Stoker, for his part, is also a modern man. Her distinct appreciation for the male form and direct approach to most things, including … urges … had me laughing multiple times throughout the book. She’s not scared of speaking up and certainly isn’t worried about protecting her reputation, making her very clearly a modern woman who happened to be born a century too early. Veronica is a strong-willed woman who is no shrinking violet, and has plenty of street smarts as a result of her travels. The connection between Veronica and Stoker gave me some serious Audrey Rose/Cresswell vibes, reminding me of Stalking Jack the Ripper in a lot of ways.

But when the German baron is found dead, the search for answers begins. Unfortunately, these plans are blocked when she interferes with her own kidnapping, and has to rely on a mysterious German baron and his unsociable natural historian friend, Stoker, for protection.

However, upon the death of her aunt, she is free to do whatever she wants. She submits scientific papers, and has experience funding her expeditions, but has been nursing her spinster aunt through her terminal illness. In this case, Veronica Speedwell has a brilliant scientific mind, and she’s been traveling around the world in search of butterflies for her studies. This is especially true for female characters who live in times where women weren’t valued for their minds, and find ways to live authentically that are technically within the constraints of their society, while still feeling fulfilled. Of course, any book that features a brilliant female lead is bound to capture my heart. I guess the best way to describe it would be a cozy mystery set in the late 19th century, and there’s a strong Miss Marple flavor to it, if Miss Marple walked a little on the wild side when she was young. This was one of the books suggested to me as part of my 12 in 12 challenge, and it’s probably one of the books that I enjoyed the most so far. But before the baron can reveal what he knows of the plot against her, he is found murdered-leaving Veronica and Stoker on the run from an elusive assailant as wary partners in search of the villainous truth. As familiar with hunting butterflies as with fending off admirers, Veronica intends to embark upon the journey of a lifetime.īut fate has other plans when Veronica thwarts her own attempted abduction with the help of an enigmatic German baron, who offers her sanctuary in the care of his friend Stoker, a reclusive and bad-tempered natural historian.

After burying her spinster aunt, orphaned Veronica Speedwell is free to resume her world travels in pursuit of scientific inquiry-and the occasional romantic dalliance. CONTENT WARNING: death, violence, attempted kidnapping, murder, blood

A curious beginning series