HOW TO SEAL YOUR FATE is a strong and satisfying sequel to the first in this series, deepening both the mystery and the characters we met in the first book. The story picks up in the village of Castle Knoll, where past secrets continue to cast long shadows over the present. Once again, Annie Adams finds herself at the center of a mystery that threatens not only her safety but also the peaceful little life she's settling into.

One of the real strengths of this sequel is how it builds meaningfully on the first book. Kristen Perrin offers richer backstory and more emotional nuance without losing the charm or momentum that made the original so engaging. I especially appreciated the expanded focus on Aunt Frances, who emerges here as an even more complex and compelling character. Archie is another standout, and having him presented as a multidimensional character rather than just a villager is impactful for the plot.

Perrin’s use of alternating timelines is particularly well-executed. The shifts between past and present feel seamless, adding depth to the mystery rather than distraction. This structure also evokes a classic cozy mystery feel - the small village setting, the web of secrets, and the slow reveal of hidden motives - while still feeling contemporary and emotionally grounded.

In terms of pacing, the book strikes a careful balance between character development and plot advancement. There are quieter, more reflective moments, but the tension remains steady, building toward an ending that lands on a particularly effective (and utterly enticing!) cliffhanger. It’s a move that fits perfectly with the book’s themes of unfinished business and lingering consequences, even if it leaves the reader impatient for the next installment.

Overall, this is a thoughtful, skillfully crafted continuation of Frances Adams’s story — a sequel that deepens the world and stakes while still honoring the spirit of the first book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dutton for the advance copy. All opinions are entirely my own.

4.5 stars - oh my god let's talk about this series.

I read How to Solve Your Own Murder in anticipation of this release and I LOVED it. It was so fun, an interesting story more than anything, the characters were well developed and layered, and the lore building up to the climax was so good. I loved a dual timeline.

NOW on to this book - honestly, this was even better to me than book 1. I felt like the knowledge we have from book 1 and the investment in these characters made THIS BOOK 100x better just in anticipation and investment alone. There's a lot on the line, there feels to be real danger, the characters have developed as a result of the first book's story, and they are flawed in honest and raw ways.

In neither of these books did I even try to predict the twist, I was FULLY along for the ride and honestly that's the best kind of thriller/mystery book in my opinion.

Thank you SO MUCH to the publisher for this arc.

Something so charming about this cast of characters and Castle Knoll that you really feel like you're in a mystery movie with the Annie. Loved this one just as much as the first one! This series feels like a new classic.

I couldn't get into How to Seal Your Own Fate. I didn't realize that this book was going to continue off the first book. I was a little disappointed when I realized that this story was going to be similar to the first. The story felt a little copy/paste from the first book. I wanted something different. I didn't want more of Frances' diary. Since I didn't realize this book was continuing on with the series, I didn't re-read the first book beforehand. I thought the author could have done a better job of recapping the events from the first book. I adored the first book and I'm sad that this book didn't live up to my expectations. I was hoping that this book would delve more into Annie's character. Unfortunately, I still don't have a good sense of Annie. Overall, How to Seal Your Own Fate just wasn't captivating me like the previous book in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for theARC.

I really enjoyed this book. Annie is such a great protagonist. She’s smart, determined, and just the right amount of skeptical as she unravels the mystery surrounding Peony Lane’s cryptic message and sudden death. The dual timeline adds so much depth to the story.
I loved the mix of cozy mystery vibes with dark psychological suspense. The twists were genuinely surprising!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for gifting me a digital ARC for the second book in the Castle Knoll Files series by Kristen Perrin. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

We are reunited with characters from the first book (a must read!) as Annie tries to solve a decades old murder that took place in Castle Knoll. In present day, Annie crosses paths with Peony Lane, a fortune teller, who shares a cryptic message. In 1967, teenager Frances is caught between two men – Ford, from a very wealthy family, and Archie, who lives above the village pub and can’t seem to hold down a job. Frances teams up with Archie to investigate a car accident that claimed the lives of Ford’s family, and things become very interwoven.

I adored the first book in this series and was delighted to spend time with these characters again. We hear from Annie in the present and Frances through her diaries. I do have to say that the murder plot became a bit confusing to me, especially at the end, and you need to pay attention to the timelines to keep the characters straight. But minor quibbles in a thoroughly engaging murder mystery with great characters. Fingers crossed for more in this series!

3.75

For me, this book had a sort-of strike against it from the start. However, if you’ve never heard of the Durrells, you should enjoy this as the sweet historical mystery that it is. However, if you’ve read any of Gerald Durrell’s trilogy or (like me jut) watched “The Durrells in Corfu”, you would immediately recognize the similarities. True, this is decades earlier, and there are fewer kids and more English people on the island, but a widow staying in a site-unseen purchased house that is suffering from neglect due to the limited finances of a widowed mother is the first giveaway. Like Gerald Durrell, the youngest child Tommy is obsessed with abundance of flora and fauna on the island and forms a friendship with a local man who teaches him about the natural science. Several other things are reminiscent of the Durrells. Yes, there are many other things that are not, but that was put in my head from the start, overtaking control of my brain, leaving less room for absorbing the new story.

The story itself, a mystery, is very different however,. It’s not Sherlock Holmes— a character with whom this story’s famous author is sometimes compared—but is a nice one-off (or maybe not) historical fiction murder. Unlike most of the Victorian murder mysteries, this is not very dark. Even with the shadow of another storyline, one cannot help but appreciate some of the descriptions of the island. What the other series doesn’t include is the unexpected mountainous terrain and steep dirt pathways that were frustrating even to this reader.

I think the story could have been developed more, especially the Mr. Dorian character and his dynamic with Mrs. Harper as his assistant and of course other elements of their relationship. I don’t think the book was particularly short though, so I’m not sure how much more of that would have fit in. The murderer wasn’t a total shock, but sometimes it’s nice to be able to solve things on your own with the things that are provided instead of the impossible solutions with under-shared clues like many other mysteries.

A fun read. Just know that you may have a Durrells in your mind throughout. If you don’t know them, read this first before you read or watch the series. Then you should definitely at least watch the series.

Thank you to Emily Sullivan, NetGalley, and Kensington Publishing, for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book for my unbiased review.

#SerialKillerGames #NetGalley #bookreview #ADHDreader #mystery #historicalmystery #historicalfiction

How to Seal your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin is the second title in the Castle Knoll Files series. I was very lucky to receive the first title as an ARC and was then sent this one as a widget. I really enjoyed both books. To be honest I did not remember fully everything that happened in the first book, as I read it 1 year ago but there were a lot of tidbits of information in this book that helped refreshen my memory.

Once again, we follow Annie Adams trying to find the killer for a present murder, Peony Lane´s death, and we get chapters in the present and other chapters that are Frances diary entries. Annie then dives into the past to try and find answers to Peony Lane's murderer and to that she needs to see if a past case also is related to this one.

I really enjoyed the dual POV, as in Annie Adams and Frances diary entries, they help guide the story and make it unique. I cannot wait for the next book and to join Annie and Frances on their adventures.

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

How to Seal Your Own Fate is Kristen Perrin's follow-up to last year's How to Solve Your Own Murder. The Castle Knoll Files series is a fun, entertaining, cozy series that is best read sequentially in order to really gain a further appreciation of the characters. I'm enjoying getting to know more about Annie, Detective Crane, and the other residents of Castle Knoll, and I'm hoping we won't have to wait too long for the next installment!

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Whodunnit
Spice Level: Sex on page
Language: I remember it being pretty clean
Format: Dual time period

I adored the first book, HOW TO SOLVE YOUR OWN MURDER, and I couldn't wait for HOW TO SEAL YOUR OWN FATE.

How do you follow up on that first book? What a challenge.

I loved how we still have clues and evidence from the past coming forward from Annie's aunt. The setting is fabulous, the characters diverse and quirky, and the plot kept me guessing. It's a clever book after an incredibly hard act to follow.

Will you guess the solution? I would be surprised if you were 100% solid on whodunnit and why even though the clues are there.

Happy reading!

This is the second book in the Castle Knoll Files series, written by Kristen Perrin. We follow Annie in Castle Knolls and Gravesdown Estate, she is easy to root for as she is a smart protagonist. We pick up immediately after the first book, and waste no time setting up a murder who-done-it. The murder victim giving Annie a potential clue before their death.

This book follows two timelines, the current one with Annie and one in the 1960s following her aunt Frances (apple did not fall far from the tree situation). Get your tin foil hat on and your detective string board out, because a lot is going on! There is a large cast of characters, and a lot of tied moments between the first and the second book. As more comes to light you start to realize more is connected than anyone initially realized (with some aspects thrown in to throw off the scent of the reader). I did not put it together, but perhaps a more seasoned mystery aficionados would....maybe. Overall it was a great read and I would recommend these two books for any bookclub out there wanting to chat conspiracy theories as they read along.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

Like the first book, I really enjoyed this read! Kristen Perrin does an excellent job of weaving clues and details into her stories. I do find the number of characters to be slightly confusing at times. Maybe because they span generations and are all interconnected somehow. If there was a spoiler-free way for her to include a net of how the characters are connected, that would be super helpful for me!

I read these books kind of how I read Agatha Christie novels. I recognize the clues and try to vaguely connect them but I don't try too hard to figure out what will happen because I know it will be something I never thought of! I just enjoy the ride and trust that the author is going to give me a fun conclusion with all the answers wrapped up.

My only complaint is the relationship between Annie and Detective Crane. [ I know drawing out a will they/won't they is a common theme in cozy mystery series to keep fans returning, but I want a little more to be fully invested. Two books in and all we get is one lingering hug?? Come on! At least give us some better flirting or something! (hide spoiler)]

All in all, a fun read for me and I'll be eagerly awaiting the next one!

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

II read this right after reading book 1 (How to Solve Your Own Murder), so all of the characters were fresh in my mind. Like “How to Solve…”, How to Seal Your Own Fate is written in dual timelines and has a lot of characters to remember. The dual timeline also made things a little difficult to follow because many of the events were happening to characters around Annie and Frances (her aunt), but not directly to them. With that being said, this was another totally enjoyable cozy mystery!

Rating: 3.5 stars

The story unfolds as Peony Lane, the fortune teller who predicted Frances' death, shares a secret with Annie about a tragic car accident in the 60s. However, when Peony is murdered and Annie becomes the prime suspect, Annie must delve into the past to clear her name, especially when a second body is discovered.

The narrative unfolds in two captivating timelines: modern-day Annie's investigation into Peony's murder and Frances' old journal entries that delve into the car accident. This unique storytelling technique offers readers two equally enthralling reading experiences. As the timelines intertwine and details are unveiled, the story culminates in a satisfying conclusion.

My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for providing me with this advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next installment, wondering what other secrets Frances might be hiding that Annie will have to uncover!

4 out of 5 Stars!

Present Day: As Annie Adams is getting settled into her life in Castle Knoll, a local fortune-teller, Peony Lane, is trying to reach out and give her a message. But hours after their paths cross, Peony is found dead in the locked Gravesdown Estate. Annie soon figures out that someone is trying to frame her for a murder while taking out Peony Lane at the same time. To figure out what has happened, Annie is once again thrown into uncovering secrets about Castle Knoll’s residents.

1967: When Emily disappears, Frances finds herself in the middle of two men. Ford Gravesdown, who is one of the only family members left in a family known for their wealth. And, Archie Folye, who is a local. Frances teams up with Archie to figure out what really happened to the three members of the Gravesdown family who passed away. From the outside, they passed away due to a car accident. But the more they uncover, the more it points towards a murder. Will Frances be able to uncover what happened in the Gravesdown family? What else will she uncover about Castle Knoll in the process?

WOW! I was blown away by “How to Seal Your Own Fate” by Kristen Perrin. Last year I read “How to Solve Your Own Murder”, which was the first book in the Castle Knoll Files series. The first book was good, but nothing that necessarily blew me away. But after finishing the second book, I would HIGHLY recommend this series. This book has actions, accusations, detective work, mystery, romance, and a nonlinear timeline that keeps the pace of the book going. If you are like me and read the first book a full year ago, I think Perrin did an amazing job at refreshing our memory throughout the novel. She did a great job incorporating these refreshers seamlessly throughout.

In this novel, we jump between Annie investigating Peony’s murder in the present day and Frances investigating the Gravesdown car accident in 1967. I loved how these timelines worked together, leaving little breadcrumbs every chapter to entice us to keep reading. I thought Perrin did a good job at giving us information throughout the entire novel to keep the spirits high. I did think the middle had a low, but I think the ending made up for it.

I really liked Annie in this novel. You could tell there was more confidence in her, and she has had some growth since the first novel. Again, I loved Frances' perspective and all of her crazy files on everyone in Castle Knoll.

Now I have to know your thoughts. Will there be a third book? I felt like there were still some unanswered questions lingering at the end, but maybe that was my hopeful thinking.

Pick up “How to Seal Your Own Fate” by Kristen Perrin when it comes out April 29th, 2025!

Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton, Dutton, Kristen Perrin, and Netgalley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Book Two of the Castle Knoll series starts with excitement- Annie Adams, who is settling into the Gravesdown Estate, is visited by the infamous Peony Lane. This chance encounter sends Annie on her second murder mystery investigation after Peony is later found dead in the Gravesdown Estate. This investigation, of course, forces Annie to look into the murky past of the Gravesdown Estate, her Great Aunt Frances, and those closest to her.

Similar to book one, these events touch on two timelines. I enjoy the dual aspects of this book. It’s interesting to see how the journals from Frances play into developing the current events from Annie’s timeline. Unlike book one, Annie doesn’t have Frances’ journals this time for most of the book- which leads me to believe that these books seems to be the mystery novels Annie is writing after these events conclude.

I quite enjoyed this book. We dive deeper into the lore of the Gravesdown as well as the background of familiar faces from book one. The stakes are much higher this time. There are times where I feel Annie is in genuine danger. I was on the edge of my seat at many points during reading.

This is a solid sequel and I am *very* excited for book 3.

Thank you to Dutton for my #gifted advance electronic copy via NetGalley. My thoughts are my own.

Castle Knoll has a surprising number of murders for such a small English town, and Annie Adams is just trying to settle in after solving the last ones when Peony Lane and her fortunes turn up again. So Annie sets off again to try to solve the latest murder on her newly-inherited property with the help of her deceased aunt's old diaries. Could this latest one be related to the deaths of the Gravesdown family in a gruesome car accident in Aunt Frances' time? And does the latest killer have it out for Annie too?

This is very definitely better read after (recently) reading book 1. Perrin does give little reminders about what happened in How to Solve Your Own Murder but I quickly found myself getting confused and needing a refresher. But I was quickly sucked in by the parallels between Annie's post-inheritance life and that of her Aunt, right down to the air of fate and fortune and being trapped by one's inescapable destiny. I liked this one better than the first one, though I was really annoyed that Annie shut out Crane for no good reason. And maybe the confusion at the beginning was really a "me" problem because I found myself confused again toward the end with all the big reveals--I didn't follow it all very well either. But, again, I enjoyed the read and will try to get everything straight in case there is a book three!

The first one was decent enough, and I found myself curious about how the story was going to continue with the sequel, but man this book is a snooze fest and just can’t keep my attention. Unfortunately it was a DNF 🚫👎🏻 (although I do absolutely love the cover)

Annie Adams is trying to settle into life in Castle Knoll after inheriting her great-aunt's estate. However, the past is not planning to leave her alone; once again, one of her aunt's cases causes death in Annie's present. The fortune teller that predicted Frances's fate meets Annie, gives her a cryptic message and then is murdered in Annie's home. As the two timelines of the mystery unspool, Annie has to solve the case in order to prevent her own railroading.

The mystery here is fun, but what I really enjoy in this series is the cast of characters both past and present. Annie and Crane's will they- won't they vibes are fantastic and I hope to see more between them in a future installment of the series. 4.5 stars

I just adore this series! Everything is told through current day and the infamous diaries that Frances keeps - so we see the events as they unfold currently and in the past. So just like in the last book, Annie is discovering what the truth is from the past but in real time. It’s woven into the fabric of the story so seamlessly. The only times of confusion are when more puzzle pieces are revealed, but it all comes together so beautifully at the end (no spoilers here!), yet we’re still clamoring for more 🤞🏻! It’s definition cozy mystery, but told so well, and I could not recommend more!