How to Seal Your Own Fate - (Castle Knoll Files) by Kristen Perrin (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Present day: Annie Adams is just settling into life in Castle Knoll when local fortune teller Peony Lane crosses her path and shares a cryptic message. When Peony Lane is found dead only hours later inside the locked Gravesdown Estate, Annie quickly realizes that someone is out to make her look guilty while silencing Peony at the same time. Annie has no choice but to delve into the dark secrets of Castle Knoll in order to find out just what Peony Lane was trying to warn her about, before the new life she's just begun to build comes crashing down around her. 1967: A year has passed since her friend Emily disappeared, and teenage Frances Adams finds herself caught between two men. Ford Gravesdown is one of the only remaining members of a family known for its wealth and dubious uses of power. Archie Foyle is a local who can't hold down a job and lives above the village pub. But when Frances teams up with Archie to investigate the car crash that claimed the lives of Ford's family, it quickly becomes clear that this was no accident--hints of cover-ups, lies, and betrayals abound. The question is, just how far does the blackness creep through the heart of Castle Knoll? When Frances uncovers secrets kept by both Ford and Archie, she starts to wonder: What exactly has she gotten herself into?"--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

An April 2025 Library Reads Pick

"A brilliant follow-up that proves Kristen Perrin is here to stay...A thrilling story that ends with a big reveal you won't see coming, even though the clues were in front of you the entire time!"--G.T. Karber, international bestselling author of Murdle

New York Times bestselling author Kristen Perrin is back and better than ever with her second Castle Knoll Murder Mystery.

Welcome to Castle Knoll, the idyllic English village home to a surprising number of murderers.

Present day: Annie Adams is just settling into life in Castle Knoll when local fortune teller Peony Lane shares a cryptic message only hours before being found dead inside the locked Gravesdown Estate. Annie has no choice but to delve into the dark secrets of her new countryside home in order to find out just what Peony Lane was trying to warn her about, before her brand new life comes crashing down around her.

1967: Teenage Frances Adams, Annie's great aunt, finds herself caught between two men. Ford Gravesdown is one of the only remaining members of a family known for its wealth and dubious uses of power. Archie Foyle is a local who can't hold down a job and lives above the village pub. But when Frances teams up with Archie to investigate the car crash that killed most of Ford's family, it quickly becomes clear that this was no accident--hints of cover-ups, lies, and betrayals abound. The question is, just how far does the blackness creep through the heart of Castle Knoll? When Frances uncovers secrets kept by both Ford and Archie, she starts to wonder: What exactly has she gotten herself into?

As Annie and Frances investigate two new mysteries spanning decades, they'll unlock the next level of secrets held in Castle Knoll's dark heart.

Review Quotes

Praise for How to Seal Your Own Fate
"Along with strong emotional connections between characters on the page and with readers, the mystery is complex, and the clues plentiful, while the charming location and tight-knit community will encourage a cozy reread. The end is satisfying on multiple levels, including the promise of more mysteries to come. A perfect choice for readers of Agatha Christie and Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce series."--Booklist (starred review)

"Kristen Perrin has done it again - a wonderful murder mystery set in Castle Knoll investigating the death of the fortune-teller Peony Lane. I really enjoyed the dual timeline sleuthing with the lovable Annie and Great Aunt Frances and I can't wait for book three."--C.L. Miller, USA Today bestselling author of The Antique Hunters Guide to Murder

"A brilliant follow-up that proves Kristen Perrin is here to stay. It was wonderful to revisit the characters from How to Solve Your Own Murder, especially the infamous Peony Lane, who offers a new prediction that once again leads to surprisingly murderous results. How to Seal Your Own Fate is a thrilling story that ends with a big reveal you won't see coming, even though the clues were in front of you the entire time!"--G.T. Karber, international bestselling author of Murdle

"Kristen Perrin delivers a captivating blend of mystery and suspense in How to Seal your Own Fate, where the charming village of Castle Knoll harbors secrets that span generations. A thoroughly engaging read that kept me guessing until the very end."--Joanna Wallace, national bestselling author of You'd Look Better as a Ghost

"It was such a delight to return to Castle Knole with Kristen Perrin's charming but deadly characters in How To Seal Your Own Fate. This time, we get a glimpse of the swinging sixties as Great Aunt Frances proves as determined a sleuth as Annie. A fantastic follow-up to a cracking debut!"--Jessica Bull, author of Miss Austen Investigates

"What a great read! Full of shadowy corners and lost diaries. Prepare to joyously lose yourself in the dark secrets of Gravesdown Hall."--J. M. Hall, author of A Spoonful of Murder

"Each character is so well-written and believable, all of them bringing something different to a really original, atmospheric story."--Ian Moore, author of Death and Croissants

"Perrin mixes gothic and cozy tropes with a steady hand, and Annie is a suitably plucky heroine...an entertaining ride."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Kristen Perrin is the New York Times bestselling author of the Castle Knoll Murder Mystery series. She is originally from Seattle, Washington, where she spent several years working as a bookseller before moving to the UK to do a master's and PhD. She lives with her family in Surrey, where she can be found poking around vintage bookstores, stomping in the mud with her two kids, and collecting too many plants. Her middle-grade series, Attie and the World Breakers, was published in German, Dutch, and Polish. How to Solve Your Own Murder was her adult debut.