| Title | : | The Secret of the Three Fates (Ruby Vaughn #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1250909880 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781250909886 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 336 |
| Publication | : | Expected publication December 3, 2024 |
American heiress Ruby Vaughn still hasn't entirely forgiven her octogenarian employer and housemate Mr. Owen for bringing the occult into their lives during her recent trip to Cornwall. He claims their journey to Manhurst Castle in the Scottish Borders is simply to appraise and acquire illuminated manuscripts for their rare bookshop, however when Ruby discovers there are no manuscripts and receives news of a séance to be held that very night, she begins to grow suspicious about the true reason why they have come.
The Great War left grieving families willing to sacrifice anything for the chance to say goodbye to a lost loved one. Mr. Owen is no exception. He is desperate to speak to his son, but he doesn’t want to face the spirits alone. When the séance—hosted by a trio of mediums billing themselves as The Three Fates—goes awry, Mr. Owen’s secrets begin to unravel, threatening to reveal a history that he has been running from for half his life. Something Ruby knows all too well how to do.
When Ruby finds one of the Three Fates murdered the night of the seance, she and Mr. Owen quickly become the prime suspects. To clear their names, Ruby enlists the help of Ruan Kivell, the folk healer Pellar who helped her weeks before in Cornwall. As their investigation progresses Ruby and Ruan realize someone is determined to prevent them from uncovering the truth about what happened to the dead medium.
The Secret of the Three Fates (Ruby Vaughn #2) Reviews
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Wow! Another Ruby Vaughn mystery is out, and it's even better than The Curse of Penryth Hall!
As more secrets unfold, the intimacy between Ruan and Ruby deepens, all within the gripping setting of an unputdownable locked-room mystery. This time, the story takes place in Cornwall’s haunted Manhurst Castle, where spirits lurk and three fates are summoned to connect with them.
Ruby finds herself ambushed by her octogenarian employer, Mr. Owen, who insists she attend an occult séance at a castle on the Scottish borders. There, she meets Mr. Owen’s estranged brother and his kind nephew. Among the other occupants are three clairvoyants, including the White Witch, a familiar figure from Ruby’s past. Mr. Owen receives a cryptic note from the leading clairvoyant, Lucy, promising an important message from his late son, Ben. Soon, everyone in the mansion discovers similar messages, which have drawn them together.
When vengeful spirits deliver cryptic warnings that shake Ruby to her core, she finds a mysterious note in her room, leading her to a secret meeting by the lakeside. There, she is warned that something far more dangerous than spirits is lurking. After discovering a body in the lake, surrounded by an occult scene with thirteen candles and salt traces, her suspicions grow. It becomes clear that someone is targeting the women in the mansion. The detectives hired to solve the case are quick to blame Ruby—until Mr. Owen calls in Ruan Kiwell to protect her.
Though Ruby is relieved to have someone who understands her, she has second thoughts about Ruan, who can hear her thoughts. This complicates things as their mutual attraction becomes more palpable. While his presence helps her uncover the truth, Ruby realizes she must set boundaries to protect her heart, despite feeling drawn to him like a magnet.
Overall: This is an exciting, heart-pounding locked-room mystery that reveals new details about Mr. Owen’s past while raising more questions about Ruby, her abilities, and her mother’s secret identity. I think we need another book to delve deeper into Ruby's past. I’m also rooting for her to stop being so stubborn about giving Ruan a chance! The cliffhanger at the end has definitely intrigued me, and I’m giving this one a full five stars in the historical murder mystery genre. I can't wait to get my hands on the third book!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing this digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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The Secret of the three Fates is a wonderful sequel to the Curse of Penryth Hall.
Ruby is back for a new adventure. Mr. Owen and Ruby are off to Manhurst Castle to acquire manuscripts. Lo and behold they attend a mysterious séance Things go wrong. Secrets are revealed. Of course there is mystery,murder and mayhem. Guess who shows up? Yes Ruan is back.
This is a very well written novel that will keep you guessing what is going to happen next.
Don’t miss this next adventure of Ruby and Ruan.
A very enjoyable book.
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this arc. -
ARC received!!! Thank you so much, Minotaur Books!
I've been so looking forward to this. I'm stoked!
Original:
This is such exciting news!
The follow-up to the Gothic Mystery,
The Curse of Penryth Hall, is coming and it sooo good.
I'm really looking forward to being back with Ruby on another spooky adventure! -
Netgalley ARC: After falling in love with the mysteries and characters of The Curse of Penryth Hall I was so excited to return to Ruby's world for a sequel. This time around we get to follow Ruby on another crazy adventure, but Mr. Owen's secrets take center stage. Murder, spirits and more Ruan! What else could you want.
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
** 3.5 stars rounded up
A lot of the issues I had from the first book were resolved more neatly in this one:
1.) The author did a good job at introducing the context behind certain scenarios or the significance of certain characters popping up and their relevance to the plot
2.) Ruan was no longer hot-and-cold with Ruby and he was able to very clearly articulate how he felt about her throughout the book. It was very heartwarming to read!
3.) The mystery was clearly stated from the beginning and it was a lot easier to follow
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book way more than the first and I cannot wait to see what Ruby and co. get up to in the next book! -
Ruby, Mr Owen and Ruan are all back for this exciting sequel to The Curse of Penryrh Hall.
Mr Owen gets Ruby to attend a seance at Manhurst Castle were many secrets are revealed. Someone dies and Ruby is determined to find out who did it. Mr. Owen, Ruby and Ruan's lives are on the line..
Very intriguing story which kept me guessing. I loved this sequel and all the surprises that came with it. I hope Jess Armstrong writes a third novel. -
This was a most enjoyable historical gothic mystery with a slight paranormal twist. It is set in the early 1920s of the Scottish Borderlands. Ruby Vaughn, our plucky and free-spirited protagonist, is an American heiress who fears nothing. After a valorous stint as an Army nurse in WWI, she charges in where others fear to tread. She works for an aging English antiquarian who dragged her off to Scotland under the ruse of appraising and acquiring some illuminated manuscripts. In actuality, he desires participation in a seance with the hope of contacting the spirit of his deceased son. Although son Ben does not make a appearance, another spirit does, misadventure is afoot and it isn't long before the bodies start piling up.
This continuation of the Ruby Vaughn mystery series is as equally engaging as the last, The Curse of Penryth Hall. It too includes the Pellar, Ruan Kivell and the sexual tension between him and Ruby continues a bit further along.
This was a highly atmospheric, somewhat dark mystery. The writing is rich and the characters colorful. The scene setting is cinematic in scope and the tension is steady throughout. This was a most entertaining mystery and I eagerly await Ruby and Ruan's next adventure.
I am grateful to author Jess Armstrong and her publisher, Minotaur Books, for having provided a complimentary uncorrected digital galley of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: December 3, 2024
Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 978-1250909886 -
The Secret of the Three Fates is an interesting who done it with a very eclectic cast of characters that are joined together for a mind blowing seance that leads to death, intrigue and Ruby Vaughn has to dig deep to find the culprit of recent deaths and a 40 year old disappearance.
I thought this story was really gripping and fun. Ruby is such a great character and everyone else was so entertaining that it just made for a really interesting and convoluted mystery. My only issue was the romance sub-plot. I think that perhaps because I did not read the first installment that maybe this is why this seemed so out of character for her, but it just seemed out of place, and really overtook the main story. That is why this did not get a 4 stars for me. I think If I read the First one in this case this review may change in the future with a re-read.
I recommend it though but I would say read 1st one 1st. 3.25 Stars.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me ARC access to this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own. -
This was such a fantastic sequel! Loved the mystery and spending more time with these characters!
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In The Secret of the Three Fates, Jess Armstrong reintroduces readers to Ruby Vaughn, the plucky American heiress who solved a string of supernatural murders in The Curse of Penryth Hall. Armstrong’s newest installment in her mystery series finds Ruby visiting Manhurst Castle with her octogenarian employer, Mr. Owens, to appraise and acquire illuminated manuscripts for their bookshop. Ruby soon finds out that Mr. Owens has brought her to the borders of Scotland under false pretenses. He has always had a keen interest in the occult, and when he hears The Three Fates, a trio of mediums who claim they can speak with the dead, will be at Manhurst Castle for a séance, he hopes to get in contact with his son who passed away during the Great War. When one of the fates is found murdered, Ruby must solve the crime to clear her name and the name of Mr. Owens, and she encounters plenty of supernatural and human secrets along the way.
Jess Armstrong’s new story also reintroduces readers to Ruan Kivell, the Pellar who helped Ruby solve her first case in Cornwall. Like Mr. Owens, whose wife mysteriously disappeared many years ago, and Ruby, who was the object of a great social scandal, Ruan has secrets, and details from his past are slowly revealed throughout the novel. The romantic tension that ignited in The Curse of Penryth Hall is elevated to a sizzle in The Secret of the Three Fates as Ruan and Ruby navigate a world filled with danger.
Armstrong’s main characters are the backbone of her writing; Ruby, Ruan, and Mr. Owens are interesting and compassionate people who possess both gifts and flaws. Although readers will be titillated by the twists and turns of the mystery at the heart of the novel, it is the characters who will stay with them long after the mysteries have been solved.
I loved both The Curse of Penryth Hall and The Secret of the Three Fates, and I can’t wait to read the next installment in the series which will no doubt delve even more deeply into the relationships between Ruby, Ruan, and Mr. Owens. Each novel in the Ruby Vaughn mystery series also explores the folkloric beliefs and superstitions of remote locations like Cornwall and Scotland, and the Gothic settings will sweep readers away on a journey through early 20th century Britain. Jess Armstrong’s writing is perfect for those who love historical fiction, murder mystery, and a touch of occult magic.
Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review. -
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book, and was not otherwise compensated for my review. What follows is my honest opinion.
Personal Rating System:
5 stars: Exceptional - I was hooked from beginning to end, and this book stayed with me after putting it down.
4 stars: Thoroughly enjoyed it, a great read with minor flaws.
3 stars: Literal definition of OK. 3 stars is NOT a bad book. It is also not a good book.
2 stars: Didn't enjoy it. Honestly probably should not have finished it.
1 star: Hated it, a terrible book that I couldn't finish.
“People and books. They all have stories, tales they want to tell. Some give them up easier than others”
Overall Impression: The Secret of the 3 Fates is my first step into the world of Ruby Vaughn. What Jess Armstrong has done here is taken the classic detectives like Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and even Sherlock Holmes, and made the protagonist more human. When reading some other reviews of this series I saw Ruby described as smart, intelligent, and driven. What I experienced however was a driven, stubborn, and yes, sometimes impetuous woman. Ruby was flawed in a way that made the story more compelling.
Feel: Overall I found the tone to be fairly light. Think about reading this book relaxing on your couch, or maybe a read in a relaxing bath. There were certainly some spooky, and tense moments, but overall the tone I felt conveyed through the pages was that of a foggy castle in the Scottish Hills. Note that I didn’t call it a haunted castle in the Scottish Hills. This book has the vibes of a ballroom crossed with a game of Clue gone awry.
Strengths: Jess Armstrong loves her characters, and it comes through clearly on every page. Ruby is an every-woman that is truly accessible. The enigmatic Mr. Owen is equally human and eccentric, and somehow is the endearing older gentleman we all either have met, or want to meet at some point in our lives.
The feel of the book is also a strength. This book knows what it is, and doesn’t try to be anything else.
Weaknesses: The pacing could probably stand to be a bit quicker, especially in the 30-55% portion of the book. I felt the editing couldn’t possibly make some plot points a little more clear. Neither complaints are strong though.
Recommendation: Do you want to dream of castles, and ghosts, and mediums while sitting by your candles with a blanket? This book is for you. -
This is the second book in the Ruby Vaughn series. Ruby is in her late 20’s and a disgraced American debutant. When she was 16, a wealthy (and secretly married) businessman compromised her in a very public way. The powerful man influences the press to make Ruby out as a temptress and he was a victim. Ruby’s family whisked her away to Britain to save them all embarrassment and the family’s place in society. Ruby drifts, serves as an ambulance driver during WWI and falls deeply in love with her friend Tamsyn who breaks Ruby’s heart by marring an Earl (See book #1 The Curse if Penrith Hall) and lives a very carefree life outside the boundaries of “polite society”. I this book, Ruby is, once again, unwittingly brought into a mystery by Mr. Owen’s who’s owns the antiquarian book store in Exeter where Ruby works and has become a father figure to her. Ruby believes that they are called to Manhurst Castle in Scotland to appraise some manuscripts but Mr. Owens know that they really are going to Scotland to see his former sister-in-law and attend a séance to hear from the spirit of his long disappeared first wife. A secret sex club, missing and possibly dead women, a man complicit in Ruby’s disgrace as a teenager shows up and a monstrous and powerful man is thwarted. There and MANY secrets in this book….some are explained and answered but most about the ongoing characters are not. Witches, unknown powers, who Ruby really is and will her very slow burn relationship with Ruan happen permeate the book and are hopefully answered in the next book in the series. Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC of this book.
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First, Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.
I'm luke warm on this one. The characters were interesting, but not of the time period depicted. This book has the veneer of an historical novel, but it's just surface level. None of the characters feel anything but totally 21st century. I liked the main character, but I really didn't see what purpose the setting had to do with really anything. She and the rest of the characters would have seemed more at home in a more contemporary novel, maybe one set after WWII instead of after WWI. All that was used from the war and period were the wounds and personal traumas that follow any way. If you're looking to be immersed in a time period, history, you won't find that in this book.
Like most romance novel females, Ruby generally jumps to the wrong conclusion, makes the worst choices, and dithers about the man she clearly loves for no obvious reason.
What I found most annoying was the made up terms like Peller and Moroven which I expected to be defined at some point, but never really was. Peller was given some scant details, but nothing about the label Ruby is tagged with. I guess that's supposed to compel us to read another of the series, and while I was interested enough to finish this one, I won't be reading any others. -
The followup mystery to The Curse of Penryth Hall delivers the same amazing Gothic atmosphere and dangerous adventures that we can now come to expect with Mr. Owen, Ruby, and Ruan.
This book starts with Mr. Owen receiving an invitation to a seance and hiding it from Ruby under the guise of sending her for some old manuscripts. She's not pleased to find out she must attend a seance but after mentions of ghosts, murder, and secrets she finds herself embroiled in another ghoulish mystery.
I loved this book just as much as the first. Ruby and Mr. Owen have such an endearing relationship and I love constant yet well intentioned bickering and nagging. Ruan and Ruby are still dancing around exactly what their relationship status is and of course I'm just screaming at her to LOVE HIM! The mystery was intriguing and it was a surprise to me on who the culprit was. I did think this one moved a little slower than the first book but it didn't deter me from wanting to read it as quickly as possible!
A perfect mystery. Can't wait to read what Ruby gets into next!
Thank you to Netgalley, St Martin's Press and Minotaur books for the ARC.
Make sure to read this when it releases in December. -
A fantastic follow up to The Curse of Penryth Hall! Ruby and Ruan have my whole heart and I loved learning more of Mr. Owen’s history.
This book has it all - strong, fierce women, mystery, intrigue, an atmospheric setting, and a dash of romance. I loved the concept of the three fates, the historical Scottish setting, and unraveling more of the mystery of Ruby and Ruan’s strange connection. I was very excited by the reappearance of the White Witch and completely agree with her motives - Ruan Kivell must be protected at all costs. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat, with every new reveal leading up to a stunning conclusion.
This story left me eagerly anticipating an announcement for Ruby 3. There’s so many things I want to know about Ruby and I can’t wait to read more of her story!
Thank you to Netgalley, Minotaur Books, and St. Martin’s Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. -
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fantastic sequel to The Curse of Penryth Hall. This story starts with Ruby and Mr. Owen at Manhurst Castle to obtain rare manuscripts, but soon it is revealed Mr. Owen’s has once again tricked Ruby and they are actually there to attend a seance. After the seance one of the psychics is found dead and then the mystery begins to unfold, along with the secrets of Mr. Owen’s past that he has been hiding.
I really enjoyed being back in Ruby's world and getting more information about her and Mr. Owen’s past, it was interesting to see both of them confront parts of their past that they were running from. I also loved how Ruan being involved in the story forced Ruby to confront her feelings for him. The mystery was also very intriguing, there were several female characters that I did have trouble keeping straight, but the resolution was very satisfying.
This was solid follow up and if you enjoyed The Curse Penryth Hall, you would enjoy this as well. -
The second book in this series definitely delivered!
I really enjoyed Ruby Vaughn and her cast of characters in "The Curse of Penryth Hall" but I was hoping for more from the plot. This second book of the series brought it! Creepy séances are a large part of this murder mystery, where guests of a small house party are dying -- and its up to Ruby and her Pellar, Ruan, to determine if the culprit is living or dead.
An excellent, atmospheric mystery with a healthy dose of romantic and familial love as well. Already eagerly anticipating the third book!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. -
#TheSecretofTheThreeFates #bookmail
Trigger warnings for past sexual assault. Sex club. Violence against females. The occult.
This would not have been my normal book choice.
This book has a strong, stubborn, and independent female character who goes off on her own and gets in over her head. This seems contradictory.
I feel like this may be a set-up for book 3. There were more hints about Ruby's family history and many hints about Ruby's possible future power.
There was not enough resolution of all the secrets for me to continue on to book 3. There was not enough character building with Ruan and The White Witch for me to care about what happens to them in the future. -
This book is a second in the series starring Ruby Vaughn and Mr. Owen. Mr. Owen receives an invitation to a seance to be held in the Scottish Border. Mr. Owen desperately wants to speak once more to his deceased wife along with finding out what his deceased son wants to warn him about. The seance is being hosted by three mediums called The Three Fates. One by one the mediums are being murdered and Ruby and Mr. Owen quickly become the prime suspects and someone or something is determined to stop them from discovering the real killer.
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Thank you NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Overall, I would give this book 3.5 stars. It was great seeing the characters Ruby and Ruan again and getting to learn more about them. Their chemistry is a great part of the series. While I liked this book and found it an enjoyable read, it wasn’t a page turner like the first one. It used some devices from the first book that made the first book great but then you already know what it is. I think the clues could have been more easily integrated to help the reader along. -
Overall, this was an entertaining read. I did get a bit tired of all of the secrets everyone was keeping from one another. Just have a freaking conversation already! The will they, won’t they with Ruan and Ruby was also getting tedious. I think this book could have used some editing and could have been shorter. Not all of the details were necessary and all of the subplots became a bit cumbersome. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.
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Thank you to netgalley and Jess Armstrong for letting me read an ARC of this book. I loved it just as much as the first. The beginning does start slow but soon the characters that we have grown to love, ruby, Ruan, and Mr own find themselves in trouble once again. The mystery of it all and trying to solve it held my attention and kept me guessing. I love the mix of mystical and realism. A great sequel and I'm hoping for a third
