WOMS: A Grave Robbery

Veronica and Stoker are back at it, and this time they must solve a dastardly crime! This week for “What’s on my Shelf,” it’s Deanna Raybourn’s latest A Grave Robbery!

Last we heard from our sleuthing lovers, they had reconciled and returned to Bishop’s Folly in contented bliss after solving their last case. As employees of Lord Rosemorran, we find them continuing their work of documenting and preparing the myriad of specimens in his collection for public viewing. Much to their dismay, the lord himself appears with another specimen to add to his overabundant collection, specifically for his most willful child, Lady Rose. Her latest obsession with Madame Tussaud’s wax creations, most of all her Sleeping Beauty, has forced Lord Rosemorran to purchase a wax figurine in a glass casket, reminiscent of the fairy tale, to give Lady Rose her own Sleeping Beauty.

Unfortunately for Stoker, this wax figurine is more than she appears as he discovers when he begins preparing the body to have a clockwork mechanism installed. What should be wax is instead perfectly preserved human flesh.

Enraged someone would commit so heinous a crime, Stoker is driven to seek justice, much to Veronica’s surprise. He needs no convincing this time to go seek out the answers to this mystery, and with it they find themselves once again in the fray.

I will confess I have the premonition that this latest adventure of Veronica and Stoker’s will be the last we read. Though mostly this theory is based on the single evidence of the next novel not appearing yet on Goodreads, when usually by now it should be as we’re a few months after A Grave Robbery’s release, after reading this ninth book in the series I feel my theory to be justified.

There are nods not only to all their adventures, but most of all that of their first as they revisit the travelling circus from A Curious Beginning, of which Stoker himself had been a part of in his youth. Then there’s the welcome addition of both Mornaday and J.J. Butterworth in their investigation.

While neither of them were ever villainous to Veronica or Stoker, they have had their share of scuffles with the young detective inspector and dogged reporter, respectively, throughout their many cases. Recently, though, most of their involvement were professional collaborations. It is in this case Veronica seeks out both their assistance as she and Stoker, mostly she, are reluctant to admit they are rather stumped with first identifying their victim.

Lastly, my theory holds because Stoker willing chooses to investigate, then at the end when they layout their trap to capture the culprit, Stoker does not argue with Veronica’s plan to put herself in harms way, though he has protested her willingness to risk her life in the name of justice in all their other adventures. Then when all has concluded, and they’re safely sequestered back at the Belvedere, Veronica even admits she was wrong leading them to reach an understanding he will not bar her from throwing herself into the volley of fire but neither will she resist his aid or rescue should the need arise.

With the characters coming full circle since we met them in A Curious Beginning along with other minor nuances I won’t give voice to, I can’t help but wonder that our witnessing their escapades has come to a close. Though I’m sure they will have many more adventures to come, they shall remain theirs alone.

I hope I’m wrong, only because I love these characters so much, but Raybourn can’t write Veronica and Stoker forever. I mean, she could. There are those serial novelists out there. However, I know she has other novels she’s been writing and publishing. It might be what she wants. I’m sure I missed some announcement somewhere on social media since I’m admittedly horrible with following anything these days (except on Instagram). All that to say, I can’t begrudge her for wanting to close with this and continue with other stories she’s itching to share.

Or maybe she’s just taking a break?

Either way, if I’m correct and this is the final Veronica Speedwell adventure, it was a glorious ending to a beloved character with all the promise of more adventures to come, whether we witness them or not.

What do you think? Will we get to join Veronica and Stoker again? Or did you actually hear from Deanna Raybourn what her plans are for their future? Let me know in the comments below!

And follow me on Goodreads to see what else is on my shelf!