A Ghastly Catastrophe Review (Veronica Speedwell, #10)

Hello, all!

You know my love for the Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn knows no bounds, so I was thrilled to get a copy of the latest installment, A Ghastly Catastrophe. Big thanks to the publisher!

You can also read my review of the last book here.

Pub Date: 3-3-26
Adult - Historical Mystery

It's been a while since Veronica and her natural historian beau, Stoker, have found themselves embroiled in a mystery, and she's feeling restless. Sure, the pair have their respective work to keep them busy, but there's nothing like the thrill of being on a case. So, when a body turns up outside of Highgate Cemetery, drained of its blood, and another body is found in an apparent suicide, Veronica is eager to discover the cause.

The two victims were both entitled young men with ties to a secret society led by a supposed vampire. When Veronica and Stoker learn of a young Roma boy who may have been a witness to the crime, they seek help from an old acquaintance of Stoker's, Lady Julia Bisbane and her husband, who are only too happy to assist. As Veronica and Stoker dig deeper, they catch the attention of the enigmatic society leader, who has his eyes set on Stoker joining their ranks. And when yet another body is found, the pair know their time is running out.

It's been way too long since we've had a new book in this series, and I'm thrilled to be back with Veronica and Stoker. Every time I pick up one of these books, I know I'm in for a delightful time, and this was no exception. This one felt like one of the more macabre mysteries, which I loved. Raybourn always balances out the darker moments with humor so perfectly. I also loved seeing Veronica and Stoker interact with Lady Julia and Brisbane. I just knew Veronica and Julia would be instant bosom buddies, and I loved watching them swap tales of their adventures. The mystery was intriguing, and I loved the nods to vampirism and witchcraft within the secret society. Like in a few of the previous books, I did guess at part of the twist, but I always enjoy seeing Raybourn tie everything together. As always, I love everything about this series, and I'm especially excited for the next book because I hope we'll finally get to see our dynamic duo solve a mystery abroad, and I'm eager to see it.

Rating: 4/5

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