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.

This was my favorite so far in this series as we finally get some background info on Veronica, and it was not what I was expecting! This book shook things up for Veronica personally and to be honest I'm quite nervous to see what lies ahead after the ending of this one. Lots of angst and a cliffhanger ending- this was impossible to put down. If you love this series, definitely don't miss this one. 5 stars. Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Due to a personal situation that has disrupted my life, I have not yet finished this book, but it's fantastic so far. I love Veronica's adventures and escapades and this one is no different. I've already highly recommended it to some friends and can't wait to see where the rest of this story goes.

Veronica and Stoker have gotten me through the past few years and it's always great to return to belvedere and follow along on their adventures. This newest installment shows a little more from Veronica's past and a lot of fun twists and turns.

There was a TWIST I did not see coming. And a cliffhanger too. Dang it, Deanna Raybourn, why you gotta be like this‽!

I really like this series. Each book makes me wonder if Stoker and Veronica will ever be on the same page in their relationship. Workwise and in their adventures they seem to manage it! However, the characters they come across are always interesting.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Number Two of 2022 is An Impossible Imposter, by Deanna Raybourn. ⁣
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I’ve been a huge fan of the Veronica Speedwell novels from the very beginning. In Raybourn’s seventh novel in the series, all of the trademark wit and charm that hooked me from Book 1 (A Curious Beginning, pub. 9/1/2015) is still out in full force. Raybourn did venture into a more tender territory than usual: a theme throughout the book focused on feelings and relationships and heartbreak and love — all topics generally not brought into polite conversation by our dear Veronica. This brought a refreshing change of pace and allowed me to connect even more deeply with my favorite characters (Stoker & Veronica, duh!!). As always, I enjoyed my time reading this book immensely, and am already looking forward to reading Raybourn’s next Speedwell novel. Excelsior!!⁣
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫⁣
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Much thanks to @NetGalley & @BerkleyPub for providing me with this digital advanced reader’s copy for review. ⁣
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#2022Book2 #animpossibleimposter #deannaraybourn #acuriousbeginning #teamstoker #excelsior ⁣
#NetGalley #berkleypub #arc⁣
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#TBCreads #pathologicallyliterate ⁣
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#bookstagram #books #bookish #bookpic #booklist #booknerd #bookworm #booklover #librarylover #readingtime #alwaysreading #getlit #happyreading #readersofinstagram #wndb

Another excellent adventure with Veronica Speedwell and Stoker! I have devoured the previous books and always eagerly await the next one. This story explores betrayal, jewels, and the righting of wrongs. Filled with twists and turns and witty dialogue Speedwell and Stoker's relationship never gets dull as new facets of their past and personality are constantly revealed. As usual, a bounty of secondary characters are presented in crisp and unique fashion that serve to keep the plot moving along. The main storyline is resolved by the end of the book but there are still some loose ends to tie up and once again, I anticipate the next story by the talented Deanna Raybourn.

This book was given to me freely by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The next book in this series is just as fun as the previous books Veronica an Stoker are the trail of someone posing as the long lost heir to a family estate. But complications ensue when a connection is made to Veronica’s past. A perfectly charming and delightful book.

I don't know how she does it, but Deanna Raybourn keeps Stoker and Veronica so sizzling and fresh in each book that you cannot turn the pages fast enough and by the end are desperate to start the next book. I have a two-day swoon-hangover after finishing each one and this, the seventh in the series, is no different.

Still as fun and romantic and the first books, this series just keeps getting better! It's hard to say that for many authors. Anna Lee Huber's "Lady Darby Mysteries" is the only other that comes to mind. That's why Deanna Raybourn's books are an "auto-buy" for me and should be for everyone who likes romantic mysteries.

In "An Impossible Imposter," Veronica and Stoker are sent to validate the identity of an old friend of Veronica's who was assumed dead and has suddenly turned up again at his family's estate. The story takes an engrossing turn when a secret of Veronica's is revealed and her relationship with Stoker is threatened. The main mystery revolves around a stolen Indian jewel, with several interested parties trying to steal it back. Of course, Veronica and Stoker are caught in the middle and a madcap adventure ensues.

I LOVED this book. I love ALL Raybourn's books. You can't go wrong with her words in your hands. Just buy this and everything else she ever writes (The Lady Julia Grey books are WONDERFUL as well!). I will eagerly await Veronica's next missions and (hopefully) her locking down Stoker once and for all.

Love these characters, and the twists in this entry in the series were genuinely a surprise. Nicely done, and I can't wait for the next.

This was a fun quick read. Another Veronica Speedwell adventure, set in London in 1889, Veronica and Stoker investigate an imposter and find her long dead husband. What a hoot! I recommend it.

Veronica and Stoker travel to Dartmoor and Hathaway Hall to do a personal favor for Sir Hugo Montgomerie who is the head of Special Branch. Hathaway Hall is the home of his goddaughter Euphemia. It seems that the eldest brother of the family - Jonathan - who had been believed lost in the eruption of Krakatoa some six years earlier had come home lacking his memory.

Since the younger son had inherited and his cit of a wife determined to sell off all the old in order to make way for the new, "Jonathan's" arrival really upset things. They upset things for Veronica too. She had met Jonathan and his friend Harry Spenlove during that chaotic time in Java. In fact, she had a romantic relationship with Harry.

They lost track of each other in the chaos and Veronica went on with her life. Hopefully, putting the whole experience behind her.

When Stoker and Veronica arrive at Hathaway Hall, they meet an intriguing set of characters. Euphemia was encouraged to be an astronomer by her grandfather but is now little more than a drudge serving her sister-in-law. Her brother Charles is mainly interested in sheep and under the thumb of his social-climbing wife. Lady Hathaway is an old woman reliving her glory days in India who has come home with some extremely valuable Indian jewels and cared for by Anjali, her Indian servant. Then there is "Jonathan."

Veronica finds that it is Harry Spenlove who is impersonating Jonathan. After leaving her in Java, he has had quite a career as a confidence man in South and North America and is on the run from one of his confederates who he crossed and stole from in South America. Stoker and Veronica find themselves dumped in the middle of Harry's problems. And find themselves abducted and tortured...again.

Harry's reappearance in Veronica's life means that secrets long buried are resurfacing and threatening her relationship with Stoker. There are lots of twists and turns in this story as the pair get involved in Harry's schemes and have schemes of their own.

I really enjoy this series. I like learning more about Veronica's past and watching her relationship with Stoker grow. I like the humor and the adventure.

"While investigating a man claiming to be the long-lost heir to a noble family, Veronica Speedwell gets the surprise of her life in this new adventure from the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award - nominated author Deanna Raybourn.

London, 1889. Veronica Speedwell and her natural historian beau Stoker are summoned by Sir Hugo Montgomerie, head of Special Branch. He has a personal request on behalf of his goddaughter, Euphemia Hathaway. After years of traveling the world, her eldest brother, Jonathan, heir to Hathaway Hall, was believed to have been killed in the catastrophic eruption of Krakatoa a few years before.

But now a man matching Jonathan’s description and carrying his possessions has arrived at Hathaway Hall with no memory of his identity or where he has been. Could this man truly be Jonathan, back from the dead? Or is he a devious impostor, determined to gain ownership over the family's most valuable possessions - a legendary parure of priceless Rajasthani jewels? It's a delicate situation, and Veronica is Sir Hugo's only hope.

Veronica and Stoker agree to go to Hathaway Hall to covertly investigate the mysterious amnesiac. Veronica is soon shocked to find herself face-to-face with a ghost from her past. To help Sir Hugo discover the truth, she must open doors to her own history that she long believed to be shut for good."

I just recently pulled ALL my Deanna Raybourn books out of storage for a mega reread. So I'm glad that once I finish all that I have I have a new book on the horizon!

I received an eARC in return for a fair review.

3.5 stars.

Veronica and Stoker have finally be reunited after an extended time apart, but their reunion is immediately interrupted by a plea for assistance from Sir Hugo. This time he needs a personal favor, and the pair soon find themselves on a journey to investigate on Sir Hugo's behalf.

What they encounter is a very dysfunctional family and a lot of personal baggage from the distant past. Are these secrets enough to drive them apart? And will they be able to escape one more time with their lives?

A decent addition to the series. There was more character growth in this one for both main characters, and it will hopefully be the impetus for their future relationship to grow even more.

Once again, Veronica cannot resist when ask a favor. This time, she and Stoker are off to determine if the return of a long-list grandson is indeed that person. A delightful book with humor, love, jealousy and crooks. Not necessary to have read earlier titles in this series, but you may decide too.

Whenever I am asked to recommend a book or author. Deanna Raybourn and Victoria Speedwell are at the top of my list. An impossible Impostor has quite the twist. Just when things were going swimmingly well for Victoria and Stoker, I am miffed at the delay of there happiness but understand this will mean more books, so I am mollified. Hah!

Victoria and Stoker are contacted by Sir Hugh, head of Special Branch, to do a personal investigation for him concerning his goddaughter. Unfortunately this inquiry hits close to the heart for Victoria and it has unforeseen consequences. I won’t go into anything for fear of spoiling your delightful read. This series is one of my all time favorites. I highly recommend it for all mystery and historical lovers. Begin at the beginning then re-read them until the next one comes out.

I've already looked at the other reviews, and this book will be decisive because we readers will find out that Veronica has been lying to us since the first book about her past. I didn't mind the lie, but it did. I can understand how some fans got annoyed.

Also, this book isn't a murder mystery, and there is a mystery, but no one ends up dead.

Still a fun book, even though there is an annoying cliffhanger.

This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

Veronica Speedwell and her natural historian beau Stoker have just solved another mystery and are looking forward to some downtime. The pair have been on non-stop adventures ever since they met, mostly involving being shot at, abducted, or nearly drowned, and are just hoping to get back to their actual job of cataloging the vast array of items collected by their employer. But unfortunately, Sir Hugo Montgomerie, head of the Special Branch police force, has different plans. He summons Veronica and Stoker to assist with a personal matter involving his goddaughter, Euphemia Hathaway, and her brother Jonathan, who returned to the family home after years of being thought dead from a volcano eruption.

Sir Hugo knows that Veronica has worked with Jonathan in the past, so off Veronica and Stoker go to Hathaway Hall to determine whether or not an imposter is in the mix. Is this Veronica's old friend? Or is it all a conman's ruse to gain possession of the family's famed jewels? When they arrive, they find a man who closely resembles Jonathan with no apparent memory. But Veronica knows exactly who he is, and she'll have to decide if outing him is worth bearing the secrets she's kept buried for so long.

Every new installment of this series solidifies the fact that it's my favorite. This one did feel different from all the past books, but I enjoyed it a lot. It felt much lighter on the mystery and more focused on the personal relationships between the characters. Raybourn drops a bombshell about Veronica's past, and I loved getting a glimpse into her life before becoming the intrepid sleuth we know and love. However, it did leave the relationship between her and Stoker up in the air, and now I'm stressed at having to wait a whole year to find out what's going to happen. If anything happens to those two, I will riot. Aside from the characters, I thought the mystery itself was fun. My main issue with the last book was that I felt they were starting to get a little stale, and despite this one not being as prominent, it still kept me on my toes with all the twists and moving parts. It almost felt like a mystery within a mystery, and I was entertained the entire time. One of my favorite parts of these books is seeing what sort of wild situation Veronica and Stoker find themselves in because it always leads to hilariously witty quips between the pair, and this one was no exception. It continues to be a series that I harass everyone to read because it's just so good.