A Curious Beginning

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"London, 1887. As the city prepares to celebrate Queen Victoria's golden jubilee, Veronica Speedwell is marking a milestone of her own. After burying her spinster aunt, the orphaned Veronica is free to resume her world travels in pursuit of scientific inquiry--and the occasional romantic dalliance. As familiar with hunting butterflies as she is fending off admirers, Veronica wields her butterfly net and a sharpened hatpin with equal aplomb, and with her last connection to England now gone, she intends to embark upon the journey of a lifetime. But fate has other plans, as Veronica discovers when she thwarts her own abduction with the help of an enigmatic German baron with ties to her mysterious past. Promising to reveal in time what he knows of the plot against her, the baron offers her temporary sanctuary in the care of his friend Stoker--a reclusive natural historian as intriguing as he is bad-tempered. But before the baron can deliver on his tantalizing vow to reveal the secrets he has concealed for decades, he is found murdered. Suddenly Veronica and Stoker are forced to go on the run from an elusive assailant, wary partners in search of the villainous truth" -- provided by publisher.

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Enjoyable Victorian Mystery submitted by wellscai on August 10, 2018, 9:59pm I liked this book a great deal! The mystery was compelling, and both Veronica and Stoker are well-rounded and interesting characters. I loved the writing and the humor, too.

Read it in one sitting-- until 2am. submitted by ashahly on August 13, 2019, 4:30pm In what I consider to be the mark of an excellent mystery, I read the entire book in one sitting-- until a very unacceptable 2am (on a school night) as I simply couldn't put it down. A wonderful heroine, complex side characters, and a unique time period. Highly recommended for the Maise Dobbs/Phryne Fisher/Maggie Hope lover!