The beginning of this book really hooks you, and I was enchanted by it. But then… it kind of lost me in the middle. The ending wrapped up really well which made the middle worth it. The idea for this book was so original! One of the most unique gothic mysteries I have read.

The Curse Of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong was a dark atmospheric Gothic Manor mystery set in 1920s Cornwall. Ruby Vaughn, an exiled American heiress and socialite with a tragic past has set up with a bookstore and it wonderful octogenarian owner in Exeter and does the occasional job for him while at the same time maintaining her flamboyant flapper lifestyle - imagine Peregrine Fisher with a tragic slightly darker bent.
When one of her odd delivery jobs brings her to the Cornish countryside to bring books to a local pellar she uses the occasion to visit an old friend and former lover now Lady of the manor at Penryth Hall. She had not put much effort into the friendship after her friends marriage but seeing her belligerent and womanizing husband and her subdued friend is a lot to take in, even more so when after Ruby spends the night at their home Penryth Hall and the husband is discovered murdered the next morning. There is a curse but Ruby believes that it is much more likely that human hands were involved and starts investigating together with the pellar who has his own reasons for not ascribing the death to supernatural reasons. There are twists and turns and the mystery kept me intrigued and on my toes. I loved my reading of this debut novel and really hope this is the start to a series! Ruby's dardevil approach to life in the 1920s gave me definite Ms.
Fisher vibes and makes me want to join her on her next adventure.
This is a fantastic books for fans of historical mysteries
- delving into a time and place while enjoying a mystery !
I have a good friend who lived in Exeter for 16 years and still vacations in Cornwall every summer. With this book I may have found the perfect Christmas gift for her!

I really really enjoyed MOST of this book. I was hooked from the beginning and had it set in my mind that this was going to be a 5 star read. Unfortunately, I do feel as though it fell flat around the halfway point and I had to push myself to keep reading up until about 80% of the way through. But it did pick back up again and I did enjoy the ending. Overall wasn’t a terrible read, but it isn’t one I think that I will continue to think about over and over again. I will continue to read books by this author though in the future.

I enjoyed this historical fiction/mystery. It’s atmospheric but also kind of fun (as fun as a book about murder can be?). There is magical realism - or real magic? I don’t even think the characters knew. I loved the main character. The ending definitely had a twist. There are a lot of unanswered questions which I am hoping means there is another book.

Loved the Gothic and mysterious vibes of this book. The characters were interesting, I especially liked the banter between Ruby and Ruan and the father-daughter like relationship between Ruby and the older gentlemen she lives with. Some strange and very creepy things were going on in this story and the twists just kept coming! The story dragged a little bit in the middle for me but the ending was worth it.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Content warnings: Death, infidelity, gore, suicide, toxic relationship, sexual content.

Thank you to Minotaur Books, St-Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC for review. All opinions are my own.

I loved The Curse of Penryth Hall. Scary mystery that will keep you guessing. Ruby Vaughn is an amazing character with a great personality. This story was mysterious and interesting with twists and turns you don't see coming like the surprise ending that had me gasping. I also liked the character of the Pellar, Ruan. The Reverend is an awful man and I couldn't believe his part in this mystery. I'm looking forward to reading more from this Author.
#TheCurseOfPenrythHall #NetGalley

I give The Curse of Penryth Hall 5 stars for its mysterious read.
I would recommend this book to mystery fans.

Thank you Dreamscape Media for allowing me to read and review The Curse of Penryth Hall on NetGalley.

Narrator: Emma Love

Stars: 2.5. Mixed emotions and feelings.

The synopsis reads like a PBS Masterpiece advertisement and I was drawn in. I do believe this could be a nice 90 minute program. That program where the name escapes me, and sitting down it takes 15 to 20 minutes for me to realize I've seen it before, and I'm not sure how it ends. The Curse of Penryth Hall is the book format of that program.

The book follows a standard nonpublished checklist for murder in a castle filled with simple people. I didn't connect with the characters making them forgettable while reading. Around 60% I found myself just wanting the book to be over. Sadly, and I find this point to be key -- the story was not terribly creative. Is it better to finish and not remember or better to DNF with a note watch Masterpiece?

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. With a mix of ghosty possibilities and a crime to solve it was very entertaining.
I had a good chuckle at the authors witty sense of humor.
4 stars for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC

I really enjoyed this novel! The main character is a strong woman who speaks her mind and enjoys delving into the truth. While she was delivering a box of old books in the Cornish countryside, she stops to visit her old friend at Penryth Hall. She ends up staying the night and a mystery ensues. The author did a good job surprising me in the whodunit and Ruby was a fun detective to follow. Thank you netgalley for the ARC to review!

Thank you Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a solid three and a half stars. I don't think I would have picked it up if it wasn't for the cover and title. This was an engrossing book, once I got into it towards the end. It was too slow of a pacing for me, and there were moments where I felt like I needed more depth and details to really appreciate the story.

I picked this up based on it's synopsis and it was perfect for my current mood! Ruby Vaughn reminds me of Phryne Fisher only in England and with a slightly different back story. Ruby is an American heiress, orphaned, and running from her tragic past. She has settled in Devon with an elderly Scottish gentleman, helping him with his bookselling business. She has lived through WWI and being banished from home and presents as troubled and solving her problems with partying and drink. A trip to deliver books to Cornwall results in reuniting with an old friend, murders, a Pellar and many close escapes. I really loved reading this and hope it will be the start of more Ruby adventures!

This book started out so strong but slowed down for me considerably. I desperately wanted to finish it though and did not see the twist ending!

From the publisher: “ Ruby doesn’t believe in curses—or Pellars—but this is Cornwall and to these villagers the curse is anything but lore, and they believe it will soon claim its next victim: Tamsyn.”

I adored Ruby’s character and her independent nature and acerbic wit. Tamsyn… it was hard to care for. The Pellar! I would’ve like to see his storyline developed more. Maybe in future stories?

Thank you to #netGalley for this #ARC in exchange for my honest review!

4.5 Stars.

I really liked this author's writing style, even though I couldn't tell you exactly what that style is. This was a great debut novel. I thought it was an engrossing tale of darkness with a bit of magic (?) thrown in in what others are calling a Gothic mystery. It's not the type of thing I usually read, but I enjoyed the bits of mystery surrounding the murders and attacks that took place in this small English village in the 1920's.

The relationships were varied and sometimes only alluded to, which sometimes puzzled me. I can understand the author not wanting to get too graphic, but at the beginning I kept doubting whether or not there really was a lesbian relationship that had gone on.. My doubts were erased as the story continued. Ruby was quite an eccentric character! She was also one tough cookie. A great strong female protagonist which made for a great story.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this intriguing book. All thoughts are my own.

One thing I really don’t like about historical fiction is when writers try to pull of a voice or style that they THINK sounds right for the era but ends up feeling silly and forced. The whole time, I just felt so detached from the book because I could see the writing. What I mean by that is I could feel the work put into the craft, and it took me out of the story. For me, good writing happens organically. You never feel like you’re reading someone’s planned out work but instead you’re riding on a story that feels real and authentic and immediate.

I couldn’t get past this at any point and it just felt like I was watching a writer tell a story rather than feeling immersed in the tale itself.

“Do you know what it’s like to want something, ruby? To want it so badly that you would do anything in the world to make it happen?”


While I found this book and the murder mystery within compelling, it felt like it was all over the place at times. As if it really wasn’t sure what it wanted to be and was afraid to commit to any one thing; whether it be the relationships within or the genre it meant to embody.

At times I found it humorous when I’m not sure that it was the author’s intended reaction. The main character switched moods, motives and feelings for others from one minute to the next leaving me reeling. There were two possible love interests in the book, neither getting a precise ending. Things were left very open ended with Ruby’s future, possibly in hopes of a sequel and more adventures to come.

The murder mystery and concept of the curse were the most intriguing aspects of this book. Although, Sometimes it felt like the mystery went around in circles, far too many characters and plot lines twisting on each other in an attempt to make for an unexpected plot twist but they weren’t done clearly or as precisely as I believe they could’ve been.

In my opinion, none of the characters were very likable or stuck with me in any indefinite way. Perhaps my expectations for this book were just very different as it was advertised as a gothic murder mystery involving a curse. While most of this was true, the vibes felt, at times, a little too lighthearted and a little less gothic and I had trouble envisioning the setting due to lack of describing words when it came to the cursed mansion.

While I found the book entertaining there were just too many faults for me to truly enjoy it, but I believe some readers may enjoy this one.

The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong is her first novel and I doubt it will be her last. Ruby Vaughn runs a bookstore for an octogenarian and is tasked with delivering some books to Ruan Kivell, a local "healer".

Ruby does not believe in superstitions, ghosts, Pellars or the like. You ask what is a Pellar?

"A Pellar is in English folk Magic and Witchcraft, a healer, diviner and breaker of spells. The term is probably a corruption of expel, as in the repelling or expelling of spells. A pellar would be sought out if a person thought he or she had been bewitched or cursed."

Ruby intends to just drop off the books and go back home but things did not work out that way. She spends time with her friend Tamsyn. They were good friends but lost touch with each other over the years. The last they had any communication was at Tamysn and Sir Edward Chenowyth's wedding. She decides to stay because of the bells. The last time Penryth bells wrung was 30 years ago. At that time one of Edward's ancestors was murdered.

Ruby has a terrible dream. When she wakes she is not sure if the dream was real or not, someone was murdered and in her wake state, she is not sure if what she dreamt was real or not. That is when the bells start chiming. The housekeeper has found the body of Sir Edward. He had been murdered violently. It is time for Ruby to team up with Pellar, and Ruan, to see if they can determine who and why Edward was killed.

To the point of putting herself and anyone around her in danger, she is bound and determined to figure it out. Ruby and Ruan are always at odds because she does not believe in what he can do. But working together they find that there may be a tiny bit of attraction between the two.

Penryth Hall is very dark and gothic, and people really believe that the curse of Penryth is real and it will strike again. Ruby is worried it will be Tamsyin next.

I always like a good psychological thriller and this one fits into that genre. Lots of characters, some quirky, some creepy, and others you will definitely like. This book was a fun quick read for me! I give it 4 stars.

I received a copy of the book from Netgalley/Minotaur Books for review purposes only and was not monetarily compensated for the review!

In The Curse of Penryth Hall, Ruby Vaughn must deliver a box of old books to the Cornish countryside. She would rather not visit this area, but she inevitably gives in. Ruby decides (against her better judgment) to stop by Penryth Hall to visit her former best friend Tamsyn and her husband Sir Edward Chenowyth. The three eat dinner together, and Ruby stays the night. However, Ruby is woken from her sleep by the sound of bells, meaning someone has died. Sir Edward Chenowyth's body is found in the orchard. The rumor of a curse being responsible for Sir Edward's death is quickly spread throughout the town.

I enjoyed this novel! I loved the main character-- Ruby. She was not afraid to speak her mind or poke around to figure out the truth even if that meant asking tough questions. I loved how the author wrote about Ruby's cat Fiachna. (I love my fur babies, and love reading about them!) The ending of the novel shocked me. I did not know who had murdered Sir Edward until it was revealed. There were many times throughout the book that I thought it was other people. However, I never suspected the person it actually was. I would love for this to be turned into a series. I would be excited to read more books about Ruby solving mysteries.

I have a deep love for anything gothic in the literal world so when I saw a gothic mystery with a cover to DIE FOR, I knew this book had to be read immediately.

So American heiress, Ruby Vaughn, gets into a scandal so she’s sent to a small town to hang low. She helps out at the local bookstore and one day she’s tasked to deliver books to the local folk healer at Penryth Hall. Her estranged friend Tamsyn lives there with her husband. After an awkward dinner where Ruby sees how unhappy Tamsyn is in her marriage, she stays the night and wakes up to Tamsyn’s husband, Sir Edward Chenowyth, found dead in the orchard.

Thus begins the tale of the Curse of Penryth Hall. Lots of things happen. The vibes were dark and secretive and mysterious. I got lost in this story for quite a while.

I wasn’t a big fan of Tamsyn but I LOVED Ruan. I wouldn’t mind reading more in this world.

Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

While overall I thought this was a good gothic mystery, it was a little too long in my opinion. The mystery and atmospheric setting were very intriguing, and most of the characters were interesting. But it went on too long and could have been shorter.

3.5 stars

I just finished The Curse of Penryth hall by Jess Armstrong @jessl_armstrong and here are my thoughts.

Ruby Vaughn didn’t have the life she expected to have. After the war, she found herself running a rare bookstore with her very old employer and housemate. She left a life behind and doesn’t dwell on it until she is sent to deliver a box of rare books to a place Ruby swore she would never set foot in again. Instead of delivering the books and leaving right away, she makes the foolish decision to visit Penryth Hall.

Her old friend Tamryn lives there with her husband Edward. Vowing to leave the next day, Ruby is mortified to learn the bells are ringing for the first time in 30 years and they are ringing to announce the death of Tamryns husband. The town begins to rumble about the return of the curse. She doesn’t believe in curses but she can’t now leave when Tamryn is now in danger.

Can she and the pellar find out what is really going on before it is too late?

This book started a little slow. I wasn’t 100% sure I was going to like it at first but I was pleasantly surprised after a couple of chapters. I always love a good relatable MC and Ruby was awesome. She didn’t try and conform and ended up carving out a nice little life for herself.

She always seems to get herself involved in things that she should stay out of but she is definitely handy to have around. I really enjoyed her banter with the pellar, he is like a witch healer and seems to be revered by the town which I was totally loving. The vicar seemed to be shady and I was loving that too!

The whole curse was an interesting concept and I very much enjoyed the conclusion to the mystery which I never did figure out! I love books that keep me guessing. The plot was great, the characters were solid and I felt the writing was quite excellent. Historical mysteries seem to be top for me as of late. This one hit every mark for me and I would love to read more from this author.

Solid 4.5 stars!!

Thank you to @minotaur_books for my gifted copy of this masterpiece!

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