A Curious Beginning (Veronica Speedwell, #1) in Crazy Challenge Connection

Jun 09, 2024 Olivermagnus rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-mystery, europe, england, 2024, x7, zjune-24

This is the first book of a series set in 1887 England featuring Victorian spinster, Veronica Speedwell, student of natural history and a lepidopterist. She's been raised by two maiden “aunts” who were of no relation to her. She's capable, filled with self confidence and plans to explore the world on her own, studying butterflies. When she returns to her small cottage after the funeral she finds that it's been ransacked. A mysterious Baron takes her under his wing, telling her that her life is i ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Sep 02, 2021 Chaitra rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: first-of-a-series, historical-mystery, mystery, historical-fiction, amateur-sleuth, abandon-series

Should have known it wouldn't appeal to me, but I still get curious. Anyway, I couldn't stand Veronica, I'm being told she's a genius, but in reality she's blind because she's so arrogant and sure of herself. I don't particularly like Stoker but in this case he comes off as the better at least because he doesn't talk so much.

Also why was that interlude in the traveling circus needed other than to show that our heroine can endure hardships and still stay sassy and plucky? Ugh. She was exhausting ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Sep 18, 2018 Ashleigh rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: series-books

A Curious Beginning follows Veronica Speedwell, a young woman in her mid-20's, who has just buried the second of her spinster aunts. After the funeral, Veronica returns home to find someone ransacking her home and manages to chase the man off. Shortly after, she is approached by a German man by the name of Baron von Stauffenbach, who informs her that her life is in danger and she needs to leave him immediately. Veronica was about to head to London anyway in search of adventure, so she agrees ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 14, 2024 Lali & Michelle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

"I stared down into the open grave and wished that I could summon a tear. Violent weeping would have been in exceedingly poor taste, but Miss Nell Harbottle had been my guardian for the whole of my life, and a tear or two would have been a nice gesture of respect."

So begins the story of Veronica Speedwell, orphaned as an infant, raised by two spinster sisters and a woman of great intellect and strong will. Veronica has endeavored to behave with some decorum when living with her guardians, but ha "I stared down into the open grave and wished that I could summon a tear. Violent weeping would have been in exceedingly poor taste, but Miss Nell Harbottle had been my guardian for the whole of my life, and a tear or two would have been a nice gesture of respect."

So begins the story of Veronica Speedwell, orphaned as an infant, raised by two spinster sisters and a woman of great intellect and strong will. Veronica has endeavored to behave with some decorum when living with her guardians, but has allowed her true nature free rein during the trips she has taken around the world to study and collect butterflies -- and handsome foreign men. Veronica is clearly not a normal Victorian miss so it is not surprising that when confronted with a ransacked home and an attempted kidnapping, she has no trouble going off with Baron Maximilian von Stauffenbach, an elderly gentleman who claims to have known her mother. For safekeeping, he takes her to the laboratory/workshop of Stoker a once celebrated scientist who has fallen into disrepute due to an unfortunate incident in South America. To be clear, Veronica doesn't feel the need to be kept safe but she is always up for an adventure. She never dallies romantically with men in her own country, but she can still appreciate Stoker's physical charms.

Then, the Baron is murdered, taking Stoker's only friend and Veronica's opportunity to learn about her parentage. Stoker has been set up to take the fall for the murder, while he is suspicious of Veronica's possible involvement in the crime. So off they go to the circus where Stoker reprises the knife-throwing act from his past and Veronica teases Stoker with her sexual innuendos and glimpses of her body. It seems it is entertaining to her to see him blush and get flustered. There is little effort to discover the murderer until near the end of the book, but there are some entertaining moments. As the book progressed, however, the plot became increasingly ridiculous and I struggled to stay engaged.

I have read the first two books in the India Holton series featuring pirates, witches and flying houses, and this book reminds me of that. Instead of the alpha male, we have the alpha female and while the novelty of that is initially entertaining, I prefer relationships that are on more of an equal footing and that focus on emotion rather than on scoring points with witty quips. And while A Curious Beginning does not have the pure fantasy of flying houses and witches, it does deviate a great deal from actual Victorian England. The book ends with the set up for future books in the series and it intrigued me enough that I will check out book 2. With a stronger mystery component and less bickering and manufactured sexual tension, I think I could grow to love the series. ...more

Like · see review

Jan 05, 2024 Linda C rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: european, historical-fiction, suspense-thriller, mystery, humor

After burying her last remaining relation, Veronica Speedwell is looking forward to returning to her travels as a Lepidopterist, in search of butterflies. But she is accosted and in the process of being abducted when a German Baron comes to her rescue. He takes her to London to a friend, Stoker, who will protect her while he irons out some details before telling her about her background and why she was attacked. However, he is killed before that happens and she and Stoker are left to figure out ...more

Like · see review

Jan 25, 2023 Carissa Brown rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: cover-lover, adult, romance, feminism, audiobook

Veronica Speedwell is a woman after an adventure. She is interested in Science especially butterflies.

When Veronica is almost killed by an intruder a stranger takes her away to be safe. She doesn't believe she is in any danger, but she needs to go to London and is always ready for adventure. When she meets Stoker her life really gets exciting. They embark on a mission to figure out what is going on and why their friend was murdered.

Veronica was a fun character and I liked Stoker. I think that ...more

Like · see review