Reviews for A dangerous collaboration

Publishers Weekly
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

In March 1888, Veronica Speedwell agrees to accompany Tiberius, Viscount Templeton-Vane, to a windswept Cornish isle, the home of a rare butterfly, in Raybourn's deliciously gothic fourth mystery featuring the adventurous lepidopterist (after 2018's A Treacherous Curse). Incidentally, Veronica hopes to sort out her disturbing feelings for Tiberius's brother, Revelstoke "Stoker" Templeton-Vane-a plan that's complicated when Stoker invites himself along. St. Maddern's Isle is owned by Tiberius's oldest friend, Malcolm Romilly, whose bride, Rosamund, disappeared three years earlier, on their wedding day. In order to finally discover what has become of Rosamund, Malcolm has gathered everyone who was present on the day she went missing: his estranged family, his long-time staff, and Tiberius, who harbored a secret passion for the mysterious Rosamund. Over several stormy days, Veronica and Stoker discover that everyone is concealing painful secrets and ulterior motives. A brooding castle, rain-lashed windows, hidden passages, and a sAcance all contribute to a delightfully creepy tale with twists that would make Daphne Du Maurier proud. Agent: Pam Hopkins, Hopkins Literary Assoc. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.


Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

An intrepid lepidopterist and her sometime lover are caught up in yet another extravagant adventure in 1888.Returning to London from Madeira, Veronica Speedwell gets the cold shoulder from her companion in mystery solving, Stoker Templeton-Vane (A Treacherous Curse, 2018, etc.), who's still furious that he was left out of the unexplained trip. He's not happy, either, that his elder brother, Tiberius, Lord Templeton-Vane, wants Veronica to accompany him to St. Maddern's Isle off the coast of Cornwall to visit the castle of his old friend Malcolm Romilly, who's promised to give Veronica some larvae of the Romilly Glasswing butterfly, thought to be extinct. What Tiberius doesn't tell Veronicayetis that she'll have to pose as his fiancee to gain the approval of their Catholic host, who wouldn't approve of an unchaperoned single woman. Upon their arrival in Cornwall, they find Stoker, refusing to be left out, waiting to join a group that includes Malcolm; his sister, Mertensia, a tireless gardener; his sister-in-law, Helen; her son, Caspian; and a crew of servants directed by longtime family retainer Mrs. Trengrouse. The island is large enough for farms and a village whose superstitious natives tell tales of piskies and mermaids. Stoker and his brother constantly snipe over Veronica, whom Tiberius works to seduce and Stoker secretly wants to marry. Although she loves Stoker, Veronica fears he's never gotten over the dreadful marriage that almost killed him and is so independent herself that she's afraid to commit to more than a physical relationship. Meanwhile, Malcolm's wife, Rosamund, vanished on their wedding day three years ago, and no one knows whether she's dead or alive. When Malcolm's discovery of Rosamund's traveling bag makes it all but certain that she's dead, he asks for Veronica and Stoker's help in finding out what happened to her. Slowly, secrets from the past are revealed, and the sleuths find themselves threatened by someone desperate to keep those secrets buried forever.The astute and unconventional Edwardian pair seem to have entered the pages of a gothic novel for an exhilarating new tale full of wild adventures and treacherous relationships. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.


Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

*Starred Review* As anyone familiar with Veronica Speedwell knows, the spirited lepidopterologist only indulges in romantic dalliances when she travels and only with non-Englishmen. But lately, the sexual tension between Veronica and her colleague, Stoker, has become too much! To escape it, Veronica flees. When she returns six months later, she still finds Stoker irresistible, so she flees again this time at the invitation of Stoker's brother. In exchange for a rare specimen of butterfly, she agrees to pose as his fiancée when he visits an old friend, Malcolm Romilly. Stoker, uninvited, joins, and when they arrive, they realize Malcolm Romilly's mansion is haunted by the three-year mystery of his bride, who went missing on their wedding night. Did she commit suicide? Is she in hiding? Was she murdered? Veronica decides to find out, exploring the mansion's most intriguing secrets hidden passageways, a poison garden, a salaciously illustrated harpsichord. Raybourn's latest mystery is as lively and adventurous as the previous installment (A Treacherous Curse, 2018). Although Veronica's clever, scientific instincts continue to help her decipher clues and read people's motivations, she is more introspective as she sorts out her own feelings, adding vulnerability to an already dynamic heroine. Positively excellent, or as Veronica would say Excelsior! --Biz Hyzy Copyright 2019 Booklist


Library Journal
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

In the fourth entry of this historical mystery series (after A Treacherous Curse), Victorian-era sleuth Veronica Speedwell and Tiberius, the brother of Veronica's colleague Stoker, head to a weekend house party on a remote island off the coast of Cornwall. Tiberius bribes her with the promise of a rare butterfly to add to her collection and suggests they pose as an engaged couple, to preserve her reputation. Temporarily on the outs with Stoker, Veronica agrees to the scheme, but naturally Stoker shows up. Turns out they are all really there to investigate the disappearance of their host's wife, who vanished three years earlier on her wedding day. Did Rosamund run away or was she murdered? Tiberius, who had secretly been in love with her, needs to know what happened. Veronica fearlessly dives in, as usual ignoring all the warning signs. VERDICT As there's little substance to the mystery, readers can concentrate on the slowly developing relationship between the fiercely independent Veronica and Stoker, who is still reeling from his wife's betrayal. Those new to the series should read the books in order. [See Prepub Alert, 9/10/18.]-Laurel Bliss, San Diego State Univ. Lib. © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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