Jess Armstrong’s debut novel, “The Curse of Penryth Hall,” is a beautifully done Gothic mystery that is set in Cornwall in the post-WWI period. The main character is Ruby Vaughn, a woman who has experienced much of life partially as a result of being the pampered daughter of a wealthy New Yorker and volunteering in France in the war effort, tending to sick and dying soldiers. Now she lives with an octogenarian, Owen, and works for him in his antiquarian bookstore. They aren’t related, but Owen has come to treat her as a daughter—or perhaps granddaughter—and they care for each other in a very non-demonstrative British manner.

When Owen needs a box of books delivered to a tiny Cornish town, Lothlel Green, Ruby realizes the job is her chance to visit her former best friend, Tamsyn, who married the local baronet years earlier, effectively severing their relationship. We immediately find that Edward, the husband, is a vile man. Armstrong puts an end to him that first night Ruby is visiting, and thus his death becomes one of the mysteries that must be solved. The villagers believe the cause is the Penryth Hall curse, which also killed the previous baronet; however, Ruby doesn’t believe in such nonsense and decides to find the murderer.

But things are not as simple as that. There are other murders, attempted murders, and past deaths which just might have been murder, all of which Ruby must look into as well. In addition to a plot that is complex but never confusing, Armstrong provides a host of fascinating characters. Mrs. Penrose, the housekeeper at Penryth Hall is one of my favorites. She’s a long time employee but not afraid to say her mind and help Ruby investigate what is happening. There’s the Pellar, Ruan Kivell, kind of a witch whom the villagers trust to keep them safe. He’s the seventh child of a seventh child, and Ruby, who doesn’t believe in curses or magic, eventually does come to realize he has special abilities. There’s also something that draws Ruby to Ruan, and he feels the connection, too. We meet Tamsyn, Ruby’s former best friend, and an unwed mother Nellie from the village, the venal vicar, and the couple in the farm next to the manor house whose son died the prior year. All have their parts to play in this mystery.

In addition to the well-plotted mystery, it’s the electricity that sparks between Ruan and Ruby that keeps us turning the pages as we race to see if, in fact, there is a supernatural reason for the deaths or if all can be attributed to simple human violence. Add in a peek at mob violence and a bit of unexplained paranormal happenings, and this is a powerful start to what would seem to be a series with Ruby as the Sherlock Holmes and her friend Owen as Doctor Watson. The mystery has an unexpected twist at the end, proof that Armstrong’s ability to misdirect us is finely tuned — and very satisfying. And while we are led to believe at the end that the next mystery might be set in Scotland, I’ll definitely miss the fascinating Ruan Kivell if he doesn’t make the journey with those other well-drawn characters.

This review is based on the final, hardcover book provided by Minotaur Books, the publisher, for review purposes.