For fans of: Laurie R King’s Russell & Holmes series
Genre: 🔎 Historical Mystery
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
Violence: 🪓🪓
Spice: 🔥
TW: Gun shots, stabbing

Synopsis: Sequel to The Curse of Penryth Hall. Ruby hasn’t quite forgiven her boss for bringing the occult into their lives. Now he’s dragged her to Scotland for a séance. When she is suspected in a medium’s death, Ruby enlists the aid of Ruan, a Cornish folk healer with whom she shares a disconcerting connection.

Thoughts: This novel is a practically perfect package. Armstrong earns top marks on character, plot, setting, & style. While all the characters thrum with life, Ruby nearly leaps of the page she’s so vividly drawn. She feels eminently modern yet grounded in the “New Woman” ethos of the era. And her connection with hedge witch Ruan thrums with intimacy & passion. The plot unfurls in a way that allows the mystery to burgeon as it progresses. But it never lags, remaining a well-paced, quick read. ‘Atmospheric’ gets bandied about rather freely but Armstrong earns that label. It’s as though the ground bears witnesses to history & the air crackles with the magic of nature. One way in which she accomplishes that is through skilled evocation of the senses, particularly smell. The intriguing mystery kept me engaged and guessing until the very end. While I had my suspicions as to the villain, I couldn’t pinpoint a WHY. As an avid mystery reader, that alone earns high praise. If you’re looking for a well-crafted historical novel infused with intriguing magical realism & built around a killer mystery plot, look no further than The Secret of the Three Fates.

First, a warning, this is #2 of a series so I felt a little lost discerning the backstory/relationship of some of the characters at the beginning. It would be helpful to have read the first book, The Curse of Penryth Hall, but it is not required. I was able to catch up on my own, but I did grab the first book to get the full story because I plan to continue reading this series.
This is a well-written mystery with some supernatural aspects. As we follow along and try to solve the current mystery, we see glimpses of the deeper story. There is so much still to be revealed about the background and birthright of the FMC, Ruby Vaughn. We learn quite a lot about her employer/companion, Mr. Owen, but it is obvious he has more secrets to uncover. And then there is Ruan, the witch/healer, with his as-yet unknown purpose or destiny that is alluded to by the White Witch.

Loved this book! To be fair, i loved the first one. I will be adding this to my personal library as well as my work one. 4.5 stars.

I enjoyed the second in the series featuring Ruby Vaughn and Ruan the Peller. The mystery and connected characters were compelling, and I enjoyed learning more about the mysterious Mr. Owen. However, I am eager to learn more about Ruby's past, especially details of her mother's origin. In some ways, the main mystery detracted from the larger narrative arc, though not enough for me to resort to skimming pages for mention of the deeper story. Looking forward to the next installment. Recommended for fans of Andrea Penrose and Deanna Raybourn.

Mediums, seances and ghosts are just some of the challenges facing Ruby Vaughan in The Secret of the Three Fates. This atmospheric tale with a clever, uniquely appealing heroine pulls you in from the start.

Ruby is a disgraced American heiress and orphan who has moved to England where she lives and works with an 80-year-old antiquarian bookseller. She and Mr. Owen travel to Scotland, supposedly to appraise some illuminated manuscripts. Instead, Ruby discovers there are no illuminated manuscripts in the Manhurst Castle library, but there is séance taking place, where Mr. Owen is hoping to contact his late son, who died during WWI.

The seance is being conducted by the Three Fates, a trio of mediums. Despite her skepticism about the existence of ghosts, Ruby is reluctantly impressed by the results of the mediums’ efforts to contact the dead. Following the séance, Ruby stumbles upon the body of the one of the mediums who was murdered. She then becomes a prime suspect, until Mr. Owen “confesses.” Ruby is determined to find the real murderer and clear her mentor’s name. To that end, she calls on Ruan Kivell for assistance. Ruan is a witch/folk healer from Cornwall, who Ruby met in the first book in the series (The Curse of Penryth Hall).

Ruby and Ruan are confronted by a web of lies, half-truths, false identities as they seek to stay alive while battling foes, both human and supernatural.

The Secret of Three Fates is a well-written mystery with numerous red herrings, set in a fascinating time and place, with an intelligent FMC. Although I did not read the first book in the series, I had no trouble following this story through its twists and turns. I look forward to seeing where life takes Ruby and friends next.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for the ARC.

First, Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

I'm luke warm on this one. The characters were interesting, but not of the time period depicted. This book has the veneer of an historical novel, but it's just surface level. None of the characters feel anything but totally 21st century. I liked the main character, but I really didn't see what purpose the setting had to do with really anything. She and the rest of the characters would have seemed more at home in a more contemporary novel, maybe one set after WWII instead of after WWI. All that was used from the war and period were the wounds and personal traumas that follow any way. If you're looking to be immersed in a time period, history, you won't find that in this book.

Like most romance novel females, Ruby generally jumps to the wrong conclusion, makes the worst choices, and dithers about the man she clearly loves for no obvious reason.

What I found most annoying was the made up terms like Peller and Moroven which I expected to be defined at some point, but never really was. Peller was given some scant details, but nothing about the label Ruby is tagged with. I guess that's supposed to compel us to read another of the series, and while I was interested enough to finish this one, I won't be reading any others.

Ruby Vaughn and her employer Mr. Owen are at Manhurst Casle to buy illuminated manuscripts. However,
Ruby discovers Mr. Owen lied and they are actually there to attend a séance. One of the mediums is murdered
and, Lucy is considered to be a suspect. As Lucy' investigates, Mr. Owen's true identity and past are
revealed. Interesting characters and histories. Lives are on the line. Keeps one guessing until the end.
Second in the series.
#TheSecretoftheThreeFates #StMartinsPress #Minotaur #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Overall, I would give this book 3.5 stars. It was great seeing the characters Ruby and Ruan again and getting to learn more about them. Their chemistry is a great part of the series. While I liked this book and found it an enjoyable read, it wasn’t a page turner like the first one. It used some devices from the first book that made the first book great but then you already know what it is. I think the clues could have been more easily integrated to help the reader along.

I had such a great time reading this book! The ending of the first book gave the starting seeds of this story, and I was so excited to see how they would grow, as well as spend more time with these characters, and watch them investigate this latest mystery!

Since I had an audio ARC of the first book, I might have missed some details. Like the fact that she's in her late 20's. I thought she was still a teen, maybe early 20's. So when she said she was 16 when things went down with the guy who had hidden that he was married, and that it had been 13 years since then, shocked me. But things make a bit more sense with that context in mind.

The whole mystery with Mr. Owens and his past, and the missing and dead mediums, it was so interesting to read, because he had a lot of secrets in his past. And figuring out what happened in the past might inform what was going on now.

Absolutely loved her and Ruan! She's still sceptical of all things paranormal, but has a more open mind. Watching them investigate together was thrilling to read. Plus there's the whole thing where she has, or is, something paranormal. That's still a mystery, but we were told about her mom, which was interesting…

This was a blast to read, and I can't wait to read more by Jess Armstrong and in this series, I can't wait to see where it goes from here! And I wonder if the Egypt stuff right at the end will be what book 3 will be about…

Loved the story and all the little details the author put in the book for readers to connect. Simple and quick read.

Interesting story that is clearly part of a series so I did feel a little lost during some of the explanations because characters just appeared without back story. But you don’t need to read the whole series to understand what happened in this one book. Ruby has a gift but she’s not sure how to use it or even what her true purpose will be but Raul is certain he’s not going to be there when she does. Not a bad sign when you want to read the rest of the series but it’s definitely not the end of the story for the main characters. So if you want one and done, this might not be the best choice for you.

This was a most enjoyable historical gothic mystery with a slight paranormal twist. It is set in the early 1920s of the Scottish Borderlands. Ruby Vaughn, our plucky and free-spirited protagonist, is an American heiress who fears nothing. After a valorous stint as an Army nurse in WWI, she charges in where others fear to tread. She works for an aging English antiquarian who dragged her off to Scotland under the ruse of appraising and acquiring some illuminated manuscripts. In actuality, he desires participation in a seance with the hope of contacting the spirit of his deceased son. Although son Ben does not make a appearance, another spirit does, misadventure is afoot and it isn't long before the bodies start piling up.

This continuation of the Ruby Vaughn mystery series is as equally engaging as the last, The Curse of Penryth Hall. It too includes the Pellar, Ruan Kivell and the sexual tension between him and Ruby continues a bit further along.

This was a highly atmospheric, somewhat dark mystery. The writing is rich and the characters colorful. The scene setting is cinematic in scope and the tension is steady throughout. This was a most entertaining mystery and I eagerly await Ruby and Ruan's next adventure.

I am grateful to author Jess Armstrong and her publisher, Minotaur Books, for having provided a complimentary uncorrected digital galley of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.


Publisher:‎ Minotaur Books
Publication Date: ‎ December 3, 2024
Number of Pages: ‎336
ISBN:‎ 978-1250909886

If you like plucky, independent, women a bit of mystery with a dash of the uncanny, then this is your read. Lots of atmosphere and historical detail create a sense of intrigue and make for a riveting read that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Armstrong’s atmospheric prose and keen attention to historical detail create a palpable sense of dread and intrigue. Ruby’s resilience and sharp intellect are put to the test as she uncovers dark secrets and faces dangerous foes. The novel’s haunting setting and complex characters make for a riveting read that keeps you guessing until the very end, blending historical mystery with a touch of the supernatural in a way that’s both captivating and emotionally charged.

Ruby Vaughn returns in The Secret of the Three Fates, in which our intrepid sleuth faces fortune tellers, long-buried family secrets, and the ghosts of the past. This time Ruby has trekked up to a Scottish castle on another favor for Mr. Owen, and as fate would have it, runs into none other than (our favorite Pellar) Ruan Kivell! As women start disappearing one by one from the estate, it suddenly seems nobody is who they appear to be. It's up to Ruby and Ruan to uncover secret after secret while tension builds between them. Throw in a few near-death experiences and you've got a seance you'll never forget!

I really enjoy Ruby as a character, but I think Ruan truly shines in this installment. It felt like Ruby was running in circles, constantly second-guessing everything and afraid to trust anyone. Ruan was a bulwark of support for her, and I hated how stubbornly she kept him at arm's length throughout the story. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a third book with some progress on that front! Either way, I'm definitely looking forward to Jess Armstrong's next Ruby Vaughn adventure! A great choice for fans of independent, plucky women with a dash of the uncanny!

Thanks again to St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for providing me with an ARC of The Secret of the Three Fates. My review is, as always, truthful and unbiased, and I hope it helps introduce readers to new books they will love!

I really loved the first in this series but this fell flat for me! We’re in one setting that i didn’t feel “sunk into” and there were far too many characters without any development to a single one. I kept getting them mixed up ! Just not as compelling as Penryth Hall unfortunately

Thank you to netgalley and Jess Armstrong for letting me read an ARC of this book. I loved it just as much as the first. The beginning does start slow but soon the characters that we have grown to love, ruby, Ruan, and Mr own find themselves in trouble once again. The mystery of it all and trying to solve it held my attention and kept me guessing. I love the mix of mystical and realism. A great sequel and I'm hoping for a third

This historical fantasy had some of the elements I love--charming characters, secrets from the past, and a touch of the supernatural. The one thing that frustrated me was the way a central character kept secrets from a loved one even when it became clear that those secrets were endangering lives. It's one thing to not be open about the past, and another entirely to risk someone's life over it. It felt to me like the author had done this in order to create more tension, but instead it left me wondering how much better the story could have been without using such an obvious (and annoying) trope.

Love this. I read the first book and now really loved the second. Not the same Cornwall setting, but I love books set in Scotland, too, so that was interesting. I love the interplay between Ruby and Ruan, though I got a bit weary of her staying away from him for his own good. Feels like a bit of a stretch when two people love each other. Thankfully, that was remedied at the end.

Mr. Owens' history was well fleshed out. I liked him in the first book, and I like now getting behind his layers.

I also can't remember the character's name, but it was good to get more information on how Ruby fell from grace and fled NY, meeting up with a man involved in Ruby's public embarrassment. That felt a rewarding to Ruby, which I liked.

Anyway, I'm talking more about plot, but the writing is very solid and I'd absolutely read another in the series. I'm not yet able to review this on Amazon, but I will when it's possible. I highly recommend this book.

In The Secret of the Three Fates, Jess Armstrong reintroduces readers to Ruby Vaughn, the plucky American heiress who solved a string of supernatural murders in The Curse of Penryth Hall. Armstrong’s newest installment in her mystery series finds Ruby visiting Manhurst Castle with her octogenarian employer, Mr. Owens, to appraise and acquire illuminated manuscripts for their bookshop. Ruby soon finds out that Mr. Owens has brought her to the borders of Scotland under false pretenses. He has always had a keen interest in the occult, and when he hears The Three Fates, a trio of mediums who claim they can speak with the dead, will be at Manhurst Castle for a séance, he hopes to get in contact with his son who passed away during the Great War. When one of the fates is found murdered, Ruby must solve the crime to clear her name and the name of Mr. Owens, and she encounters plenty of supernatural and human secrets along the way.

Jess Armstrong’s new story also reintroduces readers to Ruan Kivell, the Pellar who helped Ruby solve her first case in Cornwall. Like Mr. Owens, whose wife mysteriously disappeared many years ago, and Ruby, who was the object of a great social scandal, Ruan has secrets, and details from his past are slowly revealed throughout the novel. The romantic tension that ignited in The Curse of Penryth Hall is elevated to a sizzle in The Secret of the Three Fates as Ruan and Ruby navigate a world filled with danger.

Armstrong’s main characters are the backbone of her writing; Ruby, Ruan, and Mr. Owens are interesting and compassionate people who possess both gifts and flaws. Although readers will be titillated by the twists and turns of the mystery at the heart of the novel, it is the characters who will stay with them long after the mysteries have been solved.

I loved both The Curse of Penryth Hall and The Secret of the Three Fates, and I can’t wait to read the next installment in the series which will no doubt delve even more deeply into the relationships between Ruby, Ruan, and Mr. Owens. Each novel in the Ruby Vaughn mystery series also explores the folkloric beliefs and superstitions of remote locations like Cornwall and Scotland, and the Gothic settings will sweep readers away on a journey through early 20th century Britain. Jess Armstrong’s writing is perfect for those who love historical fiction, murder mystery, and a touch of occult magic.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.