Search This Blog
2024 Bookish Books Reading Challenge (Hosted by Yours Truly)
December Reviews Link-Up
2024 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama (1)
- Alaska (1)
- Arizona (1)
- Arkansas (1)
- California (11)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut (2)
- Delaware (1)
- Florida (3)
- Georgia (3)
- Hawaii (1)
- Idaho (2)
- Illinois (4)
- Indiana (4)
- Iowa (1)
- Kansas (1)
- Kentucky (1)
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland (1)
- Massachusetts (3)
- Michigan (1)
- Minnesota (2)
- Mississippi (1)
- Missouri (1)
- Montana (1)
- Nebraska (1)
- Nevada (2)
- New Hampshire (1)
- New Jersey (1)
- New Mexico (1)
- New York (9)
- North Carolina (4)
- North Dakota (1)
- Ohio (3)
- Oklahoma (2)
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania (2)
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina (1)
- South Dakota (1)
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (4)
- Utah (4)
- Vermont (2)
- Virginia (2)
- Washington (3)
- West Virginia (1)
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming (2)
- Washington, D.C.* (2)
International:
- Argentina (1)
- Australia (3)
- Bolivia (1)
- Canada (3)
- China (2)
- England (25)
- France (1)
- Ghana (1)
- India (1)
- Indonesia (1)
- Ireland (4)
- Italy (1)
- Poland (2)
- Russia (2)
- Scotland (3)
- The Netherlands (1)
2024 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
Booklist Queen's 2024 Reading Challenge
2024 52 Club Reading Challenge
2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
2024 Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge
2024 Medical Examiner's Mystery Reading Challenge
2024 Mystery Marathon Reading Challenge
Mount TBR Reading Challenge
2024 Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge
Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge
Disney Animated Movies Reading Challenge
The 100 Most Common Last Names in the U.S. Reading Challenge
The Life Skills Reading Challenge
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Latest Veronica Speedwell Mystery an Enchanting, Madcap Adventure
8:13 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Note: Although this review will not contain spoilers for A Treacherous Curse, it may inadvertently spoil plot surprises from earlier Veronica Speedwell mysteries. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.
Unlike most women of her age and era, 26-year-old Veronica Speedwell has no use for stuffy Victorian sensibilities. She prefers a life of adventure and intrigue unencumbered by the trappings of traditional life. Her job organizing artifacts for a generous benefactor while living on his estate suits her just fine. Especially since Ravelstoke "Stoker" Templeton, her handsome but irascible friend, is always close at hand. Not only is he nice to gaze upon, but he's smart, protective, and strong—a perfect partner in (solving) crime.
Veronica becomes intrigued by the story of John de Morgan, a photographer with an Egyptian expedition, who has seemingly vanished into thin air. A valuable artifact—a diadem belonging to an Egyptian princess—is also missing. As the expedition has been plagued by bad luck from its very beginning, rumors of an ancient curse descending on its participants don't seem all that far-fetched. Especially since a mysterious, Anubis-like figure has been seen lurking around London.
Although there's no love lost between Stoker and de Morgan, Veronica and her enigmatic sidekick take on the case anyway. Digging into ancient history—both Egyptian and personal—gets more dangerous by the minute. Veronica's determined to find answers no matter the cost, but with Anubis roaming the streets, the price may be more dear than she ever imagined. With lives and reputations on the line, she must solve the mystery and quick, before she and the man she loves become the next victims of a deadly curse. Or worse.
A Treacherous Curse, the third installment in Deanna Raybourn's lively series starring the intrepid Veronica Speedwell, is as delightful as the first. After the distasteful subject matter of the second book, I'm glad this one features a more traditional mystery. Sure, it's a little predictable, but who cares? A Treacherous Curse is tons of fun. Veronica continues to be a charming narrator. She's unconventional, to be sure; she's also brave, funny, loyal, and refreshingly frank. I adore her. Her slow-burning relationship with Stoker is also and always entertaining. Together, they're simply irresistable. With lovable characters, an engaging plot, and lively prose, this is another enjoyable, madcap mystery from Raybourn. I loved it.
(Readalikes: Other Veronica Speedwell mysteries, including A Curious Beginning and A Perilous Undertaking; also [this installment especially] reminds me of the Amelia Peabody mystery series by Elizabeth Peters)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence, sexual innuendo, and brief, mild language (no F-bombs)
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of A Treacherous Curse from the generous folks at Berkley (an imprint of Penguin Random House). Thank you!
5 comments:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)
Reading
Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie
Listening
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
Followin' with Bloglovin'
Followin' with Feedly
-
-
Stacking The Shelves5 hours ago
-
-
Secrets of Swanfield House by Elayne Grimes7 hours ago
-
There There by Tommy Orange9 hours ago
-
-
Book Deals for a Weekend in November18 hours ago
-
-
-
Beach or mountains?23 hours ago
-
Sunday Post 5571 day ago
-
96. Out of My Dreams1 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
The Listeners2 days ago
-
A Couple of short(ish) reviews2 days ago
-
-
-
-
A Quiet Teacher by Adam Oyebanji3 days ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Open for Murder by Mary Angela2 weeks ago
-
-
-
Reading Recap September 20241 month ago
-
Ten Characters Who Redeemed Themselves2 months ago
-
Review: The Duke and I3 months ago
-
Girl Plus Books: On Hiatus4 months ago
-
-
The Music of 2024: Q24 months ago
-
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?2 years ago
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Design by:
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ▼ 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
- ► 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)
2024 - Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction
2023 - Middle Grade Fiction
2022 - Middle Grade Fiction
2021 - Middle Grade Fiction
2020 - Middle Grade Fiction
I'm glad you loved this one. I'll have to check this one out. :)
ReplyDeleteI was going to say - these two sound like Amelia and Radcliffe! I really need to begin this series, as there are only 3 books so far.
ReplyDeleteI thought the first book in this series was okay, but I didn't love it or Veronica enough to read the second book in the series. This third one sounds a little better, though. I'm glad you're enjoying them! :)
ReplyDeleteOh this sounds good! I can see why this one especially reminds you of Amelia Peabody. Now I want to reread that series. I started the first Veronica Speedwell last night and am really loving it. I can't wait to get to book 3.
ReplyDeleteNot familiar with the series so I'm going to avoid trying spoilers, but I LOOOVE the cover! And I'm typically okay with a kind-of predictable book as long as I still had fun reading it! <3
ReplyDelete- Aimee @ Aimee, Always