I think this book had promise, but isn't quite there. The beginning was interesting enough, but once we got to the manor, the murder, and the curse, it felt very slow and less engaging than I'd expected, so I DNF'd at 25%. I wanted to feel the creepiness of the house and the starkness of the Cornish village, but instead I was just annoyed by the characters. There were also issues with the writing - information was doled out in little bits, which was confusing and frustrating, and left me with little sense of the characters' backstories and how they connected with the present day. With some editing and more to pull the reader into the story, it would have been more engaging for me. I'll definitely keep an eye out for future books by this author. Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance digital copy.

2.5⭐️, rounded up to 3⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Curse of Penryth Hall is a bit mystery, a bit fantasy, and a lot of gothic vibes, which I love. Ruby Vaughn is a young American heiress living abroad in Exeter and working for an older gentleman who deals in the world of rare books. When her employer sends her on a mission to deliver a box of books to a pellar (or a folk healer) in Cornwall, Ruby pays a visit to an old friend of hers in the area. Soon after Ruby arrives at her friend’s home (Penryth Hall), her friend’s husband, Sir Edward Chenowyth, is found dead. The townspeople begin to mention that “the curse” came for Edward, and Ruby is thus swept up into the myth and mystery surrounding Sir Edward’s death.

I loved the plot of this book and all of the elements that went into it, from the gothic atmosphere to the country folklore. I feel like the background of the characters could have been better explored, however, to allow readers to feel a stronger sense of connection to them and a better understanding of them. Because of this lack of background and also the writing style, the characters felt flat to me. The pacing was also a little off for me, as the beginning moved really quickly and then things dragged until the end.

All in all, I primarily stuck with this because of a sense of duty and because I truly was curious about the mystery; I just wish it were more cohesive and compelling.

⚠️ CWs: death, murder, infidelity

Thank you to the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I'm having a lot of conflicting feelings about this book. well parts of it were very entertaining. I still found a lot of it just completely dragged. There were times when it just felt like it went on forever, especially at the beginning. It felt like I was making no progress getting through the book. The book certainly had its good moments as there were times when I was completely engrossed in the story and I even a few bits of laughter.

So what I liked about this book is that the mystery was solid and the characters were pretty decent. Where it goes downhill for me is when the characters just fell flat at random points in the story. It was like they temporarily un-developed to fit the scene and bounced back later.

Overall, it wasn't a bad experience, so if this is something that sounds interesting to you I would still recommend giving it a shot.

This book has wonderful reminders of a Victoria Holt or Mary Stewart gothic suspense. Rather than a quiet, shy protagonist however, Ruby is world weary and snarky as can be. She throws wonderfully degenerate parties (according to some) and loves her octogenarian landlord/employer. Her life turns upside down when he sends her to deliver a crate of books to mysterious, spooky Cornwall. I loved this novel and hope there's more coming!

While I wanted to enjoy Jess Armstrong's debut, I ended up "dnf'ing" The Curse of Penryth Hall at 70%. I couldn't find a connection to the characters and feel (after reflection) that atmospheric gothic tales are just not my thing. BUT IF YOU LIKE THAT YOU MAY LIKE THIS! The one thing that *almost* kept me listening was the audio, narrator by Emma Love. Emma's voice kept me immersed in the story and I could imagine myself walking in the fields.

Thank you Dreamscape Media and Macmillan (Minotaur) for my alc/earc in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book kind of reminded me of Mexican Gothic, but with a post-WWI European setting. I enjoyed Ruby, our main heroine, and her inner monologue. She’d had a rough life and an interesting outlook. Penryth Hall and its cast of characters have an excellent spooky vibe on its cliff side local and I could definitely feel and picture the drafty, dark rooms and hallways. I had a hard time keeping all townspeople together and, while I didn’t see the twist coming, parts of it seemed too far-fetched. Overall, a good and interesting novel with some queer aspects.

Book Name: The Curse of Penryth Hall
Author: Jess Armstrong

ARC
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for an ARC of The Curse of Penryth Hall

Stars: 1
Spice: 0

Standalone (hints of a series in the final chapter)
Slow Paced
Mystery with some Super Natural Elements
Not Quite an Alternate Magical Reality

Thoughts
- More 1920’s Nior than Gothic.
- Romance was an After Thought (Disappointing)
- Slow Moving
- Lost Interest
- Writing has a strange historical vibe maybe it's due to the setting 1920s
- This just wasn't a book for me. I love Gothics and this just didn't feel like a gothic to me.

The best way I can describe this book is “Not Quite” It is not quite gothic, its romance is not quite there, and its pacing and tensions are not quite there either… its just missing something….

Due to the Negative Nature of this review, I will not be posting it to Goodreads or retail sites with respect to the publisher and author.

Thanks to NetGalley and St, Martins Press for this free ARC in return for my honest review.

Had high hopes for this book, and unfortunately it did not live up to those hopes. There is a good plot, but characters are lacking in development and the longer I read the book the less and less I enjoyed it. This follows Ruby Vaughan, an American who now works at a small bookstore in England, She is/was an heiress who was sent to England due to "Indiscretions" in the states. She worked helping wounded soldiers in WW1 where she met and fell in love with another lady who eventually left here to get married to one of the patients. Whew, had that all come out early in the book it would make sense, but instead we get little snippets here and there, during the main body of the story, Ruby is sent to deliver books to a man who she finds out is a Preller - again it takes multiple chapters to figure out what a Preller really is, and even then I am not sure but he is some sort of mystic. the 7th son of the 7th son, and therefore allegedly has special powers. She finally visits her old female friend, along with her husband and infant child, and a gruesome murder occurs. Everyone blames it on the curse at the house. Ruby refuses to believe it and sets about trying to disprove that myth. The longer it went on, the less interested I was in the book. Disappointed, since the idea behind the book was good but it was not executed very well.

The experience of reading Curse of Penryth Hall is like drinking a wine that hasn’t fully completed the aging process. The core concept is good, and the mystery is solid. The characters are passable, but occasionally have to hold the idiot ball or become two dimensional in service of the plot. I have a lot of issues with the sentence craft of this book, and unfortunately, the good idea, solid mystery, and middling characters mean I can’t in good fait recommend this book,

I’ve had experiences like this before, and in my opinion the person first in line for the blame is the editor. The author has promise, but the correct response here is: “Congratulations on finishing your novel. It’s not ready for prime time, but I’d be interested in seeing your next one.” The sentences are just too rough. In places I found myself skimming because the poorly constructed sentences were repelling them as oil does to water.

The core idea of a haunted Welsh mansion where people start dying is a good one, but that is an idea that rests on vibes. I want to feel the wind off the moor on my neck, and smell the mist in the morning. Instead it felt like listening to a teenage girl tell you about her day at school. I also took issue with some inconsistent and unconvincing character choices. The main character Ruby, lives with a bookseller, who’s only personality traits are old and fatherly. It’s entirely unclear why he likes Ruby, who appears to be a selfish drunk (I do not understand why everyone thought she was charming. She reminded me most of a Frat bro.) I recommend giving this one a pass.

I received an advance copy in exchange for this honest review.

Disgraced American heiress Ruby Vaughn has made a new life in Exeter, England, as a bookseller. A delivery of sorcery books to the local folk-healer in Cornwall causes Ruby to cross paths with a beloved friend from the past, someone from whom she parted badly. The very next day, the friend’s husband is murdered and Ruby had a dream about it. The villagers are convinced it’s the long-ago curse placed on the lord of Penryth Hall but Ruby’s got her doubts. This may be the start of a fun (and maybe quite cozy) mystery series.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-arc.*

The Curse of Penryth Hall
By Jess Armstrong

This is a murder mystery set in Cornwall in a small village steeped in superstition. In fact, it involves multiple murders as well as kidnapping and blackmail. And then there is the supernatural element in the person of Ruan Kivell, the Pellar or witch, as he is known in Pethlol.

While the story line is interesting enough, in the end there were several things about the book which were never really explained or resolved. Worse than that, for me, is that most of the characters were not believable or even likeable.

I don't know whether this is intended to be the first in a series, but it read like that.

An entertaining pseudo-Gothic that is well paced but short on atmosphere and originality.

The premise for this one follows the standard Gothic format, and in theory the setting is a good one. I’m surprised to see this book described at atmospheric, especially relative to other Gothic mysteries. It lacks any spookiness or sense of menace, which I consider a requirement for good Gothic fiction. The book makes some interesting forays into Cornish folklore and legend, but the lack of atmosphere relegates this component to academic information in service of solving the mystery. Which would be fine if the book hadn’t been aiming for Gothic.

The mystery itself is fine, has a decent enough solve, and is well structured. And I liked the heroine, even though most of the secondary characters are fairly archetypal.

On the whole this is an entertaining enough read, but the quality doesn’t stand up to truly good contemporary Gothic.

This tale of Ruby Vaughn, which seems like it's set up to be the first in a series, wasn't a hit for me. I didn't quite connect with any of the characters, including the main character Ruby Vaughn. Although the mystery of a newer husband being found dead with his body ravaged in the 1920s Cornish countryside was initially intriguing, it quickly petered out for me. And I didn't realize that Ruan was supposed to be a love interest until far into the book, after I had already friendzoned him for Ruby.

I think this might have more of an appeal for those who enjoy 1920s English cozy mysteries written in a slower, Older English style.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Curse of Penryth Hall
Author: Jess Armstrong
Genre: Mystery/thriller
Rating:4.5 out of 5

After the Great War, American heiress Ruby Vaughn made a life for herself running a rare bookstore alongside her octogenarian employer and house mate in Exeter. She’s always avoided dwelling on the past, even before the war, but it always has a way of finding her. When Ruby is forced to deliver a box of books to a folk healer living deep in the Cornish countryside, she is brought back to the one place she swore she’d never return. A more sensible soul would have delivered the package and left without rehashing old wounds. But no one has ever accused Ruby of being sensible. Thus begins her visit to Penryth Hall.

A foreboding fortress, Penryth Hall is home to Ruby’s once dearest friend, Tamsyn, and her husband, Sir Edward Chenowyth. It’s an unsettling place, and after a more unsettling evening, Ruby is eager to depart. But her plans change when Penryth’s bells ring for the first time in thirty years. Edward is dead; he met a gruesome end in the orchard, and with his death brings whispers of a returned curse. It also brings Ruan Kivell, the person whose books brought her to Cornwall, the one the locals call a Pellar, the man they believe can break the curse. Ruby doesn’t believe in curses―or Pellars―but this is Cornwall and to these villagers the curse is anything but lore, and they believe it will soon claim its next Tamsyn.

To protect her friend, Ruby must work alongside the Pellar to find out what really happened in the orchard that night.

I liked Ruby a lot in this novel. She’s mostly very sure of herself, confident, and capable. She’s spunky, and I like her attitude. I also enjoyed Ruan a lot, the inscrutable, enigmatic Pellar. There were a lot of layers in this novel: old relationships, memories, current relationships, changed people and friendships, the local culture, the murder mystery…

The author did an excellent job of weaving all these layers together into a rich tapestry of story. I never figured out who the killer was, and the reveal surprised me. I enjoyed this read, and wondering how everything was going to work itself out kept me reading far too late into the night.

Jess Armstrong lives in New Orleans. The Curse of Penryth Hall is her debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

(blog link live 12/5).

I found the book interesting however I didn’t really connect with the characters. It took me a while to adjust to the writing as it is set in the 20’s. I did enjoy the little murder mystery though and I think if the writing didn’t throw me off in the beginning and I could’ve connected with the characters, I would’ve given a higher review. I think people also into historical fiction would really like this book.

I must start off by saying I have been in a reading slump and unable to stay focused but not anymore! I started this book I. Morning and finished before nightfall. I really enjoyed this mystery, Ruby, Owen, the Pellar and Mrs. Penryth.

There were plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing, I did not realize who it was till Ruby did.

The ending leads you to believe that there might be a book 2 set in Scotland this time. I’m crossing my fingers there is.

Highly recommend this debut mystery to all my mystery loving friends, I know I will be adding Tess Armstrong to my favorite author list.

I requested and received an advance readers copy from St. Martin’s and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong is a captivating mystery novel that will transport you to the Cornish countryside and keep you on the edge of your seat. The story follows Ruby Vaughn, an American heiress who runs a rare bookstore in Exeter. After being forced to deliver a box of books to a folk healer living deep in the Cornish countryside, Ruby finds herself back in Penryth Hall, the home of her once-dearest friend, Tamsyn, and her husband, Sir Edward Chenowyth.

When Edward is found dead in the orchard, the locals believe that the curse has returned, and that Tamsyn may be the next victim. Ruby, who doesn't believe in curses, must work with Ruan Kivell, the Pellar who the locals believe can break the curse, to uncover the truth behind Edward's death and protect her friend.

The writing in The Curse of Penryth Hall is beautifully descriptive, with well-developed characters and a plot that keeps you guessing until the very end. The author does an excellent job of building the atmosphere of the Cornish countryside, creating a sense of foreboding and mystery that permeates the entire story.

Overall, The Curse of Penryth Hall is a must-read for anyone who loves a good mystery. It is a thrilling and suspenseful novel that will keep you guessing until the very end. Jess Armstrong is a talented writer, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Ruby has a checkered past. She's an American heiress now living in the Cornish countryside, sent away by her family due to a scandal. World War I has ended and she is working at a rare bookstore in Exeter. Tasked with delivering rare books to a folk healer, The Pellar Ruan Kivell, in another village causes Roby to have to return to a place, and a person, that she never wanted to see again, Penryth Hall and her once closest friend, Tamsyn. Tamsyn has married Sir Edward Chenowyth and needless to say, Ruby is not a fan of his. During what Ruby hopes is a quick visit, she awakens the next morning to find Sir Edward dead in the orchard, the victim of a supposed curse that has been whispered about for years. In order to get to the bottom of what happened, Ruby must work with Ruan and the rest of the villagers to figure out what has happened and whether the curse is truly to blame.

This is a wonderful gothic novel filled with mystery, lore and legend, and a touch of the paranormal. Ruby is a strong lead character, dedicated to helping her friend no matter what. I love how the author kept me guessing the entire time, leading me to think the killer could have been anyone. This is a good back to curl up with on a rainy and foggy day and get lost in the atmosphere of it all.

Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an arc of this book.
Ruby Vaughn works at a bookstore with a man she considers a father figure. She is told not to look at the books or try to read them. Ruby is told that they are for a folk healer that the townsfolk believe is a witch. While delivering the books she visits her childhood best friend Tameran at Penryth hall. She meets Tameran's husband Edward and son Jori. Edward is found dead that night and everyone believes it's the curse that killed his uncle. Ruby believes that it is a man and not a curse that killed Edward. Edward killed George who is the rightful heir of Penryth Hall and the biological father of Jori. Edward was planning to disown Jori making people none the wiser except Alice Martin, George's aunt and the woman he called mom but was actually his aunt. She also poisoned Ruby and Nellie who was meant to be George's wife but became Edward's mistress. Ruby gets injured by the townsfolk since they believe her to be a witch. Alice Martin is discovered to be the killer in order to avenge her sister and George and after being discovered jumps to her death in order to be with her sister and adopted son. Ruby ends up stealing Tameran's housekeeper who took a liking to both her and her cat. The story ends a week later with the healer starting a relationship with Ruby and her planning a trip to Scotland with the man she considers a father.

The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong was a spellbinding debut!
A wonderfully told gothic and mystical story I was viciously flipping the pages to my kindle.
A creative story with an intriguing mystery filled with interesting characters.
As to Armstrong‘s writing style, it’s very approachable and with the evocative description.
The pacing was perfect, the descriptions delicious, and the writing so engaging.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.