The Secret of the Three Fates

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Overall, I would give this book 3.5 stars. It was great seeing the characters Ruby and Ruan again and getting to learn more about them. Their chemistry is a great part of the series. While I liked this book and found it an enjoyable read, it wasn't a page turner like the first one. It used some devices from the first book that made the first book great but then you already know what it is. I think the clues could have been more easily integrated to help the reader along.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book, and was not otherwise compensated for my review. What follows is my honest opinion.

Personal Rating System:
5 stars: Exceptional - I was hooked from beginning to end, and this book stayed with me after putting it down.
4 stars: Thoroughly enjoyed it, a great read with minor flaws.
3 stars: Literal definition of OK. 3 stars is NOT a bad book. It is also not a good book.
2 stars: Didn't enjoy it. Honestly probably should not have finished it.
1 star: Hated it, a terrible book that I couldn't finish.

“People and books. They all have stories, tales they want to tell. Some give them up easier than others”

Overall Impression: The Secret of the 3 Fates is my first step into the world of Ruby Vaughn. What Jess Armstrong has done here is taken the classic detectives like Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and even Sherlock Holmes, and made the protagonist more human. When reading some other reviews of this series I saw Ruby described as smart, intelligent, and driven. What I experienced however was a driven, stubborn, and yes, sometimes impetuous woman. Ruby was flawed in a way that made the story more compelling.

Feel: Overall I found the tone to be fairly light. Think about reading this book relaxing on your couch, or maybe a read in a relaxing bath. There were certainly some spooky, and tense moments, but overall the tone I felt conveyed through the pages was that of a foggy castle in the Scottish Hills. Note that I didn't call it a haunted castle in the Scottish Hills. This book has the vibes of a ballroom crossed with a game of Clue gone awry.

Strengths: Jess Armstrong loves her characters, and it comes through clearly on every page. Ruby is an every-woman that is truly accessible. The enigmatic Mr. Owen is equally human and eccentric, and somehow is the endearing older gentleman we all either have met, or want to meet at some point in our lives.
The feel of the book is also a strength. This book knows what it is, and doesn't try to be anything else.

Weaknesses: The pacing could probably stand to be a bit quicker, especially in the 30-55% portion of the book. I felt the editing couldn't possibly make some plot points a little more clear. Neither complaints are strong though.

Recommendation: Do you want to dream of castles, and ghosts, and mediums while sitting by your candles with a blanket? This book is for you.

Thanks to the publisher and Libro.fm for the alc!

Another delightful journey with Ruby (and of course, Ruan). It was well-plotted with interesting characters and great atmosphere. Fantastic narration. I would happily listen to future installments!