| Title | : | The Secret of the Three Fates: A gripping murder mystery with an evocative Scottish backdrop (Ruby Vaughn Book 2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0749031689 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780749031688 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | - |
| Publication | : | Expected publication December 5, 2024 |
For Mr Owen, who lost a son in the Great War, a trio of mediums billing themselves as The Three Fates are the answer to his desperate wish to speak to him again. But the night of the séance brings with it a murder and Ruby and Mr Owen must uncover the truth about the killing in order to clear their names.
The Secret of the Three Fates: A gripping murder mystery with an evocative Scottish backdrop (Ruby Vaughn Book 2) Reviews
-
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.
medium blog
instagram
facebook
twitter< -
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.
-
I received this book as an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I very much enjoyed the continuation of Ruby’s story and the continued unfolding of her and Mr. Owen’s pasts that were hinted at throughout the first book but never clearly outlined. The interweaving of Elijah from Rubys past in America and the occult mystery of Mr. Owen’s dark past and the current murders was done in a way that kept you wondering who might have done it until the very end.
I did find the constant lack of communication frustrating as no one ever answered a question directly and secrets continued to be kept when it seemed the common goal was to determine who the murderer was and stop them. This left me frustrated and disengaged from the story at times.
However, overall I very much enjoyed this book, the characters, the world building, and the writing style. I look forward to seeing what the rest of the series could have to offer. -
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. -
It's been less than one year since we met Ruby Vaughn in The Curse of Penryth Hall and we already have a sequel? I'm amazed that this book has come out so fast. I'm delighted that the paranormal elements are even stronger in this book than in the last and we're continuing to learn about our cast's past, but also about their possible future.
This book has Ruby and her employer, Mr. Owen, heading to an estate in Scotland to buy some rare manuscripts for the bookshop they run. We quickly find out that the manuscripts don't exist and they've actually been summoned to take part in a seance. It turns out that they are surrounded by people Mr. Owen knows from is past and women are dying around them. Ruby winds up being a suspect and Ruan shows up (thank goodness!) and things things get COMPLICATED.
The mystery here is layered and has lots of twists. I know that I'm going to pick up on more when I read it a second time. Even more rewarding, though, are the personal developments with our characters. We get some surprising information about Mr. Owen that make Ruby question their relationship. Ruby and Ruan learn more about the magic between them, though we'll definitely have to wait a while for Ruby to work through her baggage and get comfortable with who she is becoming.
This book definitely left me wanting more because the character development was so good! I'll be rereading this when my preordered copy arrives and I'll happily wait for the next book in this fantastic series! -
I received this book as an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I very much enjoyed the continuation of Ruby’s story and the continued unfolding of her and Mr. Owen’s pasts that were hinted at throughout the first book but never clearly outlined. The interweaving of Elijah from Rubys past in America and the occult mystery of Mr. Owen’s dark past and the current murders was done in a way that kept you wondering who might have done it until the very end.
I did find the constant lack of communication frustrating as no one ever answered a question directly and secrets continued to be kept when it seemed the common goal was to determine who the murderer was and stop them. This left me frustrated and disengaged from the story at times.
However, overall I very much enjoyed this book, the characters, the world building, and the writing style. I look forward to seeing what the rest of the series could have to offer. -
This was such a fantastic sequel! Loved the mystery and spending more time with these characters!
-
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. -
First thank you to Minotaur Books for the ARC! When I entered the Goodreads giveaway, I didn’t realize it was book two in a series so I was going into this as a purely one-off mystery read who would hopefully figure things out along the way. Not my best moment but I figured my way around the Ruby Vaughn world pretty quickly and now I can’t wait to get my hands on the first book and any others that may be published in the future.
The Secret of The Three Fates was a complex mystery set in Scotland that started with a séance and ended with some dead mediums. Good times, great oldies. As investigators rush to the scene to blame Mr. Owen (who admitted to the murder he didn’t commit), Ruby Vaughn must fight to prove his innocence and along the way her own, since poking around a crime scene covered in dirt and blood isn’t the most innocent of looks. This book was beyond intriguing and every time I thought I had the murderer, I was wrong. The way each character was so carefully interconnected made for a tantalizing mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.
Learning about all these characters and how they were connected through Ruby’s point of view was great because not only is she determined and smart, she’s also very much realistic about these events and what can actually happen to the people involved. There was no unnecessary drama on her part (other than her indecisiveness about Ruan but that’s love so it’s necessary and doesn’t count). She took the facts as they were and even though she was emotionally connected to the case through her need to protect Mr. Owen, she knew that the truth must prevail no matter who was at fault. The authorities and everyone were ready to sweep it under the rug, but she knew she had to stand up for the women affected by the horrible Eurydice’s Fall gentlemen’s club. She did her job, and she did it well. Now all she has to do is go catch Ruan before he goes because the two of them belong together so much it’s adorable.
I think the greatest shock wasn’t the duke being the one at fault but rather Genevieve being Mr. Owen’s daughter. I didn’t see that coming at all and if anyone says they did then they are liars because that was an insane twist to come from Jess Armstrong’s incredible writing.
Overall, I think everything from the characters to the twists were fantastic. The introduction to the Eurydice’s Fall gentlemen’s club did seem a bit awkward at first but it was worked in better as the story progressed. Otherwise, this was a wonderful read. Now that I’ve finished it guess I should probably go get the first book and hope that there will be a third… -
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. -
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Jess Armstrong for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Secret of the Three Fates coming out December 3, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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 books shop, 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.
I’ve read the first book, so I was really excited to receive this. I really wanted to love this book, but it felt a little disjointed to me. The mystery seemed to come really late in the book. I would’ve preferred the discovery of the deceased near the first half of the book. I enjoyed Ruby’s interactions with Ruan, but some of the other plot points seemed unnecessary to the mystery. It seemed like there was a lot going on and some of it seemed too modern for the time. Overall, I liked it, but didn’t love it. I would check out other books by this author. -
Still in a self-imposed exile from America, Ruby Vaughn returns after her adventures in “The Curse of Penryth Hall,” still as the assistant to octogenarian Mr.Owen, but this time overseeing a vast book collection in a castle in the Scottish Borders. Mr. Owen asks Ruby to attend a seance in the castle conducted by a group of women known as The Three Fates. Surprise! Ruby recognizes one of them as the White Witch of Cornwall who she encountered in the previous book. There’s a family mystery connected to Mr. Owen, and after her recent adventure, Ruby is not ruling out supernatural causes. A dark figure from her past (with a new name) complicates matters.
Also returning is Ruan Kivell, the “Pellar” (healer/curse breaker/witch) with whom Ruby has some unresolved feelings for and with whom the White Witch has some antagonizing warnings for. Of course, this perks Ruby’s interest even more.
Definitely a sequel (you really should read “The Curse of Penryth Hall first) with the same atmospheric Gothic trajectory, Ruby is emerging as a thoughtful detective who balances real life clues with the possibilities of things unknown. The tension between her and Ruan ratchets up (well, he can read her thoughts) and there’s more mystery in Ruby’s past than previously revealed. The story ends with an opening to a third installment, and I look forward to reading more about Ruby’s adventures! 4 stars!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Ruan is back and so are his green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO No more water hemlock mistaken for parsnips, although Ruan is burning herbs again.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy! -
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.
-
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. -
If you loved The Curse of Penryth Hall (or even casually liked it), you're going to want to move this to the very top of your "Need to Buy" list.
It has everything we loved from book one: intrigue, murder, mystery, old folk tales and superstitions casually blended into "is this actually real or not?", sometimes problematic (and very realistic) MCs, and just a whole bunch of love. It was the best kind of sequel because we picked up where we left off, but we also feel the impact of the first book throughout the story.
This kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. It reminded me of my beloved Hercule Poirot novels, constantly guessing if I actually know how the mystery will play out. Add a dash of magical realism set on a Scottish isle, and you're all set.
I'm going to casually be thinking about this for awhile. Mostly for THEM ⚔️ (if you know, you know,) but also because the pace increased so much that I'm still processing how well everything was settled.
Add both Ruby books to your TBR as soon as possible. They would be incredible Fall and Winter reads. -
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.
