Henry Talbot is ready for the quiet life of a country doctor after moving to Wales. But after finding suspicious evidence, Henry is convinced a murderHenry Talbot is ready for the quiet life of a country doctor after moving to Wales. But after finding suspicious evidence, Henry is convinced a murderer is on the loose. Working with the stubborn and unusual lady of the house, Linette Tresilian, Henry must find out the truth. But digging in reveals dangerous information that leads Henry and Linette deep into the heart of danger in The Shadow Key by Susan Stokes-Chapman.
Henry Talbot was proud of his work in London as a well-respected surgeon. But when a high-profile patient dies in his care, his life is turned upside down. Desperate for work, Henry receives a letter from one Lord Julian Tresilian. Lord Julian’s small Welsh village is in need of a new physician, and Henry is the perfect fit.
Upon his arrival, Henry learns he is not only helping those in the village, but also Lady Gwen, a woman lost in madness. Lord Julian is also worried about his niece, Linette, believing her to possibly be inheriting her mother’s condition. Henry’s welcome is less than warm. The gatehouse he is supposed to take residence in has been destroyed, and most in the village treat him with disdain and distrust.
Upon investigating the destroyed gatehouse, Henry notices a bottle of mysterious liquid hidden in the room. Trusting his gut, Henry believes his predecessor did not pass away from natural causes but rather murder. Investigating with Linette, Henry must get to the bottom of the passing. But doing so puts him and Linette on a path of danger, and every answer develops more questions. Working to solve the mystery of the doctor’s death and find the real cause of Lady Gwen’s distress, Henry and Linette are on the clock, with their own lives on the line.
I know we are constantly told not to judge a book by its cover, but truthfully, that was the first reason I picked up this book. And I was so glad the inside was just as impressive as the beautifully designed cover. Stokes-Chapman is an excellent writer who can take you back in time and transport you to an almost mythical place. I appreciated her own connection to Wales and how that put so much heart into the story. The setting was truly used as a character of its own, and it elevated the story.
I was pleasantly surprised, as one of the twists in the story, I did not see coming. But it still felt natural. It wasn’t forced or convoluted but rather a natural conclusion based on small bits of hints. I could not put this book down. While the book may seem thick, it reads very easily. The pacing is not fast but rather methodical and perfectly done. This is an excellent story, and I know that if there is any other book by Stokes-Chapman, I will not hesitate to pick it up.
The Shadow Key is a gothic mystery that transports the reader and leaves you guessing with every page. A true page-turner that you will not be able to put down!
Lily Adler receives a mysterious summons in her London home. Curious to its nature, she replies, only to be faced with a familiar and unwelcome face. Lily Adler receives a mysterious summons in her London home. Curious to its nature, she replies, only to be faced with a familiar and unwelcome face. But when her investigation turns to murder, she must get to the bottom of this mystery before those close to her are hurt in A Scandal in Mayfair by Katharine Schellman.
Lily Adler is back in London after an eventful turn in the country. Waiting for her friend, Jack Hartley, to return from convalescing, she receives a note from Miss Forrest. Miss Forrest is certain her inheritance has been stolen from her uncle and begs Lily for help. But to Lily’s dismay, Mr. Clive, a seedy acquaintance she made in the country, is Miss Forrest’s new beau. Blackmailed by Mr. Clive to help, Lily must look into this matter. However, with little evidence to prove Miss Forrest’s claims, Lily is ready to give up.
But when Miss Forrest’s uncle, Mr. Martin Forrest, is found dead with Mr. Clive found on the scene, Lily must uncover the real truth behind his death. Digging into the matter, however, is leaving those she cares for at risk, and the questions continue to mount. Will she be able to find the truth before it is too late?
I have enjoyed the Lily Adler Mysteries series since the first book. Schellman is a master of character development, and it shows in this book. The tension between Jack and Lily was at a high point at the end of the last book, and Schellman doesn’t miss a step in continuing and building from that in this book. It is lovely to see how Lily’s relationship with Mr. Page, the Bow Street investigator, has grown into true mutual respect. I did have the same complaint with this book as I have in the past as the killer fits into a mold, I wish I could see the author break free of. However, this book is so good that I can’t even dock it for it. I found the mystery unique and while I wish the villain had been slightly different, I couldn’t help but be hooked from the first page.
A Scandal in Mayfair is an exciting new chapter in the Lily Alder series. With complex mysteries and relationships that leave you breathless, get ready to be lost in time.
Since she was a child, Agnes Corey has been enthralled with Wyldcliffe Heights, a novel by the elusive Veronica St. Clair. So when she is given the opSince she was a child, Agnes Corey has been enthralled with Wyldcliffe Heights, a novel by the elusive Veronica St. Clair. So when she is given the opportunity to go to the real Wyldcliffe Heights and help Veronica with a sequel, she jumps at the chance. But quickly, Anges starts to be haunted by the home, and her past comes back to haunt her in Return to Wyldcliffe Heights by Carol Goodman.
Agnes Corey had a rough childhood and bounced from foster home to foster home, running back to her mother at every chance she could. After leaving juvenile detention, Agnes is determined to follow her dreams of joining the publishing world. Finally given a chance at Gatehouse Books, she is ready to prove herself. But when Gatehouse Books starts to go under, Agnes takes a chance. She writes to her favorite author and Gatehouse writer, Veronica St. Clair, begging for a sequel to Wyldcliffe Heights. To her surprise, Veronica responds, requesting Agnes join her at the real Wyldcliffe Heights and dictate a new novel. Agnes jumps at this chance but is quickly haunted by demons—from nightmares to seeing people around the house—Agnes starts to feel the house is invading her mind. As Veronica’s story begins to unfold, Agnes learns more about Wyldcliffe and sees that danger has not left this home.
I love a good gothic mystery. Goodman perfectly nailed the haunting beauty of a good gothic story, allowing the home of Wyldcliffe to become a character in and of itself. Giving us a glimpse into Agnes’s mind provides us with the feeling that we may not always be following a reliable narrator, something Agnes feels herself at times. The mystery was fun, and it was interesting to connect the story Veronica is telling to Agnes’s own foggy past. I did find that the ending became a little convoluted, but not enough not to enjoy the story. I wish there was a bit more at the beginning that could have connected the ending in a more enjoyable fashion.
Return to Wyldcliffe Heights is a haunting gothic mystery that leaves you questioning everything and everyone. Be prepared to lose yourself in the fog of Wyldcliffe Heights.
When famous actor Basil Rathbone loses his dog, he brings in Babs Norman and Guy Brandt, young private detectives, to find it. But things are more thaWhen famous actor Basil Rathbone loses his dog, he brings in Babs Norman and Guy Brandt, young private detectives, to find it. But things are more than they seem in Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles by Elizabeth Crowens.
Babs and Guy are struggling in their business. But when Basil Rathbone asks for their help to find his dog, their fortunes seem to turn. As they investigate the dog’s disappearance, they discover other disappeared dogs, including Asta, the star of The Thin Man series. The more they discover, the more questions are raised, and a deeper plot comes to the surface.
I realized early on that while this book advertises itself as a “Humorous Mystery,” it was very much a Cozy Mystery, but I was ready to give it a chance as I enjoy an old Hollywood setting. My reservations quickly became deep concerns as the book continued. It felt like the author was a huge fan of old Hollywood and wanted to flaunt her knowledge by bringing in everyone working in Hollywood at that time.
The story went in a million different directions, and multiple sections felt utterly disconnected and unnecessary to the plot. Not only that, but the plot went from zero to sixty in one chapter flat. We go from dog kidnappings to Nazis and a hostage situation. It didn’t make sense.
The characters were classic, cozy characters. The main character, Babs, is beautiful without even trying. All the men are attracted to her. She is the cleverest person, and even if she does something that would leave most people considering her a horrible person, it all works out in her favor, and everyone loves her. What bothered me most was how the author wrote Ouida Rathbone. Like most of the characters in this book, Ouida was an actual person, and the way Crowens wrote her was downright disrespectful. She wrote her as a jealous, rude witch who didn’t deserve Basil and who treated Babs horribly because of her own insecurities. If an author wants to create their own character like that, fine. I don’t think it is a good way to demonstrate women supporting women, but that is the author’s prerogative. But to take a real person and disrespect them in that manner was unforgivable.
Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles is a callback to Hollywood’s “golden age” and a classic cozy mystery that fans of the genre may enjoy....more
Clementine Baldwin is called in to find the real killer of Lewis “Turnip” Coogan in Meridian, Mississippi, in The Queen City Detective Agency by SnowdClementine Baldwin is called in to find the real killer of Lewis “Turnip” Coogan in Meridian, Mississippi, in The Queen City Detective Agency by Snowden Wright.
Clementine “Clem” Baldwin is a former cop turned PI. Working with her partner Dixon, she is called in to investigate the death of Lewis “Turnip” Coogan by his mother. What seems like an open and shut case becomes a deep dive into the seedy underbelly of Meridian. With Clem’s life in danger, she must find the real killer while dealing with her own past.
Following a story featuring a black woman as the lead character was fascinating, especially for a book set in the 80s. Clem was a fun character to follow, and I liked her dynamic with Dixon. While the story was well written, I found the story convoluted and, at times, a little hard to follow. Rather than following a mob angle, however, I wish the author would have introduced more regarding racial tensions in the South in the 1980s. I feel that would have made for a much more compelling story and a better connection to Clem herself.
The Queen City Detective Agency is a good retro-read reminiscent of classic mob movies of the era.
What starts as a relaxing vacation in India turns to murder in Death in the Air by Ram Murali.
Ro Krishna has just received life-changing news. After cWhat starts as a relaxing vacation in India turns to murder in Death in the Air by Ram Murali.
Ro Krishna has just received life-changing news. After calling out his boss for her bad behavior, he has been given an out to leave his job with an NDA and plenty of compensation while his awful boss remains in power.
Trying to get some perspective and direction in his life, Ro makes the decision to travel back to his home country of India and relax at Samsara—a yoga and meditation resort. On his travels to India, he and his cousin decide to use a new pendulum they have found to connect to a spirit. And it is more successful than they could ever imagine. Pendy, as they have named the spirit attached to the pendulum, will change Ro’s life, for better or worse.
Arriving at Samsara, Ro quickly makes new friends and connects with old ones. One in particular that catches his eye is Amrita Dey, a bold and cunning woman with stunning turquoise eyes. But before Ro can dig deeper into Amrita, he finds her dead. What proceeds is an investigation with twists and turns you never see coming, and Death is not content with just one soul, but who is next?
Death in the Air is an excellent mystery. I appreciated that Ro is brought on to the investigation in a professional capacity, making him seem like a reliable investigator rather than an amateur. Everyone is a suspect and I truly was left guessing until the very end. And speaking of the end, I was shocked reading the last chapters. I could not believe the twist that Murali laid out, and it felt very unexpected yet also grounded in the characters as they were presented to us. For a first novel, Murali excels, and I cannot wait to see what he creates in the future.
Death in the Air is a mind-bending mystery that will leave you guessing until the very end. But be warned, not everyone is what they seem.
Kate Hamilton should be enjoying her honeymoon with her new husband, Tom Mallory. But there is no rest for the wicked. Asked to trace the provenance oKate Hamilton should be enjoying her honeymoon with her new husband, Tom Mallory. But there is no rest for the wicked. Asked to trace the provenance of a bloodstained dress believed to have belonged to an accused murderer, their honeymoon becomes an investigation that gets more dangerous the more they dig in with A Collection of Lies by Connie Berry.
Kate Hamilton arrived in Devon not only to enjoy her honeymoon with her husband, Tom Mallory but also to discover the true history of a dress donated to the local museum. Kate is drawn to this dress, feeling an overwhelming emotional connection she cannot explain. But the dress is not the only mystery when a local eccentric and Victorian enthusiast is found dead. Tom is brought on to consult with the local police department while Kate digs into the murder while also discovering the murky history of the bloodstained dress. However, with their suspect list growing by the day, finding the killer is harder than it seems, and everything seems to link back to this mysterious dress. Will Kate and Tom get to the bottom of the mystery before it is too late?
A Collection of Lies is my first foray into a Kate Hamilton Mystery book, and I was highly impressed by how quickly I connected with these characters. While I would have liked to learn more about these characters from previous books, I didn’t feel I was missing too much. The book truly could stand alone, and it quickly hooked me on the series. Kate and Tom had such a great connection, not only romantically but also professionally. They were seamless in their investigation, and I also loved how the local police were shown as competent professionals rather than dunces, which some mysteries can portray. I loved the connection between a historical mystery and a contemporary mystery. I felt like Berry gave enough information through the investigation that if you were paying close attention, you could guess the ending, but it also kept you guessing.
A Collection of Lies bridges history and mystery seamlessly. Consider this reviewer a new fan of Kate Hamilton.
A broken marriage and a gruesome murder are the opening set for a deep psychological dive in The Vixen Amber Halloway by Carol LaHines.
Ophelia and herA broken marriage and a gruesome murder are the opening set for a deep psychological dive in The Vixen Amber Halloway by Carol LaHines.
Ophelia and her husband, Andy, are happily married, or so Ophelia thinks. They have the perfect life, a huge step up for Ophelia after a rocky childhood. But her world quickly comes crashing down around her after Andy fills for divorce. Worse still, Ophelia has discovered Andy’s infidelity with his coworker, Amber Halloway.
Consumed with anger and disgust, Ophelia descends deeper into madness, watching Andy and Amber together, sneaking into their home, and stalking them both obsessively. After months and months of watching Andy and Amber’s relationship blossoming, Ophelia snaps, and what follows is something no one will ever forget.
The Vixen Amber Halloway has a very unique voice. Going from Ophelia’s relationship with Andy in its early days to her broken childhood, then into her spiral to madness, this book covers the gambit. Reading as a diary written by Ophelia herself, it does provide a window into her mind. It is a psychological piece more than a mystery. I appreciated the unusual storytelling and did find it to be a work that would appeal to anyone who enjoys insight into the mind.
However, I struggled at times as I found this book could easily become repetitive. Not only with the story, for example, her mother leaving her as a child, but also with the language. You can only read “vis” so often before it becomes too much.
Just as Dante leads you through the spiral into the nine circles of hell, The Vixen Amber Halloway is a psychological, mind-bending crime thriller that descends into madness.
**This book contains mention of SA. Please skip this review if this may be triggering for you**
Waking up with a massive hangover from her wor4.5 STARS
**This book contains mention of SA. Please skip this review if this may be triggering for you**
Waking up with a massive hangover from her work Christmas party, Molly’s life goes from bad to worst. The whole world has discovered her on social media, but not for the reasons she had hoped. But when her best friend turns up dead, there is much more than meets the eye in The Murder After the Night Before by Katy Brent.
Molly Monroe wakes up the day after Sparkle Magazine’s work Christmas party nursing a massive hangover. She doesn’t remember anything that happened the night before and most definitely doesn’t remember the man she wakes up next to. Trying to slowly put the pieces back together, Molly drags herself into work, only to receive strange looks from everyone she passes. When she arrives at work, the bomb is dropped. A video was shared on Twitter, showing Molly in a compromising position.
Heartbroken and humiliated, Molly returns home, desperate to speak with her best friend, Posey. But what she finds shakes her to her core—Posey has been home the entire time, dead in the bathtub. The police rule it a suicide, but Molly has her doubts. As she investigates Posey’s death, more questions are raised, and danger is closer than she thinks.
This book was a very captivating read. I really enjoyed the characters and appreciated how Brent explored how social media can affect those involved in assaults. Reading the tweets at the beginning of each chapter and how people perceive Molly was very intriguing. The mystery was compelling but did become pretty convenient. It didn’t feel as believable as I believe it could have been.
My biggest pain point with this book is that it is very heavy, and there is nothing warning readers of that. I don’t believe this book is for everyone. It discusses SA and its aftermath throughout, and that can be very difficult for some readers. I believe it is the responsibility of both the author and the publisher to add warnings for readers. For a book that discusses SA and truly brings a lot of power to the victim, it felt like a huge misstep for me.
The Murder After the Night Before is a puzzle that slowly comes together, filled with twists and turns you never see coming.
A nurse is murdered, and her baby is missing. If that wasn’t bad enough, the crime was committed in the notorious Institution, a mental hospital that A nurse is murdered, and her baby is missing. If that wasn’t bad enough, the crime was committed in the notorious Institution, a mental hospital that deals with the worst of the worst criminally insane. Connie Woolwine and her partner Brodie Baarda must go undercover to find the baby before it is too late in The Institution by Helen Fields.
Dr. Connie Woolwine is called into the Institution after Nurse Tara Cameron is found dead and her baby is missing. Posing as a psychologist, Connie and her partner, Baarda, posing as an inmate, must figure out who could have killed Nurse Cameron and find her baby before it’s too late. However, the inmates are not the only suspects. Surrounded by staff bitter about their position, Connie must profile everyone as quickly as possible. With her own PTSD rearing its head and a storm moving in, Connie is on the clock. Will she find baby Aurora in time? Or will her own life hang in the balance as well?
Fields is an amazing author. She weaves a fabulous story with so many twists and turns. Learning about the crimes of each inmate was dark but fascinating. I love how Fields brought you into each character’s mind. I will warn readers, however, this book is not for the faint of heart. It’s dark and not one to read before bed, but it is so worth the read. For the last ten chapters, I truly couldn’t put the book down, and my anxiety was over the top. Maintaining that level of tension in a book is not easy, and maintaining that for so long is a true talent. I can honestly say that if there is another story with Connie and her partner, Brodie, I will pick it up in an instant!
The Institution is an edge-of-your-seat dark crime thriller that will leave you absolutely breathless.
Everyone has had difficult neighbors. But in the small community of Riverview Close, that difficulty turns to murder in Close to Death by Anthony HoroEveryone has had difficult neighbors. But in the small community of Riverview Close, that difficulty turns to murder in Close to Death by Anthony Horowitz.
Riverview Close is a very well-to-do neighborhood in Richmond, England. The neighbors all get along outside of one. Giles Kenworthy has seemed to frustrate just about every neighbor—Blocking driveways, loud noises, out-of-control children, and the cherry on top—a pool ruining the view for a housebound woman.
Tired of the problem, the neighbors arrange a meeting to address all the issues with Kenworthy. Naturally, he doesn’t show up, listing a last-minute excuse for his absence. Six weeks later, Giles Kenworthy is dead, and everyone is a suspect.
Wanting to cover his bases, Detective Superintendent Khan calls in ex-Detective Inspector Daniel Hawthorne, a man with a mixed reputation but a history of solving difficult cases. Hawthorne, along with his colleague, John Dudley, must investigate every suspect, seeing more than just the obvious.
Five years later, Author Anthony Horowitz is stuck in writer’s block. Unsure of where to take his next novel, he calls his muse, Daniel Hawthorne, asking for an investigation from Hawthorne’s past. Switching between the inquiry into Riverview Close and Horowitz’s own writing journey, Close to Death is a head-scratching mystery that challenges you on every page.
If you ever feel like you have read too many cookie-cutter mysteries, pick an Anthony Horowitz mystery. This book is so well written and is truly a phenomenal mystery. I love trying to figure out the mystery before the end of the book, and this one really gave me a run for my money. I was so convinced I had the answer, but quickly realized I was wrong. Every character was so well thought out, and everyone felt like someone you could meet walking down the street.
I love the frame story of Anthony writing the book as we read it. It brings realism to the book that adds gravity to the story. These people feel real; their pain is not something to just be read and forgotten. Whenever I see a Horowitz novel, I know I am in for a treat, and this book is no different.
With an Agatha Christie-type mystery executed with a heavy dose of reality, Close to Death will keep you guessing until the very last page. Try to keep up!
A relaxing vacation turns deadly in the third installment of the Eddie Shoes Mystery Series,cThree Strikes, You’re Dead, by Elena Hartw4.5 Star Review
A relaxing vacation turns deadly in the third installment of the Eddie Shoes Mystery Series,cThree Strikes, You’re Dead, by Elena Hartwell.
Eddie Shoes and her mother, Chava, have rewarded themselves with a relaxing trip to Wenatchee. Expecting good food and many trips to the spa, Eddie cannot wait. With her relationship with Chance, her former flame, stagnant, Eddie wants to forget her everyday life, even for just a weekend. But when a calming hike leads to murder, Eddie is thrust into an investigation.
With her estranged father, Eduardo, joining them, the family must figure out who the man Eddie found in the fire and where his daughter is. Nothing is as it seems, and as the investigation continues, Eddie and her family find themselves right in the middle of danger.
Three Strikes, You’re Dead is a solid installment in this series. I really like that this edition brought the family closer together, and we got to see how their relationship has and still is developing. The pacing was great and kept up the thrill until the end. I struggled a bit, though, as I found the whodunit was too easy to figure out, and Eduardo’s connections felt too convenient. I understand that part of the mystery of Eduardo’s character is how he has these connections, but it was just a bit too much for me to believe. I still enjoyed the story and it was a nice little reading getaway.
Three Strikes, You’re Dead is an edge-of-your-seat mystery that brings Eddie and her family closer to danger than ever before.
Ghosts from her past, both figuratively and literally, come back to haunt Eddie Shoes in book two of the Eddie Shoe Mystery series Two Heads Are DeadeGhosts from her past, both figuratively and literally, come back to haunt Eddie Shoes in book two of the Eddie Shoe Mystery series Two Heads Are Deader Than One by Elena Hartwell .
Eddie’s life is starting to get to a new normal. With her mother as her roommate and her old flame a staple at the Bellingham police department, she is finally hitting her groove. But when an old friend from high school calls Eddie out of the blue, begging Eddie to bail her out, her past threatens to destroy her newfound peace.
Digging into her old friend Dakota Fontaine’s stories only leaves Eddie with more and more questions. To make matters worse, those closest to Eddie keep seeing a man—a man who is supposed to be long dead. With those she loves in potential danger, Eddie has to get to the bottom of Dakota’s past, and how the ghost of a dead man can be haunting her.
I loved this installment of the Eddie Shoe Mystery series. The pacing was amazing, and from the first chapter, I was hooked. As the book progresses, little by little, more of the mystery is uncovered, but more tension is raised. I loved that we already had connections to many of the main characters, and having that background made the storytelling much smoother.
Hartwell is an excellent writer, and this book highlighted her talents. Balancing character growth with an edge-of-your-seat mystery is difficult, but Hartwell nailed it. I cannot wait to jump right into the next book in the series!
Two Heads Are Deader Than One is an excellent second installment of the Eddie Shoe Mystery series. Be prepared for a thrill ride that will grab you from the first chapter and never let you go.
Private eye Eddie Shoes has finally found the evidence needed to close her case—clear evidence of a cheating husband. However, her client kept pushingPrivate eye Eddie Shoes has finally found the evidence needed to close her case—clear evidence of a cheating husband. However, her client kept pushing off paying, and Eddie made the fatal mistake of not getting paid upfront. But when the mistress of her client’s husband ends up dead, this case becomes much more than Eddie expected in One Dead, Two to Go by Elena Hartwell.
Edwina Schultz, or as she prefers to be called, Eddie Shoes, is a private eye who investigates cheating spouses just to make ends meet. Her latest case involves discovering whether Matthew Hallings is cheating on his wife, Kendra. Unsurprisingly, Eddie gets the evidence of his infidelity and presents it to her client, Kendra. But Kendra seems hesitant to pay.
Getting payment, however, is the least of Eddie’s problems when two detectives arrive at her office to inform her Matthew Hallings’ mistress has been found dead. Oh, and one of the detectives happens to be Eddie’s old flame. And if things couldn’t get any worse, her mother arrives at her door ready to make herself at home. Trying to juggle her personal problems with those of her client, Eddie must figure out if the Hallings are involved in the murder. But things are not as they seem, and the more Eddie investigates, the more questions she uncovers.
I really enjoyed the character of Eddie in this book. She is funny and confident but also a little self-conscious. The dichotomy of her character made her much more believable and made her easy to connect with. I also like the character of Eddie’s mother, Chava. It was fun to see how they went from distant to nearly inseparable by the end of the novel.
Hartwell is a great author, and her writing is solid. What I did struggle with was the pacing. It was so incredibly slow for about 2/3rds of the book. Then it goes from zero to sixty in the last third. I know this was the first book in a series, but the character and world-building bogged down the book and made it very hard to stick with. I kept hoping for the book to punch it up, but it felt a little convoluted when it did. It was especially disappointing as I believe Hartwell is a better author than what the pacing showed.
One Dead, Two to Go is full of twists and turns and keeps you guessing the whole way through. Don’t miss a chance to join Eddie and Chava in their next adventure!
Enjoying a small moment of peace after their latest investigation, Veronica Speedwell and her beau, Stoker, are given an assignment. Bring a beautifulEnjoying a small moment of peace after their latest investigation, Veronica Speedwell and her beau, Stoker, are given an assignment. Bring a beautiful wax figure to life for their generous landlord, Lord Rosemorran. But when Stoker begins his work, they are both horrified to realize this sleeping beauty is not wax but a perfectly preserved woman, dead by means unknown. Digging into the investigation brings more questions than answers, and the danger may be closer than anticipated in A Grave Robbery by Deanna Raybourn.
Veronica and Stoker are enjoying their work at the Belvedere when Lord Rosemorran and his spirited young daughter, Lady Rose, excitedly bring them a new project. Enthralled by the “Sleeping Beauty” at Madame Tussaud’s, Lady Rose wants her own beautiful breathing wax figure. Knowing how the “breathing” mechanism works, Stoker agrees to help. But, as he starts to open the figure to fit the mechanism, he and Veronica realize this figure is not wax but a body.
Wanting justice and a proper rest for the unknown woman, they launch their own investigation. With so little to go on, they know they must reach out to others for help—primarily their sometimes friends, J.J Butterworth and Scotland Yard Detective Mornaday. Working together, they start to discover who this woman might be and, more importantly, how she became encased in her glass coffin. But the more they uncover, the more they question. Answering those questions, however, quickly puts their lives on the line, and this time, they might not find the justice they long for.
I was lucky enough to come upon the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries series through recommendations from other readers some years ago. Immediately, I was hooked. I love the way Raybourn writes and how strong Veronica is, sometimes to her own detriment. So when I was offered the opportunity to read this newest addition to the series, I jumped at the chance. And I was not disappointed.
A Grave Robbery is a great combination of classic Veronica Speedwell with a touch of Mary Shelley. I loved the mystery, and the cast of characters was a perfect addition to the story. But what I loved most was the growth in Veronica and Stoker. From refusing to acknowledge their feelings to being willing to call each other “darling” and holding hands in public is such a remarkable development. I also appreciated that Raybourn still showed how Veronica can be worried about aspects of their relationship. But Stoker loving her for who she is—who she really is—is such a strong note that carries their characters through their journey.
I loved that this story was much more complex. Usually, we at least know who the deceased is and how they died. But we had nothing in this story, and we are just as in the dark as Veronica and Stoker were. I really enjoyed the continued involvement of J.J. and Mornaday, especially Veronica’s own growth in friendship with J.J. She can finally acknowledge J.J. as a kindred spirit, which shows how far Veronica has come.
A Grave Robbery is an excellent addition to one of my favorite series. With mystery, danger, and a little romance, Raybourn takes you on a journey you will not quickly forget. Excelsior!...more
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