Q&A: Jess Armstrong, Author of "The Devil in Oxford"
Returning to Oxford with Ruby Vaughn
We spoke with author Jess Armstrong about her latest novel, The Devil in Oxford, the newest book in the Ruby Vaughn series. Ruby returns to Oxford hoping for a calm holiday away from her occult-obsessed boss, but an unexpected series of deaths quickly ends her peace.
Life and Inspiration
“It’s great to be back chatting with you,” Armstrong says. “When we last spoke I was still writing the second book, The Secret of the Three Fates, and then moved on to The Devil in Oxford. It’s been a whirlwind few years.”
I just got home from a week-long road trip through the Scottish Highlands, with a few hiking days on the Isle of Skye. The trip was amazing and sparked twenty new story ideas I’m eager to write.
About the Series
The Ruby Vaughn mysteries are gothic historical tales with slow-burn romance and hints of the supernatural. Ruby, a disgraced American heiress living in Exeter after the Great War, works as an antiquarian book dealer under her enigmatic, elderly employer Mr. Owen, whose adventures repeatedly draw her into trouble.
Author’s Summary
The interview highlights Jess Armstrong’s creative journey, her love of travel, and the gothic charm of her Ruby Vaughn series blending history, mystery, and the supernatural.