Series Name: Veronica Speedwell, # 2
Review By Veronica
A Perilous Undertaking is another smart and witty mystery by Deanna Raybourn.
Favourite Quote:
I turned to face him, not lowering the blade. “Might I remind you that I have, upon many and various occasions, been in mortal danger and I am still here.”
“Anyone can get lucky,” he said coldly. “And I suspect your continued survival owes itself to a combination of good fortune and sheer bloody-mindedness. You are too stubborn to die.”
Goodreads Synopsis:
London, 1887. At the Curiosity Club, a ladies-only establishment for daring and intrepid women, Victorian adventuress Veronica Speedwell meets the mysterious Lady Sundridge, who begs her to take on an impossible task–saving society art patron Miles Ramsforth from execution. Ramsforth, accused of the brutal murder of his mistress, Artemisia, will face the hangman’s noose in a week’s time if the real killer is not found.
But Lady Sundridge is not all that she seems, and unmasking her true identity is only the first of many secrets Veronica must uncover. Together with her natural-historian colleague, Stoker, Veronica races against time to find the true murderer. 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….
Gosh, I love this series. I’ve been in a weird funk when it comes to mystery/thrillers. I just can’t seem to get into them. But I am glad I can still read and enjoy this series. And I think that the reason for this is that Deanna writes such a fun, witty, and enjoyable mystery. I have absolutely loved the other books that I have read in this series; I am embarrassed to say that I have read this series a bit out of order. But that hasn’t taken away from my enjoyment of these books. I’ve made it my goal this year to start this series from the beginning and work my way to the latest book. A Perilous Undertaking is book two in the Veronica Speedwell series, and it did not disappoint. There are numerous things that make this series and book stand out. First is the setting and period of time that it takes place in. This book is set in London, England, during the late 1800s. It was truly entertaining getting to explore the city with Veronica and Stoker. This time period is so great because it presents a barrier or hurdle to solving the mystery that wouldn’t exist in a modern-day mystery book. There is no modern technology to help solve the crime. Veronica and Stoker must use their wits and old-fashioned methods to figure out what happened.
In this book, Veronica and Stoker are tasked with finding out who the true murderer of Artemisia is; if they do not, then an innocent man will be hanged for the crime. Nothing raises the stakes better than an impending deadline. It just adds to that sense of urgency and puts pressure on the two MCs to solve the crime in a much shorter time frame. I loved the mystery component in this book. Deanna had me guessing until the very end, and I loved the unexpected twists and turns that existed in this story. She really had me guessing until the very end.
One of the great things about starting a series from the beginning is seeing how some of my favourite secondary characters are introduced to the series. I adore Lady Wellie; she is an absolute delight. She is sharp, witty, and always up to something. I also know that I will get a laugh whenever she is on the page. She is an excellent secondary character and just adds so much to the book and series. However, the chemistry and dialogue between Veronica and Stoker are also what makes this book stand out. These two are such great characters, and I love seeing their relationship in its early stages. They are friends and love to get underneath each other’s skins. The tongue-in-cheek banter is delightful and rather addictive.
