Review - The Curse of Penryth Hall

If you are a fan of the gothic books from the 1960s thru the 1990s by Victoria Holt, Norah Lofts, Dorothy Eden, Joan Aiken, and many others then you will likely really enjoy this novel.  This debut work won the Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel competition.  

The gothic atmosphere is deliciously laid out like a banquet.  This line sets the stage: "The old Cornish folkways predate even the Romans.  There are things that occur there no one can explain, no one dares."

Author: Jess Armstrong

Copyright: Dec 2023 (Minotaur) 329 pgs

Series: 1st in Ruby Vaughn mystery series

Sensuality: mild, innuendo, adult situations referenced

Mystery Sub-genre: Historical cozy, Amateur Sleuth

Main Characters: Ruby Vaughn, Heiress-prior WW1 ambulance driver and runs a bookstore for an octogenarian

Setting: August 1922, Cornwall, England

Obtained Through: Publisher for an honest review, Netgalley

 

Book Blurb:  "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."

My Thoughts:  I grew up (10 years and on up) reading gothic romances of the sixities, seventies, eighties, and even nineties.  I have wanted more recent gothics with a newer writing style to take the gothic genre to new heights.  This is the best of the old gothic stories with updated takes and suspense.  

    The characters of  Ruby Vaughn (strong and flawed heroine), Ruan Kivell (the local "Pellar," in English folk he practiced Magic and Witchcraft, was a healer, diviner and breaker of spells) a compelling and mysterious man, and Tamysn (the recent widow who appears haunted and terrified) each provide layers and nuances to the story.  Although Ruby and Ruan initially butt heads, there is something between Ruby and Ruan, something ancient and mystical that I dearly hope will be further explained in subsequent books.  Mr. Owen and Mrs. Penrose are great secondary characters that I'm glad will be returning.

    The setting of Cornwall with the deep sense of history and persistant old folk ways sets the gothic atmosphere to perfection.  The plot has many twists and turns that kept me guessing.  The mystery may seem simple at first but it is actually more complex and involved.  The lurking image of a ghost, the Pellar's near magic healing abilities, and the family secrets slowly doled out are perfection and kept me reading on and on.  The climax was great with some suspense.  The wrapup ties up all the loose ends, except whether Ruby and Ruan will see each other again and figure out their strange connection.  Something to look forward to, I hope.  

     I admit the first chapter or two didn't grab me, but I'm glad I stuck with it because once Sir Edward Chenowyth is murdered the story had me in its spell and I could barely put it down to sleep.  I highly recommend.   

Rating:  Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list 

Review - The Last Mrs. Summers

I have followed the series, but not faithfully.  Sometimes I have read a book not gotten to reviewing it (I'm bad).  Here are the reviews I have posted of prior books in the series. 

#8 Queen of Hearts (click here) 

#7 Heirs and Graces (click here), 

#6 The Twelve Clues of Christmas (click here,) 

#5 Naughty in Nice (click here,) 

#4 Royal Blood (click here,) 

Author interviews/Guest posts

2010 (click here) 

2016 (click here) 

2017 (click here)

 Lady Georgiana Rannoch is just back from her honeymoon with dashing Darcy O’Mara when a friend in need pulls her into a twisted Gothic tale of betrayal, deception and, most definitely, murder. . . .In the foreword, Ms. Bowen shares that this book is her homage to Daphne du Maurier's gothic book Rebecca. 

Author: Rhys Bowen

Copyright: August 2020 (Berkley) 320 pgs

Series: 14th in A Royal Spyness Mysteries

Sensuality: n/a

Mystery Sub-genre: Historical Cozy

Main Character: Lady Georgianna, 35th in line for the throne, cousin to the prince

Setting: 1934-35, Cornwall England

Obtained Through: Library

Book Cover: "After a heart-stopping journey in Belinda’s beast of a motorcar, we arrive at the creaky old cottage called White Sails and quickly realize that it is completely uninhabitable. Just when I’m starting to wonder if I would have been better off trying to get Queenie to cook a roast that hasn’t been burnt beyond all recognition, we meet Rose Summers, a woman Belinda knew as a child when she spent time in Cornwall. Rose invites us to stay at Trewoma Hall, the lovely estate now owned by her husband, Tony.

Belinda confesses that she never liked Rose and had a fling with Tony years ago, so staying with them is far from ideal but beggars can’t be choosers as they say. Trewoma is not the idyllic house Belinda remembers. There’s something claustrophobic and foreboding about the place. Matters aren’t helped by the oppressively efficient housekeeper Mrs. Mannering or by the fact that Tony seems to want to rekindle whatever he and Belinda once had right under his wife’s nose.

Our increasingly awkward visit soon turns deadly when a member of the household is found murdered and all clues point to Belinda as the prime suspect. I soon learn that some long buried secrets have come back to haunt those in residence at Trewoma Hall and I’ll need to sift through the ruins of their past so Belinda doesn’t lose her chance at freedom in the present. . . ."

 

Georgiana is married now but Darcy is off on Government business so she is bored.  Belinda is done making mistakes with men and is trying to focus on cleaning up her life. This book gives her a great opportunity.  Rose is the new Mrs. Summers but she was the poor daughter of a servant and feels isolated and in danger.  Tony is the unsympathetic husband who treats Rose in a belittling manner.  Belinda's Uncle, Francis, is a shady local character complicating Belinda's life.  Jago is the mysterious man from the past that now is the manager of the mansion on the property next door.  Jonquil, deceased, was the prior Mrs. Summers who slipped at a cliff and fell to her death.  Mrs. Mannering is the ever-present efficient house keeper who doesn't like Rose.

Trewoma Hall has an aura of tragedy and woe. It provides the delightfully gothic setting for some nice chills.  The isolated coast of Cornwall in general is perfect for some creepy chills.

The foreward lets you know this is an homage to Rebecca, so the plot isn't a surprise that much if you've read Rebecca.  The murder takes several chapters to arrive, but the story is building like an Agatha Christie novel.  And, if you've read Rebecca it isn't hard to figure out the villain, but that doesn't make the journey any less enjoyable. The pacing is a slow warm up with a lot going on to process.  I found this still a relaxing and fun pace.

The killer confrontation is tense and tragic even.  The wrapup leaves us with a smile and warm feelings.

If you are a devoted reader of the Royal Spyness mysteries I must say that this is different than all the others.  By the very nature of doing an homage to Rebecca it had to be different than any of the others. There is no duty to the queen, Georgianna's disaster of a maid/cook doesn't tag along.  There is less humor than the typical mystery in the series, and Darcy's appearance seems forced.  But it is still a good homage and mystery that I found entertaining and well worth my time.

Rating: Excellent - Loved it! If you are a fan of the series, keep my caveat in mind. If you haven't read this series before you can enjoy without reading any prior books in the series. 

 

Review - A Dangerous Collaboration

I reviewed the first book, A Curious Beginning (click here) and the third in the series A Treacherous Curse (click here).  I missed the second in the series, but I jumped on the chance to review the fourth in this exciting historical mystery series.  If you like Daphne du Maurier's classic Rebecca, you definitely want to check out this review.

Author: Deanna Raybourn

Copyright: Jan 2017 (Berkley) 298 pgs

Series: 4th in Veronica Speedwell Mystery series

Sensuality: Innuendo and frank mature discussion within period language.  Nothing crude, no graphic violence

Mystery Sub-genre: Historical Amateur Sleuth

Main Character: Veronica Speedwell is an amateur entomologist 

Setting: 1888 Cornwall Island, England

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review, #Netgalley

From the cover:  "Lured by the promise of a rare and elusive butterfly, the intrepid Veronica Speedwell is persuaded by Lord Templeton-Vane, the brother of her colleague Stoker, to pose as his fiancée at a house party on a Cornish isle owned by his oldest friend, Malcolm Romilly.

But Veronica soon learns that one question hangs over the party: What happened to Rosamund? Three years ago, Malcolm Romilly’s bride vanished on their wedding day, and no trace of her has ever been found. Now those who were closest to her have gathered, each a possible suspect in her disappearance. 

From the poison garden kept by Malcolm’s sister to the high towers of the family castle, the island’s atmosphere is full of shadows, and danger lurks around every corner. 

Determined to discover Rosamund’s fate, Veronica and Stoker match wits with a murderer who has already struck once and will not hesitate to kill again.…"

Veronica is larger-than-life, incredibly ahead of her time, stubborn, and highly intelligent with a sharp tongue and wit.  Stoker (Mr. Ravelstoke Templeton-Vane) is her sleuthing partner.  He is cranky and reclusive, and growing more frustrated with Veronica's avoidance of any romantic relationship with him.  Tiberius, Stoker's estranged brother and ardent suitor of Veronica, has to face his feelings for the missing bride and his less than honorable actions in the past.  Malcom, the lord of the castle, is a mysterious host at best.  Mertensia, Malcom's sister, is the eerie relative who prefers gardening and her poisonous plants more than people. Helen is the widow of Malcom's brother Lucian who also is known as Madame Helena who does séances.  The missing bride is ever present and the more you learn about her, the more the suspects pile up.

A foreboding ancestral castle with multiple hidden passageways, rainy and dreary weather, the ominous "Three Sisters" rocky protrusions just off the coast, and a séance make this a Gothic masterpiece.  I loved the great use of the setting as a character in itself.

The plot develops and twists as the family and staff are all developed and the sexual tension between Veronica and Stoker increases.  Pacing was expertly managed and made this a page turner.  The climax was thrilling and hair raising with great character touches included.  Kudos!! The wrap-up was very satisfying.

I couldn't help but consider this as a fantastic tribute to or take on the Daphne du Maurier's classic Rebecca. If you have read previous books in this series, the dance between Veronica and Stoker moves toward resolution and I was happy with how that worked.

Rating: Near Perfect - Couldn't Put it down. Buy two copies, one for you and one for a friend.

Here is a wonderful short video from the author where she discusses her inspiration for Veronica Speedwell. https://youtu.be/Wo5tKdeDjSU

And now for a short video on Margaret Fountaine, the Lepidopterist who is the inspiration for Veronica Speedwell.

https://youtu.be/yLYxAqIk1RQ

Review - Say No Moor

I had reviewed one prior book in the series, the 9th titled Fleur De Lies (click here).  We are back with the Seniors Tour in England now.


Author: Maddy Hunter

Copyright: Jan 2018 (Berkley) 336 pgs

Series: 11th in Passport to Peril Mystery series

Sensuality: Mild

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy Mystery

Main Character: Emily Andrew-Miceli, Travel Agency Owner and Seniors Tour Escort

Setting: Modern, Cornwall England

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest opinion

Cover blurb:  " Hoping to reach an expanded clientele of senior travelers, Emily Andrew-Miceli invites a handful of bloggers to join her group's tour of England's Cornwall region. But when the quarrelsome host of a historic inn dies under suspicious circumstances, Emily worries that the bloggers' online reviews will torpedo her travel agency.

To make matters worse, Emily is roped into running the inn, and not even a team effort from her friends can prevent impending disaster. As one guest goes missing and another turns up dead, Emily discovers that well-kept secrets can provide more than enough motive for murder."

Emily, is pretty laid back for dealing with a group of cantankerous seniors, but add on the divisive bloggers, two of which are feuding, and I wondered how to remained so calm.  There is a regular cast of Iowa seniors that Emily is escorting: Emily's Grandmother Marion known as Nana, Alice, Osmond, Helen, Margi, Dick Stolee, Dick Tieg, Bernice, Lucille, Grace, George, and Tilly.  Plus Emilly's ex-husband, now Jackie.  FYI for fans, Emily's husband Etienne isn't in this book, like in the prior book I read. 

Cornwall sounds amazing and the sights that the tour visits made me want to spend time in Cornwall.  The plot is around the murder of the chef and half owner of the Inn, a gruff and bullish man.  The plot has subplots of a thief steeling items from the tour group, the group having to scramble and do their own cooking in hopes of keeping the bloggers satisfied, and one of the regulars goes missing.  The subplots help to keep the pacing humming along.  The climax is pretty suspenseful and surprising.  The wrap up ties up loose ends and left me satisfied.

This series accentuates the zany seniors who are recurring characters.  They are over-the-top with quarrelsome banter between them, opinionated, and often down right hilarious.  A few places I laughed till I had tears.  I know humor is subjective, but give it a try for a good laugh.  I found more twists in this story than the prior I had read, kudos.  It takes a little for the story to build until the first murder, but it was worth it.

Rating:  Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list