Historical Mystery Early Review: A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn
A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn (Veronica Speedwell #2)
Egalley thanks to Berkley Books
Synopsis from Goodreads
Veronica Speedwell returns in a brand new adventure from Deanna Raybourn, the "New York Times" bestselling author of the Lady Julia Grey mysteries...
"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...."
Release date: Jan 10, 2016.
Amazon US/UK | Amazon kindle US/UK | The Book Depository
8.5/10
* * *
This pair cracks me up. They are witty, eccentric, particular and practically magnetic. Deanna Raybourn has a knack for writing vividly and with a flair, and not surprisingly, I loved the second installment in this series almost as much as the first.The murder mystery is of a classic "who'd-done-it" variety. Both Veronica and Stoker start the investigation mostly out of boredom, and soon Stoker is forced to pose in the nude for one of the suspects, while Veronica fends off advances of another suspect. The victim is an artist, which means that our couple has to work in Bohemian circles among liberal, carefree and very expressive characters.
Veronica is of course up to her usual cross-dressing shenanigans (the opium den is particularly juicy) while Stoker decides on more conservative approach. Nevertheless, to follow their antics is so much fun!
We also finally get to know Stoker's siblings, and his older brother has an absolutely delightful banter going with Veronica which Stoker really does not like.
Overall, this is another beautiful, vivacious novel, female-centric and superbly atmospheric. I loved Veronica's snappy comebacks, and Stoker's dry wit and can not wait to continue with this series. Recommended to the fans of Sherry Thomas. They have very similar styles.
My review of book #1.
* * *
Расследование убийства здесь следует классическому "кто виноват?" сценарию. Список подозреваемых есть, их просто нужно исключить одного за другим.
Берутся Вероника и Стокер за дело со скуки, но оно затягивает их очень быстро своими богемными секретами и экцентричными характерами. И вот уже Стокер вынужден позировать голышом для скульпторши пока Вероника ловко отбивается от ухаживаний рьяного поклонника художника.
Стокер более сдержан и консервативен в своей логике, пока Веронику заносит от одной сумасбродной идеи к другой. Чего только стоил поход в опиумный притон с её переодеванием в китайского юношу и полным обкуриванием!
Ещё очень порадовало знакомство со старшим братом Стокера, с которым у Вероники происходли ну очень развлекательные словесные перепалки.
Сюжет развивался быстро и с лёгкой руки, сосредотачиваясь на сильных героинях. Читалось очень быстро и с большим удовольствием, очень рекомендую всю серию, особенно фанатам Шерри Томас.
Ревью книги первой.
