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This is book one in the series Veronica Speedwell.

Veronica Speedwell has plans to go on another butterfly hunting expedition far away from England as soon as her adopted aunt’s funeral is over. But after finding their cottage ransacked, and almost getting abducted by the culprit, she agrees to travel to London with the kind Baron von Stauffenbach, if only because it offers her a way to get there for free.

And this introduces us to the intrepid Ms. Speedwell, lepidopterist extraordinaire, with her unconventional views and outspoken ways. Max, the baron, drops her on the unsuspecting Stoker, while he goes off to handle some unfinished business regarding Veronica. Stoker is asocial, curt, rude, and generally not very happy to have Veronica dumped in his lap. Veronica doesn’t take much stock of Stoker’s attitudes, and just says and does whatever she feels like. But then word reaches them that Max has been murdered, and Stoker has turned into the police’s number one suspect.

Right from the start it is clear that there is something mysterious about Veronica and who her parents are. She and Stoker eventually find the evidence of her parentage, and it was shocking, to say the least. Also, quite ludicrous, completely crazy, and the story lost me there for a bit. But, I have to admit, as events unfolded after that, I lost that what-the-heck feeling. I liked the way Veronica and Stoker dealt with the situation and their adversaries, and the solution she came up with to secure the future for both of them.

Stoker turned out to have loads of good qualities as well, and good reason for his withdrawn behaviour. He never gave up on helping Veronica, and she was definitely not the easiest person to help. Veronica is a strange woman. She is obviously very knowledgeable about the natural world, and has travelled extensively. She is not afraid to take risks, or speak her mind, and she is very observant. I had a hard time liking her, but she definitely commands respect.

I enjoyed the writing style a lot, but I wasn’t so engaged all the time. It was slow at some points, and that’s why I’m giving it only 3 stars, and not 4. I also thought the dialogue was really well done.

Was I hooked by this book? Parts of it, yes, but not all of it.

Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Historical