The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong

An atmospheric gothic mystery that beautifully brings the ancient Cornish countryside to life, Armstrong introduces heroine Ruby Vaughn in her Minotaur Books & Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award-winning debut, The Curse of Penryth Hall.

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.

Published by Minotaur Books
on December 5, 2023

Review:

I received an advance galley of this book courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this one expecting a paranormal ghost story, but that isn’t what I got. Instead, this is more of a gothic murder mystery. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; it was just unexpected, and I kept waiting for something ghost-like to happen, but it never did.

The book is set in post-World War I England and follows Ruby Vaughn, a spirited American heiress who finds herself swept up in an alleged curse that is supposedly attached to Penryth Hall – the place where her dear friend Tamsyn lives with her son and her bully of a husband, Edward. When Edward is found murdered, rumors begin to swirl that the curse of Penryth Hall has surfaced and taken another life.

While the book wasn’t exactly what I expected, I did enjoy it. Armstrong’s writing effortlessly transports the reader to the Cornish countryside. The descriptions of the landscapes, the characters, and the eerie atmosphere of Penryth Hall are all beautifully rendered, creating a vivid and immersive reading experience.

The plot is filled with suspense and intrigue. What starts as a simple delivery of books quickly escalates into a hunt for the truth behind Edward’s gruesome death and the alleged curse that looms over Penryth Hall. As Ruby and Ruan delve deeper into the mysteries surrounding the orchard, the tension builds, keeping the reader hooked until the very end. The blend of historical events, whispers of witchcraft, and local folklore adds an extra layer of complexity to the story, making it an engaging read.

As I alluded to earlier, despite initial expectations of a full-fledged ghost story, the supernatural elements in this novel are only hinted at. The legends of witchcraft and the curse did give the story a haunting atmosphere, but those seeking a more overtly paranormal experience like myself may be left wanting in that aspect.

The characters in this book are well-developed and engaging. Ruby, in particular, stands out as a likable and relatable protagonist. Her determination, resilience, and curiosity make her a compelling and endearing character. The relationships she forms with the other characters, particularly her friendship with Tamsyn, are heartfelt and richly portrayed.

While the majority of the characters are well-rounded and intriguing, my biggest gripe lies with the inconsistency of Ruan’s character. I liked him, but there were times when he felt a little too mercurial. One minute, he seemed fun and laid back, but then, all of a sudden, he seemed to be flying off the handle about something. It was difficult for me to get a good feel for him. I wanted to like him more than I did.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read that combined beautiful prose, compelling characters, and a captivating plot. While I had issues with Ruan’s mercurial personality and wished for more paranormal elements, these things weren’t enough to detract from the overall quality of the book. Fans of historical mysteries with a gothic atmosphere will definitely enjoy this one.