Review: The Curse of Penryth Hall

Ruby Vaughn works for a bookseller in 1920s Exeter. Her grandfatherly employer tasks her with delivering a trunk of books to a folk healer in a village Ruby knows from her past. When Ruby arrives, conflicted feelings bubble to the surface, but she decides that she must check in on her estranged friend Tamsyn, the lady of Penryth Hall. Soon Tamsyn’s husband is found dead and whispers of witches and an ancient curse abound. Ruby gets caught up in the intrigue as Tamsyn begs Ruby to protect Tamsyn’s son from the curse. Ruby doesn’t believe in curses, but strange events put her in danger at every turn.

In “The Curse of Penryth Hall '' Jess Armstrong develops complex characters with many secrets. The atmosphere is delightfully gothic with an old Hall, curses, accusations of witchcraft, attempts at charms of protection, and a somewhat reluctant village Pellar. The story starts off with a bang (“whatever you do, don’t open the trunk of books”) and keeps going until the very end. It’s hard to put down. 

The publisher’s blurb says that the reader is introduced to Ruby Vaughn in “The Curse of Penryth Hall,” so I hope this means that we will see more of Ruby and her adventures. There are a few unanswered questions and an opening for another story that leave readers wanting more.

This book is great for those who like atmospheric and gothic mysteries. 

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and Minotaur Books, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Review: Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Lord

Lady Petra Forsyth has decided to remain unmarried. After all, no one can replace her beloved fiance who died under mysterious circumstances. Speaking of mysterious circumstances, Lady Petra soon realizes that an alarming number of her friends and acquaintances have died under mysterious circumstances. What’s worse is that in the days prior to their disappearance, the ladies had displayed signs of emotional distress. Lady Petra is determined to get to the bottom of the story and enlists an eclectic group of friends to help. She soon realizes that she is the next target. Will she get to the truth before she becomes the next victim?

“Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Lord” is the first entry in a new Regency era series that has a “feminist twist.” The story features strong and talented women who move at the highest levels of Society with relative ease. The women are outspoken, but are still accepted. The characters move freely between social classes with little repercussion. Once the reader accepts this reality, this is a great start to a new series.

There are plenty of opportunities for additional stories, including several stories that take place before this one. This is a great book for those who like historical mysteries.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.