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

Thank you to Minotaur and NetGalley for the free eARC. All opinions are my own.

This post World War 1 mystery set in the superstitious town of Lothlel Green features an American heiress set on forgetting her rather tragic past by drowning her pain in copious amounts of alcohol, is bidden by her employer to deliver a trunk of books promising that this time she wouldn't get arrested for the contents (honestly some of the adventures that Ruby Vaughn refers to sound incredibly interesting). The recipient of the books is Ruan Kivell who is not quite sure of Ruby. Also living in the town is Tamsyn Chenowyth (the former friend/lover of Ruby), married to the local Baronet Edward who is not the most beloved person. When he turns up dead, everyone suspects that it is the Curse come to take the Baronet just like it happened to the previous Baronet. Is it a curse or a murder? And who's next on the list?

I loved the story, and although I saw the twists coming, I appreciated way that Jess approached the stories of the characters, building them into real people. Maybe because I was raised Sherlock, Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, I have a lot of nostalgia for the time frame, location, and the personalities. I can't wait to see if there's going to be more stories of Ruby Vaughn, intrepid book seller.

4.25 out of 5 stars. Recommend for those who grew up loving Agatha Christie, Nancy Drew, and other mysteries.

I was intrigued by the cover & the description for this novel, prior to requesting a copy of this advanced reader copy through NetGalley.

I resonate with my fellow readers. While the plot is a good one, potentially an enjoyable one, the story fell flat for me. The characters do not match the plot. While reading the novel, it lacked the background and at times, the emotion to enjoy & connect with the characters.

That said, I did enjoy the atmosphere created by the author. There are several areas within the novel that gave me enough description to be able to see the room/area before my eyes, even given chills at times.

Special thanks to NetGalley & Minotaur Books for providing me with a copy of this novel.

I wanted to love this one soo much, the premise sucked me in, I love old gothic houses steeped in mystery, history, and curses, unfortunately in this book, the house is the best character.

Now if you loved this one, I'm happy you did, and maybe at some point I'll read it again and feel differently but this one just fell flat for me.

With a main character who can't make up her mind about who she's interested in or what she believes in, and a mixing of magic and reality that just doesn't work, I found myself having a hard time finishing this one.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for providing a copy of this E-Book, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Curse of Penryth Hall is a spooky gothic murder mystery with twists and turns galore! The story starts with our FMC, Ruby, traveling to a neighboring town to deliver some books to the local pellar. After taking a detour to visit an old flame, she finds herself in the center of a mystery that spans generations.

Although the first chapter felt a bit choppy, I was pleasantly surprised by how the story drew me in with its classic gothic elements like a grand estate, spooky local legends, and—*wiggles fingers*—muuurrrdderrrr. There were also many layers of mystery woven together that had me constantly guessing who did it (which was pretty fun tbh). Having said that, this book left me a bit underwhelmed at the end and I’ve been having a hard time pinpointing why. It might be because there was an interesting magical powers element that’s never explained or resolved, and I really wish it had been explored more.

Anyway, if you’re trying to decide if you want to add this to your TBR, I’d recommend it for:
- readers who devour gothic thrillers and need an easy fix
- anyone in the mood for a dark and spooky atmosphere
- fans of twisty turny mysteries

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

When the baron of Penryth Hall suffers a brutal death in the orchard, the villagers believe that he has fallen under a decades old curse. Ruby, a young American woman happens to be at the manor after delivering books for her employer to the village pellar, referred to as a healer or witch. Thus begins Ruby’s quest to solve the murder of the baron and disprove the mystery of the curse.
Like other reviewers, I was hopeful for this potentially interesting plot but it just fell flat. The storyline seemed all over the place with Ruby alternating between vague relationships with both the baron’s wife who she apparently had a past romantic relationship with and Ruan, the pellar. None of the characters were developed well and I wanted more background about them. The attacks, injuries and deaths seemed to occur abruptly and these incidents also needed more development. The unexpected twist at the end of the book elevated my rating from 2.5 to 3 but I don’t think I could recommend this book.
#NetGalley #St.Martin’sPress-MinotaurBooks

The Curse of Penryth Hall is the debut novel by author Jess Armstrong that blends cozy mystery, gothic atmosphere and a touch of romance.

This was a nice escape mystery read with a great atmosphere set along the Cornish coast and a rambling estate holding dark secrets. Ruby is an intrepid and outspoken character that I enjoyed reading about.

I also thought Armstrong did a great job keeping me guessing. I love supernatural elements in my stories and it’s written so you’re just not sure if it is or something else. The curses, superstition and whispers from the villages added a great vibe to the story. I will say, the book is slow in the beginning and meanders a bit.

The main element that I did not care for was Ruby’s relationship with Tamsyn. I did not connect with her nor see any reason for Ruby’s infatuation with her.

I did enjoy the banter and dialogue between Ruby and Ruan, known as the Pellar by the villagers - a sort of ancient curse breaker. I would have liked to have felt more chemistry but overall, they were fun together.

I would recommend this one to readers looking for an atmospheric and cozy mystery. The gothic vibes of Penryth along with the pluckiness of Ruby were enjoyable to read about. I’m looking forward to reading more by Armstrong and the ending leaves open possibilities.

My rating: 3.5 stars