A fan from the start of the series, I always thought the mc being based on a real historical figure gave the books that little extra something, but when I finished this one, as much as I enjoyed it, I thought ‘the author certainly took some creative liberties in this one’.

Which shows how much I know about history; every part I found fantastical turned out to be based on true events.  So all I can say now is, poor Prince Albert Victor; even if some of the more spurious speculations about him took place long after his death, his memory seems unfairly tarnished.

Veronica and Stoker's story was a good time though.  The plot was well crafted, though not a mystery, really.  This was much more about foiling a two-pronged conspiracy, and while murder was done, there was no mystery as to who did it.  Raybourn also used the storyline's backdrop of Whitechapel and the Jack the Ripper murders to spotlight the social inequities of the Victorian age.

And finally, after 5 books, there is finally some advancement between Veronica and Stoker, which, while the romance isn't the thing for me, is a relief, because I find tension of any kind, too long strung out, to be tedious in the extreme.

It took me too long to get this book because of the pandemic, but the upside is the next one has already been announced, so I know I'll have another to look forward to soon.

This review can also be found atCarole's Random Life in Books.

This was a fantastic installment in a much-loved series! This is the fifth book in the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries series which is a series that is best read in order. I have been with Veronica since the beginning and am finding that I like this series more and more with each installment. I read this book in just a couple of days and found it to be incredibly entertaining. I really had a great time with this book.

I have grown to love Veronica, Stoker, and some of the other recurring characters in this series. Veronica and Stoker work very well together and obviously are quite good at solving mysteries. They also have a lot of chemistry. We have been gradually watching the heat grow between these two since the beginning of the series and while I do sometimes wish things would move a bit faster, it is obvious how much they care about each other.

The mystery in this book was a bit unexpected. Veronica's heritage is a well-kept secret. Because of her connections, she is asked to look into some of the dealings of the prince. He has given a piece of jewelry that can be traced back to him to a woman who runs a scandalous club and his family wants it back before anyone can find out about it. Of course, things are never easy and Veronica and Stoker must navigate a pretty dangerous situation before everything is settled. Throw in the famous Jack the Ripper murders which are happening and you have quite an exciting story on your hands. 

This book had everything that I hoped it would have. There were some rather light-hearted moments and some pretty intense scenes. I loved the chemistry between the characters and am loving the way Veronica and Stoker are slowly working their way towards each other. There were a few surprises in this book and I really enjoyed the fact that the Jack the Ripper murders were a part of this story. I thought that the pacing of the story was very well done and I found the book hard to put down.

I would highly recommend this book to others. This is a smartly written mystery series with incredibly wonderful characters. I cannot wait to read more of Veronica and Stoker's adventures!

I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.

Initial Thoughts
I loved this book! I think that this series just keeps getting better and better. The characters are so well done and I love the chemistry between Veronica and Stoker. I thought the mystery in this book was quite good and I liked that the story touched on the crimes of Jack the Ripper.

Vastly entertaining. I enjoy the relationships between Lady Julia and everyone else enormously. Plus there are her pets and I am really enjoying her development, both in her pursuits and her marriage.

Library copy

I pre-ordered the audiobook edition of the latest release in Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell series and was dying to listen to it, so I was excited the 'A' in "A Dangerous Collaboration" fulfills the prompt for square #98: title starts with any of the letters in LADDERS.  And I'm happy to say it didn't disappoint. The island setting off the Cornwall coast, the insular island community and its folklore, the resident nobility's troubles, the dynamic/sibling rivalry between Stoker and his brother, as well as Tiberius' connection to the mystery all made for a good story.  And declarations by both Stoker and Veronica seem to have cleared the way for their relationship to move beyond the rather silly device(s) Raybourn has used to keep them platonic friends through four books. Was it perfect?  No. I had a few quibbles, but they didn't distract from my enjoyment of the book, and as always the touches of humor were great fun. While the similarities to Amelia Peabody are still noticeable to me, Raybourn has managed to make the Veronica Speedwell series uniquely her own, and I'll happily continue to read Veronica's adventures in future books. 

**Climbed the Ladder**

98. Title starts with any of the letters in LADDERS: A Dangerous Collaboration by

      Deanna Raybourn

Progress to Date:

 1. Author is a woman / start: Their Lost Daughters by Joy Ellis

     Roll #1 - Two Dice Roll:  3 + 3 = 6

     Timestamp: 2019-02-24 21:59:09 UTC 

 7. Author's last name begins with the letters A, B, C, or D: The Mysterious Affair

     At Styles by Agatha Christie 

     Roll #2 - Two Dice Roll:  5 + 5 = 10

     Timestamp: 2019-02-26 07:26:51 UTC

17. Genre - horror: The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters (skipping horror)

      Roll #3 - One Die Roll:  4

     Timestamp: 2019-03-04 02:36:31 UTC

21. Set in Europe: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

      Roll #4 - Two Dice Roll:  6 + 5 = 11

      Timestamp: 2019-03-09 23:41:41 UTC

32. Genre: thriller: The Dry by Jane Harper

      Roll #5 - Two Dice Roll:  4 + 4 = 8

      Timestamp: 2019-03-14 20:42:23 UTC

40. Characters involved in the entertainment industry: Queen of Hearts by Rhys 

      Bowen.

      Roll #6 - Two Dice Roll:  5 + 1 = 6

      Timestamp: 2019-03-19 20:34:27 UTC 

46. A book that has been on your tbr for more than two years: The Devil's Novice

      by Ellis Peters

      Roll #7 - Two Dice Roll:  4 + 5 = 9

      Timestamp: 2019-03-26 22:06:20 UTC

55. Is more than 500 pages long: A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire (skipping

      500 pg. book)

      Roll #8 - One Die Roll:  4

      Timestamp: 2019-04-03 05:53:32 UTC

59. Was published more than 10 years ago: Friday the Rabbi Slept Late by Harry

      Kemelman

      Roll #9 - Two Dice Roll:  2 + 4 = 6

      Timestamp: 2019-04-08 04:22:51 UTC

65. Snake - go back to 52:  (Zap!)

52. Has a tree or flower on the cover: Open Season by C.J. Box

      Roll #10 - Two Dice Roll:  6 + 1 = 7

      Timestamp: 2019-04-11 04:58:21 UTC

59. Was published more than 10 years ago: Sylvester by Georgette Heyer

      Roll #11 - Two Dice Roll:  4 + 5 = 9  (Ladder!)

      Timestamp: 2019-04-24 22:57:29 UTC

68. Something related to weddings on the cover: There Goes the Bride by M.C.

      Beaton

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