A Ghastly Catastrophe, Deanna Raybourn (Review by Skylar Wetzel)
If you are looking for a late 1800s mash-up of Sherlock Holmes and a paranormal murder mystery, then A Ghastly Catastrophe by Deanna Rayburn will entice you in. This is the tenth installment in the Veronica Speedwell Mystery series, and while it is written as a standalone, the prior context of earlier books will help round out the story. This book picks up with Veronica itching for news of a dead body and longing to solve a mystery with her beau, Stoker. As luck would have it, a body is found with puncture wounds and drained of blood, leaving Veronica to suspect a vampire might be in the mix. Stoker fully disbelieves in the folklore of vampires and sets out to prove her wrong. Thus starts the thrilling quest the two go on to determine who is right and what might be real. Along the way, Veronica and Stoker meet new and old friends who will make you wonder how they fit into the puzzle pieces of this mystery.
One thing you can count on from Rayburn’s book is the need to pull out your dictionary every once in a while. The new words I learned, and the unexpected facts from each character, help build the personality of the book. It creates a unique way for each character to logically propose improbable and fictitious ideas that the reader can’t help but wish were true. I was on the edge of my seat, convinced a vampire must be at the root of this murder. The plot really picks up steam near the end, and it becomes clear who the perpetrators are. The book ends with all details flushed out for a curious mind, and the reader will be left satisfied. This story lands solidly in the murder mystery category with a sprinkling of romance. Rayburn highlights all the fun and adventures an independent woman with Veronica station can get up to.