How to Seal Your Own Fate

Castle Knoll Files, Book 2

De: Kristen Perrin

Narrado por: Alexandra Dowling, Jessica Hayles

An April 2025 Library Reads Pick

“A brilliant follow-up that proves Kristen Perrin is here to stay...A thrilling story that ends with a big reveal you won't see coming, even though the clues were in front of you the entire time!”—G.T. Karber, international bestselling author of Murdle

New York Times bestselling author Kristen Perrin is back and better than ever with her second Castle Knoll Murder Mystery.

Welcome to Castle Knoll, the idyllic English village home to a surprising number of murderers.

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. The question is, just how far does the blackness creep through the heart of Castle Knoll? When Frances uncovers secrets kept by both Ford and Archie, she starts to wonder: What exactly has she gotten herself into?

As Annie and Frances investigate two new mysteries spanning decades, they’ll unlock the next level of secrets held in Castle Knoll’s dark heart.

©2025 Kristen Perrin (P)2025 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Along with strong emotional connections between characters on the page and with readers, the mystery is complex, and the clues plentiful, while the charming location and tight-knit community will encourage a cozy reread. The end is satisfying on multiple levels, including the promise of more mysteries to come. A perfect choice for readers of Agatha Christie and Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce series."—Booklist (starred review)

“Kristen Perrin has done it again—a wonderful murder mystery set in Castle Knoll investigating the death of the fortune-teller Peony Lane. I really enjoyed the dual timeline sleuthing with the lovable Annie and Great Aunt Frances and I can't wait for book three.”—C.L. Miller, USA Today bestselling author of The Antique Hunters Guide to Murder

“A brilliant follow-up that proves Kristen Perrin is here to stay. It was wonderful to revisit the characters from How to Solve Your Own Murder, especially the infamous Peony Lane, who offers a new prediction that once again leads to surprisingly murderous results. How to Seal Your Own Fate is a thrilling story that ends with a big reveal you won't see coming, even though the clues were in front of you the entire time!”—G.T. Karber, international bestselling author of Murdle

Castle Knoll hooks readers again!

How to Seal Your Own Fate, the 2nd book in this amazing serious did NOT disappoint! Practically picking up from the very action-packed ending of How to Solve Your Own Murder! Tons of familiar names & faces, while meeting some new folks too!

Don’t sleep on the Castle Knoll series!

Loved it

I really enjoyed this book!!!
The story continues and I’m sure there is another in the making!!! Hope it is soon!! 🤞🏻

10/10 story, 5/10 narration

This might be me being picky bc I re listened to book 1 right before playing this one, but they changed the narrator for Aunt Francis and I don't like this new one 😪 So half of the book felt a bit grating to me.

wonderful continuation of the series

I love this sequel. the characters were developed well, and the story had perfect twists and turns.

I love how the author left the story open for the next book. easy read. very enjoyable.

Brilliant storyline and narrators

I love the twists and turns that keep me guessing - at my age I’ve read (and watched) a LOT of mystery novels - and I’ve yet to guess the true culprit in these. Narration is perfect.

You should read the first book

Overall, the story holds your attention and the ending is not obvious. But there is too much reliance on characters and events in the earlier novel. This is particularly obvious with character development. A good listen.

Not as good as the last one

I love the first book but this one was kinda disappointing? I like the narrator, though.

listen close

it's super complicated very intriguing you really need to listen Make sure you hit the first book first and the second book second Don't just jump to this one

Shift in the narrators was a huge mistake

The story is great and I loved it, just like the prequel, but the shift in the narrator of Francis’ story was a huge mistake. Awful performance on her part - honestly almost didn’t finish it because it was so hard to listen to. Fortunately Annie’s narrator remains wonderful.

A clever cozy mystery!

Annie is a bit out of sorts settling into Gravesdown Hall, not quite feeling like she fits into the town of Castle Knoll. However, she’s making an effort and trying to get back to her writing.

Running into the infamous Peony Lane, the woman who unsettled Aunt Frances’ entire future with her fortune, is a shock. Peony has a bizarre message for Annie and then turns up murdered inside Gravesdown, initially casting some suspicions on Annie. With a renewed purpose, Annie goes about trying to find out who murdered Peony and why which has her once again delving into her Aunt Frances’ past. This time she has a bit of help from Detective Crane an ally, and possibly *fingers crossed* a romantic interest for Annie.

There are two timelines and POVs with Annie in the present trying to work out Peony’s murder and then Aunt Frances’ POV in 1967 partnered with Archie Foyle looking into the crash that killed Ford Gravedown’s father, brother and sister-in-law. There are rumors that it wasn’t an accident at all.

It’s a web of secrets to untangle with a lot of twists! The mysteries intersect and come together by the end, and I was completely riveted! I recommend reading the previous story first, How to Solve Your Own Murder, as the stories connect. I went back and reread parts to refresh my memory and I’m glad I did!

How to Seal Your Own Fate was a clever, cozy mystery that grabbed my attention from page one! The mystery was solved, but the ending hinted at more books to come, and I’m thrilled! I look forward to the next one!

The dual narration Alexandra Dowling for Annie and Jessica Hayles for Frances was excellent and each narrator fit the character perfectly!