This is such a fun series, and this latest installment has all the charm of the previous titles. Veronica and Stoker's relationship still has lots of chemistry, and her outspokenness and daring makes her a great heroine. I liked the tie-in with the Whitechapel murders.

Review published on Goodreads, 9 January 2020:

Veronica Speedwell and Stoker are such a fun duo! It's always entertaining to read about their exploits. I never tire of them and plan to keep reading this series until it dies.

That being said, A MURDEROUS RELATION isn't my favorite installment in the series (I could have done very well without all the brothel scenes, thank you very much), but it's still a compelling novel that is exciting, funny, and enjoyable. If you've liked the series so far, you will like this one as well - just be warned that it's a bit more sexual and graphic in nature than the others. Usually, I give the books a PG-13 rating - this one feels like an R to me, just FYI.

I can't tell you how much I love this series and it just gets better with every addition. In this volume, Veronica and Stoker are enlisted by the Princess of Wales to recover a diamond star her son, Eddy, heir to the throne, has given to a woman of ill-repute. Of course, nothing is ever simple for Veronica and Stoker and with Jack the Ripper on the loose, mayhem ensues. I love how developed the characters are and the detail to historical accuracy. Although the Whitechapel murders are not the main story at all (which surprised me based on the description), Raybourn really made sure to create an authentic atmosphere to the scenes that take place in that impoverished area. I really appreciated the author's note, which gave resources to finding out more about the Ripper murders. I can't wait to read the next Speedwell mystery!

One would think that by the fifth book in the Veronica Speedwell series, I would find some fault or issue with this book. Well...you would guess wrong. A MURDEROUS RELATION just fortifies why Rayborn is at the top of her craft. Going back into Speedwell's world is like going home. Filled with mystery, scandal, and historical nuances, this book is yet another fabulous addition to my favorite sleuth's chronicles.

This book is so freaking fun. I love that there is Jack the Ripper AND Stoker in this book and Veronica is fab. This book had so much going on and I enjoyed every bit of it.

Veronica Speedwell’s name is synonymous with mayhem and moxie. A butterfly hunter (lepidopterist!) with a disarming attraction to trouble, she’s armed with a sharp mind and a dangerous hatpin. She’s also the secret and semi-legitimate daughter of the Prince of Wales.

Despite (or perhaps, because of) her sometimes prickly personality, she’s found a stalwart colleague and companion in the Honourable Revelstoke Templeton-Vane, a.k.a. Stoker. In between their legitimate work on taxidermy and other natural wonders, they stick their overly curious noses into other people’s larcenous capers.

In this, their fifth adventure together, Veronica and Stoker go undercover at a sumptuous brothel — The Club de l’Etoile — run by one Madame Aurore. It seems the proprietress has come into possession of a pricy jewel that can be traced back to a member of the royal family. Quel scandale! It’s up to our intrepid pair to retrieve it before the news breaks in high society and the papers.

But as usual, not much is what it seems. And oh! Jack the Ripper is stalking the streets of London.

Tightly plotted with sparkling dialogue and dazzling set pieces, this novel is a gilded time machine back to 1888 London, a chance to hobnob with the upper crust as they indulge their baser desires. There are lavish settings, shoot-outs, daring escapes, surprising glimpses of mettle, annoying royals, shocking revelations, and swoony moments of true romance.

When the caper finally comes to its (very) satisfying conclusion, Veronica must find deeper stores of courage — to dare to be vulnerable — and face the fears that haunt her heart and mind.

While not the most exciting of the Veronica Speedwell books, the plot, character development, and ending are all the quality readers have come to expect from the series.

Deanna Raybourn is one of my favourite authors and her "Lady Julia" series is a favourite of mine as well. I am thrilled to be reading her next series, set in Victorian England, introducing fearless adventuress Veronica Speedwell.
Veronica is fiercely independent, sassy, outspoken and highly intelligent. Her brazen defiance sets her apart. Then there is Stoker, the male protagonist, who is a dark brooding soul, full of mystery and good looks. Together they make a extraordinary team. Witty back and forth banter, feisty discussions and a battle of wits lead to a blooming connection that I love watching progress.
The 5th book in the series, A Murderous Relation, is set against the background of London being terrorized by Jack the Ripper.
Lady Wellie tasks Veronica and Stoker in retrieving an expensive piece of jewelry the Prince gave to a brothel owner. This leads to a fast-paced adventure with hilarious antics.
Loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Each book in this series continues to get better and better. I want to say this one is my favorite, but it is so hard to pick! I adore Veronica and Stoker, definitely two of my favorite mystery characters I have ever read. This is a refreshing take on historical mysteries. I will happily read each and every book that Deanna Raybourn continues to release with these charming and funny characters!

Book 64 towards my goal of 275! 5/5 stars for this Historical Adventure read! This may be my favorite cover of the series. Another fun adventure with Veronica and Stoker! This one uncovers more of Veronica's secret family. Also discusses Jack the Ripper, with a great homage to The Five. Such a great series! Cannot recommend it enough!

This series is still one of my favorites. Veronica is charming and clever as ever. We get to meet more of her “family members” on this one as well. I highly recommend this series! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.

Another great entry in this series! Don't want to do any spoilers. Just expect more action, humor, and all around fun as Veronica and Stoker try to solve a new mystery. This series keeps upping the fun with each new entry!

I love this series so much. Just so, so much. A Murderous Relation is one of my favorite installments, though admittedly it's hard to pick just one.

The reason that I love this series so much has never had much to do with the mysteries. I love them for the romance and for the writing and for Veronica herself. That said, I do have a decided preference for the volumes where the mystery is inextricably tied to the cast members over the ones where they are solicited to solve a mystery that has more distant ties to the main cast (aka I prefer books 1, 4, and 5 to 2 and 3). Partly this is because the more personal mysteries greatly advance emotional arcs of the people I care about and partially because there's a more natural introduction to the mystery with less info-dumping needed.

All that to say that I loved that A Murderous Relation is a mystery specifically related to Veronica. [It's also great to see this mystery give resolution to the plot of book one. It was a bit anticlimactic, sure, but I feel like that's true of most of the mysteries, because these books truly are more romance than mystery. Works for me. (hide spoiler)]

Veronica and Stoker have come, finally, to the point of a true relationship, and I could not be happier. Of course, since they're themselves, everything does not go easily, and some readers may continue to be frustrated by the pace of their relationship. Though, let's be honest, part of what makes the relationship between Veronica and Stoker so perfect is just how frustrating it is that they don't kiss when you want them to despite the ridiculous amounts of sexual tension. What's wonderful is how unchanged they are in the way they interact. They're not sappy now; they've owned up to their feelings, but their dynamic is just as full of tension and snark. I hope that never changes. It will be interesting to see how that evolves over further books, assuming there are more (which I believe there will be?).

One of the things that makes this series so utterly charming, above and beyond fiercely feminist Veronica and the slow burn ship of amazingness, is how funny it is. The humor is excellent. The banter, the snark, the wit, and at times the absurdly silly. The planned wedding of Patricia the tortoise was a small part of the book, but it was such a delightful highlight. What a great way to start things off and close them out.

*happy sigh*

Stoker and Veronica's adventures continue, this time with Jack the Ripper, a sex club, and Veronica's royal brother. After the events of last book, I had wondered if the tension between Stoker and Veronica would continue, and Raybourn does a great job of further developing their relationship. Another great entry in this series!

Ne'er-do-well Prince Albert Victor bestows a diamond gift to Madame Aurore, proprietress of a private club called L'Etoile, and Veronica and Stoker are asked to track it down and get it back. A simple task has the pair thrown into a conspiracy to overthrow the throne and even worse, the infamous murderer Jack the Ripper is terrorizing London and Lady Wellingtonia feels that the Prince may be involved.

I absolutely adore these books. They are life and breath.

This mystery touched Speedwell particularly closely, and it is fun to see her navigate that part of the story. It also brushes up against the horrifying Ripper murders, so that adds a layer of danger, as well.

I have to say, though, as much as I loved this entry in the series, the author's note at the end was stunning in its revelations.

I am, as always, eager for the next entry.

A great continuation of the Veronica Speedwell series. I liked that Jack the Ripper was not the main focus of the story even though it took place during the murders.

A solid entry in this series, with some interesting settings and witty dialogue. I am starting to feel a bit frustrated with the emotional immaturity of both Stoker and Veronica (which manifests in different ways), but I am hoping they are starting to move in the right direction now. I will, of course, keep reading this series!

Note: I didn’t write reviews for a huge chunk of the pandemic, so anything I read from March-July was reviewed in August or later… hence the lack of details!

I always love this series and I am absolutely attached to the characters. It was nice to see some of the side characters involved including Mornaday and JJ Butterworth. Unfortunately I didn't think this was a particularly strong entry in the series. I enjoyed meeting the Prince and I would like to see that relationship develop further into the future. I'm not sure why we had to go back and rehash the old crazy Irish uncle plot - not to mention the entirely too long extended scene in Madam Aurore's house. It felt like retreading a lot of ground we've already gone over. There were other ways to make sure Veronica & Stoker couldn't get it on until the end of the book. I don't think it significantly progressed their relationship or the general situation. And I found some of the characters' decisions to be frankly baffling. Also another oh-no-Stoker-got-shot-will-he-live moment that was so obviously going to turn out okay. A bit of a disappointment as the previous book in this series was excellent. I'll definitely read the next one in the series but this was a miss for me.

It's always a pleasure to return to beloved characters in a great historical fiction series that I've enjoyed from the very beginning. If you're interested in the daring adventures of this unique duo, don't skip any of the titles and dive right in at the start.

The pair, Veronica Speedwell (a lepidopterist of some renown) and her romantic interest and partner, Revelstoke (Stoker) Templeton-Vane (a man of many skills) are lured to London by Lady Wellingtonia Beauclerk who wants them to meddle in a situation fraught with scandal -- it seems that the eldest son of the Prince of Wales, Prince Albert Victor (Eddy) has got himself into a bit of trouble as he apparently just purchased a very expensive diamond star from the most fashionable jewelers in London. Since Eddy intends to marry his cousin, a princess, he can't be giving such a trinket to a woman who is mistress and owner of Club de l'Etoile, a luxurious house where privacy and discretion allow the very rich to engage in all sorts of debauchery. Veronica and Stoker are meant to get back the star and save the reputation of Prince Albert Victor. Things don't exactly go according to plan when Veronica and Stoker find themselves in the middle of anarchy and a plot that involves her murderous relative. Meanwhile, it's October, 1888, in London during the reign of terror caused by Jack the Ripper and Scotland Yard is under great pressure to find this killer. NO SPOILERS.

What a crazy action-packed bit of detective work and danger in this one. More information about Veronica's secret parentage comes to light and they don't know whom to trust. The romance that has been simmering finally bursts into full flame between Veronica and Stoker but before they can consummate, they must save the future King of England from his own stupidity without getting themselves killed. I like the characters even though they are just a little bit too attractive and a big bit too clever. I love the description and detail that the author provides to recreate the world that was London at that time in history. Of course I can't wait to see what's next for them and look forward to reading book #6.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.