I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
An Impossible Impostor by Deanna Raybourn Series: A Veronica Speedwell Mystery #7
Published by Berkley Publishing Group on February 15, 2022
Genres: FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Historical
Pages: 336
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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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.
This was fantastic! I am a huge fan of this series and have been from the start. I look forward to each installment in this series and had pretty high expectations for this book. I was not disappointed. I have loved watching the characters and their relationships grow and change over the course of the series. I was entertained by this story from the very first page and was hooked until the very end.
Just when I thought that this series could no longer surprise me….BAM! These books just keep getting better and better. Veronica and Stoker are great together and I love seeing them work to solve a case. This case was particularly interesting because it is connected to Veronica’s past. One of Veronica’s old friends is seemingly back from the dead and she is asked to check it out to see if his claim is legitimate. Plus Stoker has the opportunity to get his hands on a specimen that he is very eager to have.
The mystery kept me guessing until the end and there was plenty of action and excitement to keep things interesting. Some of the characters introduced in this installment were wonderful while others left me shaking my head. There were fewer scenes focused on Veronica and Stoker’s relationship and I have to admit that I missed those swoon-worthy moments I have come to expect. There were some developments that left me completely shocked and I do wonder where the series will go from here.
I would recommend this series to others. This is the seventh book in the Veronica Speedwell series and I would recommend reading the series in order if at all possible. I found this book to be a solid page-turner and I am very eager to see what happens next to this wonderful cast of characters.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.
You’ve made me so curios and now I’ve added the first book from this series to my TBR! 🙂
Omg waaaaant
Oh this series has been on my radar for a while now I think it’s time to take the plunge. Thanks for the super review!
This sounds like a fun series and I love how Raybourn still manages to keep it fresh and fun seven books in!
Fantastic! This series is on my tbr on audio, now to try to fit it in.
I am glad you loved this one so much, Carole. I look forward to getting caught up in the series. Someday. Maybe this year. Hopefully.
I enjoy this series as well, but forgot to request it on Netgalley. I just put in a request for the audio at my library. I’m looking forward to it!
I am really interested to see where the series goes from that ending but I think it was good that both Stoker and Veronica are facing their various baggage. This one didn’t really work for me but I’m starting to wonder if I’m the problem because I’ve had a few books by authors I normally love kind of fall flat for me. I’m thinking I’m in a bit of a mood.