Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for a review copy of this book!

I’m not really sure where I stand with this book. I should probably start by mentioning that I haven’t read any of the previous books in this series, so it was silly of me to start with book #7. I’m sure I would have appreciated this story a lot more if I had read the rest of the series. However, I also didn’t feel like it hindered my understanding of this story.

I really loved Veronica’s character! I mean, a woman scientist who’s also an amateur detective? What’s not to love? And her and Stoker together was heartwarmingly delightful! While I understand why we don’t see their romance really heat up on the page, I do wish we were given more of their relationship.

Yet, my biggest gripe with this book was that it didn’t really feel like a mystery. If anything, it was more of a heist situation, mixed in with a lot of personal revelations on Veronica’s part that are tied to her past. So while I did enjoy this story, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it as a mystery, and I would also advise to not do what I did, and instead start the series from the beginning. Based on reviews I’ve seen, the earlier books of this series are fantastic, and after reading this book, I’m curious about how Veronica and Stoker came to be!

If you have not yet met Miss Veronica Speedwell, go pick up A Curious Beginning and then meet me back here after you've devoured the first six books. An Impossible Imposter picks up right where An Unexpected Peril leaves off, and it's like reconnecting with old friends.

Deanna Raybourn has created one of my favorite investigative duos of all time. Veronica and Stoker make so happy. Their dynamic is perfect, and the interplay between their two characters is the heart and soul of this series.

Having just returned from the Alpenwald, Veronica and Stoker are just settling back into their routines at Lord Rosemorran's estate, when Veronica is asked by a friend in law enforcement for a personal favor--to investigate the sudden reappearance of a man long thought dead. Veronica is honestly not surprised to find an imposter, but she is shocked to discover she knows the imposter. Intimately. Cue dramatic pause.

Seriously. These books will have a forever spot on my shelves. A lot of books come and go, but these are permanent fixtures. Do yourself a favor and READ THESE BOOKS.

I enjoy historical mysteries and particularly enjoyed the start of this adventure as the main characters, Veronica Speedwell and her partner Stoker, are introduced. Both are scientificcally minded. She is a lepidopterist (preserves moths and butterflies) and he is a natural historian. Set in 1889 London this is the seventh in the series. I was surprised there was no murder but instead a case of a potential imposter and a jewel heist. There is also revelations from Veronica's past.

I liked the story and the banter between Stoker and Veronica is fun. But I think to understand the characters it would be better to start from the beginning of the series. I'm not sure if previous books focus more on mysteries or character growth. For sure this is a must read for fans of the series. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely love Raybourn’s writing style. She always knows how to set and describe a scene. She’s one of my favourite descriptive authors on the market.

Unfortunately, this time around, the story itself just didn’t do it for me.

It felt far less adventurous than the previous books and there were many times when I felt Veronica was acting fully out of character.

I will say I enjoyed learning about this time in Veronica’s past. And there were a few moments that left me wide-eyed with shock.

I guess I was expecting to be left feeling that I read a really fun and exciting book, but instead was left with a feeling of melancholy.

This is in no way going to stop me from reading any and all future books in this series. I just hope the next one feels more on par with the rest than this one does.

I had never previously read a Deanna Raybourn book. This series has been on my to read shelf for such a long time. So I am glad that I was finally able to delve into one of her books. This book series seems like it is easily able to be read out of order. There are a couple hints to previous adventures, but over all they don't detract from the book itself. I feel like from some of those hints though that this was a tamer adventure for Veronica and Stoker. The book is very enjoyable, but I think that I will really need to go back and read another one of their adventures. I truly enjoyed Veronica and Stoker's relationship and banter. The mystery itself was okay, just very slow paced. There is not much intrigue or action till really towards the end. While this book wasn't maybe quite up to par with some of the other adventures or mysteries that I enjoy reading, I truly want to give it another shot and intend to read another book in this series.

Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy.

An Impossible Imposter had the same drama and adventure as previous Veronica Speedwell novels, but what intrigued me and kept me reading was again her relationship with her partner and lover, Stoker. We have gotten to know the two of them over these seven novels but I feel like it’s always Stoker’s secrets that are revealed. This time Veronica’s own past comes back to haunt her making her fearful of what he will think if her past is revealed. This added a fine bit of tension that is sometimes missing from the more personal aspects of these novels.

In addition to the mystery of Jonathan Hathaway and if he is or isn’t the heir to Hathaway Hall is only the tip of the mystery iceberg. The background behind the fortune in jewels becomes the center of the story adding some historical relevance to the fictional story by taking the story briefly back to the past when England occupied India. This background added color to an already lurid mystery making this story a page turner.

If you’re a fan of this series you MUST pick up this novel. There is plenty of angst and passion between our two main characters and the mystery while not very mysterious, had all the drama of a good soap opera. I keep expecting this series to taper off, but this author is skilled at making me want to read the next installment. Unfortunately I know I’ll have to wait another year for the next one to appear.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review and it was honest.

This was not my favorite of the series. For starters the mystery part mentioned in the blurb is resolved very quickly and the rest is not really a mystery but a bit of a heist situation with a look into Veronica's past.

I had two main issues with this book. The first was the pacing. Honestly, this felt a bit like it could have been a short story but it had to be a full length novel so a lot of extra conversations and other matters were thrown in to increase page count. The real story didn't start to gain any traction until halfway through. The second issue I had was that Veronica seemed to spend a lot of time wringing her hands and worrying about what to do or what to tell Stoker. It didn't really fit in with her usual personality which is straight forward even if it isn't comfortable. Stoker knows she had a past and while not telling him the "secret" would have been a touch awkward it just doesn't seem to be as big of a deal as she makes it given the circumstances. As well the various things that keep her from sharing seem contrived and also not fitting to her character.

Raybourn's writing style is strong enough that I did enjoy it. As well, I think this book brings Stoker and Veronica to a bit of a watershed moment and forces them to seriously consider a few thing that they have been putting off dealing with. I'm curious to see how that develops and am looking forward to a stronger plot with the next book.

I received an ARC copy through Netgalley. Thank you to the publisher Berkley and author Deanna Raybourn. All opinions expressed are my own.

The seventh foray into Veronica Speedwell was a delightful caper. This book delved more into Veronica's life as a young lady adventurer and some of the difficulty she faced.

Upon the urging of Sir Hugo Montgomerie Veronica & Stoker leave London and travel to Hathaway hall - Stoker to see if he can find an elusive specimen and Veronica to determine the identity of presumed dead, but now returned, friend from her past. Jonathan was thought perished in the eruption of Krakatoa 6 years earlier, but now he has returned to his family home with a few personal effects. Is he really alive and amnesiac or is this a clever impostor?

When a priceless jewel disappears, all evidence points to Jonathan. Veronica and Stoker are thrust into solving the jewel and secrets from the past bring into question how secure their partnership is.

I found this to be an entertaining mystery. My quibble is that though the book wrapped up neatly, I was missing an emotional conclusion. I hope this can be solved within the next book.

Sir Hugo requests Veronica's assistance to ascertain the identity of the heir that has miraculously returned to Hathaway Hall. The heir that supposedly died in a volcanic eruption several years prior. A volcanic eruption that Veronica was near. Stoker has no interest in getting involved in another intrigue, until Hugo mentions Hathaway Hall has a collection of rare animals that he can add to his collection and then he can't get there fast enough. The mystery wasn't as much as a draw for me as the other books in this series, but the connect Veronica and Stoker. They each have a past and Veronica did a lot of soul searching in this book and developed more as a character. Her soul searching allowed her to be more honest with herself and with Stoker which made their relationship stronger. So this book was more about relationships and personal growth, which I felt was more powerful right now than a mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Books, and the author for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

Be careful what you wish for.

I distinctly recall wishing in book #6 that Veronica, and I quote, “come to [the] realization in book #7, [that] Stoker is the perfect mate for her and deserves better than to be pushed away at every turn.” Ugh. Well, it happened, but it happened too late.

Veronica and Stoker are called to investigate the possible return of a figure from Veronica’s past who had long been thought dead, as well as ascertain the welfare of a young lady who is the goddaughter of Sir Hugh Montgomery. Secrets from Veronica’s past threaten to come into the open and Veronica, despite her avowed desire to come clean to Stoker, does not do so for various reasons. (Most of which are outside of her control, but still.)

THEN there is a secondary plot in which a jewel goes missing, various parties wish to recover it, abductions take place (again), things happen, culminating in <spoiler> Veronica’s ultimate realization that she is ready and willing to commit to Stoker, only for him to say… NO. AND THEN <i>LEAVE.</i></spoiler>

I had been worried that this series was growing a little stagnant but this ending really lit a fire. What on earth is Veronica going to do now?! I am waiting impatiently at the front of the line for the next story. ARGH.

I love this series and I clamor for more every time I close the cover on the last page. This installment is no exception. Raybourn writes with wit and intrigue while keeping the era and the character development at the center. I adore this series.

Barbara’s rating: 3/3.5 of 5 Stars

When I read a book, I want to get lost in the story. I want to forget I’m reading and hear the character’s voices speaking as the story unfolds. Unfortunately, this story just didn’t get me there. I like this series, but for some reason, this particular addition to the series felt too convoluted and the situations felt too forced. There are certainly plenty of plots within plots to keep you wondering who is doing what to whom – maybe too many of those. I think the ONLY person I liked in this book was Stoker – and he ended up being hurt emotionally. Why do authors feel the need to do that? There wasn’t a real reason for it other than to set up the next book and that could have easily been done another way. Perhaps the author was suffering from the effects of the pandemic and isolation. Honestly, if I had read the last chapter or so of the book before I requested the ARC, I would never have requested it. I would have just skipped this book and waited for the next one when it is released -- and that is mostly because of the ending. I did not like it - it was depressing.

There was no murder, little real mystery, and way too much drama about Veronica’s past. Who would have thought we still had more secrets to learn from Veronica’s past. I mean – goodness – enough already. I thought the story was slow at times and those blazing, fiery interactions between Stoker and Veronica just weren’t really there this time. We do get an imposter, an abduction, a very, very valuable stolen jewel, and some pretty vile villains. Those just weren’t enough to suck me into the story.

I found the first bit of the story very entertaining because Stoker and Veronica are traveling back from the continent with a baby (not their own) and the situations that are described are definitely funny. It was the best part of the book!

The gist of the story is: Upon their return to England, Sir Hugo Montgomerie, the head of Special Branch of Scotland Yard approaches them to handle a personal matter for him. They eventually agree and travel to Hathaway Hall on Dartmoor. When they arrive, they find a highly dysfunctional family. Has Jonathan Hathaway really returned from the dead or is it an imposter? Veronica knows right away but then doesn’t tell anyone. Why wouldn’t she tell given what he had done to her in the past? Anyway – a large, irreplaceable diamond is stolen and Jonathan is blamed. He swears he didn’t do it and Veronica believes him – go figure. Lots of things go on – including abductions – while they are trying to uncover the real thief. Then – at the end – well – things aren’t very good between Veronica and Stoker and …

If you choose to read this book, I truly hope you love it. There are lots of 5-star reviews out there and I hope yours will be one of them. For me, however, it left much to be desired and created a lot of absolutely unnecessary emotional turmoil.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Raybourn is back again with a new adventure featuring Stoker and Veronica! In this newest installment, we find Veronica and Stoker confronted with ghosts of the past. But are they ghosts? And in order to determine the truth, risks will be taken, the past confronted, and hearts will be laid open. Stoker and Veronica were commendable during this latest novel. I loved the inclusion of the thylacine, or the Tasmanian Tiger as Stoker's latest taxidermy project. The ending left me...anxious? I was thrilled with the adventures for some of our characters, and in turn exceedingly frustrated for others. Leave it to Raybourn to make the reader feel the spectrum of dizzying relief and elation to anxiety and dread within the last few pages. I can hardly wait for the next installment!

AN IMPOSSIBLE IMPOSTOR by Deanna Raybourn

The treacherous bogs of Dartmoor are an apt metaphor for the dangerous deceptions waiting as traps for Stoker and Veronica. Their mission, to acquire a rare thylacine specimen, is also cover for a private errand for Sir Hugo, to determine if the returning long-lost heir is really Jonathan Hathaway or an impostor. Problems and dangers multiply with a rare blood red diamond from India, Sir Hugo’s god-daughter Euphemia being denied education in astronomy (unladylike, you see), phantoms and ghostly lights, dangerous and brutal kidnappers, strong and competent females . . . and so much more. Captivating adventure, leavened with humor, made this book nearly impossible to put down. The ending is satisfying, with a hint of future adventures to assure me that another book is planned. Perfection!

As always, Deanna Raybourn's writing is fun and easy to get lost in. That said, this was probably my least favorite Veronica Speedwell mystery. This particular novel delves a bit into Veronica's past before the start of the first book and (unfortunately) introduces a slightly contrived complication to her relationship with Stoker. The mystery itself is interesting, and the commentary on colonialism is apt, but I thought the book suffered a lot from both the general existence and role of Harry and also the way certain things he did were waved away as acceptable when in actuality, they were quite problematic. I understand that in the romantic mystery genre, writers feel compelled to continue putting "obstacles" in the way of the main couple's happiness to keep things "interesting," but I often find this leads to unnecessary hand-wringing and drama, which was exactly what the whole Harry endeavor felt like to me. I would much rather see conflict come from things unrelated to Veronica and Stoker's romantic relationship.

Deanna Raybourn has done it again with Veronica and Stoker.

As Veronica and Stoker arrive home from their adventures in the Alpenwald and a side trip to Paris, they are asked by Sir Hugo to look into a personal matter. This matter is also a personal matter to Veronica, and one that makes her revisit a painful time in her past.

Veronica and Stoker put their sleuthing skills to the test again, and are sometimes stumped, sometimes thwarted, sometimes unexpectedly assisted.

I love Veronica and Stoker so much. I almost can’t bear to wait until the next in the series is written. If you haven’t yet started this series, do it. Every book is an adventure, a romp, a danger and you’ll not be able to stop turning pages.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for my honest review.

And now, on to more adventures. Excelsior!

Since her first adventure in 1887 (A Curious Beginning, published in 2015), Veronica Speedwell, a lepidopterist by inclination and training, has had an exciting two years. By 1889, Veronica and Stoker have tackled more than a few complicated cases. In "An Impossible Imposter," the head of Scotland Yard’s Special Branch asks them for help. Jonathan Hathaway supposedly died during the eruption of Krakatoa six years before, but he has returned from the grave—or has he? His putative grandmother identifies him, but other family members disagree. And the family owns a priceless parure that may be the newcomer’s real target. So off Veronica and Stoker go to Hathaway Hall, a gentry estate at the edge of Dartmoor. There another piece of Veronica’s personal history surfaces when least expected, threatening her partnership with Stoker as well as her peace of mind.

Deanna Raybourn has a gift for writing fast-moving, richly imagined, intriguing, and at times flat-out hilarious mysteries filled with well-rounded and opinionated characters at all levels. I can’t wait to find out where she will send Victoria and Stoker next.

Podcast interview to post Feb. 11, 2022, on the New Books Network (link below).

I am a huge fan of Deanna Raybourn and her historical mystery series'. Veronica Speedwell has become one of my favorite, so it pains me to write this review.

I honestly don't know what to say. I really didn't like Veronica the majority of the time. She was frustrating and her big secret, that we learn about, came out of nowhere. It boggles my mind how it had not come up beforehand, especially since her secret has similarities to stoker's history. How had she not thought on this secret over the course of 6 books.

The mystery itself was decent, but it was overshadowed by Veronica's drama. The writing was the quality I expect from Deanna Raybourn, I just didn't enjoy what she chose to do with said writing. The only strong positive I'm taking away from this book is a strong and emotional declaration of his feelings for Veronica given by Stoker.

Disappointment is still fresh days after finishing the book, so here's my breakdown :

Stoker 5 stars
Veronica 2 stars
Non Veronica aspects of the story 3 stars

In the end, I'm quite salty over the book as a whole and the way it ended. It was so unsatisfying. Will I read the next book in the series? Maybe only because I need closure.

An Impossible Imposter is the Seventh installment in author Deanna Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell series. It is April 1889, Veronica and her natural historian partner Revelstoke Templeton-Vane are just returning from a trip to Alpenwald where they just attended the wedding of Princess Gisela who appeared in An Unexpected Peril. Just when you figured Veronica and Stoker were out of the investigation business, and ready to get back to work preparing Lord Rosemorran's pending museum, they are once again dragged back in by Sir Hugo Montgomerie of Special Branch, Scotland Yard.

Sir Hugo is one of a few people who knows that Veronica is the illegitimate daughter of a royal. Sir Hugo is the godfather of one Euphemia Montgomery. It seems that 6 years ago, her brother, Jonathan Montgomery was killed during the Krakatoa explosion of 1883. Jonathan was heir to the Hathaway Hall. It also seems that he may be alive, or someone is posing as him claiming to have no memories of what happened has returned and Sir Hugo wants him exposed. Is he really Johnathan, or a devious impostor determined to gain ownership over the family’s most valuable possessions—a legendary parure of priceless Rajasthani jewels?

For Veronica, this brings back horrible memories as she was there on a trip to collect unique butterfly's. To make matters worse, readers learn that she traveled with Jonathan and one Harry Spenlove who was also allegedly killed in the explosion. Their cover is that they will be taking a look at the collection left behind by the grandfather of the family, specimens he acquired in his travels around the globe. Stoker, a gifted taxidermist and devoted student of the natural world, is excited by the prospect of discovering a rare Tasmanian Tiger, a species now extinct that was rare even in the 1880’s.

Veronica instantly knows the man posing as Jonathan, but revealing his true identity could force her to face secrets from her own past. Revealing her own past could have devastating affects on her relationship with Stoker. Veronica and Stoker put their sleuthing skills to the test again, and are sometimes stumped, sometimes thwarted, sometimes unexpectedly assisted. At the center of the intrigue is a unlikable family, their ill-begotten family jewels, a daughter who reminds Veronica of herself, a man indebted to violent creditors, and delicious chemistry between the major players.

There are new villains to deal with, and an ending that left me pondering what in the heck the author is going to do now that she's pretty much left us with a bombshell of an ending.

I’m a huge fan of Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series, but in every series, there are always one or two books that have a bit more sparkle than the rest. For me, it’s this book, which combines all of Raybourn’s many gifts into one completely delicious package. In book seven of this series, lepidopterist Veronica has settled in with her beloved Stoker, in an extremely unconventional arrangement for the time (Victorian Britain): they live in sin, and Veronica is very much a working woman.

Because Veronica is the illegitimate daughter of the Prince of Wales, she has no family to disappoint, and Stoker doesn’t really fit into his own family. The two ae the perfect outside-insider detecting couple. They know how to navigate in society, but they aren’t exactly “of” it. In this case they are asked to travel out to the countryside to see if Veronica can identify a man who has turned up claiming to be a man who died in a volcanic eruption several years ago. He was a friend of Veronica’s and hopefully she’ll be able to identify him.

He’s appeared as the head of the family after the family had assumed his death, and his younger brother, along with his wealthy wife, have taken over the family seat and are very busily underway with their desired renovations. The godfather of the oldest sister, Effie, has asked them to have a particular care for her. She’s a budding astronomist whose dreams are being quashed by her conventional sister-in-law.

Their cover is that they will be taking a look at the collection left behind by the grandfather of the family, specimens he acquired in his travels around the globe. Stoker, a gifted taxidermist and devoted student of the natural world, is excited by the prospect of discovering a rare Tasmanian Tiger, a species now extinct that was rare even in the 1880’s.

The family is accepting the man’s identity as he appeared on their doorstep in great distress, and they took him in to nurse him. When he woke up he appeared to recognize his grandmother, and as he was the unpleasant, imperious old lady’s favorite, she’s all in. Veronica and Stoker are very much stepping in to a fraught family situation.

There’s a wonderful twist early on and the cleverness of the plot continues to unfold. Raybourn is a wonderful combination of an adventure writer, a romance novelist, and a straight up mystery writer as the plot is very much the thing. To say much more about the story would be to give away things that readers should be lucky enough to discover for themselves.

I will say that one of the strong gifts of a long series is the way writers can develop characters over a period of time, giving them depth and humanity that I’m not sure can always be achieved in a single novel. In this one, Raybourn gives the reader even more of an insight into Veronica and Stoker’s relationship, what holds it together, and what has the potential to tear it apart. There’s some lovely writing here, writing I won’t soon forget. This book is a standout in a strong series.