A Grave Robbery

As part of my ‘Murder Mystery Autumn,’ I read the latest Veronica Speedwell novel, the ninth installment, entitled: A Grave Robbery by Deanna Raybourn. I have been following this series from the beginning. Every year, Deanna releases a new murder mystery novel, following the spunky Victorian heroine, Veronica Speedwell and her companion, Stoker. How they are subject to the investigation and involvement of so many murderous proceedings is just as much a mystery to this pair as it is to me, the reason-bound reader.

A Grave Robbery describes the events that follow after Lord Rosemorran – Veronica and Stoker’s employer and benefactor – purchases a waxwork woman for his collection that is more interesting than first expected. Veronica and Stoker work to discover the origins of the waxwork and meet some uncanny characters along the way.

Deanna’s characters always feel real with a grain of salt to me. Like, their entire existence works within the setting of the novel, but sometimes barely. The level of romanticism attributed to Victorian England blurs my ability to view some of their adventures as realistic, but maybe that is just from reading too much Jane Austen as a youth. My favorite characters are the scientist twins, who frame each other for wrongdoings along the way. This pair is full of secrets, and kept me wondering about a situation in which a brother is educated whilst his twin sister stays home and has to wait to read his school notes to feed her equal or greater intellect. How that breeds camaraderie or maybe resentment.

I honestly thought I had the entire crime down pat by the time I neared the ending climax. This novel is equipped with a plot twist. For a mystery that seemed so entirely easy to solve. The allusion to the truth was too strong when the final scenario was presented, though. It could have been a little more mysterious. This book was good enough to want to finish, but it was easily put down.

There is a scene where Veronica and Stoker are given a tour of a Lord Ambrose’s private collection. The imagery of this vast home museum was tantalizing. I enjoyed perusing the collection with Veronica and admiring the various specimens Lord Ambrose had collected.

Overall, I think this book is pretty par for the course for Deanna Raybourn. A novel that is enjoyable light reading, but not necessarily binge worthy. I am looking forward to the tenth installment.

This book is good reading for anyone teenaged or older who likes an easy mystery without too much fuss. There are some bits of romance and strong allusions to adult relations, so if you don’t care for a crime-solving duo who are also romantically involved, it’s not for you. I rate this book ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5.

Happy reading!

Love Always,

Rachel