The Curse of Penryth Hall

By: Jess Armstrong

Narrated by: Emma Love

After the Great War, American heiress Ruby Vaughn made a life for herself running a rare bookstore alongside her octogenarian employer and house mate in Exeter. She’s always avoided dwelling on the past, even before the war, but it always has a way of finding her. When Ruby is forced to deliver a box of books to a folk healer living deep in the Cornish countryside, she is brought back to the one place she swore she’d never return. A more sensible soul would have delivered the package and left without rehashing old wounds. But no one has ever accused Ruby of being sensible. Thus begins her visit to Penryth Hall.

A foreboding fortress, Penryth Hall is home to Ruby’s once dearest friend, Tamsyn, and her husband, Sir Edward Chenowyth. It’s an unsettling place, and after a more unsettling evening, Ruby is eager to depart. But her plans change when Penryth’s bells ring for the first time in thirty years. Edward is dead; he met a gruesome end in the orchard, and with his death brings whispers of a returned curse. It also brings Ruan Kivell, the person whose books brought her to Cornwall, the one the locals call a Pellar, the man they believe can break the curse. Ruby doesn’t believe in curses—or Pellars—but this is Cornwall and to these villagers the curse is anything but lore, and they believe it will soon claim its next victim: Tamsyn. To protect her friend, Ruby must work alongside the Pellar to find out what really happened in the orchard that night.

©2023 Jess Armstrong (P)2023 Dreamscape Media

Cozy, whimsical murder mystery??

I was not prepared for such a wild time, but I loved every moment of it!!

Strong female character

I couldn’t keep all the characters straight. A few too many in the end. But, I will continue with the series just the same.

Twist and Turns

It took me a chapter to start taking an interest but that is because I am use to different types of mysteries. I really started enjoying the story after the first chapter and I throughly enjoyed the characters and plot twists and turns. A very enjoyable read.

Most excellent

I can’t wait for the next adventure. Loved the book, loved the narrator, loved the plot. The book draws you in and keeps the twists and turns (along with some cringe) coming strong.

Highly recommended.

Fantastic Gothic Mystery

Murder or curse? You have to wait to find out! Great story, great performance. I can’t wait for the sequel!

Great New Voice

It’s hard to find a new series that is “same but different!” —look no further than this book. It’s a great gothic full of tension from surprising places, with a hint of otherworldly but firmly planted in this one. What could go wrong? Plenty, in a right way. Sassy female sleuth and burdened handsome local with solve skills and more. Really enjoyed and looking forward to the next.

Disappointed!!!

The synopsis of the book was very interesting. Had all the elements of a story I would enjoy. Unfortunately, while the plot is good, the characters are one dimensional and to me, unlikeable. The only reason I gave this book two stars rather than one, is I finished it to see how the mystery was solved.