Title: HOW TO SEAL YOUR OWN FATE
Author: KRISTEN PERRIN
ISBN: 9781529430110
Publisher: Quercus Books
Pages: 327
Source: Private Copy
Present day: Annie Adams is just settling into life in Castle Knoll when local fortune teller Peony Lane crosses her path and shares a cryptic message. When Peony Lane is found dead only hours later inside the locked Gravesdown Estate, Annie quickly realizes that someone is out to make her look guilty while silencing Peony at the same time. Annie has no choice but to delve into the dark secrets of Castle Knoll in order to find out just what Peony Lane was trying to warn her about, before the new life she’s just begun to build comes crashing down around her.
1967: A year has passed since her friend Emily disappeared, and teenage Frances Adams 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 claimed the lives 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?
Official Summary
08 May 2026
How to Seal Your Own Fate is an enjoyable but slightly uneven follow-up, earning a solid three stars for its engaging premise and atmospheric setting, even if it doesn’t quite recapture the spark of its predecessor.
Returning to Castle Knoll, the novel once again immerses readers in a world of secrets, suspicion, and small-town intrigue. Annie Adams remains a likable and capable protagonist, and her attempt to build a new life is quickly upended by the murder of fortune teller Peony Lane—an event that sets the story in motion with plenty of promise. The locked-estate mystery angle is particularly appealing, offering a classic whodunit feel with a modern twist.
The dual timeline structure, shifting between Annie in the present and Frances Adams in 1967, continues to be one of Perrin’s strengths. The historical thread, with Frances investigating a suspicious car crash and navigating complicated relationships, adds depth and context to the present-day mystery. There’s a satisfying sense of continuity in how past and present intertwine, gradually revealing the long-buried secrets of Castle Knoll.
However, while the setup is strong, the execution doesn’t always maintain momentum. The pacing can feel inconsistent, with certain sections dragging as the narrative gets caught up in details that don’t always pay off. At times, the mystery becomes overly convoluted, making it harder to stay fully engaged or piece together the clues in a satisfying way.
Characterization is another mixed aspect. While Annie and Frances are compelling enough to carry their respective timelines, some of the supporting characters—particularly in the present day—blend together, making it difficult to keep track of motives and relationships. This slightly weakens the impact of the twists when they arrive.
That said, the novel still delivers an entertaining reading experience. Perrin’s knack for creating a moody, insular setting shines through, and there are enough intriguing reveals to keep readers invested until the end. The themes of fate, deception, and the lingering impact of the past remain compelling, even if they aren’t explored as deeply as they could be.
How to Seal Your Own Fate is a decent, atmospheric mystery that will satisfy fans of the series, but it doesn’t quite reach the same level of cleverness or consistency as the first book. It’s a worthwhile read—just one that feels a little less sharp around the edges.
Also by Kristen Perrin
HOW TO SOLVE YOUR OWN MURDER
It’s 1965 and teenage Frances Adams is at an English country fair with her two best friends. But Frances’s night takes a hairpin turn when a fortune-teller makes a bone-chilling prediction: One day, Frances will be murdered. Frances spends a lifetime trying to solve a crime that hasn’t happened yet, compiling dirt on every person who crosses her path in an effort to prevent her own demise. For decades, no one takes Frances seriously, until nearly sixty years later, when Frances is found murdered, like she always said she would be.
In the present day, Annie Adams has been summoned to a meeting at the sprawling country estate of her wealthy and reclusive great-aunt Frances. But by the time Annie arrives in the quaint English village of Castle Knoll, Frances is already dead. Annie is determined to catch the killer, but thanks to Frances’s lifelong habit of digging up secrets and lies, it seems every endearing and eccentric villager might just have a motive for her murder. Can Annie safely unravel the dark mystery at the heart of Castle Knoll, or will dredging up the past throw her into the path of a killer?
As Annie gets closer to the truth, and closer to the danger, she starts to fear she might inherit her aunt’s fate instead of her fortune.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Kristen Perrin is originally from Seattle, Washington, where she spent several years working as a bookseller before immigrating to the UK to do a Masters and PhD. Her debut murder mystery How to Solve Your Own Murder is the first book in the Castle Knoll Files series, and has been translated into more than twenty languages. The book was also a Good Morning America Buzzpick, was featured on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and has been a New York Times, Indiebound, USA Today, and Der Spiegel bestseller. She lives with her family in Surrey, England, where she is hard at work on more books in the series.
I was a little disappointed with the second book in the series, but I have not given up on it. I am looking forward to reading book three. Not to mention that it will compliment the other two books on my bookshelf. I blame Alicia for making me more aware of bookshelf aesthetic, that’s not something that concerned me before. Do you judge a book by it’s cover? How often do you buy a book simply because it is pretty? Leave a comment below. Until next time ….. Happy Reading!
