Thank you Minotaur Books, #partner for the advanced copy of The Devil in Oxford in exchange for my honest review. I borrowed the audiobook from the library.
Publisher: Minotaur Books / Dreamscape Media
Published: November 4, 2025
Summary:
Set after the Great War, Jess Armstrong’s USA Today bestselling and award-winning series is historical gothic murder mystery at its best, and Ruby Vaughn returns in The Devil in Oxford.
If someone were to ask American heiress Ruby Vaughn how exactly the occult came to play such a large role in her life, she would immediately point to her octogenarian housemate and employer, Mr. Owen. Together, the pair run a rare book shop in Exeter. Mr. Owen’s penchant for arcane, unusual—and occasionally illegal—books has been known to get Ruby into her fair share of trouble. And after the last year, she is looking forward to spending a quiet holiday in picturesque Oxford while Mr. Owen attends the annual meeting of his antiquarian society. Secretly, Ruby is also looking for a holiday from her confounding feelings for Ruan Kivell, the intriguing folk healer Pellar that she met in Cornwall.
When Mr. Owen secures two tickets to an upcoming exhibition of artifacts amassed by disgraced scholar Julius Harker, Ruby reluctantly agrees to attend. The evening turns out to be more eventful than either of them bargained for. Harker’s dead body is discovered amongst the collection, his business partner is hastily arrested, and Ruan arrives…wanting to speak with Ruby. It seems both the arcane and her Pellar have followed Ruby to Oxford.
The murder case is suspicious at best, but the last thing Ruby wants is another investigation. That is, until an old friend comes begging for Ruby’s help. It soon becomes painfully clear that there is more going on in Oxford than meets the eye. Ruby and Ruan will have to uncover the dark secrets of the competitive world of antiquities while trying to understand the peculiar force that keeps drawing them back together.
My thoughts:
This is the third book in the Ruby Vaughn series and this is quickly becoming a favorite historical mystery series.
While I have enjoyed all the books so far in this series, I think this might be the best one yet! Between the Oxford setting and the dark academia vibes, the winter setting and our favorite female main protagonist who just can’t seem to stay out of trouble, I could not put this one down! I loved how this mystery involved all things relating to an academic setting – there are academic rivalries, missing artifacts and of course a murder – and it totally kept me guessing right up until the very end!!
I love how every time Ruby finds herself in danger or with a murder to solve, Ruan seems to show up at just the right time. They have such an interesting dynamic and watching whatever it is between them develop over the course of this series has been fun – again, this is why I love reading series in order. That continued character development builds over time and the payoff is so worth it!
We also get some more insight into Ruby’s past and are left with quite the cliffhanger regarding this. I am so excited to pick up the next book to see where this takes us!
Audio thoughts:
Emma Love once again delivers a strong performance, bringing the consistency of the voices from the previous books. It’s like revisiting old friends and meeting new ones.
Books in this series:
- The Curse of Penryth Hall
- The Secret of the Three Fates
- The Devil in Oxford
- The Lost Souls of Saint Oda’s
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