268: Victorian mysteries with Veronica Speedwell: "Plague would be preferable."

Laura Marie and Jessica Marie — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:15:00 -0400

ACOFAE Podcast Presents: Victorian mysteries with Veronica Speedwell: "Plague would be preferable."

The day has come! It's finally happened! After about a year or so of Laura Marie reading about Veronica Speedwell and her adventures, they have made it to the podcast! That's right, ACOFAE is covering its first proper (non-magic/fantasy) woman sleuth and Victorian mystery with A Curious Beginning, a Veronica Speedwell Mystery! Jessica Marie's first time exploring this genre (again without any fantasy element) brings a fantastic new perspective on a genre that sucked in Laura Marie and never let up. Veronica is a free spirit, and with the death of her aunt, she is free to travel and collect butterflies to her heart’s content. That is until two mysterious strangers and circumstances force her to London and into Stoker's orbit. A mystery that has murder, royalty, a traveling show, and more tropes than you can shake a stick at, A Curious Beginning has everything you could want in a mystery and more.

TW / CW: none to our awareness
For additional TW/CW information for your future reads, head to this site for more: https://triggerwarningdatabase.com/

Spoilers: A Curious Beginning (Veronica Speedwell #1)

Mentions: Raiders of the Arcana series by Jacquelyn Benson

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266. International Podcast day 2026, with new friend Alana!

Laura Marie and Jessica Marie — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:15:00 -0400

ACOFAE Podcast Presents: International Podcast Day 2026 with friend Alana!

Laura Marie and Jessica Marie are thrilled to celebrate International Podcast Day with new friends and old characters made new! Alana brings to the podcast, The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter by Theodora Goss. Alana knows ACOFAE because this book is full of all the things the pod loves like, strong women, daddy issues, independence of women, female friendships, found family and more. Truly this book has it all, even Sherlock Holmes! New friend Alana brings a wonderful discussion and throws out some suggestions for the pod such as Carmilla and Veronica Speedwell that are well noted! Join ACOFAE and Alana as they discuss the dryness of classical literature, the audio experience of the classics, and how the classics do not have to be this unaccessible thing.

There's a niche for everyone!