Historical Mystery Lovers discussion

Deanna Raybourn
USA flag (b.1968)

Deanna Raybourn graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio in English and History and an emphasis on Shakespearean Studies. She taught high school English for three years in San Antonio before leaving education to pursue a career as a novelist.
Fourteen years later, she signed a three-book deal with MIRA Books. "Sex, lies and awesome clothing descriptions" is how one reader has described Deanna`s debut novel, Silent in the Grave, published in December 2007. The first in the Silent series, the book follows Lady Julia Grey as she investigates the mysterious death of her husband with the help of enigmatic private inquiry agent Nicholas Brisbane. From the drawing rooms of the aristocracy to a Gypsy camp on Hampstead Heath, Silent in the Grave deftly captures the lush ambience of Victorian London.
Deanna makes her home in Virginia, where she lives with her husband and daughter.

Veronica Speedwell Mysteries

A Curious Beginning
A Perilous Undertaking
A Treacherous Curse
A Dangerous Collaboration
A Murderous Relation
An Unexpected Peril
An Impossible Impostor
A Sinister Revenge
A Grave Robbery

The Veronica Speedwell Mysteries are one of my favorite historical mystery series. Very well written. Ms. Raybourn has several historical romance series that are very good as well. One of my favorite books by her is a standalone contempary mystery Killers of a Certain Age .

I hope you enjoy our May author

She also wrote an earlier series that I liked, starting with Silent in the Grave

Sandy Silent in the Grave does look good. I just ordered a copy from Thrilft books.

Well bad Alice I couldn't help myself I already started A Grave Robbery. The newest in the series. It is really good

Alice wrote: "Sandy Silent in the Grave does look good. I just ordered a copy from Thrilft books.

Well bad Alice I couldn't help myself I already started A Grave Robbery. The newe..."

Silent in the Grave has a memorable starting line.

If you're used to more fluffy cozy historical mysteries, please note Deanna Raybourn has a knack for uncovering the seedier side of Victorian life. She has come up with some real eye-opening topics.

Sandy wrote: "Silent in the Grave has a memorable starting line."

It sure does! A librarian quoted it to me and I had to read the book. The series was more risque than I was used to at the time but I couldn't put any of them down. I developed a slight book crush on Brisbane. Dark Road to Darjeeling was too dark for me. I did enjoy the novellas and especially the romance novel spin-off Night of a Thousand Stars and that world. Very interesting history of the Middle East 100 years ago.

I just finished A Grave Robbery. If you gave up two books ago, skip ahead to this one. It's back on track. It's funny, swoony romantic and the adventure is good. Not too seedy for once. I figured it out WHAT. That was easy. It's a little bit too plotted at first and too much info dumping on the history of waxworks and electrical experimentation but the second half is excellent and the last third unputdownable. I was so glad to come home from work Thursday and have quiet time to lie down and finish it! I had to go back and skim parts of it again last night.

QNPoohBear wrote: "I developed a slight book crush on Brisbane. Dark Road to Darjeeling was too dark for me"

Brisbane is absolutely swoonworthy and your crush is completely understandable :)

I agree with you about the darkness in Dark Road. I found the eventual explanation to be very disturbing, but the book itself is excellent.

I thought the Lady Julia series was different from other Victorian mysteries and I did enjoy them. I haven't tackled Veronica yet, but I thoroughly enjoyed Killers of a Certain Age.

Lauren wrote: "QNPoohBear wrote: "I developed a slight book crush on Brisbane. Dark Road to Darjeeling was too dark for me"

Brisbane is absolutely swoonworthy and your crush is completely understandable :)

I ag..."

I loved Brisbane and then I met Emerson from the Amelia Peabody series and like Amelia, fell in love with the grumpy archeologist and their banter. In A Grave Robbery Stoker pulls out ahead. He's romantic, more than Vernonica. I also quite like George in Dianne Freeman's Countess of Harleigh series. George is witty and romantic without being authoritative or grumpy.

Alice wrote: "Sandy Silent in the Grave does look good. I just ordered a copy from Thrilft books.

Well bad Alice I couldn't help myself I already started A Grave Robbery. The newe..."

I finished A Grave Robbery quite good. Lots of interesting bits of history. Love the Tamarin

QNPoohBear wrote: "I loved Brisbane and then I met Emerson from the Amelia Peabody series and like Amelia, fell in love with the grumpy archeologist and their banter."

I agree, Emerson and Stoker are competing with Brisbane in my affections, lol!

I like George too, but he is a completely different type. None of the stoicism and grumpiness of the other three.

I have enjoyed the Lady Julia series and the first four Veronica Speedwell books. I'll try to get to the fifth one this month. Oddly, I didn't care for Killers of a Certain Age. I read it with a mystery book group and most everyone else enjoyed it, but it bored me.

Patricia wrote: "I have enjoyed the Lady Julia series and the first four Veronica Speedwell books. I'll try to get to the fifth one this month. Oddly, I didn't care for Killers of a Certain Age. I r..."

Killers of a Certain Age was a DNF for me. Surprised me as I heard such good things about it.

Sandy wrote: "Killers of a Certain Age was a DNF for me. Surprised me as I heard such good things about it..."

I think it suffers in comparison to the The Thursday Murder Club

Last night I started Silent in the Grave . I am really enjoying it. I can't believe I have not read this series before especially that I like the Veronica Speedwell series so much. There are 10 books in the series so I have lots to read. I am only 20 pages into the novel but its a good one.

Alice wrote: "Last night I started Silent in the Grave . I am really enjoying it. I can't believe I have not read this series before especially that I like the..."

Alice;; Hope you enjoy this! I rated this title 4 stars & look forward to continuing the series.

Alice wrote: "Last night I started Silent in the Grave . I am really enjoying it. I can't believe I have not read this series before especially that I like the..."

The opening line is the best! The series is quite memorable. Brisbane is very sexy but not as much of a softie as Stoker.

I started few days ago "A curious Beginning" , . I was excited because I had it on my TBR shelf for along time...

... but sorry, I left it after few chapters... I didn't like the main character Veronica Speedwell and I didn't like Stocker too ( nor his hobby : taxidermy ).

I'll try Lady Julia series

Tiziana wrote: "I started few days ago "A curious Beginning" , . I was excited because I had it on my TBR shelf for along time...

... but sorry, I left it after few chapter..."

I maybe one of the few that agree with you. I never finished Curious Beginnings though I loved Lady Julia. Hope you do too.

Alice wrote: "Last night I started Silent in the Grave . I am really enjoying it. I can't believe I have not read this series before especially that I like the..."

I finished this morning and really liked it. The first half moved a bit slow setting up characters and murder. The second half was excellent. Can't wait to read book 2.

Sandy wrote: "I maybe one of the few that agree with you. I never finished Curious Beginnings though I loved Lady Julia. Hope you do too."

Oh thanks Sandy, your words comfort me. I've had Lady Julia on my wish list for a long time and it's a series that my mother also really liked.
After being so disappointed by Veronica Speedwell, who everyone seems to like, I was afraid that perhaps Lady Julia wouldn't be in line with my tastes either.
Thank you so much for your comment, it helped me! :-D

Tiziana wrote: "I started few days ago "A curious Beginning" , . I was excited because I had it on my TBR shelf for along time...

... but sorry, I left it after few chapter..."

Veronica is tough to like but Stoker is pretty great! It took me awhile to warm up to him. He doesn't practice his profession often and he's paid very well by Lord R. and given a place to live. It gives him a place to hide from the outside world. V had a tough life too and she doesn't like to let people get close to her or admit to finer feelings. She's insanely independent and determined and I admire that and can relate.

QNPoohBear wrote: "She's insanely independent ..."

that captures it very well, if you add immature and sometimes silly. I can only digest Veronica's character as a parody on all the more or less insanely independent heroines of x historical mystery series. Just as Stoker is a parody of the contemporary lady's Prince Charming: he's got about 120 % of everything that counts in a guy.

Taken with this streak of parody, though, I like the series quite well.

I like Veronica better than Julia. Julia just rushes off and chases after clues and Brisbane. Veronica's background at least has given her useful skills and knowledge. If you like both series, Portia has a cameo in the latest Vernonia mystery.

I read the Lady Julia series several years back, and liked them all - though there may be new ones now. I'm 80 pages into A Curious Beginning and enjoying it. Any idea what years it's set in? I assume Victorian, but that's a long time.

EDIT I found an answer in the book - it is at some point after 1882, probably a few years.

Veronica Speedwell's books are set in the 1870s, the same time as Lady Julia's. Lady Julia's series concluded with The Dark Enquiry but there were three novellas Midsummer Night, Silent Night and finally Bonfire Night. If you want more of the family, you can find niece Poppy in the romance /adventure Night of a Thousand Stars. (It's not a mystery).

Liz H wrote: "I read the Lady Julia series several years back, and liked them all - though there may be new ones now. I'm 80 pages into A Curious Beginning and enjoying it. Any idea what years it's set in? I ass..."

Queen Victoria has been queen for 50 years - the celebrations are mentioned, I think in volume 1. So the year is 1887.

Thanks QNPoohBear and sabagrey

sabagrey wrote: "QNPoohBear wrote: "She's insanely independent ..."

that captures it very well, if you add immature and sometimes silly. I can only digest Veronica's character as a parody on all the more or less i..."

Agree with everything you say, sabregrey. Both characters are portrayed very much over the top (Veronica gets on my nerves in pretty much every book, I swear). But I overlook this (or try to) for the superb plotting and world-building that the author creates.

I see Veronica as somewhat immature, who overvalues her independence and undervalues some character traits in others. She still has much to learn about people. there's lots of room for growth in the rest of the series!

Liz H wrote: "I see Veronica as somewhat immature, who overvalues her independence and undervalues some character traits in others. She still has much to learn about people. there's lots of room for growth in th..."

Yes. I think she has matured and come to some insights into her own character. I think she's been through a lot and has only had herself to rely on, up until now. I found Julia more annoying and in the latest Veronica mystery, even J's sister Portia comes across as immature. Stoker, too, has a lot of growing and healing to do after a traumatic past. His brothers do as well. Tiberius is a hoot and the middle brother, the bigwig in London, has a wonderful wife so he must have more of a sense of humor than he lets on.

That's good to hear. I'll look forward to the rest of the series.

Tiziana wrote: "I started few days ago "A curious Beginning" , . I was excited because I had it on my TBR shelf for along time...

... but sorry, I left it after few chapter..."

Sorry you didn't enjoy it. Veronica is an acquired taste. I have a soft spot for prickly heroines.

"QNPoohBear wrote: "Taken with this streak of parody, though, I like the series quite well."

That is an excellent approach. They get up to such ridiculous shenanigans. It is impossible to take it all seriously and enjoy it, lol!

Thanks for all the great chatter for May. Lots of feedback on Deanna Raybourn