A Perilous Undertaking

By: Deanna Raybourn

Narrated by: Angele Masters

Length: 12 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

Veronica Speedwell returns in a brand new adventure from Deanna Raybourn, the New York Times best-selling author of the Lady Julia Grey mysteries.

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. Together with her natural historian colleague Stoker, Veronica races against time to find the true murderer - a ruthless villain who not only took Artemisia's life in cold blood but is happy to see Ramsforth hang for the crime. 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.

©2017 Deanna Raybourn (P)2017 Recorded Books

An Intriguing Mystery

In this second installment of the Veronica Speedwell mysteries I find that I have come to like her character better than in the first book. I only have one complaint: it was a bit much that with every new acquaintance Veronica made she had to prove to them how unaffected she is by their lack of convention or morality, and try to one-up them with her own immoral views I find it hard to believe that everyone she meets would try to shock her and then admire her for not reacting. Other than that I really enjoyed the story. I loved seeing how Veronica and Stoker's friendship has grown and how they well they complement each other. I also like a book where I am not able to figure out the murderer right away. Now if only miss Angele Masters could narrate a female character, besides Veronica, that does not have a shrill voice . . .

Enthralling Storyline and Intersting Characters.

Would you listen to A Perilous Undertaking again? Why?

I don't generally listen to them more than once since my queue is always full of books to listen to.

What did you like best about this story?

I like the characters, they are very eccentric and although the main character can be an overbearing and bratty sometimes, (it's true) I like that Raybourn went "all in" with her main characters, sometimes verging on absurd, but it works. The dilaogue/banter between the characters is delicious to listen to and to read.

What about Angele Masters’s performance did you like?

How she handled all of the often quick and witty (often with multiple voices and accents) dialogue--which is more challenging than paragraphs of prose. Very smoothe and clear. At first I wasn't sure how I fel about her gravelly Stoker, but after I got to know the character, it grew on me, and it fits. I look forward to the next book in the series, she really did a great job.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I think some of the more tender moments when Veronica and Stoker both have their guards down, and we can see them forming a lasting connection. Especially since he's so rough and tumble it's nice to see his soft side. And for Veronica to be quiet for a moment. :)

Any additional comments?

Deanna Raybourn is one of my favorite authors and I think the great performances by the readers really enhance the stories and have really done justice to the books. Highly recommend!

Perfect Mysterious British Rom-Com.

I can’t say enough good things about this series and this book in particular. The characters are amazing. The humor is subtle but obvious, totally British. The Lady Wellie is EVERYTHING. I was laughing out loud. “Horseflesh”?! Dying. Lolololol.
Worth every minute of listening.

The Adventure Continues

Butterfly expert Veronica Speedwell and her roguish and fascinating companion Stoker settle in as equal partners on an estate of a friend. They are hired to repair and catalog a vast array of specimens from butterflies to bison. However, they are pulled into another intrigue when asked to attempt to prove the innocence of a man sentenced to death. Through their investigation, they reveal secrets and scandal. Not everyone is happy with the outcomes. Being in the company of Veronica and Stoker is always great fun and narrator Angele Masters makes it even better with her flawless performance.

I’m very good sequel

I really appreciate the series we’re having a strong female lead without it being exaggerated on either end of the spectrum; either being overly aggressive so to speak, or the simpering do you love me thing. Yes it has the strong robust and mysterious male, but it’s definitely one of the better of this genre.

INCREDIBLE!

I just can't get enough of Veronica Speedwell - I want to be her! The suspense is amazing - the characters all come to life through the voice of Angele Masters - what an amazing job she does voicing all of them!

I can't wait for the next books.

I love this series. I have listened to each of the three books over 4 times & they still make me laugh.

Amazing narration to an amazing book

I love these books and try to recommend them to everyone. Angele Masters is an amazing narrator, she gives each character a voice and is just fantastic. I absolutely refined both the physical version as well as the audio version, both are absolutely amazing.

Book 2 just as good as book 1!!

I love the relationship of the characters and how they interact. I laugh every time I listen!! very much recommended this series!

Excellent listen

I picked up the first book in the series on a special $5.00 promo offered by Audible. I liked the first of the series well enough to look to see if there was a sequel. I was happy there was and although I enjoyed the first one, the second one is much better! The narrator is wonderful and the tongue in cheek humor makes me laugh. I have listened to about 200 books and never written a review but feel like this is a new author and want to encourage people to give her a try. Been telling all my friends about these books.