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American Ruby Vaughn has been living in England since she was a teenager, when her father sent her away because of a scandal. Now both of her parents are gone, and as a wealthy woman on her own she can do what she wants, when she wants. She works at a rare bookstore and lives comfortably with her octogenarian employer at his estate. The two are good friends and satisfied housemates.
When her boss insists she deliver a trunk of books to a folk healer in the Cornish countryside, Ruby is forced to face some aspects of her past she would much rather leave well enough alone.
She makes a visit to Tamsyn Chenowyth, once her closest friend, who is now married to a baronet. Tamsyn and Sir Edward live at his old family home, Penryth Hall, which doesn’t look like the infusion of Tamsyn’s family’s cash made much difference to its condition. Dinner with the Chenowyths is entirely unpleasant, and Ruby is eager to leave the next morning.
But after a thoroughly strange and upsetting night’s sleep, Ruby learns in the morning that Sir Edward is dead. And the villagers are sure it is the return of the family curse, which last struck 30 years before. To confirm this suspicion, they call in Ruan Kivell, the man to whom Ruby had delivered the books. Ruan is known in the area as a Pellar, someone who can work some magic and, hopefully, break the curse.
Ruby doesn’t believe in magic or curses or Pellars. She believes the death of Sir Edward was good old-fashioned murder, and someone in the village is the killer. And rather than leaving the town, which she’d love to do, she needs to stay and solve the murder because the “curse” could strike again. And its likely victim would be Tamsyn.
The Curse of Penryth Hall is an atmospheric novel that starts off laying a gothic groundwork built of old magic and ancient folk tales. It put me in mind of some of my favorite books set in Cornwall and made me shiver in anticipation. Then the story moves more into murder mystery territory, as Ruby goes around town playing detective and consults often with Ruan. The tone shifts a bit as well to mystery, but still built on the gothic base. Ruby’s time with Ruan is spent trying to disprove anything supernatural, but there are moments she wonders if the villagers may not be entirely off-base.
The mystery itself has a nice wrap-up, and the end of the book leads me to wonder if the author may have some more installments up her sleeve. I say, Bring them on!
Rated: Moderate. Profanity includes 1 use of strong language, around 10 instances of moderate profanity, about 15 uses of mild language, and about 25 instances of the name of Deity in vain. Also about 10 uses of British (bl-) profanity. A brief instance of kissing. A good number of references to characters having sex and many casual relationships. A fair amount of drinking. Violence includes several murders and some attempts, including one gory killing at the beginning.
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*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
