How to Seal Your Own Fate

A Novel

De: Kristen Perrin

Narrado por: Alexandra Dowling, Jessica Hayles

A NATIONAL BESTSELLER

“A brilliant follow-up that proves Kristen Perrin is here to stay...A thrilling story that ends with a big reveal you won't see coming, even though the clues were in front of you the entire time!”—G.T. Karber, international bestselling author of Murdle

New York Times bestselling author Kristen Perrin is back and better than ever with her second Castle Knoll Murder Mystery.

Welcome to Castle Knoll, the idyllic English village home to a surprising number of murderers.

Present day: Annie Adams is just settling into life in Castle Knoll when local fortune teller Peony Lane shares a cryptic message only hours before being found dead inside the locked Gravesdown Estate. Annie has no choice but to delve into the dark secrets of her new countryside home in order to find out just what Peony Lane was trying to warn her about, before her brand new life comes crashing down around her.

1967: Teenage Frances Adams, Annie’s great aunt, finds herself caught between two men. Ford Gravesdown is one of the only remaining members of a family known for its wealth and dubious uses of power. Archie Foyle is a local who can’t hold down a job and lives above the village pub. But when Frances teams up with Archie to investigate the car crash that killed most of Ford's family, it quickly becomes clear that this was no accident—hints of cover-ups, lies, and betrayals abound. The question is, just how far does the blackness creep through the heart of Castle Knoll? When Frances uncovers secrets kept by both Ford and Archie, she starts to wonder: What exactly has she gotten herself into?

As Annie and Frances investigate two new mysteries spanning decades, they’ll unlock the next level of secrets held in Castle Knoll’s dark heart.

10/10 story, 5/10 narration

This might be me being picky bc I re listened to book 1 right before playing this one, but they changed the narrator for Aunt Francis and I don't like this new one 😪 So half of the book felt a bit grating to me.

You should read the first book

Overall, the story holds your attention and the ending is not obvious. But there is too much reliance on characters and events in the earlier novel. This is particularly obvious with character development. A good listen.

Castle Knoll hooks readers again!

How to Seal Your Own Fate, the 2nd book in this amazing serious did NOT disappoint! Practically picking up from the very action-packed ending of How to Solve Your Own Murder! Tons of familiar names & faces, while meeting some new folks too!

Don’t sleep on the Castle Knoll series!

As wonderful as the first book

I really like the mixing of the time lines, use of a fortunes to direct the path of the characters. It would make a great movie

Loved it

I really enjoyed this book!!!
The story continues and I’m sure there is another in the making!!! Hope it is soon!! 🤞🏻

Decent. This first one was better.

Pretty good story thought I kept having to go back and re-listen to parts to keep the characters straight. The mystery wasn’t as compelling as the first book and I felt like the wrap up at the end wasn’t satisfying. She teased the relationship with the cop and then…

Who killed the fortune teller?

After unexpectedly meeting Peonie Lane, the Fortune Teller who changed Aunt Francis's life forever, Annie finds her murdered in her house. Who killed the Fortune Teller and why? What secrets were the Gravesdown Family trying to hide? What about the Foyles?

Loved it! Just preferred Jaye Jacobs reading

I really enjoyed continuing the story in this book. I loved how the story continued with the same characters from the past, so we get a glimpse to Frances’s life after what we learned in book 1. The biggest downside for me with the audiobook, though, was they changed the narrator for Frances from Jaye Jacobs in book 1, and therefore Frances and all the past characters sounded too differently to me. Very similar to when a recast is done on tv, I have a hard time convincing myself it’s the same character. Other than that, the story was also slightly more confusing for me and I had to replay a few things more than once to follow along. Still enjoyed it, though, and have already preordered the next book! Can’t wait!!

A clever cozy mystery!

Annie is a bit out of sorts settling into Gravesdown Hall, not quite feeling like she fits into the town of Castle Knoll. However, she’s making an effort and trying to get back to her writing.

Running into the infamous Peony Lane, the woman who unsettled Aunt Frances’ entire future with her fortune, is a shock. Peony has a bizarre message for Annie and then turns up murdered inside Gravesdown, initially casting some suspicions on Annie. With a renewed purpose, Annie goes about trying to find out who murdered Peony and why which has her once again delving into her Aunt Frances’ past. This time she has a bit of help from Detective Crane an ally, and possibly *fingers crossed* a romantic interest for Annie.

There are two timelines and POVs with Annie in the present trying to work out Peony’s murder and then Aunt Frances’ POV in 1967 partnered with Archie Foyle looking into the crash that killed Ford Gravedown’s father, brother and sister-in-law. There are rumors that it wasn’t an accident at all.

It’s a web of secrets to untangle with a lot of twists! The mysteries intersect and come together by the end, and I was completely riveted! I recommend reading the previous story first, How to Solve Your Own Murder, as the stories connect. I went back and reread parts to refresh my memory and I’m glad I did!

How to Seal Your Own Fate was a clever, cozy mystery that grabbed my attention from page one! The mystery was solved, but the ending hinted at more books to come, and I’m thrilled! I look forward to the next one!

The dual narration Alexandra Dowling for Annie and Jessica Hayles for Frances was excellent and each narrator fit the character perfectly!

good character building

I enjoyed this sequel but it did feel like a sequel. I look forward to future books but I hope that the author continues to build the characters in a meaningful way. I don't think the main character has a much of an arch as the aunt did in this one