The Curse of Penryth Hall is a dark and atmospheric historical mystery set in the haunting landscape of post-Great War Cornwall. With a plot that promises tension, intrigue, and a touch of the supernatural, the novel certainly sets the stage for an engaging read. However, despite its compelling premise, the book doesn't quite manage to live up to its potential. It ended up leaving me with mixed feelings as I turned the final page.

The story follows Ruby Vaughn, an American heiress who has made a quiet life for herself in Exeter, working in a bookshop. However, her past soon catches up with her when she is tasked with delivering a box of books to a folk healer in the Cornish countryside. This errand takes her back to Penryth Hall, the home of her once dear friend, Tamsyn, and Tamsyn's husband, Sir Edward Chenowyth. When Edward is found dead under mysterious circumstances, Ruby finds herself drawn into a web of local superstitions, dark secrets, and the possibility of a deadly curse.

One of the strengths of The Curse of Penryth Hall lies in its pacing. Armstrong skillfully balances the development of the plot with the exploration of her characters, ensuring that the narrative remains engaging throughout. The mystery unfolds at a steady pace, with enough twists and turns to keep the reader invested. The blend of character-driven storytelling and plot progression is well-handled, allowing the tension to build effectively, particularly as Ruby and the enigmatic folk healer, Ruan Kivell, delve deeper into the truth behind Edward's death.

However, I found it difficult to connect with the characters themselves. Ruby felt somewhat distant, and this made her difficult to warm to. This detachment extended to the other characters as well, particularly Tamsyn, who failed to elicit much emotional investment from me despite her significance to the plot. As a result, this lessened the impact of the story's darker moments.

Coupled with a slow start, this made it hard to fully immerse myself in the story. Additionally, while the Cornish setting is evocatively described, I would have appreciated more emphasis on world-building. A more detailed portrayal of the village and its superstitions could have enhanced the creeping tension and sense of unease that the novel aims to create.

The Curse of Penryth Hall does have its merits. It is tense and mysterious, offering an intriguing blend of historical fiction with an LGBTQIA+ focus. However, the lack of connection with the characters and the missed opportunities in world-building meant that, for me, it fell short of its potential.

An interesting story with great characters and lovely sense of myth and history. It did draw me in and make me keep turning the pages. I didn’t guess who did it until just before the end. Some great twists.

"The Curse of Penryth Hall" by Jess Armstrong is a blend of gothic mystery, suspense, and historical fiction, set in the 1920s. Ruby Vaughn, an American heiress, returns to Cornwall to visit her childhood friend Tamsyn, who lives at Penryth Hall with her husband Sir Edward. However, their reunion is cut short when Sir Edward is brutally murdered, and the family's dark past begins to unravel.
As Ruby works with local Pellar Ruan Kivell to uncover the truth behind the murder, she is drawn into a world of ancient curses, family secrets, and supernatural legends. The characters are well-developed and complex, particularly Ruby and Ruan, who share a deep connection despite their vastly different backgrounds.
The plot is full of twists and turns, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I try to unravel the mysteries of Penryth Hall. The setting is vividly described, transporting me to the misty hills and rugged coastline of Cornwall. The only drawback for me was the occasional anachronism, as the attitudes and characters seemed to be more suited to the late 19th century than the 1920s.
Overall "The Curse of Penryth Hall" is for fans of gothic fiction and mystery enthusiasts. The story is engaging, well-written, and full of surprises.

Immediately from the synopsis I knew this book was going to be right up my street. Historical fiction with a murder to solve? That’s my favourite kinda fiction.

It was interesting that the author chose to include supernatural elements to the story and it was cool to learn a bit more about Cornish folklore. It struck the perfect balance between deepening the mystery surrounding the events and adding a bit of magic to the story.

I really rated Ruby’s no nonsense approach and I loved her friendship with Mr Owen. I could have happily had him in twice as much of the book though I do see how that wouldn’t have furthered the plot…

Overall a pacy mystery that kept me guessing to the end and I am pleased to hear that Ruby Vaughn will be returning to get up to more antics soon! Plus, I am excited to see how the relationships will develop (if Ruan isn’t in book two I may riot 👀)

The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong.

1922. Since the Great War, Ruby Vaughn has made a life for herself running a rare bookshop alongside octogenarian Mr Owen. She thought that she had consigned painful memories of Penryth Hall, deep in the Cornish countryside, to the distant past. Returning to the hall, home to a once dear friend, Tamsyn, leads Ruby to cross paths with Tamsyn's sinister husband, Sir Edward Chenowyth. Desperate to leave, Ruby's plans are thwarted when Penryth’s bells ring for the first time in thirty years. Edward has been brutally killed in the orchard prompting fears that a dormant curse has been awoken.

A wonderful read , gothic and a mystery with some great characters . Would recommend.

With whimsical writing, we get this lovely gothic mystery. I enjoyed the writing style, but found the characters a little dry. I think that I found this book at the wrong time.

📚 Book Review 📚

A twisty, turny gothic mystery which is well written and exciting to read.

Here we meet Ruby Vaughn, an American heiress who now lives in England after being excluded from ‘proper’ society by her wealthy family. She decides to visit her best friend Tamsyn, who lives at Penryth Hall with her distant husband, Edward.

One night, Edward is horribly murdered and Cornish folklore is stirred up once again amongst the locals, with whispers of curses and demons. Tamsyn is terrified that the family curse will pass onto her baby son, so Ruby with the help of local Pellar Ruan, work together to find out what and why Edward was murdered. Is it the result of a generational curse or is the reason for his untimely death, closer to home?

I really enjoyed this book, the characters are well defined, especially Ruby and Ruan and they are incredibly likeable. Although there isn’t a romantic link between them, there is a real connection between these two characters and their work reveals all sorts of a secrets along the way …

I’d like to thank Allison and Busby, NetGalley and the author for the arc and the fantastic opportunity, in exchange for my honest feedback 😊

Book released on 20th June 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved it
A more extensive review will follow
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

After losing her family in the sinking of the 'Lusitania', American heiress Ruby Vaughn has made a life for herself in Exeter, England running a rare bookstore alongside Mr Owen, her octogenarian employer. When Mr Owen asks her to deliver a box of books to a Cornish village, Ruby finds herself back in the one place she swore she’d never return to.

Her once closest friend, Tamsyn, married Sir Edward Chenowyth after the end of the Great War & Ruby has not seen her since. The Chenowyth's family seat is Penryth Hall in Cornwall & after a chance meeting, Tamsyn asks Ruby to stay with them whilst she is in the area. All plans are upset though as next morning, Sir Edward is found dead & Penryth’s bells ring for the first time in thirty years. Has the Penryth curse returned & who will be next?

The synopsis & cover suggested a gothic feel to the story. It was an interesting plot & I read it fairly quickly. Who could fail to love the stowaway cat, Fiachna - although there was never any mention of Ruby feeding the poor thing. No wonder he took to the housekeeper! It was an enjoyable read, but the main issue for me was the time period in which it was set. I had to keep reminding myself it was supposed to be set in the 1920s, as the attitudes, characters, & setting as described seemed more in tune with the late 19th century. It made it all seem out of tune & odd to me. Also, even though Ruby is bisexual & supposedly torn between her past feelings for Tamsyn & her new feelings for Ruan, I didn't note any romantic chemistry between Pellar (witch) Ruan Kivell, & Ruby - their relationship gives off 'best as friends' vibes to me.

Overall - enjoyable storyline, lovely cover, but feels a little anachronistic to the time period setting.3.5 stars (rounded down)

My thanks to NetGalley & publisher, Allison & Busby, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

I had an up and down time with this book I won’t lie to you. Firstly. The premise is a really good one; a gothic, 1920s murder mystery with some supernatural elements thrown in. And of course the Cornish setting appealed so much to me as the blood of the south runs through my very veins. ​
However, it took the story a while to warm up for me. Ruby is a well written character but not particularly likeable at the start. Moody, bordering on alcoholic, hiding a secret which is never revealed and more than likely used to getting her own way, it was nice to see her be put in her place more than once by Ruan. Ruan, again a contradiction of a character that I eventually warmeD to.
The plot seemed simple and was slow at the start but did draw me in, the more the myths and curses were explored. I adored the gothic Cornish setting which reminded me a little of a Daphne du Maurier novel. The descriptions of the settings were atmospheric enough to ,etc the reader use their own imaginations to fill in the blanks.
There is a well-handled representation of a LGBTQ+ relationship between the two female protagonists which is written well and in keeping with the period drama feeling. ​
There are graphic descriptions of murder and how the bodies are discovered which could be uncomfortable for some readers​ but again these are used well within the plot.

It took me a little while to get into this book but once I was, I couldn’t put it down. Ruby Vaughn has had a varied life and is now working for a bookseller in Exeter. Ruby is quite a daring person, not afraid of speaking her mind or doing what she wants, however controversial that might be. On a visit to Cornwall, she meets up with her old friend, Tamsyn and a new person, called Ruan Kivell. Ruan is the village Pellar and at first Ruby and Ruan don’t get on, but a greater understanding brings them closer together. There is a murder mystery to solve, a lot of superstition from the villagers and murmurs of curses. There is danger, especially for Ruby. It does seem as though there might be more books featuring some of the characters and I would be interested in reading them. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The takeaway from this book is that I love Jess Armstrong's writing style. From the first chapter, I was nudging my husband every 5 minutes to read out a description, in awe of how well she captured a scene. I was obsessed with the scenery-building, getting very 'Corpse Bride', gothic, and grandiose vibes. Every scene description transported me into the book, vividly imagining it alongside the characters involved.

Ruby as a protagonist was relatable, and it was refreshing to not be force-fed huge backstories and lore, but rather to get to know the character more naturally. General character introductions were seamless and contributed to the smooth flow of the reading experience.

There were instances where difficult topics came up, but Jess Armstrong navigated these beautifully, avoiding excessive detail. Her writing around these themes felt purposeful.

The minor issues I had (reducing it to 4 stars) included:
- The overuse of the phrase 'wet my/his/her/their lips'.
- Some chapters were quite short, which felt slightly jarring at times.

Despite this, Jess Armstrong is an author now on my radar and I will be eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

It’s a tricky one when the idea of magic is raised in a murder mystery. One can have something that appears to be magical but has a rational explanation. One can go to the other extreme as well, and fully embrace the magical world. Or you can try and have a bit of both.

And the problem with the “bit of both” is that it tends to leave aspects of the story unexplained, which never sits that well with me. In a murder mystery, I want to see answers for everything and yet in the Gothic genre, that isn’t something that you get.

Which is a shame, as there is quite a lot to like here, with some interesting character work with Ruth and Ruan, and the setting and lore of Cornwall being a real strength. There is a feel of unreality about the location and the people involved making this an interesting and original setting.

This isn’t really the book for me – I’m not a fan of “real” magic in stories, and, to be honest, the murderer could have done with a few more appearances – but this book should find the right audience in those that like their whodunnits with romance and mysticism. Take a look at the other stops on the blog tour to see what others thought.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC read in exchange for an honest review.

Right, onto the review!

I'll be honest, this book was a slow start for me. The premise of the book was a historical gothic murder mystery. These are truly two of my favourite themes and when I got approved for this arc I really was very excited to read it. However, I just don't think this book set out to do what it truly wanted to do, and what the blurb was specifying. Blurbs often give me an essence of what is going to hook me when I start reading.

From some of the Goodreads reviews, I'd argue, that some readers maybe didn't set expectations for themselves when going into this book - if you were expecting something fast paced and intense, this isn't the book for you at all. If you're looking for gore, conflict and on the edge of your seat suspense - this isn't the type of murder mystery that you'll get from this book. The unfolding of this story is slow, and the slight romance even slower still. I think some of that was intentional, however I'm curious about some of the relationships within this book and how decisions were made about them. This book finishes in a very open-ended way, which leaves room for something else to build with.

This just felt too much like a daft when reading through it. There were elements both in the plot and the essence of the characters just didn't feel fleshed out enough. Additionally, there were so many sentences that felt unfinished or nonsensical, which spoiled the flow of the narrative. I also felt that it was having a hard time deciding what exactly the theme was? There were moments when it seemed like a gothic paranormal mild horror, despite it being pitched as a historical gothic mystery. To me, it doesn't fall into any selective category when it comes to making this book genre specific. It's neither here nor there category wise. Yes, it has elements of mystery and murder, but can I confidently just call it that? I'm not so sure. There's just an amalgamation of themes in this book, and not a single one of them is core to the plot which leaves you thinking - is this a murder mystery? Is it about a curse? is it about Ruby's friends-to-lovers-but-not-really-lovers sittuationship with her best friend? or is it about the Pellar and his magic? these elements seem to cross-intersect constantly throughout the story but don't specifically complement each other at any given time.

Also, adding historical elements is one thing, but falling into inaccuracy is another. For example, we are told that the locations are Exeter and Cornwall, but I honestly couldn't tell you WHAT made it those locations. I literally could've been anywhere which completely detached me as a reader, especially when Ruby was an AMERICAN heiress who'd moved to England - yet she never really talked about what brought her there, and there was this constant mention of 'War' every other chapter. You're telling me we are in Exeter or Cornwall, why? what relevance does the location serve for the story? because it felt like neither of the locations were relevant. Whilst the mystery/murder plot seems to be what drives the story, we are constantly told about this 'curse' that's existed and harmed a generation of a family, but we know 1) nothing about how it comes about 2) What the history is behind the curse. I realise that this book is only meant to be short, however, it probably would've benefited from my expansion of the magical realism (our pillar, Ruan's back story, and his magic etc) and also more elements of Cornwalls Follklore, it felt very light on the Folklore elements which seemed like they were meant to be quite central to the book.

It's probably the lightest murder mystery I've ever read. If there were 4 words that I'd use to describe what The Curse of Penryth Hall is about, I'd say: mystery, a curse, murders, and suspicion. Much of the mystery is built around suspicion of a curse, and well...not much else. I think the book covers these 4 bases and sprinkles elements of this throughout the book. It did keep me guessing and I didn't really figure out who was responsible until the final quarter of the book which was great for me, but that might also be because the book jumped around a lot. After reading this I actually think we NEED to give the Pellar their own story, I personally found him the most intriguing character throughout the whole plot. I do think this book would have benefited from multiple POV, because there are times I felt Ruby was a little bit overbearing in the narrative, in fact she was often too overbearing.

I typically enjoy more dark and gruesome stories when it comes to murder mysteries, and I thought the premise of the 'curse' was a GOOD idea, the aspect of it in reality it really didn't feel central to the story at all (at sometimes it generally felt a irrelevant). For example, there just didn't seem enough clarity about the history of this 'so called curse', it felt like the word was being thrown about a lot and nobody wanted to go deeper into 'why' there was such a concern about it being this old world 'curse' that had affected a generational family.

The atmospheric writing is what kept me engaged in this book, it was one of the things that I really did enjoy about it. However, some of the characters and plot felt a little lost at times. You'll feel suspicious of MOST of the characters, almost all of the time because you'll feel like a good portion of them had some kinda motive from the little you learn about them. It does overall, give very 'who done it' vibes.

giving three stars overall for the Pellar, and some of the magic/mystery elements.

I don't know who Armstrong's editor is. My personal opinion is I do not believe that they were the right fit for what she was trying to achieve with this book, especially with it being a debut. I can see what she was trying to do as an author, and I think with more consistent questionable editing the plot, characters, and world building would have been more polished and fleshed out. Especially around the location choices and the elements of this being a historical narrative. It fell short.

A tense and gothic tale that is tense and at times really creepy. Ruby is a feisty character who is ahead of her time, independent and refuses to be cowed by others. Set after the great war Ruby becomes embroiled in a murder when she visits a friend from her past. Penryth Hall where Tamsyn is mistress is a forboding dark and hostile place with an atmosphere of danger. As an American, Ruby is already an outsider and this is made more evident as she tries to find answers to the murder she stumbles upon. Unlike the locals she refuses to believe the superstitions and talk of a curse everyone tries to convince her is the culprit.

I really enjoyed learning about all the Cornish folklore referenced in the book. Ruan the local 'peller' is an enchanting man, I was immediately drawn to his calm and mystical demeanor. Ruby and Ruan make an unlikely partnership as they race against time to find the culprit before there are more deaths.

This is a great debut novel, the twist was really well done I was caught by surprise but it made perfect sense.

The first in a new series featuring American heiress Ruby Vaughn. It’s 1922 and Ruby is living in Exeter with elderly housemate Mr Owen and running a rare bookshop when she is tasked with delivering some books to Ruan Kivell in Cornwall. A well paced and well written mystery with a touch of romance and a book that kept me page turning late into the night.

Briefly, when Ruby realises Ruan lives near Penryth Hall where her old friend Tamsyn Chenowyth lives with her husband Sir Edward Chenowyth, she doesn’t want to go, but Mr Owen insists. Shortly after her arrival Sir Edward is murdered but that is only the start of the troubles for the occupants of the Hall and the villagers as the curse of Penryth Hall raises it head after many years. The book buyer Ruan is a seventh son of a seventh son, known by the locals as a Pellar, a healer and the only person who could break the curse!

Ruby is a very strong character and seemed oblivious of the obvious danger she kept putting herself in. Ruan is a lot more sensible and quiet but his ability to connect with Ruby on another plane does highlight his feelings for her. You felt there was a blossoming romance but it was not to be and it was more of a caring relationship. Some good red herrings had me changing my mind, more than once, and I didn’t guess the eventual outcome, in fact nowhere near it. A very enjoyable mystery with murder, a touch of fantasy/folklore, a simmering romance and a fabulous cat! Very entertaining.

Unfortunately I gave up on this book as it was failing to grab my attention. I didn’t like the writing style and couldn’t warm to the characters at all. Not for me

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the setting and the time period it was set in, it felt really immersive. The mix of mystery and occult worked well. I hope there are more books to follow and I would buy them.

I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley.

This was a fabulous book, a wonderful setting, a compelling mystery and great main characters. We follow Ruby as she’s sent to a small village in Cornwall to deliver a trunk of books she’s been told not to look at by her octogenarian landlord and friend. She’s reluctant to go as this particular village holds bad memories and is one she’s keen not to return to. She’d rather be sent to Egypt to work with a friend of her landlord. She is persuaded to go, a trip that will lead her to danger, force her to confront her past and find herself embroiled in a violent mystery.

The setting was the stand out feature of this book for me, I loved the small village in Cornwall with the looming stately home, the superstitions and folk lore front of mind for the villagers. I loved the inclusion of The Pellet as a central character and the local power he holds allowing him to investigate and intervene. I loved the idea of the curse and the reoccurrence of events mirrored from decades before. I loved the haunting, decaying stately home full of secrets and lies.

This book is set in the 1920s and did subtly explore the trauma of the war and the long term effects on the characters. This was more of a secondary theme but it was interesting to see the lasting effect on the psyche of our main characters. There’s also some charming details such as the stowaway guardian cat that really added some personality to this story.

This would have been five stars apart from a couple of details I found a little jarring at the end of the book. In the final confrontation two characters (including one i was really rooting for) are so patronising to our main character, treating her like a boisterous child that it really diminished my views of these characters and it felt so unnecessary. It didn’t really add anything to the story for them to start acting like this. I also found a few plot and timeline points conflicted which took me out of the book a little. Other than these points which only really came up right at the end, this was a great book that I raced through. I would continue with this series.

In a debut novel that merges crime, occult and romance genres, Armstrong builds a new heroine who seems too capable to be true.

Set in Edwardian England, in the mysterious south west countryside, this is a reworking of The Hound of the Baskervilles with added magic, which is sure to have Conan Doyle rolling in his grave. Ruby Vaughn, herself as much a mystery as the novel itself, is an orphaned American heiress, now a loyal companion and housemate to octogenarian bookseller Mr Owen. Ruby is a fascinating character, adorned with plenty of backstory which is revealed in dribs and drabs throughout the book so it never feels as if she is presented to us like a slab of meat at the butcher's, her history and her skills foreshadowing what we need to know but never intruding. She is a worthy character to star in a new crime series, and the sequel is due shortly.

In her Cornish adventure, Ruby goes to the aid of her longtime friend Tamsyn, the wife of an unfaithful baronet, who gets dispatched within pages of Ruby's arrival. Like Marple, death follows in Ruby's footsteps, and in order to belay suspicion of herself or of Tamsyn, Ruby joins begrudging forces with the local folk healer, or Pellar, Ruan Kivell, who looks like your standard Cornish romantic hero: a little scruffy, a little disreputable, but with a whole lot of animal magnetism. The solving of the mystery is aided with a little minor magic (no spoilers!) as well as the constant will-they-won't-they of Ruby and Ruan's mutual attraction.

Does it work? Not entirely, no. The crime plot, which is of course the overall driver, is well-handled, but the romance (or even romances) are pretty rote, and any romance reader would likely be disappointed by how slow the slow burn is. The magic, which is not too fantastical, leaning more towards magical realism than anything else, is tied only to Ruan, and isn't made much of, which is disappointing in a book about Cornwall, one of England's most folklore and myth-filled parts of the country. It could have been set in any distant rural village, in Scotland, America, a European country, the magic is barely more specific than a curse and a little more.

However, the novel sets up a potential long series of books related to bibliophilic adventures, occult shenanigans and a modern American woman facing up to the strictures of British class and tradition. I'm definitely interested in reading more on Ruby Vaugh's escapades with Mr Owen, and perhaps even the rugged Ruan Kivell, as they traipse across Edwardian England.

Three stars from me, mostly for the crime plot.