A Curious Beginning

Splendid late-Victorian romp introducing the indomitable Veronica Speedwell: adventuress, lepidopterist and reader of crime mysteries


In "A Curious Beginning", I've found, rather belatedly, given that book four came out in 2019, a series that I'm eager to read more of.

This came as a welcome surprise to me as I'm not normally a fan of light-hearted historical fiction. I tend to get distracted by small anachronisms and inaccuracies or lose interest in people and plots too shallow to be convincing. To my great pleasure, Deanna Raybourn's late-Victorian England stands up to my layman's scrutiny and she succeeds in sustaining a lightness of tone that is powered by strong characters and a twisty plot.

What really excited me about the book was show more its freshness. Sam Goldwyn is alleged to have said, "What we need now is some fresh clichés". Deanna Raybourn does a good job in providing them.

"A Curious Beginning" is a boys-own-adventure where the adventurer is a young woman with a self-confidence and a knowledge of the world that would make Holmes look shy and make Watson blush. This simple inversion, combined with a cute-meet involving taxidermy, a hero who provides eye-candy as well as competence and a few set pieces where our heroine bedazzles the soon-to-be-but-not-quite-yet hero with her knowledge, wit and sheet impertinence make this very entertaining.

I think Sam Goldwyn would have bought the film rights on the spot although I'd rather see it done by RKO with Howard Hughes directing.

Veronica Speedwell is a fiercely independent, widely travelled woman who makes her living capturing and selling exotic butterflies. She is a woman of strong passions and deep intellect with a talent for science, a hunger for adventure and firm rules about never taking Englishmen as lovers.

She is also, for reasons she does not yet understand, at the centre of a complex plot by shady characters who seek to abduct or kill her. The plot, when it is revealed, has the advantage of being truly bold in scope and (just about) plausible. The threats to her lead to her taking refuge with Stoker, an eccentric, irascible but pleasant to look at almost-hero who hides her first amongst the members of a circus/freakshow and then amongst the equally strange members of the English aristocracy.

The plot romps along, dispensing whit, banter, moments of (mostly repressed) sexual tension and bursts of physical conflict as it reveals itself.
Veronica Speedwell is the heart of this novel. Her spirit and wit power it.

She's impressive but also quite human. As well as being a serious scientist, she has a passion the fictional adventures of Arcadia Brown, Lady Detective and adopts Arcadia's habit of declaiming "Excelsior" when on the trail of the bad guys. I thought this was a wonderful idea that filled out Veronica's character, provided an in-joke for readers and made Stoker seem boorish (if still eye-catching) by his I-don't-read-low-fiction snobbish response.

I was deeply impressed by Raybourn's ability to sustain a playfully humorous tone while still developing her main characters into real(ish) people and unrolling the plot of the mystery at an effective pace. It's really quite masterful. The result was a refreshing and entertaining read, which I was much in need of.

I listened to the audiobook version and I thought Angèle Masters did an excellent job of bringing Veronica to life. Click on the SoundCloud link below to hear a sample.
https://soundcloud.com/audiolibrary-a/a-curious-beginning-by-deanna-raybourn-aud... show less

A Curious Beginning is the first book in Deanna Raybourn's new series set in Victorian London. As the book begins, Veronica Speedwell is attending the funeral of her guardian, Aunt Nell, whom she discovers she is not sorry to see dead. After the funeral, Veronica is taken back to the vicarage, where the vicar's wife attempts to marry her off to a widowed farmer in need of a wife and mother for his six small children. We learn Veronica was an illegitimate orphan who was taken in and raised by Aunt Nell and Aunt Lucy, who passed away a few years earlier. We also learn that Veronica is very strong-minded, independent, outspoken and may have "behaved immorally with an American traveler" on a trip to Sicily. She returns to Aunt Nell's show more cottage, only to find it ransacked. She is nearly kidnapped by the culprit but is rescued by Baron von Stauffenbach, whom she saw from a distance at the funeral. The Baron indicates that her life may be in danger and that he may be able to give her some information about the identity of her mother, but that he must receive permission from another before he can do so. He leaves Veronica at a warehouse which is inhabited by Mr. Stoker, whom Veronica believes to be a taxidermist. Veronica and Stoker soon receive word that the Baron has been murdered and that Stoker is a suspect. As they first try to escape London and then return to investigate to clear Stoker, they find that the Baron's murder may be tied to Veronica's mysterious background.

Although this is a historical novel, the historical detail is kept to a minimum - only that necessary to advance the plot. The plot moves quickly, but not too quickly, just enough to keep you wanting to read more. There are a few twists and turns along the way, but if you are paying attention, you should at least be able to figure out the part of the mystery that is more important to the plot than merely the identity of the murderer. Veronica seems alternately worldly, yet naive, but this makes her more endearing than annoying, in my opinion. The book first reminded me a little of a Victoria Holt novel where the heroine is a young, orphaned girl left to make her way in the wide world. However, that impression did not last long. Veronica reminds me more of Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody with her independence and outspokenness. Stoker, however, seems more than a match for her. He is also at times worldly and then sometimes genteel. While written in the first person, I suspect there is still a lot more about Veronica Speedwell that we will learn later, and it seems there is a lot more to Stoker than Veronica can even guess. There is a tiny hint of romance thrown in for good measure.

I liked this book more than I expected to. It really captivated me to the point that I kept thinking about it. In my opinion, the author did a fantastic job of introducing the main characters with just enough mystery that you wanted to know more. Then she would satisfy almost all of your curiosity, but leave just that little bit so that you want to read the next book.

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a historical mystery with a strong, independent female protagonist. show less

Less than two weeks ago, I mentioned in a review that The Girl on the Train was going into my "Best Books of 2015" list. I still have every intention of adding it, but this book, A Curious Beginning, is going to be right next to it. The beautiful cover was the first thing I noticed and it attracted me to the book right away. I knew Deanna Raybourn was also the author of the Lady Julia Gray mysteries, which I adored, so when I was contacted to read and review her newest work, I was excited and it went right to the top of my TBR list. I'm so glad I dove right in right away because this book was just as much fun as her other series and engaged me immediately. I love a good British mystery and this book delivered exactly what I was hoping show more for.

As with her Lady Julia Gray series, the main character in A Curious Beginning is a fascinating study. Veronica Speedwell (a great name for a British heroine if I do say so myself) is a woman ahead of her time. She is a female scientist who oozes independent thinking, women's rights, and who of course, is a supporter of the free love movement, much to the shock and dismay of her peers in this time period. Veronica's forward thinking and blunt conversational style produce quite a few laughs throughout the story. The mystery itself reveals itself once we are acquainted with Veronica's situation and revolves around a murder connecting to her past. She teams up with a sexy but shady (and initially unwilling) sidekick/protector and the interplay between the two is full of clever wit and shenanigans. We are sent on an adventure with various clues, red herrings, and a bit of intrigue. Anyone who is a fan of Amelia Peabody or Mary Russell will adore Veronica Speedwell. I'll certainly be on the look out for the next book in the series. show less

This is the start of a new mystery series set in Victorian England. Often, the first book in the series struggles to get momentum. There is so much background material and character setup that has to be covered, that the mystery falls flat. Not so in this book, the first to feature heroine Veronica Speedwell. Speedwell is not your typical Victorian woman. She is smart, bold, a professional lepidopterist, and enjoys some romantic entanglements, but tries hard to only have affairs with foreigners. In this mystery, she joins forces with an enigmatic taxidermist - the brooding handsome type - and they get quite entangled as they try to solve the murder of a friend. Very fun and well done.

I totally loved this book, although I did get a bout of gout from overindulgence in rich, snarky dialog.

(1887 circa Queen Victoria’s Jubilee) Foundling and accomplished lepidopterist, now a Young Woman (YW), Veronica Speedwell, is left orphaned by her two loving spinster "aunts". When she returns from the funeral of the second deceased aunt, she finds a man has broken into the home and upon being discovered, attempts to abduct her. Other man (Baron Max von….) comes to the rescue and whisks her away to London where she is placed into the protective care of his friend, an indifferent, cantankerous (is that an oxymoron?) Young Man (aka Stoker né…..). Stoker is an ill-kempt show more taxidermist/(fallen)gentleman/explorer/scientist/surgeon/nobleman/naval officer/traveling circus performing knife thrower/murderer/....who owes a debt of service to Max. The latter charges Stoker with the protection of Veronica until he returns…Max is murdered, however, and the two (YM&YW) go on the lam (1) from possible threat on the life of Veronica and (2) from police/Scotland Yard hunting Stoker as the convenient person of interest in the murder of his friend Max. As the two endeavor to solve the murder and discover the true identity of Victoria's parentage - and why she is being pursued by several different factions - they get into plenty of trouble. Stoker’s mysterious past fascinates Veronica who mercilessly taunts and vexes him. Stoker, for his part, unsuccessfully attempts to reign over and control Veronica, whose tongue is as sharp as a serpent’s tooth, is an autodidact scientist, adventurous and liberated woman who enjoys her carnal pursuits (but only outside of England, so as not to sully her reputation – lol) – and pontificating on those conquests at many an opportunity. Veronica’s vast knowledge of butterflies, botany, geography and scientific exploration, together with her self-proclaimed expertise on human nature is showcased deftly by the author.

I could go on and on, but why spoil the fun? There is a lot of humor and wit in this book with a genuinely memorable and fully developed MC in Veronica. I LOVE her.

Incidentally, I Googled and Gutenberged Arcadia Brown, Lady Detective, Veronica’s beloved female detective novels and her inspiration, but I was disappointed to find that the author and her works are a fiction existing only within the context the Veronica Speedwell series…I later found an interview
with Raybourn published on the internet and learned that Arcadia was a figment of Raybourn’s imagination, fashioned after heroine’s of 19th century lady detective novels such as Amelia Butterworth (I am coincidentally currently reading The Affair Next Door featuring Butterworth), Violet Strange, and Loveday Brook.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️0.5/5
🌶 0/4

3-Part Review:

1) Writing

This book / series is set in the late 1800s / Victorian period in England and has a whip smart FMC. The writing really does that justice with both beautiful prose and incredibly snappy dialogue. It fits the tone of the book and has a wonderful pace to it.

2) Uniqueness of Story & Characters

Being in the Victorian era, the fact that our FMC is wholly independent and has a penchant for both international travel and bedding foreign men is shocking and delightful. She is the epitome of a modern feminist trapped in the 1800s... and yet it works. She manages to find ways to be taken seriously and buck all expectation to be a true version of herself. It's not something we usually show more see in historical fiction to this degree and I loved the newness of this take. Not to mention our MMC might be a big grumpy.... but he's a man able to see a woman as an equal and a partner, and that is a beautiful thing.

3) Overall Plot and Execution

This book is a proper period murder mystery combined with great character chemistry and witty banter. I have a feeling this is going to be a very slow burn in the romance department, but the fast pace and delightful number of twists and turns really captures the imagination and keeps the reader invested in what I hope unfolds into an epic tale. This is only the first in a many part series and I'm excited to dive into the later books to see how the story progresses. show less

This is the delicious start to a wonderfully adventurous series of historical fiction and mystery.

Protagonist Veronica Speedwell, orphaned as an infant, had been placed in the foster care of two sisters - "aunts" unrelated to her. The story begins with the burial of her last remaining "Aunt Nell", freeing her to whims and expeditionary adventures of life as a lepidopterist (butterfly specialist). No sooner does she return to the aunt's cottage following the funeral to discover someone rifling through her aunt's belongings after which she is soon abducted. A nearby gentleman thwarts the abduction and implores her to leave immediately with him as her life is in great danger. He, Baron von Stauffenbach, apparently knows lots more about show more her than he lets on, but it is not his story to tell. He states that all will be revealed in due course. He then entrusts her to the care of Mr. Stoker, an expeditioner cum taxidermist. The Baron reminds Stoker of a debt yet not paid and instructs him to protect her with his own life, at all cost. The irascible Mr, Stoker, although feeling quite put out, honors the Baron's directive and somewhat begrudgingly, assumes his duty. This, of course, is totally unacceptable to the free-spirited and fiercely independent Miss Speedwell who has other plans to pursue. That is until shortly thereafter, when the Baron is found murdered.

Stoker, sensing that somehow Miss Speedwell, is the reason for the murder, dictates that they are to leave immediately for her own safety, if in fact her life is in peril as the Baron had intimated. From this point on, let the adventure and sleuthing commence.

Author Deanna Raybourn has delivered a wonderful story with rich dialogue and complex characters. Her character development is exquisite as the reader peels away their protective shells one layer at a time. As we soon discover, Miss Speedwell and Mr. Stoker are more alike in so many ways. It's a joy to grasp this as they discover it in each other. The sparring banter between Speedwell and Stoker, with no holds barred, is a gift in and of itself. The literary references are poignant and divulge characters of greater depth and knowledge than one might expect.

This reader is hooked and is so looking forward to the next book in the series, "A Perilous Undertaking". If historical fiction, with a touch of mystery, replete with clever characters, and cheeky wit appeal then this is definitely a book for you. show less