The Butterfly Conspiracy is a brisk and easy read with a charming atmosphere, engaging characters, and an in-depth understanding of the Victorian Era. Containing traces of DNA from Jane Austen, Arthur Cohen Doyle, and the Bronte Sisters, the Butterfly Conspiracy tells the story of Merula Merriweather, a young scientist in an era were women weren’t expected to be interested in science. Hiding behind her uncle’s name, Merula hatches an elusive and beautiful butterfly. After taking it to an exhibit and letting it loose, the butterfly lands on the arm of a lady who almost immediately dies. Merula is embroiled in a murder conspiracy and, with only an enigmatic lord willing to help her, she must do everything in her power to clear her family’s name

The novel is well written and Conroy’s voice is crisp, light, and contains the right amount of elegance to befit the Victorian Era. Merula is a resourceful woman who is equal with her male counterpart while still fitting within the norms of her world. I was relieved that she did not end up in a relationship with Lord Raven Roynston as they would have ruined their relationship and chemistry. Conroy plants enough red herrings to keep the reader’s attention and the ending follows a logic that is satisfying. While the book doesn’t take a lot of time to establish the world and characters, they still feel fully formed and offer the opportunity for a number of other adventures should Conroy want to continue the series.

The pacing is fast, but well handled until the middle of the book. Lord Raven’s backstory is delved into and I believe that slows the book down. It seems that Conroy needed something to happen to fill the downtime between events and thought connecting Lord Raven’s past with the current mystery would be entertaining and insightful. While Raven is one of the most intriguing characters, the inclusion of his past seemed a little out of place and added an extra plotline that may have been best served in another book.

Other than that small complaint, I greatly enjoyed this charming mystery and look forward to Conroy continuing the series.