Ruth Ware has become one my absolute favorite authors for mystery and suspense. When I pick up one of her books, I know I am in for a satisfying, nail-biting read.

Rowan stumbles upon an ad for what seems like a dream job as a live-in nanny for a large family in a remote house. At the start of the story, we know that Rowan is in jail for a death that happened while she was with the family. As the story progresses, we are trying to work out what happened and who was at fault. We know Rowan has secrets, but is she a murderer? If she didn't do it, who did?

Ware is excellent at setting the scene. The 'smart house' that the family lives in is creepy; it is a strange mix of old and new, with confusing technologies that seem to work against you.

Like any of Ware's books, I highly recommend this one for anyone who enjoys an intelligent, gothic, nail-biter of a mystery.

I loved the idea of this book about a smart house gone kind of wrong. It was so interesting to see the way technology both helped and hindered the characters throughout the book. I wished there had been more focus on this. While I enjoyed reading it, there were some points where I felt like it was dragging a little and wanted the tension to be a littler tighter throughout. Overall it was another great, twisty read from Ruth Ware.

I would say that this would most likely be every nanny's nightmare. Ruth Ware delivers a deliciously riveting story that will put you on the edge of your seat with unexpected twists and turns. I loved every minute of this book. Ruth Ware is my new favorite murder mystery writer. Ware's writing is expertly done with a string of intensity thrown in for good measure. Read Ware's books. You will be pleasantly delighted. I have thankfully received this book via NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press.

I really enjoy Ruth Ware's books. She is suspenseful, and writing is well done with a nice, logical twist at the end. This book is no exception. I didn't guess the twist until close to the end. I can't wait to read her next book.

The nanny position located in the isolated Scottish Highlands seems like an interesting enough position for Rowan Caine. The house, which is a sprawling old estate on the outside, is ultra-modern on the inside. Everything is "smart", everything can be controlled with a phone. In awe of her surroundings and the picture perfect family she is charged to mind, Rowan has no idea that this seemingly perfect setting will become a sinister and deadly nightmare. Gripping, disturbing, and shocking, this is another fantastic offering from Ruth Ware.

Oh, Ruth Ware. I don't know why it took me so long to get around to reading this. I've read every book so far by Ms. Ware, and in my mind, she is just an exceptional author. This book was so well-written, so suspenseful.... yes, occasionally it was a little slow, but definitely no slower than other novels in this genre. I just adore Ruth Ware, and this is yet another title that solidifies her existence on my must-read list.

THE TURN OF THE KEY is the first book I read by Ruth Ware and this one was not necessarily for me. The story had potential, but it dragged on for quite some time without anything necessarily happening. I was very intrigued at first waiting for the big twist, but the twist was okay. I felt like there were a lot of loose ends left that had potential to make the story even better. I was intrigued by the narrator telling the story from jail and most of the information was immediately released. The drawn out letter to the legal advocate is what took away from the story in my opinion. I can see this being an entertaining read, but it just was not for me.

I was taken by this book from the first pages. I loved the idea of someone moving into a new home, but the supernatural possibilities of the situation kept me guessing. I was tensed on many occasions waiting for something horrible to happen.

This story is full of suspense as little by little we come to realize what her goal is for being there, but Is the house trying to get rid of her, or a supernatural being in the house.

Very suspenseful.

The Turn of the Key, by bestselling author Ruth Ware grabs readers in the first chapter of the book where protagonist Rowan Caine is ecstatic when she learns that she got the job as a live-in Nanny at a gorgeous “smart” home in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. She will be watching three beautiful girls, Maddie (8), Ellie (5), and Petra (18 months) Elincourt, and the parents, Bill and Sandra Elincourt are willing to pay a huge salary for the job. What she doesn’t know is that things are not as they appear, and the scenarios are revealed to the reader in the form of letters Rowan is writing from prison to an attorney, Mr. Wrexham; Rowan is trying to convince him to represent her for the murder of one of the girls. Rowan’s live-in nanny experience becomes a nightmare, to say the least, and is a key to the psychological drama waiting to unfold.

Ruth Ware is a bestselling English author with a very distinct style, and has been compared to Agatha Christie because of it. Her expertise in telling a story is amazing, and with the charm of the British atmosphere and surroundings she weaves into the novel, the book becomes unputdownable. Another of Ruth Ware’s strengths is her ability to develop her characters. The characters seem like real people, and not some fictional characters living in a make-believe world. In fact, most readers will be able to relate to the characters and most likely know similar people in their real lives.

Suspense starts to build early on, and continues to the very unexpected dénouement. There are multiple twists in the novel, as well as multiple surprises at the end. Ruth Ware fans will definitely love this novel, and those who have not discovered her will learn that they have a new favorite author that is not to be missed. Highly Recommended.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Rowan Caine never expected she would actually get the job as a nanny at the Heatherbrae House when she applied. The live-in post promised quite a big salary and she would be staying in a “smart” home, everything computerized and perfected to meet the needs of those who live within its walls. The family of five appears perfect as well. The offer seems too good to be true . . . And, well, it is. Rowan now sits in prison, attempting to draft a letter to a prospective solicitor, explaining what happened in that house and hopefully prove her innocence. At least of the crime she’s accused of.

I listened to another of Ruth Ware’s novels, In a Dark, Dark Wood, a few years ago and enjoyed it. The atmosphere. The suspense. The complex characters. In many ways, Turn of the Key has all of those elements too. I confess the idea of a “smart” house makes me nervous (it’s why I have not jumped on the Alexa or Google Home bandwagon). They make the perfect setting for a horror novel, don’t you think? So much could go wrong . . . I found Heatherbrae house interesting—a mix of old and new. The majority of the inside of the house has been renovated and upgraded to be as modern as can be, while the bones of the house, and the outside still hold onto its original roots. Not to mention the house and its property have quite a history, contributing to its modern Gothic feel. I love how the setting of Ware's novels play such a big part in her stories--as if they are characters themselves.

I think it is safe to say a novel like this is bound to have twists and turns. I found it to be predictable in some respects and not so in others. I was not particularly fond of any of the characters, including Rowan. Although, by the end, I understood her a lot better. There is a minor romantic thread, which I could have done without, if I am completely honest. But it did not hurt the story either. While at times I felt the pacing was on the slower side in this novel, overall I enjoyed it.

This is not my favorite Ruth Ware novel. I just couldn’t get into the story line and the characters left me less than inspired. The thought of living in a house that is in total control is scary but a very real possibility. All in all this book was a disappointment. I received a copy of this arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was definitely a page-turner. I enjoyed it and wanted to see how everything fell into place in this creepy and mysterious story. Ruth Ware does a good job of stringing the reader along until the very end. Read this if you're looking for a fast, creepy read. It makes such a good Fall read!

When she stumbles across the ad, she’s looking for something else completely. But it seems like too good an opportunity to miss—a live-in nannying post, with a staggeringly generous salary. And when Rowan Caine arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten—by the luxurious “smart” home fitted out with all modern conveniences and by this picture-perfect family. What she doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare—one that will end with a child dead and herself in prison awaiting trial for murder. After the fact, she struggles to explain the unraveling events that landed her in jail. Although she's not innocent by any means, she maintains that she's not guilty either, at least not of murder. review: The Turn of the Key opens with letters from Rowan to her attorney from her prison cell. This immediately hooked me and I was flying through the pages to figure out what happened. Unfortunately, it lost it's appeal as the events slowly unraveled. It wasn't until about 70% in that the book provided a few unexpected twists. I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with the author because she always draws me in but leaves me a bit disappointed. If you're a Ruth Ware fan, you'll enjoy this slow burn, creepy novel.  rating: 3.5 out of 5 ⭐️

An interesting mystery thriller complete with creepy ambiance. A new nanny working for a family living in a remote house in Scotland and several past nannies have left the house as it seems to be haunted and hiding secrets. You know, normal things. This wasn't as good as I expected from Ruth Ware, but a fun read nonetheless. Parts of predictable but you'll enjoy the ride.

Ruth Ware seems to always be a go to author for me. I love her writing but sometimes the story-line itself doesn’t work for me. That is what happened with The Turn of the Key. I didn’t hate it but I also didn’t love it. It was eerie and the writing really worked for me, but as a whole it just wasn’t as creepy and eerie as I was hoping it to be. I know that she is great at creating a strong and atmosphere with a creepy ambiance and this book was no different from her others but I was just wanting more when it was all said and done.

To begin– I loved the atmosphere and the setting of the story as a whole. Absolutely ate it up. I feel like this was the strongest part of the book– when the author was describing the setting and the surroundings and the things that were occurring. It was attention grabbing. On top of that, the writing flow was nice. I really loved how it was all set up, in letter form. But if you are looking for a fast paced, action packed mystery / suspense I don’t think I can recommend this one to you. It was a very slow burn type of mystery. I wish I was exaggerating. Very. Slow.

The mystery aspect could have been stronger. I feel like the author was focusing on things that was taking away from other elements that could have made the story-line much stronger. The ending seemed rushed and unfinished but once again I loved how the story was framed out (the letter). After reading the entire story though, I wanted more.

Despite my feelings to this particular story, I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up another book by Ruth Ware. In fact, she will probably remain a go-to author for me. I like her writing, but the plot as a whole in The Turn of the Key just didn’t work for me.

Ruth Ware has quickly become one of my favorite authors in the mystery/thriller genre. Interesting, great plot, great timing, good characters.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book. My reviews can be read on my GoodReads account here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1335387-kelly

This is the fourth book I have read by Ruth Ware and I just cannot get enough of her. Although her books are all psychological thrillers, I don’t feel like I am rereading the same book as I often do in this genre. Her books are full of suspense and twists. In this book, Rowan gets a position as a nanny with an affluent family out in a rural area. Nannies do not seem to stay long and some blame the house being haunted. But this family also has secrets... and so does Rowan.

The Turn of the Key - Ruth Ware
I think this may be your best yet, Ruth Ware!

‘The Turn of The Key’ ticks off all the boxes necessary to make this the perfect mystery: a protagonist who may well be going to prison for murder, an old house in Scotland that seems to be haunted but is also a marvel to be in, one that has a history of deaths and local stories swirling around it, plus a family with a strange set of circumstances. The characters and the setting are all pieces of this fantastic puzzle and they are craftily put together seamlessly.

Ruth is such a skilled writer of suspense and mystery, that I feel as though I am just moved along with the story in such a vivid way, but it’s also so very natural, and I never feel like I have to jump one step further to try and guess ‘whodunnit.’ I always feel like I’m right there with the main character (Rowan) because the pacing is so brilliant. And yet again, the final twists completely managed to blow my mind.

Every single page had me fully imagining myself in Carn Bridge, Scotland, where the story takes place, and I absolutely didn’t want it to end. Waiting for each new Ruth Ware novel just gets harder and harder, I swear.

Ruth Ware just keeps getting better! The Turn of the Key is her best book to date.
It kept me up at night, wanting to read more. I did not figure out the twist until the
very end. Rowan had me from the start. I love the way the story was told in the form of
a letter. I sometimes forgot she was writing a letter at all.. Well done Ms. Ware well done!
Thanks Net Galley for the E-book copy.