The title The Turn of the Key is a nod to the Henry James ghost story The Turn of the Screw. This new story, however, is updated in many ways, including the use of a smart house. The story is so good, but my best suggestion to potential readers is to know as little as possible about the book before you read it. Go into it cold for best effect. The plot is intricately woven, clever, mysterious, scary, and the writing is seamless, smoothly flowing, and so very good. I highly recommend The Turn of the Key! Thanks to NetGalley for providing a preprint of this book.

Ms. Ware has done it again!_ She has written a book that I had to stay home one day and read all in one sitting. Ms. Ware's books are full of suspense, questions, and well developed characters. "Rowan" takes a job that seems to good to be true-living in a state of the art mansion, with a great salary and bonuses, plus car to be a live-in nanny for 3 young children. (The fourth child is away at school). Almost open immediately arriving at the home for her new job the parents leave for a week to a conference for their work. Rowan is left with two young girls who don't seem to want her around, and a baby and a mysterious house that runs all on smart technology. The older maid doesn't seem to like her and the oldest of the three girls is very sullen and rude. The only person who seems to like her is Jack, the caretaker of the home/land. As the week progresses strange things begin to happen in the house-noises in empty rooms, lights on/off by themselves at all times of day/night, doors opening and closing on their own-is it the smart technology going wrong or is someone trying to force Rowan to leave. Rowan is also living a secret of her own, one that I didn't figure out by myself. If you are looking for a wonderful suspenseful novel do yourself a favor and read this book by Ms. Ware (and all her other books!)

Another great thriller from Ruth Ware! I am loving her novels, and this one is the best, by far. The kind of “can’t wait to get to the finish” psychological thriller that keeps you up through the night.

I devour everything by Ruth Ware! She is a master of suspense. Our main character gets a sweet live in nanny gig for a really rich family.

But you already know there’s a catch, she finds herself on trial for the murder of the child she nanny’s... she knows she’s innocent. Right? The problem is the hi tech house see everything.

I absolutely could not put this book down!!! Thank you Ruth Ware for bringing back the old-fashion ghost/horror/suspense story! I actually felt my heart pounding with each page I read. KUDOS!!!!! This book deserves 10 stars!

Ruth Ware has a way of writing that leaves the reader feeling uneasy from the first few pages. The Turn of the Key is no different, the feeling of unease begins almost right away. The writing is extremely detailed, I could literally picture everything; the Victorian house turned modern, the landscape, the tense atmosphere. I almost felt as if I was with Rowan during each moment. As much as I wanted to give this book a 5 star, the ending (which was dark and held a twist) left me feeling a bit flat.

Rowan is a young woman who is writing to a lawyer from prison. She is in prison awaiting trial for murder of a child. She tries desperately to explain how everything happened. So, she starts from the beginning; Rowan sees an ad that catches her eye. A nanny position has been open by a very wealthy couple and pays a lot. She can't pass up the opportunity and applies. She is delighted to find out she has been hired for the dream job. Rowan is ecstatic when she first gets the job, but soon things start taking an ominous turn. Rowan finds out the house has secrets, dark ones, and when things begin going wrong, Rowan can't help but think of the house's past. When a young child in her care winds up dead, she is insistent that she didn't murder her. If Rowan isn't a murderer, then who is?

While I did enjoy the creeps and chills from this book, I did feel a little lost at the end. The end left a couple loose ends and I would've liked to know what happened next. I would elaborate, but I don't want to give any spoilers. All in all, The Turn of the Key is an intense thriller with a dark outcome.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery/Pocket Books for this ARC.

This book held my attention and it was a nice read overall. I didn’t like that it was in letter form to her wannabe attorney, that part wasn’t necessary and made it seem illogical. The ending was interesting though I’m not sure it answered everything. I want to know if she turned in the letter and got off!

I love Ruth Ware and while this book is definitely a page turner, it is not my favorite. Maybe it was the ghost story aspect, or maybe it had too many moving parts...I'm not sure. Just felt like it had to wrap up too much too quickly at the end. Still a great book...just hard to say it's one of her best when all the others create such a high standard.

I cannot believe anyone could enjoy this book! It is repetitive, the constant fear of a grown twenty-seven-year-old woman! It does have mind-blowing truths of the haunted room above hers, at the end of the book! Ninety percent of this book, is Rowan being paralyzed by the fear of a Smarthouse, along with the sounds of footsteps moving across the floor, nightly, depriving Rownan, the fourth Nanny, of sleep! My questions are, why didn't she call the police, and have them stay one night in her room? Of course, nothing would have happened. Why didn't she ask Jack to remain up there one night, with her, without telling anyone? In other words, why was she so gutless? Why didn't she mail her letters? She knew she was innocent; of course, that would have left ninety percent of the book empty! The other thing I hated was the amount of profanity! The f word appears more frequently than the word children! Nor does it make sense, that she has an alibi with Jack, then with Rihannon! If you can handle the death of a child, then this book is for you! Too Much For Me!
I recommend it with caution. Thank you Netgalley!
carolintallahassee.com

This was my second Ruth Ware book. I read it in one day, it was very suspenseful and kept me guessing until the final pages. Would definitely recommend!!

The Turn of the Key by author Ruth Ware is yet another MUST READ from Ware! I absolutely adore Ware’s writing and stories, always flows so nicely! Turn of the Key is no different than the rest, breathtakingly good! I was beyond excited to be accepted into this ARC and I plan to post my full length review everywhere, everyone needs to read this! (Well, if psychological thriller is your genre anyway!!) The characters are developed so well, so much detail in them and the story/plot is described so well, you get the full idea of your surroundings in so less! I adore Ruth Ware’s writing!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of The Turn of the Key in exchange for an honest review.

Read all my reviews at https://brainfartsandbooks.wordpress.com

Fan-flippin-tastic! Wow! That ending though. Ok, ok, I won't ruin it but you seriously have to read this book if you love shocker endings. Rowan is in jail for committing murder. She is being charged with murdering one of the girls she nannies for. But she claims she is innocent. As she writes a local solicitor a letter, begging for him to come see her to represent her, the story unfolds in her eyes. Is the Carn house haunted? Are the little girls evil? Why did all the other nannies quit? Are her bosses spying on her every move? These questions and more are all answered slowly throughout the book. With details such as a poison garden and a feather-filled attic, who knows where the story will take you. One of the best books I have read this year. Possibly my favorite Ruth Ware book thus far.

Thank you to Netgalley, Ruth Ware, and Pocket Books for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was probably one of my favorites by Ruth Ware. I love the supernatural element, the mystery I couldn't figure out and the twists and turns. Such a great thriller and great writing.

Five stars right up until the end. I hate ambiguous endings. But what a ride.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Ruth Ware is a contemporary mystery writer with an enviable record of turning out suspense filled novels. “The Turn of the Key” is her latest but not, I submit, her greatest. It’s very good with a well-written scenario, strong characters, sinister underpinnings, and good inducement to keep the pages turning. The ending, for me, was not her best work, a little sophomoric and contrived for all the promise in the story.

All the elements for a good, fear-inducing read are here. There are mysterious footsteps in the middle of the night, objects found where they’re not supposed to be, situations created that supposedly have been disposed of, creaky doors and reluctant old keys, and a whacked out high tech system that could be dangerous. Kids are unpleasant, coworkers are sinister, and the main man, who promises to be the protector, might not be all that saintly.

Ware gathers it all together for a finish that needs some careful explaining. Unfortunately, I found it all a little too convenient and unsatisfying. Maybe that’s just me. I’ll be interested to read other opinions, as I’m sure they will be voiced.
So, don’t let me discourage you from having a look. Ware is too good a writer and has a glorious history to simply ignore her work.

Ruth Ware is one of my favorite authors in this genre and I did enjoy this book. This book is told in flashbacks. Rowan is currently in prison for a crime she claims she didn't commit and is writing letters to a possible attorney to represent her. The ending was a surprise but I am on the fence if I liked it. I was waiting for the parents' characters to be more fleshed out, but it turns out, except for one big twist at the end, that they weren't as integral to the story as the reader is led to believe. The ending seemed rushed a bit but maybe because I was hurrying to finish and see what happened. Another enjoyable book by Ware!

It’s no secret that I love Ruth Ware’s writing. This book is no exception. I read this book in just a little over a day. It is just that unputdownable!! Give me a book with the premise of a haunted house/new nanny any day! Not just a haunted house, I might add. A haunted SMART house. Creepy and contemporary.

Of course, no new nanny story is complete without a terrifying child or two! This one covers that as well.
Not only is the story spooky and addicting, but there’s also a secretive, mysterious feel to this one. Ware has really pulled out all the stops for this book! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Rowan Caine comes upon an ad for a live-in nanny with a salary almost too good to be true. She takes the position and is thrilled, but she is faced with something she never fathomed. Her time at Heatherbrae House is told through letters Rowan writes from her prison cell to an attorney she wants to hire, trying to convince him that she's innocent and has nothing to do with the murder of the child she once took care of. Ruth Ware delivers another thriller with twists and turns no one will see coming.

I just finished this book and my mind is blown! Turn of the Key was absolutely brilliantly perfect.

I’ve read other reviews where people have complained about the ending, but in my opinion it was completely unexpected. Most thrillers conclude in a fairly predictable way— with the reader finding out who the antagonist is, the playing out of some dramatic scene where the protagonist tries to escape until ultimately he/she does, and then the book ends. Turn of the Key was nothing like this. The ending was unique and probably took this book from 4 stars to 5. Wares leaves you guessing about how it will end until almost the final page.

I have yet to read all of Ruth Wares’ books, but of the ones I have read, I was most impressed with this one. It was well-paced, suspenseful, and compulsive. There were times as I was reading that I would literally jump at a sound in my house because I was so absorbed in the tension of the scene I was reading. It was a gripping, heart pounding out of my chest read and I loved it.

One of the most brilliantly written thrillers I’ve read in a while! Told in a letter written in prison while awaiting trial for murder, Rowan lays out the circumstances of her taking a job as a nanny to a family in Scotland, the death of one of her charges, and her innocence, hoping she can convince a famous solicitor to take her case.The setting in an old manor in the middle of nowhere Scotland adds to the creepy, ghostly, almost gothic like atmosphere. The addition of smart lights,cameras,sounds and the Happy app to control the entire house just add to the feeling that someone is watching Rowan at all times. It is richly written, has a wonderful, complex plot, and an ending that will leave you agape… I’m still trying to process it all. Oh, Ms. Ware… you’ve done it again!!