The second installment in the Castle Knoll Files series is much like the first- class warfare, historical murder mystery, police procedural. For fans of Tana French, only without the length. How to Seal Your Own Fate is a faster paced, deep mystery of questioning and generational secrets. Annie Adams lives in Castle Knoll and learns that Peony Lane, the local fortune teller, is now dead. Peony has an interesting past and even a former identity. Annie looks into the death to see if there was someone trying to cover up a murder from the 1960’s. Set in a lovely English village, this quaint small town setting is perfect for- while not exactly a closed room mystery- a small town has that vibe as the story unfolds.
I found this to be a suspenseful story with a satisfying ending. I normally find procedural mysteries to be a bit tedious, but this is readable and engaging. The characters fell a bit flat for me, as the conversation seemed stilted and somewhat boring. This is a good mystery that will not take long to read and will hold your attention until the very last page.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Book to be published April 29, 2025.
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