A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn
Release Date:
January 10th, 2017
Publisher: Berkley
Books
Type: Adult Mystery
Pages: 338
Series: Veronica Speedwell #2
Other Titles in the
Series: A Curious Beginning (VS #1)
Summary: 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
Review:
This
is a marvelous edition to a great series. In this book, Veronica and
Stoker find themselves trapped in London instead of on an expedition.
As is seemingly their new normal they find themselves involved in a
mystery. This time they've been hired to clear an innocent man's name
before he hangs for a crime some don't believe he committed.
Now
that we know Veronica and Stoker, we are past initial first
impressions and are learning more about them as they are learning
about each other. Their friendship is getting stronger by the day,
secrets are coming slowly out of the shadows, but they still bicker
like the proverbial old married couple. We learn a little more about
Stoker's past, we meet his family and see why he's the odd
Templeton-Vane out, and get a glimpse as to what happened in Brazil.
As for Veronica, we finally get a glimpse into how she hunts for
butterflies, which I found fascinating. I hope that they get to go on
an expedition soon so we can see more of their careers and passions
on display. Throughout all, though Veronica remains a strong willed,
steadfast, independent woman and still she is what draws me to this
series.
Set
in the heart of London from royal residences, art houses, and opium
dens we meet a variety of new, unique characters. Lord Rosemorran and
Lady Cordelia's great-aunt Wellingtonia, who is as eccentric as they
come, as well as her hard of hearing friend, Cecil, a member of the
Royal family, and a handful of artists who live where the victim
resided. Lady Wellie was my favorite because like Veronica she speaks
her mind. We also see old favorites such as those men from the
Scotland Yard that keep popping up Sir Hugo and Mornaday.
The
mystery was a fine one, with twists and turns, blackmail and threats.
I, personally, wasn't quite sure who the murderer was. I liked how
even when there is the one straight forward who-done-it mystery,
Raybourn weaves in smaller ones as well. Everyone is connected, but
what key factor that binds them is within itself a mystery. I cannot
recommend this series enough.
~Laura!
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