ARC Review: The Woman in the Veil by Laura Joh Rowland

The Woman in the Veil
Author: Laura Joh Rowland
Series: Victorian Mystery (Book 4)
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (January 7, 2020)

Description: Award-winning author Laura Joh Rowland is back with the fourth in her critically acclaimed Victorian mysteries where the case of a mutilated "Sleeping Beauty" washes ashore in London.

London, June 1890.

Sarah Bain and her friends Lord Hugh Staunton and Mick O'Reilly are crime scene photographers for the Daily World newspaper. After solving a sensational murder, they're under pressure to deliver another big story. On a foggy summer night, they're called to the bank of the river Thames. The murder victim is an unidentified woman whose face has been slashed. But as Sarah takes photographs, she discovers that the woman is still alive.

The case of "Sleeping Beauty" becomes a public sensation, and three parties quickly come forward to identify her: a rich, sinister artist who claims she's his wife; a mother and her two daughters who co-own a nursing home and claim she's their stepdaughter/sister; and a precocious little girl who claims Sleeping Beauty is her mother. Which party is Sleeping Beauty's rightful kin? Is someone among them her would-be killer?

Then Sleeping Beauty awakens--with a severe case of amnesia. She's forgotten her name and everything else about herself. But she recognizes one of the people who've claimed her. Sarah is delighted to reunite a family and send Sleeping Beauty home--until one of the claimants is murdered. Suddenly, Sarah, her motley crew of friends, and her fiancé Detective Sergeant Barrett are on the wrong side of the law. Now they must identify the killer before they find themselves headed for the gallows.

My Thoughts: Sarah Bain and her partners Lord Hugh Stanton and Mick O'Reilly are crime scene photographers for the Daily World. They have also solved a number of crimes.

Their latest case has them photographing a beautiful woman lying dead on the shore of the Thames having been beaten and had her face slashed to make her unrecognizable. Only Sarah discovers that she isn't dead and their case, which the newspaper's owner wants them to pursue, is to identify her and discover who left her to die by the river.

Sarah's fiance Detective Sergeant Barrett has been assigned the case by his superior officer who really wants him to fail. Inspector Reid hates that Barrett and his friends have solved cases that Reid had mismanaged. He is determined to get revenge on all of them.

Since the woman knicknamed Sleeping Beauty has amnesia, her story brings a number of people who are sure that she is their missing family member. Three of the cases are credible and it is up to Sarah, Barrett, and their friends to discover where Sleeping Beauty belongs.

I enjoyed this latest in this series. Each episode lets us learn more about the characters. We are also gradually unraveling the mystery in Sarah's past. I like the Victorian setting. I like the relationships between the characters.

Favorite Quote:

When I come across a dangerous person or situation, I'm tempted to draw nearer as if it's a sleeping wolf that I have an urge to poke and wake up, just to see what will happen....And investigating crimes offers me plentiful, welcome opportunities to poke the wolf, no matter that it's almost cost me my life.

There's no exhilaration like facing death and surviving.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.