3.5 STARS - The Veronica Speedwell historical mystery series is one of my favourites. It has solid mysteries and I love the banter between Veronica and Stoker and Raybourn's witty style of writing.

This ninth addition to the popular series has a unique crime involving murder and a wax figure (a la Madame Tussaud). With the help of two secondary characters from books past, reporter JJ Butterworth and Inspector Mornaday, Veronica and Stoker try to find out the identity of the murder victim. Not a nail-biter of a mystery, but an intriguing crime that brings readers into some interesting historical elements.

Veronica and Stoker are one of my all-time favourite couples. They are known for their sexual tension and fantastic snarky banter. Now, in book nine, they are enjoying their own version of domestic bliss. They have a strong bond and know each other so well by now, but I do hope there's a bit more snark in their banter with each other.

This was a good addition to this mystery series, and I eagerly look forward to their next adventure which I hope will include some of the secondary characters we've met in this book (I'm looking at you Spyridon).

Disclaimer: My thanks to Berkley for the complimentary advanced copy of this book which was provided in exchange for my honest review.

A Grave Robbery by Deanna Raybourn is the latest book in her Veronica Speedwell Mysteries series, which is one of my favorite series to read. While I was a little disappointed with the previous two books, A Grave Robbery regains the charm of the early books in the series. Veronica and Stoker, no longer at odds, deliver delightful banter. The supporting characters add humor and variety. The mystery had plenty of twists and morbid Victoriana. I highly recommend A Grave Robbery for fans of Sherry Thomas and Andrea Penrose.

A Grave Robbery, by Deanna Raybourn, is the Ninth installment in the author's Veronica Speedwell Historical mystery series set in Victorian England, featuring intrepid adventuress and sleuth Veronica Speedwell, and her partner, Revelstoke Templeton-Vale. Veronica and Stoke have been cataloging Earl of Rosemorran's vast collection of artifacts while also putting their lives on the line to solve curious mysteries that have nearly taken their lives more than once.

In this story, Lord Rosemorran has purchased a wax figure of a beautiful reclining woman called "Anatomical Venus" because of his daughter Lady Rose and asks Stoker to incorporate a clockwork mechanism to give the Rosemorran Collection its own Sleeping Beauty in the style of Madame Tussaud’s. Stoker is enamored of the wax figure. He can't get over how much the mannequin resembles his beloved Veronica. However, that is not the only shock that Stoker experiences.

When Stoker goes to cut the mannequin open to insert the mechanism, he makes a gruesome discovery: this is no wax figure. The mannequin is the beautifully preserved body of a young woman who was once very much alive. But who would do such a dreadful thing, and why? Sleuthing out the answer to this question sets Veronica and Stoker on their wildest adventure yet. How did she come to be in a glass coffin in a warehouse? But the truth is dangerous and many people wish it would stay buried in the past.

From the underground laboratories of scientists experimenting with electricity to resurrect the dead in the vein of Frankenstein to the traveling show where Stoker once toured as an attraction, the gaslit atmosphere of London in October is the perfect setting for this investigation into the unknown. Through it all, the intrepid pair is always one step behind the latest villain—someone who has killed once and will stop at nothing to recover the body at all costs.

Will they unmask the villain in time to save his next victim? Or will they become the latest figures to be immortalized in his collection of horrors? One of the historical aspects of this story is that there were anatomically correct figures that were made when real bodies were in short supply. I have read the Veronica Speedwell series from the very first book, A Curious Beginning. I have watched as Veronica and Stoker's relationship has grown to the point where they are inseparable.

Veronica is a cheeky character, and I love how she always seems to find trouble when she should be focusing on her lepidoptery job. Stoker is the more serious character and he has the scars to prove how much he has been through. Veronica and Stoker actually call in two people to help. J.J. Butterworth, a female reporter who knows that Veronica is carrying a heavy secret about her parentage, and Mornaday, who works for Sir Hugo Montgomery of Scotland Yard. I do recommend that the series is best enjoyed if you read the books in order.

Veronica Speedwell is back! This outing — another potentially deadly investigation with her lover and partner Stoker — provides everything fans of this series love: Dastardly deeds, scheming scientists, Victorian scandal, and lots of sexy bantering. The mystery itself is full of wonderful twists and turns, and we're treated to plenty of scenes of Veronica and Stoker's amazing chemistry. An altogether fabulous installment in a series that never disappoints.

Another fun and intriguing mystery with Veronica and Stoker! These are the best historical cozy mysteries and perfect for quiet winter nights.

This series is generally solid, but this installment (along with the fourth installment) is quite dull. Veronica and Stoker are great, but they’ve kind of developed a rhythm at this point, where it’s unremarkable. And the mystery was just not captivating enough to keep my attention.

When the earl returns with his latest auction purchases, among them is a breathtaking wax figure much like the Sleeping Beauty at Madame Tussaud’s. But, alas, the figure is not what it seems and leads Veronica and Stoker on a new merry adventure full of mischief and mayhem.



A Grave Robbery is the ninth in a series that is fabulous when read in order so the personal, romantic, and friend relationships are seen developing along the way.



A Grave Robbery, like the rest of the series has a spring release, but I feel would be amazing read during Spooky season because the time in the story is Victorian London in the fall and the macabre mystery Veronica and Stoker are working on lends itself to the atmosphere of a dark autumn night. With whiffs of Frankenstein to it, A Grave Robbery has the detecting pair learning about the anatomically correct wax figures used by medical students or in a circus freak show, about the Victorian fashion fixation for death and grieving, about the study of electricity used in reanimation, and the sad differences for male and female scholars in the scientific world.



I loved seeing side characters like JJ the newspaper gal and their Scotland Yard Inspector getting involved in the case. In fact, it was fun seeing the team dynamics get a bit of a change up with Veronica learning to unbend on her stern need for independence to appreciate what strengths others can bring to the table.


Sidenote- Loved encountering a crossover character from the Lady Julia Grey series in Julia's sister Portia.



The romance side was at peace and a comfortable background for once though yes, Veronica takes delight in stirring up Stoker. He makes some beautiful speeches to her at times that penetrated her emotional walls and had her dabbing her eyes which I appreciated myself. However, it was his choice right at the moment of her planning to leap into danger that left me breathless. Stoker only gets more impressive, it seems.



The mystery was an easy one for me, but I was engaged in how it all came about. And, the suspense and danger was good stuff.



All in all, another solid series entry that left me wanting more. Historical Mystery fans who enjoy eccentric lead characters and authentic Victorian historical elements should give this a go.

A Grave Robbery is another thrilling and captivating installment in the Veronica Speedwell series.

Veronica and Stoker are back! Fans of the series will be happy to know that their favourite crime-fighting duo is up to their usual shenanigans. The previous book in the series saw Veronica and Stoker at odds with each other, and in my opinion, that book lacked the chemistry I’ve come to enjoy in this series. That was not the case with this book; Veronica and Stoker have made up and come back together even stronger. I always get worried when a series has been around for a while. There is this fear that things will become repetitive or dull. I am happy to report that this is not the case with this series. I love everything about this latest installment. On a quick note, these books can be read as a stand-alone. Each book focuses on a new mystery or crime; the only continuous thing is the growing relationship between Veronica and Stoker and their continued character growth.

The mystery in this book was perfect. I couldn’t believe how fascinated and obsessed I became with this Sleeping Beauty case. It was such a unique and interesting mystery that I couldn’t help but be hooked. Veronica and Stoker discover that the waxed figure their employer purchased is actually a real person who was covered in wax. They have no idea who this Sleeping Beauty is or whether she was murdered or died of natural causes. As a reader, you really don’t know where Deanna will take you. There were so many unexpected twists and turns, and I loved everything about the journey I went on in this book. There are some definite Frankenstein vibes with this murder mystery, which I LOVED. The mystery elements in this book just inject new life into this series. It was just so different from past cases they have investigated.

Those new to this series will be delighted by the humour that is woven throughout this story (and series). There is often this fun banter that exists between Veronica and Stoker, which has grown as their relationship has grown. At this point in the series, these two know each other very well and can predict (for the most part) what the other will do. That sense of familiarity has allowed for those walls that Veronica and Stokers have built to come down, and in its place is the feeling of being utterly comfortable in each other’s company. That comfort has led to them poke fun at each and trying to ruffle each other’s feathers.

Veronica is a strong and smart female protagonist. She is not one to be overly emotional, and there are times when she can be a bit rash. I’ve really enjoyed her character, and watching her grow as this unofficial detective has been an absolute joy. Her character has also had tremendous growth with regards to her relationship with Stoker. Both of their characters have these alpha-like qualities, which have caused some bumps in their relationship. Veronica has often acted and reacted to situations with little thought on how her actions affect others, especially Stoker. In this book, her character has gone through this internal growth, where she stops and thinks about how Stoker will be affected by her actions and is also aware of him more emotionally. She has started to really acknowledge his feelings and moods and is there to support him when he needs that support. It’s something that Stoker has been doing for Veronica for quite some time. This growth from Veronica has really made their relationship more balanced and equal.

A Grave Robbery is another clever and fascinating book in the Veronica Speedwell series.

Veronica and Stoker are back. This time they have come into possession of what they believe to be a wax figure which, besides viewing at the popular Madame Tussauds, are also used as teaching tools. It soon becomes clear, however, that Veronica and Stoker's figure is real and not wax. Right away, they're pulled into finding out who this woman was and what happened to her while also figuring out the how she has been so preserved.

After the almost fraught precedence of the previous couple of mysteries, I was happy to find Veronica and Stoker so at home with one another. To see them at ease in their personal lives was kind of nice and comforting and really allowed the mystery itself to form with ease.

It felt, for me, like the mystery aspect wasn't as heart-poundingly dire. It was more intriguing and less high stakes which was a nice change of pace to go for this one. For lack of a better word, I'd almost describe this one as "lighter" than the previous books. Of course dealing with someone's death is never a light topic, but it just didn't feel weighted like the last book. I think it of course all stems from the fact that Stoker and Veronica are at a good place personally. When they're on the same page, it almost takes away a layer of dread because there's more assurance that everything will work out ok as long as they're together.

The story also had quite a few comic relief moments. I actually found myself, if not laughing out loud, then emitting a delightful snort a time or two as they would go about their business. While their adventures usually take a turn for the zany a time or two, depending on the lengths that Veronica will go to get information, I just don't remember being as taken aback by how funny it was (this does have me going back in mind rethinking each book and wondering if a huge re-read needs to happen).

From the first page of the first book, I've enjoyed this series. It probably makes me a little biased, but Deanna Raybourn writes Stoker and Veronica so well and puts such good work into crafting a compelling mystery for them to solve. This one just happens to keep them in London and doesn't seem (at least at this point, who knows what could come later) to have much overarching influence on the story arc in general. It almost felt like we were doing a bit of resetting before going off on another adventure that will include elements that stretch across multiple books. I honestly am content with all of this. So to that I say...Excelsior!

A Grave Robbery by Dianna Raybourn is the 9th book in her Veronica Speedwell Mystery series. We get to see Veronica and Stoker at the start, as they both worked for Lord Rosemorran’s helping restore his many collections for future display. It was nice to see both Veronica and Stoker settling into their affectionate relationship, as they are both clever, witty and always challenging each other. Veronica Speedwell is a lepidopterist, a woman who is ahead of her time, and Stoker is a scientist and adventurer. They make a terrific team.

Lord Rosemorran lets them know that he has acquired a new purchase, which would be a birthday present for his young daughter; it was a wax figure of Sleeping Beauty, similar to Madame Tussaud’s. He wanted Stoker to add a mechanism to make the figure look alive. When Stoker goes to cut the mannequin open, to his shock he discovers it was not wax, but a preserved young lady. Unable to let this go unpunished, both Veronica and Stoker set out to solve this crime. They try to learn how long this body was deceased, and they call their friends, JJ (journalist) and Mornaday (detective) to help search the newspaper and police archives for missing young ladies.

Veronica and Stoker follow a trail that led them first to a circus, to get some answers, but JJ was able to find a girl who drowned 15 years ago, which will lead them to Plumfield’s mortuary to track down who the girl was. The new Plumfield owner was able to find some papers, and he will be one of the new characters that help Victoria and Stoker; as well as Spyridon, who helped Stoker hide the body. They were all very good characters, and fun.

What follows is wild adventure that will eventually lead them to a dangerous killer. The mystery was very compelling, as well as a number of twists as we reach the climax. Veronica and Stoker, as well as JJ and Mornaday will plan a trap to catch the true killer, putting some of them in danger. I really enjoyed both Veronica and Stoker, as they were lots of fun, and romantic. A Grave Robbery was very well written by Deanna Raybourn.

Another adventure for Veronica and Stoker as they try to solve the mystery of the wax figure who turns out to be a victim of foul play. Fans of the series won't be disappointed.

A Grave Robbery by Deanna Raybourn features a captivating cast of colorful secondary characters that add depth and intrigue to the story. Among them, Stoker stood out as my favorite, compelling me to eagerly anticipate future installments in this series.

I look forward through dragging days to a new installment of this series and this one did not disappoint! The characters are bold and drawn be seen clearly with the reading eye as they move through the maze of surprise corpses and derring do. Always a pleasure with Stoker and Veronica.

Madame Tussaud's was a wax museum that gained popularity in London in 1835. So when Stoker Templeton-Vane is hired by the Earl of Rosemorran to install a clockwork mechanism to Lord Rosemorran's latest acquisition, an exquisite wax mannequin, Stoker is certain he is up to the job. Meanwhile, Stoker's friend, lover and confidante, Veronica Speedwell, would rather be spending her time in her work as a lepidopterist, as butterflies and their habits is Veronica's area of expertise.

From the outset, Stoker is enamored of the wax figure. He can't get over how much the mannequin resembles his beloved Veronica. However, that is not the only shock that Stoker experiences. As Stoker and Veronica soon discover, the mannequin actually contains the wonderfully preserved body of a young woman. This is definitely no ordinary mannequin. Thus, the deducing couple set out to discover the woman's identity, as sleuthing comes quite natural to both of them.

I have followed the enjoyable Veronica Speedwell series from the very first book, A Curious Beginning. This historical mystery series has been captivating right from the very start. Veronica is a delightful character, and I love how her relationship with Stoker has evolved over the series. I also enjoyed how Veronica's ability to solve crimes has slowly garnered the reluctant respect of the Metropolitan Police.

Another facet of this story is the history behind wax figures, and other surprising Frankenstein like inclusions. Deanna Raybourn skillfully takes each book in this series into different directions, and always entertains her readers. Quite naturally, I can't wait to see what Veronica and Stoker get into next.

Reviewer's note: This is a series that is best read in order.

Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Another winner in this delightful series. Veronica and Stoker are two of my favorite Victorian sleuths and are reminiscent of Amelia Peabody and Radcliffe Emerson. In this latest book, Veronica and Stoker receive a solid glass casket with a beautiful wax figure inside. The pair quickly discover that the figure is the perfectly preserved body of a young woman and are determined to find out who she is and how she died. Because this is a Speedwell/Stoker book, the reader can expect banter, absurd situations and Veronica's complete self-confidence. I recommend reading the books in order.

This is #9 in the Veronica Speedwell mystery series. They should most definitely be read in order, starting with A Curious Beginning, for context and character development.
This book starts with dear Lord Rosemoran, who has purchased a waxwork for his capricious daughter, Lady Rose. Lady Rose would like Stoker to fit the waxwork with a mechanism that makes her look as if she is breathing (therefore, invoking a Sleeping Beauty.) Once Stoker starts this work, however, we find that the waxwork was once a human girl. How did she come to end up this way? Did she meet a foul end and who was she? Stoker and Veronica are determined to find out with the help of old chums, JJ Butterworth, intrepid reporter and Detective Inspector Mornaday. This is their most fun adventure yet and gives off a Frankenstein vibe.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for this e-arc.*

Enjoyable historical mystery and adventure.

There are not too many books that are classified as historical fiction that are fast and fun. With this series, it’s the witty repartee between Veronica and Stoker and their friends JJ and Mornaday that makes me actually laugh out loud sometimes.

A beautiful young woman’s body is found, perfectly preserved and resting in a glass casket. Who is she? The plot thickens as the group investigates the strange case and the villain’s murderous intentions become clear.

I love the details in this series and the characters have become like old friends that I can’t wait to visit. The grounds of the estate, the little folly buildings, the daily activities of Veronica and Stoker as they do their various jobs taking care of Lord Rosemorran’s various collections and treasures. So many interesting bits of natural history and relevant particulars around the time period. Sure sometimes Stoker seems like a pouty baby, but all is forgiven because he’s buccaneer hot. They have a lovely, steamy romance where all the bedroom action is off page. Veronica is impetuous and daring and definitely not a typical woman of her era — the late 1800s. It all makes for an entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. If you are looking for a fun historical mystery series, this is a good choice. Be sure to start at the beginning.

On one hand, I can’t believe we are already nine books into this intriguing, excellently written series, and on the other hand, I feel as if I have known Veronica and Stoker forever. This author has done an excellent job of fleshing out the characters so that it feels more like visiting a friend rather than reading a book. I didn’t care for Veronica at first – and almost didn’t read any more of the books – however, I decided I really liked Stoker and I’d give it another try. I am so glad I did because the character growth for both of them has been phenomenal and we are now to the point where I actually like Veronica – and I still love Stoker.

Lord Rosemorran, Veronica and Stoker’s benefactor has purchased a wax figure (similar to those in wax museums) and had it delivered to their workspace. To make it even more lifelike, he requests that Stoker add a mechanism to the inside of the chest so it appears to be breathing. The idea intrigues Stoker and he decides to begin work on it at once. Only, cutting into the wax figure was not exactly what Stoker expected – first, it was much more difficult to cut, and second, OMGoodness, it was a perfectly preserved human body! After he cast up his accounts, he and Veronica gave the body a thorough examination to determine the cause of death – if possible – and to try to identify her so she could be returned to her family. Stoker’s sense of justice and fair play will not allow him to rest until he knows who she is and what happened to her – even if it was years ago.

Lord Rosemorran does not want to call in the police and become involved in a scandal, so he asks Veronica and Stoker to investigate. With the help of their friends – and sometimes helpers – Mornaday (of Scotland Yard) and J.J. (a newspaper reporter) – they find information about the body of a young woman found floating in the Thames fifteen years ago. Further investigations made them sure they had the right body, but there was never an identification made of the young woman.

You’ll find some really vile villains, great friendships, an odd assortment of animals, two new characters to get to know, and the love between Stoker and Veronica growing deeper and deeper. What a fun, wild, exciting, and interesting read it was and I’m already anxiously awaiting the next book in the series. I can definitely recommend this book and this series and should you choose to try it, I hope you’ll love it. Happy Reading.

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

Rating: 4.5 Stars

CW: Body horror; murder; death; fire/fire injury; physical abuse; toxic relationships; sexism; references to forced institutionalization; animal abuse

I’m absolutely obsessed with the Veronica Speedwell series. Even nine books in, I’m still so giddy and excited to see these characters and learn what adventure Deanna Raybourn has in store for our intrepid lepidopterist Veronica Speedwell and her natural historian beau Stoker. A Grave Robbery was so hard to put down, and I loved the gothic horror vibes of this!

More so than Veronica and Stoker’s other adventures, the mystery in A Grave Robbery was deliciously creepy – it would make a perfect Halloween read! With incredibly life-like wax figurines, talk of reanimating the dead, and an abandoned necropolis railway, this book delivered eerie vibes. But I also loved how Raybourn grounded the creepiness in science and fact.

At the center of the mystery is a waxwork figurine, which turns out to be a dead body. The wax figurine leads Veronica and Stoker deep into an exploration of Anatomical Venuses – wax figurines of women crafted during the 18th century that were anatomically correct and used to teach anatomy when cadavers were in short supply. I’ve always found waxworks creepy, but the Anatomical Venus takes it to another level and adds a whole extra level of creepiness to this story (I highly recommend looking up what they look like while reading). Even the talk of reanimating the dead in this book is grounded in science and very interesting when you remove the fact that they’re trying to reanimate corpses.

The mystery in this was engaging and compelling, even though it gave me gothic horror vibes. I loved all the twists and turns in the mystery, as plenty of red herrings kept me on my toes throughout the book. And while I put together some of the pieces, I was still SHOCKED at how everything was wrapped up. The big confrontation was high-stakes drama and action, and I was utterly enthralled.

I also loved how this story felt like a journey through the past, as the mystery takes Stoker and Veronica back to where it all began with a visit to the traveling show from A Curious Beginning. There were also a ton of other callbacks to previous adventures and so many familiar faces that fans of the series will immediately recognize.

As with every book in the Veronica Speedwell series, I adore the writing style. Raybourn perfectly balances the serious with the whimsical through Veronica’s journal-style narration. Veronica’s wit and humor shine through when needed, but she can be gravely serious and self-reflexive at other times. I swear this book had me laughing out one moment and then getting misty-eyed a few pages later.

When it comes to Veronica and Stoker, I loved their dynamics in this! After being on rocky footing after An Impossible Impostor and dealing with the fallout of that in A Sinister Revenge, they’re back to being partners in every sense of the word. Their relationship has progressed to a point where they’ve put the past in the past and are moving forward together, making a new future.

I’ve always loved the romance in this series, and it is so lovely to see them happy and lovey-dovey after hitting a rough patch in the last few books. I loved how easily phrases like “my love,” “my heart,” and “beloved” flowed from not only Stoker’s but Veronica’s lips, considering how SCARED Veronica had been to voice her emotions to Stoker before. I was so happy to see them happy (even if I do miss some of the slow-burn tension that doesn’t really have a place anymore in the story, considering where their relationship is). And Stoker – my lord. This man still has a way with words that makes me SWOON every time with his romantic declarations.

I loved that Veronica and Stoker could just be themselves in this book. They’ve come a long way since their first adventure together and feel more mature and sure of themselves. But I also loved how vulnerable Veronica and Stoker were to each other in this – and that they actually voiced it to each other instead of keeping it in. Veronica has always struggled with relying on others and expressing her fears, but she’s incredibly honest and open with Stoker in this, which I appreciated.

I also loved that we got to see more of J.J. and Mornaday in this! They play a heavy hand in the investigation, making this adventure feel a bit more like an ensemble piece, which was a bit of a different vibe for a Veronica Speedwell series but one I liked.

In many ways, this book felt like it might be the last of Veronica and Stoker’s adventures as it has a whiff of nostalgia, and the ending was tied up a bit more neatly than I’d expected. But thank god it’s not over, as I am not ready to say goodbye to all the fantastic characters in this series!

A Grave Robbery is another delightful addition to the Veronica Speedwell series. Fans of the series are sure to appreciate all the callbacks to previous adventures and enjoy the twists and turns in this delightfully creepy tale. Plus, it’s so great to finally see Veronica and Stoker happily in love after rooting for them to get together for so long! I know I’m already eagerly awaiting their next adventure and hope this series never ends as I could read about them solving mysteries for many more years to come.

Thank you to Berkley/Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts, ideas. and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The latest installment of Veronica Speedwell takes our favorite pair through a new adventure fraught with danger, murder, and madness.

When Veronica and Stoker discover that Lord Rosemorran's latest purchase of a waxwork figure is really a murder victim, they are once again on the case to track down the perpetrator and find justice for their Sleeping Beauty. With a little help from their friends, both old and new, they work to solve a 15 year old cover-up.

As with previous installments of the series, there is plenty of banter and fun had between Veronica and her main man. This mystery also comes with the twists and turns we've come to expect from the series. I really enjoyed learning a little more about waxworks, even if it was just a tidbit here and there. And the little monkey added a fun bit of comic relief as the tension and danger built up. A few new characters were introduced in this one, so while it does seem to wrap everything up neatly and could be the end of the series, I would also like to see where the next adventure can lead the duo and their new friends.