Author: Deanna Raybourn
Published: March 7, 2023 by Berkley
Format: 336 pages, Hardcover
Genre: Historical Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Veronica Speedwell Mystery #8
First Sentence: You must not go into the forest at night," the innkeeper warned, his voice trembling with fear. "Something dangerous walks there in the darkness."
Blurb: Veronica must find and stop a devious killer when a group of old friends is targeted for death in this new adventure from the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author Deanna Raybourn.
Veronica’s natural-historian beau, Stoker, has been away in Bavaria for months and their relationship is at an impasse. But when Veronica shows up before him with his brother, Tiberius, Lord Templeton-Vane, he is lured back home by an intriguing job offer: preparing an iguanodon for a very special dinner party.
Tiberius has received a cryptic message—along with the obituaries of two recently deceased members of his old group of friends, the Seven Sinners—that he too should get his affairs in order. Realizing he is in grave danger but not knowing why, he plans a reunion party for the remaining Sinners at his family estate to lure the killer out while Veronica and Stoker investigate.
As the guests arrive and settle in, the evening’s events turn deadly. More clues come to light, leading Veronica, Stoker, and Tiberius to uncover a shared past among the Sinners that has led to the fatal present. But the truth might be far more sinister than what they were prepared for. (GoodReads)
My Opinion: Unfortunately, the first half of the book is sluggish, with only a couple of sparks, and the story did not capture my full attention until the final third. The humor and bickering, which I adore, makes the book more enjoyable than the previous two, which seemed to be missing those key elements. Veronica’s swooning over Stoker still has me rolling my eyes. For a woman who claims she is strong and independent, she does a bit too much melting at the sight of him.
I continue to recommend this series solely due to the humor and banter. Now we must hope Deanna Raybourn will return Veronica to the strong character she first introduced. That and more Merryweather -- I enjoyed him.
Blurb: Veronica must find and stop a devious killer when a group of old friends is targeted for death in this new adventure from the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author Deanna Raybourn.
Veronica’s natural-historian beau, Stoker, has been away in Bavaria for months and their relationship is at an impasse. But when Veronica shows up before him with his brother, Tiberius, Lord Templeton-Vane, he is lured back home by an intriguing job offer: preparing an iguanodon for a very special dinner party.
Tiberius has received a cryptic message—along with the obituaries of two recently deceased members of his old group of friends, the Seven Sinners—that he too should get his affairs in order. Realizing he is in grave danger but not knowing why, he plans a reunion party for the remaining Sinners at his family estate to lure the killer out while Veronica and Stoker investigate.
As the guests arrive and settle in, the evening’s events turn deadly. More clues come to light, leading Veronica, Stoker, and Tiberius to uncover a shared past among the Sinners that has led to the fatal present. But the truth might be far more sinister than what they were prepared for. (GoodReads)
My Opinion: Unfortunately, the first half of the book is sluggish, with only a couple of sparks, and the story did not capture my full attention until the final third. The humor and bickering, which I adore, makes the book more enjoyable than the previous two, which seemed to be missing those key elements. Veronica’s swooning over Stoker still has me rolling my eyes. For a woman who claims she is strong and independent, she does a bit too much melting at the sight of him.
I continue to recommend this series solely due to the humor and banter. Now we must hope Deanna Raybourn will return Veronica to the strong character she first introduced. That and more Merryweather -- I enjoyed him.
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