I was so excited to read an advance copy of How to Seal Your Own Fate! I devoured and adored the first book. Though it had been a year since I’d read it, I quickly fell back into place with Annie and Gravesdown Hall.
The plot of the first book is essential to this one, which cannot be read without spoilers. How to Seal Your Own Fate hearkens to the original plot line of Great Aunt Frances receiving a fortune foretelling her death … but in book two, the mystical fortune teller is the center of the mystery.
Rarely do I enjoy a main character as I do Annie, as well as the rest of the cast of these novels.
I recommend both books to anyone wanting a well-written and exciting mystery. I look forward to book three!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the advance reader copy!

How To Seal Your Own Fate is the second book in Perrin’s Castle Knoll Files series. In her latest book, we return to the small village of Castle Knoll, in two different time periods, with two different generations of Adams women.

Annie Adams hasn’t lived in Castle Knoll for long. She lives in Gravesdown Estate, which she inherited from her Great-Aunt Frances Adams, the other viewpoint in this novel.
There are two mysteries in Perrin’s book, decades apart, but intertwined.

In 1967, Frances Adams is a teenager in Castle Knoll, working in her family’s bakery. Frances and Archie Foyle, a jobless village resident, team up to solve a car crash that killed most of Ford Gravedown’s family. As their investigation grows, Frances finds out far more than she ever wanted. Annie, her niece, picks up the investigation decades later when she discovers the dead body of Peony Lane, a local fortune teller, inside Gravesdown Estate. The investigation into Peony’s murder dredges up the auto accident, and places Annie in the murderer’s crosshairs.

Perrin does a good job planting red herrings in a plot that twists and turns throughout the book. There are plenty of viable suspects. At times, I had trouble keeping everyone straight, but that was a minor issue. Overall, I enjoyed reading How To Seal Your Own Fate. 4/5 stars.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ // not quite the follow-up I hoped for

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved book one. Five stars, no notes. So it honestly pains me to say that How to Seal Your Own Fate didn’t quite deliver the same spark.

While I appreciated the familiar format and still really enjoy Perrin’s writing style overall, this sequel felt like it was trying to do too much while somehow still feeling predictable. Yes, there were a few twists I didn’t see coming—but I guessed the culprit the moment they were introduced, and that definitely dulled the tension.

It had its moments, and I liked revisiting the world, but the whole book had the distinct vibe of a sequel written after the unexpected success of a standalone. I missed the tightly woven, fresh energy of the first installment.

Still, if you loved book one, it might be worth the read—but I’d say go in with tempered expectations.

I read How to Solve Your Own Murder in March by the same author and I loved it so so much! I think her writing style is easy to read and I like how the characters are serious yet funny :)

I love this series and this book so much! It reminds me of Nancy Drew mystery that I read when I was a kid. Reading these feel like a blast from the and I LOVE IT!!

So many twists and turns that I didn't see coming at all! I love how complex all the characters are and I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series!!

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

I have been looking for a cozy mystery that would feel fresh and that has a large cast of characters without feeling too busy or overdone. This is it. I did not read the first book in the series, but now I want to go back and pick it up! The mystery that Annie has to solve picks up on a lot of loose threads from her great-aunt's life, and the life of the village she is now looking to call home. I liked the flashbacks and the context they gave, without feeling like they detracted from the overall plot. Annie is still trying to acquaint herself with the village and its inhabitants, so having flashbacks as a way to provide context was a great way to have the story move. I can't wait for the third novel!

Book 2 starts off with Annie trying to mind her business and get used to her new life in Castle Knoll. On a walk, Annie crosses paths with Peony Lane who leaves her with a cryptic message. Hours later, Peony is found dead on Annie’s property. The rest of the book is Annie trying to clear her name and solve another decades older set of murders. Can she figure out the mystery before it’s too late?

I liked this one a lot more than book 1. The characters felt more real and like I could connect to them. Annie’s drive to solve the mystery is so fun to read and do I detect a potential budding romance? The only thing that kept this from 5 stars is I felt like some parts felt just a touch slow, but didn’t keep me from enjoying the book! This one hooked me and has me ready for book 3 or wherever this adventure takes me.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book!

How to Seal Your Own Fate is Kristen Perrin’s second book in her Castle Knoll Files series. The story is told in dual timelines; one follows main character, Annie Adams, and the other follows her great-aunt Frances Adams in the 1960s.

Ms. Perrin weaves together the past and the present beautifully. I really enjoyed Frances Adam’s daring detective antics. Juxtaposed to Frances is Annie’s more cautious sleuthing in the modern day. It feels like two good mysteries in one until Ms. Perrin ties the past to the present.

How to Seal Your Own Fate is surprising and compelling. The writing and story plotting is smart. Ms. Perrin creates a small-town vibe and peppers her story with intriguing family secrets. The nuanced layering in the mystery hooked me on this delightful reading adventure.

3.5 round up to 4

I really enjoyed this whodunit mystery!

How to seal your own fate is a dual-timeline story full of secrets, suspense, and small-town tension The twists and turns were unexpected, and I especially loved the subtle tension between Annie and DI Crane. The 1967 timeline with teenage Frances Adams investigating a suspicious car crash kept me on my toes. While I was definitely engaged, this book didn’t hit quite like Book 1 for me.

🏰 Mystery and Mayhem in Castle Knoll: A Thrilling Sequel You Can't Put Down! 🔍

1. Dual Timelines, Double the Intrigue: Secrets Across Generations 🕰️
How to Seal Your Own Fateby Kristen Perrin is a masterclass in weaving complex narratives across time. Jumping between present-day Annie Adams and her great aunt Frances in 1967, the novel expertly unravels decades of secrets hidden in the picturesque yet perilous village of Castle Knoll.

2. A Delightful Sequel: Characters That Keep You Hooked 🌳
Continuing the antics from "How to Solve Your Own Murder," Perrin returns with characters who are as charming as they are enigmatic. Annie shines as a relatable, sleuthing protagonist, and the will-they-won’t-they tension with Crane adds a delightful sprinkle of romance amidst the suspense.

3. Cozy Meets Conspiracy: Uncovering Castle Knoll’s Dark Heart 📜
The book’s genius lies in its coziness—the whimsical village of Castle Knoll, complete with eccentric residents and chilling mysteries. Coupled with thrilling conspiracies and Fran’s meticulous diaries, readers are treated to an immersive experience that’s both a puzzle and a delight.

4. A Twisty Tale: Clues Hidden in Plain Sight 🧩
Much like the best whodunnits, every detail in Castle Knoll feels meticulously placed. The seamless dual timeline storytelling keeps readers guessing, with a big reveal bound to surprise even the most seasoned detectives among us. It’s a testament to Perrin’s skilled plotting and attention to detail.

5. Fun, Fascination, and Future Encounters: What's Next? 🌠
Perrin leaves us clamoring for more with hints of stories untold within Castle Knoll’s walls. The mysterious circumstances surrounding Annie's family and the open-ended possibilities for new discoveries ensure this series will remain a favorite. Plus, I’m eagerly anticipating more heartwarming moments between Annie and Crane.

Final Thoughts 📚
"How to Seal Your Own Fate" is a triumph of cozy mystery storytelling, blending drama, romance, and intrigue in a novel that captivates from the first page to the last. Kristen Perrin has crafted a world so vividly engaging that setting it down felt like leaving a dear friend. For fans of mysteries and those craving a snug yet thrilling read, this book is not one to miss! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dive into Castle Knoll’s enchanting world—where every corner hides a secret and every resident has a story. I’m already counting the days until we unravel more of this charmingly mysterious series! 🧞‍♀️

How to Seal Your Own Fate is a dual timeline mystery with a very well developed protagonist, Annie. She is trying to solve a current mystery that is making her seem like a suspect and it leads back to her great aunt's Frances' mystery. Dual timelines are hit or miss for me-they can be overly confusing. But, Perrin does a great job of not muddying the waters here! Its a really well written mystery that will keep you guessing and its all woven together neatly. It is well paced once it gets going-I thought it was a little slow at first.

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
--
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⭐️