Audiobook review: A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn
Picking up about six months after the conclusion of the previous adventure, Veronica is traveling through Italy with Tiberius, collecting butterflies. Stoker remains absent and unheard from after he left following their last adventure when he thought Veronica was married (she’s not and never was).
After feeling a bit unsettled/unfinished after the previous Veronica Speedwell mystery, I was a bit apprehensive going into A Sinister Revenge. However, my worries were for naught. Ms. Raybourn returns to the magical formula of intriguing mystery balanced with just the right amount of romance.
The best parts of A Sinister Revenge are why I love this series so much. We follow Veronica as she uses her brilliant brain to test out hypotheses and ferret out a killer (or two). She uses science and deduction, yet she’s prone to emotional outbursts, which give her heart. I love the scene when she thinks she’s cornered the killer and goes into her berserker mode, jumping into danger to catch a killer and protect those she cares for most. She begrudgingly admits her mistakes and more importantly, she makes much overdo amends to some of the characters in A Sinister Revenge. She realizes that she’s cut herself off to protect her heart, and that she has genuine friends and love in her life; those who won’t hurt her. It’s been a realization that is long overdue, and it’s so rewarding to witness.
The mystery involves Stoker’s eldest brother, Tiberius, who tells our intrepid duo that a good friend died on the family estate twenty years ago, and now it looks like someone is out for revenge, killing off all those who were there that fateful night. Tiberius implores Veronica and Stoker to protect him and uncover the truth, but then invites all of the suspects to his estate and confronts them. Merryweather, Stoker’s youngest sibling, is also a part of the story, and we learn more about Stoker’s childhood and family. I absolutely enjoyed the family dynamics and glimpses of true affection amongst the brothers, yet there is also the usual tension, especially since we are given hints that Tiberius and Merryweather may not enjoy their given lots in life.
Narration: The story is shared via Veronica’s first person POV, with the narrator and Veronica’s dialogue one and the same. Ms. Masters alters all dialogue and her range of accents is excellent and sound authentic to this untrained ear. She changes her voice based on the characters’ regional and socio-economical background. Ms. Masters’s performance of Veronica is perfect. She nails Veronica’s no nonsense, adventurous attitude. But she also captures Veronica’s just-under-the-surface vulnerability. Additionally, she gives Stoker a sexy, unfettered gruffness that sharpens with concern when Veronica is in danger or when the pair is sparring. While Ms. Masters expertly performs a multitude of voices, many of her male characters sound the same, especially the Templeton-Vane brothers.
A Sinister Revenge is a well-written, exciting mystery with a touch of romance. The story continues Veronica and Stoker’s journey, bringing readers maturity of character and exciting new sparks.
My Ratings
Story: A
Narration: A
Jen
About the Book:
Veronica must find and stop a devious killer when a group of old friends is targeted for death in this new adventure from the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author Deanna Raybourn.
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.
Author: Deanna Raybourn
Narrator: Angèle Masters
Series: Veronica Speedwell #8
Genre: Historical Mystery; romantic elements
Audiobook Release Date: March 7, 2023
Length: 12 hrs and 3 mins
Audiobook Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio
Source: Audiobook Publisher
Audio Speed: 1.5x
Purchase info:
Amazon (affilate link)
Reviews in the Series:
A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn (Veronica Speedwell Mysteries #1) – Audiobook Review
A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn (Veronica Speedwell Mysteries #2) – Audiobook Review
A Treacherous Curse by Deanna Raybourn (Veronica Speedwell Mysteries #3) – Audiobook Review
A Dangerous Collaboration by Deanna Raybourn (Veronica Speedwell Mysteries #4) – Audiobook Review
A Murderous Relation by Deanna Raybourn (Veronica Speedwell Mysteries #5) – Audiobook Review
An Unexpected Peril by Deanna Raybourn (Veronica Speedwell Mysteries #6) – Audiobook Review
An Impossible Imposter by Deanna Raybourn (Veronica Speedwell Mysteries #7) – Audiobook Review