A Ghastly Catastrophe by Deanna Raybourn is the newest novel in the Veronica Speedwell historical mystery series, and this time around Veronica questions whether vampires exist when the body of entitled young man is found entirely drained of blood in a carriage next to Highgate Cemetery. Another engaging mystery with Veronica and Stoker!
by Deanna Raybourn
Series: Veronica Speedwell #10
Genres: Historical Mystery
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm *affiliate
Veronica and Stoker are practically dying for a new adventure but when their wish is granted, they find themselves up against a secret society and a darkly seductive duo in this landmark historical mystery from beloved New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author Deanna Raybourn.
When the corpse of an entitled young man is found entirely drained of blood in a carriage next to Highgate Cemetery, Veronica’s interest is piqued. And then a second victim is found, his death made to look like a suicide, and Veronica and her intrepid beau, Stoker, know the hunt is on. The two men share one link: they were both members of a society so secretive that only a singular mention of it can be found anywhere.
Thirsty for more clues, Veronica and Stoker hear that a young Roma boy may know more about their first victim, but the only way to the boy is through an old acquaintance of Stoker’s, Lady Julia Brisbane. Lady Julia and her dashing husband, Nicholas, occasionally track down murderers and are only too happy to help. But as it becomes clear the secret society is a dangerous sect looking to entice immortality seekers, Veronica and Stoker find themselves ensnared by a decidedly more sinister couple.
The professed leader of the society claims to be a creature of the night; his partner practices witchcraft and they both fancy themselves emissaries of the otherworldly. Just as Veronica and Stoker get closer to learning the true purpose of the society and unraveling this macabre mystery, another body turns up, and they quickly discover they’ve gone from being the hunters to the hunted. . . .
Honestly, I am not sure I will ever grow tired of this crime-solving unconventional couple. Veronica and Stoker have grown bored when Veronica makes a wish for a mystery when Detective Mornaday sends a missive that he will pay them a call. J.J. appears first distraught that she has been fired from the paper when Mornaday arrives with a story about a young man entirely drained of blood found in a carriage outside Highgate Cemetery. The tale that unfolded held me captive and never let go.
Mornaday is convinced foul play is afoot with this death and another, but he’s being kept from the case and both deaths are ruled to be from natural causes. But there is a lack of blood and two strange puncture wounds on the young man’s neck. Bizarre indeed, and Veronica sets out to discover if there are vampires in London. The second death of a friend of the first is just as suspicious, and soon Stoker and Veronica are interviewing witnesses and investigating a secret club.
I loved the historical tidbits about vampires and Dracula. Veronica has quite the imagination, and I loved Stoker’s reactions to some of her theories. The step into the secret society and mystery behind the deaths was well done and kept me reading well past my bedtime. It was creepy and delivered plenty of twists to keep me guessing.
While each novel in this series is well-crafted and can be read as standalone, Raybourn introduced us to key characters and grows the world with each book, not to mention the simmering romance between our sleuths. In A Ghastly Catastrophe, Lady Julia and Nicholas make an appearance, and I enjoyed time with this couple.
If you love fast-paced, well-written historical mysteries with amateur sleuths, you’ll want to grab A Ghastly Catastrophe and the rest of the Veronica Speedwell mysteries.
About Deanna Raybourn
A sixth-generation native Texan, New York Times bestselling author Deanna Raybourn graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a double major in English and history and an emphasis on Shakespearean studies. She taught high school English for three years in San Antonio before leaving education to pursue a career as a novelist. Deanna makes her home in Virginia, where she lives with her husband and daughter.
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
