A Murderous Relation (Veronica Speedwell Mystery, #5)

by Deanna Raybourn

A royal scandal’s connection to a brutal serial killer threatens London in this new Veronica Speedwell adventure from New York Times bestselling and Edgar® Award–nominated author Deanna Raybourn.

Autumn 1888. Veronica Speedwell and her colleague Stoker are asked by Lady Wellingtonia Beauclerk to stop a potential scandal so explosive it threatens to rock the monarchy. Prince Albert Victor is a regular visitor to the most exclusive private club in London, and the proprietress, Madame Aurore, has received an expensive gift that can be traced back to the prince. Lady Wellie would like Veronica and Stoker to retrieve it from the club before scandal can break. 

Worse yet, London is being terrorized by what would become the most notorious and elusive serial killer in history, Jack the Ripper—and Lady Wellie suspects the prince may be responsible.
Veronica and Stoker reluctantly agree to go undercover at Madame Auroreʼs high-class brothel, where a body soon turns up. Secrets are swirling around Veronica and the royal family—and it is up to Veronica and Stoker to find the truth, before it is too late for all of them.

• ISBN10: 0451490746
• ISBN13: 9780451490742
• Publish Date: 10 March 2020
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Out of Print: 30 June 2021
• 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/9780451490742

Reviews

[MurderByDeath]

A fan from the start of the series, I always thought the mc being based on a real historical figure gave the books that little extra something, but when I finished this one, as much as I enjoyed it, I thought ‘the author certainly took some creative liberties in this one’.

Which shows how much I know about history; every part I found fantastical turned out to be based on true events.  So all I can say now is, poor Prince Albert Victor; even if some of the more spurious speculations about him took place long after his death, his memory seems unfairly tarnished.

Veronica and Stoker's story was a good time though.  The plot was well crafted, though not a mystery, really.  This was much more about foiling a two-pronged conspiracy, and while murder was done, there was no mystery as to who did it.  Raybourn also used the storyline's backdrop of Whitechapel and the Jack the Ripper murders to spotlight the social inequities of the Victorian age.

And finally, after 5 books, there is finally some advancement between Veronica and Stoker, which, while the romance isn't the thing for me, is a relief, because I find tension of any kind, too long strung out, to be tedious in the extreme.

It took me too long to get this book because of the pandemic, but the upside is the next one has already been announced, so I know I'll have another to look forward to soon.

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

A Murderous Relation is the 5th Veronica Speedwell mystery by Deanna Raybourn. Released 10th March 2020 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 308 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a historical cozy mystery with a strong dash of saucy romance between the main character duo (Veronica and Stoker). There is a fair bit of backstory for the characters and setup for the storyline, so I wouldn't really recommend it as a standalone. The entire series is well written and diverting, so a definite contender for a binge reading session.

The main characters are a lepidopterist (Veronica) and a taxidermist (Stoker), so the author gets points for the characters' appealingly nerdy quirks. Their backstories are as varied as they are and there are significant subplot elements revolving around their family entanglements. Although some plot elements are very dark (Jack the Ripper, seedy Victorian London underbelly, murder, extortion, etc) the book itself is firmly in the cozy mystery romance genre.

Thoroughly readable and entertaining, the series reminds me a lot Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody. There's no objectionable language, but there are strongly sexually suggestive scenes between the two main characters, some minor (good humored) cross dressing, some shooting, stabbing, and other mayhem. For readers in search of meticulously researched verisimilitude, this one will likely engender teeth gnashing. Bring a hefty suspension of disbelief. On the other hand, it's delightfully wonky, humorous, and ever so slightly spicy (with a few actual bodices being ripped in the course of the adventure).

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

[kimbacaffeinate]

This is the fifth Veronica Speedwell novel, and while each involves a mystery to be solved and sorted, there are enough series ARCs from a romantic build to threats, and secrets that the series is best enjoyed in the order of its release.

Jack the Ripper, the Prince, scandal and kidnapping, oh my! Raybourn certainly kept us busy with this engaging murder-mystery.

Veronica and Stoker are asked to retrieve an item and politely refuse, that is until Lady Wellingtonia Beauclerk falls ill and they learn what she fears. This has them attending the Club de l’Etoile to steal a piece of jewelery from Madame Aurore, that bears the Royal mark. The tale that unfolds soon has Stoker, Veronica and Prince Albert Victor in grave danger.

This was a clever case and wove in headlines and threads from the notorious Jack the Ripper murders. Raybourn’s thread felt plausible and added to the danger for our trio. I honestly worried whether Stoker would survive this and quite forgot my quest for them to finally act on their desires. Even in danger, Veronica did not…