A Curious Beginning (Veronica Speedwell, #1) in NetGalley Readers

Aug 02, 2015 Alexandra rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2016, own-on-kindle, own-on-audible, veronica-speedwell-series

8/26/19 $.99 on Kindle.

Enjoyed it, will definitely read the next one.

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Dec 24, 2018 Amy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, read-in-2018, rec-ig-blogs-friends-other, mystery-suspense-thriller, _own-home-library

I really loved this one! Veronica Speedwell is a one of a kind character. Deanna Raybourn did an amazing job creating both a world and a group of characters that are truly outstanding! This is one that I suspect that I will be recommending over and over again. Solid mystery. Outstanding historical fiction. And the relationship between Mr. Stoker and Veronica is one of my favorites in all of literature! I highly recommend this one! You can't go wrong with this one! ...more

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Apr 02, 2015 Christa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ebook-arc

Great start to a historian mystery series! Veronica Speedwell and Stoker were both very engaging characters and I enjoyed the antics and humor that this one provided in the midst of the investigation.

The storyline was good and the characters were even better!

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May 05, 2015 Margaret Chind rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction, audible, penguin, audiobook, cozy-mystery, netgalley, england, sent-to-kindle, ebook-galley, london

Originally posted on Creative Madness Mama.
First in a new historical mystery series about intrepid Victorian England adventurer Veronica Speedwell

Following my reviews you know that I spend most of my reading hours in the realm of Christian Historical Fiction; however, there are a few authors that are in the general fiction market that I gladly and eagerly jump into their novels. Therefore, I realize this recommendation is not for everyone who reads my normal reviews. With that said, A
Originally posted on Creative Madness Mama.
First in a new historical mystery series about intrepid Victorian England adventurer Veronica Speedwell

Following my reviews you know that I spend most of my reading hours in the realm of Christian Historical Fiction; however, there are a few authors that are in the general fiction market that I gladly and eagerly jump into their novels. Therefore, I realize this recommendation is not for everyone who reads my normal reviews. With that said, A Curious Beginning is an amazing book and a wonderful start to a new series with an author divined with a creative mind Deanna Raybourn. I absolutely loved the Lady Julia Grey series that I started reading on recommendation of my author friend Michelle Moran and I devoured every additional story. Deanna does have another series set in the 1920s that I have not entered into yet. Stepping back into 1887, Veronica is an incredible character. Veronica Speedwell has a name that sets her apart, but her personality is so unique and whimsical that as a reader you cannot help but enjoy her wit. While, Stoker is no Brisbane, he does have his qualities that I found he grew on me in favor after a while.

Raybourn is a winner of the RITA Award and a Romantic Times Award (as well as nominated for additional RITA and Daphne du Maurier awards, an Agatha award, and several Romantic Times awards)

Deanna Raybourn is an author that I truly enjoy the stories that she weaves. I'm entertained. Often I even find a few words that I'm looking up for definition, and that does not often happen in my reading any more. I find myself challenged by her stories and fully entertained. I echo what I have said before, Throughout the novel, I laughed out loud, became infuriatingly angry, teared slightly, and snickered relentlessly. Within the main plot and all the side plots, I definitely feel that the entire story led up to a great overall tale and I was vastly entertained.

It is another one of those books, where I ask, why did it have to end and when can I get more?

This review was originally posted on Creative Madness Mama. ...more

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Aug 31, 2015 Carolyn rated it it was amazing

Celebrate! A Curious Beginning is the FIRST Veronica Speedwell mystery! That means we have more to look forward to. Miss Speedwell is a most improper Victorian spinster. She travels throughout the world making her own living collecting and selling rare butterfly specimens to less adventurous collectors. She never takes a lover while in England, but doesn't hesitate when abroad.

She's intelligent, physically fit, and much too outspoken for a proper English drawing room. When her last known relati ...more

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May 19, 2020 Amy (Bossy Bookworm) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-suspense, series

This fantastic book is the first in Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell series. Veronica is a curious young Victorian-era lady with progressive ideas, and I adore how matter-of-factly and innocently she presents her wild-for-the-times views and questions power structures and injustices. Raybourn may allow Veronica to benefit from the author's own modern sensibilities, but Veronica is a strong and unorthodox main protagonist, and for me this aspect of her character works wonderfully.

Veronica finds hers ...more

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Jul 28, 2015 Patricia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A Victorian woman with modern ideas has a whopper of a mystery to solve. With the help of a doctor/taxidermist/adventurer this is a wild ride of a story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I received this free for an honest review from NetGalley.

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