Stevie‘s review of A Curious Beginning (Veronica Speedwell Mysteries, Book 1) by Deanna Raybourn
Historical Mystery published by NAL 01 Sep 15
In my continuing search for more convention-defying Victorian heroines having adventures and/or solving mysteries, I picked up this first book in a new series by a new-to-me author. Of course, my enthusiasm was tempered by the usual degree of caution I employ when approaching any British-set historical by a non-British writer, but I figured that with one successful series already out there, most of the pitfalls would already be taken care of, and I could read happily without jarring errors throwing me out of the story every few pages.
Veronica certainly isn’t a conventional Victorian heroine, although her upbringing by two constantly relocating maiden aunts does strike me as a little too unconventional to be entirely believable. After the death of her second aunt, Veronica, newly back in England after another butterfly-hunting expedition – and yes, I could believe in her as an academic who hides behind the use of her first initial to conceal the fact that a female dares to take on the male-dominated scientific community – returns to her aunt’s cottage and disturbs a burglar.
Rescued by a mysterious stranger, Veronica travels to London with him, but while she is staying with one of his friends, he promptly gets himself killed. Veronica flees with her latest rescuer, Stoker, a failed explorer and experimental taxidermist. Posing as newlyweds, the pair team up with a group of travelling show folk, who know Stoker from a previous adventure, then when that idea leads them into more trouble, they return to London determined to track down their various adversaries, all of whom seem to know something more about Veronica’s parentage than she herself does.,
This is one of those books that tries to fit too many plot ideas into one story, and so it feels rather disjointed. It also has too many of those little errors that make me both angry with the book for throwing me out of the story and unsure about the veracity of other minor but potentially important details. The worst culprits, to my mind, are the main characters eating oysters in London during the summer months, and the dramatic kidnapping of them by the bad guys on what appears to be described as a motor yacht. A steam yacht I can almost accept, but the way the engine is described as sounding definitely makes me think of outboard motors, and Mr. Daimler had only just invented them at the time this story is set (or possibly he invented them a month or two later – I’m almost tempted to dig into that subject). Again, we go back to the feeling of too many plot ideas for one story, some of which could only have fitted the Golden Jubilee year of 1887, and some of which might have been better in the Diamond Jubilee year of 1897. Beyond the Jubilee celebrations, however, I didn’t get much of a feel for either decade, to be honest, which is a shame.
All in all, not a total failure of a book, but I won’t be trusting this particular author again where historical novels are concerned. Also, be warned, this seems to be one of those series where the romance develops over several books. Not a concept I generally mind when it’s done well, but I know not everyone shares that view with me.
Grade: C
Summary:
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.
Read an excerpt.
