This book started out so strong but slowed down for me considerably. I desperately wanted to finish it though and did not see the twist ending!

From the publisher: “ 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.”

I adored Ruby’s character and her independent nature and acerbic wit. Tamsyn… it was hard to care for. The Pellar! I would’ve like to see his storyline developed more. Maybe in future stories?

Thank you to #netGalley for this #ARC in exchange for my honest review!

4.5 Stars.

I really liked this author's writing style, even though I couldn't tell you exactly what that style is. This was a great debut novel. I thought it was an engrossing tale of darkness with a bit of magic (?) thrown in in what others are calling a Gothic mystery. It's not the type of thing I usually read, but I enjoyed the bits of mystery surrounding the murders and attacks that took place in this small English village in the 1920's.

The relationships were varied and sometimes only alluded to, which sometimes puzzled me. I can understand the author not wanting to get too graphic, but at the beginning I kept doubting whether or not there really was a lesbian relationship that had gone on.. My doubts were erased as the story continued. Ruby was quite an eccentric character! She was also one tough cookie. A great strong female protagonist which made for a great story.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this intriguing book. All thoughts are my own.

One thing I really don’t like about historical fiction is when writers try to pull of a voice or style that they THINK sounds right for the era but ends up feeling silly and forced. The whole time, I just felt so detached from the book because I could see the writing. What I mean by that is I could feel the work put into the craft, and it took me out of the story. For me, good writing happens organically. You never feel like you’re reading someone’s planned out work but instead you’re riding on a story that feels real and authentic and immediate.

I couldn’t get past this at any point and it just felt like I was watching a writer tell a story rather than feeling immersed in the tale itself.

“Do you know what it’s like to want something, ruby? To want it so badly that you would do anything in the world to make it happen?”


While I found this book and the murder mystery within compelling, it felt like it was all over the place at times. As if it really wasn’t sure what it wanted to be and was afraid to commit to any one thing; whether it be the relationships within or the genre it meant to embody.

At times I found it humorous when I’m not sure that it was the author’s intended reaction. The main character switched moods, motives and feelings for others from one minute to the next leaving me reeling. There were two possible love interests in the book, neither getting a precise ending. Things were left very open ended with Ruby’s future, possibly in hopes of a sequel and more adventures to come.

The murder mystery and concept of the curse were the most intriguing aspects of this book. Although, Sometimes it felt like the mystery went around in circles, far too many characters and plot lines twisting on each other in an attempt to make for an unexpected plot twist but they weren’t done clearly or as precisely as I believe they could’ve been.

In my opinion, none of the characters were very likable or stuck with me in any indefinite way. Perhaps my expectations for this book were just very different as it was advertised as a gothic murder mystery involving a curse. While most of this was true, the vibes felt, at times, a little too lighthearted and a little less gothic and I had trouble envisioning the setting due to lack of describing words when it came to the cursed mansion.

While I found the book entertaining there were just too many faults for me to truly enjoy it, but I believe some readers may enjoy this one.

The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong is her first novel and I doubt it will be her last. Ruby Vaughn runs a bookstore for an octogenarian and is tasked with delivering some books to Ruan Kivell, a local "healer".

Ruby does not believe in superstitions, ghosts, Pellars or the like. You ask what is a Pellar?

"A Pellar is in English folk Magic and Witchcraft, a healer, diviner and breaker of spells. The term is probably a corruption of expel, as in the repelling or expelling of spells. A pellar would be sought out if a person thought he or she had been bewitched or cursed."

Ruby intends to just drop off the books and go back home but things did not work out that way. She spends time with her friend Tamsyn. They were good friends but lost touch with each other over the years. The last they had any communication was at Tamysn and Sir Edward Chenowyth's wedding. She decides to stay because of the bells. The last time Penryth bells wrung was 30 years ago. At that time one of Edward's ancestors was murdered.

Ruby has a terrible dream. When she wakes she is not sure if the dream was real or not, someone was murdered and in her wake state, she is not sure if what she dreamt was real or not. That is when the bells start chiming. The housekeeper has found the body of Sir Edward. He had been murdered violently. It is time for Ruby to team up with Pellar, and Ruan, to see if they can determine who and why Edward was killed.

To the point of putting herself and anyone around her in danger, she is bound and determined to figure it out. Ruby and Ruan are always at odds because she does not believe in what he can do. But working together they find that there may be a tiny bit of attraction between the two.

Penryth Hall is very dark and gothic, and people really believe that the curse of Penryth is real and it will strike again. Ruby is worried it will be Tamsyin next.

I always like a good psychological thriller and this one fits into that genre. Lots of characters, some quirky, some creepy, and others you will definitely like. This book was a fun quick read for me! I give it 4 stars.

I received a copy of the book from Netgalley/Minotaur Books for review purposes only and was not monetarily compensated for the review!

In The Curse of Penryth Hall, Ruby Vaughn must deliver a box of old books to the Cornish countryside. She would rather not visit this area, but she inevitably gives in. Ruby decides (against her better judgment) to stop by Penryth Hall to visit her former best friend Tamsyn and her husband Sir Edward Chenowyth. The three eat dinner together, and Ruby stays the night. However, Ruby is woken from her sleep by the sound of bells, meaning someone has died. Sir Edward Chenowyth's body is found in the orchard. The rumor of a curse being responsible for Sir Edward's death is quickly spread throughout the town.

I enjoyed this novel! I loved the main character-- Ruby. She was not afraid to speak her mind or poke around to figure out the truth even if that meant asking tough questions. I loved how the author wrote about Ruby's cat Fiachna. (I love my fur babies, and love reading about them!) The ending of the novel shocked me. I did not know who had murdered Sir Edward until it was revealed. There were many times throughout the book that I thought it was other people. However, I never suspected the person it actually was. I would love for this to be turned into a series. I would be excited to read more books about Ruby solving mysteries.

I have a deep love for anything gothic in the literal world so when I saw a gothic mystery with a cover to DIE FOR, I knew this book had to be read immediately.

So American heiress, Ruby Vaughn, gets into a scandal so she’s sent to a small town to hang low. She helps out at the local bookstore and one day she’s tasked to deliver books to the local folk healer at Penryth Hall. Her estranged friend Tamsyn lives there with her husband. After an awkward dinner where Ruby sees how unhappy Tamsyn is in her marriage, she stays the night and wakes up to Tamsyn’s husband, Sir Edward Chenowyth, found dead in the orchard.

Thus begins the tale of the Curse of Penryth Hall. Lots of things happen. The vibes were dark and secretive and mysterious. I got lost in this story for quite a while.

I wasn’t a big fan of Tamsyn but I LOVED Ruan. I wouldn’t mind reading more in this world.

Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

While overall I thought this was a good gothic mystery, it was a little too long in my opinion. The mystery and atmospheric setting were very intriguing, and most of the characters were interesting. But it went on too long and could have been shorter.

3.5 stars

I just finished The Curse of Penryth hall by Jess Armstrong @jessl_armstrong and here are my thoughts.

Ruby Vaughn didn’t have the life she expected to have. After the war, she found herself running a rare bookstore with her very old employer and housemate. She left a life behind and doesn’t dwell on it until she is sent to deliver a box of rare books to a place Ruby swore she would never set foot in again. Instead of delivering the books and leaving right away, she makes the foolish decision to visit Penryth Hall.

Her old friend Tamryn lives there with her husband Edward. Vowing to leave the next day, Ruby is mortified to learn the bells are ringing for the first time in 30 years and they are ringing to announce the death of Tamryns husband. The town begins to rumble about the return of the curse. She doesn’t believe in curses but she can’t now leave when Tamryn is now in danger.

Can she and the pellar find out what is really going on before it is too late?

This book started a little slow. I wasn’t 100% sure I was going to like it at first but I was pleasantly surprised after a couple of chapters. I always love a good relatable MC and Ruby was awesome. She didn’t try and conform and ended up carving out a nice little life for herself.

She always seems to get herself involved in things that she should stay out of but she is definitely handy to have around. I really enjoyed her banter with the pellar, he is like a witch healer and seems to be revered by the town which I was totally loving. The vicar seemed to be shady and I was loving that too!

The whole curse was an interesting concept and I very much enjoyed the conclusion to the mystery which I never did figure out! I love books that keep me guessing. The plot was great, the characters were solid and I felt the writing was quite excellent. Historical mysteries seem to be top for me as of late. This one hit every mark for me and I would love to read more from this author.

Solid 4.5 stars!!

Thank you to @minotaur_books for my gifted copy of this masterpiece!

#thecurseofpenrythhall #jessarmstrong #historicalmystery #bookreview #readerreview #smpinfluencer #minotaurbooks #bookinfluencer #canadianbooklover #yycreader #bookish #booknerdigans

Thank you to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This felt almost like a cozy mystery despite the content because the writing wasn’t terribly complex. This isn’t a dig against the author, I actually really enjoyed how easy it was to read. This is one of those kind of books that you can recommend to most readers even if mystery isn’t their preferred genre and I believe that they would still enjoy it.

Thank you Minotaur and NetGalley for the eARC of The Curse of Penryth Hall! All opinions in this review are my own.

I really enjoyed this historical mystery because you weren't quite sure if the answer was going to be supernatural or not. The writing was so atmospheric and sinister! The Curse of Penryth Hall was a stunning debut and I hope this becomes a series!

First off I loved the setting, nothing like the Cornish countryside to set a gothic mystery novel.

The main character, Ruby, and her boss run a bookstore, but unfortunately we don’t get much bookstore content. Ruby travels to the Cornish countryside and most of the story is set there.

I didn’t care much for Ruby’s character because I didn’t really come to know much about her. I also thought there was a missed opportunity to provide more detail about her relationship with Ruan Kivell.

The story felt modern and I had to remind myself that it is set in post war England.

The mystery itself was pretty good and I certainly didn’t guess what was going on until the end.

I think for a first effort, the book was entertaining and definitely captured that gothic feel.

Important things you need to know about the book:

Pace: The Curse of Penryth Hall had a slow to medium pace.

POV: The Curse of Penryth Hall is told from Ruby’s 1st person POV.

Trigger/Content Warning: The Curse of Penryth Hall has trigger and content warnings. If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:

Death
Infidelity
Murder
Suicide
Violence
Blood
Alcohol
War
Gore
Toxic Relationship
Grief
Injury/Injury Detail
Mental Illness
Death of a parent
Death of a sibling
Pregnancy
Classism
Suicide
Sexual Content: The Curse of Penryth Hall has minor sexual content.

Language: There is minor swearing in The Curse of Penryth Hall. There is also language used that people might consider offensive.

Setting: The Curse of Penryth Hall is mainly set in Cornwall. Some scenes are set in Exeter, and some are flashback scenes to Ruby in the United States and France (for The Great War).

Age Range: I recommend The Curse of Penryth Hall to anyone over 16.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

When The Great War ended, Ruby was happy to return to England and work at a bookstore selling rare books. When her roommate (and co-worker) asks her to run a parcel of books to a remote village in Cornwall, Ruby refuses. Initially, Ruby wants to avoid taking the books. Her dear friend (and former lover), Tamsyn lives there with her husband, Lord Edward Chenowyth, in a foreboding manor called Penryth Hall. But she eventually agrees and makes the journey. When she arrives, what she encounters surprises her and piques her interest. Within a day of her arrival, Lord Edward is murdered by what the locals call a curse. According to them, Tamsyn and her son are next. Ruby vows to find Lord Edwards’s killer but is met with resistance from the townspeople and their local Pellar, a handsome man named Ruan Kivell. The closer she gets to the truth, the more the lines between normal and paranormal are blurred. Will Ruby discover who killed Lord Edward and protect Tamsyn? Or will she end up with another causality of the curse?

Main Characters

Ruby Vaughn: I liked Ruby. She was bright, bold, and wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. Of course, those traits did get her in trouble at various points in the book. I liked that even though she and Tamsyn were estranged, she was willing to look into Lord Edward’s death and protect Tamsyn (and her son).

Lady Tamsyn Chenowyth: I wasn’t initially sure what to think of her. She still wanted Ruby but was afraid to act on it. But she was a devoted mother. Once I got past my initial dislike of her, I saw her as a woman who was forced to conform to what society wanted from her instead of doing what she wanted. It made me feel a little sad for her because of that.

Ruan Kivell: He was a mystery wrapped in an enigma. It took me forever to realize what a Pellar is (fun fact: a Cornish sorcerer). He did have an otherworldliness about him that made me wonder if what the villagers thought was true. I liked how he dealt with Ruby and how their relationship evolved.

My review:

I am an anomaly in the reading/blogging world. I try not to read and review anything Gothic. The layers that those books have are difficult to discuss. And when I do, I realize I am leaving something important out. I was surprised when I accepted the review request from St. Martin’s Press for the above reasons. I was also surprised that this book was easy to discuss (layers and everything).

The main storyline in The Curse of Penryth Hall centers on Ruby, her investigation into the death of Lord Edward, and the curse that haunts his family. I found the storyline to be well-written. I also loved the layers to this story. Once one was peeled back, another appeared, and another connection was made. I loved that I couldn’t tell if the curse was human-made or supernatural. The author kept that under wraps until the end of the book. Even then, when it was revealed, I still had my doubts.

The storyline with Ruby and Tamsyn, their relationship, and Ruby’s investigation into Lord Edward’s death was interesting. While the author didn’t come out and say that Ruby and Tamsyn were ex-lovers, the behaviors of both cemented my questions. Ruby’s investigation went in circles and, at times, did point to Tamsyn. But, like her, I thought it was too convenient, and I was glad when she decided to press on. Of course, Tamsyn’s behavior didn’t help her with that.

The storyline with Ruby and Ruan Kivell and their investigation into Lord Edward’s death was one of the better storylines I have read this week. I loved how Ruby and Ruan pulled and pushed at each other, but at the same time, there was respect. Their relationship transcended everything in the book, and I looked forward to their interactions. I liked how Ruan’s Pellar status came into play at the end of the book.

The mystery angle of The Curse of Penryth Hall was excellent. I had zero clue who the murderer was, and the author had quite a list of suspects. I was also taken by surprise by the murder weapon. It was mentioned in the middle of the book and brought back up at the end, which surprised me. There was also a twist regarding Lord Edward and heirs. Now, that twist was super convoluted and did confuse me in places. But when the murderer confessed, that person also explained the connection. Which, again, surprised me.

The end of The Curse of Penryth Hall was fantastic. The author wrapped all the storylines in ways that I loved and believed. I was saddened by specific events (including what happened to the murderer and why that person did what they did). I was left with questions about Ruan and Ruby’s relationship and whether it would deepen if the author wrote other books.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and Jess Armstrong for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Curse of Penryth Hall. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

Ruby Vaughn is an American heiress sent to England after her reputation is tarnished. Now running a bookstore, she’s sent to Cornwall to deliver a box of old books to Ruan Kivell. Ruby takes this opportunity to visit her estranged but beloved friend, Tamsyn at Penryth Hall. Unfortunately, while visiting Tamsyn’s husband is murdered and there’s talk of an old curse being responsible, one that now threatens Tamsyn and her young son.

I really wanted to love this story. A plucky, independent heroine out to solve a grisly murder at an old gothic estate, a malevolent curse at play and all this set in a picturesque Cornish town. What’s not to love? Unfortunately, the story took forever to get into, and the characters/relationships just fell flat for me. The story felt like that: a story. The character’s dialogue and reactions to circumstances felt off and strange. I never felt anything about Ruby and Tamsyn and their failed romance. And yes, I get that Ruan was a Peller because it was stated over and over again. The mystery was somewhat interesting, but it didn’t make up for the other issues, IMO. The way things ended there could be another story in the works.

I alternated between reading and e-copy and listening to an audio copy. I did enjoy Emma Love’s portrayal of Ruby with an American accent. I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.

This is such an intriguing debut novel. I actually was surprised that it was a debate novel has it did not read like one. I enjoyed the way the main characters interacted with each other. I also enjoyed the many twists and turns and the surprise ending. There did seem to be a hint of more to come, so I’m hoping that’s true.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Sir Edward Chenowyth was laid out in the middle of the orchard beneath a verdant canopy, with lace-like bits of sunlight breaking through the leaves casting a pattern on the ground below. At first blush one might assume the fellow had fallen asleep watching the wind play in the leaves above, were not his body contorted in a peculiar serpentine position. Or were his face not ripped beyond recognition.

As with any good Gothic, a dark and broody manor Penryth Hall resides in the Cornish countryside where the village citizens believe in curses and our intrepid heroine, Ruby, gets mixed up in a murder mystery told all from her point-of-view. Ruby's been to this Hall before and had made a promise to never return, her former bestfriend and intimate partner Tamsyn lives there, with her husband. After feeling betrayed by Tamsyn and turning her back on the life Ruby thought she'd live with her, Tamsyn married a baron. However, the fatherly figure, Mr. Owen, who has taken Ruby under his wing, has a trunk of books for Ruby to deliver to that area. After ignoring a letter from Tamsyn, begging Ruby to help her, Ruby decides this is fate telling her to check in on Tamsyn.

“Ruan, I need to know something.”
“What?”
“Are you or aren’t you a witch?”

After “meeting” Ruby, learning her trauma that she still holds from being a nurse in WWI (it's 1922), the murder mystery gets going fairly quickly. When Ruby agrees to deliver the books to a Mr. Kivell, she's in the Cornish countryside within a few chapters. There, fate seems to have her meeting Mr. Kivell, first name Ruan, in a fated way and within the first night of her checking in on her former friend Tamsyn, the baron is found murdered. Again, as with any good Gothic, the question of whether it is human or paranormal forces at work is swirled around. Ruan is the countryside's Pellar (a good witch), and with Ruby being an American, she instantly has friction with Ruan and everyone's thinking that it's the “Curse”. The family Tamsyn married into is said to be cursed by a witch because of the baron's ancestor falling in love with the wrong girl, and the baron's uncle and aunt were previously murdered, actually allowing him to inherit. Ruby doesn't have the best reputation, she was sent over from America by her family because of a scandal (she was caught with a married man) and this embittered her in ways. Then when the war started, she volunteered and was put on the Western Front and the death and destruction had her viewing life and priorities differently, along with falling in love with Tamsyn and to only feel betrayed by the decisions Tamsyn then made. So, when the townspeople think the curse has returned, they see Ruby as the possible witch who brought it back.

The woman pointed a finger at me. “She will destroy you. Take everything from you until you have returned to the earth from which you were born. Leave the morvoren-born behind, Pellar. She can bring you nothing but death.”

This has Ruby put in many almost death situations, Ruan has to save her from a stoning, enough dangerous situations that my American butt would have noped out very quickly but Ruby still has emotional ties to Tamsyn and she promised she'd stay to figure out the murder mystery to protect Tamsyn and Tamsyn's son. With Ruan being the Pellar and the most trusted in the area, this has them then working together to figure out who killed the baron. There's credible red-herrings all over the place and the middle did start to drag for me a little bit as one too many avenues started to appear on the way to solving the murder. There's also a little romance with the pushing tension turning into pull between Ruby and Ruan.

“I have a feeling about you. And I can’t say whether I hope or fear that I’m right.”

I read this with the mindset that it was a standalone and I think that wound up affecting my rating, this clearly is setting up to be a series, at least I hope so because the ending leaves numerous threads dangling. The focused on murder mystery here is solved but Ruby and Ruan's connection is obviously not done being explored and the epilogue seems to set-up Ruby to go on another adventure. The mystery was a bit too dragged out with one too many redherrings and their side stories, the edging in of paranormal was just about right with Ruan being a pellar and his Sookie Stackhouse ability, the underneath light romance was dashed enough in to call it a thread, and the main heroine Ruby had enough facets in her personality to draw me in and make me interested in her as a reader. I liked this, but with thinking the story was going to be contained in one book, wanted things to be more snappy. If you're willing to settle in for some meandering and can handle not all being explained, the setting and atmosphere in this was Gothic fun.

A gorgeously written story full of mystery, intrigue, and beautifully drawn characters. So atmospheric, I got lost in the the writing and the setting!

I loved the home in this book. It is its own character and I love that in a book! I loved Ruby as well.
I think maybe I might not be the right person for this book. I usually love creepy spooky house mysteries but this didn't work for me. That's me though!
I can't wait to see what the author writes next.

It was the beautiful cover of The Curse of Penryth Hall that first caught my eye. As well as that little sticker letting me know that Jess Armstrong's debut has earned the 'First Crime Novel Award from Mystery Writers of America'. I was hooked before I turned a page.

The Great War has ended and Ruby Vaughan has found her niche, working in a rare books store and trying to just enjoy life. When the owner of the shop asks her to deliver a box of books to a small hamlet in Cornwall, she readily agrees, as it will give her a chance to visit her old friend Tamsyn.

Oh, all the bits of a gothic mystery are starting to fall into place - secluded village, a great hall that houses Tamsyn and her husband, old traditions and ways that are adhered to, a death and a search for the who, what and why of a demise. A curse! Delicious! Now, that's what I had expected (it's a favorite genre of mine) but... there was so much more added to the plot. A dash of a possible romance, a serving of other unseen happenings and so much more. Armstrong keeps the reader on their toes. And I quite liked the 1902 time frame. Murder must be investigated with foot leather, interviews, intuition and supposition.

Ruby is a wonderfully drawn lead character. She speaks her mind - and that mind is very quick and sharp. And she does what she wants to, despite what others might think. She's got a sassy air to her that I quite like. The supporting cast play their roles very well. But there's one player named Ruan Kivell, who is definitely more than a supporting player. He's a Pellar - a term I had not come across before. Ruan's addition to the main line of the book opens up so many avenues and possibilities.

I was caught up in the tale, guessing who the culprit was until the last pages. And I quite liked the last bit where everything is accounted for, and what might be next for all of the players. I'd be happy to see Ruby again!

4.8 / 5.0 The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong is a masterful mystery mixed with love and self-discovery.

The way this opens and introduces the main character is so interesting. I was hooked from the very first chapter and it just got better and better. The twist at the end was heartbreaking and so good. If there’s more to come, which I suspect there is, I will definitely be reading them.

Overall, this is for readers that enjoy a good mystery, a good story of love without being a romance, and some spooky conspiracy that makes you think.

Until Next Time,
MC