The second book in the series, How to Seal Your Own Fate, is out tomorrow and if you love a good mystery, you need to pick it up.

We are back at Castle Knoll where Annie is trying to solve a mystery in the present day that her Aunt Frances uncovered in the past. Using Aunt Frances’s files, she must figure out who killed Peony Lane now and how it relates to a car crash from the past.

Why Kirsten Loves it
Annie and Frances are a feisty set of heroines, and their unique, decades apart investigating makes the story come alive in a new way for mystery readers. I can’t wait to see what Perrin has is store for future books!

How to Seal Your Own Fate is the second story in the Castle Knolls Files series. I really enjoyed both cozy mysteries, and hope there are more to follow.
I really liked the amateur sleuth aspect of this book. The story is told in alternating POVs, as well as alternating timelines, which I enjoyed. The only trouble I had with this writing style in the book, was that I was having a hard time keeping track of which POV I was reading when the chapters changed. It was fine, just took a little longer to get through.
Overall, I think this was a great addition to the series that I would definitely recommend!
Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Welcome to Castle Knoll where nothing is what it seems.
If you are an outsider, they will make you feel that way.
How to Seal Your Own Fate is full of twists, turns and murder!

Just like Castle Knoll Files #1 we have two different POV; one is aunt Frances, in her teenage years, and the other is Annie Adams, aunt Frances's great-niece. So one past and one present!

Annie Adams is on a mission to find out more about the night that three members of the Gravesdown family were killed and someone is trying to make sure NO ONE knows what happened. The flashback chapters all lead up to that night. Even with aunt Frances dead she very much has a place in this series and Annie is truly learning more about who her aunt was.

Huge fan of this series!
This book cannot be read as a standalone
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on BN my username is tifers.reads

Present day: Annie Adams is just settling into life in Castle Knoll when local fortune teller Peony Lane shares a cryptic message only hours before being found dead inside the locked Gravesdown Estate. Annie has no choice but to delve into the dark secrets of her new countryside home in order to find out just what Peony Lane was trying to warn her about, before her brand new life comes crashing down around her.

1967: Teenage Frances Adams, Annie’s great aunt, finds herself caught between two men. Ford Gravesdown is one of the only remaining members of a family known for its wealth and dubious uses of power. Archie Foyle is a local who can’t hold down a job and lives above the village pub. But when Frances teams up with Archie to investigate the car crash that killed most of Ford's family, it quickly becomes clear that this was no accident—hints of cover-ups, lies, and betrayals abound.

I loved this. I enjoyed Annie in the first book, and this one was just as good! The story was engaging, even with a few places where the plot slowed down. Perfectly compelling! Grab a cuppa and curl up with this book. 5⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

I loved being back in Castle Knoll. Annie and her Gravestown mysteries don’t disappoint.

In this sequel, Aunt Frances’ prophecy is still in its aftermath as we encounter another of Peony Lane’s predictions. At the same time Annie is trying to find her way through the events of the last year trying to make sure gee future doesn’t mirror Aunt Frances’.

I wish I had reread the first one before I started because I’m pretty sure there are some subliminal messages hiding here. Also I found myself struggling to remember all the 1960’s cast of characters and their personalities as their circle of friends was upended in the last book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m ready for Annie’s next story @kristenperrinwrites . (And hoping she and Crane can actually say what they feel finally!!!- it has to be coming.)

Thank you to @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse for this #advancedreaderscopy publication date was yesterday!!! Go grab it.

#2025bookchallengebook35of100
#howtosealyourownfate
#castleknollfiles

I received an advanced copy of this book before realizing it was the second in a series. I may have given more stars if I had read the first, which I definitely plan on doing.
Annie Adams has inherited her great aunt's estate after solving her murder in book 1. Apparently, Annie was a budding mystery writer, but she is now living on the estate going through the many files her aunt Francis left behind.
There are several more murders to be investigated, and I was quite surprised by the outcome, always a good thing in a mystery.
The book goes back and forth in time, and we see Francis's diary writings, which does help in figuring out the mystery. I really think the first book should be read first as there are a lot of characters to keep track of. The book ends on a cliffhanger, so I will be watching for the next book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC.

This cozy mystery was really a palette refresher.

Once again, Annie Adams is caught up in a new web of murders in once quant little Castle Knoll. Annie finds herself diving into Aunt Frances’ past in order to solve this case. We dive back n forth between present day and 1967 through Aunt Frances’ diaries. Is Annie just as paranoid as Aunt Frances was, or does Frances’ paranoia have some merit?

The Castle Knoll series is easily becoming one of my favorite mystery series. You have so many working parts and characters, that you truly never see what’s coming. Yet, its not overcrowded. I am loving seeing these characters and relationships develop. HOWEVER, I NEED something to happen with Annie and the hot detective. I am dying for a peck or something. There is so much tension there!!

Such a deliteful read.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited to revisit the same casts and set from How to Solve Your Own Murder and discover what book 2 has to offer in continuation. The first quarter was charming and engaging up until the mid-point when the story seemed to have lost much of its momentum. It felt very formulaic and borrowed from the first. Nothing new or original except for a change in script. I stopped caring about the characters.

At this point, I’ve decided that I was no longer invested in the series and was ready to move on.

I loved the first book in this series, and the second one did not disappoint! This is such a fun, cozy mystery that was easy to get through. I love how this story built off of the first and made an even more intriguing mystery in this little town! Getting to know more about France’s and the fortune that predicted her death adding more dimension to the Castle Knoll series, which. I really liked. Like the first, I found it to be a little predictable and cheesy at times, but it was still super enjoyable, and I definitely recommend!

I really enjoyed the first book, How to Solve Your Own Murder, so I was excited to see where Perrin took us next. Unfortunately, this installment ending up falling a little flat for me. It was well written, and I believe it would be an enjoyable book on its own. However, having read the first one, this felt a little too predictable since it followed the same formula as the first book. I did enjoy the overall cozy mystery and thought there were some interesting twists to the book. I also really enjoy the characters and the setting of the book. Overall, this was a good read, I just wish it was less similar in structure to the first.
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Overall Rating: 3.5⭐️

4.5 stars

Another enjoyable trip to the village of Castle Knoll! This series is quickly becoming a favorite of mine - I'm really enjoying the dual timelines and obviously the small English village, Midsomer Murders vibes.

The book has to do with another mystery, another fortune, and so many more deaths to solve. I really liked that we got to know more about Frances with the flashbacks - I honestly could just read an entire book just about Frances. Annie is turning out to be a pretty good crime solver as well. The mystery was very entertaining and even though the plot itself wasn't as tense as book 1, I still had a great time with it!

I'm such a fan of whatever is going on between Annie and Crane and whatever it is needs to happen faster lol! I also can't wait for the next book because I also need the story behind Frances and Ford!!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review

I loved the first book in this series and I love this one too. Perrin does a great job of creating a wonderful world where her books and murders are set, it's not too serious, more than a cozy, but not a thriller, but just right. We reintroduce characters from the first novel and then start to meet another cast of characters for this book. Overall I loved the book. The plot got a little twisty, but it all came together. Recommend for those looking for a little more intensity than a cozy, but still want a little thrill.

Kristen Perrin returns with the second installment of her delightfully cozy and mysterious series, set in a town where secrets, and bodies, seem to pop up as frequently as afternoon tea.

In the present day, Annie Adams is still adjusting to her new life in Castle Knoll when the local fortune teller, Peony Lane, delivers a cryptic warning… and is found dead only hours later inside the locked Gravesdown Estate. Annie must dig into the darker side of village life to understand what Peony was trying to tell her before her own life unravels. Meanwhile, back in 1967, Annie’s great aunt Frances finds herself entangled in a mystery involving two men, one privileged and powerful, the other a lovable underachiever, as she investigates the suspicious car crash that decimated the Gravesdown family.

This second installment retains the charm, atmosphere, and signature dual timeline structure of Perrin’s series, but like many books with this narrative technique, it’s hard not to prefer one storyline over the other. Frances’ 1967 narrative feels richer and more compelling, with higher stakes and more emotional depth. Her character is layered, her decisions feel impactful, and her relationships, particularly with Archie and Ford, are full of tension and intrigue.

In contrast, Annie’s timeline feels a bit crowded with characters and occasionally meandering. Annie herself comes off as somewhat dense at times, which makes it harder to root for her as the central investigator of her thread. That said, the setting remains cozy and engaging, and the murder mystery is satisfying enough to hold interest.

Despite some pacing issues in the present-day plot, How to Seal Your Own Fate was still an enjoyable read. I’m eager to see where Perrin takes the story next, particularly if Frances remains a key player.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

I remember when I received the ARC for How to Solve Your Own Murder, I had no idea what I was getting into. It turned out to be one of the coziest, most satisfying mysteries I had ever read. And I was elated when I received the ARC for How to Seal Your Own Fate, because I just knew it was going to be another crazy ride and it did not disappoint!

Synopsis: Annie is caught up in another murder investigation and has to rely on her Aunt Francis for clues to unravel the past and figure out how it connects to the present murders once again. But this time, she's juggling a few more fortunes - that includes her own - and it feels like her mother is up to some shady things...

On to the review!
Kristen Perrin has figured out the perfect ratio of ingredients that goes into a cozy mystery: the coziness of Castle Knoll, the slight spookiness and intrigue of the Gravesdown Estate, all the characters who live in this litte town carrying their secrets and histories, and of course our mc, Annie, who is sooo relatable!! Oh not to forget - is there a little sprinkle of romance I see?? *giggles*. Anyway, my point is, I devoured this book just as I did book 1 and I cannot wait for book 3. I love mysteries and whodunnits, but I also crave coziness and relatability and I find all of that in Perrin's writing.

About the romance - like I said, there's a sprinkle of it. As in, slowww burrrnnn - my absolute favorite kind of romance because it establishes a proper relationship between those characters. I cant wait to see where it goes!

What intrigues me the most is that there is so much more for us to uncover in Castle Knoll! Like what's the mystery behind Annie's dad? And why is her mom being so shady? And all of those fortunes!!! I want to know about them all!

Things I wished for in the book:
In HTSYOM, the author explicitly states the race and ethnicity of each character, which was extremely pleasant because there was such a variety. I can't entirely remember but Annie's best friend is Asian I believe and the doctor is Ethiopian if I'm correct. I wish these things were restated for new readers so that they have perspective of this wonderfully quaint town with people of all sorts of backgrounds. I will be looking for it in book3, because I think this is necessary in today's climate.

But overall? LOVE LOVE. I really really hope I get my hands on the next ARC too because I don't think I can wait until the release lol.

This story wasn't a good as the first however it's not going to stop me from reading more in the series. I like the shift in timelines to learn more from Frances POV. What I didn't like is that the story was a bit slow. The killer was a surprise, but it felt a bit clunky to get to the unmasking, calling it this because it did feel a lot like Scooby Doo. I also wished that there was more development between Annie and Crane.

Thanks to Penguin Group Dutton, Kristen Perrin and NetGalley for this ARC.

If you read the previous Castle Knoll Mystery “How to Solve Your Own Murder”, the similarities are obvious. A cold case, Annie in the same town, the historical POV. I think it’s a formula that has worked well for both books and I enjoyed this one as I did the first one. Alexandra Dowling reprises her role as Annie here along with Jessica Hayles for the historical POV and I had a great time sleuthing along as I listened.

3.5/5 - It took me a minute to really sink into this mystery. I had a hard time remembering who everyone was and if I’d met certain characters before or not. It also can be a little confusing with the alternating narratives. Sometimes Frances would learn something in her journal entries that Annie doesn’t know yet. So Annie continues along with an incorrect assumption, but the reader KNOWS she’s wrong. It just feels like it puts the reader in a strange position.

I do like Annie as a character though as well as Jenny and Crane. Other characters were fine. I didn’t find the solution to the mystery to be completely satisfying. I’m left with an overall feeling of “Okay…but actually why?”

Overall, this book started slow, but really picked up pace near the middle and end. The plot doesn’t make the most sense to me, but I felt content to just be along for the ride most of the time.

Note: I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the first book in this series! For some reason this one fell flat for me. There were soooo many characters that bounced back and forth between timelines. I found my mind wandering while listening to the audiobook and then I would get completely lost. I think there was too much going on here.

A well-awaited return to Castle Knoll!

Since inheriting her Great Aunt Frances' estate, Annie has been adjusting to life in Castle Knoll, and just when she was starting to feel like things were getting a little dull, she receives a surprise visit from Peony Lane, the fortune teller who predicted Frances' murder. She has a new mystery for Annie to solve involving a long-ago car crash that killed three members of the Gravesdown family, but before she can give Annie all the details, she's found dead in Annie's solarium. Now Annie will have to race to figure out what really happened the day of that crash, before whoever took out Peony Lane can silence Annie too.

I loved revisiting these characters, and I was glad to see the return of France's journal entries, as they were my favorite part of How to Solve Your Own Murder. I especially enjoyed all of the interactions between Annie and Detective Cane and can only hope that their relationship will continue to develop throughout the series. This book had plenty of twists and turns, some of which I saw coming, but most I didn't. Try as I might, I did not solve the mystery before Annie.

If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, I would highly recommend this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Dutton Books, for the opportunity to read and review this title.

As someone who hasn’t read the first book in this series, I didn’t find it hard to follow along. Initially I did find it overwhelming to make out who was related to who so I had to physically draw out family trees and a timeline 😅
This was a really complex mystery and well written with multiple POVs and non-linear timeline.