Review: A Dangerous Collaboration by Deanna Raybourn

• Series: A Veronica Speedwell Mystery (Book 4)
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (March 12, 2019)

A Dangerous Collaboration (A Veronica Speedwell Mystery) by Deanna Raybourn is the fourth Veronica Speedwell mystery. Normally, I don’t read series books, but I’m glad I read this one.  I’ve added A Curious Beginning (A Veronica Speedwell Mystery Book 1) to my reading list.  I understand book 5 is underway!

A Dangerous Collaboration takes place in 1888 at a castle on an island in Cornwall, England.  This is a terrific setting for a who-done-it mystery.

Veronica is a feisty women for her time.  She is independent and vows never to marry.  Stoker is her colleague/love interest.  I enjoyed the sexual tension between the two of them.

The mystery is entertaining.  The lord of the castle gathers various people together to find out what had caused his new bride to suddenly disappear.

This was my first read on the Kindle Paperwhite.  The ability to look up words on the fly came in handy while reading this novel.  Not being familiar with some of the words did not hamper my enjoyment of this novel.  The Kindle Paperwhite has a Vocabulary Builder feature.  I’ll share part of the definitions of a few words here:

chat-e-laine

n. <DATED> a women in charge of a large house.  <SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a set of short chains attached to a women’s belt, used for carrying keys or other items.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French chatelain, from medieval latin castellanus

ret-i-cule

1 CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a woman’s small handbag, originally netted and typically having drawstring and decorate with embroidery or beading.

<ORIGIN> easy 18th cent.:from French reticule, from Latin reticulum.

vis-count

n. a British nobleman ranking above a baron and below an earl.

<ORIGIN>late Middle English: from Old French visconte, from medieval Latin vicecomes, vicecomit

What Others Are Saying

Another spectacular addition to the Veronica Speedwell series–possibly my favorite so far, in fact. This is the series (and the author) that I go to when I just want to have a jolly good time reading a novel. (Raybourn never disappoints) I love the mysteries. I love the dialogue. I love the way Veronica and Stoker spar with one another. And I love the slow unraveling of these complex character’s hearts and motivations. Nothing is rushed. Everything is savored. By me at least. This series should definitely be at the top of your list if you love historical fiction and want to read something whip-smart and engaging. – Ariel Lawhorn

A brooding castle, rain-lashed windows, hidden passages, and a séance all contribute to a delightfully creepy tale with twists that would make Daphne Du Maurier proud. Agent: Pam Hopkins, Hopkins Literary Assoc. – Publishers Weekly

First Paragraph

London, March 1888

What the devil do you mean you’re leaving?  Stoker demanded.  He surveyed the half-packed carpetbag on my bed as I folded in a spare shirtwaist and Magalhaes’s Guide to Portuguese Lepidoptery.  It was a weightier volume than one might expect, featuring an appendix devoted to butterflies of Madeira and certain flamboyant moths found only in the Azores.

Material Connection

Thank you to the author, Deanna Raybourn and the publishers at Penguin Random House/Berkley Publishing Group for providing me a copy of this novel.  I also downloaded the ARC from NetGalley.

I received this book, A Dangerous Collaboration (A Veronica Speedwell Mystery) by Deanna Raybourn , free of charge, from the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.