The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong is a debut mystery novel I spotted on a bargain books table at B. Dalton in Oviedo last month. Since I'm not a fan of first books I tend to pass these by and wait for the author to get some experience before I try them. First books are usually over-written or chock full of too many ideas, rest somewhere around the borderline of professional writing, and are often so terribly earnest that they're painful for me to read.
Please understand, I am not a conceited snob -- my own first published novel was just as bad, and to this day I can't reread my own debut. Yet I love a good curse story, so on impulse I decided to give it a try (the discounted price definitely factored in, too.)
I had no reason to regret the purchase, turns out, as the book is very well-written for a debut novel. The deft text, interesting protagonist and somewhat brooding/paganish/haunted storyline were excellent, and I remained completely absorbed to the point that I kept reading past the point that I planned to, which I consider my highest compliment for a novel.
The premise: Ruby Vaughn, an American socialite with a soundly ruined reputation who presently sells books with an elderly mentor/benefactor, heads off to make a delivery to a folk healer in rural Cornwall. While there she plans to visit an old friend/former love, who is married to a philandering Englishman and has a young son. It goes about how you'd expect for Ruby, particularly as she observes how unhappy her friend is, and then the philandering husband is found gutted. Everyone blames a curse associated with Penryth Hall, the murdered husband's ancestral home. Determined to protect her friend, Ruby begins to investigate alongside the mysterious and quite attractive folk healer, only to discover the countryside and its inhabitants are far from sleepy and bucolic. She's also forced to face her unresolved feelings for her friend, her new feelings for the folk healer, and ultimately a killer who seems determined to carry out the curse on all of them.
I really enjoyed this book. The unusual (and unrepentant!) protagonist seemed quite inventive and entirely refreshing. The storyline ambled and dashed in deliciously surprising pacing. There were scenes and incidents I never would have guessed would happen, and yet made perfect sense, given the setting and the characters. I can see why the author built an entire series on this debut.
On the downside, there is a stoning (yes, as in the Biblical sense) scene that is rather graphic, and may be triggering for religious and physical abuse survivors. I had to resist the urge to skim through it myself. People who have a problem with bisexuality should also probably give this novel a pass. I thought it was marvelous. Highly recommended.
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