I enjoyed Book 1 but I think Book 2 blew it out of the water. I could not put this down. I loved the flashes between the present and the past through journal writing. There’s a fortune like prophecy told to one character early in the book, which totally had me making my own murder board trying to solve the mystery as the book unfolded.

There’s a reference to Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which is one of my favorite books so this was a win for me!!

I loved every minute of this book and totally recommend it!

If you loved the first book in the Castle Knoll series,(as I did) you will love this one too. In fact, this sequel feels like a continuation of the How to Solve Your Own Murder - same local, same cast of characters, both past and present, and protagonist Annie trying to solve another murder relating to her late Aunt Frances's life. It's a very satisfying mystery. I recommend, however, that you read the first book if you haven't already. There are a lot of characters and it'd been awhile since I read the first one, so I in places I had to remind myself who these people were. I'm eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

A twisty tale of how the criminal behavior of a wealthy, noble family has terrible repercussions into current time. A build on the first book in this series (yes, you should absolutely read How to Solve Your Own Murder first) set in the small English village of Castle Knolls. Annie Adams has inherited the Gravesdown estate and fortune from an Aunt Frances who she knew little about. Frances’ life was colored by a fortune teller predicting that she would be murdered. Obsessed with thwarting her own murder, Frances gathers a lot of secrets on all the inhabitant of the village, including her husband’s family….the deceased Lord Gravesdown, his older son and daughter in Edmund and Olivia. All 3 were killed in a car accident that happened years before Frances married the surviving son, Ford. The fortune teller who gave Frances her ominous fortune may have been involved in the car accident (if it really was an accident) and years later, she’s reappeared and is talking to Annie. As with the 1st book, Annie gets sucked into the mystery and interacts with many of the same villagers including Detective Crane who may have some feeling for Annie that aren’t all associated with the crimes. As fun as the first book…

I was so excited to see a sequel to How to Solve Your Own Murder and am grateful for the publisher sending me an arc to read/review.

I’m How to Seal Your Own Fate we rejoin Annie Adam’s at Gravedown Hall, the new heir to Aunt Frances’ fortune. As she tries to get used to her new life in the countryside she can’t help but still be connected to Frances’ past, and the fortunes of Peony Lane. This time Peony takes the forefront of this tale as a new fortune comes to light and all of a sudden Annie discovers a body in her home. A new mystery to solve that seems to, once again, be tied up in the past.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and might even have liked it more than book one. The story was easy to follow but still mysterious enough to keep my attention. I loved getting more of Detective Crane and Annie’s friendship and hope that Perrin continues on with this series as the ending was a perfect way to wrap up this story while setting it up for more

I definitely recommend reading book 1 first to have a better understanding of who Frances was/is and to better know the characters.

Thank you to the publisher for this early copy. This book releases April 29.

I loved returning to Castle Knoll to solve another murder mystery! Both Annie and Frances are such intriguing characters - it was easy to dive back into their worlds to see what their futures (and fates) beheld.

Most of this novel centers around the events that killed three members of the Gravesdown family, with Frances investigating in 1967 and Annie investigating in the Present Day. There’s so many ramifications from that one event that continue to influence the actions of many of the characters, past and present. I really enjoyed Frances’s continued presence in the novel through her diaries and files, getting to know more about her and Archie’s history, and how Frances came to marry Ford Gravesdown.

The families and characters of Castle Knoll are so intertwined it’s both interesting and hard to keep track of how they all intersect. I do wish there was some sort of family tree, or a recap of the first book’s events at the beginning as they were key to understanding the sequel. The dynamic between Annie and Detective Crane continues to be a highlight, but I hope their relationship takes more of a front seat in future installments, as it ran very hot and cold in this sequel.

Overall, I was engaged throughout the novel with all the twists, turns, and little revelations. I’m excited to see what’s next in store with Annie, as she continues to settle into her role as the heiress of Gravesdown Estate, and how fate and fortunes continue to impact the residents of Castle Knoll. There’s so many more secrets to explore!

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I so loved the first book in this series and was so excited to read this ARC. One thing to note, it is important to have read the first book as this builds on it and doesn’t provide much in the way of memory aides to assist the reader. France’s great niece, Annie Adams, has inherited the Gravesdown estate and is settling into living in the Hall. When out for a walk, she runs into a strange lady who turns out to be Peony Lane, the fortune teller who foretold France’s murder. Peony hints that France’s stash of folders, that contain secrets on many of the townsfolk, need to be reviewed to determine who murdered Olivia Gravesdown. Long assumed that Olivia, along with her husband and father-in-law, were killed in a car accident, Peony’s directive to Annie starts her down the path to dispelling these commonly held beliefs. Annie dives into solving this murder with the help of France’s diaries, Inspector Crane, Archie Foyle and Birdy Sparrow. Annie eventually exposes who murdered the Gravesdowns. An enjoyable read, but not as good as the first book.

Book Review: How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin

Kristen Perrin delivers a charming and satisfying second installment in her series with How to Seal Your Own Fate. This dual-timeline narrative is both compelling and entertaining, offering readers a blend of emotional depth and suspense that keeps the pages turning.

The story’s layered plot continues to evolve, weaving intriguing twists and leaving just enough unanswered questions to ensure readers are eagerly anticipating the next installment. The development of the main character is especially gratifying, as we see her come more into her own.

The relationships are a highlight—Annie and Crane’s tension-filled dynamic leaves readers anxious for their eventual connection, while Frances and Ford’s romantic journey continues to evolve. Perrin masterfully balances these arcs, making both feel equally significant.

With its captivating storytelling, emotional growth, and hints of what’s to come, How to Seal Your Own Fate is a standout addition to the series, solidifying Perrin’s place as a must-read author. Fans of the first book will not be disappointed!

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

How to Seal Your Own Fate: 4 stars 💍🗡️🌳

Mystery/thriller sequels are notoriously difficult to execute, but Kristen Perrin succeeds here! The strong character development from How to Solve Your Own Murder, the first book in the Castle Knoll series, made it easy to dive right into this follow-up. I was eager to learn more about teenage Frances and revisit the intriguing cast of characters.

I will say, that this book is a bit harder to follow than the first, so I recommend reading it carefully to fully grasp the unfolding twists. My only critique lies with Annie's dynamic with Detective Crane—their “relationship” is starting to feel awkward and out of place. I hope this subplot either evolves meaningfully or is resolved in book three. If it’s not serving a deeper narrative purpose, I’d be fine with leaving it behind entirely.

I have really enjoyed this series so far and can’t wait to hopefully continue. I don’t know how Kristen did it but at times I feel like I was reading a romance tragedy laced within the lines of a mystery novel and I really enjoyed that aspect of caring about these characters!

A huge thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read the ARC of this book!

I really enjoyed reading this book! The first one was such an amazing concept and this definitely lived up to its prequel. Theres is a dual point of view and timeline. At certain points, you start learning a little bit more about the past than the main character. Once again, there were twists in the “whodunit” moments. There are multiple mysteries going on in the story so it was fun to see each of them play out. The fact that more fortunes were referenced makes me hopeful that this series will continue! It will publish 4-29-25 so go read How to Solve Your Own Murder (book 1) now!!

This book begins at a leisurely pace, but I soon found myself engrossed in its narrative. "How to Seal Your Own Fate" unfolds across two distinct timelines, presenting two different perspectives. In the present day, we follow Annie as she investigates the murder of a fortune teller, while Great Aunt Frances shares her tale from 1967. Both narratives are set within the charming yet enigmatic Castle Knoll, creating an atmosphere rich with murder, cryptic messages, and mysticism. The suspenseful backdrop makes it a captivating read. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, be sure to add this one to your TBR list.

I was thrilled to receive an ARC of How to Seal Your Own Fate the second book in the Castle Knolls File, especially after thoroughly enjoying the first book. Unfortunately, this one didn't quite live up to my expectations. My rating is more along a 3.5 star rating but I've rounded up to a 4.

The biggest issue for me was that it felt more like an extension of the first book rather than a fresh, stand-alone plot. While I did push through the first half, it became clear that the story was treading familiar ground. That said, the second half of the book was more engaging, and I found myself eager to see if my predictions about the direction of the plot would turn out to be correct.

One of the highlights, however, was the deeper exploration of the characters. In this sequel, we get more insight into their backgrounds and personalities, and I enjoyed learning more about them. The characters are one of the strongest elements of the series, and their development continues to be a draw for me.

Another strength is the atmospheric setting. The Gravesdown manor, with its massive, sprawling landscape, solarium and library adds a layer of intrigue that I find really compelling. The descriptions of the manor are beautifully written, and I suspect that we’ll see more of the romantic tension hinted at in these first two books in the next installment.

While the plot didn’t fully satisfy my expectations, there’s still enough promise for me to be curious about where the series goes next. I’m hoping the next book will offer more of the fresh energy and unexpected twists I loved in the first one.


Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton, NetGalley and Kristen Perrin for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this release.

3.5⭐️ rounded up to 4. How to Seal Your Own Fate is a fun sequel to How to Solve Your Own Murder! It was enjoyable to be back in Castle Knoll with Annie and the eclectic cast of towns people as she tries to solve a murder that seems to be rooted in secrets in late Aunt France’s past. I enjoyed being back with these characters, although I missed a bit of the additional intrigue that came from the competition in the first book. The sequel is a slower pace, but certainly still a good mystery.

I am so glad that this has become a series. I love being in Castle Knoll with Annie and her cast of characters even if there always seems to be a murder and murderer among them. I am eager to see what comes from Aunt Frances' journals the next go round.

‘How to Solve Your Own Murder’ was in my top 5 books of 2024, so this sequel was one of my most anticipated for this year—and it was so amazing and worth the wait!

When I found out there would be a sequel to ‘How to Solve Your Own Murder’ I was ecstatic to say the least, I loved the dual timeline of the story and the Agatha Christie feel that it had, and this book was no different, it was just as good and exceed my expectations of a sequel.

This sequel focuses on the murder of Peony Lane, who is the fortune teller that gave France her fortune that she will be murdered in the first book. The story being told between past and present works flawlessly in this book, finding out details about Peony Lane through both Annie and Frances voices and timelines. Both stories were compelling and kept me guessing on what happened and who had done it and why. Both Annie and Frances are great main characters and it’s easy to fall into their world through the captivating storytelling.

There were many characters in this book, but having read the first book I knew that would be the case in this second book, so I was prepared and it didn’t seem overwhelming that there were so many characters to keep track of.

This book was brilliant and the mystery had me complete engrossed, so much so that I finished it in a day, staying up much too late because I couldn’t put it down. I really hope we get the next book soon, I need to find out what happens to Annie and Frances next!

“If you want to know more about Peony Lane, you’re also going to uncover a lot of Gravesdown secrets. You should deal with those alone, because people who know too much about the skeletons in the Gravesdown closets? They tend to disappear”

Wow, Kristen Perrin does it again! I love that we get to see a reprisal of many characters I came to love in book 1. We start this book with the elusive Peony Lane, that predicted aunt Frances’s murder. We learn there is much more than meets the eye of this fortune teller, as she as well was tangled up into the scandalous lives of the Gravesdown family.

Once again Annie Adams is pulled into solving another murder in the Gravesdown manor—but this time as its current owner.

I started and finished this book in less than 24 hours. It was such a great cozy mystery to enjoy on a cold winter day. I needed to know who was behind this murder (and maybe a few more). I loved seeing the reappearance of Mr. Crane and am enjoying seeing the progression of his character with Annie as well. And of course I love that Archie is in this one, too! This was a great read and already can’t wait to get my hands on the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to netgalley for the arc, I really enjoyed reading How To Deal Your Fate, the second book in the Castle Knoll Series. I absolutely loved all the unique characters and the cozy murder mystery. I had to stay up late at night reading and every chance I got. It is rare to find such a good book! I recommended reading the first book in this series How to Solve Your Own Murder and then continuing onto this book.

This is the first book I've read in this series, although the author provided enough information from Book 1 to make it easy to pick up the story. Annie has moved into an inherited home and is approached by mysterious fortune teller Peony Lane. She goes about trying to clarify some of the cryptic information she has. Her boyfriend is a from a local rich family and because the community dislikes the family, they are not very welcoming to her. There are two timelines and clues about older characters who were involved in an accident in the 1960s. While Annie is unraveling the mystery, a murder occurs in her house. This is a cozy mystery, but the intricacies of the plot and the unfolding puzzles make it a cut above.

A page turner! I love Annie's world in Castle Knoll. This cast of characters is so perfectly deranged, cosmic, and driven by obsession. They are extremely exciting catalysts in a never ending spiral of mystery. So so grateful for the opportunity to read this early.

<i>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.</i>

3.5 stars rounded up

While I didn’t love this as much as the first book, it truly is a solid mystery and I do love fate/fortune part of the mysteries of Castle Knoll. I didn’t love some of the dialogue, it felt a little more YA than the first, which is fine but just not my preference. All that to say, I will gladly read a third book!!