An Impossible Impostor by Deanna Raybourn is the latest installment in the historical mystery/adventure Veronica Speedwell series. This is a book I had pre-ordered ages ago and read as soon as it downloaded. I have only one thing to say.
I thought we were friends, Ms. Raybourn!!!!!
The Impossible Impostor
I discovered Veronica Speedwell when the audiobook of A Curious Beginning (Book 1) was an Audible daily deal. I have been a die-hard fan ever since.
I grew up wanting to be Indiana Jones, and Veronica fulfills all of my adult daydreams of far off adventure and mystery.
To say nothing of her relationship with the very delightful Stoker.
I’ve gushed about this series before on the book blog, and this installment very nearly ended my imaginary friendship with the author, Ms. Raybourn.
A book series of this length can be at jeopardy for falling stale, and I think Ms. Raybourn was determined to not let that happen.
So she blew the whole damn thing right up.
Our Beloved Veronica and Stoker
The Veronica Speedwell series is already up to seven books, and that is a long character arc for Ms. Raybourn to build. As I said, it is something that can go stale if an author doesn’t handle it properly, but Ms. Raybourn has been doing a fine job of it from the start. (Remember the bathtub scene we were all waiting for and finally got in book 5???)
An Impossible Impostor took those life-giving sips of change and threw a giant bucket of ice cold water on us.
And I can’t even talk about it!
Ms. Raybourn crafted an entire story around a major spoiler in Veronica’s life, so I must hem and haw around it in order to preserve the series’ integrity for those who have not had the pleasure of reading Veronica’s adventures.
Keep Guessing
I’ve been reading a lot of crime fiction lately, and the unfortunate result of that is seeing the ending a mile off.
Let me tell you, dear reader. I didn’t see this coming.
It goes against everything Veronica stands for, and because of that, she became an entirely realistic and almost human character that jumps off the page. And this is after I was already in love with her.
The catalyst for this volcanic change is even more intriguing, and I hope said character reappears down the road. I’d love to see what happens next.
Final Thoughts
This installment of this historical mystery series has everything the fans of this genre want including a foray into the ghoulish moors of Dartmoor. Fans of the Mary Russell series should absolutely pick this one up. You may catch sp,e glimpses of some old friends.
Ms. Raybourn, I will forgive you this one time. Only because I know what you will do next will be even better than what’s already happened.
Enjoy historical mystery? Check out my Shadowing London series.
