I was invested in the main character, Ruby right away. The character development for all the characters was good and the setting was described well also. The book had some paranormal elements which I wasn't expecting as the books was not labeled as such. There was more than one quirky character which made the antagonist seem not too unusual. I enjoyed the characters and setting but the plot was too slow for me.

The book is ineligible for review so far on Amazon. I'll post my review online when I'm permitted. Here's what I'll say online:

Let me start by saying I just traveled to Cornwall this year and loved it. So the setting drew me to the book. And the author didn't disappoint in terms of setting the Cornish scenery and mood.

The story was intriguing, and I cared what happened to the characters. Ruby is a likeable young woman who's smart and independent, and it's interesting to learn how she got that way. Her relationship with Mr. Owen is delightful. Her relationship with Pellar--a term I've never heard but that tells you much about the Cornish traditions--is also engaging as it unfolds.

Overall, a really compelling story in an atmospheric setting--and with characters you want to learn more about. I'll definitely go looking for more of Armstrong's work, and I'll read a second in the series if there is one.

Wow I really liked this one I think I’m going to do a reread around October just to really get those dark vibes going and maybe drink a gingerbread latte while I read it

Loved the character development and the plot it was just really fun and I didn’t want to put this book down

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially the connection and banter between Ruby and Ruan. I thought the setting was great, the characters, while sometimes their decisions annoyed me, still engaging to read, and I really hope that we get to see more of Ruby and Ruan soon. I also appreciated how strong Ruby was as the protagonist and how she grew throughout the book, but her determination, and bravery never faltered.

StoryGraph review in link. Thank you for the book!!!

I really enjoyed reading this book and I enjoyed trying to find out how was behind the weird things happening in the book.

I have tried to get into this book for over 2 weeks now. The main character is unrelatable, and I was having a hard time feeling connected to her and thus, her story. The storyline was also very slow. I had to finally DNF @ about 30%. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys slow burn stories with dark academia.

I wasn't sure about where the book was going, but overall good mystery read. I liked the strong lead woman character, who survived the war and was good person to lead the investigation into the mysterious death. The characters were well shaped and you knew how they were all connected to the story. Just a heads up there is some
sexual themes nothing explicit. Hoping there is a next one, that continues where this one left off.

I read this book in one day. That is how much I enjoyed it. The best part is I felt this was the beginning of a series. Is it? I certainly hope so. Will be buying them.
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed the contrast of the modern ways versus the ancient ways in a small village in Cornwall, UK. The locals here are superstitious when the lord of the manor dies a horrific death in his orchard. His abused wife is believed to be the next victim of a beast.
Enter her best friend, Ruby, an American heiress, who is impulsive and a disbeliever in the ancient ways and folk remedies. A gentle romance grows between her and the village healer.
Ruby is the protagonist of the story, which has a gothic feel to it. If I say much more about it, this review will be a spoiler.
However, I appreciated the differentiation of the characters who felt real throughout. The tension and pace move along well while crises develop and unexpected roadblocks hinder Ruby's progress in solving a difficult crime.
Any reader of murder mysteries will enjoy this unusual story and a different take on the genre.
Recommended.

This book was given to me as an ARC by NetGalley for my honest review. If you love a good whodunit mystery set in the 1920’s with a gothic atmosphere? This book deals with old friendships and new while trying to solve the murder.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the Arc!

Unfortunately, this book was just not able to grab my attention. I tried reading it for 2 weeks and I just had to give up. It's not a bad book, just really slow. I'll pick it up another time and see if I can get into it more. DNF @ 29%

Thank you to NetGalley, Jess Armstrong & Minotaur Books for an ARC of The Curse of Penryth Hall in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own (except for any quotations) and may not be reproduced.

I’ll let you in on a little secret – anything with “Hall,” “Manor,” “Chateau” or anything of that nature in the title – I am 100% signing up. These type of novels tend to be incredibly atmospheric and oftentimes gothic and that combination is one of my absolute favorites.

Synopsis (quoted):

“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 victim: Tamsyn.

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

Atmospheric? CHECK - - Gothic? CHECK - - A darn good story? CHECK!

This novel was suggested for readers who enjoyed The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, which I did and a couple other books that I am receiving ARCS of soon, so I’m excited that this fits in with those similar books that I’ve already read or are on my TBR.

I am not a historical fiction reader at all UNLESS it is mixed into a novel of this type, at which point, I LOVE It.

I loved how detailed Armstrong wrote the characters and Ruby was the perfect heroine. The addition of the folklore was spectacular and was a nice addition to the story. This was a quick read as it held my attention and I kept wanting to know what happened next and get to the bottom of the mystery.

I am very stingy with my 5 star reviews as I have to be blown away to issue those. While this story was fantastic, it unfortunately didn’t fit into the “blown away” category. It was a solid 4 Star read for me and I definitely recommend giving it a read!

The Curse Of Penryth Hall is about our main character Ruby Vaughn an American heiress who ends up in the UK working at a rare bookstore. Ruby is tasked with a book delivery deep in the English countryside. While delivering the books Ruby rekindles with one of her oldest friends at the mysterious Penryth Hall. Once she is staying at the manor unfortunate events occur and Ruby learns about a curse. The big question is, is there really a curse? This book is released December 5, 2023. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, Jess Armstrong and Netgalley for for opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

A really enjoyable cozy with enough red herrings to keep you guessing to the end. I hope Jess Armstrong brings her readers more books with these interesting characters. We need more adventures with Ruby, Mr. Owen, and Mrs. Penrose! Sounds like they're headed off to Scotland next and I'm hoping they'll be in need of a Pellar while they're there!

The writing is every bit as beautiful as the cover art!

Wow! What a debut from Jess Armstrong. I have hopes that maybe there will be another Ruby book to follow?! The ending was open enough that’s it’s possible, but gave enough closure if there’s not.

This story blended some of my favorite qualities: mystery, a little bit of magic, a cast of beautifully detailed characters, and a unique setting. Ruby was such a vivid central character, but Ruan as her counterpart? Chef’s kiss!

For fans of “Belladonna” I definitely got some of those vibes from this, and loved this one was every bit as much!

A spookily atmospheric tribute to found family set shortly after the devastation of World War II.

An orphan and an absolute mess, Ruby spends her days partying as the roommate of a quirky, sarcastic but caring old man named Mr. Owen. When he sends her to deliver a load of books near where a friend and former lover live, Ruby decides it's her duty to drop in. She gets more than she's bargained for when Tamsyn's husband, Lord Edward, is brutally murdered. The local villagers are convinced it's a curse, though Ruby believes it's far more likely to be the gruesome work of a person. All of this is complicated by Ruby's dreams, that seem to be delivering warnings about future attacks.

The characters are a delight. Ruby's relationship with Mr. Owen provides some of the most delightful verbal sparring in the book. Ruby also meets a pellar - a local witch doctor - who's determined to keep her out of trouble, a task he often fails at. Ruby attracts trouble like a magnet. The only character we never really seem to know is the mysterious Tamsyn, Ruby's friend from the war who's at the heart of it all.

This has some great twists and turns, as characters are connected in ways that Ruby - and thus, the readers - never dreamed. A great spooky read.

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

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.
This gothic novel was a bit disappointing to me. I found the main character, Ruby, not very likeable and had a hard time getting into the story. It was boring and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. The setting is great; Cornwell has always sounded wonderful to me, but the story itself just didn't work for me. Sorry!

I very much enjoyed this book! I love Gothic anything and historical settings. Ruby, the main character, is pretty well fleshed out in this story but the surrounding cast and other lead character Ruan, are not. Overall, the story was really good but the characters were flat to me. Some of my biggest questions were not answered in this novel so i'm really hoping thats because its set up to be a series? I would absolutely read more from this author. Thank you so much to NetGalley for my advanced copy!

I loved this book and didn’t want it to end. At first I thought Ruby was going to be a spoilt rich girl expecting things to always go her way but she developed into a multi-dimensional interesting character complete with flaws, strengths, insecurities and sorrows. Ruan also is a well developed and deep character. Plotting is smooth and well paced. I was a little confused initially by the Cornish way of speaking (maid, my lover etc) but worked it out as I went along. I received this book as an advance copy from the author via NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Curse of Penryth Hall
Jess Armstrong
Due to a scandal Ruby Vaughn’s family sent her abroad. After her parents’ deaths she inherited their estate. Ruby works hard and plays hard; she likes to drink and party. During WWI she drove an ambulance. Currently, she runs a rare bookstore in Exeter where she resides with the owner, Mr. Owen an elderly fatherly figure. Mr. Owen asked Ruby to deliver a box of books to Ruan Kivell, a folk healer in Cornwall. Ruby did not want to return to Cornwall for it brought back memories she’d rather not dredge up. While there she visits Penryth Hall where Tamsyn and her husband, Sir Edward Chenowyth reside. Tamsyn and Ruby were once good friends. Ruby quickly deducts that Tamysn and Edward were very unhappy in their marriage. After Edward’s battered body is found in the orchard, the people of the village believe it is the curse and that Tamsyn will be next. The people turn to Ruan to break the curse; they call him a Pellar or a witch. Ruby scoffs at the idea of a curse or of a Pellar but she must work along side him to discover what really happened to Edward.
I love gothic novels and this one has great potential but needs work. This is an ARC so I will assume the grammar and spelling will be edited but the plot needs work. Ruby is an interesting character but tidbits about her past are placed here and there sort of in a jumble. Then there is Ruan; he is unlikable and never becomes likable. I thought he was going to be a love interest for Ruby but that never worked out. Then there is Tamsyn; I don’t like her; she has little to no personality. However, the plot kept me guessing to the end, was it a curse or a murder.