Deanna Raybourn continues the lively adventures of the marvelous Veronica Speedwell in A PERILOUS UNDERTAKING. Book two in the Veronica Speedwell series is just as fabulous as the debut, A CURIOUS BEGINNING. Veronica is an intrepid Victorian woman, an adventuress and butterfly hunter. Seemingly orphaned, Veronica was raised to be unconventional, and much of her charm derives from her flouting of Victorian conventions in her indomitable and breezy manner.

Raybourn does a wonderfully engrossing podcast interview about her inspirations for this character of Veronica. There are wonderful historical precedents for Veronica and her attitudes and behavior, which I find fascinating. Raybourn says, "She is one hundred percent rooted in history with regard to her attitude and her actions in choosing not to lead a conventional life, which is, of course, the, the one thing I get asked about the most is, well, but you've made her so twenty-first century." I adore Veronica to bits!

Both Veronica and her erstwhile frenemy, the reclusive natural historian Revelstoke "Stoker" Templeton-Vane are such engaging characters. Their constant bickering is so entertaining. Their banter is witty and very intelligent, just like Raybourn herself. Their plans for a naturalist expedition thwarted by an injury to their sponsor, Veronica and Stoker go on to combine forces to solve a murder mystery. Reasoning that her skills of observation and patience as a lepidopterist would serve her well as an amateur sleuth, Veronica accepts the task of saving art patron Miles Ramsforth from execution. Ramsforth is accused of the brutal murder of his fellow artist and pregnant mistress Artemisia. He is scheduled to be hanged in a week's time if Veronica cannot track down the true murderer.

The mystery is well presented, and despite their amateur status, Veronica and Stoker do a persuadingly good job of detection without it feeling too easy. There are plenty of convoluted clues to disentangle, and the story runs trippingly along. This is definitely a historical mystery, but there is a touch of romance underlying. This will be a very slow burn romance between Veronica and Stoker. The sexual tension between the two is delicious. Stoker is a prudish Victorian man, typical of how the modern reader thinks the buttoned up Victorians must have been. Stoker is wonderful foil to Veronica's free and easy sexuality.

Like Raybourn's beloved Lady Julia series, the characters are just a little over-the-top, but the tongue-in-cheek wackiness is part of the fun of this writing. Prepare to be delighted by the whimsical and eccentric Veronica who barges through her Victorian life. The power of her brain along with Stoker's deft handling keep her just out of the trouble her behavior should land her in. A satisfying and entertaining read!