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A Treacherous Curse
A Treacherous Curse
A Treacherous Curse
Audiobook11 hours

A Treacherous Curse

Written by Deanna Raybourn

Narrated by Angele Masters

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5/5

()

About this audiobook

Members of an Egyptian expedition fall victim to an ancient mummy's curse in a thrilling Veronica Speedwell novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the Lady Julia Grey mysteries. London, 1888. As colorful and unfettered as the butterflies she collects, Victorian adventuress Veronica Speedwell can't resist the allure of an exotic mystery-particularly one involving her enigmatic colleague, Stoker. His former expedition partner has vanished from an archaeological dig with a priceless diadem unearthed from the newly discovered tomb of an Egyptian princess. This disappearance is just the latest in a string of unfortunate events that have plagued the controversial expedition, and rumors abound that the curse of the vengeful princess has been unleashed as the shadowy figure of Anubis himself stalks the streets of London. But the perils of an ancient curse are not the only challenges Veronica must face as sordid details and malevolent enemies emerge from Stoker's past. Caught in a tangle of conspiracies and threats-and thrust into the public eye by an enterprising new foe-Veronica must separate facts from fantasy to unravel a web of duplicity that threatens to cost Stoker everything. . . .
LanguageEnglish
Release dateJan 16, 2018
ISBN9781501982088
A Treacherous Curse
Author

Deanna Raybourn

New York Times bestselling author Deanna Raybourn graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a double major in English and history and an emphasis on Shakespearean studies. She taught high school English for three years in San Antonio before leaving education to pursue a career as a novelist. Deanna makes her home in Virginia, where she lives with her husband and daughter and is hard at work on her next novel.

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Reviews for A Treacherous Curse

Rating: 4.331606202072538 out of 5 stars
4.5/5

386 ratings35 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Absolutely marvelous! Great mystery, interesting characters, and Veronica and Stoker at their best!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    As always beautiful writing & a wonderful performance by the reader!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I LOVE THIS SERIES. Somewhere along the way this has become one of my favorite series. I love Veronica and Stoker so goddamn much. If they don't kiss in the next book I'm going to fUCKING DIE. I'd describe this series as Bones meets Sherlock Holmes. If you're looking for something with extremely intelligent characters (they're both scientists), slow burn romance, Victorian wit, and the intrigue of Sherlock, this is for you.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    So very much fun! What a delightful series this is!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I love Julia Raybourn’s Lady Julia Grey series, so I was anxious to dive into her new Veronica Speedwell series. I’ve not been disappointed, and in fact, may like Veronica even more than Lady Julia. Brilliant, outspoken, strong-willed and far ahead of her time, Veronica is a fascinating character, as is her partner, Stoker. I received this as an ARC through Netgalley, but decided to read the first two books before diving into this one. That turned out to be an excellent decision, as the relationship between Veronica and Stoker develops through the first 3 books, and secrets from both their backgrounds are revealed over the course of the series, and there are surely more to come.
    The lovely relationship that has developed between Veronica and Stoker has been enjoyable to watch develop. Their banter makes me laugh out loud at times, and conveniently the mysteries they solve are interesting. And while I feel like I have a pretty good vocabulary, I’m always grateful for my Kindle’s built-in dictionary when I read a Deanna Raybourn book - I do believe I use that feature more for her books than for any other author’s. (And that’s a positive in my book.)

    Copy provided by Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an unbiased review.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A reread. Something seriously wrong with audiobook. Skips a lot.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I'm really enjoying this series, and this is a strong addition. I was worried that I might tire of Veronica's sometimes strident voice if I read too many in a row too quickly, but that has not been the case -- each book navigates the unfolding story and relationship between Speedwell and Stoker well. Their cases remain relevant and personal to them in a believable way (this one illuminates Stoker's past, (finally!)) and much is revealed. I also like seeing how their tender sides are coming out -- still mostly expressed at high volume and passionate debate, but a little bit more careful with each other as time goes on.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I love Veronica Speedwell. Her character is almost everything I admire in a person, with the exceptions of her penchants for collecting butterflies, necessitating her killing them, and her need to verbalise her sexual liberty. This isn't hypocrisy on my part; I think it's distasteful when men make their sexual needs topics of casual conversation, and it's no less so when a woman does it. Boundaries. Good fences make good neighbours and all that. But these are very minor niggles. Everything else about Veronica is excellent and Stoker doesn't suck either. Raybourn has found that perfect balance of rawness, gentility, intelligence, anger, and grace in her hero (although I have to say, what's up with the eye patch? Is that really considered sexy? I see one and have to resist the urge to pull it and watch it snap back). The dialog between the two of them is snappy and sometimes electric. There's no doubt as to where these two are headed, but Raybourn is taking her time sending them there, and doing it well enough that I, for one, feel no impatience for them to get on with it already. The mystery plot is the only thing that held this book back a bit for me. It succeeded in terms of leaving me guessing until the very end, but honestly it was so convoluted that I stopped trying to figure it out about halfway through and just focused on the characters until the end. That's not necessarily a criticism; this is a strong book just on the merits of being an engrossing work of historical fiction. But my enjoyment came from the story first, with the mystery an afterthought. Sadly, I'm going to have to wait an entire year for the fourth book. But I'll be looking forward to it with anticipation.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Delightful distraction.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Stoker's (Revelstoke Templeton-Vane) former friend and expedition partner, John de Morgan, who had deserted him while stealing his wife away, has returned supposedly to London but has disappeared with the diadem found by his new partner, Sir Leicester Tiverton. Stoker must address his feelings for his former wife as well as determine what happened to de Morgan. Stoker and Veronica are enlisted to recover the diadem before the exhibition opening for the Tiverton expedition from Egypt. The twists and turns - lost hotel rooms, Anubis sightings - fill the story and carry the reader forward to an ending that is somewhat unexpected.The series' characters are continuing to evolve, can't wait for more!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    1888 and an Egyptian expedition has returned to London. A cursed expedition. When Stoker's (Revelstoke Templeon-Vane) former friend and expedition companion goes missing with a priceless diadem it is the latest in a line of unusual events. Veronica and Stoker decide to investigate.
    A very enjoyable well-written mystery. With some interesting characters who I hope to read more about.
    Although this is the third in the series it can be read as a standalone book.
    A NetGalley Book
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Synopsis: Veronica and Stoker are surprised when they are approached by Sir Hugo Montgomerie of Special Branch and asked to look into the disappearance of John de Morgan, the man who had once been Stoker’s closest friend. De Morgan was engaged as photographer for Sir Leicester Tiverton ‘s most recent expedition to Egypt, but departed unexpectedly and was accompanied back to England by his wife – whose very public divorce from Stoker some years earlier saw Stoker disgraced and vilified. Sir Hugo explains that the de Morgans stopped for the night in Dover, and in the morning, John de Morgan was discovered to have vanished, along with a priceless diadem from the tomb of Princess Ankheset. Making things even more intriguing is the fact that not only have man and artefact gone missing, but so has John de Morgan’s hotel room! Caroline de Morgan states that her husband’s room was blue with rose-print wallpaper – yet no such room exists, and according to the hotel proprietor, Mrs. de Morgan was travelling alone. Add to this the rumours of a curse affecting members of the dig and the sightings of the figure of Anubis (the Egyptian god of the dead) striding through the streets of London and the stage is set for an entertaining mystery in which our heroes must dispel a curse, fight for their lives, battle vicious rumour and find a murderer.Review: This one is not quite as good as the others, but it was still interesting and well written.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Why did I wait so long to read this book? I have no excuses but now that I have finished the book, I know that putting it off for a year was a bad plan. I really enjoyed this installment in the series, probably even more than the previous book. Once I got into this book, I didn't want to put it down because I was completely pulled into the mystery. The mystery in this book was solid. Veronica and Stoker are trying to find a missing man. A man who happens to be a big part of Stoker's past. This mystery reaches all the way to the caves in Egypt and is much more involved than originally thought. I was pulled in a lot of different directions and was completely stumped when it came to trying to figure out what really happened. One of the things that I love about this series is the characters. Veronica is very smart and able to think on her feet. She isn't like most women of her time and cares less about what is proper than what she wants. I knew that Stoker had a very interesting past and was thrilled to get some big pieces of it filled in during the course of this book. I think that the things that we learn about Stoker in this book really make it easier to understand him better. I love the relationship between Stoker and Veronica. They work so well together and make a great team. There is a part of me, okay a big part, that wants to see a romance develop between the pair but I am also okay with the sexual tension between them continuing to pop up and make things interesting.I would highly recommend this book to others. This is the third book in the Veronica Speedwell Mystery series which really should be read in order if at all possible since the relationships between the characters have built over the course of series. This book was filled with fantastic characters solving a very well done mystery and revealing a few secrets. I can't wait to get started on the newest book from this series very soon.I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via Edelweiss.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is the third book the late-Victorian Veronica Speedwell series. It features lepidopterist Veronica who is bold, unconventional, outspoken (to the point of being overbearing) and the handsome Revelstoke Templeton-Vane (Stoker). I read the first book in the series and loved everything about it except Veronica, so I decided to skip ahead in the series and see if she had mellowed any at all. She is still arrogant, superior, condescending and overbearing, but she’s not quite as bad as in the first book, so I’ll definitely try another one – hoping that she continues to mellow a bit. This author’s mysteries and writing are always top-notch, it is only the female lead for which I haven’t been able to work up any enthusiasm - I don't hate her, I just don't care for her very much and we'd never be good friends. I am excited to see where the series heads from here!I am not going to complain because I dearly wanted to learn more about Stoker’s past – and I was delighted to learn a lot more – but that knowledge did come at the expense of the mystery. The mystery was still excellent, just not as intricately complex as the others in the series. We didn’t learn all about Stoker, but we did learn a lot more than we knew before. We meet his ex-wife and find out some of what happened between them – and it wasn’t pretty.Veronica and Stoker are summoned to the sickbed of Sir Hugo Montgomerie of the Special Branch. Sir Hugo wants them to look into the disappearance of Stoker’s former best friend, John de Morgan. De Morgan had been working as a photographer on the Tiverton expedition in Egypt. The expedition made an extraordinary find and de Morgan disappeared with one of the priceless artifacts. Veronica and Stoker have to take on the investigation because of Stoker’s past with de Morgan – and it won’t be long before the newspapers track down that past and bring Stoker’s name into scandal again. Stoker might even be blamed for the disappearance and/or death of de Morgan.The mystery rocks on and I began to wonder if they would ever get the clue to solving the case, but when they get it, things just explode and it is non-stop action from there on out.I know I have said, repeatedly, that I don’t care for Veronica, but I do absolutely love how she protects and defends Stoker. No matter what she hears about him or from whom she hears it – she absolutely never doubts Stoker. She will look out for him even to her own detriment. (BTW – the author has really toned down the “Hey look at me I’m unconventional” rantings that were in the first book and I’m so very glad). Their relationship isn’t all one-sided though. Stoker is the same way about her.One thing I find very entertaining is the role reversal in this series. Veronica has had liaisons and is very free with admitting them, speaking about sex, etc. and isn’t the least bit embarrassed about it. Stoker, on the other hand, is almost prudish. Not that he hasn’t had liaisons, but it just isn’t something he speaks about with ladies and he embarrasses so easily. So, in this series – she is uninhibited and he is missish. They are two societal outcasts who are absolutely perfect for each other – can’t wait until they realize they love each other.I definitely recommend this author, this book and this series.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Veronica and Stoker are doing at again. This time they investigate an Egyptian curse, which forces Stoker to face his past.

    Wonderfully written. Wonderful characters and a mystery story that has twists and turns and keeps you guessing until the end.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Veronica Speedwell and Revelstoke Templeton-Vane--Stoker--are working away at their respective restoration and cataloging duties in the Belvedere, the future museum on the grounds of the home of the Earl of Rosemorran. It's the Earl's family collection of animals, insects, devices, and other oddities that they are cataloging.

    Then an expedition to Egypt returns, with treasures, a story of a curse killing members of the expedition, and the expedition photographer, John de Morgan, missing, along with a valuable diadem found in the tomb the Tivington expedition excavated on this trip.

    De Morgan was once Stoker's best friend. He's now married to Stoker's former wife, Caroline, who left Stoker apparently dying in the Amazon. Caroline returned to Britain and divorced him, claiming cruelty, and in the process destroying his reputation.

    De Morgan may be a thief, who has stolen the diadem to finance an escape from his tempestuous marriage. Or he may be dead, killed by the real thief. If de Morgan is dead, Stoker is the most likely suspect in his murder.

    Stoker and Veronica have to find him before what's left of Stoker's reputation is irretrievably gone, and he himself is perhaps convicted of murder.

    They meet Sir Leicester and Lady Tivington, Sir Leicester's daughter from his first marriage, Iphigenia, and his assistant, Patrick Fairbrother. They meet Sir Leicester's long-time friend and now rival, American millionaire Horace Stihl and his son, Henry.

    Veronica meets, and Stoker has to meet again, his beautiful ex-wife, Caroline de Morgan.

    Looked at one way, no one has a motive. Looked at another way, it's possible everyone does. But who really does?

    Raybourn gets the content and rhythm of late Victorian conversation right, and Veronica, Stoker, and the other regulars are great characters that it's fun to continue to learn more about. The pacing is very good. The only thing I'm not wholly satisfied with is Veronica's relationship with her father, which I really can't say any more about. Hopefully that's another thing that will continue to develop over future books.

    Recommended.

    I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The third Veronica Speedwell novel sees Veronica and Stoker digging into the disappearance of the current husband of Stoker's ex-wife. Recently returned from an expedition in Egypt, there are the rumours of a mummy's curse clouding the waters of the disappearance. As Veronica and Stoker work to determine what actually happened, Veronica will also gain whole new insights into her investigative partner.Yet another solid mystery in this series with a fun Victorian Egyptological element. As always, it's just as entertaining to watch the relationship between Veronica and Stoker grow and I look forward to developments on that front in the next book. My only quibble is Veronica had almost no friendly interactions with other female characters in this book, which was disappointing this time around. While she is atypical for the period and often ostracized for her differences, she does have female friends in previous volumes who are completely absent for this outing. Hopefully they'll be back next time around.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Veronica and Stoker remain interesting in this trite and rather tedious story about intrigue among the mummies.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a thrilling and delightful read, set back in 1888 London, with a spirited and feisty heroine, Veronica Speedwell. Although this book was the third installment in the Veronica Speedwell Mystery series, it did not leave me in the dark and reqretting not having read the series in order. The character development continues to be rich and rewarding throughout the tale. Veronica's colleague, Revelstoke Templeton-Vane, "Stoker", was often portrayed as dark, brooding, prickly and enigmatic. But the cat and mouse chemistry between the two was charming and witty in and of itself. Our two protagonists are quietly called to assist on a missing person case; someone who had been part of an Egyptian expedition to gather antiquities for study. Given the day, undoubtedly it was for exploitation too. Presumably, this person had abandoned his wife and run off with a priceless treasure from the expedition. He also happened to be Stoker's former best friend and the guy who ran off with Stoker's wife. Hmmmm, this surely is a sticky one. Well off the two go, tracking down clues, trying to flesh out what's real, what's a smoke screen and how not to throttle one another. (That's part of that cat and mouse thing.) It truly was an amusing and most enjoyable read. I look forward to catching up on the earlier installments and pursuing the subsequent ones as they are released.I am grateful to Berkley Publishing and Goodreads First Reads for having provided a free Advanced Reader copy of this book. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone. Synopsis (from book's back cover):London, 1888. As colorful and unfettered as the butterflies she collects, Victorian adventuress Veronica Speedwell can’t resist the allure of an exotic mystery—particularly one involving her enigmatic colleague, Stoker. His former expedition partner has vanished from an archaeological dig with a priceless diadem unearthed from the newly discovered tomb of an Egyptian princess. This disappearance is just the latest in a string of unfortunate events that have plagued the controversial expedition, and rumors abound that the curse of the vengeful princess has been unleashed as the shadowy figure of Anubis himself stalks the streets of London.But the perils of an ancient curse are not the only challenges Veronica must face as sordid details and malevolent enemies emerge from Stoker’s past. Caught in a tangle of conspiracies and threats—and thrust into the public eye by an enterprising new foe—Veronica must separate facts from fantasy to unravel a web of duplicity that threatens to cost Stoker everything. . . .
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Veronica and Stoker are involved in finding out what happened to his longtime friend, John DeMorgan . We learn that Stoker was married and his wife left him to marry DeMorgan who she was in love with all along. Supposedly DeMorgan has abandoned his wife and stolen a valuable ancient Egyptian diadem. After interviewing Caroline DeMorgan, Veronica hates her, distrusts her and doesn’t believe her. During their investigation, Veronica and Stoker travel to Devon where she has to rescue him from a burning building, there’s also a silly mummy’s curse, an infatuated teenage girl with Stoker much to Veronica’s annoyance.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Why how verra, verra cleva... Not!John de Morgan has disappeared; just like in the story "At Bertram's Hotel".. he & his wife checked in to separate rooms, in the morning when they were suppose to leave together, he was gone. When she called the police she found that the entire decor of the room was completely not what it was the night before.Miss Veronica Speedwell & Mr. Revelstoke "Stoker" Templeton-Vane work together as scientists, adventurers, and Private Detectives. They are invited by Scotland Yard to investigate the disappearance of John de Morgan and a diadem that was to have been found in the tomb of an Egyptian Princess.Stoker has a past with the de Morgans; John was his best friend until he abandoned Stoker in the Brazilian jungle & took off w/ Caroline Templeton-Vane, now Mrs. de Morgan.A wild goose chase the likes of one that surpasses the imagination, except for that of the author, ensues. Missing people, an Egyptian adventure, a mummy's curse... too many unlikeable characters.I disliked this book, stopped reading & began skimming 2 chapters in because I wanted to know what happened to the missing man. The characters are nothing more than stilted caricatures, whom I disliked immediately. The dialog is oh so cleverly affected and phony... I'd say it was a waste of my time, but at least I now know not to read another.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Veronica Speedwell is one of the most intriguing characters I have encountered, and I was anxiously awaiting her newest adventure. I was not disappointed in this third installment. Deanna Raybourn again has constructed a mystery that draws you in, both with an intricate (but not too convoluted) plot and complex characters. The relationships among characters are a highlight of this book, especially the complicated alliance between Veronica and Stoker, her partner in her investigations. Raybourn's characters usually speak their minds in fascinating dialogue, and this book is no exception.

    I loved the author's Lady Julia mysteries, but I felt that the books that followed that series went a bit off track. It is good to see that this series is living up to its potential. I'm already anticipating Veronica's next adventure.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I knew when I read the opening chapter about phalluses that this book was going to be good! Lol : ) I think it's the best out of the three actually.

    I loved the Egyptology and archaeology storyline. It reminded me a little of one of my all-time favorite series, the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters. Oh how I miss you E.P....

    Of course, Veronica was in rare form as usual. She cracks me up! She put several people in their well-deserved place, including Stoker. I wish they would just get together already! ...but unfortunately it was not to be. After reading the suggestive ending though, I am hopeful.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A Treacherous Curse, from Deanna Raybourn, is the first book in the Veronica Speedwell series that I have read and I enjoyed it quite a bit. It was easy to read it as a standalone while also creating the desire to go back and read the earlier volumes.I can't speak to how this compares to the other volumes but I can say that Veronica and Stoker are fun and interesting characters, ones I would want to read more about, both their adventures and their lives. This, I think, is the core of any good series.I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a nice mystery, fun character interaction and a glimpse at Victorian England as well. The plot moves steadily along while the characters endear themselves to the reader. All in all a fun read.Reviewed from a copy made available through Goodreads First Reads.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Veronica and Stoker are some of my favorite characters. She's a spunky woman in the late 1800's who doesn't care what people think about her. She will go out in public in pants, will tell people what she thinks and will have sex outside of a marriage. this is another great murder mystery to the series. Lots of twists and guessing going on. Definitely recommend this entire series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Veronica Speedwell is back with Revelstoke Templeton-Vane in 1888 London to investigate the disappearance and presumed death of John de Morgan, Stoker’s former friend. Years earlier, de Morgan ran away with Stoker’s wife and left him for dead in the Amazon. A member of Sir Leicester Tiverton’s Egyptian expedition, de Morgan is suspected of looting a crown from the dig and escaping back to England with his wife. However, when she wakes up the next morning, there is no sign of her husband or the crown, and the room he was staying in has been remodeled as if he never arrived in England. As Stoker appears to be the only enemy of de Morgan, Veronica and Stoker must investigate to clear his name from being dragged through the press, and possibly arrested for murder. To do so, they must get close to the members of the Tiverton expedition, which is said to be under a mummy’s curse, and Stoker’s former wife, Carolyn de Morgan, who is pregnant with de Morgan’s child. A Treacherous Curse is the third and latest book in Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series. Veronica, an independent woman, who is the illegitimate daughter of the Prince of Wales, is a natural historian and lepidopterist. She and Revelstoke Templeton-Vane, another natural historian, work for Lord Rosemorran, cataloging his eclectic collection for the purpose of opening a museum on the grounds of the Rosemorran estate, Belvedere. Although this is set in Victorian times and is for the most part historically accurate, Veronica is not a typical Victorian woman. She is very brazen and forward and does not disguise the fact that she has had many lovers, although none on English soil. There is nothing demure about Veronica as she matter-of-factly and scientifically goes on her way, making for some very humorous moments. In addition to being friends, there is an unresolved sexual tension that runs between Veronica and Stoker. I have read both of the previous books in the series, and I enjoy the humor. The mystery is well-plotted, and all the clues are there. The book is an easy and fun read and not to be taken too seriously. The opening sentence gives a hint of the humor to come.”I assure you, I am perfectly capable of identifying a phallus when I see one,” Stoker informed me, clipping the words sharply. “And that is no such thing.”I look forward to reading more of this delightful series.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book is a real page turner. I was hooked since the beginning and kept on reading til the end.
    It is funny, entertaining and quite hard to classify as it is not the classical historical mystery neither historical fiction or humorous fiction. It is a mix of all these things.
    There is a sound plot, a very interesting unconventional and strong female heroine and an interesting main male character.
    It is highly recommended.
    Many thanks to Edelweiss and Berkley for this ARC
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    John de Morgan has disappeared, along with a priceless artifact from the Tiverton expedition's Egyptological dig. Has he simply absconded and abandoned his beautiful but shrewish wife, or is something more sinister afoot? Revelstoke Templeton-Vane (Stoker) and Veronica Speedwell need to find the answer before the police, the press, and the public ask too many questions about Stoker's connection to Mr. and Mrs. de Morgan.A Treacherous Curse is the third book in the Veronica Speedwell series, but it isn't necessary to have read the previous books. It works quite well as a complete, stand-alone mystery. Having said that, however, if you are like me, finding a series with characters intriguing enough to make you want more is a great joy, and Veronica Speedwell is such a series!Veronica is intelligent, capable, and unconventional. Stoker is mysterious, interesting, and hurls insults and epithets while remaining a gentleman. Being privy to their partnership is a treat.Will Veronica and Stoker ever confess their feelings for each other, let alone act on them? Will Veronica ever meet her father? When will Lady Cordy return? Are we going to learn more of Lady Wellie? When he has fully recovered, will Lord Rosemorran undertake that South Seas expedition along with Stoker and Veronica?I would like to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for a copy of A Treacherous Curse; however, my review and opinions are my own and were not influenced by them.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is the third book in this series. The first book took me a bit to warm up to the characters and the story. Yet, with this book I was able to jump right in and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Speedwell and Stoker make a great team. They are different from each other but that is what makes them work well together. Stoker is a bit more formal and Speedwell is more adventurous. Again, this is where they balance each other out like ying and yang. The history and mystery surrounding Egyptian history was fun. Kind of like the first Mummy movie with a dash of Scooby Do. When the gang found themselves tangling with a mummy. Yet, this book is more studious and not as light hearted as Scooby Do. What I will say is that the adventure and pace did not pick up until about a third of the way into the story but then it was smooth reading all the way until the ending.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    “I assure you, I am perfectly capable of identifying a phallus when I see one” .. How more enticing of a first line can you get? Veronica and Stoker unpack a crate of artifacts sent to a museum they are charged with the organization of and allowed to live in. The collection of ... enticements were a gift from a previous case the duo solved, saving an innocent man from a prison continuance.It is 1888 in London. Both yearn for a new expedition to take them from their tedious doldrums, but what they get in lieu is less adventure and more necessity. A once partner, now nemesis of Stoker has come up missing, along with an extremely valuable diadem unearthed on a recent archeological dig and believed to be in his possession. Their history sets Stoker as suspect in the sudden disappearance, so he and Veronica set off to find the hidden and reclaim the stolen. Clearing Stoker’s good name will be but another line in their curriculum vitae.This is the 3rd in the Victoria Speedwell adventure series. Each gives our heroine a most forward thinking flair for the joie de vivre she is accustomed to enjoying.Being a steadfast Will & Grace fan, I readily admit to delighting in the snarky quips on our stateside politics and flippant opinions on our materialistic, boastful rich. We are a tacky lot, for sure.Quite capable in most situations, and the pair do find themselves in a comical array of such, they work in near perfect synchronized tandem. Aristocracy abounds in this cast of characters, all with a smudge of scandal to keep them interesting.Writing of and speaking in the era, I find it causes my own grammar to improve and saddens me how far from it we have drifted.As an added bonus, I learned the eloquent term for a delectable confection, pets de nonnes, or “nun’s farts”, as well as the reference to the “iliac furrows” .. of which I beseech you to look up, should you not already know.