HOW TO SEAL YOUR OWN FATE is a worthy sequel to Kristen Perrin's debut novel, HOW TO SOLVE YOUR OWN MURDER. Because of the murder she solved in the first book, Annie Adams has inherited not only the grand estate of Gravesdown Manor in the scenic, idyllic village of Castle Knoll, England, but also the millions of pounds that accompanied it. She now lives in the manor alone and is often lonely. But it isn’t long before trouble comes knocking on her door.

Actually, Annie runs into trouble while walking on the grounds of her estate. And the trouble that sparks the murder(s) in this novel comes in the form of a senior woman named Peony Lane. We learn in the prologue that Peony Lane is not her real name, although she has used that moniker for most of her life. Whatever mysterious revenge Peony was delivering at the start of the book becomes what Annie is determined to uncover. Because shortly after encountering Peony on her property, that same fortune teller is found dead inside the manor house.

"Perrin adroitly maneuvers the plot to keep the suspense at maximum levels, throws constant curveballs we aren't expecting, and reveals information about the characters we certainly never would have guessed."

Annie must find out what happened decades ago, and her most important tools are the same ones she used in the first book to solve that murder: Aunt Frances' diaries and her extensive files filled with secrets of the townspeople, family and friends. But some of the files are nowhere to be found, and there are many suspects who might have had access to them. There also are some missing diaries, and Annie wonders what information lies within them.

As with HOW TO SOLVE YOUR OWN MURDER, the story alternates between Annie's first-person narrative and excerpts from Frances' diaries. The distinction is made crystal clear by dating Frances' entries and using italics for those chapters. Between the two narratives and the plethora of characters, Perrin effectively keeps us confused as to who might have committed the crimes. By the end, there are even surprises regarding who actually was murdered and when.

Perrin adroitly maneuvers the plot to keep the suspense at maximum levels, throws constant curveballs we aren't expecting, and reveals information about the characters we certainly never would have guessed. All in all, this is a well-crafted murder mystery that builds on its predecessor and opens the door for a third book. Those who have been charmed by the small, picturesque town of Castle Knoll and its very British inhabitants, and by Annie Adams herself --- a likable and determined young woman --- will be pleased that the adventure continues.