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

This took me forever and I truly gave it a try. I love a good mystery but I really could not get into it. it felt like there was a disconnection between the characters. on top of it Tamsyn and Ruby's friendship didn't translate well in the writing and she was so whiny.

The Curse of Penryth Hall is the debut novel of author Jess Armstrong. Reading someone's first book is always thrilling, but there's also a sense of trepidation. Will I love the story, or is it going to be a struggle to find one tiny thing I like about it? Well, I certainly lucked out here, because I LOVED this book! I sped through it, putting off things I had to do to get ready for Christmas. (Like I wasn't far behind enough!) I've got my fingers, toes and eyes crossed that this is the start of a series.

After the Great War, Ruby Vaughn has made a new life for herself in Exeter, England. An American heiress, she was banished to England due to an "indiscretion", but has found a place where she can be happy. She runs a rare bookstore beside her elderly employer, and rents a space from him in his home. Ruby does her best to forget her troubled past, but it ends up finding her anyway! She is sent deep into the Cornish countryside to deliver a box of books to a faith healer. She should have just dropped off the books and gone home, but Ruby makes the fateful decision to visit a place she vowed never to return to: Penryth Hall. Ruby’s once beloved friend Tamsyn, and her husband, Sir Edward Chenowyth, live there. It's a dark, dreary place and after quite an uncomfortable evening, she plans to depart in the morning. But she's awoken by bells pealing for the first time in 30 years. Edward is found dead and torn apart in the orchard, and there's talk of a curse returning to the Hall. The villagers summon Ruan Kivell, the man whose books Ruby delivered; they believe he can break the curse. Ruan is a "Pellar", also known as a witch and healer. Ruby doesn't believe in curses, but the inhabitants of Cornwall do...and if the curse is real, Tamsyn will be the next victim. Ruby works with Ruan to find out the truth of Edward's murder.

This was an exciting mystery; I never knew what was coming next, and I NEVER figured out who the killer was until it was revealed. That doesn't happen very often. But it's the characters who are the main draw of this story. Ruby Vaughn had a lot of heartbreak in her life; she was sent away from her family then lost them, and her love for Tamsyn didn't end well. She also has memories of her actions in the war, driving an ambulance to pick up the wounded, where she was in deep danger. But she was happy where she was, working at the rare bookstore for a very kind man. Her bad behavior for which she was sent away hasn't stopped; she is well known for her parties, the memories of which tend to be hazy, soaked in gin and other vices. But she's happy nonetheless. When she's sent to Cornwall to deliver the books, she decides to visit Tamsyn at Penryth Hall. That definitely did not end well! Time with Tamsyn is uncomfortable, and Ruby definitely does not like Edward. She makes the decision to leave, but then Edward is found dead. No way could Ruby leave Tamsyn them, as the villagers thought her death would be next. I loved Ruby, though she made various stupid decisions in her life. I never understood her pull to Tamsyn. I didn't care for Tamsyn for some reason, and wished Ruby would give up thoughts of her. But then we have Ruan Kivell, who I adored from the get-go. I absolutely loved the man. He was a Pellar, believed to be a witch and a healer. He could be a very gruff man, but the disheveled Cornishman stole my heart. Though Ruby did not believe in curses or Pellars at all, it was hard to deny what she saw Ruan accomplish. What I loved the most was the odd connection between Ruby and Ruan. They seemed to know each other somehow. Ruan could "hear" what Ruby was thinking, and he could sense when she was in danger and calling for him. The dynamic between the two was fascinating, and it was my favorite part of the story. Supporting characters were wonderful! Mr. Owen, an octogenarian and Ruby's employer, was a kind man who seemed to adore her; he ends up getting in on the action. I'm a cat lover, so I was thrilled to meet Mr. Owen's cat Fiancha, who stowed away in Ruby's car when she went to Cornwall. Mrs. Penrose, the housekeeper at Penryth Hall was very endearing; I do believe Fiancha fell in love with her cooking! I hope with all my heart that this is the beginning of a series. I need to see more of the relationship between Ruby and Ruan. I am hoping against hope that I will see these characters again soon. Great first book, Ms. Armstrong!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This book was ok. I think I was expecting a spookier read from the title. It had a surprising ending but it was a bit anticlimactic.

When the main character, Ruby is sent on an errand by her benefactor to the countryside, she decides it would be a good time to visit her old friend, Tamsyn. But from the moment Ruby arrives in this small hamlet, everything feels a little off. Then a murder occurs and people believe "the curse" is back. Ruby feels pulled into the mystery like a moth to a flame. She is also afraid for her friend. And then there's the "pellar" who she finds she's rather infatuated with. Of course, more murders occur and it appears that danger could be around the next corner.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The audiobook was quite enjoyable. The narration was done well and made the characters feel even more real to me. 4 stars

I truly enjoyed this book and believe the author left in open ended where there could possibly be added books written in this world. Thank you to NetGalley for early copies of both the ebook and audiobook. I chose to review both and the opinions contained within are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the chance to read The curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong.
The synopsis and the cover pulled me to this book. A strong female main character, a gothic mystery in the Cornish countryside after the Great War seemed to be a book perfect for me. However, I found myself picking it up and putting it down several times. The beginning just seem to drop you in the story, and I had a hard time connecting to Ruby. The plot was all over the place, leaving me trying to figure out the story. As this is a debut novel, I will check out her next book. 21/2 stars rounded up.

The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong is a strong debut gothic novel set in 1922, as England is recovering from its harsh losses during the Great War.
Ruby is a heavy-drinking young woman whose life at present is without direction. Her employer, Mr. Owen, is an eccentric bookseller, and sends her to Cornwall to deliver “forbidden books” containing magic formulas to his friend, the folk healer Ruan Kivell. Then Ruby becomes involved in her old friend Tamsyn’s domestic problems with harsh husband Sir Edward of Penryth Hall, and the old legends concerning tragedy and dark magic at said Hall.
The story is well-told and propulsive as it enveloped me in the atmosphere and intrigue. Ruby is a witty heroine whose ironic, pithy comments lend a bright and fresh tone to a dark tale. Her brusque manner and irreverent attitude serve to cover a softer, insecure Ruby below the surface. Her repartee with mysterious folk-healer Ruan Kivell is especially entertaining. As a cat fancier, I was pleased to enjoy the side antics of her stowaway cat, Fiachna.
This is a nicely paced, well-written period mystery that kept me turning the pages well into the night. It has a balanced mix of murder, magic, and a complicated protagonist who is one to cheer for as she dodges through the minefield of her past experiences and rises to meet the challenges coming at her in Cornwall.
The epilogue hints at a future adventure for Ruby and Mr. Owen, and I look forward to another inventive mystery featuring this cast of characters.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

TL;DR

The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong is an atmospheric debut set in 1930’s Cornwall. It’s a wonderful setting with interesting characters. Highly recommended.

Disclaimer: The publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Any and all opinions that follow are mine alone.

Review: The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong

Some novels are immersive. I get lost in character or story or action. I get caught up world building. Rarely do I get caught up in scenery or setting of a novel. When it does happen, I love it. It’s always a joy to be surprised by a novel, especially when you read as much as I do. The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong was a novel where I got lost in the scenery and setting. It was unexpected and delightful. I wasn’t prepared for how much I was going to be immersed in this lovely novel, and I’m now a fan of Jess Armstrong.

Ruby Vaughn’s life after World War I is a hedonistic party-filled time. She is a woman who enjoys the visceral pleasures of life. When her employer sends her to Cornwall to deliver a box of books, she’s sent to a village where her friend – someone she loved – currently lives with her husband. Ruby decides to visit her friend, Tamsyn, despite the painful memories it brings up. After a contentious dinner, Ruby stays the night and is visited by a strange, realistic dream. She’s woken up by bells to find that Tamsyn’s husband lies dead in their orchard. The housekeeper says it’s the work of a curse, and the curse’s next victim will be the wife, Ruby’s friend Tamsyn. The local police officer comes and brings with him the local witch/healer/mystic, Ruan Kivell. Ruan, you see, is the seventh son of a seventh son, which makes him a Pellar, and he’s also the recipient of Ruby’s delivery. The Pellar is a position of respect within the village; he’s associated with the mystical side of life. In fact, he’s known for arranging marriages that work and last. He also believes that Ruby is in danger as well. Together, they have to figure out who killed Tamsyn’s husband and dispel the rumors of the curse before something happens to Tamsyn or to Ruby.

The Curse of Penryth Hall is a first person novel told from Ruby’s point of view. It’s a novel that relishes in the scenery and the history. The pacing is a bit uneven but not enough to drag me out of the story. The scenery, the characters, and the language all create a truly atmospheric novel that is a joy to spend time with.

Atmospheric Setting

I’m not big on scenery because I have a harder time visualizing scenery more than, say character description or action. That said, Armstrong’s descriptions had me visualizing village life in 1930’s Cornwall. In addition, the action, the character’s speech patterns, and wonderful choices in detail pay off. I tried hard to think of a different description other than atmospheric, but really, it’s the best way to describe this novel. For a debut novel, this means I’ll be checking out whatever Armstrong writes next.

As you may imagine, I, a Midwestern American born in the late 70s, don’t know for certain what life was like in a small village in 1930’s Cornwall, England. Armstrong’s novel feels correct; it feels truthful. It’s a joy to read.

Ruby Vaughn & Ruan Kivell

Characters are what I cherish most in most novels. Here, I love the atmospheric setting the most, and closely following behind that are the characters. Ruby Vaughn is a woman that parties, that has a love life, and that lives her life for pleasure as we meet her at the beginning of the novel. As the novel progresses, we learn the deeps of who she is. She’s a hurt person for many reasons. First, she was shunned by her society in the U.S. for reasons that men are celebrated for. Next, her parents and sister are dead. Moreover, she was an ambulance driver in WWI and has all the associated trauma from that. Finally, she was hurt by Tamsyn, deeply hurt. She has a knee-jerk contrarianism that is annoying at times and that may be a protection mechanism. Keeping others at distance is a way to protect oneself from the pain of loss. I’d love to know if she was that way prior to all the trauma she experienced. Despite her interior hurt, she’s bold, forgiving, insightful, and caring. I imagine this will be a series with her as the protagonist; at least, I hope that that’s the plan. The way that Armstrong revealed Ruby’s character and how her time in Cornwall affected her was engaging.

Ruan Kivell, the Pellar, is a mystery throughout the book. He’s also a person of depth like Ruby. When she met him, I liked him, but for a while, he backslid for a bit. I found him to be a bit overbearing. But Armstrong had plans for the Pellar that turned out well. I want to go into more depth about some of his character changes – maybe, reveals – but they might be considered spoilers. So, I’ll take the side of caution and say that I like the relationship that he and Ruby develop. They work well together even if he is a bit overbearing.
Supernatural or Not

I love the idea of a curse being played out in a small town full of superstitious people. Here, though, it’s played out in opposing poles of Ruby, the realist, and the Pellar, the mystic. Even if Ruan doesn’t believe in the curse himself, to the villager and to the story, he represents mysticism. Armstrong uses them to bandy back and forth whether the curse is real or just a convenient cover for a murderer. It was okay; at times, it was overplayed and made me think of a Scooby Doo story; that at the end, Ruby would pull a mask off of old man Johnson. These times were few but they existed. When Armstrong pulled off the “is it/isn’t it” part of her storytelling, the story reminded me of the better episodes of The X-Files. In the end, this is a small complaint and didn’t affect my enjoyment much. As I said earlier, I’ll be here for Armstrong’s next book.

Conclusion

Jess Armstrong’s The Curse of Penryth Hall is a wonderful debut. It’s an atmospheric story in a wonderful setting full of interesting characters. This is a story that you’ll want to dwell in. Highly recommended.

The idea of a gothic mystery first drew me in, and I did enjoy the story, however it was just wasn't my favorite book. I had a hard time connecting with the story and the characters. Things were a bit confusing. I wanted to love this book but I just had a hard time.