Veronica Speedwell Mystery - A Curious Beginning

The edges of the book are faded.

Bon état

In some ways this story wasn't as I expected it to be. Deanna Raybournn is a master of words. She puts together dialogs that are witty, full of confidence, exasperating but never boring. The author's main characters (Lady Julia Grey in her first series, and Veronica in this one) are seemingly strong and eloquent, sometimes dramatically frustrating so. They (the main characters) meet men that are also dominant but accept the woman the way they are (at least after a while), making the conversations between them so satisfying.What I didn't expect was that the story was even faster paced. The author had me moving through places and situations that kept changing so quickly that I couldn't bare to put the book down, but still had to read very carefully less I miss something. Some of the places visited were strange--but still fitting. The story was well told. I admittedly enjoyed every moment of reading.And for me, a bonus was that even though Veronica was very much her own self, I still felt the presence of Amelia Peabody lurking!

“I abhorred weakness of any kind but most particularly in my tea.”If I had to make a list of my favourite authors, Deanna Raybourn would definitely be in the top 5. She is one of the most consistently brilliant writers I have ever had the pleasure of reading. So I knew going in that I was destined for an enjoyable few hours.Veronica was a wonderful heroine. She was strong, and intelligent and I really enjoyed her logic and practicality. She reminded me at times of Alexia from Gail Carriger's Soulless series, except she was far less concerned with propriety! I loved the idea of a heroine from the 19th century who had not only had lovers, but had possibly more than the hero and was completely unbothered by it. I will confess to loving Lady Julia (from Raybourn's Silent in the Grave series) a little more but I am fairly sure a lot of that is down to nostalgia - she was my introduction to Deanna Raybourn's writing after all!Our hero here, Stoker was just as compelling as Veronica and I loved his growth throughout the story, particularly in his relationship with Veronica. By the end of the book he was completely willing to let her be in control and I loved how incredibly non-sexist he was but in a way that felt realistic to the time and not just thrown in to make him more likable. Both characters had flaws but they were so likable and was rooting for them all the way through.The mystery was excellently done, I had absolutely no idea how things were going to unfold until they were revealed, which is the way I like mysteries to be. The actual revelation wasn't necessarily how I would have liked it to go, I am always wary of bringing real people into a fictional plot, but I did think it made sense and was very well wrapped up.I really liked the setting and the action, I could always picture what was happening, and where, in my head which I loved. And the events of the book were fast paced enough that I never got bored but this didn't neglect the character growth. The ending, though complete, left a lot of room for a sequel and I am beyond curious about Stoker's past! I loved that Veronica didn't demand to know anything about him and vice versa it made their revelations more spread out over the book and it meant more when secrets were revealed. So I am very much looking forward to finding out more as the series continues.Veronica and Stoker had quite an interesting relationship, he was very taciturn and distrustful to start with whilst she was so nonchalant about everything and delighted in winding him up. I loved their early interactions because they were hilarious and I loved their later interactions because they had gained a knowledge and respect for each other that I really enjoyed.Book 2 of the series isn't available to pre-order yet or you could be sure I would already have done so. Deanna Raybourn did not disappoint with this book, I only wish I had less of a wait for the next one - but maybe I can just re-read her other books in the meantime! If you are a fan of her other books, or if you enjoy Historical Mystery then I definitely recommend this book. Veronica was a unique and compelling narrator and there was a very strong mystery.

Livro veio com uma mancha ainda molhada (parece um tipo de óleo)

Deanna Raybourn definitely has a type. Strong, intelligent women, and the rakish, flawed men who trail in their wake. Since her debut with Silent in the Grave (The first in her Lady Julia Grey series), Raybourn has featured refreshingly strong female leads in her books, women who are smart and capable, yet fully human and flawed.I certainly enjoy the theme she has set for herself, and "A Curious Beginning," was exactly as I expect from Raybourn.This is the first book in a new series featuring protagonist Veronica Speedwell, and takes place around the same era as her previous series (the mid 1880s). Veronica Speedwell is a woman ahead of her time, an amateur lepidopterist, willfully headstrong, searingly direct, and far too independent (not to mention an orphan of unknown parentage). Returning from the funeral of her elderly aunt, she finds a strange man has broken into her cottage, and proceeded to wreck the place in search of something. From there a fortuitous meeting with a kindly stranger (who, naturally, seems to know something about her past) whirls her to the docks of London, where we meet the tall, dark, and brooding leading man of the series, Stoker (all leading men are tall and dark for Deanna Raybourn, and they all brood professionally). When the kindly stranger winds up dead soon afterwards, Veronica and Stoker are thrown together to try to solve the mystery not only of the murder, but of Veronica's past.I love Deanna Raybourn's books for a fun mystery with well-researched historical details, and witty banter between her protagonists. "A Curious Beginning" didn't disappoint in this regard, the book was an enjoyable day and half read, and her characters, while occasionally ridiculous, generally manage to be sympathetic and interesting. Raybourn is very good at layering mysteries; Stoker seems to have quite a few secrets of his own, and is quite loathe to share. Her plot is also loaded with the prerequisite red herrings and false revelations. And, if I can speak frankly, I always love having a strong female protagonist take the lead. I'm sexist like that.I do feel, however, that this book isn't as strong as her Julia Grey series. Veronica Speedwell as a character is in some respects so far ahead of her time as to be anachronistic. Let's not forget that the book is set in the latter years of Victorian England, and sometimes it seems quite impossible for a woman to get away with the things that she does in the story. At times, her character seems like someone who would be more at home in a novel set in the 1920s or 1930s. Additionally, aspects of the mystery are a bit sloppy and overly telegraphed. A reasonably astute reader has a good chance of figuring out most of the plot with 100 pages still to go. Fortunately, I generally enjoy Raybourn's writing style, so continuing on through the plot wasn't difficult.In sum, if you enjoy a fun and frivolous historical mystery, this book is a good bet. I'd say take it out to the hammock or down to the beach, and enjoy a nice, relaxing read.Check out more reviews by checking out my blog![...]