The narrative here starts in Exeter, England, in 1922. Readers get introduced to a protagonist who is trying to make their way through a world of great-aunt Petunias and Cathedral bells, and Cornish folklore. “It’s an ancient place—Cornwall—full of secrets and legends.” A certain Mr. Owen in the story says that old Cornish folkways predate even those of the Romans. “There are things that occur there no one can explain” and that no one dares question. There are legends about how Tintagel was the birthplace of King Arthur and that there’s a seat of kings there. The protagonist is encouraged to check all of this out, and I liked the Cornwall tie-ins right away because they are precisely so unique and not something we see very often or not quite as often in tales where supernatural things go wrong in the English countryside or in the moors.

Like every good Gothic novel, it has to have a place that is a character of its own, and in this case, it is Penryth Hall. One of the interesting alterations to the Gothic timeline here is that we’ve got more technology by virtue of the 1920s, although not so much that it ruins the vibe. Armstrong’s novel is also a quintessentially English novel, of the dark delights but also historical connections that keep fans coming back to the genre over and over again.

Fans of “Rebecca” and most of Daphne Du Maurier’s other novels will really get a kick out of Armstrong’s book and narrative. While reading, I can say that it will feel like a comfortable blanket to drape oneself in on a raindy day with a hot cup of tea. So fie to those who try to insult cozy horror and often don’t understand what it means.

While the pacing is definitely more of a slow build, and the scares aren’t as over as they are in say, the film “Crimson Peak,” there’s still a lot of the uncanny to keep readers going through the pages to find out what happens next.

It’s not a book that I would rank with my favourites of the year, although to be fair there have been a LOT of excellent and new Gothic books this year. Nonetheless, fans of the genre will definitely appreciate the atmosphere and the world building and will have fun immersing themselves in that.

To be completely honest I was expecting a bit more of magical elements due to the fact that "curse" was in the title... which is completely on me for just assuming. But once I got past that and made it through the slower beginning and getting used to the dialect I thought that this was a truly immersive story. I do wish there was a tad more closure and we got to see Ruby living a happy life, but I also think the fact that it ended with a bit left to the imagination was smart on the authors part.

This story was a hard read. It’s lacked detail and I ended up losing interest and do not finish. However I would be willing to try more by this author . And I am curious if this will be a one off or a series.

A good psychological suspense story with elements of magic. I really enjoyed this book with it's moody setting in Cornwall. It took me a few chapters to appreciate the main character, Ruby. Her back story gradually becomes clear and I felt sorry for her, although I never really felt her relationship with ex-best friend Tamsyn. Ruan Kivell, a healer the locals called The Pellar, added to the brooding mood of the book. The murder mystery was intriguing and i did not guess the killer and was surprised at the ending. Overall a good read.

Very strong writing and loved the slow burn between the two characters! A really different read from what I'm used to but enjoyed it - can definitely see this as a spooky-fall title.

I really enjoyed this book! I've been in a bit of a reading slump lately. To the point that I actually felt bad writing book reviews because I had a strong "it's me not them" feeling going. This book manager to break through my reading gloom. Funny enough I'm not even that big of a mystery reader, but something about this book just called to me.

I just loved the main character, Ruby, who's a spunky American heiress who's living abroad in Exeter, England in the immediate years following WWI. She stays on with her elderly housemate & somewhat employer.. in that capacity she gets sent on an errand to a small British vintage in Cornwalll while she's there she decides to meet up sand stay overnight visiting an old friend. Her short visit quickly turns into a longer visit involving a murder mystery which mimics similar events that occurred 30 years earlier. Mixed in is a dilapidated old manor house, some Celtic lore and superstitions, and a handsome man witch.

Overall I found this book to be a charming, easy read and would gladly have read more from this author but alas it is her debut novel. I wait eagerly for her future works!

There was much I liked about the book - the banter between Ruby and Mr. Owen, the slow burn love between Ruby and Ruan - but the plot moved a little to slow for me and I struggled to stay interested. I wanted Penryth Hall to play a bit more of a role - I like when the setting is almost a character itself in a book like this.

This atmospheric gothic mystery skillfully brings the sometimes mysterious and dark Cornish countryside effectively to life, Jess Armstrong has created a new heroine, Ruby Vaughn, in this Minotaur Books & Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award-winning debut, The Curse of Penryth Hall features murder, an ancient curse, a gutsy heroine, and the seventh son of a seventh son who specializes healing and herbs. Mix vigorously and you've got a terrific page-turner. Looking forward to the next Ruby Vaughn sdventure!

Ahhhh, the Cornish countryside peaceful and quiet, until the bells ring…and the curse is alive again. Ruby of questionable background finds the mystery of the house Fascinating. Can she solve the curse in time to save Jodi? Read it you won’t be disappointed. It’s fun, it’s scary and down right mid evil.

Ruby visits an old friend and stumbles upon a longtime curse that leads to murder. Along with a local witch, she resolves to find out what happened. Ruby is a fun character that was easy to love. It was a good mystery too!

My thoughts…
The writing was strong overall, it was compelling and moved the plot forward.
LGBTQIA+ (although it wasn’t clear on how the two characters were both bi…nor did it really touch on the ways society at the time looked on sapphic romance).
Interesting characters with mixed beliefs, made them seem multi dimensional and more believable.
A lot of this felt like a second book in a series, in that it didn’t feel fleshed out or fully explained (the relationship between Tamsyn and Ruby, how Mr Owen adopted Ruby, how Ruby found Tamsyn in the first place, the timeline of Ruby’s backstory…)

Also, why did so many people call Ruby maid and my lover?!?? This grated in me. Is this a Cornish thing? It should be explained.
What’s the purpose of building up the romance between Ruby and Ruan only to dismiss it at the end after the kiss?
What was so magical about Ruby? How did they find out that she shared a birthday with Ruan? Are we meant to think you are magically connected to anyone with your same birthday? Or was the Pellar’s birthday special?
The town and the story seem very accepting of prostitution and children borne out of wedlock. But also very superstitious. There are a lot of modern ideas superimposed on the past. The book seems to flounder here…it doesn’t know what it is. Is it magic? Or science? Is being gay just a regular thing (with limited consequences or not?) What type of book is it trying to be?

I would read another by this author. But I hope the tone gets figured out. I am not sure what the book is trying to say.

This is one of those books where the main character could make it or break it, and Ruby Vaughn makes this story come to life. Between her, a seventh son of a seventh son who happens to know exactly how to get into her head, and a cat that always seems to be right where it is needed, Jess Armstrong guides the reader through a twisted and tangled Gothic mystery that includes adultery, attacks, a man of the church, a best friend who was once more, and a string of murders attributed to an old curse. The main character's wit, recklessness, and ability to own her own mistakes keep the reader interested and entertained. The first few chapters are a little slow, but once the plot picks up, it doesn't slow down as it weaves and twists and turns to an ending that is deliciously unsatisfying, even after all of the loose ends are tied up. I will be checking to see if Ruby's adventures continue!

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur books for this ARC!

This book is quite different from the mysteries I've read. It's about Ruby, who is now running a bookstore after the end of the great war. She finds herself in the countryside and ends up at Penryth Hall, a place that has old memories which she promised she would never bring back up. When she gets there, everyone talks about an old cure returning after the death of her best friend's husband, Ruby doesn't believe in curses, so the rest of the book is about her investigating and working with others to figure out whats happening in Penryth Hall.

I wasn't expecting this book to be historical, but it worked well, especially with the gothic, creepy vibe and atmosphere of this story. This was a unique world, and I liked Ruby and her role in solving the mystery. I do think that the plot was very slow-paced for me, and it took me a while to get into the mystery aspect. Despite the slowness, I enjoyed the characters, the found family aspect, and that this book kept me guessing about the mystery aspect.

Thank you, St. Martins Press and Netgalley, for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3.5/5

Where do I start. First off, I wasn’t sure if I would like the book when I started it. But wow..wow wow. This book caught me and brought me in. I could not stop reading it. The twists the turns. The crazy different characters. The love stories. The dislike of certain people. It kept me going. I so hope for more by Jess Armstrong. I will read everything that is put out. Thank you for all one to read and review your book. It just made me happy. Crazy maybe but so good

Atmospheric but slow-moving mystery set in the Cornish countryside. Ruby, the lead character, is sent on a mission to deliver books in a community where a close friend lives. When visiting the friend, the woman's husband is killed and it seems that everyone in the community has a motive. Superstition rules the region and plays a part in the proceedings. The usual twists and turns and the outcome is not a predictable one.

A quick read gothic mystery, this book held my interest well. I loved the atmosphere and characters (Ruby was such a strong lead!). The historic setting and town were well done, and the folklore felt authentic. I look forward to a reread come fall, cozied up with some tea and a storm. It's a perfect fit for the season!

2.5 The premise of this soo excited me, but I ended up struggling with a lot of elements. I did love the historical/gothic setting of the house and grounds, I'm always up for a curse-element, and there was a twist I hadn't expected. The plot was slow moving for me and at points seemed repetitive when the main character, Ruby, would investigate, get hurt, and have to be saved by Ruan. Ruan's role as a Pellar left me confused and didn't fit into what I wanted in the story. Neither of the main characters were overly likable for me and their relationship seemed forced. At parts I felt like I missed a backstory to the characters or history of the house which lost me a few time but later on I would put it together like "Oh, that explains it". While I struggled with some elements, I can see others really enjoying it. Thanks for the publisher for sending me a review copy!

4.5⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I loved this read! It had a gothic atmosphere that I like, Agatha Christie vibes, found family, and great world building. Ruby reminds me a lot of the main character Phryne Fisher in “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries” - a wonderful Australian tv show. A female crime solver with lots of moxy! I would love for Ruby to have a series where she solves crimes! I would pick up another book in a heartbeat!

A gothic manor murder mystery. A woman delivers a box of books and meets up with her old friend whose husband is found dead in the orchard.

This cover drew me right in and I was so excited to read. I had a good time reading this. I was surprised to see it was a debut? And cant wait to see what else this author publishes! This stories setting and mystery will make for a perfect fall read! Be sure to push it to the top of your TBRS!