Blog Tour: A Grave Robbery Review (Veronica Speedwell, #9)

Hello, all!

Guess what time it is? It's new Veronica Speedwell time! Big thanks to the publisher for the copy of the latest release, A Grave Robbery.

Pub Date: 3-12-24
Adult - Historical Mystery

Since being employed by Lord Rosemorran, Veronica Speedwell and her natural historian beau, Stoker, have seen many eccentric things while cataloging his vast collection of items. So, neither is very surprised when he brings them a large glass coffin with a wax figure of a woman inside. One of Lord Rosemorran's children is obsessed with the lifelike figures at Madame Tussaud’s and would like Stoker to create her own Sleeping Beauty-like figure by adding a mechanism to make the figure look alive. But when Stoker cuts into the figure he discovers that it's not a wax figure at all, but the preserved body of a young woman.

Unable to let this misdeed go unpunished, Veronica and Stoker set out to uncover who the woman was and what exactly led to her being in a glass coffin. Without any clues to work with, the pair seek help from their friends, the intrepid journalist J.J. Butterworth and the often put-out Detective Mornaday. The investigation brings them all over London, from underground laboratories to Stoker's old pals in the traveling circus. Despite their sleuthing, they seem to be one step behind their villain. When things start heating up, Veronica and Stoker must rush to uncover the killer before it's too late.

I will never get enough of this series. I would read a hundred more books about Veronica and Stoker's antics. I loved seeing their relationship grow over the series, but I thought it shone here. There were so many passages I highlighted because they were so swoony. Apart from their dynamic, which I could go on and on about, I enjoyed the mystery here. It felt darker and more morbid than any of the others. There was a Frankenstein vibe that captured my attention. It was slower-paced, but it didn't bother me, and I was satisfied with how everything played out. I loved seeing more of J.J. and Mornaday because I think they're so fun together. Also, I liked some new side characters and hope to see more of them. All in all, another solid addition to my favorite series!

Rating: 5/5