This one started out so strong and I was really looking forward to it but by the middle I just got to a point that I just didn’t care. This book follows Ruby an American heiress who got caught in an indecent situation so she was shipped off to England where she was working in a bookstore. One day Ruby has to deliver a box of books to the Cornish country side where she finds herself face to face with her old best friend and gets drawn into a situation she never expected. Her best friend’s husband dead and her trying to find the truth.

I loved the setting in this book and was really drawn in at first by its gothic vibes but then things went crazy and there was just to much going on in this book and I just lost interest in the plot and the characters. I really enjoyed the authors writing and just feel like the pacing just kinda threw me on this one. I hope to pick up more from this author in the future. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

This is everything that I would have wanted from a gothic story-the house, the books, the vibes! This was a strong debut by Jess Armstrong and I was enthralled with this story from start to finish. The dynamics between Ruby and Ruan were a delight to read and the cover was the cherry on top to a great, well plotted story.

I can only hope that this wonderful debut is the first in a long, long series. Ruby Vaughn is a disgraced American heiress whose family (all dead now) were forced to banish her to England, where post World War One, she has rebuilt her life as the assistant to an eccentric octegenarian book dealer, Mr. Owens. When Mr. Owens sends her on an errand to deliver a trunk of books to a man in Cornwall, she decides to take advantage of the fact that her dear old friend, Tamsyn, lives in the area and is wife to the Viscount, Edward, there. During her visit, she observes that her friend is unhappy in her marriage and protective of her young son. When Edward is murdered, the villagers blame it on an ancient curse. Meanwhile, she delivers the books to Ruan, who is the community's Pellar, a sort of healing witch. Together, Ruan and Ruby solve the murder, with help from an engaging cast of town characters. Lots of chemistry between Ruan and Ruby, and we are as invested in the characters as we are in the mystery itself. I truly enjoyed this book and can't wait to recommend it.

Following the aftermath of the Great War, Ruby Vaughn, an American heiress, manages a rare bookstore in Exeter alongside her elderly employer. Despite her efforts to avoid the past, it resurfaces when she is tasked with delivering books to a folk healer in the Cornish countryside. This leads her back to Penryth Hall, an eerie fortress where her once-close friend Tamsyn resides with her late husband, Sir Edward Chenowyth. Ruby's plans take an unexpected turn when the long-silent bells of Penryth ring, signaling Edward's gruesome death and whispers of a returning curse. Despite Ruby's skepticism about curses, she joins forces with Ruan to unravel the truth behind the orchard incident and safeguard Tamsyn from the looming curse.

Immersing readers in a captivating world, this book masterfully cultivates a creepy and gothic atmosphere that lingers throughout. Armstrong skillfully weaves a web of suspense, making it challenging to unravel the enigma at the story's core. The aura of witchy vibes enhances the overall experience, making it an ideal read for the fall season. The atmospheric details and intricate plot make this book a compelling choice for those who enjoy a blend of mystery and the supernatural, creating an immersive reading experience that resonates long after the final page.

Thank you NetGalley and Jess Armstrong for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have been provided with a review copy of The Curse of Penryth Hall from NetGalley for an impartial review. Awwww this was such a cute story. I was just captivated by everything that was taking place. It was just so easy to get into these characters lives and you just can't help but fall in love with them. I can't wait to see what's next from this author.

The Curse of Penryth Hall was a gothic mystery that took place in the Cornish Countryside. This was an interesting book with a great mystery. The characters in the book were amazing and I liked reading about Ruby. I enjoyed this book and would recommend this to others especially if they like mystery or gothic books. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for this book in exchange of my honest review.

The writing is solid, creating a vivid atmosphere, but the plot is a mix of captivating moments and predictability. Characters are well-developed, though some lack depth. Pacing fluctuates, making it a decent but not outstanding read.

“𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝. 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞: 𝐟𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬.”

I always love a book with a gorgeous mysterious cover; add in a “fall from grace heiress” and notions of a curse? I’m sold.

Jess Armstrong has created a strong protagonist in Ruby, who reminds me so much of another heroine I was recently introduced to, Lady Petra in Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord, in that they both have declared they want to remain unattached, are benevolent with their time and helping others, and go against society’s expectations of women in their respective times. Armstrong uses the Cornish countryside, the villagers and their belief in a curse that befalls Penryth Hall to her advantage, both in amplifying the isolated atmosphere and the claustrophobic feeling of all eyes on Ruby. Ruan, the local Pellar, has a lot of chemistry with Ruby, and I loved how they weren’t afraid to speak their minds to each other, which only added to their banter and dynamic. Mrs. Penrose and Mr. Owen make for fantastic sidekick characters, and I want to see them included more. The mystery of the curse was strong, especially the use of the supernatural elements, and I questioned all through if it was real or not. The solution is very satisfying, with a twist I hadn’t guessed. I didn’t really understand the pull that Tamsyn seemed to have over Ruby, as she was less developed, and I wanted a bit more about Ruby’s past in America, however the epilogue makes it seem like there is more that could come in a future book.

The Curse of Penryth Hall is a story of the ties of the past, curses, belief, and vengeance. It is a strong debut of a new series that gothic mystery lovers will enjoy. I can’t wait to see more of Ruby and her Pellar! Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

3.5/5
This story definitely started out as a slow-burn. I was a little confused as to where it was going, but I was enjoying the characters and setting. I felt the story really started to pick up once we were introduced to the magic. I gave some dimension to the overall plot and loved this idea - as it seemed to be picked up from Cornish folklore. The characters were well thought-out and interesting. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story, wrapped in the gothic tale with some twists. I'm very interested to see if there is a follow up book to this or if it will be a series as the ending felt like it was a little abrupt - I wouldn't mind some more Ruby and Ruan romance.

Thank you to Minotaur books and Dreamscape Media for my review copies!

The Curse of Penryth Hall is a gothic historical murder mystery with a sprinkling of magic. This was a strong debut, and I loved her heroine, Ruby Vaughn. As a primarily romance and fantasy reader, I could have done with a little more of both.

The relationships felt a little surface level, with either the backstory doing a lot of work or having a magical connection between them. Since I thought each of the characters were really interesting, I wished I had a little more “show, don’t tell” to show how the characters grew together. (Or back together.)

The mystery definitely kept me guessing, but the pieces seemed to all come together with the big reveal at the end!

🎧 The audio was fantastic. Emma Love’s accent is the perfect amount of atmosphere without losing clarity. She created a world of characters with her performance, and I enjoyed listening to her!

I had no idea what to expect from The Curse of Penryth Hall by debut author Jess Armstrong, but I enjoyed it thoroughly and I loved the witchy aspects entirely! The gothic feel throughout was on point, and Penryth Hall made for a bit of a creepy setting as well. There ended up being a couple of amazingly difficult scenes in the book that I didn't expect, and it might be good to check TWs before starting. This was a glorious mix of genres that all tied together very nicely and there was even a bit of spicy romance in it! I also really enjoyed the journey of trying to figure out if there was a person or an actual curse perpetuating the murders.

I thought the audiobook was the way to go with The Curse of Penryth Hall and Emma Love was not only easy to listen to, but she did a great job overall. I never struggled to understand her despite her accent, and she was able to bring Ruby's character to life in a way I wouldn't have completely gotten from the book. I did think there was great characterization though and combined with the mystery and bit of magic, it made this a very compelling read. It was also very atmospheric as you can imagine, and if you like gothic mysteries with a bit of witchiness, I would definitely recommend checking out this book!

I was taken by surprise by this incredible gothic mystery. Ruby Vaughn, an American living in Europe after The Great War, delivers books to a small town. It is the same town of an old “friend” that she decides to stay the night with. The next morning, the friend’s husband is found in a gruesome murder. She and Ruan, a Pellar of the town, find themselves trying to find a murderer or finding a way to break a curse.

I love Ruby’s perspective in this story. She is complicated, flawed, and clearly an outsider in the town. Her skeptical observations keep the lore in the story from taking over. She does not blindly follow anyone, which leads to her almost being killed. I look forward to hearing more from her!

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur books for the gifted copy to review

I really enjoyed this book from the start it grabbed my attention and held on till the end. I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to know “Who did it”. It was full of twist and turns and I didn’t see the end coming. My favorite character in the book was the housekeeper.
The very end of book makes me think there will be more to Ruby and Ruan’s story maybe in another book? I would absolutely read it!
Thank you Minotaur Press, NetGalley & Jess Armstrong for this digital copy.

I was really looking forward to reading this book after viewing the synopsis. But, I didn't think that the character development was done very well. And, as the story progressed I felt it actually got worse.

It was just not the book I thought it was going to be.

American Ruby Vaughn has been living in England since she was a teenager, when her father sent her away because of a scandal. Now both of her parents are gone, and as a wealthy woman on her own she can do what she wants, when she wants. She works at a rare bookstore and lives comfortably with her octogenarian employer at his estate. The two are good friends and satisfied housemates.

When her boss insists she deliver a trunk of books to a folk healer in the Cornish countryside, Ruby is forced to face some aspects of her past she would much rather leave well enough alone.

She makes a visit to Tamsyn Chenowyth, once her closest friend, who is now married to a baronet. Tamsyn and Sir Edward live at his old family home, Penryth Hall, which doesn’t look like the infusion of Tamsyn’s family’s cash made much difference to its condition. Dinner with the Chenowyths is entirely unpleasant, and Ruby is eager to leave the next morning.

But after a thoroughly strange and upsetting night’s sleep, Ruby learns in the morning that Sir Edward is dead. And the villagers are sure it is the return of the family curse, which last struck 30 years before. To confirm this suspicion, they call in Ruan Kivell, the man to whom Ruby had delivered the books. Ruan is known in the area as a Pellar, someone who can work some magic and, hopefully, break the curse.

Ruby doesn’t believe in magic or curses or Pellars. She believes the death of Sir Edward was good old-fashioned murder, and someone in the village is the killer. And rather than leaving the town, which she’d love to do, she needs to stay and solve the murder because the “curse” could strike again. And its likely victim would be Tamsyn.

The Curse of Penryth Hall is an atmospheric novel that starts off laying a gothic groundwork built of old magic and ancient folk tales. It put me in mind of some of my favorite books set in Cornwall and made me shiver in anticipation. Then the story moves more into murder mystery territory, as Ruby goes around town playing detective and consults often with Ruan. The tone shifts a bit as well to mystery, but still built on the gothic base. Ruby’s time with Ruan is spent trying to disprove anything supernatural, but there are moments she wonders if the villagers may not be entirely off-base.

The mystery itself has a nice wrap-up, and the end of the book leads me to wonder if the author may have some more installments up her sleeve. I say, Bring them on!

I quite enjoyed this tale. Ruby Vaugh, disgraced. American heiress, banished to UK, undertakes an errand for her bookseller employer/landlord/surrogate father/friend. While visiting Cornwall to complete her errand, she meets Ruan Kivell, the town Pellar.

The concept of a Pellar was new to me, so that was novel. The mystery at the heart of the story was twisty and puzzling but ultimately well-resolved. The romance was certainly slow-burn and tender. I was a tad disappointed in how it was wrapped up. But….while this is a stand-alone, it was certainly left with enough loose strings that another Ruby story is not out of the question. Perhaps that romance may still have a chance. One can hope….

I am insanely conflicted on this book, but I enjoyed my time. If you enjoy early Simone St. James Historical Paranormal stuff or Sarah Penner, this one could definitely be for you. I’m so-so on Penner, but love Simone St. James, so it really just depends on if historical is your forte.

It appears to be a stand-alone, but I could also see this being a set up for following our main character into other adventures and mysteries.

I did enjoy the main character. She was sure in herself and having a character who didn’t consistently worry about what people thought of her was refreshing.

As for the mystery, it was kind of meh for me. I saw the mystery coming and was not surprised with the reveal. However, getting there was fun.

Overall, this was an enjoyable mystery read. I am looking forward to seeing what else the author comes out with.

Thank you Minotaur Books and Netgalley for offering me an arc.

(3.5 stars)
This was a really fun read. It had a slow beginning, but once the mystery and plot started, I was sucked in. I loved how Ruby and Ruan worked together and they had electric chemistry and banter. I do think parts of the story were repetitive, which was frustrating. I was also annoyed that Ruby kept getting into these dangerous situations that she lacked the critical thinking skills to get out of. Like she would keep saying to herself "i feel like I should leave from this. what a strange feeling," and never learned from her experiences. She kept expecting to be bailed out of the problems she inserted herself into, which was really annoying. Despite that, I really loved the descriptive nature of the book. I felt swept by the scenery. I also really enjoyed Ruan's character. he had a lot of nuance that I feel could be expanded upon in really interesting ways if there are sequels planned. Also, the plot kept me on my toes- I never knew which way the author was going with it. I had a lot of fun with this book, even if the main character had a habit of getting on my nerves. I would definitely recommend this one to friends!

A thoroughly enjoyable read. If you enjoy atmospheric gothic mysteries, especially ones set in the Cornish countryside, then this one’s for you. I’ll be anxiously awaiting a sequel.

"The Curse of Penryth Hall" by Jess Armstrong is a spellbinding historical mystery that transports readers to the enchanting but eerie landscapes of Cornwall. Set in the aftermath of the Great War, the novel introduces us to Ruby Vaughn, a spirited American heiress with a rare bookstore in Exeter. When she's drawn back to the haunting Penryth Hall to deliver books to a folk healer, the narrative takes a suspenseful turn, unraveling a web of secrets, curses, and long-buried memories.

Armstrong excels in creating a vivid sense of place, immersing readers in the atmospheric and foreboding setting of Penryth Hall. The hall itself becomes a character, shrouded in history and mystery, and as Ruby navigates its dark corridors, the tension steadily builds.

The mystery at the heart of the novel is expertly crafted, with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. The exploration of folklore and the belief in curses adds a fascinating layer to the narrative, blurring the lines between the supernatural and the tangible. Armstrong skillfully weaves together historical details, folklore, and a touch of the paranormal to create a tapestry of intrigue.

"The Curse of Penryth Hall" is a captivating historical mystery that combines a richly atmospheric setting with a compelling plot and well-crafted characters. Jess Armstrong's storytelling prowess shines in this tale of curses, friendship, and the secrets that linger in the shadows of the past. Fans of historical fiction with a touch of the supernatural will find much to enjoy in this enchanting novel.