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A Treacherous Curse

Written by: Deanna Raybourn
Narrated by: Angele Masters
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Publisher's Summary

Members of an Egyptian expedition fall victim to an ancient mummy's curse in a thrilling Veronica Speedwell novel from the New York Times best-selling author of the Lady Julia Grey mysteries.

London, 1888. As colorful and unfettered as the butterflies she collects, Victorian adventuress Veronica Speedwell can't resist the allure of an exotic mystery - particularly one involving her enigmatic colleague, Stoker.

His former expedition partner has vanished from an archaeological dig with a priceless diadem unearthed from the newly discovered tomb of an Egyptian princess. This disappearance is just the latest in a string of unfortunate events that have plagued the controversial expedition, and rumors abound that the curse of the vengeful princess has been unleashed as the shadowy figure of Anubis himself stalks the streets of London.

But the perils of an ancient curse are not the only challenges Veronica must face as sordid details and malevolent enemies emerge from Stoker's past. Caught in a tangle of conspiracies and threats - and thrust into the public eye by an enterprising new foe - Veronica must separate facts from fantasy to unravel a web of duplicity that threatens to cost Stoker everything....

©2018 Deanna Raybourn (P)2018 Recorded Books

What listeners say about A Treacherous Curse

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My Favourite

This series gets better and better. Revelstoke Templeton-Vane is my favourite male fictional character, bar none. Bring on more.

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  • bigdjunta
  • 2018-04-27

I rarely give a book a 5, but....

I cannot overemphasize how much I love this series. The writing, characters, and plot are excellent, but it is the connection between the two leads that is MAGICAL. Lovers come and go, but to find a partner you are attracted to, one that thinks of you before he thinks of himself, one that loves you as a friend first....Well, guard and nurture that love because it is hard to come by. My Husband and I always say,"I am yours and you are mine" and I shake my head and marvel at what we have between us. Please, NEVER, NEVER take this incredible gift for granted.
The author conveys this concept again and again throughout the series and that theme......
Well, take it with you.

20 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • scott
  • 2018-04-06

Has this series reached its limit? For me it has.

Maybe it's me, but this series seems to be getting a little tiresome. The elaborate Victorian dialogue wears on me, the characters seem even less realistic, and the plot seems strained. Even the narrator's arch tone has become grating. Time for me to move on, I guess.

15 people found this helpful

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2019-05-14

Unoriginal, Unsuspenseful, Unlikely Dialogue

I loved Deanna Raybourn's Julia Grey mysteries, so I was surprised that this series, and this book especially, didn't appeal to me at all. The story is unoriginal and has been better told in plenty of other cozy historic mysteries before (Elizabeth Peters' books, for example).

There were lots of missed opportunities for suspense and romantic tension between our two favorite characters. No one in the story was ever in real danger and the villains kept backing down, becoming nonthreatening. It definitely wasn't a "page turner."

Also, instead of dialogue, the characters just monologue at each other. It was so unrealistic that it was hard to buy into the characters or the story. No real person would have those perfectly prepared scripts to recite at people in the heat of argument or passion, especially not while the other party passively listens.

I also thought the anglophile pandering was a little heavy handed, even though this American girl loves a good English mystery.

That said, still 2 stars for light distracting book and a good performance.

8 people found this helpful

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  • Kathy Walunas
  • 2018-06-24

So much fun!

This is so well written! Listening to the prose and banter is a delight! Obviously a great deal of research has gone into this book and it paints such a clear picture of the Victorian Age. I’ve never been a fan of books set in that time period, but this book has changed my thinking. A strong female character, a male character who admires her for her strength and independence, and slowly growing attraction between them makes for a fun story and has me hoping for more. The reader does a wonderful job conveying the emotions of the characters as she reads. Can’t wait for the next adventure!

7 people found this helpful

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  • Deborah Topper
  • 2018-05-04

LOVE IT!!!

I actually love this Veronica Speedwell series so much that I am listening to all three again. I love the way the author "paints" the book so vividly that I can imagine being right there! And the voice of Angele Masters is INCREDIBLE! She is wonderful in her portrayal through voice of many different characters. TOTALLY AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

7 people found this helpful

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  • Mary Castillo, author and audiobook narrator
  • 2018-08-06

Veronica Speedwell fans will be on fire

To say that I was dying - DYING - at the end of the book is an understatement. Many unanswered questions of our favorite detecting team, Veronica and Stoker will be answered which will only leave you wanting more of this whip-smart, hilarious and touching Victorian mystery series.

6 people found this helpful

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  • Olive
  • 2019-03-01

Boring

I like the lead characters, but Holy Cow, this was boring. The shrill voices of the older women are almost unbearable--but maybe that's the point. I appreciate learning more about Stoker's bitchy wife and I liked how Veronica takes no bs from anyone. Still, this story is totally unmemorable and I only listened to find out what might happen between Stoker and Veronica. Otherwise, this was a waste of my time.

5 people found this helpful

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  • Rachel
  • 2018-08-07

Good story

It was a good story but they all seem the same and not much happens to progress the characters. Enjoyable but same story

5 people found this helpful

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  • LOYL-00
  • 2018-04-30

5/5--Historical mysteries/detective at its BEST

*-I have recently obtained the Audible versions available of "the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries".

*-Applause to Deanna Rayborn's professional writing and establishing the exacting wit of each of the characters as they solve the unsolvable, while dealing with personal demons of their own. You have kept the quality true through all 3 novels I have enjoyed.

*-Applause to Angele Masters exacting narration, where I felt I was there, with the characters, on their investigations. The voices and emotions were a genuine performance.

*-I recommend this series to anyone who loves historical based mysteries---An intriguing, addicting, series presented in excellence. On where you laugh and cry along with the characters

The only reason I did not go into the particulars of this novel is that I don't wish to ruin a moment of your read/listen. It will not disappoint (I have read the first three novels and they only get better as you continue to enjoy the series.) And for those who do not know me--I rarely give a 5/5. In my viewpoint a novel must work to deserve this rating—and this series most certainly does.

5 people found this helpful

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  • B. Rogers
  • 2020-12-13

Excellent Story

This is the third book the late-Victorian Veronica Speedwell series. It features lepidopterist Veronica who is bold, unconventional, outspoken (to the point of being overbearing), and the handsome Revelstoke Templeton-Vane (Stoker). I read the first book in the series and loved everything about it except Veronica, so I decided to skip ahead in the series and see if she had mellowed any at all. She is still arrogant, superior, condescending, and overbearing, but she’s not quite as bad as in the first book, so I’ll definitely try another one – hoping that she continues to mellow a bit. This author’s mysteries and writing are always top-notch, it is only the female lead for which I haven’t been able to work up any enthusiasm - I don't hate her, I just don't care for her very much and we'd never be good friends. I am excited to see where the series heads from here!

I am not going to complain because I dearly wanted to learn more about Stoker’s past – and I was delighted to learn a lot more – but that knowledge did come at the expense of the mystery. The mystery was still excellent, just not as intricately complex as the others in the series. We didn’t learn all about Stoker, but we did learn a lot more than we knew before. We meet his ex-wife and find out some of what happened between them – and it wasn’t pretty.

Veronica and Stoker are summoned to the sickbed of Sir Hugo Montgomerie of the Special Branch. Sir Hugo wants them to look into the disappearance of Stoker’s former best friend, John de Morgan. De Morgan had been working as a photographer on the Tiverton expedition in Egypt. The expedition made an extraordinary find and de Morgan disappeared with one of the priceless artifacts. Veronica and Stoker have to take on the investigation because of Stoker’s past with de Morgan – and it won’t be long before the newspapers track down that past and bring Stoker’s name into scandal again. Stoker might even be blamed for the disappearance and/or death of de Morgan.

The mystery rocks on and I began to wonder if they would ever get the clue to solving the case, but when they get it, things just explode and it is non-stop action from there on out.

I know I have said, repeatedly, that I don’t care for Veronica, but I do absolutely love how she protects and defends Stoker. No matter what she hears about him or from whom she hears it – she absolutely never doubts Stoker. She will look out for him even to her own detriment. (BTW – the author has really toned down the “Hey look at me I’m unconventional” rantings that were in the first book and I’m so very glad). Their relationship isn’t all one-sided though. Stoker is the same way about her.

One thing I find very entertaining is the role reversal in this series. Veronica has had liaisons and is very free with admitting them, speaking about sex, etc., and isn’t the least bit embarrassed about it. Stoker, on the other hand, is almost prudish. Not that he hasn’t had liaisons, but it just isn’t something he speaks about with ladies and he embarrasses so easily. So, in this series – she is uninhibited and he is missish. They are two societal outcasts who are absolutely perfect for each other – can’t wait until they realize they love each other.

I definitely recommend this author, this book, and this series.

4 people found this helpful