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!

I was so excited to hear about this sequel to How to Solve Your Own Murder and it did not disappoint! With How to Seal Your Own Fate, Perrin gives readers another twisty-turny, cozy mystery to curl up with in this second installment of what will hopefully be a long-running series.

I really liked being back in this world and with our MC Annie. This is a second book in a series. While I think technically you could read these as standalones, I HIGHLY suggest reading them in order. This is definitely another cozy mystery, so while there is tension and suspense, it is not a thriller with action packed sequencing. I wanted to make note of all of that first so people do not go into this one thinking one thing and getting something different.

This is again told in dual POV just like the first book. We have Annies’s perspective, and once again the journals of Frances. There are a lot of characters, and sometimes that can muddy the story and make things a bit confusing.

The ending was good, and the book is filled with a lot of red herrings. The chapters are short and usually leave off with little cliffhangers which made the book fast paced and enjoyable to read. I think if you liked the first book, you will enjoy this one as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and PRH audio for the early versions of the digital and audio books copies! This was such a great sequel—which is not always the case! Once again, the weaving of the two timelines (Annie is present day and Frances through her journals) is so well done. I loved how the timelines twisted and wove together to craft a get mystery that kept you guessing the whole way through. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Following the events of the first book, Annie is settling into her new life in Castle Knoll, when the fortune teller who predicted her Aunt Francis’ unseemly end is found dead herself, in the very same house. Annie must unravel the clues and find out who the murderer could be, while unraveling a decades long mystery from her Aunts past, and avoiding all the fingers pointing at her.

Told in dual POV the story’s pacing and plot is much like the first. Lots of red herrings are thrown your way. And the sections from the past don’t reveal as many secrets as you want them to but they definitely help you start piecing things together.

While I do think this could be read as a standalone, it would make much more sense reading fairly soon after the first. I do think a family tree of some sort could be pretty helpful in remembering who everyone is. There’s A LOT of players in this game. The suspense is nice and nothing crazy so definitely could be read as a cozy mystery. I do appreciate that romance isn’t being forced and while hinted at there’s no strong conclusion as to where that end will lead in potential future iterations. The ambiguous ending leaves room for a third.

I would give 3.5 stars because I like the characters and the writing. However rounding down because I felt that the past sequences were a bit hard to get through at times, and the present ones flowed a bit better but can still be a bit confusing. All in all a good solid read and would recommend if you liked the first, or if you’re interested in slightly confusing past/present small town mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the ARC. All of my opinions and this review are my own.

Following the events in, How to Solve Your Own Murder Annie Adam's is living at Gravesdown Estate. One day on a walk who should she run into but Peony Lane, the local fortune teller who, back in 1965, predicted, Annie's Great Aunt Frances' murder. Peony insists that Annie needs to investigate the death and the life of Olivia Gravesdown. Olivia is related to the former owners of Annie's estate. Later Olivia is found dead at Gravesdown Estate and Annie becomes a suspect. This murder is followed by another.

The author incorporates a dual time line as Annie investigates in the present day and we are drawn back to 1967 through Frances' diaries as she details the deaths of members of the Gravedown family in an auto accident. Could these events decades apart be related?

I will say that this second installment is enjoyable, but I thought the first book was better. Annie is growing as a character, more confident. It seems that the author will use the dual timelines in future books. The author provides a number of red herrings until we reach the conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Dutton, for an ARC. The review is my own.

Annie Adams is settling into her new life after inheriting her great aunt's Castle Knoll estate. A local fortune teller, Peony Lane, is found dead at the Gravesdown Estate after trying to deliver a cryptic message to Annie. In 1967 Annie's aunt Frances finds herself in a love triangle between Ford, the owner of the Gravesdown estate and local boy, Archie Foyle. Frances joins up with Archie to investigate the car crash that killed Ford's family. They soon discover the crash was no accident and Frances can't help but suspect Ford was involved. But unfortunately for Frances it also becomes clear that Archie has dangerous secrets of his own. Annie and Frances investigations are separated by decades but the same names are popping up in both. They must unlock the town secrets to solve the mystery.

I was so excited to get an early copy of this book! How to Solve Your Own Murder was easily my favorite mystery that I read in 2023 (I had an early copy of it too). I vividly remember being in the middle of that book and going online to see if it was going to be a series because I was having such a great time and knew I would need more of the characters. I was a little unsure if the really great dual timeline would actually work as well again but I am happy to report it was just as good as the first book! Kristen Perrin knocked it out of the park again! The mystery was solid again. There is so much juicy family drama. Annie and Frances are both incredible characters. They are both inquisitive but come at their investigations. in their own ways. I can't wait to see where this series goes next! I have already pre-ordered the audiobook to do a reread and will be doing that as soon as the book releases.

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

I loved this book as much as the first one! Annie has been settling into life in Castle Knoll. Peony Lane is a local fortune teller who shares a cryptic message only hours before she is found dead. Who killed her? Annie is ready to investigate and find out the secrets held in Castle Knoll.

I was shocked by the ending! Kristen really knows how to sock her readers. I absolutely love her writing. This was a thrilling story that had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. It was a little slow in the beginning but then it picked up. I would love it if we got another book in this series!

Thank you so much NetGalley, Kristen
and Penguin Group Dutton for the eARC!

Rating: ✨✨✨✨
Publication Date: April 29 2025

#HowtoSealYourOwnFate #NetGalley

Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book. PLEASE NOTE: This is a sequel. You don't necessarily get book.1 spoiled in this book, but you will see details from book 1 in book 2 that are important to the story.

The good:
- Everything still gets wrapped up neatly even though it's a sequel, simply because the mystery is not one really even mentioned that much in book 1 and a character just pops out of the nowhere to start this journey
- I enjoyed going back into Frances's journals and the way they are re-introduced makes sense to why we did not see these journals in book 1.
- This is a fast paced book, which I like
- I really enjoyed the multitude of mysteries in the book, but...

The loss of a star:
- Just like the first book, there is a lot going on and a lot of characters that you know from book 1 but that are also introduced in book 2 and I think some of the plot twists are simply because some plot points are hard to follow.

Overall, if you enjoyed book 1, you should definitely pick up book 2 to continue to story!

After solving her great-aunt's murder, Annie is making a life for herself in Castle Knoll. She's finally settled into her new home, and things are finally looking up. That is, until she meets the notorious Peony Lane. Peony gave Frances (Annie's great-aunt) the fortune that ultimately led to her murder, so Annie is naturally wary of her arrival decades later. Annie is sent to retrieve information that Peony says is of interest to her, but on returning to Gravesdown Manor, Annie finds Peony dead on the property. Now Annie has more questions than answers. Soon, she discovers that Peony's death may be linked to another cold case - the death of three members of the Gravesdown family (the family Frances married into). Who is protecting the Gravesdown family after all these years? Or are they protecting someone else Annie hasn't thought of? Annie is quickly immersed in a new investigation, and, once again, it seems like her livelihood is at stake.

I read the two books in this series back-to-back and can confidently say the story would have been okay if it just ended with the first book (and it seems from the ending of this one there will be more...?). I didn't feel as connected to the story and just wanted the weird mysteries of this town to end. I kind of had the main twist figured out from the start, so that did not help my connection to the book at all. It just felt repetitive and unnecessary. If you enjoyed the first book, I would check this one out. However, I wouldn't expect the same "hooked" feeling you got from the first book. Overall, I'd recommend it if you really enjoyed the first one! You could also read this out of order, but some of the details may be lost if you haven't read the first.

Annie Adams finds herself in another Castle Knoll mystery when the infamous fortune teller is found dead at Annie's home just hours after giving her a cryptic message! Traveling through the past and present, we watch as Annie unravels the clues to who exactly is trying to frame her for Peony's murder.

Another good book added to the Castle Knoll series! Enjoyed this read. Was slow to get into but once I got settled in, it flew by! Would definitely continue to read books in this series! And hopefully in one of them we can see a more personal relationship between you know who! iykyk.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Thank you to Kristen Perrin and NetGalley for allowing me to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions!

In this second book in the series, Annie is now settling into her life at Castle Knoll when the infamous fortune teller of the first novel gives her a cryptic message hours before she is found dead on Annie's property. Annie is now back in the mystery solving game, and like the first novel, the reader is given insight into the past and how that plays into the present mysteries.

I find this series cute and entertaining when I need a light cozy mystery. I liked revisiting the familiar characters from Castle Knoll and learning more about them and their secrets. I wouldn't suggest picking this one up if you haven't read the first in the series. I personally enjoy the revelations from the past and how they are revealed slowly throughout the novel and how the author intertwines the past with the present. The narrator had a lovely English accent which always makes the listening experience better (at least for me). I think I preferred the first one, but I would definitely read another.

3.75 stars

Thank you to Dutton Books and NetGalley for the ARC to review

A good second installment of this series with the same good characters and the same excellent writing. Told in dual timelines from Annie and Frances' perspective, it's a continuation of the past events from Castle Knoll as well as the new mystery of the dead body found in Gravesdown Estate. If you haven't read the first book, you'll definitely have to or you'll feel lost. This is a really good series and I'm looking forward to more from Perrin!

"People who know too much about the skeletons in the Gravesdown closets? They tend to disappear."

HOW TO SEAL YOUR OWN FATE by Kristen Perrin brings us back to Castle Knoll with Annie Adams as she finds herself framed for the murder of fortune teller Peony Lane shortly after she delivered a cryptic message to Annie.

It was so much fun to be back in this world and with these characters! I love the way Perrin writes a cozy mystery and how this story connected so much to the first book in this series (a note that you should have prior knowledge from the first before diving into this one)!

The Gravesdown Estate was as picturesque as ever (despite the body count within its walls 🫢) and the dual timelines really aided in the mystery and in getting to know characters that no longer exist in the present timeline.

I can't wait to see where the mystery leads in the next Castle Knoll book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for the early copy for review - out April 29!

Thank you to Dutton Books and Kristen Perrin for this ARC of How to Seal Your Own Fate!

I read How to Solve Your Own Murder earlier this year and absolutely loved the cozy mystery vibes, so diving into book 2 of this charming mystery series was a no-brainer! 🤩

🔍 What did I love most?
Kristen Perrin crafts dual timelines masterfully. Each chapter hooks you deeper into the story, and the way they interweave is truly an art form. I adored the overall narrative and found myself fully immersed.

The setting? A picturesque English country village that gives you all the cozy mystery feels, although this time the drama unfolds mainly at the brooding Castle Knoll. Perfect backdrop for a murder mystery!

What to expect:
🛋️ Cozy mystery vibes
❄️ Cold case investigations
👀 Armchair detective sleuthing
🔄 Dual POV

🔍 Do you need to read book 1 first?
Yes! I highly recommend reading How to Solve Your Own Murder before starting How to Seal Your Own Fate. It gives important character background that enhances the experience.

🔍 How’s the pacing?
Fast-paced with short chapters, cliffhangers, and dual timelines that keep you guessing (and flipping pages late into the night)!

🔍 Final thoughts:
If you love a cozy murder mystery packed with quirky characters, puzzling clues, and just the right amount of suspense, this series is a must-read.

Perfect for fans of:
🖤 Agatha Christie
🖤 Richard Osman
🖤 Nita Prose

Mood: 🛋️ cozy | ⚡️ adventurous | 🌀 twisty

Read if you love:
👀 Whodunits
🏘️ Small town mysteries
🚪 Locked-room mysteries
😅 Eccentric characters