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.

I absolutely love the feel and atmosphere of this book! I love the gothic, historical fiction feel. I also found it to be quite confusing. I do love Ruby Vaughn's character and had a great time reading this. enjoyed this! I did not realize it was the second in a series, and I do think the first book would have helped this one make more sense. I will definitely go back and get caught up!

I thought the story was very interesting but I did get a little lost with all the characters and at the end. I think it’s important to read the first book before going into this in order to be fully invested in the characters and understand some larger aspects of the story.

I was very excited to hear this was going to be a continuing series about our heroine Ruby. I love the gothic tones, and that the occult was present in this book. A well written book, that was an absolute page turner. Cannot wait for the next!

I adored Jess Armstrong's debut novel The Curse of Penryth Hall. This is the second book in the series which follows Ruby and Mr. Owen to a seance conducted by three psychic mediums who dub themselves the three fates. When one of the three fates is murdered the night of the seance Ruby gets to work investigating the murder in part to clear her own name as a suspect. When Ruan arrives she tries to enlist his help again, but she is warned by one of the surviving fates that if she keeps up her connection to Ruan it will lead to his untimely death. Will they be able to track down the killer and uncover the secrets she was murdered for? Can Ruby truly bring about Ruan's death? And are the fates truly psychic or just trying to keep Ruby from learning the truth?
I just love these historical murder mysteries set in Scotland, and hope there will soon be a third in the series!

I enjoyed this! I did not realize it was the second in a series, and I do think the first book would have helped this one make more sense. I will definitely go back and get caught up!

I love me some Ruby Vaughn! She is kick-ass woman that does what she wants, lives how she wants, and takes no shit from anyone (anymore) in a time when that was not acceptable. Jess Armstrong does a wonderful job writing this series pulling the characters together as a found family and keeps me wanting to know more about them! I can't wait to see what happens in book 3!

Many thanks to Netgalley for this arc. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.

This book takes place several weeks after the first book ended. Ruth is traveling to an island where Mr.Owens has found a manuscript and needs her to see it. Ruth has actually been sent for a seance and finds out Mr.Owens is a viscount and his first wife disappeared due to mysterious circumstances and that his brother blames him for it. Ruth gets shot and almost dies while trying to figure out the truth. Ruth discovers that Genevieve is actually Mr. Owen’s daughter and she will inherit the estate. The duke, Mr. Owen’s brother, killed his brother’s wife after she discovered that he killed an innocent woman during a ceremony.

I absolutely love the feel and atmosphere of this book! I love the gothic, historical fiction feel. I also found it to be quite confusing. I do love Ruby Vaughn's character and had a great time reading this. Although it's not my favorite series of this genre it's one that I am happy to read book 3 in! Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

In theory this should have been a book up my alley but for some reason I just didn’t care for it that much. First I didn’t realize this was part 2 in a series, not sure if that made a difference though. I was annoyed at the characters behavior at times and got frustrated with the plot. It’s okay just not a winner for me. I do however appreciate the arc in exchange of an honest review.

3.5 stars
The characters and the basics of the plot were okay, but I found some things frustrating. For example, people kept too many things secret from their friends and allies for no good reason. Also, sometimes the behavior of the characters didn't make sense to me in the context. I would like to know more about Pellars, however!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

THE SECRET OF THE THREE FATES by Jess Armstrong

This is the second installment of the Ruby Vaughn mystery series. I have not read the first book, but you’re filled in on what happened prior as the story gets going.

I’m on the fence. There was not much suspense or intrigue in the plot. I kept wishing for the characters to just TALK to one another instead of keeping secrets. The whole “will they or won’t they” romance trope isn’t my favorite either.

My main issue are the characters’ actions and dialogue. It came across as too contemporary for the setting. Other than the passing mention of The Great War, the whole story could have been set in late-20th century instead of post WWI.

In short, it’s good but it wasn’t for me.

Rating: 3/5 ⭐️

**ARC courtesy of Netgalley & StMartinsPress

We once again join the headstrong, American heiress, Ruby Vaughn, through a gothic mystery. The Secret of Three Fates is the second installment in the Ruby Vaughn series written by Jess Armstrong. Jess Armstrong really wowed us when she debuted with The Curse of Penryth Hall. When I found out a sequel was coming, I couldn’t jump on it faster.

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. I feel like Armstrong purposely writes this book to make you second guess yourself, and rooting for romance. However, this is not a romance (even though there is obviously something brewing between Ruby & Ruan)

I cannot wait to read the next novel. I need to know more about Ruby’s past. What is brewing between Ruan & Ruby? Will they ever get together? Are we journeying overseas next?

Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.