“That’s the hallmark of a good partnership, you know: when one sees the forest and the other studies the trees.”― deanna raybourn, a curious beginning
I seriously considered this entire post being quotes from this series, but decided you might find it a bit boring. so I’ll do my best to convey how wonderful this series is and why you should read it, keeping quotes to a minimum.
You are reading: Veronica speedwell books in order
8 reasons why you should read this series:
1. veronica veronica
I absolutely adore her! she is smart and witty and isn’t afraid to voice her opinion even when she knows she may not be well received. she also likes her attitudes towards the norms of the society of her time, in the sense that she thinks most of them are trash. but she also knows when she needs to keep those opinions to herself. she can stand up for herself and she knows how difficult it can be to be a single woman. she is also very funny and many times she made me laugh out loud.
“Should I be distressed? in a meadow? you mean if the cows organize some kind of attack? I have extensive experience with cows. they hardly ever do that.”― deanna raybourn, a curious start
2. revelstoke templeton-vane
He has a good name, but everyone calls him a stoker. he is a gentleman and a scoundrel and I just love him. he is the perfect counterpoint for veronica. the witty banter between them is priceless and often made me smile. he also has a dark past, which is slowly revealed throughout the books. he is a taxidermist and natural historian. He is, of course, handsome and muscular and often takes his shirt off, much to the amusement of Veronica and of course the reader.
“I was just thinking that it might have been a very serious mistake to introduce you to lady c. If you two ever put your mind to it, you could probably topple governments together.” I smiled as I put the gun back in my pocket. “One thing at a time, dear stoker. one thing at a time.”― deanna raybourn, a curious beginning
3. the historical setting, victorian england.
I’m not sure this series would have worked in any other period or country. the victorian era was such an interesting mix of puritanical social norms while hiding a seedy underbelly. Especially with the well-to-do, things weren’t always what they seemed. Furthermore, social attitudes towards women and their position in society were beginning to change, often making it easier for Veronica to do what she needed to do to solve the mysteries in each book.
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“we are educated by common sense, curiosity and any real merit. we’re made to be decorative and display-worthy, with occasional forays into procreation and good deeds, but nothing more.”― deanna raybourn, a dangerous undertaking
4. the mysteries
Each book has its own little mystery that the couple must solve. they are often in life-threatening situations and there were a couple of times when I was scared someone important was going to die. these mysteries also cover some real life people of the time especially the royal family and of course jack the ripper appears in book 5. all the mysteries are well written and there are lots of twists and red herrings to keep you guessing.
“And royalty are immune to homicidal tendencies? study your history, stoker. I think you’ll find that’s how most of them became royals in the first place.”― deanna raybourn, a dangerous undertaking
5. romance, a slow slow fire.
So even though you know from the first time you meet that you’re meant to be together, it takes four books before they start admitting their feelings for each other and then kissing. it takes a whole book before they really get beyond that kiss. but there is plenty of sexual tension and witty banter between the two to keep you entertained.
“I discovered long ago in my travels that men are largely the same no matter where one finds them. And if you’re prepared to let them talk about their favorite topics of conversation, you can usually get on with things without any interference.”― deanna raybourn, a treacherous curse. p>
6. secondary characters
Although there are many characters that only appear for the mystery, there are many secondary characters that appear in almost all the books. they all have quite distinctive personalities and add a nice sense of continuity to the books. Some that I really like are:
lady wellingtonia beauclerk, who is an older woman who befriends veronica, but ends up being more than she seems and has her fingers in a lot of cakes.
inspector mornaday, a promising young police officer in special branches. he has a slight crush on veronica and he and stoker often have verbal confrontations which are quite amusing.
j j butterworth, a reporter who is veronica’s nemesis for a while, but they eventually become friends.
tiberius templeton-vane, stoker’s older brother. He also has feelings for Veronica and has an antagonistic relationship with Stoker.
“Is there any feeling as delicious as the beginning of a new adventure? perched on the precipice of a new endeavor, ready to take flight, the winds of change stirring the feathers, ah, that’s what it means to be alive!”— deanna raybourn, a dangerous collaboration
7. writing
It’s captivating and makes you feel like you’re right there with the characters in the middle of Victorian London. the pacing keeps you running through the books without a dull moment, and it’s often hard to put the books down. And like I said before, the mysteries will keep you guessing until the very end.
“A woman who knows what she thinks is a surprise to a certain type of man. they don’t know how to react, so they usually obey”, deanna raybourn, a killer relationship
8. audiobooks
Except for book six, I listened to all these books. The narrator, Angele Masters, does an excellent job.She has a variety of different voices and accents that bring the characters to life. she also does a great job with the rhythm. I ended up reading the last book, because the audio wasn’t available and I really didn’t want to wait to read it. and while I enjoy reading the book, I can still listen to ms. the voice of the teachers in my head that makes the characters more vivid in my mind.
“For these few hours, I was once again on the tightrope, on a precarious balance between glory and disaster, and emotion washed over me with much more effect than sparkling wine.” ― deanna raybourn, an unexpected danger
I hope my reasons have helped you decide to try this wonderful series. especially if you like historical fiction or mysteries or both together, I don’t think you will be disappointed. so far there are 6 books in the series and issue 7 will be out in early 2022. i really hope this series will continue as i really enjoy them.
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