3.75 stars

The latest Veronica Speedwell adventure delivers its usual sparkling over the top plot. Veronica, her fellow scientist Stoker and his brother Tiberius are invited to an odd gathering on an isolated island. It soon turns out that this is an attempt to solve the disappearance of the island's bride on her wedding day three years ago.

Things are complicated and enhanced by the lifelong rivalry between the two brothers, the achingly unconsummated lust between Veronica and Stoker, their always chemistry-laden banter, and an old history between the bereft groom and Tiberius.

This series is fun in a Romancing the Stone kind of way, with the world's feistiest and fiercest heroine, the equally wounded and guarded Stoker, and their machinations to stop what is obviously a love match from ever quite happening. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Deanna Raybourn is one of my favorite authors and she did not disappoint with A Dangerous Collaboration. The novel was engaging and historically interesting. One of my favorite Veronica Speedwell novels to date. It kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing till the end. And oh how I hate when a good book ends.

I'd say the first 50% of this book was a 3 star read, but then it picked up and the final 25% was an easy 5 stars for the veronica/stoker progression. I'll settle on a 3.5 rounded to 4 stars!

I was a bit nervous wading through the beginning of this one, because it was completely different from the rest of the previous novels in the series. Veronica and Stoker are indifferent towards each other, they spend 6 months apart with no contact, which is followed by a lack of cheeky banter/flirting. *gasp*

I felt so lost, but thankfully Raybourn finds a way to get everyone together on one island, and after a drawn out slow burn, the reader reaps their reward, complete with a tinge of mysterious set up for the fifth installment. This was probably my least favorite case solved by our dynamic duo, but I really adored the risk that the author took to bring an extra element of emotion and characterization to our main characters, as well as Stoker's eldest brother. Definitely still a beloved, favorite series, and I can't wait to see where Raybourn takes us next!

I thought the mystery was clever and in my humble opinion this series just continues to get better. The author developed both threads, allowed for character growth and has set up the mystery for the next book. Honestly, I cannot wait!  You can read my full review on March 12, at Caffeinated Reviewer. A review will cross post to Goodreads and Amazon. Links to review will be shared on all social media.

I love the Veronica Speedwell Mystery series. I was first attracted by their excellent covers, but it only took me about 1/3 into the way of the first book to be hooked. I did receive this from Netgalley in exchange for a review.

Veronica and Stoker start the book in a chilly place. Their relationship had become emotionally intimate to a point where Veronica needed some space to think about what she wanted. Naturally, Stoker is unhappy and refuses to fall into their old patterns. Despite the coolness between them, they end up on an island off Cornwall with Stoker’s brother, an appropriately odd castle, a poison garden, a mysterious disappearance, and an assortment of people with motives.

Stoker’s aristocratic brother is a worthy wedge between the pair. He has his own agenda and rests comfortably somewhere between villain and future ally. He talks Veronica into pretending to be his fiancé. No one is fooled, but it gives a lot of opportunities for Veronica to not care what other people think of her. It was delightful.

Veronica is entirely wonderful on her own. She is smart, capable and self reliant. So much so that she is wary of going beyond friendship with Stoker. The mystery brings Veronica and Stoker back into partnership, but Stoker isn’t entirely willing to ease the strain between them.

“I’ve read it,” he said simply. “I trade books with the parlormaid at Bishop’s Folly, and she has a penchant for French romances. You wouldn’t like them,” he added with a malicious smile.

“And why not?”

“Because they always feature couples who trust one another.”

I’ve read a lot of series where the will they or won’t they is drawn out over books. I think Raybourn carries it off better than most. Stoker knows why Veronica is reluctant and knows exactly how to frustrate her. Their verbal combat is a joy to read.

A Dangerous Collaboration is a delight. I highly recommend. This book is out on March 12, so you have time to catch up on the series so far.

Veronica Speedwell busted into my life a couple of weeks ago when I read and loved book one in the series. Then, I proceeded to devour the series whole. There are few things better in this world than reading an amazing series all in a row because the books are backlist.

Only Veronica Speedwell isn’t finished, so I finished <i>A Treacherous Curse</i> without having book four, and omg the ending of <i>A Treacherous Curse</i> indeed made that state a curse. Like, excuse me, Deanna Raybourn, you cannot make me love Veronica this much and then withhold her. But then the NetGalley gods smiled on me, and I requested and got approved for this the very morning after I finished book three and read this super early and I regret not a damn thing.

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From the very beginning, <i>A Dangerous Collaboration</i> was my absolute favorite Veronica Speedwell novel. For readers who come for the mystery, it might be a bit anticlimactic compared to the others, because the mystery’s a bit slow to really get moving. However, I’m absolutely not a mystery person, and this book was a character reader’s dream.

The novel opens with Stoker and Veronica a bit tense around each other, due to the emotional intimacy that almost was at the end of book three. Stoker’s brother Tiberius shows up and lures Veronica to accompany him to an island with the promise of rare butterflies. Veronica agrees because 1) butterflies 2) avoiding Stoker and 3) irritating Stoker (aka her favorite game).

I don’t think I’ve talked about Tiberius in any of the reviews thus far, but I really love him. He’s straightlaced and fancy but also dirty af and proud of it. The way that he and Stoker snark at each other is delightful, and I love how Veronica spends the whole time laughing at how similar they are.

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Anyway, Tiberius tells Veronica that his friend they’re visiting is a devout Catholic and won’t approve of her traveling alone with a man, so they should pretend to be engaged. This, right here, should prep you for the book to come: it’s constant tropey fun, and I could not love it more. Obviously Stoker follows along because 1) spiting his brother 2) FOMO and 3) Veronica. This set up is genius and just shippy wonderment.

The mystery plot reminds me somewhat of <i>And Then There Were None</i>, since they’re isolated on this little island in a castle. It’s not quite that there’s no way off the island, but it’s close. The seeds of the plot start early, but there’s very little focus on it until about halfway through. As usual, it’s a bit bonkers, or, you know, a lot, but I enjoyed it, especially as a background for the most tropalicious Speedwell book yet.

This ship very quickly has become one of my OTPs, and I just love them more and more. In <i>A Dangerous Collaboration</i>, Veronica’s a bit of a mess tbh. Girl has caught feelings, and she cannot figure out how to fucking drop them, and she’s having trouble focusing on the actual mystery (part of why the mystery taking a backseat works so well here). Meanwhile, Stoker has gotten wily and flirty, and omg I die.

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A Dangerous Collaboration is banterlicious and wonderful. I couldn’t put it down. It made me laugh and gasp and flail and feel things in my little black heart. Seriously, if you are not reading this series, you need to so I can have more people to flail with ASAP.

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"A bride mysteriously disappears on her wedding day in the newest Veronica Speedwell adventure by the New York Times bestselling author of the Lady Julia Grey series.

Lured by the promise of a rare and elusive butterfly, the intrepid Veronica Speedwell is persuaded by Lord Templeton-Vane, the brother of her colleague Stoker, to pose as his fiancée at a house party on a Cornish isle owned by his oldest friend, Malcolm Romilly.

But Veronica soon learns that one question hangs over the party: What happened to Rosamund? Three years ago, Malcolm Romilly’s bride vanished on their wedding day, and no trace of her has ever been found. Now those who were closest to her have gathered, each a possible suspect in her disappearance.

From the poison garden kept by Malcolm’s sister to the high towers of the family castle, the island’s atmosphere is full of shadows, and danger lurks around every corner.

Determined to discover Rosamund’s fate, Veronica and Stoker match wits with a murderer who has already struck once and will not hesitate to kill again...."

The best part about a new year is that it heralds the arrival of a new Deanna Raybourn Veronica Speedwell mystery!

I have read a few of Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia Grey titles but this is my first Veronica Speedwell novel. I knew I would be able to jump right into this book four as they are styled as stand-alones. I would love to go back to read the rest of the titles by Raybourn but there is just so much time in my day that I will settle with a current read so that I may offer a review.

The series features a spunky heroine who enjoys being a woman ahead of her time and not caring that she is fast approaching spinsterhood. This book opens up to Veronica and Stoker on a bit of a tightrope between friends and romance and they don't know quite how to handle that. Meanwhile they are set off on an adventure to a castle complete with ghosts and tall tales when they are tasked with finding out what why a friend's bride had disappeared on their wedding day three years prior.

The setting was one of the better characters of the novel, featuring deadly gardens, hidden priest holes and woeful little islands. The supporting cast of the devoted housekeeper, various family members and the cat help to add confusion to the mystery at hand.

The murder/disappearance of Rosamund was intriguing and I didn't have it all figured out though just slightly grasped at the possibility of of her demise. I enjoyed the banter of the two brothers who were Veronica's traveling companions but certainly hope the next book would finally address the romance of Veronica and Stoker. Overall it was an enjoyable experience for someone stepping into the middle of the series and engaging for a cozy mystery.

Four stars: Another delightful installment in a series with tantalizing romantic chemistry, sophisticated characters and suspenseful mysteries.

After Veronica returns a bit out of sorts after a five month trip away from London, she is disappointed that Stoker seems aloof. He didn’t even write her while she was away. Granted, she did tell him not to write her, but still. When Tiberius asks her to accompany to visit an old friend on a remote island with the promise of attaining rare butterfly specimens, Veronica jumps at the chance. The one hitch is that she must pose as Tiberius’ fiancée. The two set out, leaving Stoker behind, only to find that he decided to join them on the sly. When they arrive at the island, things are not quite right. Their host, Malcom, is desperate to find out what happened to his bride who vanished three years ago on their wedding night. Can Stoker and Veronica help solve the case?
What I Liked:
*In my opinion, I think this is a series that continues to get better and better with each and every installment. I love the mysteries, the intelligent characters, the unconventional relationship between Stoker and Veronica that tantalizes readers with the promise of romance. This is a sophisticated series for readers who want strong characters and solid mysteries.
*Veronica continues to evolve with each and every book. I love that she is sharp witted and unapologetic when it comes to conforming with the ideas of how a Victorian woman should behave. She is uninhibited by societal constraints, and she doesn’t care what others think. So refreshing to have a strong female lead is this era.
*The mystery in this one is suspenseful and exciting. I was constantly guessing as to who the culprit was, and I was wrong each time. I was shocked when the perpetrator was unmasked. I didn’t see that coming. Brilliant!
*I enjoyed seeing Tiberius and Stoker spend time together and work through some of their differences. There are a couple of hilarious scenes when the brawl and pick at one another that made me giggle.
*The chemistry between Stoker and Veronica remains a tantalizing dance of seduction and buildup. However, there was finally movement in the right direction. There is a perilous scene when Stoker does something that made my heart sing. I wanted more more more! I can’t wait to see how things move from here.
*The ending is terrific. The threads for the main mystery are completed, there is romantic development and there are exciting hints for the next mystery. I am thinking a Jack the Ripper mystery???
And The Not So Much:
*I love that this series is smart and sophisticated, and I appreciate the author’s attention to detail and the exorbitant amount of research that has gone into this series. That said, the one thing that drives me a bit crazy is the extensive use of thesaurus words and archaic vocabulary. This is a series that I highly recommend one reads in ebook format so you can look up all of the unfamiliar words. The author uses many terms that are pertinent to the era, which most readers won’t understand.
*The scene in the water was brilliant, and I was breathless waiting for the reunion, and then when it happens it is cut short. Seriously, are we ever going to get to that golden moment?? Argh!

A Dangerous Collaboration is the fourth book in an exciting Victorian series. I love the intelligent characters, the thrilling mystery and the amazing chemistry between the main characters. If you want a smart series, this is one to try. I am more than eager for the next installment.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

Like many a fan of Deanna Raybourn’s series of Victorian-set historical mysteries starring the intrepid lady lepidopterist, Veronica Speedwell, I’m as much drawn to the complicated relationship established between Veronica and her delicious partner-in-crime, Revelstoke Templeton-Vane (Stoker), as I am to the mysteries the pair is called upon to solve in each book.  We’ve watched the couple circle around each other in what has sometimes been a most frustrating push-forward-pull-back dance; the sexual tension between them is incendiary, even though they’ve shared little more than one drug-induced kiss throughout three books, and the author has done a terrific job of developing a relationship between them that is based on far more than their obvious mutual lust.  But there comes a time when even a relationship built on incredibly strong foundations of admiration, respect and trust is no longer enough, not between two people who are so very clearly soul-mates in every sense of the term.  And Veronica and Stoker appear to have reached that point, their good-natured, teasing banter and ease in one another’s company having largely disappeared in this book and been replaced by awkwardness and – sometimes – verbal sparring that has crossed the line from affectionate to keenly barbed.

A Dangerous Collaboration, book four in the series, opens just hours after the previous book concluded.  Right at the end of A Treacherous Curse, it seemed that Veronica and Stoker were on the verge of declarations, but they were interrupted – and within hours, Veronica is packing for an expedition to Madeira. Stoker is – not surprisingly – angry and hurt at Veronica’s sudden decision, but after making an offhand suggestion he shouldn’t bother writing if it’s too much of a bore, and Stoker’s impassive response that he’s quite used to managing alone – she leaves.

Veronica is away for six months, during which time she hears nothing from Stoker – for which she knows she has only herself to blame – but instead of being energised by her expedition, she’s listless and unable to concentrate on her specimen hunting and the articles she’s supposed to be writing.  She wanted time apart from Stoker to try to sort out her tangled feelings and emotions;  she’s always taken pride in not needing anyone, on being her own woman and on not wanting to conform to the ideal of Victorian womanhood and get married and have children.  So she’s struggling to come to terms with the fact that she has, finally, come face to face with the prospect of commitment to one man – and it scares her.

Men were a joy to sample, but a mate would be a complication I could not abide.  At least, this is what I told myself…

Only two days after her return to England, Stoker’s eldest brother, Tiberius, Viscount Templeton-Vane, pays them an unexpected visit.  There’s no love lost between the brothers and Tiberius certainly knows exactly how to push all Stoker’s buttons; yet for all Veronica recognises him for exactly what he is – clever, devious and manipulative – she likes him. Tiberius invites her to accompany him on a journey to a small island off the Cornish coast where she will be able to collect the larvae of an all-but extinct butterfly for her vivarium, which provides the perfect antidote to her former lethargy . She accepts with alacrity, knowing also that the trip will enable her to once again put off facing up to the truth of her feelings for Stoker.

Of course, Tiberius has an ulterior motive in inviting Veronica to St. Madden’s Isle, and knew without a doubt that telling Stoker he wasn’t invited was a sure-fire way to get him there as well.  What transpires is something of an homage to those classic country house mysteries of the 1930s and 40s; a family tragedy and unsolved mystery haunt the Romilly family, the owners of the island and inhabitants of the castle atop it; and amid an unsettling and unsettled family gathering, Veronica and Stoker find themselves once again embroiled in a mystery that poses significant danger for them and those around them.

The mystery is as gripping as ever, the island setting is vividly described and atmospheric, and the supporting characters and their relationships are all extremely well-drawn.  Tiberius is a terrific addition to the cast; a compelling, complex character whose motivations are deeply hidden and whose relationship with Stoker is severely fractured yet somehow strong at the same time.  They don’t like each other very much and their history is complicated, yet they’re so similar in many ways – ways that Veronica can see but which escape both of them:

Stoker and Tiberius were wounded things, both of them still carrying the barbs and venom of the attacks they had suffered at the hands of others.  Stoker was marked in ways he could never escape, both physically and mentally. But for all his wealth and polish, Tiberius was just as damaged.

A Dangerous Collaboration brings the romantic relationship between Veronica and Stoker to the foreground of the story and it’s about time, because I don’t think my nerves could have taken much more of their continual advance-and-retreat!  Ms. Raybourn has done a terrific job in all the books of showing that Stoker is well-and-truly smitten with Veronica, and that she’s strongly physically attracted to him, but of also showing the depth and strength of their friendship, a “mutual understanding beyong anything we had shared with others.”  I must confess, however, that I do sometimes find Veronica a difficult heroine to like.  I admire her – her quick mind, her independent spirit, her life choices and her determination -  all are admirable traits, but sometimes she’s a little too uncompromising to be truly likeable.  And that’s fine – if every character in a book was likeable, chances are it would make for a pretty dull read!  But I didn’t much care for the way Veronica treats Stoker for quite a bit of the book – even though her motivations are very clear and she’s obviously terribly conflicted - and I can’t deny that I was more than a little bit pleased when Stoker started to get some of his own back, because of course, he knows exactly what Veronica is doing and isn’t above playing the game.

A Dangerous Collaboration is certain to entertain and, if you’ve been following the series since the beginning, cause a widespread sigh of relief at certain developments ;) I hope Stoker gets to bring his “plans” for Veronica once they return to London to fruition before they get drawn into another mystery – which, given the hints dropped, may well be their most challenging one yet!

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Another great book in the Lady Sherlock series! I really enjoyed reading this third installment. The mystery is always a good one and the humor and sarcasm that the characters speak with makes reading these books really enjoyable.

Book 4 in the Veronica Speedwell series continues the trend of being even more awesome than the last book in the series. Easily a five star read. I picked it up, and I couldn't put it down. There were parts in this book that had me gasping out loud, parts that had me laughing. I am still so in love with Veronica's no cares given attitude towards men and scandal, and her great love of butterflies, and of following her passions.
Five lovely stars for this one. I can't wait for book 5.

My favorite of the series thus far! Victoria and Stoker find themselves on a murder mystery adventure in which we are given a deeper view of what make Tiberius tick. Victoria finds she can no longer ignore her feelings towards Stoker but what's a gal to do when she's worked so hard to protect her heart?

A Dangerous Collaboration picks up pretty much right away from the end of A Treacherous Curse. Fans of the series will know what I'm talking about. The moment that almost happened. Where things were almost said. So of course Veronica, not wanting to face her feelings regarding Stoker, runs away on a hunting expedition - at least that's what she tells Stoker. Six months later and Veronica has no sooner returned to London, and not dealt properly with things between herself and Stoker, than she's whisked away at the behest of Stoker's older brother Tiberius to a remote island off the tip of Cornwall. Tiberius promises Veronica some rare butterfly larvae if she agrees to pose as his fiancee at a house party put together by Tiberius' old childhood friend Lord Malcolm Romilly- much to Stoker's chagrin.

After Stoker crashes their travels and finagles an invitation to the house party, things start to really become mysterious as it appears that the group has been assembled to solve the years long mystery of Romilly's missing bride who disappeared on their wedding day with no sign of her anywhere on the island.

Everything points to the idea that the woman never left the island alive. With a potential murderer in their midst, will Veronica and Stoker be able to get past their personal conflicts and work together once again?

Deanna Raybourn has done such a wonderful job with this series and even through the torturous "will they, won't they" of the Stoker and Veronica relationship, I've enjoyed each book. I thought that she really did the characters justice in their developing feelings for one another. I think that each acted the way their respective characters have been built up, and what readers know about them, over the course of these four books. The friendship that has been built between Stoker and Veronica was, for me, the most important part, with the romance that has, hopefully, developed being like a cherry on top of it all. Deanna Raybourn has done a wonderful job of making the connection and bond they have jump right off the page.

I really loved that we got more depth to Tiberius' character. We've, somewhat, dealt with Veronica's family in past books, so I think it was time that a bit more attention was paid to Stoker's especially considering the rocky past these two share. I like learning more about Tiberius in a time of his life that is completely separate from his brother. He comes across as a more sympathetic character. I'd like to see if Deanna Raybourn continues to repair the bridge between the brothers as the series continues.

The mystery was a wonderful gothic-style mystery. Taking place in a castle with secrets on an island full of superstitions. I was really pulled in and didn't quite figure it all out until the big reveal. I think that Deanna Raybourn did a great job balancing out the mystery and the new developments between Stoker and Veronica. Their relationship takes center stage, but it doesn't completely upstage the mystery and I appreciated that fact.

I cannot wait to see where Stoker and Veronica go next from here. We get a little tease at the end that makes me think they may settle themselves in the middle of a very (in)famous mystery. If that's indeed the case, I'll be interested to see how Deanna Raybourn handles such a thing since it's a pretty ingrained piece of criminal history. And that's all I'll say!

If you've read and enjoyed this series in the past. You'll continue doing so with A Dangerous Collaboration. If you're new to the series, definitely start from the beginning!

This has been my favorite Veronica Speedwell book so far—it was absolutely fantastic and is the first book so far for my “Best of 2019” shelf on GoodReads. This feels almost like a “bottle episode” of a tv show. Almost as soon as the book starts, Veronica, Stoker, and Stoker’s brother Tiberius head off to a castle on a Cornish island. As always happens, a mystery soon finds them, but this time the mystery is more in the back seat. The main dramatic arc is the exploring the relationship between Veronica and Stoker, and it’s fabulous. After [book three spoiler] coming very, very close to admitting their feelings for each other [end spoiler] at the end of the last book, both characters (well, mostly Veronica) are still figuring out their feelings and whether their friendship is worth jeopardizing. From pretty early on it’s clear that Stoker has decided he knows what he wants and casually, persistently reminds Veronica of what she’s missing. It’s delightful.
The setting for this book is gorgeous and left me pining for some sort of New England coastal resort where I could wander down for a buffet breakfast and walk into town for brunch. While I hope this series continues on, the end of this book also sets up that book five—currently the last book Raybourn is contracted for—will involve mysterious killings of prostitutes in Whitechapel in 1888. Jack the Ripper here we come! Excelsior!


Thanks to Berkley for the review copy via NetGalley.

This newest installment in Deanna Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell series delves deeper into the relationship between Veronica and Stoker as well as offering a satisfying mystery. The setting of the mystery on an isolated island of the Cornish coast is almost a character itself, as it creates the chilling atmosphere of the novel and the sense of dread and foreboding throughout. I especially enjoyed the character development between Veronica and Tiberius, Stoker's older brother. I'm excited to see where Veronica's and Stoker's adventures take them next!

This was a fun addition to the series. It has a totally different feel from the previous books, as instead of making their way in and out of the dark underbelly of London, Veronica and Stoker find themselves in a mansion on an island. I enjoyed the romance between the main characters, although as usual I'm wishing it would move a little faster.

Veronica Speedwell receives an offer she can’t refuse: Accompany Lord Templeton-Vane to his long-time friend’s home (a castle on an island off the Cornish coast) for a few weeks and she’ll receive a prized butterfly for the museum she and her colleague Stoker are creating. Easy-peasy, right? Not really. Upon arriving at the castle Veronica meets the rather quirky family who reside there along with their interesting staff. It soon becomes clear why Lord Templeton-Vane, Stoker and Veronica have been invited. There’s a mystery to be solved – what became of Malcolm’s bride who vanished on their wedding day a few years earlier. There are plenty of suspects – almost everyone at the castle and a few townspeople. The characters, the atmospheric setting of a castle on an island, and the mystery of the bride combined to make my first Veronica Speedwell mystery an enjoyable experience. I liked the more-than-friends tension between Veronica and Stoker and look forward to seeing what caper they find themselves involved in next.

The best Veronica Speedwell novel yet! Raybourn’s fans will adore the latest installment in the series and will be chomping at the bit for book five.

Raybourn has delivered another rollicking good mystery in the Veronica Speedwell series. The flirtatious relationship between Veronica and Stoker continues and moves into serious territory, all the while they are working to solve a clever and villainous mystery in a spooky castle on an island off the Cornish coast, complete with a poison garden and a raft of prevaricating people. Really, all you need for a few hours of fun reading! With the popularity of Victorian era TV shows, I think this one would make an excellent show!