I’m sharing another instalment of my Mini Review Mondays, the most recent of which was last month. In case you haven’t seen any of my previous posts, I do ‘mini’ reviews of books that I’ve previously read and am now ready to share my full thoughts about.
First up, I’d like to talk about How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin. Thank you to Quercus for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
It is autumn in Castle Knoll and Annie Adams is busy settling into her new home. She doesn’t find Gravesdown Hall particularly cosy, especially since she found two dead bodies there over the summer. What’s more, ever since she arrived in the village, Annie has had the creeping sense she’s being watched.
Lonely, and desperate for some company, Annie starts talking to a stranger she meets in the grounds of the estate. The striking old woman introduces herself as Peony Lane, the fortune-teller who predicted Great Aunt Frances’ murder all those years ago. And now she has a fortune to tell Annie.
Desperate not to fall into the same trap as Frances, Annie flees Peony Lane, refusing to hear any of her grim predictions. But she can’t outrun Peony for long, as hours later she finds her, dead on the floor of Gravesdown Hall, a ruby-hilted dagger plunged into her back.
But who killed the mysterious fortune teller and why? And can Frances’ library of evidence help Annie solve the case?
Publication Date: 27th March
CW: death, murder, violence, sexual assault, rape, drugging, blackmail, manipulation, classism
My Thoughts:
How to Seal Your Own Fate was exactly the type of cosy crime I adore with three-dimensional characters, long-buried secrets and plots that keep the pages flowing past. Kristen Perrin has delivered again.
How to Solve Your Own Murder was an excellent inter-generational murder mystery that rooted itself inside my brain. It is such an addictive and cleverly plotted read that builds on a gem of an idea to create a treasure trove of a story. This sequel brings us back to Castle Knoll for another knotty mystery to untangle. It was fantastic and surprising with many twists and turns in store. I loved the way it continued to use the dual timeline narratives so effectively, continuing that sense of a ripple effect through time. It allows both Annie and Frances to take centre stage as the protagonists, despite them never actually meeting. The past and the present intersect in interesting ways. This is another highly personal mystery and adds new depths to characters and plot points from the first book. It feels like an evolution.
A central concern of this book is the question of fate. Perrin interrogates how differently our lives could have gone with another decision and the way our destinies can seem pre-determined. Of course that is explored literally through the recurring theme of the predictions, which shaped the events of the first novel, and come to the fore again here through the complex shape of Peony Lane. There is a lovely sense of everything being slightly blurred, with a line between the supernatural and realism perfectly balanced throughout. Our actions shape our fates – something that really rings true here with consequences and stakes unfolding from each decision these characters make.
How to Seal Your Own Fate is another cleverly plotted cosy crime mystery from Kristen Perrin that I thoroughly enjoyed. If she so decides, I would enjoy another trip to Castle Knoll.
Next up, I’d like to talk about The Death of Us by Abigail Dean. Thank you to Hemlock Press for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
It’s the story everyone wants to hear. That spring night in South London, when Isabel and Edward’s lives were torn apart.
The night Isabel learned that the worst things wait, just outside the door. The night Edward learned that he was powerless to stop them. The night they never talk about.
When their attacker is caught, it’s finally time to tell the story of that night. Not to the world. Or to the man who did it. But to each other. This is a story of murder. This is a story of survival. But most of all, this is a story of love.
Publication Date: 10th April
CW: death, murder, violence, sexual assault, rape, PTSD
My Thoughts:
The Death of Us is a striking novel that continues Dean’s exploration of complex themes throughout her work in the lens of true crime.
I really love the way Dean explores the impact of trauma in her work. This was no exception with a nuanced and emotionally fraught look at the continuing impact of a horrific crime on two people. It asks difficult questions about justice, closure and vengeance with a focus on the exploitative nature that the true crime industry can sometimes have. There is such sensationalism about this case, rather than looking at the tragedy and the impact on those involved. The tone throughout is nuanced and deeply human, fractured in its messiness and therefore that much more authentic. It treads carefully but honestly, depicting trauma without gratuity. Dean makes the reader complicit in this at times but keeps the focus always on Edward and Isabel.
This is very much a character-driven narrative with these two distinct voices coming to the fore. I loved the way Dean played with the timelines here as well, slowing putting together the jigsaw pieces of their relationship and where it brought them to today. The framing device of the court case served as a stark reminder of the devastation of the case, contrasted by the deep-seated love between the two of them. It is incredibly tragic as you read the joyful start of their relationship when you know what is looming on the horizon for them. Without giving anything away, there are some stylistic choices that Dean makes that heightens this further and adds new layers to the already composite story.
The Death of Us is a multifaceted and considered narrative about the invisible scars we carry with us, love and family.
Finally, I’d like to delve into Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) by Jesse Sutanto. Thank you to HQ for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Vera Wong is perfectly content as a teashop owner. She is definitely not seeking opportunities for amateur sleuthing. But what else is she to do when a distressed woman called Millie asks for her help?
Okay, perhaps Vera wheedled the story out of her. And maybe the case file for Millie’s missing friend Thomas didn’t exactly fall into her lap. Everyone knows a locked briefcase is just asking to be opened by someone handy with a hairpin.
Not even the aroma of chrysanthemum tea can stop Vera from catching the scent of this mystery. However dangerous it is, Vera intends to uncover the truth in the only way that this Chinese mother knows how: by spilling the tea.
Publication Date: 10th April
CW: death, murder, violence, blackmail, manipulation, trafficking, sexual abuse, physical abuse
My Thoughts:
Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) brings us back to the lovable cast of characters from the first book but steps it up a gear in a mystery that is heart-breakingly reflective of real-life darkness. Sutanto has poured heart and soul into this book with a difficult balance of characterisation, humour and portraying this subject sensitively.
I adored Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice to Murderers with its standout protagonist and cosy crime storyline that was juicy and riveting. It got the humour just right for me, playing into established roles and getting a true sense of community and heart. In this sequel, Vera is pretty much the same as ever – judgemental, blunt and slightly ruthless in the pursuit of her goals, but deeply caring and warm. She is such a memorable character and one that I would happily read many more novels about. However, this is darker territory with themes that are explored in a sensitive yet brutal manner. The monstrosity of humanity is on full display in a gut-wrenching storyline. I admire how Sutanto chooses to tackle this head on in a cosy crime setting – it is given the pathos and tragedy it deserves with some scenes that send shivers down your spine. Much of the horror takes place off page but the implications on page are abysmal.
All of this ties into the central plot, which is well paced and has plenty of twists and turns in store. The stakes are high and the tension is palpable, particularly as the book enters its final third. Part of the joy of this series is how well Sutanto sketches these characters, making them jump off the page and into your heart. This disparate group of people are brought together by Vera’s meddling – creating a ragtag found family. It is precisely because you care about these characters that the mystery is able to be heightened and evolved as certain aspects come to light. Sutanto’s narrative choices are also interesting here. Without giving anything away, they add to the depth and scope of the novel, particularly around that strong characterisation.
Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) is a must-read for any mystery lovers – bringing stellar characterisation and a sensitively handled plot that touches on real-life issues.
A Short Book Lover 
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