Life in England, post-World War I; interest in the supernatural; and the "bleak and beautiful" Cornish countryside, "full of secrets and legends," meld into a fascinating plot in The Curse of Penryth Hall, the winner of Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America's First Crime Novel Award. Jess Armstrong's debut relies heavily on its evocative gothic atmosphere, aided by a rich sense of history with an intriguing, strong heroine to guide the plot.
For the past four years, U.S. expat Ruby Vaughn has lived with the eccentric octogenarian Mr. Owen in his derelict mansion in Exeter, Devon, running his bookstore, looking after him, and acting more like his daughter than an employee. In turn, he sends Ruby on adventures that he can't take anymore. The latest is delivering a box of rare books to a folk healer in a tiny village in Cornwall, an area she prefers to avoid. The trip brings Ruby in contact with her former best friend and lover Tamsyn Chenowyth, now married to Edward, wealthy lord of Penryth Hall. Villagers believe Penryth's curse has returned when Edward's disfigured body is found in the orchard, followed by the hall's bells ringing for the first time in 30 years. Skeptical Ruby teams up with the local "pellar," or witch, to solve the murder and help her friend.
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. --Oline H. Cogdill, freelance reviewer