A Curious Beginning is the first book in a charming cozy mystery series set in London circa 1887 featuring lady detective and adventuress, Veronica Speedwell. Veronica refuses to conform to Victorian society’s ideal image of a moral, domestic, and virtuous woman. She’s a feisty, outspoken, and independent feminist who self-educated to become a natural historian and lepidopterist (someone who studies butterflies and moths), publishes scientific papers, travels solo, smokes, drinks, is an expert in self-defense, has dalliances with handsome men, and is (gasp!) unmarried and wishes to remain so.
This book was so fun! Author Deanna Raybourn excelled in her character and world building. Veronica’s spirted and flirtatious banter with Stoker will keep you entertained. They start off as a reluctant duo and slowly develop a mutual friendship of respect, equality, and attraction. These two outcasts go on a lot of adventures together including a traveling show where they have to perform a thrilling but dangerous act. The mystery aspect takes awhile to really get fired up but when it does, we move at warp speed to find out whodunnit and why.
I would recommend the Veronica Speedwell mystery series to fans of Kerry Greenwood’s delightful Phryne Fisher mystery series, Anna Lee Huber’s intriguing Lady Darby mystery series and PBS Masterpiece Mystery’s diverting Miss Scarlet and the Duke TV series.