actual historical settings, and folding it all into a clever mystery are hallmarks of this author's magical, signature style...This new series starts off with a bang."--Library Journal (starred review)

"I love this book! Brings us the powerful Veronica Speedwell, who triumphs over adversity and danger with wit, charm, and uncanny determination. A real find."--Robyn Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Virgin River series

More Praise for the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries

"A ruthlessly intelligent heroine."--NPR

"I love this series! Veronica Speedwell is utterly unique."--Amanda Quick, New York Timesbestselling author of The Other Lady Vanishes

"Veronica Speedwell is sure to join the greats of mystery fiction."--Alan Bradley, New York Times bestselling author of the Flavia de Luce series

"A treat. One of the few writers who can make history feel immediate and exciting without losing a grasp of the period."--Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of the Royal Spyness series

"A fine combination of detective story and character study...sure to interest mystery lovers and Anglophiles alike."--The Historical Novels Review

"A smart, plucky, way-ahead-of-her time heroine."--Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"Veronica Speedwell might just be one of the most endearing heroines in mysteries, period....She's smart, dashing, and entirely capable....Her sense of humor and chemistry with Stoker, her counterpart, just make this series even better."--Bustle

About the Author

Deanna Raybourn is the author of the award-winning, New York Times bestselling Lady Julia Grey series, currently in development for television, as well as the USA Today bestselling and Edgar Award nominated Veronica Speedwell Mysteries and several standalone works.