The tone of this book was completely out of left field, and something you'll need to read to really understand..

The writing managed to be serious and absurd, sad and funny all at once. This book was very, very thick with feeling, but, at the same time, I can’t accurately describe what it felt like to read. It was a super unexpected and unique experience...

Plot-wise, it’s a combination of things I like and things I don’t like, so it’s fitting that my rating landed right in the middle. I love boarding house settings. Something about a bunch of people, who would typically run in different circles, trying to work out life under one roof fascinates me. I like drifters, and grifters, and people running from the past. I also really enjoy religion in books. Not books that promote one religion, but rather stories where people are struggling to find purpose or something to believe in.

Murder at Gull’s Nest has all of the above, plus a series of mysterious murders to solve. The crime aspect is what lost me at times. I don’t typically like following an investigator. When the main chunk of the book is a person wandering around asking questions - where were you, who did you see, what did they say - that gets boring to me, fast. I’d much rather see action unfold in real time, than a person putting pieces together after the fact.

Even so, I think this premise has tons of potential, I liked Nora, and I will look out for the next book in the series.

How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5 Stars

There is nothing that I love more than a cozy murder mystery & a dual timeline! This series has quickly become a go-to for me. I absolutely fell in love with the first title in the series, and Kristen does it again with this one. The setting, the characters, the parallels between past and present- love it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random Group DUTTON for an eArc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A solid 4⭐ mystery for me! I enjoyed this one just as much as How to Solve Your Own Murder; I think I'll be picking up all of Kristen Perrin's books from now on 😁

I really enjoy the dual timeline throughout the book with both Frances' and Annie's lives in Castle Knoll. Both plotlines were super interesting and I liked the deeper dive into Frances' love stories and our resident fortune teller, Peony Lane 🔮 I think it's so clever how everything ties together!! I couldn't guess the culprit either, too many suspicious characters in this town!!

**minor spoilers for the romance subplot below 👇🏼👇🏼 so stop reading here if you're worried about that**
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I was kind of disappointed that there wasn't more development between Annie and Crane? It seemed like we were heading that direction, and then it just faded away--I really hope the next book in the series gets them moving!! I think it could be a fun parallel with Annie's romantic development alongside Frances' 🩷

I was such a huge fan of How to solve your own murder and could not wait for the follow up and to be back in castle knoll. I enjoyed the second book, though I didn’t love it as much as the first. Would definitely still recommend the series to people.

>>> for some original book related illustrations, please check out my blog :) <<<<
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I always worry about sequels and if they will live up to the first book. but I felt like this one built upon the first one really well.

I enjoyed:
-the way the original story expanded upon the first book.
-learning more about Archie and his secrets.
-less Saxon!!!! yay!!!!

I didn't enjoy:
The pacing of the story. It was just a liiiiiiiiittle slower than i would personally like but that is very much a personal opinion! it didn’t stop me from liking it overall and wanting another book.

I thought this book was really good and kept me interested in the story. I also think this book left a lot of room for book 3 and 4 to provide more background on Castle Knolls/the Gravesdowns/Frances

Overall I enjoyed it very much and look forward to the next in this series!

3.9/5 stars

How to Seal Your Own Fate, the second installment in The Castle Knoll Files series by Kristen Perrin, does not disappoint. After thoroughly enjoying the first book, How to Solve Your Own Murder, I was both excited and a bit apprehensive about how Perrin would follow up such a unique concept. Thankfully, she more than delivers.

Like its predecessor, this book features a clever dual timeline structure—present-day sleuth Annie unravels a mystery that's deeply intertwined with one young Frances faced decades earlier. Perrin executes this parallel narrative masterfully, keeping readers engaged and guessing right up until the final reveal.

What sets this series apart is its balance of originality and plausibility. Cozy mysteries often run the risk of becoming either too predictable or too far-fetched, but Perrin navigates that tightrope with skill. Her plots are intricate without being convoluted, and the characters continue to shine with warmth and intelligence.

I can't wait to see what Annie and Frances tackle next. Kristen Perrin has officially become an auto-buy author for me, and I highly recommend her books to any mystery lover looking for something smart, fresh, and wholly satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kristen Perrin once again delivered a fun and cozy mystery. I loved getting to reconnect with all of these characters in this town that's so much more complex than it appears to be. Much like "How to Solve Your Own Murder," this isn't a wildly intense mystery/ thriller novel, but rather is a light-hearted and arguably cute read. Perrin has a tendency to spell out each and every one of the details she's wanting you to notice— a habit that lends itself to a pleasant palate-cleanser of a reading experience. If you're a hard-hitting intensity fan who loves being thoroughly stumped on every page and having to piece details together yourself, this might not be your book. If you're looking for Travis Baldree-meets-mystery, you're in for an absolute treat!

Thrust back into Annie Adam’s world of Castle Knoll, everything and everyone continues to be not what it seems as a fortune teller dies hours after giving Annie a foreboding warning.

This is as cozy as a mystery gets and gives the feeling of nostalgia while being a very fresh and modern whodunnit. In congruence with the greatness of the first book, Kristen Perrin once again creates a murder mystery and small village that is exciting, shocking, and full of secrets. I could see this being a series with MANY books, in the likes of the great mystery authors of the past. I will read anything Perrin puts out, as they make the ultimate palate cleansers.

After the events of “How to Solve Your Own Murder’ (Castle Knoll book #1) Annabel “Annie” Adams is acclimating to her new life, finding herself 40 million pounds richer, and the benefactor of the Gravesdown Estate in Castle Knoll.

Realizing her eccentric Great-Aunt Frances kept files on almost everyone in town, helps explain to Annie why many Castle Knoll residents are hesitant to interact or speak with her.

But, having returned the Estate’s farm to Archie, continuing a cunning game of cat and mouse with Saxon, and having Detective Crane on speed dial, Annie has enough social engagements to continue her search for answers from her Great-Aunt’s past. And that new search comes from questions instigated by none other than Peony Lane!

The same Peony Lane who predicted Frances’ future leading to a domino effect of lives being forever altered from the 1960’s to current day.

Annie finds herself in a very precarious position once again when Peony is found murdered on the Gravesdown Estate shortly after the one and only conversation Annie had with her. And the murder weapon was the same ruby jeweled knife Annie stumbled upon just that morning.

As the dominos fall in quick succession, will Annie be able to stop them by finally finding out the truth from the past? Or will everything point to Annie as the predator the village residents thinks she is?

This is a twisty, torrid, tremendously detailed sequel by an author who dots every “I” and crosses every “t!” I really enjoy the meticulously laid out events bridging the past and present together. I also appreciate the well-thought out characters whose personalities jump off the page. Due to the intricacies of the characters, I would recommend reading the first book before this one.

Based on how the second book left off, I can’t wait to travel to Castle Knoll again!

Thank you NetGalley, Kristen Perrin, and Penguin Group Dutton for providing me with a copy of this five star read in exchange for a review!

In this second installment of the Castle Knoll mysteries, Annie Adams is settling into her new life when a local fortune teller, Peony Lane, gives Annie a cryptic message. When Peony is found dead a few hours later, Annie must figure out what Peony was trying to tell her by hunting around into the dark secrets of the Castle's past. This is a wonderful historical mystery with a dual timeline. We go from present day back to 1967, where we get Emily's perspective of events. I enjoyed this, as well as the first in the series. Great atmosphere and characters.

Book 2 of the series was just okay for me. I think I'm just not the reader for this series. It's good and all but not for me. I know many reader's will love it and I would recommend it to readers

As soon as I finished the first book, How To Solve Your Own Murder, I ran here to Netgalley to request the second one! Kristen Perrin has managed to right a sequel that ups the ante of the first book in ways that I didn't anticipate--I loved it! I sped through this one, trying to solve the myriad of twisty mysteries along with Annie. What these books does well is examine just how many secrets a family can hold, and how desperate people can get to protect the ones they love. I know it's selfish of me, but I hope that this series never ends--even though that would mean killing off more residents of Castle Knoll!

Because I read the first book a little over a year ago, I had to spark notes it to remember everything clearly. However this book was really good!
I kept getting a little confused with the wording for the fortunes, but that was probably the point, that they could have multiple meanings. I did really like that they go over the timeline of everything at the end so you can see what you might have originally missed. Fingers crossed for a book 3!!

I enjoyed the first one so much that I couldn’t wait to get to this next one. Unfortunately, this fell flat for me. The dual timeline in this one didn’t work; it was confusing and the use of diaries was weird. I never warmed to Annie in the first one and I really didn’t like her in this one, either. I think this was a case where a sequel was not needed as it tarnishes the feelings I had for the first one. I actually found my mind wandering in this one and didn’t enjoy it at all.

I found book one to be better than book two in this series. It was quite a bummer because I love cozy mysteries and was excited to learn this was a series. I can appreciate a similar pattern in a series, but this felt boring. Thank you, NetGalley.

This was an enjoyable cozy read. I didn’t love it as much as the first book in this series but it was still a good whodunnit that kept me on my toes.

What a string sequel! Revisiting known characters with the expanding back stories is so wonderful. I can’t wait for a third installment.

How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin

If you loved How to Solve Your Own Murder, you’re in for another delightful ride with book two. Kristen Perrin has officially sealed her spot on my cozy mystery go-to list. This was such a well-paced whodunit, cleverly plotted, charming, and just twisty enough to keep me guessing without getting too dark or convoluted.

I loved the return of those small-town vibes and witty banter, and the mystery at the heart of it all. Chef’s kiss.

Vibes:
Amateur sleuth
Small-town secrets
Cozy mystery
Found family energy
Clever clues and red herrings

Would I recommend it?
Absolutely. If you’re into cozy mysteries with a smart twist, a little bit of fate, and a whole lot of charm, this series delivers.

Thank you Dutton, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review.

This was a great follow up to How to Solve Your Own Murder. It gives light to who some of the other characters are from the previous book. I loved learning more about Peony Lane and her back story and how it fits in with the Gravestones. Thank you Net Gallery for the sneak peek at this book. Looking forward to more books from Kristen Perrin.

This novel follows Annie as she continues to contend with the first novel's events and finds herself wrapped up in a new mystery. This time, the victim is no other than Peony Lane, the woman who prophesied Annie's great aunt's murder (the investigation of which is the central mystery in the first novel of the series). As Annie works to unravel this new murder, she must continue to sift through the information her great aunt had compiled throughout her life. She goes back to Frances' journals and learns that Frances had been uncovering secrets about the two young men she was caught between, and those secrets may just be vital to the current investigation.

This mystery was as captivating as the first novel in the series, but needs to be read soon after the first one to keep the characters and story of that book fresh in your mind.

I love how these novels entangle the mysteries of the past with those of the present, but I had difficulty keeping track of everything. They are books I enjoy immensely in the moment, but I cannot seem to retain much from them after completing them. In this case, I remember a bit more about the story in the novel than I did after reading the first book.

I think you will love this if you loved the first one, but I request that you read it first because it is vital for situating this story. This series is perfect for anyone who prefers a mystery set in a small town centered around a manor.