Is there anything more satisfying than a Victorian woman who absolutely refuses to behave? Because Veronica Speedwell is that woman, and I am here for every single scandalous second of it.
I picked up A Treacherous Curse during what I call Sophie's Miracle Nap Week — four consecutive days where she slept for TWO HOURS. I know. I barely believed it either. And instead of doing laundry or meal prepping like a responsible adult, I sat on the couch with my earbuds in and let Angele Masters transport me to 1888 London. Zero regrets.
Victorian Banter That Survived the Toddler Interruption Test
Here's what I love about this series, and this book in particular: Veronica and Stoker's relationship is basically an elaborate verbal fencing match wrapped in unresolved tension, and it works beautifully even when you're pausing every twelve minutes because someone needs goldfish crackers. Their dynamic carries you. Veronica is sharp, fearless, and collects butterflies while solving crimes — which is such a specific character choice that I kind of adore it. And Stoker is this brooding naturalist with a complicated past that finally gets ripped wide open in this installment. The scene where his sordid history gets publicly aired? I actually gasped. In the school pickup line. A mom in a Suburban looked at me funny.
The mystery itself — an Egyptian expedition gone wrong, a missing colleague, a stolen diadem, and the supposed curse of a dead princess — is fun without being overly twisty. I didn't need to keep a suspect list or rewind to catch clues I'd missed. The plot moves at a pace that respects your time, and the curse angle gives everything this slightly gothic, atmospheric edge that made my minivan feel almost... dramatic? Almost.
What really sells this book, though, is the slow unraveling of Stoker's backstory. Previous books hinted at it, but here it becomes central, and watching Veronica navigate protecting him while also being furious at him for keeping secrets? That's relationship writing I can get behind. It's not just will-they-won't-they — it's two stubborn, brilliant people trying to figure out how to trust each other completely. Which, as someone who once had a 45-minute argument with my husband about the correct way to load a dishwasher, I appreciate on a personal level.
Angele Masters Basically IS Veronica Speedwell at This Point
Three books into this series and I'm convinced Angele Masters lives inside Veronica's head. Her delivery of Veronica's dry wit lands every single time — there's this clipped confidence that makes you believe this woman would absolutely march into a dangerous situation wearing impractical clothing and armed only with sarcasm. The range of accents is genuinely impressive. She shifts between upper-class London, Cornish dialect, and Stoker's slightly rougher register without it ever feeling like a performance. It just sounds like different people talking.
Stoker's voice does get a touch gravelly in places — like Masters is really leaning into the tortured-hero thing — but honestly? It worked for me. Given what his character goes through in this book, a little roughness felt earned. My only tiny gripe is that some of the secondary characters blend together vocally during group scenes, but that's a minor thing when the two leads are this well differentiated.
Who's Going to Love This (And Who Should Start at Book One)
If you like your heroines unapologetically smart, your romance slow-burning, and your mysteries dressed up in Victorian petticoats — this is your book. It's comfort reading with actual substance — familiar in shape, satisfying in execution. Totally different setting, but Dance of Cloaks scratches a similar itch — intrigue, sharp characters playing dangerous games, and a plot that keeps moving without making you rewind every five minutes. Sometimes you need a butterfly-collecting adventuress outsmarting everyone in the room while the brooding man beside her tries very hard not to fall apart.
Fair warning: this is book three and you really should start at the beginning. Stoker's past reveal hits so much harder with the buildup from the first two books. Also, there's mild spice and some violence — nothing that'll shock you, but maybe don't listen with the kids in the car.
At just under 12 hours, I finished it in about a week at 1.25x, which for me is the sweet spot. It shrugged off every school-run interruption and nap-time pause without losing me once.
Adding This to the Permanent Rotation
Satisfying ending — exactly what I needed after the week I had. No ugly-crying at pickup, just a warm, smug grin because Veronica Speedwell handled everything and looked good doing it. The other preschool moms are getting a full recommendation at drop-off tomorrow. Already have book four queued up for whenever Sophie decides to bless me with another miracle nap.
