The Veil of Death by Natalie Brianne: Book Review (ARC)

Details

• Genre: Mystery/suspense, Historical fiction, Fantasy (some steampunk elements)
• Series: The Constantine Capers (Book #3)
• Length: 317 pages (EPUB)
• Publication Date: September 30, 2025

Tropes

• Forced proximity (employer/employee)
• Friends to lovers

My Rating

Book Description

“In a city ruled by veils and shadows, even love can become a dangerous game. 

Paris 1889

With her uncle’s wedding on the horizon, Mira Blayse longs for a moment of peace. But peace is a luxury she can’t afford — not after the fires in the catacombs, the truth about The Charger, and the knowledge that corruption reaches deep into the heart of the Parisian police.

When death comes far too close to home, Mira and Byron are pulled into a tangled web of deception and rising political tensions. General Boulanger’s rising popularity in France — and the dark secrets behind it — hint at something far worse than scandal. Unrest is spreading across Europe, and Mira knows that if Circe is involved, war will follow.

But Mira isn’t just fighting against The Order. She’s guarding secrets that could destroy her family — and uncovering more that could upend her relationship with Byron. His memory is slipping again. And he’s hiding something. Then again… so is she.

As old enemies circle and new threats emerge, Mira must decide how much truth to reveal — and how much she’s willing to risk for justice.”

— from Goodreads

My Review

When a murder leaves Mira’s family reeling, she and Byron are determined to see justice done.

The events of the previous books are clearly weighing on Mira. In addition to the fallout of Book 3, she has the burden of keeping secrets from her family and renewed worries about Byron’s memory. 

There was actually a slight role reversal between them in this book. Usually, Mira is the one supporting Byron by helping him when he forgets. This time, Byron supports Mira by comforting her when she can’t stop herself from remembering.

A mystery feels so much more devastating when the author allows you to get to know the victim first. It really conveys the grief the family experiences at the loss, as well as how unfair and senseless the murder feels.

As always, I loved the little clues and details that helped solve the mystery. However, a certain character’s death did feel rather anticlimactic given how big a role they played in Books 2 and 3.

Theo and Chabot provided some brief but necessary comic relief in what was otherwise quite a heavy story. I wouldn’t mind them coming back in future books as a sort-of buddy cop duo.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions expressed are my own.

Favorite Moments

🔎 pretending to faint
🔎 refrigerator room

Favorite Quotes

“Was it better to know the truth or to be kept in ignorance? A silly thought to have, seeing as she couldn’t very well throw her knowledge to the wayside and skip back into the soft embrace of inexperience.“

Natalie Brianne

“Did she even know all the secrets in her heart? There was such a falseness in living, to continue on, day by day. Perhaps falseness was the wrong word for it, because was on lying if you had forgotten the truth yourself?“

Natalie Brianne

“‘I’m so tired of secrets. I have too many.’

He moved closer, so he could put his free arm around her. ‘I can help carry them.’“

Natalie Brianne

“‘You missed the most important part,’ he said.

‘How after years of forgetting, his world was upended by a beautiful and clever artist-turned-secretary.’“

Natalie Brianne

“‘Oh, but the emotions are quite relevant. Because memory or not, the feelings were still there.’“

Natalie Brianne

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