Mr. Owen and Ruby are at Manhurst Castle, in the Scottish Borders. Ruby still hasn't forgiven him for sending her on a trip to Cornwall and a brush with the paranormal, but she loves the guy, so she's willing to give the man some latitude.

Then, she finds out why they're at Manhurst, as there are no antique manuscripts to be found at the castle. Mr. Owen is grieving for his son, and he wants desperately to speak with him again, which he hopes to do at a séance to be held there. Ruby is angry, but reluctantly supports Mr. Owen, as she feels that the spiritualists are likely there to con everyone attending.

Sadly, things go badly awry when Ruby finds one of the Three Fates (the mediums running the séance) murdered, and Mr. Owen is seen as a prime suspect.

Ruan Kivell shows up to support and aid Ruby and Mr. Owen, and soon Ruby is discovering surprising things about Mr. Owen, his family, and the guests there for the séance.

While Ruby sleuths, she wrestles with her ambivalence towards Ruan, much as she knows she's deeply attracted to him. She still has issues about her self, her family, her past relationships, and she feels she must guard her heart from the man, despite his kindness, willingness to help her regardless of the situation, and his obvious desire to explore a relationship with her.

This was a terrific next book in the Ruby Vaughn series. I loved the reveal of Mr. Owen's secrets, and the way more things are teased about Ruby's abilities and her mother. I am eager to learn more about her, and though I was engaged by the mystery and all its twists and turns, it's Ruby, Ruan and Mr. Owen that totally held my interest, and I can't wait to revisit them and their lives in book three.

Thank you to Netgally and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Part of series.
Mr Owen and Ruby to travel to Scotland to get a manuscript but are really there for a seance.
During the seance things go wrong and ends in a murder.
Good character, mystery, suspense, drama, twists and possible coming romance.
Really enjoyed story.
Voluntarily reviewed.

The Secret of the Three Fates is the follow-up to the highly-engaging Gothic Mystery, The Curse of Penryth Hall, which I really enjoyed last year. These books are part of the Ruby Vaughn series by Jess Armstrong. I'd so been looking forward to being back with Ruby on another spooky adventure. Happily, this was just as enticing as the first book!

This installment brings Ruby and her employer/housemate, Mr. Owen, to Manhurst Castle in the Scottish Borders. Ruby believes they're there to acquire manuscripts for the bookshop, but quickly discovers that's not the case. In fact, it turns out they're there to attend a seance to be held that very night. Mr. Owen, up to his old tricks again.

Desperate to contact his son, lost to the Great War, Mr. Owen hopes the seance could help him get his wish, but he doesn't want to do it alone. Hence, Ruby's unknowing presence. The seance is hosted by three mediums, going by the name of The Three Fates. As any of us could have guessed, things do not go smoothly, nor as planned, and Mr. Owen's secret past looks close to being exposed. Shortly thereafter, Ruby discovers one of the Three Fates has been murdered and she and Mr. Owen are immediately dubbed the prime suspects.

In order the clear their names, Ruby begins her own investigation, enlisting the help of Ruan, the folk healer she befriended in the first book during her time in Cornwall. You know, the handsome one.

My favorite thing about the first book was the atmosphere and Armstrong succeeded again in building out a lush, gothic-feeling setting. I am also loving how attached I am becoming to this set of characters. Yet again, the chemistry between Ruby and Ruan was so well done. I enjoy Ruby so much as a lead. She's plucky, smart and a little hard-headed. Once she starts investigating something, she doesn't let anything get in her way, no matter how dangerous. It was fun getting to know more about Mr. Owen too. There was quite a bit revealed about his past in this one, and I feel like I have more of an appreciation for him now.

I feel like the seance scenes were also really well-imagined. Thinking of the popularity of occult practices like that during this time period is so fascinating to me. It must have felt completely surreal participating in something like that, when belief was so high. I love that Armstrong used that practice within this mystery. It was compelling and felt time period appropriate. It also helped to give the mystery an overall unsettling air.

I'm already anxious for news on the next book. There has to be one. There's no way this is it for these characters. I shall sit back, patiently, and wait. Any by that I mean, I'll be chomping at the bit to get my hands on it...

I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys Historical Mysteries with heavy Gothic vibes. The settings, the characters and the mysteries themselves, are all so well developed. There's a lot to praise about Armstrong's work. Additionally, the audiobook was very well narrated; exactly how I would imagine Ruby sounding.

Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Dreamscape Media, for providing me with copies to read and review. I cannot wait to be reunited with Ruby and friends!!

Return to the world of Ruby Vaughn! This time, she’s in Scotland…

Mr. Owen has once again arranged for Ruby to travel, but in this second adventure he’s coming, too. After attending a seance in the castle they’re staying in together which left everyone there with more questions than answers, Ruby is sucked into the case of a mysterious death, & Mr. Owen’s past becomes relevant in the present. With Ruan the Pellar’s help, Ruby seeks justice…

I loved all the extra information about our recurring characters in this follow-up to the author’s debut novel, & having titles to every chapter was fun! I enjoyed the storyline between Ruan & Ruby & their peculiar connection, & the hint at the end of this book about a third escapade (possibly on another continent) has me ready to read the next installment in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley & Minotaur for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is the second story that I have read with Ruby Vaughn, and has with the first one I have thoroughly enjoyed them. You can’t help but fall in love with Ruby and Mr. Owen. They are such fun to read about. If you like historical fiction, mysteries, suspense, and a bit of paranormal you will love this book. I can’t wait to see what is going to happen next with Ruby and Mr. Owen.


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

I absolutely loved the first Ruby Vaughn and somehow I love the second book even more. I was immediately hooked by a seance that managed to shake our protagonist and make her question once more about the spiritual world. I loved what we saw of Mr. Owens in the first book and now we get to see more of him and dig into his (sordid) past but also solve the mystery of what happened to the love of his life. And I can't forget Ruan Kivell, the man that he is. He and Ruby are just two stars caught in the other's gravity, and I need them to collide already. Of course it won't be easy. I can't wait for the third book!!!

This was such a phenomenal book! I'd been waiting for book two in this series, and it didn't disappoint!

When a séance goes horribly wrong and the
medium ends up dead, American heiress Ruby and her employer must find the culprit. Their investigation leads them down a dangerous path filled with secrets and an attempt to contact the dead. Ruby needs to confront her own past and the terrible forces at play.

What I love about this series besides Ruby because she's fantastic is all the humor ,the amazing dialog and the great writing! I look forward to reading more in this series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The secret of the Three Fates by Jess Armstrong Book 2 of Ruby Vaughn


Ruby isn’t pleased when she finds out that Mr. Owen has lied to get her to Manhurst Castle. There is to be a seance to speak to the dead and things get a lot worse when one of the mediums is found dead and Ruby and Mr. Owen are the prime suspects. Ruby has to find the truth but someone doesn’t want the truth to come out.

Book 1 was decent, this one was better! The writing was phenomenal! I loved the atmosphere of the castle and finding out things we didn’t know about Mr. Owen. It was like a mystery stacked on a mystery. Some beautifully clever storylines weaved together with expertise!

I really enjoyed the budding romance between Ruby and Ruan. It didn’t overpower the mystery and I appreciated that.

The ending sets up what I am hoping is the next installment so I am excited for that. The accents were a tad much in places and that's about the only grip I have.

4.5 stars

The secret of the three fates is the second installment in the ruby Vaughn series. Set in Scotland in post WW1 era, ruby finds herself embroiled in another murder mystery. Ruby and her employer, Mr. owens, attend a seance delivered by three mediums (witches or “fates”). This seance sets into motion murder, secrets, disappearances, all with a touch of the occult or supernatural. This one builds on the gothic suspense started in penryth hall with its cold castles and family secrets.

A fun atmospheric novel full of twists, mystery, and great character building! Will look forward to the next installment of Ruby vaugh! Well done to the author for creating a new character and series worth looking forward to every year! Masterful use of atmosphere and setting.

Thanks to the publisher for providing this arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

📣 recommended for fans of Lady Sherlock by Sherry Thomas or the Andy Mills series by Lev AC Rosen!

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

📖 is there anything you’re hoping to finish by the new year? For me it’s Marriage & Masti by Nisha Sharma!

This Ruby Vaughn series by Jessica Armstrong has me in a literary chokehold. I LOVE what’s going on in the two books I’ve read—

They’re queer historical mysteries with the beginning of a romance
Supernatural elements!
An unconventional heroine who isn’t cowed by threats of danger
A fantastic balance of suspense & character relationships, all of it wrapped up neatly in a gothic-tinged post-World War setting

The Secret of the Three Fates is the second book in the book & both it & The Curse of Penryth Hall are out now!

[ID: Jess holds the ebook in front of a holiday berry candle display, wood trees, & a blue painting.]

Gothic setting, spirituality and murder in 1922!

Ruby Vaughn has travelled to Manhurst Castle, Scotland, with her friend and employer Mr. Owen, to attend of all things, a seance.
It’s highly unusual that Mr. Owen insist they go.
There’s not one but three mediums (more witches than mediums) and then when the Pellar turns up the mediums keep saying something dastardly was going to happen.
It did! One of the medium’s Lucy Campbell asked Ruby to meet her at midnight at the bridge. Ruby finds her face down in the icy lake. She jumped in to try to rescue Lucy, but she was dead.
The police tried to pin the murder on Ruby. She was having nothing of it.
Before the tale finishes there’s been murder, truths not revealed or distorted, attempted killings on Ruby and so much more, including the possibility of a figure from Ruby’s past.
All very exciting! The fate of Ruby, the Pellar and Mr. Owen once again sucked me in!

A St. Martin’s Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

It’s set in Scotland and the second in the Ruby Vaughn series, so what else did I need to dive into this book? Despite it being 1922 Ruby Vaughn is a self-assured, forward thinking modern woman who rarely offers apologies - I like her. Mystery, a bit of the occult, murder, many references to Ruby’s fall from polite society and a very special love interest kept me turning the pages late into the night. A brief aside - I loved the title headings of the chapters

I loved The Curse of Penryth Hall and hoped it would be followed by a strong addition - The Secret of the Three Fates capitalized on its history and moved the ball further down the court. I can only wonder what is coming next. While you might be able to read this installment as a standalone I would recommend reading The Curse of Penryth Hall first. Many thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy.

Thank you Minotaur and NetGalley for the eARC of The Secret of the Three Fates! All opinions in this review are my own.

I have been waiting for the next book in this historical mystery series and it did not disppoint! Much like The Curse of Penryth Hall, The Secret of the Three Fates is atmospheric and you are never quite sure whether there is something supernatural going on or not.

I feel like this one shifts gears from the moody, gothic vibe of its predecessor into a more traditional murder mystery. There are still elements that are gothic, but it didn't have that same vibe. And while it delivers some solid moments, it doesn’t quite capture the same spark as the first installment for me.

Mr. Owen takes on a more active role here, which is a nice change in theory, but it does come at the cost of some of his enigmatic charm. His grief and desperation add depth to his character, but the balance between revealing his past and maintaining the air of mystery that made him compelling feels a little uneven. Instead of feeling charmed, I mostly feel sorry for him.

The setting had all the right ingredients for an atmospheric tale—a séance gone wrong, a grand estate, a tangled web of suspects—but the setting sometimes felt surface-level, as if the historical backdrop faded into the background rather than enriching the story. At times, I had to remind myself this wasn’t set in the modern day, which is a shame because Armstrong clearly knows how to build ambiance when she leans into it.

Ruby, unfortunately, felt more like an observer than an active participant in her own story. Much of her “investigation” relies on conveniently overhearing things rather than piecing together clues herself. Her dynamic with Ruan is given space to breathe, and while I appreciated the quieter moments between them, Ruby’s reluctance to confront her emotional hangups feels increasingly stagnant. Her lack of growth over two books is starting to feel less like a slow-burn arc and more like stringing readers along.

The murder mystery itself was... fine. The sheer number of side characters made it hard to keep track of everyone, and while they were all clearly meant to serve as red herrings, they ended up muddling the story instead of adding intrigue.

That said, the audiobook narration was excellent and really improved my enjoyment of the story. These books truly shine in audio format, and the narrator does a fantastic job bringing the characters and atmosphere to life.

While The Secret of the Three Fates wasn’t the page-turner the first one was, it still offered enough intrigue to keep me entertained. If Ruby can finally break free from her emotional holding pattern in future books, I think this will be a series to follow.

Thanks so much to St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed The Curse of Penryth Hall - the first book in this series from Jess Armstrong. The second book, The Secret of the Three Fates is newly released.

Our lead character is again, Ruby. She was quick minded in the first book and that trait has only grown. She continues to speak her mind. She is still working for Mr. Owen and they have an upcoming trip to buy some rare books. But that's not quite true. Instead, Mr. Owen has them up in the Scottish Hills - attending a séance. And one of the attendees has been killed....

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. "A Cornish term for a sorcerer or wizard." Ruan and Ruby have a history and this new book visits that history and builds on it.

The plot is wonderfully rich. I like the time period and how that period opens up so many other ways for the plot to go with magic and gothic in the mix. Again, I wasn't able to out the culprit before the last pages. Another great book from Jess Armstrong. I'll be waiting for the third entry!

When I requested this arc I did not realize it was the second of a series, but I read it anyway and felt it could easily be read without having read the other book. I really enjoyed the book and want to read the other and would read more if this series continues. I enjoyed the character of Ruby Vaughn. Ruby Vaughn and her employer/housemate Mr. Owen, traveling to Manhurst Castle in Scotland. He tells her they are there to buy some illuminated manuscripts for their bookstore… but he has lured her there under false pretense. In reality, he has traveled there to attend a seance, where he hopes to connect with his son, who is presumed dead after the war. Mysteries surround the area and Mr. Owen’s past, and they both become suspects after one of the hosts of the seance is found dead. Ruan Kivell arrives on the scene, having been summoned by Mr. Owen. The sparks between him and Ruby are still strong, and there are allusions to their first meeting, but like I said, it didn't make much difference in my reading, but perhaps it would have meant more had I read the first book first. Ruby, Ruan and Mr. Owen are all in danger, and Ruby knows she must hurry to find the truth. I loved it and plan to purchase a copy for our school library. I think students would enjoy this book as well. And, I strongly recommend the audiobook for anyone who enjoys a good Scottish accent!

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC preview.

This is the first book that I have read by this author, and I was not disappointed. It grabbed my attention from the beginning, and I couldn't put it down until the last page. It was interesting and compelling. I loved the fact that it was a nostalgic nod to the who done it type of plot. I think it was well done, and I can't wait for more from this author. I will absolutely be recommending this book to others.

Thank you Net Galley ARC and St Martin's Press.

Ruby Vaughn is back with her employer Mr. Owen in the second book of Ruby Vaughn). In this book Ruby is talked into going to a Scottish Castle to hear a seance of the three fates. Later on that evening after the seance one of the fates is found murdered, Ruby is believed to be one of the primary suspects by people who seem to want her to take the blame. Then are favorite pillar Ruan Kivell shows up to help Ruby solve the mystery before she ends up being railroaded.
I was really excited for this second installment, and I really enjoyed Ruby and Ryan’s chemistry.
I recommend for lovers of gothic mysteries and fiction.
Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to review this book.

Compelling story kept my attention from start to finish. I enjoyed the classic who-done-it plot with plenty of characters as potential suspects. Although this book works as a standalone, I wished I had read the first for clarity and also because it sounded like a good story. Being set in 1922 lent a nice atmosphere for a séance as people were earnestly delving into the occult at that time. Spooky things happen. Ruby is interesting, hard-headed, tenacious and sometimes foolhardy. My con is her constant deflection, in her effort to keep her secrets to herself she's rude sometimes. I wished someone would have called her on it instead of keeping a stiff upper lip and letting it go. I believe in good manners, but I guess I'm too American not to call her out. The book blurb gives away about as much as I feel can be revealed without spoiling the experience for someone else.

#NetGalley #TheSecretoftheThreeFates #JessArmstrong #RubyVaughnmystery #MinotaurBooks #mystery

Ruby Vaughn returns in another historical mystery this time in Scotland where past spirits are doing their best to send a message that she isn’t welcome to come meddling.

After dealing with curses while in Cornwall, Ruby is once again faced with the occult this time in the form of seances. Ruby, ever the pragmatist is not a fan, and is determined to figure out what is really going on. The three mediums, aka the three fates gather to perform the ritual, Ruby discovers a hosts of secrets buried in Scotland. With the help of pellar Ruan, she discovers more than one nefarious character and more than she bargained for about her employer Mr. Owen.

Though I like this story better than the first in the series, it still a little frustrating for me. For such an independent Victorian woman, I find a lot of Ruby’s actions and choices silly rather than empowering. It seems contradictory to have a protagonist who makes so many mistakes, a few furthers the plot, the amount she commits make her seem trite, which I am sure is not the intent of the author. Armstrong does do a great job of setting a mystical and paranormal scene in her descriptions, but the story itself could have used a little more editing.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and author Jess Armstrong for the advanced copy of the book. The Secret of the Three Fates is out now! All opinions are my own.