Blog Tour: A Sinister Revenge Review (Veronica Speedwell, #8)

Hello, all!

Everyone, rejoice for there's a new Veronica Speedwell book out! Big thanks to Berkley for the copy of A Sinister Revenge! Also, before we get into the review-- can we take a moment to appreciate how gorgeous this cover is? It's definitely my favorite so far.

Pub Date: 3-7-23
Adult - Historical Mystery

After the events of their prior investigation, Veronica and Stoker have spent the last few months apart. Veronica has been off exploring the Continent with Tiberius, Stoker's brother, while Stoker has been roaming Bavaria in search of an elusive beast. But when Tiberius suddenly announces his need for Stoker's assistance, the pair go to find him. When they finally find Stoker, he is less than thrilled, but Tiberius lures him back home with the promise of preparing an iguanodon fossil for a very special dinner party: one Tiberius is sure will end in his death.

When Tiberius graduated from university, he and his group of friends--dubbed the Seven Sinners--took a tour around the Continent. They spent time at each other's homes, getting into mischief. The group ended their trip with a stay at Tiberius's grand manor, where one of the members tragically died. Now, two other Sinners have died under mysterious circumstances, and Tiberius has received a threatening message stating he's next. Can Veronica and Stoker put their past tiff aside to help Tiberius before it's too late?

It's no secret that this is my favorite series. I never want it to end, and would gladly read a hundred more books about Veronica and Stoker and all their antics. One of my favorite things about these books is their writing. I love how Raybourn tells a tale and the vocabulary she uses. It always paints such a vivid portrait of what's going on. That said, I was a smidge disappointed with this installment. I found the first half very slow and didn't feel like the plot hit its stride until around the sixty percent mark. I figured out one part of the plot twist within the first few chapters, but the overall reveal was still satisfying. I also enjoyed getting more of a glimpse into Stoker's childhood and his relationship with his siblings. I was also relieved that he and Veronica seemed to have settled their differences. I love how much deeper their bond grows with each book, and I will never stop saying how much I love them together. So, while this wasn't my favorite of the series thus far, I still enjoyed it and will be impatiently waiting for the next book.

Rating: 3.5/5