Review of An Unexpected Peril (Veronica Speedwell #6) by Deanna Raybourn

While Veronica and Stoker stay close to home while entering into danger and solving the mysteries in book six of this series, Raybourn repeatedly evokes images of the fictional European country Alpenwald. Gruff Stoker conveys his adoration of Veronica in a poignant, lovely way.

In the sixth book of the wonderful Deanna Raybourn's feisty Veronica Speedwell series of historical fiction mysteries, Veronica remains a strong and unorthodox main protagonist who finds herself entangled in a dangerous set of circumstances.

It's January 1889, and Veronica and her natural historian beau Stoker are working on a memorial exhibition showcasing the achievements of mountain climber Alice Baker-Greene. But evidence indicates to Veronica that Alice may have been murdered. And Princess Gisela of the Alpenwald, a dear friend of Alice's, goes missing just after Veronica shares her suspicion--requiring Veronica to pose as the princess in order to preserve a secret peace treaty that's being brokered.

While Veronica and Stoker stick close to home for their adventures in this installment of the series, there's plenty of intrigue, and Raybourn evokes repeated images of mountain climbing in the Alpenwald, a fictional country sandwiched between Germany and France, as well as extensive forays into the country's traditions, political interests, and its royal family's interpersonal conflicts and loyalties.

Part of the mystery went in the direction I anticipated, which I didn't mind at all, and there's a ramped-up danger and secondary mystery that is chilling in its unflinching detail toward the end of the book.

The LGBTQ+ love conveyed in the story is lovely, and Veronica's matter-of-fact approach to this relationship as well as cross-class romance is typical of her no-nonsense, pro-love (and, for her, anti-marriage) stance established in earlier books.

The evolution of Stoker and Veronica's own relationship in this book is understated yet beautifully poignant; I teared up at one point when the gruff Stoker conveyed his feelings to Veronica.

I listened to An Unexpected Peril as an audiobook.

More Love for Deanna Raybourn

Raybourn is the author of A Curious Beginning, as well as the sequels A Perilous Undertaking, A Treacherous Curse, A Dangerous Collaboration, and A Murderous Relation. (There are currently nine books in the series, with a tenth scheduled for publication in 2026.)

Raybourn is also the author of the wonderful title about retired middle-aged assassins, Killers of a Certain Age, and its sequel Kills Well with Others.