[NOVEL] A Perilious Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn

Why is this novel titled like that is beyond me, they never did any undertaking.

London, 1887. At the Curiosity Club, a ladies-only establishment for daring and intrepid women, Victorian adventuress Veronica Speedwell meets the mysterious Lady Sundridge, who begs her to take on an impossible task--saving society art patron Miles Ramsforth from execution. Ramsforth, accused of the brutal murder of his mistress, Artemisia, will face the hangman's noose in a week's time if the real killer is not found.

But Lady Sundridge is not all that she seems, and unmasking her true identity is only the first of many secrets Veronica must uncover. Together with her natural-historian colleague, Stoker, Veronica races against time to find the true murderer. From a Bohemian artists' colony to a royal palace to a subterranean grotto with a decadent history, the investigation proves to be a very perilous undertaking indeed....

Veronica Speedwell Mystery. Book 2

I would call this an adventure rather than a mystery, even if the sleuthing does take part of it, but honestly, I always feel so detached when reading this.. I'm saying as if I've read ten books and not simply two.

I actually finished it few days ago, but forgot to pour all my frustration out I suppose. So here it is.

Before proceeding with my annual criticism of Veronica and her antics, I must admit, I like Stoker as a character, he is the logic of this team, he gives more sound ideas and when it comes to action he is truly a man to rely on.

Some may point out that he gives way to Veronica a ot, but it does not look good for her that he is basically - let her do whatever she wants, because that girl is stubborn af.

Veronica is the Victorian adventuress-lepidopterist. She is stuck in England with Stoker because their planned expedition was cut short because their patron (and also the man who provides them with shelter) had broken his leg, so instead they use their services of cataloging everything the generations of this family collected.

When suddenly Lady C. asks Veroica to visit the Curiosity club with her where she meets none other than Lady Sunbridge, but who is also Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Louise.

She tasks Veronica to impossible, figure out the real murderer, because Princess Louise swears she knows the man did not kill his mistress.

I don't know how to feel about involving real people in novels and portraying them as you see fit, but basically Princess Louise is one insufferable ass, considering I think of Veronica the same, I guess it's a family trait then.

Veronica agrees for nothing else but the idea that she might meet her real bio dad, though she knows it's impossible. There are no real ties between Veronica and the man she tries to save, but they portray it as if she is going to do it, as if she suddenly has this just heart and she gives a damn about a man she never even saw in her life.

Soon things become apparent that there is something going on with the murder, because someone sends them a threatening letter not to dig into this matter, which sounded so stupid, the perpetrator could have as well proclaimed it at every corner. Of course this leads our duo to investigate the case with conviction that Ramsworth should be saved. My only matter with such books is that.. there is no feel of urgency, even if they had like a week for solving the case.

And again Veronica and Stoker are not pro sleuths, just both of them reading some detective stories they often mention is not enough. And it shows. They always have a great deal of suspects, but they fail to narrow it down.

The book doesn't make a secret of who did it because author can't help but mention several times that a certain character wore white so it removes them from the list of suspects. Which was the stupidest thing I've heard, because you can change. As it happened, I was right.

I have no idea how these two sleuths have read some books but forget one major point when it comes to solving the case - person of interest. We starts from closest people and those they were involved with. But it always baffled me how two protags just let it slide past them.

Anyway, we have a short but still a list of people we suspect. I found this part like other parts a bit forced, since the above-mentioned Louise did not think of being discreet and announced she gave the go to our main characters, and she said it among countless witnesses in the place which we'll shortly call Art House (which isn't its' real name of course), which lodges and connects people of the ton and artists.

So we have several people who act suspiciously or catch our attention, but was I disappointed with the outcome, surely I was.

The revelations that followed after we know the whodunnit moment were not impressive to me. Not impressed and don't really care.

As for the characters.

I already said that Princess Louise acted as insufferable b. She basically acted on emotions when they first met to make Veronica yield. Veronica called her bluff, which honestly is one great part about her character. Later she demanded things like report on progress and such, which honestly, you gave the task and gave nothing and thought it's going to be solved in two days or what? Lol might I add that she always said about friendship and loyalty and honor, but honestly, she wanted investigation more for herself imo, because her name was on the ledger, which was a prove that she visited the naughty grotto Ramsforth kept. And she knew he didn't do it because they were there when things happened, but no one could say a word about it.

Veronica doesn't change much from the first book, still stubborn to do her own thing, it's a bit wild how she basically was so THIRSTY in this book, but she was noticing everyone, not only Stoker. Honestly, the girl should have toned it down. It's like she notices every man, but still names them "male species". She is not giving them any respect, but is always ready to use their services. Maybe sometimes she had good moments, but often time I was simply so over with her antics. It always feels like she thinks she is above the rest. She talks so much about freedom, but I am mad at her for basically degrading other women, changes are not something that can be done in a day or two. And I will stand by my previous conviction that she is so freedom-loving for no one's sake. She helps no one. The fact that she is so free to do whatever she wants, how she flaunts her escapades and romantic relationships exists only for herself.

Also I always found it hypocritical how she "does not bed Englishmen", basically because she knows the consequences of that. She can be hush about it, but she basically confessed to multiple characters in this book that she is not a virgin and had multiple lovers.

Poor Stoker, he is stuck with this menace. He is a brooding man, but honestly he is gentlemanly in a good way, has some really good qualities and is always there for the rescue. I felt like I need more of him.

The rest of the cast is.. well, they're there, have no idea what was the point of some characters getting so much attention.

Now the mystery.

It became apparent that wife is not a saint from the very first mention of her white dress. Too many times this detail was repeated, too obvious. But in genral my reason was mistress having a baby and the detail that she let her husband do everything, but was childless. Usually very basic motivation and I happened to be right. Her husband was over the moon with the news of the child, wanted to acknowledge it and also let his wife take care of it. Imagine.

So she wanted to frame her own husband and get rid off both of them.

The artist got involved only because he and the wife connected on emotinal level as both were left to theri devices, but he never thought she's going to go through with plans. So became an accomplice. Yet again book makes an emphasis of him being weaker and it was obvious that even if he was involved, he wasn't the one.

I was surprised that when they found the direct evidence of bloodied shoes they did not run to Sir Hugo of Special Branch. The reasoning was - so what if it's her shoes, that have her name on them and they have blood, means nothing. Yeah..right. Especially when you found them in the room of the artist man.

All just for the final confrontation between the several parties. How the wife was going to get away with it is beyond me. Anyway, everything was resolved.

Stoker was shot, but survived, Veronica was a sour ass that things did not turn her way, and Princess Louise did not even bother to say thanks. We find that Aunt Willengtonia is connected to Sir Hugh, but hwo cares. Veronica is sort of made out as if she was trialed during this time. Beats me.

One thing left me with open mouth is how the now acquitted Ramsforth decided to get together with Emma Talbot was her name I believe, the sculptress who belonged to the artistic bunch and was in ove with him. I think not enough time passed before she announced it to the world. These move fast.

I'm surprised by the high ratings and so many people loving these books. Maybe I am a different species, I don't understand where all the high praise comes from. It's mildly entertaining, but to say that I liked it would be a stretch. Veronica as a character has all the same problems, I could continue the series only for the sake of Stoker. 

Also.. why UNDERTAKING? They never dug a grave or similar sort, just because the clue lies in the incomplete report after autopsy? Don't drag on details, they pose too many questions.

RATE: 3/5. Being generous.