In 1890 London, Veronica Speedwell and Stoker investigate a macabre vampire mystery after a young man is found near Highgate Cemetery with his body drained of blood. When a second victim is discovered after an apparent suicide, the trail leads the duo to a dangerous secret society of immortality seekers led by a self-proclaimed creature of the night and a practitioner of witchcraft. Amidst the investigation, J.J. turns to them for help, and the case forces a brief encounter with Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane to track down a crucial witness.
This was a fast and fun tenth entry into what I consider my favorite historical fiction mystery series. Leaning into gothic atmosphere without losing any of the trademark wit, the pair dives into folklore and myth despite their scientific skepticism. I love the interaction between Veronica and Stoker and the author’s understanding of the time period is expressed in their exchanges with such marvelous word play. The partnership is sound and the characters work together so well. I am always eager for the next installment.
I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Angele Masters, did a superb job voicing Veronica. She has just the right tone for every sentence and truly embodies the character. It was, however, quite jarring to hear her perform Stoker’s voice because he doesn’t sound at all like I imagined. Way too raspy and not deep enough or suave enough. Anyway, it did provide entertainment but the production would definitely benefit from a full cast because those characters deserve their own voices!
If you’re considering a historical fiction series, I highly recommend this one. And start from the beginning.
This is the 10th book in the series that should be read from the beginning.
Genre and tags: Victorian London, amateur sleuth, investigations, witchcraft, mesmerism, historical fiction
No comments:
Post a Comment