A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Ragbourn

Apparently there is a mystery series, featuring Veronica Speedwell, that I never knew about.  A Perilous Undertaking is my first foray into that series and it will definitely not be my last.

This book has everything I want in a mystery and it has the added flair of taking place in the 1800’s!   Veronica Speedwell is hired to save Miles Ramsforth from execution.  He is accused of the horrible murder of his mistress, Artemesia.

The mystery itself is solid and is made even more interesting by the details of the era and the characters themselves.  Veronica Speedwell is a butterfly hunter and we learn a little bit about butterflies along the way.  Her sidekick, Stoker is a natural historian.  The witty conversations between Speedwell and Stoker are some of the best I’ve read in a long time.  They have a very strong friendship, but there is an undercurrent that it could someday be more.

I completely enjoyed everything about this book and will definitely be reading more in the series.   It looks like I have only missed the first book in the series,  A Curious Beginning.  It's next on my list.

I received an ARC of this book.