What is more thrilling than an Egyptian archaeological expedition cursed by an ancient mummy?  Veronica Speedwell, adventuress and investigator extraordinaire and her partner Stoker are drawn into investigating the disappearance of one of the expedition’s members - the man who stole Stoker’s wife and left him for dead.  Stoker’s enmity is well known so it is only a matter of time before the worst is suspected.  A missing diadem and the repeated appearance of Anubis complicate the situation.  Who can be trusted? Is the missing man a thief - or has something worse occurred?  Veronica can handle any situation thrown her way, but will she be able to save Stoker in time?

This is the second Veronica Speedwell mystery that I've read and I can heartily recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries.  Raybourn’s stories are fast paced adventures featuring a saucy, highly capable heroine.  Be prepared for quite a few surprises when you explore A Treacherous Curse.

4 / 5

I received a copy of A Treacherous Curse from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

Review to come. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance reading copy.

This is the third book in the Veronica Speedwell series and the previous two really should be read first for maximum enjoyment of this book. Ok, that being said, this book was another fun ride with Veronica and Stoker. They are great characters who have an interesting relationship and get into quirky situations solving mysteries in the Victorian world. The mystery this time involved Egyptologists, an ancient princess and her curse, and Stoker’s past—quite a good time all around!

An entertaining entry in the Veronica Speedwell series, A Treacherous Curse features more of Veronica’s intrepid adventures, this time as she attempts to clear her partner Stoker’s name, when he is implicated in the disappearance of a renowned Egyptologist.

This series is my favorite of all Deanna Raybourn's books. Her common sense gives me comfort and the books are always worth my time. I enjoyed this one as much as the two previous. Thank you!

This series continues to be great! Can't wait for more!

I have been waitingwaitingwaiting for another Speedwell and Stoker novel. This mystery combines Stoker’s shadowy past and an Egyptian curse—so much good! The story dragged a bit toward the end, but the banter between our detectives and the quirky side characters more than makeup for it. I’m ready for the next book!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy.

Shouting a huge thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and Deanna Raybourn for the opportunity to read and review this book before the general release date! Always an honor to be able to receive advanced copies!

There was a lot to like about this book and I thoroughly enjoyed myself while reading this fun little romp of a mystery. This was my first Veronica Speedwell book (although I know this is the third book in the series) and I was nervous because I felt like I might be confused given the fact that I hadn’t read the first two but that wasn’t the case at all! During the first chapter or so it does give you a little run down about what happened in the previous books and the rest of the novel was smooth sailing. I never felt left out or confused for a single moment, so if you’re going to start with this one it isn’t going be too much of a shock. Although I do wish to read the previous two now that I finished this!

I really loved all the characters, particularly the main two characters, Miss Speedwell and Mr Templeton-Vane. I loved that the lead character was a smart and incredibly feisty female character, I really did love Veronica. Both she and Stoker were witty, smart, fearless, and the sexual tension I felt between the two put me on the edge of my seat! They’re a remarkable duo, and I think the future books have a lot of potential to expand on their relationship.

The side characters for this story were equally enthralling. From the dreadful Caroline de Morgan, whose husband was the person who disappeared. The filthy rich American father and son duo, the Stihls. And the Tivertons, with their moody daughter and handsome assistant. Not to mention the fun cast of characters who aide Veronica and Stoker with their main occupation. Overall, I really enjoyed and was intrigued by all the characters in this story.

What really attracted me to this book, besides the beautiful cover, was the lure of an Egyptian mystery in the form of a deadly mummy’s curse. I do love to read mysteries, but I’ve never read anything like this. Death and illness and misfortune followed the Tiverton expedition all the way from Egypt back to London, not to mention Anubis himself having followed them on their journey home and stalking them in the streets. It was all to be blamed on the curse, you see, for unearthing and disturbing the tomb of the Egyptian Princess Ankheset. As scholars both Veronica and Stoker don’t believe in any mummy’s curse, no matter what strange events take place, so what’s really going on? And where is John de Morgan? And just who was the secretive newspaper writer J. J. Butterworth and just how did they know all the intimate details about the case?

This book was so much fun to read and truly was a mystery to me. It’s something different from the same old murder mystery and offers fun characters and the perfect mix of Egyptian history and intrigue. A great read, and I will be on the lookout for the next book in the series and I look forward to reading the previous two!

This was my first book by Deanna Raybourn and I am excited now to read more by her, especially more in the Veronica Speedwell series. Her character felt a little like a grown up version of Flavia de Luce to me, and that is a compliment. I love both of their intelligence, spunk, witticism, and strong personalities. I enjoy these mysteries that aren't dark, but still give you the chance to play detective and see if you can figure out who did it along with the character. I really like Veronica's partner, Stoker, and the way they play off each other and support one another. I found this book to enjoyable, well written, and entertaining. I've already recommended it to friends and I look forward to reading more!

Deanna Raybourne's Veronica Speedwell series is a true pleasure. Everything is in place to delight the reader - the Victorian England setting, a spunky, skilled, independent, eccentric heroine who has a royal but illegimate background, and who runs with a handsome partner with brooding secrets. In this entry, Raybourne consistenly provides the same excellent writing and plotting - amped up by intriguing Egyptian elements. I do believe this is my favorite of the series, as it revels in the Egyptian fever of the period and also reveals a bit more of the mysterious life of Speedwell's male partner Stoker. Perfectly paced with plenty of action and licks of romance, "A Treacherous Curse" is a true winner.

This is one of my absolute favorite series. I love the 2 main characters and the love tension between them. I love the atmosphere Raybourn describe and the setting and time period. The characters are all very well developed and witty and fun to read. Veronica Speedwell is very much the lady but also a rebel by heart. She is so strong and independent. And then when you put Stoker in with her it is so amazing. Speedwell is witty and Stoker is so straight laced (on the surface) and they just go together like PB&J

Although I have liked the feisty Veronica and the mysterious Stoker, I was disappointed in this rendition. I found the plot preposterous and the dialogue tiresome.

A Treacherous Curse is the third installment of the Veronica Speedwell series and it was just as amazing as the previous books. Veronica is such a lovely, intelligent protagonist and I love her character, but I was very pleased that this book we finally get to find out more about Stoker and his dark, mysterious past and learn what happened with the infamous Caroline and the dissolution of their marriage. Like before, we follow Veronica and Stoker on quite an adventure as they attempt to solve the latest murder mystery.

One of the things I like the most about these books is that I can never solve the puzzle before the characters. It’s completely frustrating on my half, but entirely satisfying that I remain just as much in the dark as Veronica. It makes my enjoyment of reading that much more exciting and thrilling, especially since the plot is never straightforward or predictable.

As always, the interactions between Veronica and Stoker are seriously one of the best parts of these books. The snark, the banter, the understanding, the loyalty, the chemistry; it all shows just how perfectly they compliment one another. They have such a unique bond – the underlying sexual/romantic tension is clear as day – and I’m WAITING FOR THEM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, DAMMIT. I’m all for a good slow burn but enough is enough already!

If you like murder mysteries, Victorian-era England, a slow burn romance, and a smart, witty protagonist, you should definitely check out this series. A Treacherous Curse is the third book and it did not let me down! I’m so excited for the rest of this series. The only unfortunate thing is that since I read this early, now I have to wait even longer for the next one.

Didn't enjoy as much as I enjoyed the first two books in the series, but will stick with the series just the same.

This book was just as amazing and attention grabbing as the first two! i would say that the continue development of Stoker and Veronica is witty, charming and over all a winner.

"I have seen evil, and it wears a smiling face."

This third installment of the Veronica Speedwell and Stoker (Revelstoke Templeton-Vane) series is set in London, 1888, and has the pair investigating the untimely disappearance of Stoker's former best friend (who incidentally married his ex wife). Sure, there's bad blood between the two men, but Veronica and Stoker can't resist becoming involved with the circumstances surrounding John de Morgan and the former Caroline Templeton-Vane. He vanished during an excavation of the Egyption tomb of Princess Ankheset, along with a valuable diadem. Has he absconded with the treasure and betrayed his archelogical partner, Sir Leicester Tiverton? And there's this small matter of a curse -- inscribed on the sarcophagus of the entombed princess. The sensation has got the attention of the neewspapers and tabloids are bringing up Stoker's unsavory past history. Veronica and Stoker want to get to the bottom of this mystery but it does bring up some very awkward moments as they contront and interview all the parties involved.

I really like this series. The interaction between Veronica and Stoker is barbed and often hilarious. Veronica is an independent woman in a time when her sort is not appreciated. She's fiercely independent and a free spirit and is much a match to the hard-boiled Stoker. Yes, we know they are wild about each other, but their romance never quite gets going, and that was a disappointment to me even though I usually hate that part of a good story! Enough already -- let them get on with it! They sort of already live together and it's obvious that they are going to end up a pair. Anyway, despite my frustration over their lack of communication on the subject, they do complement each other perfectly and the witty repartee is one of the best aspects of the narrative.

Suffice to say they bring the case to its conclusion in their usual dogged fashion and the bad guys get their comeuppance. NO SPOILERS. Very entertaining!

I am looking forward to the next book in what I hope is a long running series that I think needs to be read in order so as to be fully appreciated. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for granting me access to this e-book ARC to read and review. I have read many other books by this author and have enjoyed them all!

I've read the previous books in this series, and I have to say this one was just as preposterous as the first two. I get that the author wants to have a strong female lead character, but Veronica Speedwell is just flat out annoying and not believable as a person in THIS century, let alone the 19th. Too many coincidences in a story lead to an book that can't be believed, and I found myself rolling my eyes more than once.

Such a fun read! I was a fan of the author’s previous heroine and wasn’t sure I would like Veronica as well, but I’m happy to say I was mistaken. I find myself liking Veronica and Stoker more and more with each new book. It seems to me that the writing of good historical fiction is a delicate dance between adding too much historical detail and including just enough to move the story along. Deanna Raybourn seems to have figured out the formula. Here’s to many more of Veronica and Stoker’s Adventures!

The third installment in the Veronica Speedwell series is just the way I love it. A cheeky, no-holds-barred heroine to both cheer on and roll my eyes at and a sexy, broody, damaged hero. The plot is centered around Stoker’s ex-wife Carolyn (whose name he murmured to Veronica during their one and only sexual encounter) and the man she ran off with, abandoning Stoker in South America when he was near death. This is the story I was ready to hear…with the author’s usual excellent writing and voice creating another intriguing mystery with just a touch of romance. Victorian Egyptologist themes have been done to death, but I felt the author gave it a fresh feel.

I’d love to read a short story or a whole novel from Stoker’s point of view :D

The Veronica Speedwell I came to love and admire in A Curious Beginning is back and as fierce as ever! I was left a bit disappointed in A Perilous Undertaking and I wrote then that I felt the chemistry between Veronica and Stoker was missing. Well, no more. The sparks literally flew off the page in this book, and I was quite taken with the restraint with which Veronica comported herself during the most stressful scenes with Stoker. Raybourn has done a wonderful job of slowly developing both main characters, revealing bits of their past lives in each entry in this series. Readers are kept waiting and anticipating how and when the author will achieve the coupling we are all hoping for in the future, although I am wondering if the Viscount Templeton-Vane will throw a wrench in the works of that happening.

All that speculation aside, A Treacherous Curse is a rollicking good adventure, riffing off the "Egyptian curse" trope so popular in fiction set in that time period but not relying on the curse to move the action forward. As usual, the author has introduced some colorful characters and trotted in old favorites from past stories (Lady Wellie is a favorite). The story is not a new one (you will find similar characters in many of the Amelia Peabody books by Elizabeth Peters), but this series is really all about Veronica and Stoker. Raybourn can set them down inside any story and have a successful novel if she keeps focused on their relationship. I'm definitely looking forward to the next in the series. Well done!