I was so happy to be back in Castle Knoll! I love the characters, the small town, the mystery, and how everything and everyone seem to be entwined together. I cannot wait for the next one and to be back with these characters. I loved how this series goes back and forth in time to solve something current that is also a piece of the past. Keep these coming!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

How to Seal Your Own Fate picks up right where the first Castle Knoll Files novel left off, slipping readers seamlessly back into Annie Adams’ slightly odd, slightly eerie corner of the world. While I needed a minute to remember who was who (and what exactly went down in Book One), the author does a solid job of jogging your memory without turning the opening chapters into a recap.

As with the first book, the premise stretches realism a bit—how many baffling murders can one sleepy English town plausibly host? But somehow, the abundance of mysteries just… works. It adds to the charm, and the slightly heightened reality suits the world Weinberg is building.

One of the strengths of this sequel is how it deepens the characters we met previously and broadens the worldbuilding without losing that cozy-but-unnerving tone. That said, the pacing and prose do veer a little dry at times—likely a stylistic choice to match the setting and genre, but something that kept it from being a total page-turner for me.

All in all, this was an enjoyable read with well-layered storytelling, atmospheric writing, and enough intrigue to keep me going. A solid 3.5 stars from me—and I’ll likely pick up the next one.

This was a fun dual timeline mystery, 1967 and present day. I enjoyed seeing how the two timelines merged by the end of the book. There were times I had to go back and look at what time we were in but it wasn't distracting from the story. Annie in present day and her Aunt Francis in the 60s are trying to solve the same mystery and I think the reader may find out more pieces before Annie does from Aunt Francis' diary. I think before reading a 3rd book in the series, I would want to read the first one and this one again, they seem to build on the characters and the town. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

I was dying for a sequel and this one didn’t disappoint! It was such a fun read and I’m really, really hoping there will be more?? Please!!

I had problems getting into the first of this series and it seems that Perrin and I are not meant to be. I can't put my finger on it, but the writing for me is plodding and more complicated than it has to be. It is fine, but to me, nothing special.

Review: How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin

This was an intriguing and enjoyable second installment in the Castle Knoll Files series! Returning to this quaint, mystery-filled English village felt like catching up with an old friend—one with secrets lurking around every corner.

The central mystery was well-crafted and kept me engaged, especially with how it wove in themes of village politics and long-held grudges. It added a layer of depth that I wasn’t expecting and gave the story a fresh angle while staying true to the cozy mystery vibe.

I listened to the audiobook and really appreciated the dual narrators—one for the present timeline and one for the past. It made it so much easier to follow the shifts in time and helped distinguish the two storylines clearly.

A solid follow-up to How to Solve Your Own Murder, and I’m looking forward to what comes next in Castle Knoll series.

Another hit from Kristen Perrin! Funny and suspenseful! You will need to read the first book in the series to understand the characters but you will love it just as much as this one!

Attempted both the ebook and audio version of this book a few times and just could not get into the story. It did not hold my attention or pull me in from the start. This may be one I go back to in the future but for now it is going on my DNF shelf.

This was a really fun and clever mystery series. I enjoyed it for its interesting cast of characters and a classic mystery plot.

As with the first book in the series, there is a pretty intricate plot with a lot of characters. While it isn’t necessary, it is helpful to read the first book in the series for background .

I thought the audiobook, voiced by Alexandra Dowling and Jessica Hayles, was very well done. The dual narrators were excellent, including the accents. One caveat, I wouldn’t recommend the audiobook if you are easily distracted because it would be easy to miss something important. I alternated between the audiobook and the e-book and it really helped keep things straight, especially at the end when the mystery all came together.

Read if you enjoy twisty, clever classic-style mysteries with several suspects.

Perrin expands the story and the mystery in this follow up to her smash debut, How to Solve Your Own Murder. This author needs more hype!

I like it a lot. It had a good plot. It had good characters. I was invested . I want more from this author. It reminds me of agatha Christie

This is an excellent follow up to How To Solve Your Own Murder. It was engaging, and the mystery kept me hooked. I really enjoy how the author writes, and is able to pull you in with the characters.

A delightful sequel. This cozy murder mystery has atmosphere and intrigue, family secrets and new perspectives on old crimes. Read if you love strong women and murder.

Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for a copy of this book. I hate that I’m not a mystery reader but I need to be honest. I just don’t love the cozy mystery and reading about these crazy situations that get resolved the end. I feel like it was well written and I liked the dual timelines to help progress the story, the characters were a little flat to me and I just couldn’t connect to the main character. I think if you are a mystery reader, you may enjoy it more but it was just not my cup of tea and that’s okay!

I thoroughly enjoyed How to Seal Your Own Fate, the second installment in Kristen Perrin’s clever and charming mystery series. While How to Solve Your Own Murder still holds the top spot as one of my all-time favorite books, this follow-up did not disappoint.

It was a delight to return to Castle Knoll and reconnect with its memorable cast of characters. The ripple effects of Peony Lane’s fateful fortune continue to unfold in fascinating ways, reaching across decades and deepening the intrigue. The novel is packed with exactly what I want from a cozy mystery: plenty of murders, spirited amateur sleuthing, and just a touch of romantism to keep things warm. What more could you want?

4.5/5 stars

After adoring How to Solve Your Own Murder last year, I was both excited and a little nervous when I realized that this was going to be a series. I thought the first book did a great job of wrapping up the story, and even if there were a few loose ends, I wasn’t sure how well subsequent books would capture that same sense of small village coziness.

I did enjoy the sequel, but it didn’t reach the same heights for me as book one. While I felt the mystery itself was stronger than the first book, I didn’t get the same English countryside castle vibes as in the first book. Annie Adams, now settled into her new home, thinks she’s done with solving mysteries. But then local fortune teller Peony Lane tries to warn her of a new danger and is shortly after found dead inside Annie’s home.

Annie now has a new mystery to solve. She not only needs to find out who killed Peony and clear her own name, but she also has to investigate Peony’s secret past and what really happened in 1967 when her great aunt’s husband Ford’s family were killed in a car accident.

It was interesting to learn more about Frances Adams. The book is split between chapters from Annie in the present and Frances in the past. We didn’t know that much about Frances in book one, so those chapters in Frances’ perspective helped make her more relatable and sympathetic.

It’s just that the newness of Annie exploring the castle for the first time, of her meeting the initial cast of characters and the vividness of the setting engaged me more than the setting descriptions and character actions in How to Seal Your Own Fate. Frances’ chapters captured my attention the most, and I felt myself not caring as much about what happened in the present timeline.

Given how well the mystery wrapped up, I am even more curious as to what will be the plot of book 3! I’ll be picking it up, though, and will let you know :)

*Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the digital arc. All opinions are my own.

I loved the first book in this series and my only issue with that one was that it was hard to keep track of all the timelines and characters, and maybe it's because I read the first one so long ago now but this issue is even more prominent in this book. While the characters were still so loveable and relatable, I almost felt a bit bored because I struggled to keep track of everything.

Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton for a gifted ebook.

3.5 stars
I was excited to see what happens to the characters after How to Solve Your Own Murder. And to unravel more secrets! How to Seal Your Own Fate is so fast paced, I tried to create my own theories while reading along but I am just not that clever. Kristen Perrin’s plot twists are so unpredictable. Overall it is a fun, easy read for amateur sleuths.

How to Seal Your Own Fate is a clever, twisty read that blends mystery with a sharp sense of humor and just the right amount of dark charm. Kristen Perrin delivers a story full of secrets, surprises, and smart writing that keeps you hooked from the first page. The plot is fast-paced without feeling rushed, and the characters have a voice that’s both witty and relatable. If you enjoy mysteries with a bit of a bite and a slightly offbeat tone, this book is a fun, satisfying ride with more than a few unexpected turns.

Enjoyed this sequel in the series! It contained a lot of references to the first book, which I adored, but read a long time ago, and I could have used a little more of a refresher on who or what everyone was. I'll probably re-read or listen to the first two again when the third comes out so I can appreciate it more.

Looking forward to a more independent Annie in book three, who hopefully lives a little less in her Aunt's shadow.