The South Florida Sun Sentinel – One of the Best Mysteries of the Year
B&N – One of the Most Memorable Mystery Debuts of the Year
Goodreads – One of the Best Books of December
LibraryReads – One of the Top 10 Reads of the Month
"Armstrong's lively prose will make cynics believe in curses and witches. Ruby's intelligence, insight, fearless nature, and complicated background will make readers eager for a sequel."–Shelf Awareness
“A solid start with its evocative gothic atmosphere, a rich sense of post WWI England and an intriguing, strong heroine who is tasked with delivering rare books to a folk healer in a tiny Cornwell village.” –South Florida Sun Sentinel
"The author’s prose and imagery are powerful like a seasoned cinematographer’s eye for details. You will find yourself immersed in the eerie silence of the woods and whispers of Penryth Hall… The notion of crime and curse, reality and foul play keeps moving from one page to the other till the end."–Deccan Chronicle
“Armstrong keeps the tension cranked high… Characters are rounded and distinct, the setting remarkably realized, and the blend of Gothic gloom with rustic charm and war-hardened pragmatism makes a highly palatable formula. The prose style is rhythmic and assured… Fans of Gothic mystery as well as more realistic detective fiction will enjoy this confident debut.” –Historical Novel Society
"Delivers plenty of spooky ambiance courtesy of threatening rainstorms on rugged and craggy moors and a foreboding, fortress-like house... But there are also dashes of humor and wit." –Bookreporter
“[The Curse of Penryth Hall] channels The Hound of the Baskervilles. . . An intriguing and altogether enchanting mystery.” –Kirkus Reviews
“Superbly rendered characters include a plucky protagonist whom Maisie Dobbs would be proud to claim as a friend and an evocative sense of place reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier at her best… Readers who like their historical mysteries embellished with plenty of gothic ambience and enhanced with an abundance of dry wit will adore this splendid debut.” –Library Journal (starred review)
“An engrossing debut. . . Ruby is a wonderful concoction, world-weary and reckless, and Armstrong outfits her with a moody, gripping mystery that keeps the pages turning. . . Fans of Gothic-flavored suspense will devour this." –Publishers Weekly
"Readers who enjoy historical fiction with a touch of gothic and noir will find this tale compelling." –Booklist
“An atmospheric, fast-moving debut.” –First Clue
“Brooding and atmospheric. . . Perfect for fans of Hester Fox and Simone St. James.” –Anna Lee Huber
“Murder and superstition entwine in this riveting romp through the Cornish countryside. . . Devilishly delightful.” –B.R. Myers
“A beautiful, sinister, gothic spin on the historical mystery genre. . . Clear your calendar before you pick up The Curse of Penryth Hall, because once you start reading you won't want to stop." –Katharine Schellman
"Will have readers on the edge of their seats, and leave them wanting more of Ruby Vaughn." –Kate Khavari
“Curious and enthralling.” –Lydia Kang
“A witty and clever debut. Complex characters plus a delicious mystery kept me turning the pages deep into the night.” –Kelley Armstrong
Emma Love beautifully delivers the essence of this story. In 1922, Ruby, an heiress, is sent to Lothel Green to deliver a trunk of magical books to Ruan, who has a gift for healing. While there, Ruby visits her old friend, Tamsyn, who has married Sir Chenowyth of Penryth Hall. Overnight, Chenowyth is found dead in the orchard, and locals believe the cause was a curse. Tamsyn is sure she and her son are next. Confused by the strange events, Ruby becomes wrapped up in Ruan, Tamsyn, and the mystery of what's going on. Love skillfully depicts the many characters by altering her accent, tone, and pacing. Masterfully, Love increases the listener's anticipation with breathless pacing. S.K.G. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine
2023-10-07
Armstrong’s debut, set in 1922 in the Cornish countryside, channels The Hound of the Baskervilles as her heroine wonders if a curse is actually to blame for a real-life murder.
Ruby Vaughn, who works for a seller of old and rare books in Exeter, walks into a scandal when she goes to a village called Lothlel Green to deliver a box of books to Ruan Kivell, who's known to the locals as the Pellar. As far as Ruby can tell, that means he's “more or less some type of arcane Cornish exorcist....[A] cross between a physician, a witch, and a priest,” but that’s not to say she isn't intrigued. Ruan is a mystery within a mystery; the second time Ruby meets him, she thinks: “This wasn’t the charming man I’d seen only yesterday...No. He had thunder on his face, and there was something different about him. Something untamed, uncivilized, and entirely terrifying.” While in Lothlel Green, Ruby reunites with Tamsyn, her old love, who's been living there in Penryth Hall since she married Sir Edward Chenowyth and had a son. When Edward dies mysteriously and Ruby is nearly killed herself, she learns about the Curse of Penryth Hall, where the Chenowyth family lives. Years ago, a jilted woman foolishly asked a local witch for help winning back the heart of her lover, a Chenowyth ancestor who'd married a barmaid, and “the witch set a curse upon the Chenowyth line vowing revenge. She killed the faithless heir and his young bride, removing his inconstant heart and delivering it to his betrothed in a silver box.” Ruby is not sure she believes in curses, but she knows that Edward was not a faithful husband and likely has many enemies. Tamsyn isn’t too broken up about Edward’s death, but she’ll do anything to protect her son from becoming the next victim of the curse, and she needs Ruby’s help. Romance and danger lurk in every corner of this spooky estate. The folklore in the story is charming, and the characters treat it with reverence even while searching for a human killer.
An intriguing and altogether enchanting mystery.