A Dangerous Collaboration (Veronica Speedwell Mystery, #4)

by Deanna Raybourn

A bride mysteriously disappears on her wedding day in the newest Veronica Speedwell adventure by the New York Times bestselling author of the Lady Julia Grey series.

Lured by the promise of a rare and elusive butterfly, the intrepid Veronica Speedwell is persuaded by Lord Templeton-Vane, the brother of her colleague Stoker, to pose as his fiancée at a house party on a Cornish isle owned by his oldest friend, Malcolm Romilly.

But Veronica soon learns that one question hangs over the party: What happened to Rosamund? Three years ago, Malcolm Romilly’s bride vanished on their wedding day, and no trace of her has ever been found. Now those who were closest to her have gathered, each a possible suspect in her disappearance. 

From the poison garden kept by Malcolm’s sister to the high towers of the family castle, the island’s atmosphere is full of shadows, and danger lurks around every corner. 

Determined to discover Rosamund’s fate, Veronica and Stoker match wits with a murderer who has already struck once and will not hesitate to kill again.…

• ISBN10: 0451490711
• ISBN13: 9780451490711
• Publish Date: 12 March 2019
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Out of Print: 22 October 2024
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Berkley Publishing Corporation,U.S.
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 336
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780451490711

Reviews

[cherryblossommj]

Deanna Raybourn always provides the perfect literary escape from the trivial trials of every day life. I thoroughly enjoyed this foray in the continued adventures of Veronica Speedwell and her companions. This one is reminiscent of the wonders of the first Lady Julia Grey novel and I'm quite a fan. The romance is palpable but not risque and I cannot wait to read what comes next from Deanna's glorious pen.

I read a library book, but fully plan on buying a copy for the keeper shelf.

[Liz (Bent Bookworm)]

~*Check out all my reviews over on The Bent Bookworm!*~

A Dangerous Collaboration is the fourth in the amazing Veronica Speedwell mystery series by Deanna Raybourn! This is definitely a series you need to start at the beginning with, so if you haven’t already be sure to go read the first three books – A Curious Beginning (#1), A Perilous Undertaking (#2), and A Treacherous Curse (#3).

Warning: Possible spoilers for the first three books of the series, but not for this one!

I was really startled when I began reading this book! It starts off with Veronica leaving England – and Stoker – and going off with Lady Cordelia for six months overseas. SAY WHAT?!? You separated my darlings, WHY?? Very little page time is given to this six months, other than to say both ladies fell ill on the trip (but not deathly ill), and Veronica spent much time thinking about Stoker and her feelings and wondering why he didn’t write even though she had told him not to.

Eventually they return, and she and Stoker are so stilted and awkward, it’s like they had taken one step forward and about ten back. Before they even BEGIN to work this out though, as friends or professionals, Stoker’s brother Tiberius (introduced in the first book, gradually getting more screen time as the series goes on) bursts in on them and asks Veronica to go with him to an old school friend’s gathering on a remote island (*dun dun dun DUN*)…posing as his fiancee’. Needless to say…they all three end up going, and shenanigans ensue.

The mystery on the island was the most engrossing one in the series so far, in my opinion. After floundering through the first few chapters (seriously, everyone had emotionally regressed…it was so disconcerting!) I really got into it once things moved to the island. As Veronica (and Stoker…and Tiberius…) try to solve the mystery of what happened to Tiberius’s friends bride, they uncover more and more secrets. It was DELICIOUS!

In the interest of NOT spoiling anything, I won’t give any details, but by the end of the book I was very satisfied with the character progression once more. However, now I want more of Tiberius. He has become a character of interest. I need to see more of his bruised heart and soul…and I would be VERY interested to see if a woman who could handle him and his…proclivities…could be found!

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[bookperson]

Why are you doing this to me, miss Raybourn???
Loved this installment! And can't wait to read next one!!!

[MurderByDeath]

Almost perfect.  On the plus side, Veronica stopped beating poor Stoker over the head with her libertine sexual views; to the minus side, the book started off tropetastically, with Veronica running away from a romantic entanglement with Stoker by going to Madeira for 6 months, and then immediately afterwards haring off to a house party with Stoker's detested brother as his fiancee.  That's a lot of trope stuffed into a few chapters.   But then Raybourn tuns all of it on its head, and makes it all meaty and interesting.  From the Madeira trip revelation to Tiberius's reasons for bringing Veronica (and Stoker) to the Cornish isle of St. Maddern's.  Tiberius's story is raw and brutal, as is the final outcome of the plot.  Without giving anything away, all I can say is holy christ, it was horrifying and tragic and really un-hygienic.    The mystery plotting I can sum up by saying: I did not see that coming.   The 1/2 star deduction was for the insanity of the "we can only be friends" nonsense.  There's a fine line between stringing the romantic tension along through a series and the point at which, I, as the reader, starts telling the book "oh just DO it already!".  I'm a fan of sexual tension, but not teasing, even if it is consensual.  I find it tedious.  Fortunately by all appearances, unless Raybourn decides to yank everyone's chains, the teasing will-they-won't-they ends with this book's conclusion.   What remains consistent through the whole series is Veronica's fierce intelligence and pragmatism, Stoker's somewhat vicious integrity, and the incredibly rich and amusing banter that Raybourn excels at.  I don't think I've ever read any author who captures family dynamics - both good and bad - as well as she does and does it with so much wit and gravitas at the same time.   This is one of those series I'd have liked to have discovered late, allowing me to binge read the adventures; as it is, I'll have to wait another year for the next adventure.   A favorite quote:   Tiberius' voice was sharp.  "You think he might have killed himself?"   "It's one of eight possibilities for his absence," I remarked.   Tiberius' eyes fairly popped. "Eight?"   I ticked off the prospects as I named them. "I have been thinking out the possibilities with regard to Rosamund's fate, but they will do just as well for Malcom. He might have killed himself.  He might have met with an accident. He may be trapped somewhere and unable to free himself.  Hie might be hiding. He might have suffered a breakdown of sorts. He might have been murdered.  He might have keeled over dead of quite natural causes. He might have surprised smugglers or pirates and is being held against his will in a lair –"   Tiberius made a strangled noise and Stoker shook his head.  "You've over-egged the pudding with that one."

[kimbacaffeinate]

Tiberius, Stoker's brother invites Veronica to a house party on a remote island off the tip of Cornwall. He promises her larva from a rare butterfly and the temptation is too great. Well, that and the chance to ruffle Stoker's feathers. Stoker of course isn't invited. To keep up appearances, Tiberius introduces Veronica as his fiance' and I couldn't help but grin when Stoker appeared!
Lord Malcolm Romilly, has invited everyone who had a connection with Rosamund, his bride. On their wedding day she disappeared from the island and no one has seen her since. I love a good mystery and the island is the perfect place for it. An old castle, superstitious people who believe in merfolk and witches. Aye, good times to be sure.
I loved the twists, the reveals and the manor itself. The gardens, island and its history were completely atmospheric. Raybourn does a splendid job with pacing, red herrings and in allowing the reader to feel as if they are a member of the house party.
The characters added to the tale, including the sister who grows poisons in her garden, the sister-in-law with a spoiled son and then there is Tiberius with his own secrets.
Stoker and Veronica seemed at odds. Their chemistry is off the charts, but instead of just giving in, they both think too much. I want to lock them both in the conservatory until they lose their blood minds! We see movement but not before some climatic moments.
I thought the mystery was clever and in my humble opinion this series just continues to get better. The author developed both threads, allowed for character growth and has set up the mystery for the next book. Honestly, I cannot wait!  This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer