A
Treacherous Curse (Veronica Speedwell #3). Kathleen Rowland. Penguin Publishing
Group. January 2018. 320 pp. ISBN#: 9780451476173.
Another
intriguing mystery fuels the intelligent investigator, Veronica Speedwell, and
her just as skilled mysterious friend Stoker. This one hits closer to home as
it involves the disappearance of John De Morgan who was at one time very close
to Stoker’s world indeed a best friend.
The mystery begins with an archaeological dig in Egypt which centers on
the discovery of the burial site of the Egyptian Princess Ankheset. But along with the discovery comes a curse
that has shadowed the expedition with first a death and then the disappearance
of both De Morgan and the diadem of the Princess.
This
third mystery in the Speedwell series is not as engaging in plot as it is in
diverse types of characters. You’ll meet
the eccentric head of the expedition and his cool, deviously calm character who
knows more than she tells, as well as their son who is a keen observer and not
as detached as he often appears. Jealous
couples, a friend of both Veronica and Stoker who knows everyone and a tad of
information about the present disappearance and theft, and someone willing to
commit murder over a lost relationship. Add
to bone-chilling scenes the presence of ancient Anubis, god of the embalming
process and dead, who visibly appears to a few of the characters at the
exhibition site.
There
are also some interesting discussions about how mummies of royal Egyptian
rulers and their keepsakes buried with them were deliberately moved from their
known burial sites and hidden.
The
end of the plot left this reader a bit weary as it’s rather anticlimactic. However, if one is into a good mystery, with
plenty of scintillating banter (as usual) between not only Veronica and Stoker
but also other characters, and some fascination with exotic locales, this is a
good read. Nicely done, Deanna Raybourn!
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