oh goodness gracious, this just might be my favourite in the series so far! not just for obvious reasons - if you read it and love veronica and stoker as much as i do, you know what i mean - but because it was fantastically written and i was super into the mystery part too. in the other books, the characters were the highlight for me and i couldn't wait to get back to veronica and stoker and try to smoosh them together. in this one, i was so into the book that when we did get snippets and lovely things, it was a nice surprise! as usual, i was surprised by the bad guy and i thought it was all very well done. when i first discovered this series, it was when the 3rd was on netgalley, so i read 1, 2 and 3 in quick succession. i don't know where i got it in my head that it was a trilogy, but i was so bummed when i realised it wasn't! i hate waiting and my memory is absolutely shocking, so having to wait for books in a series rarely works out well for me. i read the 3rd book in january and it is now december, so i was worried considering i've forgotten books i read 2 months ago. however, in the case of this particular series, i had absolutely no issue. i think it's the way the books are written and the nature of the stories - new mystery each book with the only thing really going from book to book is veronica and stoker's relationship, and don't worry, my memory is not going to forget them any time soon. now, can we have the 5th book?! i am SO EXCITED and cannot wait.

It's always a bittersweet reader's dilemma to want to race through a book to get to the end and to want to prolong such a good book for as long as possible. This fourth installment in the Veronica Speedwell series is a winner for me from start to finish, but now the wait begins for the fifth (and final?) book in the series in 2020. Right now, that seems terribly far away.

_A Dangerous Collaboration_ picks right up where _A Treacherous Curse_ ends with Veronica and Stoker pondering their possible future together as more than just friends and sleuthing partners. Veronica is feeling edgy though and unsure of her emotions and so she wants time away from Stoker to get a firm grasp on what her romantic feelings will mean for her life. As a lifelong footloose and fancy free woman, she is suddenly faced with dreams of permanence and commitment with one man. Stoker is more secure in his feelings and therefore the more emotionally stable of the two, but Veronica's slipperiness does lead him to feel the need to play games with her to get her to realize that she can't live without him. Thus, nearly the entire book is filled with romantic push and pull, with intense sexual tension interspersed with their trademark banter and one-upmanship. It's all so much fun to read, especially for those who like slow burn romances. And the ending is just swoon worthy with enough left unsaid and unrealized that Book 5 is seriously anticipated.

Happily, the mystery here is nearly as gripping as the romance and perhaps my favorite of the series, though I am a fan of _A Perilous Undertaking_. Here, a dinner party in a castle on a secluded island off the coast of Cornwall brings to mind Du Maurier's _Rebecca_, as Veronica and Stoker race to solve the mystery of a missing wife amidst a group of suspects, all with secret motivations. Tiberius, Stoker's older brother, plays a significant role too as a possible suspect, and is in his own right a fascinating and complex character who I hope reemerges in the next book. Of particular delight, the setting is just wonderful, featuring a poison garden, an island teeming with clear-winged butterflies, a castle built around secret passages, and a village of eccentric villagers - some of whom may or may not be actual witches and mermaids. It was fun to see Veronica, the pragmatic scientist, get caught up in the lore.

The best thing about this entire series has been the development of a loving friendship between Veronica and Stoker. Both are independent outcasts of society and skeptics of conventional institutions like marriage. It's hard to imagine a different life partner for either of them aside from each other, and the books all do a fabulous job of showing how important trust and respect is as a foundation to love. I had some slight misgivings in the first book that Veronica was too brash and too much of a caricature to be a satisfying protagonist, but she has grown steadily on me. In this fourth book, she is nuanced and her iconoclastic beliefs feel more believable because of her complexities as a character.

Onward to the fifth book, which sounds frankly thrilling as Veronica and Stoker get pulled into the mysterious Whitechapel murders of prostitutes and an unknown serial killer. How will Veronica and Stoker handle Jack the Ripper?

Oh, Veronica Speedwell, you fill the Amelia Peabody-sized hole in my heart.

I love these books. I love the characters, the mysteries, the settings, all of it. I will trust you to read the blurb on your own, and will highlight some of the things I particularly liked about this book.

*The Setting - Veronica, Stoker, and Lord Templeton-Vane venture away from London and to a remote island off the coast of Cornwall. The island is an estate, complete with its own small village, colorful inhabitants, and mystery. It has a very Christie-esque feel to it.

*The Characters - I have ever admired Veronica Speedwell as a woman of open-mindedness and nontraditional thinking. She is matter-of-fact, practical, and slightly scandalous. It's marvelous. And Stoker is her equal in most every way. He appreciates her in ways men didn't appreciate women at that time - for her independence, her brilliance, her sense of adventure. And we learn LOADS more about Tiberius Templeton-Vane that we didn't know before.

*The Mystery - It was very classic - a woman gone missing on her wedding day, disappeared without a trace and with no explanation. There is a classic list of suspects, all with their own motives, and each with a stake in either finding the missing woman or not. However, there is nothing cliche about the book, and it kept me guessing right up until the very end.

I will read every entry of this series without fail.

A Dangerous Collaboration is the 4th book in Deanna Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell mystery series. I have thoroughly enjoyed every book in this series so far and this one is no exception. In this installment we got some very satisfying development in the relationship between Veronica and Stoker which I was very pleased to see. We also get to learn a great deal about Stoker's brother Tiberius. He becomes a well developed and well rounded character who I hope to see more of in the future. The mystery was also very engaging and interesting and oh, the setting! An old castle and an insular, superstitious island community in Cornwall? Yes, Please! My one qualm stems from what I feel is an inconsistency in the way Veronica reacts to a particular situation. I don't feel it is true to the Veronica that we have come to know and love up to this point. Because of all of the other wonderful in this book I am able to overlook that inconsistency however if there were failings in other elements of the story I would be less able to overlook it because it was rather jarring. All in all this is a great book and if you have made it this far in the series I don't think you'll find much to fault here. I look forward to Veronica and Stoker's future adventures.

Review based on a digital ARC received via Netgalley.

In this fourth installment of the Veronica Speedwell series, Veronica heads to Cornwall in the hopes of gathering a rare butterfly specimen for her collection. Of course, what awaits her there is more than a butterfly, but a three-year-old mystery involving the disappearance of a bride on her wedding day. On this island steeped in lore, the question of what happened` to the bride is met with superstition and intrigue – and a castle filled with hidden passageways, secret chambers and a somewhat moody lord. Into this mystery step Veronica, Stoker and Stoker’s brother, who each have their own reason for getting to the bottom of the disappearance. As the story starts to unfold, tensions mount within the castle and between the brothers, leading to some explosive scenes.

While the mystery is not terribly complicated, I found myself truly enjoying the story and the characters – the setting is quite atmospheric, as well. Veronica and Stoker continue their trademark banter as they work together to reach a resolution to the story. I was a little sad to see that this is the last in the series, although it came to a satisfying conclusion.

This is another Veronica Speedwell mystery. This is a very well written series with likable characters who are always in the thick of things. This time Miss Speedwell is invited to go to an island where a very rare species of Glasswing butterflies are and to possible bring some larvae back to her butterfly garden. She is invited under the ruse that she is Stoker's brother's fiance, which really doesn't sit well with Stoker. Turns out the whole trip is somewhat of a hidden agenda all around as the host hopes that the group will help him find out what happened to his bride who disappeared on their wedding day three years earlier.
This was and enjoyable read. I will look forward to more adventures in this series.

Veronica and Stoker unite with Stoker's older brother Tiberius to visit a castle on a Cornish island in Book 4 of the Veronica Speedwell mystery series. Tiberius tempts Veronica to join him on a trip to visit an old friend with promises of rare glasswing butterfly larvae for her vivarium. Veronica and Stoker, still wary of one another after wounded pride and many romantic near misses, join him. Once there, it's clear that their host, Malcolm Romilly, has secret plans for them, namely to help him discover what happened to his bride Rosamund, who suddenly disappeared on their wedding day three years before. Everyone assumes she left of her own volition until Malcolm reveals a moldy carpet bag carrying Rosamund's most treasured possessions. Once murder seems a likely possibility, Veronica and Stoker are quick to learn that many at the castle had good reason to see Rosamund eliminated. 

What struck me most about this installment is the many different ways women in this book had struggled to make a life for themselves in a male-dominated world: an impoverished widow who sold her soul to eat, an aging housekeeper who had given her entire life in service to a family, a lonely, maiden sister who is betrayed after offering kindness. As I've said before, Ms. Raybourn is spectacular at creating deep characters, even those that play only minor roles in her novels. Veronica's sparkle may seem diminished in these later books - the inevitable outcome of the highs and lows of life - but the other strong female characters we meet along the way ensure it is never a dull journey. Readers of my review of the 3rd Veronica Speedwell mystery, might remember my impatience with the overly protracted, long-stifled romantic sparks that have flown between Veronica and Stoker, and Veronica fans will not be disappointed this time around. It feels like Veronica and Stoker are maturing, so the fireworks are fewer but real gems appear in unlikely places.

I've been a fan of Deanna Raybourn since her Lady Julia Gray series. She is a fantastic storyteller and this was no disappointment. I devoured this latest Victoria Speedwell mystery, I think it was my favorite so far. The mystery was intriguing, complete with a creepy castle, terrible weather, seances and romance. The chemistry between the characters was brilliantly done. I loved every minute of this book and the only sad thing is, now I have to wait even longer for the next one! I think I will read anything Deanna Raybourn writes and love it.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Retains the fun and fast clip of the previous entries in the series while dialing up the heroine's introspection of her relationship to her faithful, dashing sidekick, Stoker. The mystery aspect is not the most thrilling, but its setting on a remote, mist covered island off the coast of England is very appealing and the details of Stoker's estranged brother Tiberius's tale of woe land well. Most importantly though, Veronica continues to enchant!

A haunted castle, a remote island, a seance, nude sea bathing, a fake engagement, a missing bride, a garden full of poisonous plants, clear butterflies, secret passages, Stoker's equally "lovable" brother, and sexual tension so thick between Veronica and Stoker that you wonder why everyone isn't openly commenting on it! That's just a smidge of everything that's going on in this book. If you're a fan of the series, definitely pick this one up- you won't be disappointed. And word to the wise- don't drink wine while reading the ending. You have been forewarned.

What can I say but it's a Veronica Speedwell book? Go, read it.

Veronica goes with Stoker's brother, who I didn't care for no matter how tragic a backstory he gets, to discover what happened to a missing bride on a small island. Of course, Stoker goes along to solves the mystery with Veronica. The two have this thing where Veronica has to stop running away from how she feels about him. Thankfully, the two are back to their partnership to discover who the murderer is. Honestly, I figured out the killer and the motives easily but this book is too enjoyable for me to care.

My favorite book in the series so far! Veronica showed the most growth. My biggest issue with this series is that Veronica has been emotionally stunted. She’s very astute when it comes to her observations and understandings of others, but is lacking when it comes to her own emotions. She took the time to finally examine her own feelings, and I liked her all the more for it.

I liked the mystery and did not figured it out. The best part of the mystery was the people it brought together. Tiberius asked Veronica to join him while he visited an old friend. Of course Stoker tagged along. It was great to finally get more page time with Stoker’s family. There were some great scenes throughout the book. I am looking forward to the next one!

It was great to be back in Veronica and Stoker's world! It was also enjoyable to get to know Stoker's brother a little better too. I'm always entertained by Raybourn's books and read them very quickly, as they're hard to put down. For some reason, though, this fourth book in the series didn't quite absorb me as much as the previous ones. The mystery felt a little weaker this time--maybe it felt less personal to the main characters? It also felt like it wasn't quite as fully developed as some of the previous ones. I mostly enjoyed the developments in Stoker and Veronica's relationship--it's always hard to deliver on anticipation with huge build up--but there were some touching moments that were new for them but still felt true to their personalities. Overall enjoyable, just perhaps not my favorite of the series!

Veronica and Stoker are among my favorite will they/won't they couples. Far from getting stale, their relationship looms large in all their adventures. A Dangerous Collaboration continues this trend. I enjoyed the underlying mystery in this novel, a bit more Gothic and less hectic than the last few. Throw in Stoker's big brother and you can cut the tension with a hack saw! Veronica is aggressively independent and doesn't follow the conventions of her time. While there are times when I feel Raybourn goes a bit over the top with this, it doesn't diminish my enjoyment of this series. She throws in enough crumbs of all the main characters back stories to further their development and keep them fresh.

So... where did Rosamund go? Did she pull a run away bride? Was she murdered most foul? Is she stuffed into one of the many secret passages and priest holes littered through the castle? I won't tell, you'll need to read the book! Which you should anyway, since it's pretty fabulous!

This book was received as an ARC from Berkley Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

We have heard so many mixed messages from the Veronica Speedwell series Deanna Rayborn has constructed but we are always on the search for exciting historical fiction since it is very popular in our library with our community. A Dangerous Collaboration is an exciting continuation of the adventures of Veronica Speedwell and the complications she gets herself into and this time its involving a colleague that wants her to pretend to be his fiancee in attendance of a party thrown by the groom of the missing bride so they can actually find out why she disappeared. Every page there was a new twist and each time I read it just got more exciting. Our patrons will sure to love this series.

We will definitely consider adding this book to our historical fiction section of the library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

Upon receiving the email that I was approved for this, I immediately put aside all other plans for reading because that’s how much I love these books.

A Dangerous Collaboration is the fourth installment of the Veronica Speedwell series, and while I wouldn’t count it as my favorite, it was just as enjoyable as all the others. One of the things I loved best about this one was the setting. In A Dangerous Collaboration, Veronica and Stoker find themselves in a remote island off the coast of Cornwall, in a possibly haunted castle, as the guests of Lord Malcolm. The entire plot/setting is very reminiscent of a murder mystery dinner and it was so very fun to read! Other than our beloved protagonist and her partner-in-solving crime, there is a full cast of interesting characters, including Tiberius, Stoker’s eldest brother.

The pace of this book was a bit slower than the others, and it took a while for it to really pick up. However as with all the other, it was full of thrilling adventures, witty conversations, sexual tension, and of course – murder and mayhem. I’m always equally frustrated by my inability to discover the true killer before the reveal and impressed by Raybourn’s writing that she is able to keep me in the dark for so long.

And I cannot write a review without again touching on the relationship between Veronica and Stoker. Things were a little different this time around, because it has become apparent – not just to the readers, but also to Veronica – that there is definitely something between the two of them. Veronica and Stoker spend a majority of this book fighting their attraction/feelings for one another, but the ending makes it so worth all the waiting!

If you haven’t had a chance to read this series yet and you’re a fan of murder mysteries, historical fiction, and slow-burn romances, then please do yourself a favor and pick up the first book! A Dangerous Collaboration is the fourth book of this wonderful, thrilling series and I’m highly anticipating the next (and I believe last) installment!

When recommending this series to a friend, my advice was 'Don't think about it too much, just have fun!' And Veronica Speedwell and her partner in adventure and detection Stoker are, indeed, fun, but also much, much more.

This fourth book in the series takes place in Cornwall in an island castle where Lord Malcolm's bride disappeared on her wedding day three years ago, never to be seen or heard from again. Gothic elements abound: superstitious villagers, a proprietary house keeper who considers herself part of the family, a castle riddled with hidden passageways, and a spinster sister who keeps herself busy tending to her gardens, one of them comprised entirely of poisonous plants.

While the primary mystery is devoted to the missing bride, the mysteries of the heart are far more dangerous for Veronica and Stoker. She is convinced that he is still unable to love because of the treachery of his first wife Caroline, and he is equally convinced that Veronica will never allow herself to love because of the legacy of her emotionally starved childhood and hidden parentage. However, this doesn't prevent Stoker from alternately tempting Veronica, then pushing her away "for the sake of their friendship."

The chemistry between these two is compelling and the magnet that keeps drawing readers back to this series. The well drawn supporting characters, twisted plotting, and the writer's keen sense of humor are purely bonuses.

Clear your schedule and devour this one. It's a treat you'll want to savor.

Full Disclosure--Net Gallery and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

How does this series keep on getting better? In the latest installment of Speedwell/Stoker adventures, we watch the pair investigate the disappearance of a bride on her wedding day. The Cornwall setting was as much of a main character as the crime-solving duo. The island was beautiful, spooky, secluded, and completely mesmerizing. Also exciting, was the prospect of some forward motion in the romance department (about time!). I am already looking forward to seeing a return to London (and a serial killer?) in the next book!

I have to be honest this was not my favorite out of the four books. I can't quite place my finger on it, but there was something missing from this book. However. I very much liked the portrayal of Stoker's brother Tiberius, His character was one of the main reasons I got though this book. The contrast between him and Stoker is wonderful.

The second half of his book was way better, and brought back some of the aspects that i love about this series.

I have mixed feelings here, because this was incredibly brisk reading, which I like best. I found it easy to keep going, because it was often exciting, but it seemed at times as if the story was being deliberately drawn out to fill pages. I also hate ping-ponging in mysteries, in which the detectives just go back and forth between suspects repeatedly until they finally settle on one. This story, which largely took place inside the same spot, had little real action until the end.

I also felt I had seen a lot of this before elsewhere. For example, Tiberius was merely a plot device, and when he was not required to start fights between Veronica and Stoker, he was out of sight for long stretches. He was also never a real threat to their relationship, so any time he turned up it was merely annoying. See the season finale of the first year of Cheers for this plot line, in which Sam’s cooler and more together brother turns up, threatening his relationship with Diane, which of course was never in jeopardy.

One might also look to Rebecca for the murder victim whose body no one can find and whose moral character is in question throughout.

And of course there’s the ever present parallels to Bones, which also founders a little when too much emphasis is placed on relationships and not enough attention is given to the mysteries.

Of course you have to read this one, as it’s pivotal to the development of the series, but it just wasn’t my favorite.