The Curse of Penryth Hall is a wonderful compilation of genres rolled together in a terrific dark murder mystery with a heroic female heroine and a handsome sage set in gothic times. There are hidden past secrets, curious characters with dashes of intrigue and magic and of course a bit of romance all rolled into one. You will think you have won the lottery with this story!

Ruby Vaughn works at a bookstore in Exeter who has been asked by her co-worker to bring a box of books to a man in the woods. He is no ordinary person, and she is not allowed to look into the box. She knows this place and is hesitant to go because there is someone there, she would rather not see. 

But she goes and meets this seer whom she immediately dislikes. She then goes to visit her best friend, Tamsyn who lives in Penryth Hall with her now husband Edward Chenowyth. She and Tamsyn have not seen each other in years due to a bit of a falling out. Upon meeting Tamsyn’s husband, she immediately takes a dislike to him He is gruff and treats her friend badly. Convinced to stay the night, Ruby soon regrets the decision.

Suddenly she awakens to church bells ringing. She finds out that someone has died and the bells which have not rung for years mean a previous curse has been renewed. Then she discovers the dead person is her friend’s husband Edward. What? Can this be true? A curse?

Now Penryth Hall is thrown into chaos as there seems to be two sides, those who believe he was murdered by someone and those who believe the curse has killed him. Enter the handsome soothsayer Ruan Kivell who is convinced the curse has come back and will kill again. Ruby feels someone murdered the man because he was nasty. But then the doctor tells them that not only was he poisoned but after he was dead, he was stabbed.

Now it is up to Ruby and Ruan to investigate the death even though each believes the death was caused by something different, and Ruby herself seems to be a target! Who would want to kill her and is there really a foolish curse? As the town awaits the next death, it seems all are suspects!

As the investigation continues, the one person who seems to have a reason to kill Edward is her dear friend Tamsyn. But would she try to kill Ruby too? Haste is a necessity now as clearly someone else will die. Can Ruby and Ruan agree to disagree and find out what is really going on in this small town? Is this a crime or a curse?

The Curse of Penryth Hall will keep you enchantingly engaged throughout the mysteriously engrossing story!

Thank you #Net Galley #MinotaurBooks #JessArmstrong #TheCurseofPenrythHall for the advanced copy.

One of the interesting things about this book was the slightly dark sexual undercurrent that ran through the story- it was also one of the annoying things. Put it out there once and let the reader run with it. Aside from that, this was a very well drawn gothic style mystery with interesting characters and just the right amount of twists and turns. The dynamic between Ruby and Ruan, the two main characters, and his ability to read some of her inner thoughts added just the right touch of humor when things seemed to be taking a left turn.

Recently I have read several writers who focus on Cornwall for not only this type of story but for police procedural murder mysteries. They have all been well written and provided me with hours of entertaining reading. Congratulations to Jess Armstrong on a very solid debut novel. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalleyfor a copy.

A historic gothic mystery with a few surprises.
Ruby an American heiress works for a bookshop was sent to deliver some books to a small village where gets drawn to Penryth Hall and its inhabitants. and a murder ,mystery,curse, ghosts, and romance.
Very intriguing story and characters.
Enjoyed reading.
Voluntarily reviewed.

This was a most enjoyable historical gothic mystery with a slight paranormal twist. It is set in the early 1920s of Exeter and Cornwall, England. Ruby Vaughn, our plucky and free-spirited protagonist, is an American heiress who fears nothing. After a valorous stint as an Army nurse in WWI, she charges in where others fear to tread. She works for an aging English antiquarian who has sent her off to the hinterlands of Cornwall to deliver a hoard of books to one of his friends, who just happens to be a small village's folk healer or "pellar". Ruby's dearest friend lives at Penryth Hall - quite close to her destination. So, she stops by to say hello and gets wrangled into an extended stay with the friend. One thing leads to another and a body is found on the grounds of Penryth which is attributed to a long-standing curse. Ruby gets dragged in further and further. If she's ever to leave this small village of small-minded folks, she'll have to solve the murder. But can she survive the ordeal?

This was a highly atmospheric, somewhat dark mystery. The writing is rich and the characters colorful. The scene setting is cinematic in scope and the tension is steady throughout. I was amazed to discover that this was Ms. Armstrong's first published book. I can only believe that it is the first of many to come.

I am grateful to Minotaur Books for having provided a complimentary uncorrected digital galley of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review.


Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: December 5, 2023
No. of Pages: 336
ISBN No.: 978-1250886019

The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong is fast paced and full of suspense. With it’s gothic setting, a touch of the supernatural, enough drama for an episode of Real Housewives and a tale of unrequited love, there is something for everyone.

I have posted this review on Instagram

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Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6034717634

And Amazon

This is a really great story with a good mystery and well-written likable characters. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Jess Armstrong, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.75

Writing: 4 Stars
Plot: 3.5
Pace: Slow
Characters: 4 stars
Cat: 5 stars
Main character: 4.5 stars

A Gothic Mystery taking place in the 20’s (20th century) about an American heiress, Ruby a bookseller, living in Exeter, England. ( with her adorable kitty- as all kitties are and older employer and flatmate.
Ruby is sent with a book delivery to the Cornish Countryside, a place she never planned on returning.
Ruby visits her friend/ I believe ex lover, Tamsyn while in town. Upon her visit, Tamsyns husband dies and thus begins the story of the curse at Penryth Hall.

Although there is magical realism this book falls more along the lines of slow burn gothic mystery.
I really good enjoyed the character of Ruby, Ruan and the cute kitty.
However, I wish more had transpired, I felt this was a bit slow to consume.

Overall a nice cozy debut novel. I will definitely be reading more from this author

I'm a sucker for a good mystery and omg, did I love this one. I loved Ruby Vaughn from the first page and that love grew the more I learned about her, from her flaws to her virtues. Her past was weaved well with the present, showing who she was and how it shaped how she was now especially with regards to how she interacted with Ruan and Tamsyn. But, I think my favorite interactions were between her and Mr. Owens, not her father but still filling in the father figure role. The characters were so well done, I wasn't left wanting. As for the mystery itself, oh the breadcrumbs along the way were very clever. Even when I was sure I had guessed the culprit, I was still left questioning myself until the very end. There were many red herrings that cleverly hid the real killer until a single heart-pounding moment. I greatly hope there will be a sequel because I would love to see more of Ruby Vaughn (and Ruan, of course).

Excellently written - I loved the representation. Ruby does not back down nor hide the truth of herself. Loved it.
Ruby is asked to deliver books - granting her an opportunity to see her lost love in the Cornish countryside- deep in superstition. The brutal death of the local lord brings out all the rich lore.
Gothic. Rich with imagery. Great pace.

A pulse pounding whodunit set in Cornwall in the 1920's featuring an intriguing cast of characters including a widow, an exiled American heiress, a mistress, and a pellar. Fast paced with gothic vibes, small town setting, folklore inspired elements, a cursed estate, with LGTBQ+ plus characters this novel checks so many boxes. There is a small romantic subplot and so many twists and turns in this novel. It's been days since I've finished reading this novel and I'm still thinking about the ending.

In the wake of the Great War, Ruby Vaughn delivers books to the local healer, or Pellar, at Penryth Hall, a place she swore she would never return. While there, Ruby's best friend's husband is killed so Ruby stays to help figure out why and by whom. I enjoyed this debut novel for the most part, but the ending was a little predictable to me. But overall, it was a nicely written, interesting, and fun read.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ARC of this eBook in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 stars

I devoured this book. I am a sucker for gothic and mysterious. Add in a bit of a thriller, and I am SOLD. I was swept into Ruby's world immediately and I enjoyed following her. I was happy that the bit of romance included heartbreak and was not the expected love story like so many can be.

While I would recommend this book to most, I would do so with a mention of how the story pace changes throughout. Be prepared for some slow turns and some surprises!

* I read and reviewed this after the publication date. Because of this, I could to listen to the audiobook while baking for Christmas. I loved the audiobook!

At first, I liked this book! The writing painted a scene and I was into the gothic mystery vibes. Thank you to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for the ARC. Some of the friendships in the book are interesting. I can see why people would like it, so if you are a patient reader and a fan of gothic mysteries, consider it.

Personally, I had a hard time investing in the characters and the story. The more I read, the less I enjoyed this book. I truly think it would’ve made a great short story. The relationship between the two main characters wasn’t enough to keep me interested. It felt low stakes (I’m still not sure why I should care who killed Edward??) and it kept meandering. I didn’t like the characters who our mystery-solvers were worried about, therefore I didn’t care about their fates.

Wonderful debut! You will enjoy this novel. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this novel. Check it out! It is worth picking up and taking home for the weekend! #NetGalley

Two things that always make me happy? A beautiful book cover and a well-written debut. Jess Armstrong’s The Curse of Penryth Hall delivers on both!

Ruby Vaughn, an American heiress, and Ruan Kivell, a Cornish folk healer band together to solve a baronet's murder, as Ruby's past ties to the victim's wife Tamsyn creates danger for her. Will Ruan be able to protect Ruby, or will an old witch's curse bring more death ... including hers? It's an engaging story I'm happy to recommend!

I did an immersion read, listening to the audio while following along on my Kindle. Emma Lord nailed the accents and made the story even more fun.

What I liked:

▪️ Interesting and well-drawn characters
▪️ A great dynamic between Ruan and Ruby
▪️ An absolutely adorable, mischievous cat named Fiachna - I wish he was mine!
▪️ A solid mystery with a believable ending
▪️ A wonderful audio narration by Emma Lord
▪️ Really lovely prose that brought the setting and atmosphere alive
▪️ The Cornish folklore was really interesting!

Some things I didn't prefer:

▪️ A few too many fancy “dictionary” words. I love intelligence. I don't love looking up definitions!
▪️ Ruby and Tamsyn’s backstory didn’t feel fleshed out - why did Ruby still like her?
▪️ The ending between Ruan and Ruby felt incomplete - is there a sequel coming? I'd be cool with that!

All said, I really enjoyed this debut and can’t wait to see what Jess Armstrong writes next!

Well written book about friends and a who done it murder mystery. Everyone is suspect including a curse. Of course there is a curse. Dead husband. Best friends. Towns people. Yes there are lots of suspects.

This book was a bit of a fun read for me that ends with a possibility of a next book.

This was a hard review for me. It would have been too easy to give something away.

Read and enjoy. It's worth it.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts.

4/5 stars

The Curse of Penryth Hall is set in the period right after World War I, when England is still reeling from the senseless loss of far too many men, and the survivors are all too frequently disabled by shellshock. Jess Armstrong’s heroine Ruby is a strong-willed American heiress who left the U.S. in disgrace after a sex scandal; she now works for an elderly bookseller, who dispatches her to deliver an order to a man in Cornwall. Ruby’s old friend Tamsyn lives nearby, so she figures she may as well drop in on her as well.

Shortly after Ruby’s arrival, Tamsyn’s dreadful husband is found dead, his corpse mutilated in such a way that makes the townsfolk assume that this is an old curse rearing its head again. Sensible Ruby is quite sure that curses aren’t real, but something strange seems to be afoot; for instance, the man to whom she delivered the books is a pellar, a kind of healer/warlock, and he appears to possess the ability to read Ruby’s thoughts.

There’s a good mystery here, but the book may have suffered a bit from the fact that I alternated reading the ebook with listening to the audiobook, which made me more aware of Armstrong’s writerly tics. One of them is the overuse of the word “brow”: “gestured with a furrowed brow,” “she furrowed her brow,” “her brow furrowed,” “I furrowed my brow,” etc. I may not have noticed it if I was just reading, but something about hearing the word so many times made it really stand out. Armstrong is already a fine storyteller, but perhaps a stronger editorial hand next time will make her a better author.

In The Curse of Penryth Hall, Ruby Vaughn is the former WWI ambulance driver who helps her employer with his rare book business. The child of deceased wealthy parents, the American ex-patriot lives in Exeter (Devon, England) with her boss Mr. Owen. She parties, passes out, recovers and parties again. Mr. Owens, thinking (which never bodes well) Ruby needs a mission, sends her to deliver a load of books to Tintagel, a village in Cornwall. The recipient of the books is Ruan Kivell, the local Pellar – a sort of folk healer.

Ruby’s friend Tamsyn lives nearby, so a side trip has Ruby reuniting with the woman who was once her dearest friend. Things are not exactly cheerful at the eerie Penryth Hall. Tamysn is hard to read and her husband, Sir Edward Chenowyth, appears to be cold, judgmental, and maybe abusive. Before Ruby can make her getaway, Edward is murdered. The locals call in the Pellar and now Ruby, Ruan, Tamsyn and the villagers of Tintagel have a mystery on their hands.

There is no lack of suspects, including a curse that was supposed to have killed previous Chenowyths. Many people believe in curses. Ruan has an unusual set of skills that helps him follow evidence but also makes him the local authority that people both respect and fear his ‘magic’. Ruby is the skeptic who scoffs at the curse and does not believe Ruan is a wizard. This makes for an interesting relationship between Ruby and Ruan. I enjoyed watching this relationship develop. At times they were antagonistic and at times helpful to each other. Throughout, they become closer and each came to understand the other. Ruby’s pragmatism also puts her at odds with the villagers at times. But her resolve to solve the mystery also endeared her to several of the locals even if she was somewhat alien to the people of Tintagel.

The Curse of Penryth Hall is a twisty, gothic mystery steeped in both superstition and soundness. Deftly defined characters had me changing my suspicions about who the guilty person was with each chapter. The ending hints at a possible next book in a series. I would love to be able to read more about Ruby and Ruan.

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book. My review is my honest opinion.

Loved the mix of historical fiction with mystery and a bit of mysticism. A story of a book delivery that changes her life. Characters that you want to meet and can’t wait to see what happens in the next one.

I grew up (10 years and on up) reading gothic romances of the sixities, seventies, eighties, and even nineties. I have wanted more recent gothics with a newer writing style to take the gothic genre to new heights. This is the best of the old gothic stories with updated takes and suspense.
The characters of Ruby Vaughn (strong and flawed heroine), Ruan Kivell (the local "Pellar," in English folk he practiced Magic and Witchcraft, was a healer, diviner and breaker of spells) a compelling and mysterious man, and Tamysn (the recent widow who appears haunted and terrified) each provide layers and nuances to the story. Although Ruby and Ruan initially butt heads, there is something between Ruby and Ruan, something ancient and mystical that I dearly hope will be further explained in subsequent books. Mr. Owen and Mrs. Penrose are great secondary characters that I'm glad will be returning.
The setting of Cornwall with the deep sense of history and persistant old folk ways sets the gothic atmosphere to perfection. The plot has many twists and turns that kept me guessing. The mystery may seem simple at first but it is actually more complex and involved. The lurking image of a ghost, the Pellar's near magic healing abilities, and the family secrets slowly doled out are perfection and kept me reading on and on. The climax was great with some suspense. The wrapup ties up all the loose ends, except whether Ruby and Ruan will see each other again and figure out their strange connection. Something to look forward to, I hope.
I admit the first chapter or two didn't grab me, but I'm glad I stuck with it because once Sir Edward Chenowyth is murdered the story had me in its spell and I could barely put it down to sleep. I highly recommend.

Rating: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list