TBR Challenge [Freedom!] Audiobook Review: A Curious Beginning (Veronica Speedwell #1) by Deanna Raybourn (Narrator: Angèle Masters)

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A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn
Narrator: Angèle Masters
Series: Veronica Speedwell #1
Published by Recorded Books on September 3, 2015
Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Romance
Length: 10 hours and 51 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
four-stars

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London, 1887. As the city prepares to celebrate Queen Victoria's golden jubilee, Veronica Speedwell is marking a milestone of her own. After burying her spinster aunt, the orphaned Veronica is free to resume her world travels in pursuit of scientific inquiry - and the occasional romantic dalliance. As familiar with hunting butterflies as she is fending off admirers, Veronica wields her butterfly net and a sharpened hatpin with equal aplomb, and with her last connection to England now gone, she intends to embark upon the journey of a lifetime.

But fate has other plans, as Veronica discovers when she thwarts her own abduction with the help of an enigmatic German baron with ties to her mysterious past. Promising to reveal in time what he knows of the plot against her, the baron offers her temporary sanctuary in the care of his friend Stoker - a reclusive natural historian as intriguing as he is bad-tempered. But before the baron can deliver on his tantalizing vow to reveal the secrets he has concealed for decades, he is found murdered. Suddenly Veronica and Stoker are forced to go on the run from an elusive assailant, wary partners in search of the villainous truth.

©2015 Deanna Raybourn (P)2015 Recorded Books

A Curious Beginning is the first installment in Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series, narrated by Angèle Masters. I actually added this one to my TBR after spotting a glowing review over at Books of My Heart. Historical fiction isn’t usually my go-to genre, but they made it sound so intriguing that I had to give it a shot—and I’m so glad I did, because it completely blew me away!

The character development in A Curious Beginning, is top-tier. Veronica Speedwell is a breath of fresh air: independent, fearless, and wonderfully feisty. Her deductive reasoning and natural curiosity make her incredibly fun to follow, but it’s her sharp-witted banter with Stoker that really steals the show. Stoker himself is a beautifully complex, troubled character who willingly steps into danger to assist Veronica after a German baron kicks off the mystery. With an entertaining cast of villains, constables, and adversaries, the tension never lets up.

The setting shifts beautifully from the bustling streets of 1887 London to the scenic countryside, including a fascinating stint with a traveling caravan. As we follow Veronica and Stoker, two compelling mysteries begin to intertwine—the immediate threat to Veronica’s life and the question of who murdered the German. I adored both plotlines and thoroughly enjoyed tagging along on their quest for the truth. Thanks to the wonderfully paced plot, the character development feels incredibly intimate and natural.

While the story firmly belongs to Veronica, Stoker is an essential co-star. He’s quite intimidating at first, and despite Veronica pointing out his toned physique, I initially couldn’t see him as a viable love interest. However, as his layers began to peel back and I witnessed him in action, I completely fell for him right alongside her.

Audio: Between the rich descriptions and the vibrant characters, Raybourn does a fantastic job of immersing the reader in the Victorian era. Angèle Masters’ narration makes it even better. I completely fell in love with her performance—the wonderful array of Victorian accents she brings to the table is just perfect for this audiobook.

If you love independent heroines, sharp-witted banter, and immersive historical backdrops, you need to pick this up! I stepped outside my usual comfort zone for this one, and I am so glad I did. The plot kept me on my toes, the character growth felt wonderfully natural, and the narration was the icing on the cake. A fantastic start to the series!

Rated: 4 Stars

Was this review helpful? If so, please consider liking it on Goodreads (Angela)!

July’s TBR Challenge Theme: Freedom! 🗽 (Focus: Characters escaping a threat, or books set during times of political change like suffrage or war.)

To fit “The Escape” prompt, I picked A Curious Beginning. The book kicks off with a literal bang when amateur lepidopterist Veronica Speedwell survives a kidnapping and assassination attempt at her home. Forced onto the run immediately, she flees alongside a grumpy natural historian to evade a mysterious predator. It’s less of a slow-burn mystery and more of a thrilling, reluctant-partnership-turned-runaway-adventure where it’s truly them against the world.

Plus, because of its Victorian era backdrop, I also got to tick off the “Blast From the Past” (historical setting) prompt for the Beat the Backlist Challenge.

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About Angèle Masters

Angèle Masters is a voiceover artist with around 100 audiobook credits to her name. She specializes in fantasy and science-fiction, and enjoys giving life to characters in a wide variety of accents and languages. In addition to audiobooks, Angèle does voice work for commercials, industrials, video games, and animation, and she will soon be heard as the voice of Synøve Pan in Transgenesis, a new science-fiction podcast from HowStuffWorks.com, to be released in late 2018. A native of England, she currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

Goodreads | Amazon

About Deanna Raybourn

New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist Deanna Raybourn is a 6th-generation native Texan. She graduated with a double major in English and history from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Married to her college sweetheart and the mother of one, Raybourn makes her home in Virginia. Her novels have been nominated for numerous awards including two RT Reviewers’ Choice awards, the Agatha, two Dilys Winns, a Last Laugh, three du Mauriers, and most recently the 2019 Edgar Award for Best Novel. She launched a new Victorian mystery series with the 2015 release of A CURIOUS BEGINNING, featuring intrepid butterfly-hunter and amateur sleuth, Veronica Speedwell. Veronica has returned in several more adventures, most recently AN IMPOSSIBLE IMPOSTOR, book seven, which released in early 2022. Deanna’s first contemporary novel, KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE, about four female assassins on the cusp of retirement publishes in September 2022.