The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong was perfectly spooky and atmospheric. If you’re looking for your next gothic mystery, be sure to check out this debut (and winner of the Mystery Writers of America First Novel Crime Award).   

It’s 1922 and American heiress Ruby Vaughn has made a life for herself running a rare bookstore alongside her octogenarian employer in Exeter. One day her boss asks her to deliver a box of books to a folk healer Ruan Kivell, living deep in the Cornish countryside. Ruby decides that after she delivers the books, she will stop by nearby Penryth Hall to her once dearest friend

Tamsyn, and her husband, Sir Edward Chenowyth. Ruby assumes this will be a quick visit since Sir Edward is such an unlikable person. 

Less than 24 hours later, though, Edward is dead–he met a gruesome end in the orchard, and with his death brings whispers of a returned curse. Is it really a curse or a human killer? Ruby is convinced that curses don’t exist but is unable to explain the unraveling mysteries in this small village. And Tamsyn insists that she and her young son will be the next targets so Ruby works with Ruan to find the true killer. 

This is such a spooky (but not scary) read full of romance, danger and folklore. Armstrong’s characters are strong and her writing brings the setting and mystery to life. I may have physically been in my mid-western house, but in my mind I was in the rainy and mysterious woods around Penryth Hall. I honestly thought I had the whole mystery figured out, but I didn’t. Such a good ending. I look forward to reading more from Armstrong!