I was shocked when I was approved for this ARC. Thank you so much to Berkley for an e-arc!! I also want to thank Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Veronica Speedwell series. I’ve read books 2-8 in the last two months and I have really enjoyed them. Veronica and Stoker are such a fun duo and they are why I keep going. The mysteries and adventures are also a great aspect of the series but in this book, it was a little calmer than normal. I don’t think it was as intense and dangerous as they normally are.

With that being said, I think that the growth with Veronica was done well. She has to face a lot of her past in the previous book, An Impossible Imposter, and it was not easy. She’s not on the best terms with Stoker for most of this book. I think it was smart of Stoker to make her think and face what their relationship means to her.

I loved seeing Tiberius make a comeback in this one! He is such a breath of fresh air and the banter is great. I do think I missed some of the normal banter in the second half of the book. I love that he and Stoker are starting to get along and treat each other like family. These characters have come a long way. It’s really hard to do an in-depth review of the 8th book in a series without spoilers.

Overall, I enjoyed my time with Veronica and Stoker! This installment was less intense and thrilling than some of her previous books. I loved having Tiberius back and I think Veronica had a lot of important growth. J.J. was also a great addition and I’m glad to see that Veronica might be opening up to others more. I can’t wait for the next adventure! Excelsior!

I have read all the Veronica Speedwell series and love each one. This is the 8th book in the series but can be read as a standalone. The characters travel from book to book solving a new mystery, a new crime, and having a new adventure. There is a little bit of romance, which I like because it just adds to the depth of the characters.



Sinister Revenge is Veronica’s personal journal. It tells of her feelings towards Stoker, the twist that has pushed them apart, and how much she wants to be with him. It shares her thoughts on the mystery of who wants Stoker’s brother, Tiberius, dead and why. I enjoyed reading the story from her point of view.



A Sinister Revenge is a great addition to a wonderful series and I look forward to more.

Deanna Raybourn has done it again! These books have become one of my most looked-forward-to reads of the year, and this one was amazing. On top of all of the series being great reads, can I just say the covers never disappoint either, they are so beautiful.

We start off almost where the 7th left off and we are left on a cliffhanger as to what is going to happen with Stoker and Veronica’s relationship, which of course I am rooting for and have high hopes that they will work it out. However, right away we are drawn into a new mystery as to who is threatening Stoker’s brother, Tiberius. In order to figure it out he has a plan and of course, that plan involves Veronica and Stoker so they can use their investigative abilities to help figure out who is the culprit and also to make sure that he doesn’t get killed. Of course, this wouldn’t be a part of this series if there wasn’t some animal that Stoker is in the process of fixing up with his taxidermy skills, and this one is a fun one, a dinosaur.

I love that we get to see more of Stoker’s family in this because I have enjoyed it when they show up in the other novels. With them, in this, you get to see more into Stoker’s past and his relationship with his family. I especially like that we got to see more of Merryweather because he was quite fun, even if we only got a little of him. I hope we see more of him in the next. We also get to see J.J. make an appearance and I am enjoying how she and Veronica’s friendship is evolving and love the banter between these two strong independent females. Of course, I will always praise the fun banter between Veronica and Stoker and the chemistry they have.

The plot is well thought out and it flowed really nicely. I was hooked right away on the mystery and found myself jumping around from a couple of different people on who I thought the murderer was. I usually am pretty good at figuring out who they are in mystery books, but I was pleasantly surprised that for this one I did not have it right! I really enjoy that not only do you get the mystery, but you get the adventure, the fun banter that makes you laugh, and the romance of Veronica and Stoker.

This has been one of my favorite reads so far this year. If you haven’t started the Veronica Speedwell series you should! I am sad that I have to wait a year for the next but will be eagerly anticipating it.

After my recent disappointment in Raybourn’s Killers of a Certain Age, I admit to a lack of confidence in the latest Veronica Speedwell, despite the series being one of my favourites. What if Raybourn has lost her magic? My reader nervousness, however, dissipated on the first page of Veronica and Stoker’s latest adventure, A Sinister Revenge. And this time around, Raybourn brings Stoker’s brothers along, older bro Tiberius, the imperious looker, pretend-dissolute, and paterfamilias, much as he’d scoff at the role, and the adorable baby-bro, Merryweather, the vicar, innocent, handsome, and a trifle bumbling. They are brought together when Tiberius’s past necessitates a trip to the family’s Devon estate, Cherboys, and also as it returns to endanger him. The publisher’s blurb will fill in some details:

Veronica’s natural-historian beau, Stoker, has been away in Bavaria for months and their relationship is at an impasse. But when Veronica shows up before him with his brother, Tiberius, Lord Templeton-Vane, he is lured back home by an intriguing job offer: preparing an iguanodon for a very special dinner party.

Tiberius has received a cryptic message—along with the obituaries of two recently deceased members of his old group of friends, the Seven Sinners—that he too should get his affairs in order. Realizing he is in grave danger but not knowing why, he plans a reunion party for the remaining Sinners at his family estate to lure the killer out while Veronica and Stoker investigate.

As the guests arrive and settle in, the evening’s events turn deadly. More clues come to light, leading Veronica, Stoker, and Tiberius to uncover a shared past among the Sinners that has led to the fatal present. But the truth might be far more sinister than what they were prepared for.

The strength of Raybourn’s latest Veronica-and-Stoker mystery lies in her inching towards an ensemble cast of wonderful characters. Because of the mystery’s focus on the family estate, it also has the narrative focus of a closed-room-mystery feel, to its credit and the reader’s enjoyment. On one side are new characters embroiled in the mystery and key to its unravelling. But they’re interesting beyond their mystery “roles,” the remaining Seven Sinners and their wives: stalwart Sir James MacIver and statuesque Lady Augusta, mercurially uxorious Pietro Salviati and wife, Beatrice. More than anyone, I loved Elspeth, the spinster sister to local doctor Timothy Gresham, and her frustrated ambitions to be recognized as a fossil-hunter.

I adored the growing warmth of the Templeton-Vane brothers: Stoker and Tiberius, whose usual loggerheads ease to grudging love, and Merryweather’s puppy-like warmth, he who loves everyone and is easily loved in return. He even thaws the usually cool-hearted Veronica. Stoker and Veronica’s impasse lingers, but the camaraderie of investigation, uniqueness of seeing Stoker in his childhood home (frankly, Nanny’s cheroot-smoking appearance calling him “Stokie” was priceless), and their love for each other heal past hurts and bridge estrangement.

Is there a more romantic, touching, and tender lover than Stoker? It’s Veronica, however, who has to make a wonderful grand gesture. She struggles with this and it makes her character grow. Raybourn’s latest Speedwell mystery builds warmth and closeness among the characters. From the first book, when Veronica and Stoker were introduced as loners and their connections fraught and difficult, well, Raybourn has brought them a long way and it makes for a thoroughly satisfying emotional arc.

As Raybourn builds ties among her now-ensemble characters, she brings a more emotion-centred raison d’être to the unravelling of the mystery (and a lovely feminist touch). Without spoiling for the reader, the mystery’s strength was the sense of rightness in the motivations. Indeed, as the dénouement transpired, I thought it neared tragic proportions. And as Tiberius, Merryweather, and the reunited Stoker and Veronica make their way home, there is a rightness and settledness to everyone’s life, a maturity and security lovely to read about. It is, in its way, an HEA! I hope this resolution doesn’t mean we’ve come to the end of Stoker and Veronica, Tiberius, Nanny, and motormouth maid Lily (loved her!), and I must have more Merryweather. A wonderful addition to a beloved series. With Miss Austen, Raybourn’s Sinister Revenge is “a mind lively and at ease,” Emma.

Deanna Raybourn’s A Sinister Revenge is published by Berkley and releases today. I received an e-arc, from Berkley, via Netgalley, for the purpose of writing this review, which is my honest opinion.

A Sinister Revenge is the 8th installment in author Deanna Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell series. Months after Stoker walked away from Veronica, and decided to clear his head, Veronica Speedwell, and Tiberius Templeton-Vane travel all the way to Bavaria hoping to find the elusive young brother. Meanwhile, Stoker has been on the hunt for a mythological creature known as Wolpertinger. In German folklore, a Wolpertinger is an animal said to inhabit the alpine forests of Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg in southern Germany.

It has a body comprising various animal parts – generally wings, antlers, a tail, and fangs; all attached to the body of a small mammal. The most widespread description portrays the Wolpertinger as having the head of a rabbit, the body of a squirrel, the antlers of a deer, and the wings and occasionally the legs of a pheasant. Veronica and Tiberius soon find Stoker and explain to him that Tiberius has received a threat to his life. Twenty years ago, Tiberius and six friends, known as the Seven Sinners, traveled the continent as young men, sowing their wild oats. On a visit to the Templeton-Vane family estate, one of the young men died.

Tiberius has received a cryptic message—along with the obituaries of two recently deceased members of his old group of friends that he too should get his affairs in order. Realizing he is in grave danger but not knowing why, he plans a reunion party for the remaining Sinners at his family estate to lure the killer out while Veronica and Stoker investigate. As you know if you've read this series from the beginning, Veronica and Stoker are basically untrained investigators who have gone through Hell and Back and solved some really creepy and dangerous mysteries which has left scars on both.

As the guests arrive and settle in, the evening’s events turn deadly. More clues come to light, leading Veronica, Stoker, and Tiberius to uncover a shared past among the Sinners that has led to the fatal present. But the truth might be far more sinister than what they were prepared for. Veronica and Stoker's relationship is all but finished, for the most part, until they are forced once again to look danger in the eye, and finally realize that they two of them are a couple whether they like it or not, whether Veronica actually wants to get married or not.

There is a fairly large cast of characters who Veronica is forced into dealing with. One of them might be the killer, or could there be more than one and this is an elaborate plot to destroy all of the remaining Sinners for the death of one of their members 20 years ago? Veronica Speedwell is smart, quick-tongued, vivacious, and loyal. She knows who she is and won't sacrifice that based on other people's expectations. She is full of moxie and gumption and she won't stand by while Stoker throws a hissy fit or tantrum because of a slight by Veronica herself.

This series has evolved over time from a solid historical mystery that now mixes in a healthy dose of romance. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a bodice ripper, but there is a healthy bit of emotional content. I have totally bought into the Veronica/Stoker romance. They are both smart, eccentric, and physical. Veronica’s background as an orphan with royal ties raised by two “aunts” is a perfect contrast to Stoker’s privileged yet troubled upbringing. When they initially met it was an attraction of the minds, but the inevitable happened and their relationship became more. I’ll admit I have a tendre for well written romances and Veronica and Stoker’s rate right up there for me.

As much as I talk about the romance between our two main characters, these are truly historical mysteries. A Sinister Revenge had all the drama of a great whodunnit and my head was spinning trying to figure out who the culprit might be. I’ll admit to being a little surprised, which is all I can ask from the author. I enjoyed Tiberius, as always. He’s such a devilish character and really likes to get under his brother Stoker’s skin. Because this was a house party mystery, there were a lot of fun new characters to get to know as well. It never got boring and the story moved very quickly for me.

This is the eighth book in the series so if you’d like the back stories, start with book #1. If you don’t care and just want a good mystery, go ahead and dig right in. I think you know which side of the line I fall on- the development of the relationships of the characters make this story even more enjoyable for me, so that’s what I’d recommend. Either way, Deanna Raybourn is a great storyteller and I think you’ll enjoy this novel.
.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest!

Another wonderful adventure for Veronica and Stroker. Loved having Tiberius back and part of the adventure and mayhem. Please keep writing more Veronica and Stroker novels!

Eight books in, A Sinister Revenge is a high point in the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries series. And we're seeing that Veronica and Stoker's adventures still have legs.

I love a house party, whether it's in romance or mystery, because it forces together a group of characters who may or may not know each other so well. In this case, it brings Veronica and Stoker back together, gives us a chance to get to know Stoker's brother Merryweather a little bit better, and introduces several new characters. And as house party murder mysteries go, this one is pretty fun. I mean, who wouldn't want to dine inside a restored iguanodon?

What really makes this one for me is seeing some personal growth on Veronica's part. She's so used to calling the shots and making her way on her own that she's been unable (nay, perhaps at times unwilling) to engage Stoker (and everyone else) on their terms. But it seems she's had some realizations about that and about what it means to be a friend.

For the romance readers among us, Veronica's woolgathering over Stoker in this one is an absolute delight.

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

I am a longtime fan of the Veronica Speedwell series and have recommended it widely. That being said, I was on the ABSOLUTE EDGE of my seat after book #7. If I recall correctly, Veronica FINALLLLLLLLLLYYYY told Stoker she loved him and he basically handed her a big fat rejection.

Well. Apparently Stoker told Veronica to give him “space” and Veronica did exactly that, avoiding him for months, without contact or so much as a letter. And Stoker, apparently, was expecting Veronica to chase him (NOT to avoid him) and was then so put out that she avoided him that he avoided her back. Pride, thy name is <s>Veronica</s> <s>Stoker</s> BOTH these fools. Tiberius (I love him more and more each book) apparently got tired of watching the two idiots circle around each other in misery and forced them both back to his house solve his murder before it happened. (This sounds convoluted, but I promise it makes sense in the book.) He lures Stoker back with a Megalosaurus fossil to put together, which I wish there was a picture of. It sounds fantastic. Anyways. Reunited once again, Stoker and Veronica are forced to talk to each other and the détente thaws out a little bit. Some favorite characters (J.J. Butterworth, Julian) resurface and we finally meet the storied Nanny, who is portrayed as a bit of a dragon and frankly puts me in mind of Veronica if Veronica were sixty years older.

The mystery (as always) is almost secondary to (A) Stoker and Veronica’s banter and (B) Veronica’s amusing inner monologue and this case proves to be no different. The secondary characters are very interesting, though, and the mystery was fun. I guessed it prior to the end but that in no way means I didn’t enjoy every moment of the ride. Recommended with one caveat: based on the ending, I’m a little worried that the series is (gulp) at an end? I WAS HOPING FOR MORE CLOSURE!!!!!! Fingers crossed that there is a book #9. I need it. PLEASE!!!!!

⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

the morning. You won’t be able to put it down!

I really love this series; it’s just so damn good. Now I have been debating whether you can read this book as a stand-alone or if you need to read the other books first. And I haven’t really come to a firm answer. Yes, part of me thinks you can read this book without reading the previous books, the mystery part of the book stands on its own, and Deanna does an excellent job at bringing readers up to speed with who is who. But I feel some things will confuse some readers who haven’t read any of the other books in the series and hinder their enjoyment of this book. So I guess I am trying to say that if you want to enjoy this book and all that it offers, I would read all or even some of the previous books in the series before diving into this one.

A Sinister Revenge has a slower-paced feel to it. Veronica and Stoker are not travelling all over the world, and the action side of things is minimal. The vibe of this book is more of the old fashion “whodunit” mystery instead of the usual cloak-and-dagger action pact mystery that we usually get from this series. Tiberius (Stoker’s brother) fears his life is in danger and wants Veronica and Stoker to attend a reunion party at Cherboys, their family’s country estate. Tiberius hopes that this party will provide an opportunity for them to catch the killer before they kill again. I enjoyed this story. I love a good old “whodunit” mystery, and I felt like a detective alongside Veronica trying to figure out who the killer was. The plot, as always, is clever, and the dialogue has all the wit that I have come to expect from a Deanna Raybourn book. I will admit I did find the book a bit too slow at times, but it was still an enjoyable experience.

The previous book ended on a real cliffhanger for our dynamic duo, and this book starts off with Veronica and Stoker spending time apart. Stoker left, stating he needed time to think, and Veronica reluctantly gave him that space. Their relationship is quite strained in this book, and there is a distance between them that hasn’t been there before. For me, the thing I missed most when it came to this book was the Veronica and Stoker banter and them working together to solve the mystery. Veronica is alone for most of this book, and it feels wrong. But I do understand why Deanna has thrown this wrench into their relationship and how she uses it to help them grow as a couple.

A Sinister Revenge is another clever and fun mystery read by Deanna Raybourn.

Thank you, Berkley Publishing, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn is the 8th book in her Veronica Speedwell Mystery series. I have not read this series, though it does read well as a standalone; but would have probably been better to have read some of the more previous books.

Veronica Speedwell, our heroine, is a very good amateur sleuth, in historian times. In the last book, she and her lover, Stoker broke up, and she has been helping his brother, Tiberius on an assignment. Now, Tiberius wans her help, and also Stoker’s; seems someone is sending threatening cryptic messages regarding a death from twenty years ago. On that day, twenty years ago, Tiberious hosted friends at his family estate, they called themselves the Seven Sinners; and one member of their party died due to an accident. In present time, Tiberius decides to bring back members of their group to his estate for a reunion party; especially after reading the obituaries of two members of the Seven Sinners. Tiberius knows someone is out to kill him, and together with Veronica, Stoker, and a younger brother, they welcome the group, with their wives.

What follows is a slow burn story, with Veronica and Stoker still at odds, but together they are determined to discover who in this group is behind the threats, at the same time keeping a protective eye on Tiberius. Three of the Sinners arrive; Count Pietro Salviati & his wife, Beatrice; James Maciver & his wife Augusta, and Doctor Timothy Gresham & his sister, Elspeth. The story picks up half way through, when it gets very exciting. There are a few twists and surprises, with one death that throws things for a loop. Veronica begins to find clues, and just when she suspects one person, everything changes, as she comes face to face with the real killer; and Veronica’s life is in danger. Will she survive?

A Sinister Revenge was a very good mystery, though it was a bit slow early on. I really liked Veronica and how brave she was, as well as her independence. As noted, the last half of the book was very exciting, with some twists and surprises along the way. A Sinister Revenge was very well written by Deanna Raybourn.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-galley of this title in exchange for an honest review. The previous installment had me trying to reattach my jaw at the end, so needless to say I was anxious to dive into this volume as soon as I could. Veronica is back with her butterfly pins, her unquenchable desire to help others, and her complicated relationship with her partner Stoker. This time, despite of the undercurrent of friction that sizzles between Veronica and Stoker, they have to simultaneously help and prevent Stoker's brother Tiberius from going too far in his quest to catch a killer from his past. Veronica also has to reckon with the consequences of her own views, choices, and beliefs in order to make a pivotal decision regarding Stoker and her own feelings on their relationship. Raybourn created another fast paced, engaging, entertaining, and high octane read with this latest work. I absolutely devoured this book and am already impatient for the next.

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭑
A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn is the eighth book in her popular Veronica Speedwell series, this can be read as a standalone. However, reading the series in order will give a better character background that would increase your enjoyment of the story.

Story Recap:
Veronica must help her friend, Tiberius, Lord Templeton-Vane, find a murderer before he becomes the target. Tiberius is the brother of Veronica’s partner, Stoker. But before she investigates the murder, she must find her partner, Stoker, who has been working in Bavaria since their romantic relationship came to an impasse.

Tiberius invites all remaining members of his old group of friends, The Seven Sinners to his home, to try and flush out the murder. Veronica and Stoker are on hand to aid the investigation. Someone is trying to kill off the members of the Seven Sinners and they need to find out who it is before Tiberius becomes one of the victims.

My Thoughts:
I always enjoy going back into Veronica’s world, and Sinister Revenge is no exception. I missed Veronica’s and Stoker’s interactions at the beginning of the book as they weren’t speaking to each other much, but that was rectified later in the book, as we got back to their delightful banter.

I loved seeing Tiberius again, and I like that he knows exactly how to push his brother's buttons! The three of them together make for some terrific banter and humor.

The mystery was interesting, and I didn’t figure it out until Veronica did. I enjoyed getting to know more of Stoker’s family too.

Recommendation:
I highly recommend A Sinister Revenge to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

As I just had last weekend a crash-course in Veronica Speedwell’s history, the beginning of this one was a bit unsettling.
Firstly, Veronica and Stoker’s relationship has hit a wall in the last book, and while I haven’t read it, I am not sure I am team Veronica in her offended feelings.
Once more, she was the one who kept things on hold, concealing parts of her past that had come knocking and damaged Stoker’s faith in her and their relationship.
Why the first part was a bit slow, even if Tiberius’s made up for Stoker’s “absence”, still it was like the narrative was lacking of some spirit.
Plus I did not like her attitude toward Stoker, too rigid in her view of their affair. Seeing only wrong in his reactions, never on her own when she has been the one not trusting him enough with a significant event from her past.
After all it is Stoker we are talking about, a man who went to extreme means to stay by her side, putting himself in harm way to shield her when their lives were at risk, a man who accepts her as a whole, talents and flaws.

Gladly at a time in the story, the pace of the narrative did accelerate a bit, as the list of potential suspects narrowed.
So when the culprit is finally revealed, Veronica has finally acknowledged her failings in the approach of her romance with Stoker, she demands everything but does not reciprocate.
Plus Stoker is in no way like the men from her past, as he proved again and again.

The case brings the Templeton-Vane siblings to the place of their youth, exposing past hurt, miscommunications and a death left unresolved. I loved the interactions between the brothers, how different they all are, yet some well hidden feeling link them despite everything, love.

An other great adventure for the duet, on the quiet side for the investigation but much more tortured from a more personal lookout.
4 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses and behind closed door lovemaking.

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

A Speedwell novel never disappoints. I was worried that after Veronica and Stoker got together they'd lose some of their zing but so far those fears are completely unfounded!

Deanna Raybourn is one of my favorite authors. I have read every book she has written.

A Sinister Revenge is another unputdownable novel by a great author. There is a great mystery, with a lot of speculation on the readers part, of who did it! Veronica and Stoker are a great team in solving the mystery and also in life.

I highly recommend it.

I just cannot say enough about how much I love these books. When Elizabeth Peters passed away and I knew I wasn't getting any more Amelia Peabody books, I was devastated, but Veronica Speedwell has helped fill the hole in my mystery-loving heart.

These books are impeccably written, and the characters are enjoyable and layered. This book particularly lets Tiberius shine, and I just adore him so much. This book is a bit of a "bottle episode" and a bit Christie-esque, which gives me so much joy I can hardly contain it.

Raybourn could write 20 more of these books, and I'd read every one of them on release day.

Oh I so enjoyed this book! This series has long been a favorite of mine but the previous book was a little flat though it did have Stoker and Veronica heading into new territory with their relationship.

From the very beginning I was pulled into this story. I loved seeing the new dynamic between Veronica and Stoker. As well, I enjoyed seeing the Templeton-Vane family home and seeing more of the relationship between the brothers and seeing Tiberius as a young man.

The mystery hooked me at the beginning of the story and kept me guessing from start to finish. I did guess one tiny aspect but the rest had me questioning the whos and the whys.

This may be one of my favorites of the series so far. I felt like I learned more about Veronica and Stoker and his brothers than I had in the previous books but at the same time it never got in the way of the plot.

A Sinister Revenge is the eighth installment in the Veronica Speedwell series and is an enthralling read that is sure to captivate fans of historical mysteries. Deanna Raybourn is a masterful storyteller, and this book is an absolute must-read for aficionados of the genre.

Unfortunately, the first half of the book is sluggish, with only a couple of sparks, and the story did not capture my full attention until the final third. The humor and bickering, which I adore, makes the book more enjoyable than the previous two, which seemed to be missing those key elements. Veronica’s swooning over Stoker still has me rolling my eyes. For a woman who claims she is strong and independent, she does a bit too much melting at the sight of him.

I continue to recommend this series solely due to the humor and banter. Now we must hope Deanna Raybourn will return Veronica to the strong character she first introduced. That and more Merryweather -- I enjoyed him.