Books › A perilous undertaking
A perilous undertaking
541 pages
A fiercely witty romp through Victorian London, fueled by crackling banter, deadly secrets, and a heroine who absolutely refuses to behave.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into a gaslit Victorian parlor with a hidden dagger in your corset. It is a delightfully brisk and spirited adventure that balances the cozy charm of a historical mystery with the sharp, irreverent edge of a thoroughly modern sensibility. The atmosphere is rich with fog-drenched London streets, eccentric underground clubs, and the crackling, undeniable tension of a perfectly matched intellectual partnership. The prose is as sharp as the heroine's tongue, delivering rapid-fire banter and vivid historical details without ever slowing the momentum. It will utterly delight readers who love fiercely unapologetic women, slow-burn romantic chemistry, and a clever puzzle that keeps the pages turning late into the night.
- Mood
- gaslit
- adventurous
- crackling
- cozy yet perilous
- Tone
- wry
- spirited
- irreverent
- confident
- cheeky
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- defying societal expectations · intellectual partnership · slow-burn tension · feminist independence
- The writing
- Sharp, articulate, and laced with period-appropriate flair and razor-sharp wit.
- The arc
- The protagonist moves from fiercely guarded independence to a reluctant but thrilling reliance on a true intellectual equal.
- Who it's for
- Fans of historical mysteries who crave fiercely unapologetic heroines, atmospheric London settings, and exquisite romantic banter.
Content notes
- murder
- historical sexism
- mild violence
About the book
"London, 1887. Victorian adventuress and butterfly hunter Veronica Speedwell receives an invitation to visit the Curiosity Club, a ladies-only establishment for daring and intrepid women. There she meets the mysterious Lady Sundridge, who begs her to take on an impossible task saving society art patron Miles Ramsforth from execution. Accused of the brutal murder of his artist mistress Artemisia, Ramsforth will face the hangman's noose in a week's time if Veronica cannot find the real killer. But Lady Sundridge is not all that she seems, and unmasking her true identity is only the first of the many secrets Veronica must uncover."--
Description from Open Library.
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