The Curse of Penryth Hall - by Jess Armstrong

About the Book

"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"--

Book Synopsis

"A delightful debut." -People

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.

Review Quotes

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

About the Author

JESS ARMSTRONG's debut novel, The Curse of Penryth Hall, won the Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition. She has a masters degree in American History but prefers writing about imaginary people to the real thing. Jess lives in New Orleans with her historian husband, two sons, yellow cat, speckled dog, and the world's most pampered school-fair goldfish. And when she's not working on her next project, she's probably thinking about cheese, baking, tweeting or some combination of the above.