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The Devil in Oxford

A Ruby Vaughn Mystery

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Pub Date Nov 04 2025 | Archive Date Nov 18 2025
St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books

Description

Set after the Great War, Jess Armstrong’s USA Today bestselling and award-winning series is historical gothic murder mystery at its best, and Ruby Vaughn returns in The Devil in Oxford.

If someone were to ask American heiress Ruby Vaughn how exactly the occult came to play such a large role in her life, she would immediately point to her octogenarian housemate and employer, Mr. Owen. Together, the pair run a rare book shop in Exeter. Mr. Owen’s penchant for arcane, unusual—and occasionally illegal—books has been known to get Ruby into her fair share of trouble. And after the last year, she is looking forward to spending a quiet holiday in picturesque Oxford while Mr. Owen attends the annual meeting of his antiquarian society. Secretly, Ruby is also looking for a holiday from her confounding feelings for Ruan Kivell, the intriguing folk healer Pellar that she met in Cornwall.

When Mr. Owen secures two tickets to an upcoming exhibition of artifacts amassed by disgraced scholar Julius Harker, Ruby reluctantly agrees to attend. The evening turns out to be more eventful than either of them bargained for. Harker’s dead body is discovered amongst the collection, his business partner is hastily arrested, and Ruan arrives…wanting to speak with Ruby. It seems both the arcane and her Pellar have followed Ruby to Oxford.

The murder case is suspicious at best, but the last thing Ruby wants is another investigation. That is, until an old friend comes begging for Ruby’s help. It soon becomes painfully clear that there is more going on in Oxford than meets the eye. Ruby and Ruan will have to uncover the dark secrets of the competitive world of antiquities while trying to understand the peculiar force that keeps drawing them back together.

Set after the Great War, Jess Armstrong’s USA Today bestselling and award-winning series is historical gothic murder mystery at its best, and Ruby Vaughn returns in The Devil in Oxford.

If someone...


Advance Praise

“Sublimely entertaining. . . The literary equivalent of catnip for historical mystery readers who like their crime fiction served with up with a soupçon of gothic spookiness, a hint of romance, and a generous splash of deliciously clever wit.” –Library Journal ★ (starred review)

“A bustling, elegant whodunit fueled by suppressed lust and enigmatic characters.” –Kirkus Reviews

“A nicely drawn period piece.” –firstCLUE


“Sublimely entertaining. . . The literary equivalent of catnip for historical mystery readers who like their crime fiction served with up with a soupçon of gothic spookiness, a hint of romance, and a...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781250374653
PRICE $28.00 (USD)
PAGES 352

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Average rating from 32 members


Featured Reviews

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I cannot get enough of this series! The history, the gothic atmosphere, the mysteries and twists, and of course the characters. I loved going to Oxford, with its museums full of antiquities and learning more about Ruan’s time a student. The murder plot kept me on the edge of the seat, but it was the two side stories (Ruby’s romance and connection with Ruan and the continued speculation about her mother) that kept me furiously turning the pages. This story once again raises as many questions as it answers, so I’m already eagerly awaiting the next installment. I can’t wait to see what Ruby/Ruan/Mr. Owen/Mrs. Penrose/Fiachna get up to next!

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and St. Martin’s Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

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This is the third book in this delicious and in my opinion under-rated series. The setting is England in the 1920s. The genre is gothic mystery.

The main characters Ruby and Ruan are an unlikely mystery solving duo, and both intriguing in their own way. Ruby is a disgraced American heiress. Ruan is a Cornish folk healer/witch.

The setting of this novel is Oxford, and many of the characters are Egyptologists (fascinating in its own right).

Why I love this book/series: 1) fascinating, well fleshed out multilayered characters 2) spooky dark gothic vibes 3) excellently plotted and paced murder mystery,

I highly recommend, and can’t wait for book number 4!

Thank you to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC to read and review.

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