Search This Blog
April Reviews Link-Up
May Reviews Link-Up
June Reviews Link-Up
July Reviews Link-Up
August Reviews Link-Up
September Reviews Link-Up
October Reviews Link-Up
November Reviews Link-Up
December Reviews Link-Up
2024 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California (3)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho (2)
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (1)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (1)
- North Carolina (1)
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (1)
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia (1)
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.*
International:
- Australia (1)
- Canada (1)
- England (5)
- France (1)
- Ireland (1)
- Scotland (1)
- The Netherlands (1)
2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
Monday, March 16, 2020
Speedwell/Stoker Always an Entertaining Combination
5:47 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for A Murderous Relation, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from earlier Veronica Speedwell mysteries. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
While Veronica Speedwell and Revelstoke "Stoker" Templeton-Vane have a paying job as organizers of a gentleman's specimen collection, they've become better known for their ability to solve mysteries. So well known in fact that their newest client is none other than the Queen of England. Her son, Prince Albert Victor, has given a valuable jewel—inscribed with his famous initials—to his lover, the proprietress of a "high-class" brothel. If his frequent visits to the illicit venue are discovered, let alone his close relationship to Madame Aurore, it could be disastrous for the crown. Veronica and Stoker are tasked with the job of removing the incriminating gem from the club's premises before its presence is discovered by anyone else.
Worse, there is some disturbing evidence connecting the risk-taking prince to a series of brutal murders being attributed to a serial killer nicknamed Jack the Ripper. When Veronica and Stoker's investigation at the brothel leads them to Madame Aurore's corpse, a shame-faced prince, and a group of thugs bent on harming them all, their undercover adventure turns into something much, much more dangerous. Will Veronica and Stoker escape with their lives? Can they save the queen's family from humiliation? Or is the prince in a lot more trouble than anyone could have imagined?
I've loved the Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn since it started. The pair at its center is lively, fun, and always entertaining. It's delightful to watch their relationship evolve, as their magnetic attraction to each other has been evident from the beginning. Besides the enjoyable characters, A Murderous Relation features an intriguing mystery, humorous repartee, and a plot that's both engaging and engrossing. I could have done without the brothel scenes, but overall, I enjoyed this fifth installment in the series. I'm very much Team Veronica/Stoker and I can't wait to see what they get up to next!
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other books in the Veronica Speedwell series, including A Curious Beginning, A Perilous Undertaking, A Treacherous Curse, and A Dangerous Collaboration)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), disturbing subject matter, violence, and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of A Murderous Relation from the generous folks at Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
2 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
Listening
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
Again and Again - Jonathan Evison3 hours ago
-
Time Travel Thursday7 hours ago
-
THE ROMANOV BRIDES Blog Tour10 hours ago
-
American Zion10 hours ago
-
Review: Trespasses by Louise Kennedy10 hours ago
-
Digging Up Trouble by Kitt Crowe11 hours ago
-
-
Love on Camera15 hours ago
-
-
-
-
The Highgate Cemetery Murder by Irina Shapiro19 hours ago
-
Mistimed Meal: A Review of Vampire Fly19 hours ago
-
-
-
-
Thank you1 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
One in the Chamber by Robin Peguero2 days ago
-
Top 5 Tuesday ~ Female Authors2 days ago
-
What's up?2 days ago
-
-
-
-
-
Review: Beartown1 week ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?5 months ago
-
6/25/23 Extra Ezra9 months ago
-
-
-
Sundays with Sam – The Sunday Post11 months ago
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
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)
Great review! Recently finished A Murderous Relation and enjoyed it a lot. Hope there will be more books and more Speedwell-Stoker combination coming for us ahead.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of these before, but it sounds like a fun series.
ReplyDelete