I really liked this one. It takes the Victorian era Egyptology craze and creates a mystery and a curse surrounding an archaeological dig and transfers all of it to London. I'm not explaining this well. It's a bit like the Amelia Peabody mysteries without having to go to Egypt. The dig has already been abandoned and the people that have thus far survived the Curse of Anubis have returned to London. Stoker's name is likely to come up in the press because of his association with the missing man who has been suspected of stealing the most valuable artifact from the dig. So Veronica and Stoker insert themselves into the investigation, mostly to find the missing man and keep the remains of Stoker's reputation in tact. This series is endlessly entertaining. I definitely recommend it.

First line: "I assure you, I am perfectly capable of identifying a phallus when I see one," Stoker informed me, clipping the words sharply. "And that is no such thing."

Summary: And so begins the third adventure of Veronica and Stoker. Stoker's former expedition partner, the one who married Stoker's ex-wife, has disappeared from an Egyptian archaeological dig with a priceless treasure. The expedition was controversial at the outset, and then plagues with a string of mishaps, all contributed to a mummy's curse. Veronica cannot, of course, resist investigating the disappearance. There is less of a Scotland Yard presence in this novel, although they do show up at just the right times.

Highlights: As in the previous two Veronica Speedwell novels, fun and humor abounds as Veronica flouts the rules of society and does her utmost to help Stoker out. I love how the relationship between the two is progressing, including all Veronica's irreverence for societal norms of the times. We learn a little more about Stoker's past, and get to meet his ex-wife in this installment.

Lowlights (or what could have been better): I can't think of a thing I'd change.

FYI: Don't let that first line put you off reading this book. Stoker and Veronica are curating a collection for a someday-to-be museum, and that first line is part of their work and actually is a reference to their second adventure.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

The third book is just as good as the first two, if you haven’t read the first two books in the series, please do. This book delves into Stokers past. You realize Stoker's character depth and you can read how Veronica comes to understand the reasons for his melancholy in a different light. The story is focused on an individual from Stoker's past who has gone missing after a priceless relic had disappeared, which leads Veronica and Stoker to a chase. They meet old faces from Stoker's past. There’s also Egyptian history sewn into the chapters and an Egyptian god appearing among the streets of England! Characters we loved (Tiberius) and are extremely annoyed at (Mornaday, I’m looking at you) appear. After reading this book, you realize how desperately you want to read more. <- saying that alone should tell you how much I enjoyed the book ,and the ending makes me read more about Veronica and Stoker.

I love this series! I read this book in one sitting on a plane and am kind of annoyed at myself because now I have to wait so long for the next one! The development of Veronica and Stoker's relationship in this book was done well but made me anxious for the next book. The mystery was engaging and involved interesting side characters. Can't wait for book 4!

This is the first book I've read by this author and enjoyed it enough to look for others. Veronica and Stoker have an interesting relationship. I found the mystery intestine and look forward to others in the series.

I LOVE the Veronica Speedwell series. Deanna Raybourn knows how to write a strong female character and this one is no different. She is confident, strong in her opinions, and independent. That's not to say she doesn't write strong male characters either. Stoker is the type of guy women fall for, and he supports Veronica is her endeavours. I can't wait for this series to continue!

Not a very great beginning. The writing was fine but the opening discussion was off-putting. I think the additional would have done better to find a better way to begin a novel over discussing their views towards sex.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, third in the series. I would recommend it to friends looking for a good historical mystery. Character development was well done, I enjoy finding out what Veronica and Stoker are up to. I like the light hearted feel to this book and looking forward to more from this author.

A Treacherous Curse by Deanna Raybourn (Gdrd only/need A & BN)
I kept hearing “Another fine mess you’ve gotten me into” as I read the adventures of Veronica Speedwell, new and most deserving member of the Hippolyta Club, which “does not permit gentlemen to enter” except for “extraordinary circumstances . . . only to the Parley Room . . . for twenty-nine minutes.” Rest assured, the gentleman is worthy of the exception, a brave and equal partner in extraordinary escapades. (A special nod to literacy with “Reader, I carried him” made me smile).
I was also reminded of the adage that if a prop is introduced, expect it to be used, as will knowledge of Egyptology and drains, and butterflies, at least metaphorically, with the lovely word eclosed.
I’m late to the series, ready to remedy my not having read the first two . . . and hoping to see many more.

An engaging light mystery novel that kept my attention from the first paragraph to the last paragraph. The main character is the officially unrecognized daughter of the Prince of Wales. However, she is known to a select few of the inner circle who provide her with timely advise from time to time. She is blunt in her ways and does not hesitate when action is required. In some aspects she reminds me of Amelia Peabody, the character so well developed, by the author Elizabeth Peters. I look forward to seeing the series develop.

I have rated this book 4.5 stars.

I received an ARC obtained from Netgalley for my unbiased review.0

Veronica Speedwell and Stoker are back in this third installment of the Speedwell series.. Like its predecessors, this is a quick read, but with rather more emphasis given to character development than the mystery at hand than past volumes have featured. While the character development was needed for what appears to be a likely fourth (and maybe fifth?) book, I found it somewhat frustrating as it often tended to grind slowly through a fair bit of hand wringing and pathos. Other readers may disagree and, as always, your mileage may vary. Either way, pathos or no, I am looking forward to both purchasing this work for my personal collection and awaiting the fourth installment.

Mystery series abound with everyone from caterers, beekeepers and librarians playing amateur sleuths. Plots and characters can be so similar that it can be hard to distinguish them once you have finished reading. So, it is a pleasant surprise to find a mystery series with intriguingly fresh characters in historically accurate settings forming the basis for the suspense. Deanna Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell's mysteries provide just such combination. Speedwell and her colleague Stoker are naturalists living in Victorian England, moving between royalty, nobility and common folk as they work at creating a natural history museum for their benefactor while investigating mysteries in their spare time. As we follow their investigations, Raybourn provides fascinating details about Speedwell's work as a lepidopterist and Stoker's as a taxidermist.

The third book in the series--[A Treacherous Curse]--focuses on Egyptian archaeology as Speedwell and Stoker try to find a missing exhibition photographer and expose a potential hoax formed around a mummy's curse. I started the series with this book and was reminded of Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody as Speedwell shares much with that intrepid lady. Both are independent, pushing back against the constraints placed on women during the Victorian era including in their clothing, creating costumes that make their jobs easier. Both women serve as narrators, sharing their insights into their families, friends and the world around them. The younger Speedwell is a bit more openly sexual and her bawdiness is fun and refreshing.

Raybourn's writing is a pleasure. She captures the tone of the Victorians perfectly. Both Speedwell and Stoker are deeply drawn characters with pasts that are slowly revealed over the course of the series. They are both intelligent and thoughtful with strong opinions that often lead to furious arguments. Ultimately, however, they respect each other's intellect and personal privacy, content to learn about each other in their own due time.

If you're a mystery fan looking for something new and fresh, Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell mysteries are waiting for you! The third book will be available in early January 2018 but I was able to read a pre-publication galley provided by the publisher. I enjoyed it enough to go back and read the other two.

From my Goodreads review:

Veronica & Stoker are back! It's about time, and they are better than ever. Their thrills and spills in London would make Indiana Jones pale. If you have not yet discovered this smart, sassy series, start with #1 (this is #3) as well as dive into her Lady Julia Grey series.

This is Book 3 in the Veronica Speedwell Mystery series by Ms. Raybourn. Veronica and Stoker are forced into their next inquiry by none other than Stoker's ex-wife Caroline. A baronet and his expedition return to London triumphant after recovering some priceless artifacts from the tomb of an Egyptian princess. The expedition's true backstory unfolds in splashy media headlines soon after the group's return. It seems the foreman on the dig died quite suddenly on the job and another member (Caroline's current husband and Stoker's one-time best friend) absconded with the princess' own diadem only to disappear forever after putting foot on English soil. Rumors of a curse ensue and only grow when the Egyptian god Anubis begins to make appearances in various spots around London. The papers are only too keen to rehash Stoker's nasty separation and divorce from Caroline, so Stoker and Veronica take it upon themselves to uncover the truth, locate Caroline's missing husband, and return the treasure to the expedition leader. Everyone in the expedition has their own motivations - not least of all the beautiful but complex Caroline de Morgan - but Stoker and Veronica must untangle their stories to defend Stoker's reputation and recover an item of extreme historical importance.

Ms. Raybourn has exceptional talent for building rich, memorable characters, and this third book in the series is no different. Veronica remains sassy, defiant, and unrepentant. Her sly comments, risqué observations, avant guarde opinions, and sparkling interactions with Stoker make this series a stand out. As I've said before, their back-and-forths are so entertaining that you are willing to watch them do almost anything. This one, however, is my least favorite of the three books. The sexual tension that just crackles in the first two books fell noticeably flat here. The prolonged flirtation between the two main characters is now so drawn out - readers have been asking for two books now "will they or won't they" with so many near misses - that it feels like a non-issue at this point, and that's a terrible shame. Because the romance was downplayed in this book (purposefully so it felt like), the mystery plot line is strong although careful readers will notice a few hiccups. All in all, an enjoyable rush with some truly memorable characters. I only hope Ms. Raybourn will throw the readers a bone with some kind of substantial emotional developments between Veronica and Stoker in Book 4.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for my review.

Another stellar installment in the Veronica Speedwell series!!!!! Veronica and Stoker again find themselves deep in an investigation of the disappearance of a photographer on and Egyptian archaeological dig who is accused of stealing an Egyptian princess' s crown and disappearing. The fact that the photographer is a former colleague of Stoker and is married to Stoker's ex-wife makes the whole situation rather uncomfortable. The pair move forward with grace and skill to solve the mystery with several unfortunate adventures thrown in the mix,
These are fascinating rollicking adventure and a quick enjoyable read and I look forward to more adventure in the future! I love this series!!!

Not gonna lie, the first thing that drew me to this series were the beautiful covers, and I try not to judge a book by its cover so I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered this is a really fun series. It is set in Victorian London and the main character is a lepidopterist, which is something I hadn't found in a book character before. Despite the time period, the main character is very modern in her beliefs and attitudes which makes for an interesting change from most novels of similar settings. The series also boasts an amazing chemistry between the two lead characters and each book leaves you wanting more. This is the third book in the series so readers who are already familiar with the characters will love this new adventure, as it delves into the fascinating field of Egyptology. We also learn a little bit more about Stoker's background. I was a little disappointed with the lack of romance in this one, but I know there are two more books and when looked at in this manner the pace of the series in terms of character development is actually really well done. New readers will want to pick up the first two books in the series just to get a feel for the character's and their interesting stories, but this book still stands strong on its own if read first because Victoria and Stoker and so well developed. You get a sense of who they are from the very first chapter. I can't wait for the next book in the series and definitely recommend to readers who love historical mysteries. Thank you for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love this series. As soon as I got notification that I was sent a copy I timed the downloading of the ebook during my weekend because I knew that I would have a hard time putting it down. And I was right. All of the characters are a delight. Spending time with Veronica and Stoker is always enjoyable. Veronica Speedwell has a sharp mind and her unquestionable loyalty toward Stoker is heartwarming. This book looks more into Stoker's backstory and you get more of a sense of him. So when does the fourth book come out?

4.5/5 🌟Another great installment of the adventures of Veronica Speedwell, although I don't feel it was quite as wonderful as the second book (A Perilous Undertaking)...that's my favorite of the three thus far. I did enjoy learning more about Stoker's backstory and meeting his ex-wife, and how that will influence his relationship with Veronica going forward. There was also a bit more of a teaser with flirting going on between Stoker's viscount brother and Veronica which I think will continue forward. This series just continues to get better and better with the character development, the storylines and the laugh-out-loud humor. This one is due out in January, and I highly recommend it and the entire series! Ms. Raybourn has become a go-to author for me in the historical mystery genre. Many thanks to Berkeley Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

Third book in the series and I've enjoyed all three. It seemed like this one was filler between the last book and hopefully something bigger to come, but overall enjoyable.

Re-entering the world of Veronica Speedwell (scientist, un-acknowledged royal, modern woman of a decidedly non-modern age), is like a dive into a refreshing pool. The writing is brisk, the story and characters are engaging and enjoyable. In this, her third adventure, Veronica and Stoker (her partner in crime) are investigating another mysterious disappearance with an Egyptian twist.

For me this title provides satisfying details as to the main characters histories, motivations, and developing relationship. Looking forward to more from author Deanna Raybourn.