A Curious Beginning
by Deanna Raybourn

In her thrilling new series, Deanna Raybourn, the New York Times bestselling author of the Lady Julia Grey mysteries, returns once more to Victorian England…and introduces intrepid adventuress Veronica Speedwell.

London, 1887. After burying her spinster aunt, orphaned Veronica Speedwell is free to resume her world travels in pursuit of scientific inquiry—and the occasional romantic dalliance. As familiar with hunting butterflies as with fending off admirers, Veronica intends to embark upon the journey of a lifetime.

But fate has other plans when Veronica thwarts her own attempted abduction with the help of an enigmatic German baron, who offers her sanctuary in the care of his friend Stoker, a reclusive and bad-tempered natural historian. But before the baron can reveal what he knows of the plot against her, he is found murdered—leaving Veronica and Stoker on the run from an elusive assailant as wary partners in search of the villainous truth.

Originally published September 2015 in hardcover by NAL.

Other Books by Deanna Raybourn

A Grave Robbery
A Veronica Speedwell Mystery Book 9

Killers of a Certain Age

A Sinister Revenge
Veronica Speedwell Mystery Book 8

An Impossible Impostor
Veronica Speedwell Mystery Book 7

An Unexpected Peril
Veronica Speedwell Mystery Book 6

Night of a Thousand Stars

City of Jasmine

A Murderous Relation
Veronica Speedwell Mystery Book 5

A Mysterious Season
Lady Julia Grey Mystery Book 6-9

Lady Julia Grey Volume 2
Lady Julia Grey Mystery Book 4-5

The Dark Enquiry
Lady Julia Grey Mystery Book 5

Dark Road to Darjeeling
Lady Julia Grey Mystery Book 4

A Dangerous Collaboration
Veronica Speedwell Mystery Book 4

Lady Julia Grey Mystery Collection Volume 1
Lady Julia Grey Mystery Book 1-3

Deanna Raybourn's Bio

New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist Deanna Raybourn is a 6^th 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 the Edgar, the Macavity, and the Agatha. 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's third adventure, A TREACHEROUS CURSE, was published in 2018 and nominated for the Edgar Award. The eighth book in the series, A SINISTER REVENGE, published in March 2023, with further books to come. Deanna's first contemporary thriller, featuring four female assassins who must band together to take out their nemesis as they prepare for retirement---KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE---published in September of 2022 at #9 on the New York Times bestseller list. KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE won the 2022 Barry Award for Best Thriller.