Ahhhhh.. back to the goodness that is the partnership of one Veronica Speedwell and Stoker, her absolute match. In the fifth installment of this series, they are back together and off for another journey. Brothels, Jack the Ripper and my favorite historical duo? YES PLEASE.

I absolutely adore Veronica and Stoker - both as a duo and individually. These characters have grown over the course of this series. It is nice to see them finally come together in a variety of ways *wink* while showing a bit of their more insecure/sensitive side for once. In this particular installment, we get more into the background of Veronica and her heritage. Place all of this within an expensive brothel and Raybourn's ficitional account of Jack the Ripper - well, you're just hitting all the notes for me with this book.

While I do think these can be read as standalones, I do think it's imperative to read them in order. This way you get the full backstory of all the relationships. More so for appreciating where everything comes together, as I think you'll get those moments where you gasp and where your heart sings for these characters.

All I can say is: BRING ME MORE.

The Prince is young and he's close to becoming a scandal so Veronica and Stoker are asked to save him. All they have to do is steal a diamond star from a house of ill repute...

Berkley and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It is being published today.

The house is in an odd part of town and is quite plain looking on the outside. The evening they visit is a bit like an open house. Come, see what's offered and see if you want to buy membership. They are coming to steal, not buy. But it's difficult. It's in the owner's private chambers in a safe and the area is guarded.

Before the night is over, the owner has been killed and they have been taken captive by Veronica's Irish Uncle and a corrupt cop. They can't get out and Stoker gets beat up. Then they find a way and they take the other prisoner, the Prince, with them as they go. The bad guys are after them and they run across roof tops and down dirty alleys to escape them. Stoker's older brother takes the Prince back to the palace, they head home. But there's a disagreeable smell there. Someone has shared the dead body with them...

Then a private collector calls them complaining about the animal he bought from Stoker. He says the glue is coming undone. But it's a trap and there is a shootout.

Veronica and Stoker are always in dangerous situations. It makes the story more intriguing. I really like this series.

after book 4, i had high high high high expectations for this book. not just because of what we (finally) get in book 4, but because the mystery in book 4 was very compelling and kept me on the edge of my seat. and also, yeah, because of what happens in book 4 okay.

so. this one. first off, i was like whyyy are you two being like that, you weirdos. secondly, it moved a bit slowly for me in the end and the mystery wasn't *as* captivating. in fact, sometimes i was quite confused and am very thankful we get the wrap up/summary at the end otherwise i'd still be confused. i do love when one character has to explain something to another character so that they also explain it to me lol.

i still adore veronica and stoker and would happily read about their adventures forever, but this book was easier to put down than it should have been. but! i still very much enjoyed it overall because i do love this world and these characters so much. i loved the new characters introduced, i still laughed out loud several times, i still rolled my eyes lovingly. i just love the way this series is written and the characters truly are fabulous. it's such a delightful series. and YES OKAY what we get at the end was fabulous and wonderful and well worth the wait.

the end made me a little worried though, as it sounded like a wrap up to the series but thankfully i don't think that is the case. i am pretty sure there are more and i will absolutely read them in a heartbeat.

so overall, loved it because i love the series and the characters and the writing.

1888. Lady Wellingtonia Beauclerk needs the help of Veronica Speedwell and Stoker, to help solve a problem. Actually two problems, both involving Prince Albert Victor, known as Eddy. He the foolish man has given his l'amour a distinguish piece of jewellery, and now is the time of the Ripper.
An enjoyable and well-written historical story, with its entertaining interactions, not just between the main pair.

It didn't take long for this series to win it's way into almost everyone who has read it's heart.

It is so entertaining, fun, enchanting, and filled with all the things historical, mystery, and romance lovers adore. It has just about everything one could ask for in a good read. From lovable characters, to a well written mystery, to the heart pounding, heart melting relationships and hint of romance. This series is a stand out series is any genre you want to put it.

And even better, the books just keep getting better and better as they go. There is always something more. More mystery, more danger, more mouth watering, heart accelerating sexual tension, just more.

I adore this series. I adore Veronica and Stoker. Raybourn always manages to transport us back in time to Europe and all the adventure and mayhem that these two lovable characters can possible get into.

Another outstanding installment in this series and yet again proves why Raybourn is a master in her art.

Insomnia decided to pay me a visit last week and over the weekend and while I'm not usually a fan of this particular visitor I have to admit that I wasn't too terribly sad because it gave me time to fly through this book. What fun it was!



There's abduction, intrigue, treason, madness, blackmail, jewels, and royal politics. It's quite the ride and I couldn't wait to see just how Veronica and Stoker could possibly get themselves out of some of the spots they landed in. Throw in a fantastic collection of side characters and it's impossible to resist.



I've read a few books set during this time period and I've read a few books that deal with Prince Albert Victor and I must say this was my favorite. I felt like I knew poor Prince Albert and this was one of the few portrayals that I've seen that felt based on fact as well as sympathetic. After finishing the book I really wanted to read more about both the Ripper victims and poor Eddy himself.



While I enjoyed this quite a lot I did have a complaint or two. The primary one being the attraction between Stoker and Veronica. Their lack of communication drove me crazy at times and Veronica's distracting lusting over Stoker in the first half got a bit much. I get she's attracted to him but either act on it or let it go!



Minor complaint aside this was a fun book with an entertaining mystery and likable and sympathetic characters. If you enjoy historical mysteries this is a must read.

Veronica and Stoker Again Caught up in a Royal Scandal

As the ripper stalks London, Veronica and Speedwell are hard at work on their projects. This changes abruptly when Lady Wellie asks for their help. Prince Albert Victor had become entangled with a woman, Madame Aurore, who runs a scandalous private club. He plans to gift her with a jeweled star, her favorite jewel. Because he plans to use his mother, Princess Alexandra’s, jeweler, the star could be traced to the royal family and would cause a scandal. Even worse, there are rumors that the prince could be the ripper.

Confronted with Princess Alexandra, her step-mother, Veronica refuses to help. She’s been snubbed by the royal family and sees no reason to help them. Stoker tells her that it’s her duty to the country. Finally, she agrees and they set off to Madame Aurore’s club to steal the jewel, but is anything ever that simple when Veronica and Stoker set out to solve a problem?

This is the fifth book in the Veronica Speedwell series. As usual, Veronica is a witty, sarcastic, and her own woman. She may love Stoker, but in many ways she’s in charge. I love Stoker. He takes care of Veronica without making her feel inferior. I thought at the end of the last book that we would see more of a sexual relationship, but they’re still teetering on the edge of commitment.

I was a little disappointed in the plot. There were gorgeous scenes at Madame Aurore’s, and it was nice to see Veronica getting to know her little brother, but much of the plot moved slowly with great swathes of dialog. It’s not my favorite in the series, but it’s a good read. It you’re a fan, don’t miss it.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

This was a clever case and wove in headlines and threads from the notorious Jack the Ripper murders. Raybourn’s thread felt plausible and added to the danger for our trio. I honestly worried whether Stoker would survive this and quite forgot my quest for them to finally act on their desires. Even in danger, Veronica did not…LOL You’ll have to read the book to find out just what happened.

A Murderous Relation was a fast-paced, action-packed tale with a clever murder-mystery filled with villains you’ll love to hate. Raybourn endears you to the main characters with snark, wit and humor. I am hoping we will see more of this investigative duo.

Full review will post March 10, 2020 @ Caffeinated Reviewer.

Deanna Raybourn, author of "A Murderous Relation" has written an intense, captivating, suspenseful, and witty novel. The Genres for this novel are Fiction, Mystery, Suspenseful, Historical Fiction, and Romance. This is the fifth book in the series, and I think that reading the other books would be helpful. This is the only book in the series that I have read, and at times I found it difficult to understand the characters.  The story takes place mostly in London, and the timeline for this story is around 1888 and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events. The author describes her colorful cast as characters as complex, complicated, and quirky. There are betrayals and strange and dangerous things going on.

This is the era of the notorious Jack the Ripper, which is causing a panic. Veronica Speedwell and her colleague Stoker are called in by Lady Wellie to investigate some situations that cause political problems. It seems that Prince Albert Victor has given a special expensive gift to a lady who is the owner of a special house of ill repute. The gift identifies the Prince. Lady Wellie would like Veronica and Stoker to retrieve this item from this establishment. 

This is a dangerous assignment. Somehow, Veronica Speedwell's background is discussed in this book, and there are people who actually would use Veronica for their own political venues.  Meanwhile, in the establishment that Veronica and Stoker visit, they are in costumes, as are other people. Not only is there risk and danger, but there is also murder. I would recommend this book for readers who enjoy a mysterious and suspenseful novel.

Five books in, the Veronica Speedwell mystery series remains delightfully fun, with intrigue, arch dialogue, and an undeniable sexual chemistry between the main characters.

Veronica and Stoker have been through all sorts of hair-raising escapades by this point. They’re each strong, opinionated, and stubborn, but also fiercely devoted to one another and to helping those in need. Being highly intelligent natural scientists is just icing on the cake.

The story in book #5 picks up a couple of weeks after their latest adventure (A Dangerous Collaboration, book #4). Veronica and Stoker are looking forward to getting back to a normal routine and final consummating their relationship, but it’s not to be — at least, not yet.

They’re called upon to use their adept sneaky ways to save the royal family from a potentially explosive scandal… and since Veronica herself has a connection to the royals, she feels both an obligation and a resentment over this latest intrusion into her life.

Nonetheless, it’s Veronica and Stoker to the rescue, throwing themselves into a costumed ball at a high-end brothel and ending up in mortal peril themselves. Their adventures are, as always, fast-paced, full of danger and absurdly self-sacrificing moments of bravery, and plenty of snark.

There’s a tangential connection to the Whitechapel murders, and the disquieting threat of Jack the Ripper hangs over the story as a backdrop. Meanwhile, there are feats of physical daring, although ultimately it’s Veronica and Stoker’s smarts and instincts that make all the difference.

This series is so entertaining and delightful! It’s not terribly serious. And who doesn’t need a breezy Victorian romp every once in a while? Veronica and Stoker are terrific characters on their own, and together, they’re a powerhouse couple who can achieve just about anything without losing a hint of their devotion and attraction to one another.

I definitely recommend this series as a whole — but as with any good series, it’s always best to start at the beginning. Fans of the Veronica Speedwell books will not be disappointed by this book! And I’m happy to know that at least two more books in the series are planned. Excelsior!

3.75 stars

Another rollicking adventure with our favorite bantering, chemistry-laden couple. This Edwardian series features scientist Veronica Speedwell and her colleague Stoker. This time out they are charged with recovering an ill-advised and potentially scandalous gift from young Prince Eddy to a brothel owner.

Running in the background are the horrific Jack the Ripper murders. There is even a shadow of suspicion that falls on the prince. Of course Veronica's discovery that she and the prince are actually half brother and sister add another plot thread involving one of her mad relation's desire to see her as a royal successor, a goal Veronica does not share.

As usual, our heroine is dauntless, fearsome and strong. She and Stoker edge ever closer to throwing caution to the winds and committing themselves to the combustible relationship they clearly are meant to have.

The historical notes are interesting. We know that the Ripper was never arrested. And we know that Prince Eddy, presented here as sweet but perhaps simple as well, died young and never assumed the throne. His first love, Princess Alix, became the Tsarina of Russia and was murdered by the Bolsheviks in 1918.

These are always entertaining and fast-paced. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Let me start by saying, it is not bad. But this is one of the only historical/romance/mystery series I have followed religiously, so I was simply expecting more.

The characters, the setting, the mystery, I have always enjoyed the artful combination of it all. This book still technically has all those elements, but they feel uncharacteristically diminished. And if I am being honest, which I always strive to be in all my book reviews, the mystery/problem this time around is rather lackluster. The return of a certain villain made it feel a lot like a rehash.

The synopsis itself speaks with a certain urgency I never felt while reading the actual book. Also, the mention of the ripper murders in the synopsis proved to do the book more harm than good because it led me to think that major historic mystery would hold more influence on the plot.

It did not.

So all in all, this was my least favorite mystery. I assumed the mystery would somehow tie in with the Ripper murders. But alas no dice. Thankfully, a fellow reader has informed me this is not the true end. And so, given my overall adoration for this series, I will continue to follow it and hope the next books are more along the lines of the previous four.

This ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Veronica and Stoker are my favourite mystery-solving duo of all time, and their relationship takes this solid mystery series to the next level. It's one of the best slow burns out there, but also built on a solid bedrock of mutual respect and admiration and friendship, which is rarely given the time to properly develop in other series of this type, and almost never in romance. These are two complicated, clever, and honorable people and its an absolute delight to spend time with them. I can't get enough of each of their backstory's, which have been very thoughtfully written throughout the series. Also, the side characters, particularly Stoker's brothers, have always been welcome.

I will read these for eternity. Recommend to all fans of historical fiction and witty heroine's.

Another fun installment in one of my favorite historical fiction mystery series featuring kickass heroine Veronica Speedwell! This one was...a bit shocking! And a lot of fun.

Lady Wellie has tasked Stoker and Veronica with helping solve a crime so potentially scandalous it could rock the very foundations of their country. Enter Prince Albert Victor, Veronica’s half brother - maybe not the sharpest pencil in the box but a kind one nonetheless. When he finds himself in hot water, it’s Veronica and Stoker to the rescue....sort of. Amidst all of this, London is in the throes of Ripper hysteria. So may of the royal family’s secrets are being stirred up. Can Veronica and Stoker intervene before it’s too late?

Lots of fun twists and turns, as usual, in this absorbing page turner. The scenes in the (high class) brothel and with Prince Albert Victor are....scandalous! And pretty darn funny. Stoker and Veronica’s relationship advances satisfyingly; readers will be happy. I always enjoy these books and this one was no exception.

I really had trouble getting my thoughts together with this book. After several books with Veronica and Stoker having exciting after exciting adventure...this (possible) conclusion to the series was a bit underwhelming. BUT I did devour it pretty quickly and was pretty engrossed nonetheless.

This next installment (or conclusion) starts off with a wedding. A tortoise wedding to be exact. The Earl has requested Patricia, his ever grumpy pet who lumbers about the grounds of his estate Bishop's Folly to be wed to a beau who has not yet arrived. Veronica is more than happy to oblige but Stoker makes it clear that he has work to do in the belvedere, the place him and Veronica use for their work. But the wedding would have to be put on the back burner as the two are summoned by Lady Wellie to discuss something urgent. There they are surprised to come face to face with the Princess Alexandria of Denmark, Veronica's stepmother due to her blood. But this was not a family reunion. The Princess was there to ask a big favor of Veronica and Stoker. Veronica's half brother Prince Albert (affectionately known as Eddy) has been frequenting a club of bad reputation and has given a expensive gift to the enigmatic owner of the Club named Madame Aurore. His decision to the have the gift made by his mother's jeweler made it easy for her to trace his steps. The Princess has requested that the Star be retrieved by Veronica and Stoker to avoid a huge scandal from breaking out. Veronica is quick to decline since she does not see why she should ever help the family who has denied her but Stoker convinces her to help.

To execute their mission they had to pay a visit to Stoker's brother Tiberius, much to his chagrin. He helped get Veronica and Stoker dress up to look the part of new members to the Club that were just there to have fun and join in the debauchery. In their disguises, the two get into the club easily and try to find a way to get to Madame Aurore's private wing. The wing is guarded by a surly man but Veronica is invited by Madame Aurore to her suite. There she finds out where the stars the madame has gotten from admirers are kept. She is escorted out and meets back up with Stoker to tell him her new development. They find a vent that leads up to the Madame's suite and try to overhear a conversation with a person they assumed to be Eddy since they were told he would be there tonight. They can't make out the conversation and hear a lot of commotion. In bribing the servant, they are able to get to the wing from a different direction and enter the suite. They encounter a woman that turns out to be Eddy in disguise and they also unfortunately encounter the body of Madame Aurore who has been stuffed under the mattress in her room. The three fled to prevent the murder be pinned on them but are ambushed and made unconscious outside the club.

When they awaken, it is revealed that their captor is Veronica's Uncle. He was presumed dead after being engulfed in flames and falling into the Thames in their last adventure. He is still determined to use Veronica as the pawn to usurp the throne and claim it for the Irish. He had help from none other than Inspector of special branch in Scotland Yard. Veronica refuses to cooperate in their scheme and the three are held captive for days. Eddy now knows that Veronica is his half sister and they form a kinship. Veronica finally thinks up a plan and three barely escape, Stoker being in rough shape from being beaten by her Uncle's Henchman.

The three return to the estate and find that Madame Aurore's body has been placed inside the sarcophagus in the belvedere. Lady Wellie remains comatose after swooning at the knowledge that Eddy could possibly be the Ripper. But Veronica and Stoker come to doubt that he would be capable of such evil. The two don't escape their captors for long and there is a final showdown, leaving Veronica's Uncle and the Inspector dead. Stoker is shot as well but it would have been worse if they didn't get help from Inspector Mornaday once again and J.J. Butterworth who was writing the article's on the Ripper's victims. Veronica has also been shot but does not discover it until the adrenaline wears off. Her and Stoker recover and Madame Aurore is laid anonymously to rest in order to keep Mornaday's reputation unsullied since he was the one to put it in the sarcophagus. Lady Wellie recovers and the scandal with Eddy remains under wraps. Eddy returns to his home, hoping that him and Veronica can still have some semblance of a friendship but Veronica does not believe their paths will cross again. The story ends with Veronica and Stoker once again escaping death and vowing it to be their last adventure (for a while at least). The two also realize they can no longer deny their attraction to each other and wrap everything up with them making love and making their relationship official.

As I have said in other reviews of this series, Veronica is the protagonist I have been waiting a long time for. She is witty, snarky, and doesn't let men think she is of the lesser sex. I think many female protagonists can learn from her since she shows that not all female characters have to be romantically driven. Yes she fell in love with Stoker but that was a small detail in the overarching plot. I'm truly sad to see her go if this really is the last in the series.

Stoker is my Mr. Darcy. He's broody, surly, and grumpy but I can't deny how much I love him (not to mention how fucking sexy he is). He also never stepped on Veronica's feet and tried to make her lesser than him. He always respected her as an equal and that is too rare in books these days (I'm looking at you Thomas Cresswell). I am equally heartbroken to say goodbye to a man I could truly swoon over.

There are many other character's but the ones I feel that are worth mentioning is Lady Wellie and Eddy. I loved Lady Wellie from the start with her wit and her spitfire attitude. She could cow anybody into submission with that will of hers and I just couldn't help but grow a soft spot for her. How could I not when there's a woman making her own rules and her own name in a world filled with men and unfair rules for woman in place. Eddy was just like a little lost puppy that I wanted to take home. Yes he fucked up by giving a Star to pretty much a courtesan but he tried to make it right himself and is trying to be a better man than his father. I don't know how this man was truly in real life but I hope he was close to what this rendition of him was like. I hate to see them and other go too.

So now that I addressed character it comes down to plot. AND that's where this book truly suffered for me. This series has been truly more character driven and dialogue driven as well, but there was still some semblance of plot and it was just not what this book was advertised to be. With the synopsis mentioning the Ripper, I thought for sure we were in for a fun adventure of Veronica and Stoker finding out the identity of the Ripper. But it was unfortunately a small side plot that was just there for dramatic effect. I did appreciate Raybourn making a point to say that the victims were more than prostitutes but there was still so much lacking. The plot was really just a continuation of Veronica trying to escape her blood relations to the royal family and other's trying to use that knowledge for their own gain. Also I usually don't mind that the conversations between characters go on and on for quite a bit of the book but it seemed to bog down the whole thing this time and leave little room for more plot. The last point that really just drove home me not giving this full five stars was the lackluster ending. I wanted a steamy, raunchy, arousing sex scene between these two after being denied it book after book. But...nothing. No details. Just vague suggestions that it was some wild sexy times they had. Some kissing might have made up for that but nope, just that little bit as they started making love. I know this would be totally fine in other people's books but not in mine. It is a adult book so I expected more adult content. But all in all, an enjoyable series and I would still recommend it to anyone.

3.5 rounded up to 4

Veronica Speedwell and Stoker have been one of my favorite couples since reading A Curious Beginning, the sexual tension, with its sarcastic dialogue between these two and the situations they find themselves in makes for an entertaining read.

In anticipation of this release (the 5th in series) I did a reread via audiobook, they are excellent and I highly recommend, I was able to put voices to these unique individuals. I don’t feel this book would work as a stand-alone, there are lots of backstories that would be confusing and make for an unenjoyable read.

Beginning where book 4 left off and I gotta say the author sure knows how to start a book, what a hoot! The synopsis above does a great job outlining the story, and yes there is action and adventure that is to be expected with these two, but this one just lacked a little something that I can't quite put my finger on. It had the twists and turns that surprised me and went in a direction I didn't anticipate.

I read this on my kindle which features the dictionary. Veronica has a vocabulary (as does the author) that had me looking up words without interrupting the flow. A Murderous Relation had Jack the Ripper and Prince Eddy making appearances and brought back fictional characters from previous books. If you haven't read this series yet I highly recommend it.

My thanks to Berkley (via Netgalley) for an advanced e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have been a fan of Deanna Raybourn’s books for years and have often recommend her books to both friends and library patrons. I will be doing the same for her latest Veronica Speedwell mystery, A Murderous Relation. Considering the time period and Veronica’s royal connections, it was probably only a matter of time before Jack the Ripper made an appearance in the series. But while his presence hangs over the novel providing an aura of menace, this is not a Jack the Ripper story. Instead we see the return of old plots, the possibility of a royal scandal, and a family reunion of sorts. We also see Veronica at her officious, accomplished, and intelligent best—though I expected no less and continue to enjoy seeing Veronica navigate such disparate settings as a high-dollar “gentleman’s” club and a makeshift dining room surgery. Additionally, the secondary characters continue to grow and evolve with Tiberius and Mornaday being particular favorites (I would also love to see more of Mr. Pennybaker—a character I imagine to possess untold depths). Overall, the characters are what make these novels successful and the mystery serves largely to show off their interactions and abilities. In reality, many of us reading and loving these books are, I imagine, doing so because we enjoy watching the relationship between Veronica and Stoker evolve. I don’t think anyone will be disappointed.

Upon the heels of returning from Cornwall, Veronia and Stoker are immediately swept up in a mystery involving the crowned Prince Albert Victor. When intelligence finds out that the Prince has been frequenting an exclusive club, Club de l'Etoile, and has taken a liking to the club's proprietress - going so far as to have given her tokens of his admiration - the scandal that could arise should this information be made public is astronomical. As the whole of London is also on high alert due to the Whitechapel murders, questioning the validity of the monarchy itself, a scandal involving the Prince would only add fuel to the fire.

So enter Veronica and Stoker who have, by this time, gained quite the reputation for sleuthing. But between them, they still haven't yet acted on the feelings they professed to one another in Cornwall. And if left unsaid too long, Veronica fears they'll remain in the strange quasi-friendship / lovers stasis they currently find themselves occupying. Well the game is afoot as tensions mount from all sides. Excelsior!

I think it's safe to say at this point in the series, I may be a little biased. I'm inclined to rate this series highly no matter what. Deanna Raybourn would have to pull a complete 180 on the characters, or pull something out of left field, to get me to change my views of this series.

With that in mind, I always enjoy this series. It's one I look forward to with each release. The cultivation of Veronica and Stoker's relationship - first in friendship and now in, hopefully, something more - has been one of the best slow-burn romances I've read. While I was so giddy with the acknowledgement that readers finally received in the previous books - and what readers have known all along - I too was wondering: "well, what next?" It's such a tricky and delicate situation altering a relationship from platonic/friendship to something more. Once you take that step it alters what you previously had undoubtedly, and really there's no going back. This time around we see the reticence, the fear, of what altering their relationship will mean. Of course we only get Veronica's point of view on this, but I think it's a completely valid concern. So even though I personally was ready for Veronica and Stoker to jump right in, I appreciated that Deanna Raybourn took the time to deal with these issues. And I'll just say it outright so shippers like me will not worry. You will be satisfied.

Moving on to the mystery aspect, it's another matter. While I always enjoy the adventures that Veronica and Stoker find themselves in, this time around, I guess I wasn't expecting how things would play out. Deanna Raybourn has been teasing Jack the Ripper for a couple of books now, and here it all finally comes to a head, although in completely not the way I thought it would. Deanna Raybourn goes the way of much of the new research into the Ripper cases has recently and focuses moreso on the women, the victims, rather than placing too much inherent focus on Jack the Ripper himself. This immediately brings to mind [book:The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper|37545347], which Raybourn mentions outright in her Author's notes at the end of the book. The story also focuses on the living conditions of those who were forced to call Whitechapel their home. The contrast between the wealthy and the poor. I thought that Deanna Raybourn works all of these issues into the story nicely making it a well-rounded view of history.

The fact that Veronica and Stoker are charged with keeping scandal away from Prince Albert Victor (whom was once thought to possibly be Jack the Ripper - a debunked theory) adds a little, I thought, special touch to the proceedings. I liked seeing Veronica get to interact with another member of her family. A member who actually seems to accept her paternity in stride. And with whom, if circumstances were different, possibly have an actual familial relationship.

But overall, I kind of felt like the whole mystery was unfortunately overshadowed by the elusive Ripper himself. I mean setting a series in London during 1888, you can't not bring Jack the Ripper into the narrative. And while I thought that Deanna Raybourn ultimately did the better thing by not having the story specifically pertain to him, but I don't think there is any avoiding the creeping shadow that the Jack the Ripper mystery encases.

As always, finishing these books is equally happy and sad. Happy because, wow that ending (!!), but sad because I have to wait another year for the next book. But oh the power of a re-read! Excelsior!

This is the fifth historical mystery starring Veronica Speedwell and Stoker Templeton-Vane. It takes place in the autumn of 1888 when London is being terrorized by a criminal called Jack the Ripper. Lady Wellie has asked them to assist the Princess of Wales whose son Prince Albert Victor has given a very expensive gift to a woman of very questionable virtue. Veronica isn't eager to do any favors for a family that won't acknowledge her but, after Lady Wellie suffers a medical emergency, she and Stoker decide to investigate.

Their investigation takes them to Madame Aurore's very exclusive private club where they encounter the mysterious patroness, two decidedly dodgy servants, and the young prince himself. Mayhem ensues which leads to the kidnapping of Veronica, Stoker, and the prince. They seem to have gotten themselves into the middle of two separate plots with old enemies and new and it takes all their skills to get themselves out of danger.

I really enjoy these historical mysteries which are told by Veronica who has a rather eccentric viewpoint. She is as much troubled by the idea of actually having a relationship with Stoker as she is with the troubles involving her younger half-brother. I liked the setting and the depictions of life for the poor at the time. I liked that Veronica can see how much her life could be like the Ripper's victims except for an accident of birth that puts her into a higher social class.

Fans of historical mysteries will enjoy this series with its intriguing characters.

This book was such a fun romp through early 1800s London - during the time when Jack the Ripper was running rampant.

I know those two things don't quite go together, but our hero and most especially our heroine were solving another mystery at this time, and let me tell you, these characters were just delightful. While this book is #5 in a series, I had never heard of the series and read it as a standalone. It's definitely possible to just enjoy it as is, but the book made me immensely curious of Veronica Speedwell's and Stoker's previous endeavours!

The plot a bit mystery, a bit romance, and a bit anachronistic language and attitude. The characters jump from misadventure to misadventure and the action is constant. What a great surprise - highly recommend!