How to Read the Veronica Speedwell Series
For the best experience, the Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn must be read in publication order. While each novel presents a self-contained mystery, the overarching story relies heavily on character development, the slow-burn romantic tension between Veronica and Stoker, and the gradual unraveling of Veronica’s mysterious royal pedigree. Reading out of order will spoil significant personal milestones and plot developments.
Because the publication order mirrors the chronological timeline, there is no need to jump around. You can follow the duo straight from their first meeting in 1887 through their subsequent adventures.
Veronica Speedwell Books in Publication & Chronological Order
Each of the books in this historical mystery series is a full-length novel. Unlike Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia Grey series, there are currently no short stories, companion novellas, or spin-off books specifically written for the Veronica Speedwell series. The reading order is straightforward:
- A Curious Beginning (2015) – Set in 1887. Veronica meets Stoker and they are thrown into a murder mystery that threatens to expose Veronica’s secret past.
- A Perilous Undertaking (2017) – Set in London. Veronica is recruited to solve a murder in an art studio, navigating high-society secrets alongside Stoker.
- A Treacherous Curse (2018) – Stoker’s past catches up with him when an Egyptian expedition is plagued by a curse, and his former wife is implicated in a theft and murder.
- A Dangerous Collaboration (2019) – Veronica and Stoker travel to an island off the coast of Cornwall to investigate a bride who vanished on her wedding day three years prior.
- A Murderous Relation (2020) – Set in the underbelly of London's East End during the Autumn of Terror, the pair are caught up in a case involving the royal family and a high-class brothel.
- An Unexpected Peril (2021) – The suspicious death of an alpine climber drags Veronica into the diplomatic intrigue of a tiny European principality during an international exhibition.
- An Impossible Impostor (2022) – Veronica is forced to confront her past when a man claiming to be her deceased former lover arrives at a remote estate in Dartmoor.
- A Sinister Revenge (2023) – Stoker's aristocratic family takes center stage as someone begins targeting members of his old expedition group one by one.
- A Grave Robbery (2024) – A macabre discovery inside a wax museum challenges the sleuths to uncover the truth behind a beautifully preserved anatomical specimen.
- A Ghastly Catastrophe (2026) – The search for a missing lepidopterist leads to a chaotic estate and brings Veronica face-to-face with a familiar face from another Deanna Raybourn universe.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving in, readers should know that the series leans heavily on Victorian science, feminist themes, and sharp, witty dialogue. Veronica Speedwell is not a conventional Victorian lady. She is a trained lepidopterist (butterfly expert), financially independent, unapologetically sexually liberated, and fiercely intelligent. Her partner, Revelstoke "Stoker" Templeton-Vane, is a brooding natural historian, taxidermist, and former adventurer with his own tragic past. Their workspace, a natural history museum annex owned by the eccentric Lord Rosemorran, serves as the perfect gothic backdrop for their investigations.
While the mysteries are engaging, the true heart of the series is the dynamic between the two main characters. Their relationship is one of the most celebrated slow-burn romances in modern historical fiction, progressing from mutual irritation to deep professional respect and eventually to romantic partnership over the course of several books.
The Lady Julia Grey Crossover Connection
In the tenth novel, A Ghastly Catastrophe (published in March 2026), Deanna Raybourn rewards her long-time fans by introducing a crossover with her beloved Lady Julia Grey series. Lady Julia Brisbane (née Grey) makes a physical appearance in the book, uniting Raybourn's two most famous historical mystery worlds. While it is not strictly necessary to read the Lady Julia Grey books to understand the plot of the Veronica Speedwell series, fans of Victorian sleuths will appreciate the clever Easter eggs and shared universe continuity.
Practical Reading Advice
If you are looking to start the series, here is a practical roadmap to help you navigate:
- Start at the Beginning: Do not attempt to read the books as standalone mysteries. Start with A Curious Beginning to understand the foundation of Veronica and Stoker’s partnership and the mystery of Veronica’s lineage.
- Expect a Slow-Burn: If you are reading for the romance, practice patience. Raybourn takes multiple books to develop the romantic tension, focusing first on building trust, friendship, and professional respect between the characters.
- No Side Stories: You do not need to hunt down external holiday novellas or anthology stories to get the full picture. The core narrative is entirely contained within the ten published novels.