Sometimes Ruth’s books can be complete hits or misses and luckily for me (as a Ware fan) this book delighted. The manner in which the story is delivered and told is from such an interesting perspective that it helps to keep you hooked long enough to not want to stop until y-u see it through its end.

Ruth Ware just keeps getting better and better! Turn of the Key is a treat for anyone who enjoys suspense and the classic hallmarks of creepiness, right down to little kids who aren't exactly adorable. I have enjoyed all of Ruth Ware's novels to date, so my expectations were high and I was in no way disappointed. Ware has a knack for creating characters the reader wants to like and trust while at the same time undermining the reader's trust in the character without making the reader hate the character. Instead, suspense is created and sustained, red herrings abound, and it makes for a fantastic story. I look forward to more by this author who seems to be really hitting her stride.

I was happy to receive a copy of Ruth Ware’s new novel, The Turn of the Key, from Gallery/Pocket Books/Scout Press and NetGalley in return for my honest review. I enjoyed The Woman in Cabin 10 and didn’t really care for The Death of Mrs. Westaway, so I was pretty neutral in my expectations for this one. As the story opens, there is a big reveal about a dead child and the nanny, Rowan, in prison. Rowan is writing to her lawyer, and the books is essentially her telling the story.

For some reason, Rowan has been looking to escape her life and locale, and takes a job as a nanny in a creepy home located quite a distance from her current life.

The “smart” house itself (think of Alexa on steroids) is creepy, and is in some ways is one of the main characters. Lots of technology, some creepy and some puzzling as to why it doesn’t seem to be functioning as it is intended…or is it? There are rumors of a ghost, but that concept doesn’t really go anywhere. In Cabin 10 the buildup of tension was terrific—in this one, there is a boatload of exposition about the children and their day-to-day activities. I found it somewhat tedious, but then I have no children, so maybe there was a lot there that just went over my head.

The parents are weird. Partly because they take off and leave their children with the new nanny for weeks at a time. Rowan is also a bit off, right from the start. After many many chapters, the ending ties everything up in an unsurprising way. Not my thing, but I know many people have raved about it, so it’s worth a try. A hundred or so pages in, you wlll know if you want to persevere. Three stars because I think it was probably more me than the book. I may or may not try her again, but for sure I won’t be quite so eager to grab the next one.

So much creepier than The Death of Mrs. Westaway or The Woman in Cabin 10; The Turn of the Key is almost literally unputdownable. The reader will find themselves both nodding in recognition and shivering in fear as they follow the nanny's story.

I really liked the telling of this story. You know right from the beginning that the protagonist is in jail for murder. The book is written in the form of a retelling of what happened as Rowan, the nanny, tries to retain the services of a defense attorney to get her out for a murder she says she didn't commit. Ruth Ware weaves a wonderfully creepy mystery perfect for the beach!

Ruth Ware is back! The author of Woman in Cabin 10 and The Death of Mrs Westaway is back with a nanny-centric ghost story that reminded me a lot of Liz Nugent. I’ve only read two of Ware’s books before, the two I mentioned, but I’ve heard great thing and this one definitely drew me in! A bit of a slow start, and tbh, I wasn’t totally satisfied by the ending but I enjoyed the book overall!

Rowan feels very very lucky when she discovers an advert to nanny for the Elincourts, a wealthy family in Scotland who is willing to pay big money. She lands the job, that’s all you need to know, but quickly, things get out of hand. Less than day into the gig, she’s left alone to nanny the three young kids and a teenager who comes and goes, but with a “smart house” with lots of cameras and a creaking noise upstairs, it’s hard for Rowan to feel…settled. Thrown in mysterious rumors about the house and it’s history, kids who have had four nannies in the span of a few years, and a handsome handyman and you’ve got quite the story to unfold.

First off, it’s important to understand that this book is written in a semi-epistolary way as Rowan writes from prison where she’s held on murder charges. But who is dead? And who does Rowan think did it? and what does Rowan herself have to hide? It all unfolds, a little slow at first, but towards a not that surprising but still interesting end.

Overall, I was super compelled by this. Part oh-no-the-nanny story, part-ghost story, lots of “what the heck” with the smart-house situation. It felt very old-timey but modern at the same time, and I loved how place-based it was. I read this shortly after reading Lock Every Door, so you could say I was in the mood. While the book is far from perfect pacing wise, I was still intrigued by the set-up.

An excellent, suspenseful novel from Ruth Ware. I read "The Woman In Cabin 10", and liked it so much that I recommended to my wife that I thought she'd enjoy it. She did. And this novel is no different -- she'll be reading it after it's released.

This is a very well done book. The descriptions of the environment around the characters, whether outside or in, was very well done. The characters were compelling as well. The protagonist was a character with some flaws, like we all have. Nice twists and plot turns. Loved how it was structured, as correspondence to an attorney pleading for representation.

The ending was very well done, and wrapped up the book nicely. If you're a fan of Ruth Ware, add this to your summer reading list -- I recommend this book highly.

Let me start by thanking NetGalley and the publisher house for allowing me a copy to read in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars!
I love Ruth Ware! This book didn't let me down. Super high-tech house with 3 kids and they can't keep a nanny. Turns out the father of the family is a perv and tries to seduce the young nannies. The kids don't like it. There's a creepy attic and the story of a doctor who used to live there who took care of the poison garden on the property. His daughter died from poisoning from the garden. Is it ghosts? Or is it some one living? Maybe this Nanny wasn't who she claimed to be either. . . .

British, Gothic, Nanny, Mystery...this book is speaking my language. I love Ruth Ware's directional change from just a basic thriller (In a Dark Dark Wood/Woman in Cabin 10) to a creepier gothic mystery such as The Death of Mrs. Westaway and now her latest, The Turn of the Key. A ghost story that gave me shivers up my spine, I stayed up waaaay too late reading this book. The entire book is supposedly a letter from a young woman in prison, seeking legal help for a murder she says she did not commit. It is classic British, as this young woman applies and gets job as a nanny at a mysterious house in remote Scotland. As the letter unspools the story, we see unruly children, a poisonous garden, creepy ancestors, predator husband, distracted wife, cranky housekeeper, and a hot but mysterious handyman. I told you, classic British Gothic. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and could not turn pages fast enough. Will it take the publishing world by storm? Doubtful. Will it entertain you and keep you guessing? Absolutely. Thanks to Net Galley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

While I enjoyed the writing in this book, I also found it to be very slow paced and boring. It took me over a week to finish and that just doesn’t happen very often. I found Rowan to be unlikeable and for the most part I had no interest in learning why she was in jail, only that she stay there for being a twat.

Wow! Wow! Wow! My mind is still racing after this incredible read from Ruth Ware. The Turn of the Key is simply amazing. Many have said it is Ware's best book yet. This is the first I have read by her but it exceeded my expectations.

Rowan is a nanny trying to prove her innocence after she is accused of the murder of one of the children under her care. The family, Rowan, and everyone involved has their own secrets that keeps the reader on their toes until the very end. This is a must read! Check it out when it hits the shelves in August, 2019.

DNF....
Sorry Ruth Ware, I usually really enjoy your books. But I just can't do supernatural. I got about half way and just couldn't do it.

Ruth Ware does what she does best in The Turn of the Key. It is another atmospheric and gothic setting, with a creepy plot that gets you turning the pages. The inclusion of a high tech house was a great use of modern technology in thrillers, that did not go too far.

I picked up my first Ruth Ware book on a whim, just a few months ago. Someone had dropped off The Woman in Cabin 10 at the used bookstore where I volunteer and it had a pretty cover (yes, I totally judge books by their covers) and an intriguing plot, and it didn't hurt that the book was in great condition, so I gave it a try.

And the rest, as they say, is history. I've read all but one of her books now (I still need to get to The Lying Game), and so I was super excited when the publisher approved me for an ARC of her latest, which drops on August 6.

The Turn of the Key has all the signature elements I've come to expect in her writing: an intriguing, likeable, but flawed main character. A contemporary setting with a gothic vibe. And plenty of twists and turns to go around:

Rowan Caine is looking for a change. She’s recently been passed up for a promotion at the daycare center where she works, and doesn’t get along with her boss. So when she stumbles across an ad for a live-in nanny with a ridiculously high salary, she just has to apply. When she shows up at the stunning historic mansion that’s been renovated with the latest smart technology and is situated in the idyllic countryside, she knows this is the place she wants to be. It helps that the three children are adorable and well-behaved, and the mother attentive and warm. Little does Rowan know she’s stepping into a nightmare that will end with one child dead and her behind bars, wrongfully accused of murder.

So, my feelings on this book are super mixed. Despite the compelling plot, The Turn of the Key is easily my least favorite of Ware’s books. A large part of this has to do with the execution. The book is written in letter form. Rowan is writing to a lawyer from jail, hoping he’ll believe her side of things and go to bat for her. A child is dead, and she's been convicted, but we won't find out exactly which child died until the very end of her letter, which is of course the length of the entire book. So, we're talking a 350 page letter, give or take. I have no problem suspending disbelief for a lot of things in suspense, but a 350 page letter? That I have a hard time with. It just feels forced and formulaic, especially because the way you have to write a book to maintain your audience's interest is definitely not the way anyone would write a formal letter to a lawyer eliciting help for their wrongful arrest.

Additionally, this book is part of the "nanny suspense" craze, which I'm not a fan of whatsoever. Maybe it's because I worked in a daycare center for years, but this sub-genre has an ick factor for me. I don't want to read about a child dying under the care and supervision of their nanny. My dislike of this sub-genre is obviously totally a personal preference on my part, so take it or leave it. I also don't want to read about nannies who hate kids, which this main character does. If you hate kids, don't work with kids. Period. Because of this, Rowan was not a sympathetic character at all for me. I was pretty much rooting for anyone but her by the end of the first chapter.

But setting aside the annoying format, my issues with nanny suspense, and the fact that the book had a rather slow start, overall it did hold my attention and kept me turning the pages. I’m sure part of that has to do with my trust in Ware as an author, knowing all is not as it seems, and wanting to find out what I'm missing. And she certainly didn’t disappoint in that regard. There were definitely a couple "whoa" moments where I was surprised by the twist and hadn't seen it coming at all.

But despite not being able to put it down, and some major twists along the way, I was disappointed in the ending. Don't worry, I won't give anything away, but I will say that I felt like the book could have used an epilogue. The ending left me wanting more, but not in a good way. I'm used to Ware's endings being pretty solid. She's never one to wrap everything up in a neat little bow, but at the same time, you feel satisfied with the conclusion and feel comfortable closing the book on these characters you've come to care about. I did not feel that way with this one.

So, overall, I'd give this book a solid 3 out of 5 stars. If you've never read this author before, I'd suggest starting with one of her other books first — The Death of Mrs. Westaway is my personal favorite. But even with the elements I didn't like, I'd still recommend The Turn of the Key to anyone who loves Ruth Ware or suspense in general. You'll like this book. Maybe not love it, but it's a solid suspense mystery that will keep you guessing even after the last page.

Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC.

I love Ruth Ware and eagerly await every book she writes. So it pains me to only give this 3 stars.

I enjoyed the story and Ruth did a great job of filling you with the same amount of dread and panic that the main character, Rowan felt. I felt anxious as I read the book, trying to figure out what was going on in the story so for that, I applaud her.

There were two areas that disappointed me, hence the 3-star review. The book was meant to be told in the form of letters from the main character to her solicitor while waiting for her trial in prison. The tone of the voice when she was directly addressing the recipient was different from that when she went on to relay her story. So it felt disjointed and in two different voices. So when you found yourself comfortably reading in one voice for a large chunk, it was a bit of a jolt to suddenly switch to this different voice. It was subtle but just obvious enough that it bothered me.

The last disappointment was the ending. I had no expectations for where it should go but felt that she rushed to resolve it within a handful of pages. It was so abrupt and left me with so many more questions. It felt unresolved and that left me a little angry. Why had I just read this whole book only to have this ending just cut short with tons of loose ends? Unless she is planning a sequel, I'm a bit pissed at the ending. There were a few opportunities in those last pages to just add in a few lines that could have helped resolve what happened to the main character but she didn't do that.

I would still suggest reading it because again, I love Ruth Ware, but just be prepared to feel unfulfilled with the ending.

I was lucky enough to get a copy of Ruth Ware’s new book in the form of an e-book ARC from the publisher! I have previous read The Woman in Cabin 10 and have a few other of her books on my pile to read! Thank you again to Netgalley, Galley Books and Simon and Schuster for providing me with the book to review!
This book had me hooked from the beginning! It starts off with the beginning of multiple letters that are never finished asking for help. As the pages proceed, we find out that the writer of the letter is a nanny who has been accused of murdering one of her charges. She is asking a lawyer for help since she claims that she didn’t do it. The letter(s) continue as we hear the story of what happened.

I loved how the book was told from Rowan’s (the main character/nanny) point of view through the letters. I felt like this made the book unique from the beginning. I have read a lot of books lately and haven’t read one told in a letter format. I don’t want to give too much away but as the book proceeds it gets creepier and creepier. Think the possibility of mean ghost hanging around the house as Rowan is thrown into being a nanny for three girls (and later a fourth) right away when the parents leave after one day!

Overall I couldn’t put this book down! I stayed up way too later reading it just so I could finish it! This book is a definite 5 out of 5 stars for me! I loved it!

Having recently found Ruth Ware after reading an earlier novel in my book club, I binge read all her books, so was delighted when this one came into my hands. I have to say this was probably my least favorite so far.. The premise was good, but something felt lacking. I am glad to have read it, as I love the author, but it is not a book I have thought about again once the last chapter was over.

*An ARC of this book was provided to my by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Great premise but lacking in execution. I kept reading through the trivialities of this nanny's day because I wanted to find out what happened and then I found out what happened and I'm not sure it was worth it. The ending (literally the last 5 pages of the book) was like a pie in the face. Except the pie missed my face and just got a little whipped cream in my hair, but the intention was clear, so I'm here pissed off and the author is just standing there sheepishly regretting her terrible aim. But not regretting the part where she makes an obscene amount of money from this guaranteed bestseller.

Ruth Ware lives up to the hype again. I am always amazed at how she can stump me every time. I finished this book so quickly because I needed to see how it would end. It was the first time in a while, that when reading a thriller, I had absolutely no clue or even a sense of how it would end.
Rowen, the main character, comes across a perfect nanny position. She is hesitant when she is made aware of the fact all the previous nannies have left fairly quickly. However, once she meets Sandra, the mother, she decides this seems like a great opportunity. She moves into the house shortly after and finds that both parents are leaving on a week long away trip not even 24hours after she arrives. Weird things start happening such as open doors, footsteps at night, and missing items. The girls tell her stories of ghosts and the people who used to live in the home that died. The end was such a twist and I highly recommend this book. Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Publicity for a copy of this book.

This was a pretty great story, and I thought it was downright creepy in several places, especially if you're reading it at night with all the lights out except for your Kindle screen! I did not really care for In a Dark, Dark Wood, but I thought this book sounded really good so I decided to give Ruth Ware another shot, and I'm so glad I did. It's a story that's very easy to get immersed in, and I love the Scottish setting. Definitely worth checking out if you like thrillers.


A super big thank you to NetGalley and publisher for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!