It's ages since I've read this sort of novel-- I'd call it a Gothic novel of suspense. But the setting in Cornwall was calling my name (thank you, Victoria Holt, Winston Graham and Daphne du Maurier!) so I requested The Curse of Penryth Hall. I'm so glad I did. It was an enjoyable read, teasing one with a curse and a pellar and a bookstore and a broken friendship. I think the book was well written, I definitely enjoyed the characters and would actually like to see more of them. If you are looking for something on the lighter side but still desire some substance ( as well as the possibility of NOT knowing how it was going to turn out by chapter three), I'd recommend it. Personally, I will be on the lookout for more books by Jess Armstrong. My thanks to Jess Armstrong, NetGalley and the publisher for making this book available to me for review.

For a fast-paced frolic through a roaring ‘20s Gothic tale set in myth and murder-based historic Cornwall, England, then the delightfully fun and witty dialogue-driven tale, “The Curse of Penryth Hall,” by Jess Armstrong is definitely for you. This little treat kept me laughing and entertained from beginning to end as I puzzled out it’s intriguing mysteries. It’s definitely a great romp with absolutely divine characters, plotting and as I mentioned wonderful conversations moving the story forward.

TheBookMaven graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Jess Armstrong, and Publisher St. Martin’s Publishing Group/Minotaur Books for this advanced reader’s copy (ARC) for review.

Thanks so much for the ARC, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books! While this book took me about a quarter to get into, I genuinely could not put it down once it got going! I loved the mystery, the suspense and the magic that happened during this book. I thought the characters were likable and there was enough background to keep me entertained. I’m so excited to read the rest of this series as they come!

To be honest, I am not a big fan of gothic mysteries, with the required heroine constantly in peril, a family with history of murderous curses, and castle with hidden rooms. But even so, Jess Armstrong's The Curse of Penryth Hall is a more tolerable example of this genre than most others that I have struggled to read. This is a novel that flows quite easily and that, for the most part, holds riders attention. However, there are some significant problems.

Although the gothic mystery is not my favorite genre, I am aware that for many people, it is their reading choice, and so I am determined to evaluate The Curse of Penryth Hall with that audience in mind. The characters are promising but remain poorly developed. I had no idea about these characters--who they are, their ages, or their backgrounds. Where is the depth of personality? There is some repetition that is unnecessary, unless of course, the heroine is really that dense?

Initially, I struggled to understand the time of the setting, or even the exact location. There are no dates. Ruby, the heroine appears to dress as a 1910 character--riding breeches, a walking skirt, blouses with tiny buttons all over. When readers are told the events happen after the war, my first question was which war? I finally settled on the Great War, but that was largely because of some small hints that seemed to suggest so. But admittedly, I could be wrong about that war. How far from Exeter is the village where Penryth is located? Locations and distances are rather vague. Armstrong seems to think that readers can fill in the blanks, but we need some basic details to do so. People wander on the moors, but can Ruan hear a silent thought from such a great distance or more than 5 miles? it is all rather unfocused, and while mysterious murders and a family curse are designed to be vague, the actual characters who are the central movers in this story, need to be more concrete. The end of the novel suggests a set up for a series, but in considering the romantic Ruan, what is the story there? Who is the witch in black? What happened to the end of this novel? Readers have a limited interest in being left hanging..

Thank you to Minotaur Press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review. The above comments are my honest opinions. I hope that some judicious editing will go a long way in tightening up this story and filling in some actual details. Thank you also to NetGalley for making access to this novel so easy.

I read this book thanks to NetGalley! This book took me a solid month to read. The first 30% was slow. I also feel like the main characters sexuality was very wispy washy instead of being up front. I felt a little led on about it in the beginning. However by 40% of the way through the plot really picked up and more clarity about the FMC became clear. I was (mostly) satisfied with how the mystery turned out and really enjoy books that toe the fantasy line. Mr owen, mr kivell, and ruby vaughn are some of my favorite book characters. The author knows how to write a variety and even the background characters were memorable. I think Ruby was a string FMC who wasn’t I afraid or infallible. I really hope there is a sequel because I have some unanswered questions and think this could easily be a solid trilogy. Four stars due to the slow start.

Well, I was interested in reading this when I read about how Ruby was delivering a mysterious box of books to an even more mysterious man and then I kept reading as the bodies piled up (Edward sure deserved it so I didn't feel too sorry about him) and the mysterious Ruan who is a Pellar (seventh son of a seventh son with certain unexplainable powers) tried to solve the mystery/curse (with Ruby's help of course). The story definitely kept me wavering back and forth on whether it was man or a curse and that made for a interesting read. Not what I expected as I went into this but I liked it and hope to see maybe more of Ruby and that cat!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book to read and reveiw.

I thought that this was a really unique and compelling mystery, and loved the setting. I also thought that the dialogue was pretty believable, which is difficult to do.

I had a few issues with the grammatical style of the book. The author loved to include incomplete sentences, to the point where there were almost one to two incomplete sentences per paragraph. I found this to be really distracting and it made me want to skip over areas that were especially choppy.

Additionally, I wish there was a bit more background information on the ages of the characters and the era when the book takes place. It took a while for me to figure both of these things out, which left me out of the loop in terms of context for a lot of interactions.

I also thought that Ruan’s personality and mood didn’t make much sense, as he was a pretty hot and cold character with no discernible reason to flip on Ruby like that. It would make sense if he wasn’t supposed to be likable, but I get the feeling that we’re supposed to like and sympathize with him and believe that would be more effective if we could understand why he’s upset, especially if he’s mean to Ruby as a result.

Overall, this was a really fun book and aside from a few critiques, I really enjoyed it!

3.5 stars. There is a lot of great potential in this story, but I felt like it tried to go in too many directions at once and lost the main thread. I'm hoping this is the start of a series and not a standalone, because I had so many unanswered questions at the end. I'd love to read more about Ruby's adventures, so fingers crossed!

I like that the author fully embraces the creepy Gothic aesthetic with a supernatural/paranormal twist. The heroine feels like a modern take on a Victoria Holt/Mary Stewart protagonist, which helps draw the reader in. I was confused by her backstory, which was a bit muddled and contradictory throughout the book, but overall she was a sympathetic narrator who was thrust into a strange world and forced to solve the mystery of who murdered her best friend/former love's husband (it's complicated!). I really liked Ruan -- he is a gifted healer who has reluctantly embraced his talents and role and as the "Pellar" in the small village, but remains somewhat skeptical of his powers and the myth surrounding them.

As a warning to anyone expecting a fully developed romance, there is no HEA (or even HFN) here. If there are further books in this series (assuming it is one), we will hopefully get more development there, but that storyline ends without resolution here.

Thank you to Minotaur and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong is a well crafted mystery that feels like it was designed for me as a reader.

Things that made me fall in love with this story

1. Main character works at an antiquarian book store and is delivering books to a customer when our inciting incident takes place .

2. One of the characters investigating the murder is a practicing witch.

3. Our list of suspects is long , variable , and mostly viable throughout the story letting a reader try to solve the case as we work towards the end .

4. The gothic atmosphere and clearly supernatural elements of the story force us to question if a curse really is the culprit.

I recommend this title for readers of mystery who also enjoy the works of modern writers such as T. kingfisher .

Ruby visits an old friend while delivering books. When the friend’s husband ends up dead, Ruby is drawn in to the mystery of this ancient murder hamlet. Author layers questions well to keep pulling me to follow this charming and well-rounded character in an interesting setting. I will read the second book.

Unconventional American heiress, Ruby Vaughn is living in Exeter with her octogenarian employer and running a rare bookstore. Sent to deliver a box of rare and dangerous books to a Cornish healer, she goes off track to visit a nearby friend from her years working in the war and ends up involved in a murder, an ancient curse, blackmail and the possibility that witches really do exist. The story rolls along quite nicely introducing the characters and their backgrounds. The motive for the murder is slowly revealed and the list of suspects only narrows down near the end giving readers a chance to hypothesize as to the "Who" and Why." The possibility of a supernatural explanation for the events lingers like the fog along the Cornish coast--sometimes the view is clear and at other times simply otherworldly. Looking forward to more from this author.

Ruby Vaughn is an American heiress who is sent off to England following some unladylike behavior. She serves as an ambulance driver during World War II. She falls in love with her best friend and fellow ambulance driver, only to be unceremoniously dismissed.

Years later, she is running a bookstore. She is assigned a mission to deliver some books to a customer. But her travels bring her close to her former love. She had received an urgent request to come to the aid of her former lover. But she had avoided it. Visiting her old friend and lover rekindles her long repressed memories.

And then, the murders begin. Her lover's obnoxious husband is found dead. It's blamed on the Curse of Penryth Hall. Ruby, and the recipient of her delivered books, who turns out to be a witch, set out to solve the murder.

I found this book to be very intriguing. It was a bit different from your traditional cozy mysteries. The protagonist was enjoyable and a breath of fresh air. The plot was fun and amusing. I highly recommend this novel.

historical-novel, historical-research, mystery, suspense, thriller, Cornwall, atmospheric, family-history, family, curse, cats, antiquarian-books, amateur-sleuth, folklore, cultural-heritage, cultural-exploration, supernatural, murder, murder-investigation, friendship, frustration, relationships****

A somewhat chilling tale of Gothic atmosphere in deepest Cornwall after the Great War with all the emotional scars of the time. The characters are well done and the sleuthing is extremely interesting with its overtones of the supernatural. I enjoyed the read and do hope that it will develop into a series!
I requested and received an EARC from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you.

I enjoyed The Curse of Penryth Hall. The atmosphere of this book was so beautiful. At the beginning I felt that this book was going to be more of a story about a magical curse, but this is definitely more of a mystery. I would definitely read another book by Jess Armstrong.

Full of atmosphere, this book will keep you reading with the lights on. A gothic mystery set in Cornwall, this book will keep you guessing until the end. Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur books for the digital ARC. This review is my own.

This is more than your average haunted castle story!

It's the early 1900's and American heiress Ruby Vaughn is sent on a mission to deliver a trunk of special books in the Cornish countryside. After meeting the local Pellar (witch) she takes time out to visit her best friend Tamsyn and her new husband. Life doesn't seem all that happy in Penryth Hall and during her stay Sir Edward, Tamsyn's husband dies, potentially murdered.

Penryth is supposedly cursed and Tamsyn is afraid she is next. Ruby is forced to work with the recalcitrant pellar to
solve the mystery and end the curse.

Ruby is a fine protagonist, complex and interesting and her connection to the Pellar will have you hoping for a book 2. If you love atmospheric and gothic tales, haunted cursed castles or just like historical female figures fighting against cultural norms, The Curse Of Penryth Hall is for you! #Stmartins #TheCurseofpenrythhall #jessarmstrong

The Curse of Penryth Hall was a fun gothic mystery to read. The main character, an American heiress living in the UK, Ruby Vaughn, is a strong and sassy female. She is sent by her employer to the Cornish countryside, a place she swore she would return, to deliver some books. Deciding to visit and stay overnight with her old friend, Tamsyn and her husband Sir Edward Chenowyth, Ruby is thrust into the middle of a thrilling mystery when the bells ring, signaling Sir Edward had been killed. Working with the Pellar (Ruan) Ruby is determined to find out who or what killed him.
I loved Ruby’s relationship with her employer, and enjoyed the development of Ruby and Ruan’s relationship throughout the murder investigation.
The ending leads me to believe there will be more…and I am hoping there is!
Thank you to Minotaur and NetGalley for this ARC.

I absolutely adored this book!

Ruby Vaughn gives off strong Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries vibes and I’m here for it. Our headstrong heroine is independent and strong, haunted by her past but determined to not let those things stop her from having a good time. The character building in this book is really good, with everyone having unique personalities and traits, if somewhat odd names at times.

Unlike the typical murder mystery, I liked the idea of a supernatural element about it: most attribute the death of Sir Edward to be the family curse, one that is/was particularly brutal and gruesome. As is the case in every episode of Scooby Doo, the villain/murderer is proven to be a normal person reacting from a place of hurt and anger. But there ARE supernatural forces at work all around the case.

I think Armstrong set herself up quite nicely for a series of two seemingly incompatible people working together to solve mysteries and help people.

Minor issues here with spelling and grammar that I think will be caught with the final edits - nothing to knock off the rating for.

And yes, I did guess the killer.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jess Armstrong, and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ruby Vaughn is the most fun heroine I've read in a very long time. Witty, sardonic, reckless, tender--I adore her! And her accidental adventures in a mystical Cornish village are, by turns, thrilling, amusing, and endearing. This is a book about friendships, lost and found, about courage and superstition, and good and evil. It is the book I didn't know I needed, and am crossing every finger and toe that I meet Ruby again very soon!

Ruby is tasked by her employer, Mr. Owens, to deliver some books to a village she is familiar with. She used to live at this village when she was younger and has bad memories surrounding a girl she used to call her friend, Tamsyn. Upon arriving, she meets a man, Mr, Kivell (who she was tasked to deliver the books to) and her friend Tamsyn, who invites her to stay at her place, Penryth Hall.

A murder occurs the first night she stays there and Sir Edward, Tamsyn's husband, is killed. The whole town blames the curse, but Ruby doesn't believe it and she makes sure to let Mr. Kivell know. She and Mr. Kivell begin to work together to figure out what really happened that night before the curse strikes again.

I liked this book. It was an interesting mix of mystery and fantasy which is something I don't normally see. I thought the pacing worked for the first half of the book, then slowed down a bit, and picked up again at the end. I liked the chemistry between Ruby and Kivell as well, although it wasn't romantic. I thought they were really cute friends. The ending came as a shock to me as well which I thoroughly enjoyed. The only part I didn't enjoy was how quickly the ending was. It was so short compared to the rest of the story.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.