I read How To Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin last year, and I loved it. It was a cozy mystery that had me hooked from start to finish. It reminded me a lot of Knives Out because of the setting and the big mansion where Frances lives. After I finished How To Solve Your Own Murder, I was made aware that it was going to be a series rather than a standalone book. How To Seal Your Own Fate is the second book in the series, and the third book is set to come out next year. While I think I liked How To Solve Your Own Murder better, How To Seal Your Own Fate still kept my interest from start to finish.

From the previous book, Annie inherited France’s estate and is getting used to life in Castle Knoll. As she gets settled, she meets Peony Lane, the fortune teller who gave Frances her fortune, indicating that she would be murdered. Peony is mysterious, and Annie is left confused by their encounter. Hours later, Annie discovers Peony’s dead body on the estate. Annie is seen as the prime suspect and has to clear her name. In 1967, Frances is investigating a car accident that killed members of the Gravesdown family. Frances ends up meeting both Peony Lane and Birdy, Emily’s older sister. Annie starts to see the relation between France’s investigation and Peony Lane’s murder.

I like Annie as the main character. She’s smart and seems to think outside the box when she’s putting everything together. I find that she seems several steps ahead, and I have to re-read some of these moments since she’s able to put things together quickly. In this book, Annie invites one of her friends to come and see her, so she gets pulled into a web of all the residents at Castle Knoll. Annie also has a flirtation going on with one of the local detectives. I like how this is a slow-burning romance versus them getting together right away. I wouldn’t be opposed if Annie dates someone else because while they have chemistry together, it’s not apparent that they like each other. One of the joys of reading this series is reading about Annie’s day-to-day life in this small village.

I’m curious to see where this series goes. It feels like there isn’t much more story to tell in future books since the people in the town are winding up dead or being implicated in crimes. I was a little surprised that Frances was front and center in this book since I had considered her story finished in the previous book. I think it would be interesting for Annie to find a journal from another one of the town residents and hear from their perspective.

How To Seal Your Own Fate was still a solid book in the series. I rated How To Seal Your Own Fate five stars on Goodreads.