The Secret of the Three Fates (Ruby Vaughn #2)

Can you be frequently confused by a story and still find it an entertaining page turner? If you’re me, then the answer is YES! 

In Jess Armstrong’s second book in the Ruby Vaughn historical mystery series The Secret of the Fates, Ruby, our headstrong, independent assistant to octogenarian employer Mr. Owen, follows him under false pretext to gothic Manhurst Castle in Scotland. Soon after arrival, they and a houseful of other invitees attend a seance led by three mediums called The Fates, where one of them, seemingly possessed by a spirit delivers this ominous message: 

“There’s nowhere on earth you can hide from the dead. We have not forgotten … we shall not forgive. The dead know what you’ve done.”

Who is this message for?                     

When a murder occurs shortly after the conclusion of the chaotic event and Mr. Owen’s connection to this place and long-held secrets from the past cast suspicion on him, Ruby must get to the bottom of things before this man, who’s the nearest thing she has to a father, is taken from her.  Luckily, she finds unexpected help from someone else Mr. Owen invited without her knowledge: Ruan Kivell, the Cornish folk healer/Pellar from the previous book with whom she shares a strange psychic connection and some pesky unwanted attraction!

If you enjoy a historical mystery that has an intriguing cast of characters, secrets galore, a touch of romance, a LOT of misdirections and potential suspects, and danger around every turn, this is a fun one. I enjoyed finding out much more about Mr. Owen’s past and watching Ruby and Ruan dance around their feelings, though Ruan is way more in touch with his! I’ll take him if Ruby doesn’t want him. Swoon. One of my favorite things about these books is how they can “hear” each other's thoughts, which presents problems when Ruby’s trying SO hard to suppress the not-so-ladylike ones she has about him!

I don’t want to give the impression that this is a romance, though, because that’s a minor aspect of the story. At its heart, it’s still a mystery and a good one at that, though I docked a half star simply because the plot got a little too convoluted for me to easily follow at times. Having said that, I’d rather have a complicated one than a no-brainer that’s easy to figure out! 

I highly recommend this book and its predecessor The Curse of Penryth Hall for those who enjoy Victorian-era historical mysteries with a strong female MC. Ruby is no shrinking violet and it was fun to see her grapple with the societal and gender expectations of her time. I liked this even more than the first book, and I’ll definitely be back for more when the next one comes!

★★★★ ½

Thanks to Minotaur Books, NetGalley and author Jess Armstrong for the digital ARC to honestly review. It’s out now.