I decided to DNF this one at 40%. Not because it wasn't good but because I wasn't in the mood for it. I am feeling slumpy this month and I didn't want to make it worse by forcing myself through a book (again) that I wasn't completely enjoying. But I liked the main character and it had good atmosphere. I would definitely come back to it at a different time.

This book was well written however I don’t feel like I connected with the novel.

There were a couple times in this book where I just felt like I missed something. I did reread a couple sections without luck.

The curse of penryth hall is a stellar and unique debut by Armstrong. Ruby is an heiress who is sent to the Cornish countryside on an errand-to penryth hall-a place she swore she would never return. She ends up staying the night with her old friend. Tamsyn, and her husband, sir Edward. Eager to depart. Ruby plans to leave at dawn but is awakened by the ringing of the bells-signaling that a death has occurred. Sir Edward’s body was found in the orchard and people are worried that the curse of the hall has returned and Edward has died at the hand of a mysterious beast. Ruby senses there is something a miss and join forces with outsider, Ruan, a “pellar” who locals believe can break the curse that has kept the hall its grip. Secrets begin to unravel and everything Ruby thought she knew is flipped on its head as she gets closer to the truth.

The atmosphere is what carries this story as Armstrong perfectly evokes the tone of gothic writers who came before. The story has elements of mystery, the occult, supernatural, and a dash of romance. The characters and relationships between them can be hard to track at times, but that shouldn’t deter too much from the fun of the plot.
A worthwhile debut and looking forward to more from Armstrong in this genre!

I was so confused! I kept thinking I had dropped into the second or third book in a series- that Ruby's back story (her scandal, her sister, her parents, her service in France, her relationship with Tamsyn) had all been explained in an earlier book because surely the single sentences about all of the aforementioned were harkening back to a more extensive explanation. But no, they weren't. And know that fairly far into the novel, the fact that Ruby is American is dropped in. Whew. Now, without those issues, there's a decent mystery/romantic suspense here. Ruby has been sent to Cornwall to deliver books to Ruan, the local pellar (go with it) so she takes time to see Tamsyn, whose horrible husband is found dead the next morning, a victim of the curse of Penryth Hall. Ruby had a dream about him- or did she? She then sets out to answer the question of the curse. She's had a special relati0nship with Tamsyn but she's also attracted to Ruan. It's atmospheric and twisty and there's one heck of a cool cat. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Here's hoping for another from Armstrong who shows promise.

This story was told in first person by Ruby. I enjoyed her banter with her octogenarian employer in the beginning of the story. I was also fascinated by the character of the Pellar and wished for his point of view often throughout the story as well as more on the mental connection he had with Ruby. I found the background for Ruby to purposefully ambiguous and her obsession with the Tamsyn of the past eventually became annoying repetitive and often clouded her otherwise analytical judgement.

The mystery was interesting and I was actually surprised by the resolution. I loved the dream sequences and the almost eerie feel to them. However, I was told that the story took place in Cornwall and I was told that the people of the village were superstitious but aside from two incidents, I didn’t feel like any of that was weaved into the story which made for a disappointing atmosphere for a supposedly gothic tale.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a copy provided for an honest review.

American heiress Ruby Vaughn has survived the great war and is now living in Exeter and helping run a rare bookshop with the elderly owner Mr. Owens. Mr. Owens sends Ruby to the Cornish countryside to deliver some rare books. Ruby is reluctant to go as she has vowed never to return to the village there. Too many memories, but return she does. She re-connects with a friend from her past. Then her friends husband is murdered and the curse of his estate is brought to life again. He is not the only death and after Ruby is nearly killer, the murderer is revealed, not a curse.

The Curse of Penryth Hall was a delightful surprise for me. I'm love atmosphere and this entire story was dripping in it. I also loved Ruby as a main character and the chemistry between her and Ruan. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historically-set mysteries with heavy gothic vibes. There is just so much to enjoy here if you're looking for a light read.

This book. Was. So. Good. A real palette cleanser, mixing historical fiction, mystery, crime and a little dash of the fantastical in one propulsive, gorgeously gothic story. I adored the main character Ruby, who was strong willed, smart, and tenacious, as well as Ruan, the mysterious yet helpful Pellar. The setting of true life Cornwall, England is one I’m very familiar with, and I really felt transported there through the evocative language, finding myself pining for the chilly beaches and gorgeous moors landscape. Humorous at times, the book also reminded me a little of Agatha Christie, and kept me guessing in much the same way. I don’t want to reveal too much, but I there are hints at a broader storyline that could happen in possible sequel follow ups, and I for one hope that that author Jess Armstrong does indeed give us more. Ruby is something special.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the chance to read and in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley and Minotaur Books, for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book for review.

From the very beginning, I found myself deeply invested in Ruby Vaughn's journey, eagerly following her as she navigates the twists and turns of this captivating plot. The author's writing style is engaging and immersive, effortlessly drawing readers into the world of Penryth Hall and its enigmatic inhabitants.

'The Curse of Penryth Hall' is a book that will leave readers spellbound, yearning for more of its captivating storyline and unforgettable characters. It is a must-read for fans of gothic fiction, as well as those who appreciate skillfully crafted settings and intricate storytelling. Prepare to be transported to a world where the seemingly tranquil countryside holds dark secrets and where the power of belief and superstition reign supreme.

This was not a poorly written book, but I just didn't connect with it enough to feel the need to craft a review at this time. I do think I would try this author again, however.

I wasn’t really sure what I was getting into with this book. It’s the second dark gothic novel I’ve read this year and I’m finding myself loving the genre all over again. The Curse of Penryth Hall had a great pace. I felt myself wanting to read just one more page. Lots of great twists and turns that kept me guessing “who done it”. I’m excited to get my hands on more of Jess Armstrong’s books and hopefully there is a second book for Ruby and Ruan. I was left wanting more adventures.

In general I did enjoy this book. A gothic mystery set in a lavish yet somewhat unkept manner where a curse follows the inhabitants. I enjoyed the main female character as she had good depth and backstory. But the male main character was aggravating. I find it tedious when a character has needless mood swings simply for the sake of building conflict and tension. It makes the character interactions seems more forced and causes me to be pulled from the story because I simply do not like needless drama for the sake of needless drama. Besides this which I honestly think isnt a deal breaker for this specific book I did genuinely enjoy the plot, concepts and imagery.

I love a mystery with a fantasy or paranormal twist, so I really enjoyed this book! There is something about reading a murder mystery and trying to figure out if the murderer is a human or some mystical creature that makes the mystery so much more fun. I loved that this book had just enough of a mystical element to make the murder by curse a real possibility while still giving the victim enough enemies to make it possible that it was just a normal murder. The twists were so entertaining and it kept me guessing right up to the reveal! I also loved the characters! Ruby was such an independent and strong character and really played well off of the strong-silent type Ruan. The ending sets up another book perfectly and I can’t wait to read more about these characters and find out what mystical forces connect them through another mystery!

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This is a wonderful debut novel, and I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next!

The Curse of Penryth Hall is a Gothic Mystery mostly set at a large manor home in the Cornish countryside.
We follow an American heiress, Ruby Vaugh, who after a scandal back home, gets sent to live in Exeter, where she helps run a cozy bookshop.

One day Ruby is given an assignment to go deliver a box of books to a folk healer living in Cornwall. It just so happens her destination will take her to the doorstep of Penryth Hall, where her once dear, now estranged friend, Tamsyn, lives with her husband, Sir Edward Chenowyth. Ruby hasn't seen Tamsyn since her wedding. The women didn't part under the best of conditions and there's a lot of tension simmering just under the surface, but Ruby feels compelled to reconnect nonetheless.

The property itself feels dark and stifling. There's not a lot of lightness flowing through the corridors. Tamsyn is a mother now and her young son seems to be her pride and joy. Her husband, however, not so much. After a tense and uncomfortable dinner, Ruby isn't sure what to think. It seems Tamsyn has gotten herself into a bad position, but how can Ruby possibly help? Tamsyn is an adult. She made her choices.

For her part, Ruby can't wait to get out of there. She'll spend one night and then go, back to her life in Exeter. Ruby's plans for leaving are dashed though when Edward's dead body is discovered the following morning in the orchard. The state of the body point to the most gruesome of deaths. Shortly thereafter, talk of the curse begins. Ruby is puzzled by this. Surely, these people don't truly believe that a curse killed Sir Edward?

She begins to look into it. She wants to prove that a person, a real human being in the flesh, must have killed Edward. And if they did, anyone in Penryth could still be in danger, including Tamsyn and her son. She ends up teaming up with the person who brought her to Cornwall in the first place, Ruan Kivell, the folk healer, known to the locals as a Pellar. Although Ruby isn't sold on his brand of healing, she can't help but admit when he begins to help her in big ways.

Will the two of them be able to put their differences aside long enough to discover what happened to Sir Edward, or will their bickering get in the way?

The Curse of Penryth Hall was a delightful surprise for me. I'm an Atmosphere Girlie, first and foremost, and this entire story was dripping in it. I also loved Ruby as a main character and the chemistry between her and Ruan, and I don't even mean that in a romance way, just the overall dynamic between the two of them, was fantastic. Their back-and-forth; the pull and push of their relationship was so fun to watch.

I enjoyed the gothic vibes and having Ruby being a plucky, outspoken protagonist seemed perfect for the setting. She was almost like a fish out of water, but ended up really becoming invested in the goings-on of that little village. I also really enjoyed how Armstrong played this out. It had a lovely <i>is it supernatural, is it not</i> feel to it that I always enjoy. I thought it was well paced and the mystery was intriguing.

The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the relationship between Ruby and Tamsyn. I didn't like Tamsyn, so didn't really get why Ruby seemed so attached her. I guess I just didn't get enough of their history to have their relationship make sense to me.

Overall, this was just a really good, solid mystery with fantastically-gothic vibes. I had a lot of fun with the setting, story and characters. There were a few statements at the end that lead me to believe this could be the first in a series. Personally, I would be super stoked if that were the case. I would love to follow Ruby on more adventures.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historically-set mysteries with heavy gothic vibes. I would also definitely recommend it to fans of Hester Fox, or Sarah Penner. Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Dreamscape Media, for providing me with copies to read and review.

Thank you to Jess Armstrong, St. Martin's Press, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for allowing me to read free ebook and audiobook ARCs in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book but I didn't love it. The beginning didn't really grab me, and I was worried I'd be slugging through a book I didn't like. But that wasn't the case. I slowly got more into it until I was intrigued by the mystery and attached to the characters.

I found Ruby likeable and sympathetic, if not endearing; I have a hard time being okay with how unabashedly sexually active she was for a sixteen/seventeen-year-old. But she had a spine and a brain, so I respected her after a fashion.

I didn't really like Tamryn, but I didn't dislike her either. I loved Mrs. Penryth and Mr. Owen. Ruan grew on me but by the end I still didn't feel like I knew much about him. And at no point did I understand his "ability"; clarification would have been appreciated. On that point, I'd have appreciated clarification on Ruby's "otherness" as well, and what the heck it was supposed to mean that they were both born the same day under a full moon.

The end suggests a sequel, which I'm interested in, especially if it provides answers. Otherwise, while I enjoyed Penryth Hall and it's a solid debut novel, I wasn't blown away by it.

Maybe 3.5
I enjoyed this overall but I didn’t get sucked into the story like I wanted. I found myself wondering more if the characters, our FMC’s freedom and the overall language made sense for the time period which kept me from really getting into the story.
With that said, I still enjoyed it and would say this is for mystery fans who like independent strong FMCs.

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook arc, overall for a debut novel this is a good read. The mystery was easy to grasp and easy to follow. I just wish there was more backstory or overall plot connections and follow through. Just a bit more richness in story and character depth. Would recommend if new to mysteries or getting back into reading.

3.5
Atmospheric with a good story. I enjoyed the characters, but I do think Tamsyn was a bit flat. If this becomes a series I would definitely read the next one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur books for the ARC. I was really excited about this book based on the description, but it did not deliver. I had to force myself to keep going, and I barely retained any information as I went. Nothing really happened. I feel like this whole book could be summed up in a few paragraphs. Definitely not for me.

Ruby is tasked by her employer to deliver some old texts to a colleague. Her plans are sidetracked when she stops near her destination to drop in on an estranged friend when her friend’s husband is murdered. He made enemies of everyone he’s ever met and everyone could be a suspect in his murder.

The most interesting thing about this book wasn’t so much the murder mystery itself but the question or whether there was something occult responsible for the murder. The town, particularly the employees of the manor, believed in a curse but Ruby was an adamant non-believer. As the story progresses, Armstrong continues to string the reader along so that you never really know if it’s all a ruse or something really strange.

I think the historical fiction setting lent beautifully to questioning the occult but also providing an array of personalities to question. Ruby herself was an intriguing individual. She was born an American heiress, shipped off and exiled to England at the sign of her first scandal. She served as a nurse in the first war and is now a budding antiquarian aided by her employer.

The story is fairly open-ended so I certainly hope to be reading more of Ruby’s adventures in the future.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for providing a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.