A Review of The Secret of the Three Fates by Jess Armstrong
The Secret of the Three Fates is the second mystery novel by Jess Armstrong featuring Ruby Vaughn, a wealthy but disgraced American heiress. After serving as a battlefront nurse during World War I, Ruby finds herself working for Mr. Owen, an octogenarian bookseller in Britain.
The book opens with Ruby traveling with Mr. Owen to Manhurst Castle in the Scottish Borders. She believes their trip is solely to appraise and acquire illuminated manuscripts for their rare bookshop. However, this is merely a pretense for attending a séance, during which secrets—and eventually, murder—unfold.
Ruby, a fun, gutsy, and intelligent amateur detective, is determined to uncover the truth, especially when connections to Mr. Owen come to light. Her mysterious, handsome love interest, Ruan Kivell—a folk healer with magical gifts—returns from the first Ruby Vaughn novel, The Curse of Penryth Hall, to help her solve the case.
While the story has gothic romance overtones, with its castle setting and possible psychics, Armstrong makes it clear that Ruan possesses genuine magical powers. Having not read the first novel, I was initially surprised by the fantastical elements in the story. However, Armstrong includes enough references to the events of The Curse of Penryth Hall to bring new readers up to speed, and I found myself going along with it.
For me, the strongest relationship in the book is the fatherly dynamic between Mr. Owen and Ruby. While the romantic elements between Ruby and Ruan are the main focus and will likely appeal to many readers, I was more engaged by the realistic bond over the magical one.
Although the story is set in the early 20th century, the dialogue and plot occasionally feel more Victorian than Edwardian. And at times, I felt the book moves at such a brisk pace that neither Ruby nor the reader has much time to fully digest the motives of all the suspects. Still, there are plenty of entertaining scenes, and it’s a quick, enjoyable read for those who appreciate a mix of historical fiction, fantasy, romance, and mystery.
Many thanks to our friends at Raincoast Books for the advanced copy.