A Grave Robbery: A Veronica Speedwell Mystery by Deanna Raybourn

Veronica and Stoker are on the case once again and this time there is no interference from a royal family, this might be a first. Veronica and Stoker are really trying to help Lord Rosemorran get the museum of treasures his family has acquired over the years into, well a museum but a mysterious wax person is uncovered and Veronica and Stoker want to make things right. In what seems to have become their normal routine Veronica and Stoker also find themselves helping Lady Cordelia by being living paintings. Stoker does not want to rule out a female killer, as it has been proven many times over when they are involved that females are killers. Veronica thinks that Ambrose and Eliza are hiding something, and with the help of Monaday and J.J. Butterworth the four of them figure out what is going on and save Veronica from danger while discovering the real killer. This group of crime solvers is as entertaining as ever, and with a very creepy case to solve manage to solve it in the nick of time. Looking forward to the next book in this series. 

 

Character List/Book Summary:

Veronica Speedwell – Receives an invitation to address the Aurelian Society, but it is withdrawn when they realized she was a female. Believes that Ambrose holds a tragic past that haunts him, and suspects that Julius is really alive and never died in the fire. Has settled into a nice routine with Stoker and both are honest about their feelings with one another. Asks Stoker to take her with him if he is ever near death and she isn’t. 

Stoker – his recent dislocated shoulder has healed and they now have 5 dogs that he is mostly responsible for. Agrees with Veronica that they must investigate the death of the lady who was made to look like waxwork. Thinks that Ambrose is hiding something nefarious. Promises Veronica that if he is ever near death he will take her with him.

Lord Rosemorran – Great-nephew of Lady Wellie, does not want the police involved (for his children’s reputations) when it is discovered that the lady waxwork is in fact a murdered woman. 

Lady Wellingtonia Beauclerk – was gifted a Golden Marmaset by an admirer, returned because she was homesick and learned of the waxwork woman being a real lady. 

Lady Rose – youngest of the Lord’s children, has a crush on Stoker and wants him to make the waxwork figure breathe. 

John Ruby – owned a warehouse whose contents are being sold by his widow because she is moving to Argentina and this warehouse had the lady made to look like a waxwork in his warehouse. 

Branzino – traveled with the circus and had a waxwork blonde that was always in need of repair

Madame Archane – contortionist who every few months takes off to the beach to stretch, tells Stoker and Veronica what Branzino did with his waxperson, and knew Julius in school

Lord Ambrose Despard – bought Branzino’s waxperson and glass coffin. Taller than Stoker but with a fencer’s body. Collects butterflies and has a room full of wax ladies. Family is eccentric on both sides and has an interest in preserving dead tissue. Killed on the train leaving London as he was trying to escape from the killer. Stoker’s brother Rupert helped Veronica and Stoker get an introduction to Lord Ambrose. 

Lady Cordelia – Lord Rosemorran’s sister and Lady Rose’s aunt. Sponsored Veronica at the Curiosity Club, friend to Veronica, has been pale and snapping at people lately. Veronica is worried about the cause of her moods.

J.J. Butterworth – a lady reporter and acquaintance of Veronica’s, knows Veronica’s true parentage but has not spilled the beans. Tells Veronica that she and Mornaday deserved a better place at the table for their investigations because of how much the two have helped them. 

Mornaday – Special branch of Scotland Yard detective inspector, not liked by Inspector Abbington and caught in Sir Hugo’s office looking for information on Beauty, as the group has taken to calling the lady that was killed and made to look like a waxperson. Was suspended by Abbington when he voiced concern about how Ambrose was murdered. Finds out by talking to the maid that Ambrose was stealing food from his own kitchen. 

Sir Hugo Montegomerie – Mornaday’s boss, out for a bout of gout, but his notes for the Julius investigation include that he felt the death was faked but best to let sleeping dogs lie. 

Julius Elyot – did the death mask for the missing girl that Plumbree’s uncle did not bury. Lady Wellie says he was an artist, but died years ago when his lab went up in flames. He taught his sister about science and anatomy, and wanted to bring a drowned woman back to life. Kicked his sister out after they argued if a woman should be brought back to life. 

Wilfred Plumtree – from Kent, inherited his uncle’s business (mortuary) and wants to be a mortuary, but the bodies creep him out. Helps Veronica and Stoker find out what happened to the woman made into a waxwork. Veronica wants him to spend time with Stoker to help gain confidence. 

Parthenope Fleet – knows Veronica from the Curiosity Club, considers Eliza a protege but one who has a bitterness and worked on reanimating limbs.

Eliza Elyot – her research can only be published after she has died, as her brother’s death was hard on her and it started as their research. Ambrose had been her suitor. Feels electricity can make the world easier for women. Tells Veronica that Ambrose is not clever, but he can spot it in others. 

Undine Trevelyan – a member of the Curiosity Club, Eliza lives with her

Hetty – proprietress of the Hippolyta Club (Curiosity Club)

Minnie – scullery girl in the house next to Ambrose that tells Mornaday about Ambrose’s guest and Ambrose stealing his own food. Tells J.J. about the female that yelled at Ambrose and went with him to the train station. 

 

 

 

https://bookshop.org/widgets.js

Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.