Second in the series and I could reac as a stand alone but would have appreciated the whole story. The book is that good to read from the beginning of the series. We once again join the headstrong, American heiress, Ruby Vaughn, through a gothic mystery. Ruby Vaughn finds herself following her employer/roommate, Mr. Owen, to Manhunts Castle, under the ruse they are seeking manuscripts for her bookshop. It is when they arrive that Ruby soon finds out they are there to attend a seance with the Three Fates. As with any mystery, things do not go as planned and one of the Three Fates has been murdered. Ruby and Mr. Owen are the prime suspects. In order to clear their names, Ruby pairs up with Ruan Kivell once again to uncover the truth. This book is for the lovers of Victorian-era Historical Mysteries, with an other worldly element. The Secret of Three Fates will constantly keep you guessing. Involves the Celtic nations and the folklore and mysteries within the culture. Thanks to Netgalley, author and publisher.

Atmospheric, mysterious and spooky! If you're in the mood for a horror-tinged murder mystery, this is the series for you. The writing is lush and I'm also starting to count Ruby and Ruan as one of my favorite fictional couples. Recommended!

"The Secret of the Three Fates" is an excellent second installment to the Ruby Vaughn series.

When she and her Pellar, Ruan, are both summoned to Scotland along with Mr. Owen, in order to attend a séance, neither of them is especially eager to go. But Mr. Owen is insistent, even though the trip is sure to reveal more of his secrets than he'd like them to know.

But when one of the mediums disappears and a new one takes her place, the event becomes chaotic. Not only is a spirit summoned, but the medium who summons is it ceremoniously killed later that night, moments before the time she'd set for Ruby and her to talk.

With a murder on the property, all the guests are required to stay on site, but as one scary event after another takes place, you have to begin to wonder if anyone is going to make it out alive! And Ruby and Ruan are put to the test as they race against time to discover the secrets of Manhurst Castle.

I really like Ruby, Ruan and Mr. Owen and am hooked on this series! Can't wait for another book to come out.

Thank you to Jess Armstrong, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

This book was a pleasant surprise.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it was a quick read and a good time.

A moody, atmospheric, and romantic mystery set in Scotland between the wars. Ruby Vaughn finds herself in another supernatural situation thanks to Mr. Owen, but as the tension at the castle ratchets up, so do her feelings for Ruan.

A Gothic mystery with intriguing twists and turns, supernatural elements,and complex characters. I loved the atmospheric writing which transported me to the haunting Scottish countryside. I look forward to the next installment.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this historical mystery with a little romance. I did not read the first in the series, which was a mistake for me. These really are best read in order, but anyway, I will read that one next.

Ruby is smart, brave, and exceedingly stubborn, running into dangerous situations priorizing others and answers over herself. Ruan is a Pillar (a witch of sorts?) and is there to support her despite his misgivings and concern for her safety.

The mystery of the murdered mediums was great and I had no idea who the true villian was! The reveal was suspenseful and resolved in a satisfying way.
The romance was light and new. Ruby clearly has unresolved issues that don't let her embrace these new feelings.
The magic referenced and terminology used was over my head. I am assuming I would have understood a little better reading the first book, but I also think Ruby doesn't understand, so we don't either. Hopefully we shall learn with her.

Entertaining read overall. Thank you for the ARC!

"𝐍𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞. 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡, 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧."

After the hair-raising events of The Curse of Penryth Hall, disgraced heiress Ruby Vaghn and healer/Pellar Ruan Kivell return to uncover the truth behind a mysterious séance and the secrets her employer, Mr. Owen, is hiding.

Picking up six weeks after the events of the first novel, Jess Armstrong does a good job at reminding readers of the bones of the story without giving away all that happened for those who are reading out of order. This could easily be read as a standalone, but I definitely appreciated the characters and their development way more having read both books. The mysterious séance felt like a slight tribute to Agatha Christie's The Sittaford Mystery, which also includes a séance that kicks off the many questions that plague the main characters throughout the story. Once again, I loved the chemistry between Ruby and Ruan, both from a platonic and a romantic standpoint; their care and concern for one another is touching, as their intimacy and connection deepen, despite Ruby's reservations. I liked spending more time with Mr. Owen, who is not just Ruby's employer but also guardian of sorts; although he’s not always truthful to Ruby, their found family dynamic is a highlight to this series. The haunted castle closed-circle setting adds to the sense of danger that permeates each page, with an intriguing cast of characters, misdirection galore, and long-kept secrets unveiled. Although it gets slightly convoluted in a few places, the last third of the book is a page-turner, rushing towards some satisfying conclusions.

The Secret of the Three Fates is an excellent historical gothic mystery; dare I say it might be even better than the first book?! I anxiously await to see what is next for Ruby and Ruan! Thank you to Minotaur Books & NetGalley for the ARC!

Jess Armstrong is fast becoming a favorite author of mine. I am absolutely smitten with both Mr. Owen and Ruan Kivell and love the dynamic with them and Ruby. This book delves into Mr. Owen’s past and unleashes some secrets he’s had hidden away for a very long time. With a seance, the reappearance of the White Witch and more than a couple murders/attempted murders this book had me hooked from the very beginning. I love the way it all played out but wished that Mr. Owen had a happier outcome to his part of the story, although I think we’ll be seeing more of a new character that has a link to him in the future!! This is the second book I’ve read by this author with these characters and I hope that we get many more. I cannot recommend this book enough and would definitely give it 10/10.

The novel is fast-paced, with plenty of twists and turns that kept us readers on edge, eager to see what happens next. It was the right mix of show and telling details in an engaging way.

Book review: 3.75/5 ⭐️
Genre: murder mystery
Themes: found family, inheritance, divination
📖 Read if you like: The London Seance Society, One Dark Window, Miss Austen Investigates

This proved to be the perfect book for life on the go. Inventive, original and something I couldn’t quite place. Not always logical, but full of heart and the unknown.

Ruby Vaughn is back in another gothic murder mystery. This instalment sees the plucky and outspoken Ruby following her octogenarian employer Mr. Owen to Scotland. Under the guise of collecting rare manuscripts, Ruby is unknowingly drawn into a seance at Manhurst Castle. This marks the start of a chain of events that sees several dead bodies, cold cases unraveling in the present and Mr. Owen admitting to murder. Desperate to save the only remaining family she has left, Ruby goes on a mission to clear his name and find a murderer. Along the way she is reunited with the healer and heartthrob Ruan, several stalwart members of the gentry, and the eerie clairvoyant called the White Witch.

I am not quite sure I ever really knew what was going on, but I found myself intrigued as I read. The author wove together multiple mysteries and elements of the occult into this historical who done it. The complex storyline gave some much needed background on Mr. Owen and his elusive past, while also continuing the arc of Ruby’s strange identity within the magical world. I continue to wonder what power she has and how her fated relationship with Ruan will unfold. Hopefully the next instalment will shed light on Ruby’s mother and what mysterious role she is to play in the unseen world.

While confusing at times, this novel remained interesting and kept me guessing. There were several possible suspects and the twist was quite well disguised. Interlacing elements of the unknown world both magical and behind closed doors was a clever way to unearth the truth, while keeping the mystery alive.

It connected the previous storylines, but in a way that kept this novel as an adequate standalone. Where known characters were reintroduced, they came with enough background information to harmonize the ensemble. I never felt like I was removed from the story and enjoyed the complexity of the narrative. I am also becoming increasingly invested in this cast of characters and am eager to see where this series goes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this delightful mystery.

Another interesting story of Ruby Vaughn solving a murder during post-WWI England. The ongoing romance is a bit annoying, but I love the characters. The narration was great, and I enjoyed the bit of magic that was included in this historical fantasy.

This book delivers on everything you want in a sequel. More gothic mystery, more character development and best of all, much more Ruby & Ruan romance! When Ruby's boss, Mr. Owen gets an urgent invite to a seance, he asks Ruby to accompany him. When a medium is murdered, Mr. Owen's secret past comes to light as Ruby and Ruan work to solve a twisty mystery at peril to their own lives. I didn't see that ending coming.

The Ruby & Ruan scenes and banter are so deliciously tension filled. This slow burn is KILLING me! Ruan is handsome, Scottish, wise and wonderous. A swoon-worthy leading man. Ruby is American, heartbroken and brave. A leading lady to root for. Jess Armstrong delivers satisfying mystery romance that will leave you desperate for more!

The mystery of Ruby's own extra-sensory abilities/origins gets even murkier in this second book. Why does she dream of Ruan's death? Why can he hear her thoughts so strongly? Why can she hear her mother's voice from beyond the grave? Is this undeniable connection they share fated love or something mystical? So many questions to look forward to being answered in the next books! They can't come fast enough for me!

A very interesting read. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this book. It wasn't really for me, but I am sure that it will be loed by the right audience.

A fast-paced murder mystery mixed with old world occult. Ruby is a fun, determined character, and the chemistry between her and Ruan will keep me coming back for more.

This book was okay, ruby goes with her employer to a seance where’s determined to reconnect with his dead son. During the weekend one of the witches involved winds up dead. Ruby is determined to figure out the secrets everyone is keeping.

I loved The Secret of the Three Fates as much, if not more than, the first Ruby Vaughn mystery, The Curse of Penryth Hall. With vivid world-building, compelling characters, and a plot full of twists, Armstrong crafts a tale that keeps you hooked from start to finish. A must-read for anyone who loves a good atmospheric gothic mystery. I can’t wait to see how Ruby and Ruan’s relationship develops in the next book.

I am so excited that first of all, book 2 was just as great if not better than book 1, and secondly that they're will be more! This is a new favorite series for me. I love that there's just enough of a supernatural element to keep things interesting! I need to know more about Ruby and the White Witch! Clearly, Ruan knows more than he's saying... I love seeing Ruan and Ruby's relationship cautiously developing as they move toward the middle of Ruby's wild and realistic life and Ruan's world, mundane but tinged with magic.
If you're a fan of Phryne Fisher, I can't recommend this series enough. Ruby is, free-spirited, independent, a former ambulance driver, and mystery chaser, undaunted by murderers mysteries or domineering men - but one quiet, headstrong man may be her undoing.

It was delightful, engaging, and interesting. I loved getting to know more of Ruan, Ruby, and Mr. Owen. I did have a bit of trouble with the number of characters and names, but it didn't hinder overall engagement.

The Secret of the Three Fates picks up a few months after the first in the series, The Curse of Penryth Hall, in October of 1922. This one probably works as a stand alone, but you’ll have a much better feel for the characters and appreciate what we learn about their backgrounds here.

This time around, Mr. Owen and Ruby are at a remote manor house in Scotland, supposedly to purchase illuminated manuscripts. Mr. Owen, however, has lied to Ruby and the two of them are actually there to attend a séance- Mr. Owen is hoping to speak to his son, Ben, who died in the War. The séance, hosted by three mediums going by the name of The Three Fates, is frighteningly real. One of the mediums, seemingly possessed by a spirit, delivers an ominous message:

There’s nowhere on earth you can hide from the dead. We have not forgotten … we shall not forgive. The dead know what you’ve done.

When one of the mediums is killed, Ruby and Mr. Owen both become suspects. It turns out Mr. Owen’s past is deeply connected to this piece of Scotland and his secrets will gradually come to light over the course of the book. Thankfully, Ruan, the “pellar”/ witch/ love interest we met in the first book, arrives to help Ruby with the investigation.

The atmosphere is a bit spooky and gothic; it’s a place where ghosts can exist and witches can heal people, a place where people are both skeptical and believing. You can shoot the living, but that may not silence the dead.

I love the characters. Ruby is smart, hard-headed, loyal, and has enough money that she doesn’t have to worry about society’s conventions, at least anymore. Ruan is gentle, but also tough, and a bit of a mystery, even to himself. The chemistry between the two of them is convincing, as are Ruby’s reasons for not wanting to start a relationship. I liked getting to know Mr. Owen a little more, too.

The mystery itself was put together well. The past and the present are so tied together, but I was still surprised at who the killer turned out to be.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one and am looking forward to the next in the series.