There was a very slow start to this book and every time I thought "Here we go!" nothing happened. The characters, especially the children were very abrasive and unlikeable and I found myself having a hard time connecting to any character even in the smallest way. I do think it takes talent to create and convey abrasive and irritating characters and sometimes those characters are much more realistic. So in that way, there was excellent character development. At the end of the day, I was glad to be rid of them.

I'm a fan of Ruth Ware—I loved The Woman in Cabin 10, and read it in one day after sitting down to leaf through it. This book, about a nanny who goes to care for three children in a panopticon house in the Scottish highlands, offered plenty of what I hope for in a thriller. There was mystery and a creeping sense of dread and, for heaven's sake, a poison garden. But the end felt rushed, and somehow darker than what I was hoping. An easy read, but a haunting one.

At this point, I think the question to ask is, is there anything Ruth Ware can't do? The Turn of the Key is an outstanding novel both as a sort of tribute to--well, you know!--and as a standalone. It's definitely one of the best books of 2019

Another great book by Ruth Ware. The intrigue and mystery start right from the beginning. The Turn of the Key is a page turner that will not disappoint. It keeps you guessing right until the very end! I definitely recommend checking this out!!

***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

I love Ruth Ware and will read anything she puts out. This one was atmospheric and creepy, but the ending left a little something to be desired.

I loved EVERYTHING about this book except the ending. What the heck happened? I need more information, maybe one more chapter, something...

Ruth Ware can basically do no wrong in my eyes, but this one did have a few things that were a little disappointing for me: 1. I loved the creepy element of the smart house, but in the end it really didn’t have much weight in the story. 2. I felt like I still didn’t know any of the characters well at all by the end of the book. 3. I was really disappointed that the ghosts that were alluded to throughout the entire book did not play into the ending at all as I had expected them to.
Overall, I still enjoyed the book and would recommend!

Four and a half stars: A creepy atmospheric tale with many startling twists and turns leading up to a shocking conclusion.

Rowan Caine puts in her resume for a job that seems too good to be true. The position she is after is for a live in nanny in the Scottish Highlands. Rowan is enchanted by the luxurious Heatherbrae House, a restored house with smart technology and modern conveniences. The salary is generous as well. Then when Rowan lands the job, she can’t believe her good fortune. She arrives at Heartherbrae hoping to present the picture of a perfect nanny. Unfortunately, Rowan quickly finds that maintaining the facade of the perfect nanny is a tall order. Soon Rowan is left alone with three children in a house that has cameras everywhere. Then things start getting weird from malfunctioning technology, strange noises and the whispers of ghosts. The situation deteriorates rapidly, culminating with a murder and Rowan landing in jail. If Rowan didn’t commit the murder, who did?
What I Liked:
*The Turn of the Key delivers a chilling, atmospheric tale that will keep you flipping pages long past bedtime. I was hooked but this riveting read. If you love a good suspenseful thriller, this one is not to be missed. The Turn of the Key is the perfect read for the fall season.
*The setting is outstanding. I loved the way the Heatherbrae House became integral to the story. The remote setting coupled with the smart technology was unsettling. Imagine being in the middle of nowhere with cameras always spying on you. Then when the technology begins to malfunction, the tension ramps up. The author does a tremendous job with the house. The Heatherbrae House with its sordid history and off limits garden provided the perfect backdrop. It was creepy!
*Rowan is one of those characters whom I wanted to trust, but I just couldn’t quite get fully behind her. Perhaps it is because the story opens with her desperate letter to her lawyer begging for help after she is accused of murder. She presents herself as a young woman wanting to land the perfect nanny job in order to better her life, but there is so much more to the story. I felt sympathy toward Rowan throughout, and I found myself forgiving her time and time again for her errors. Even though I was never certain whether she was a reliable narrator or not, I was always cheering for her. I liked that she was complex, and that there is much more to her than meets the eye. The author did a fantastic job with her character.
*The story starts out tame enough, but believe me it ramps up quickly. Once Rowan is left alone at the house, things start happening. The suspense builds and builds until the tension is so thick you are hanging on by a thread. I couldn’t put it down. The final third is packed with so many stunning jaw dropping twists. I didn’t see most of them coming, right up to the final gut punch. Wow! If you like books with twists, this is one for you!
*I thought the way the story was presented was brilliant. The story is told in an epistolary format. It opens with Rowan writing her lawyer from jail, recounting all the sordid details that happened at Heatherbrae House. The author managed to execute it flawlessly.
The ending is shocking. Perhaps you will see it coming, but I doubt you will guess all that is in store in this thriller. Prepare for many startling secrets.
*I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Imogen Church. Ms. Church’s narration is top notch. I particularly liked the way she voiced the “creak creak” sounds. Yikes! Definitely grab this on audiobook if you can.
And The Not So Much:
*With most thrillers, there are usually a couple of twists that leave niggles, and this one had a couple. For me once the revelations were out, I took issue with the parental attachment that two of the daughters had to their father. He was presented as constantly being absentee, so I didn’t buy the girls motivation for not wanting their dad to leave. He was gone all the time.
*I didn’t like that the fate of one particular character was left hanging. I wanted to know what happened to that person!
*I didn’t completely buy the letter sent at the end. That person throughout the story didn’t seem to like one character, and then she sends the letter? Didn’t quite work.
*I could have done without the twist regarding the handyman, what was the point of that?

Turn of the Key was a riveting read packed full of suspense that kept me glued to the pages. I loved the atmospheric tension, the unsettling technological presence, the creepy history of the house and the stunning secrets. This was a excellent read even if I did have a couple of quibbles. It is well worth the time if you love a good thriller. Grab this one, it is perfect for the fall season!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

3.5 stars

Rowan is languishing in prison for a crime she swears she doesn’t commit. Her last hope is that Mr. Wrexham, the solicitor she is writing to, will take her case.
Rowan had taken a nanny position in remote Scotland on what seems to be a whim. Seduced by the large salary with promised bonuses, she is undeterred by the news that all previous nannies left quickly under mysterious circumstances. Rowan soon learned the job was not what she was led to believe. The children were difficult, the parents left immediately for several weeks, and the house, despite having been turned into a “smart house” has a tragic past. When one of the children is found dead , Rowan’s past surfaces enough to land her in jail for the murder.
Ruth Ware knows how to create a chilling atmosphere. The remote setting lends itself nicely to an updated spooky gothic horror within a technologically advanced house. In fact, I found the story the most readable when it was falling upon the typical horror tropes of mysterious footsteps, creepy dolls, and reappearing objects. The characters themselves were all fairly unlikable and the ending seemed rushed but I still found the book to be compulsively readable. If you are looking for a slow paced spooky thriller for a Halloween read, this is a great option for you.

Wow! Ruth Ware does it again. This one kept
Me guessing the ENTIRE time. No spoiler- but wow! You won’t see this coming. This one is written to keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s a wild anxiety riddled ride from page one! A must read.

Ware’s narrators are unlikeable but I am nevertheless pulled into their predicaments and The Turn of the Key was no exception. The gothic atmosphere is reminiscent of Jane Eyre, but with less romance and less likable charges.

Rowan, the new nanny, arrives at Heatherbrea House in a Tesla, not a carriage. The eerie house abounds with creaks, shadows, and magic-like technology that is also incredibly invasive and creepy. Do the ghost of dead children haunt the grounds? Who is walking the house at night unlocking doors and windows?

I enjoyed the story--it weaves together so beautifully--but you must keep reading through monotonous details to get to the plot. I may be guilty of some skimming. Fans of other Ruth Ware books will be happy with this latest installment.

I love Ruth Ware, so I was very excited to read this one. It did not disappoint and in fact I'm declaring this as my favorite of her books. It was fantastic!!
It's especially appropriate to be reading it at this spooky, eerie time of year because it will scare the pants off of you!
I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down, and honestly I was afraid to turn the lights out!!
Loved it!

(I used a copious amount of exclamation points, but it couldn't be helped!)

Loved this book! Super creepy with a great twist at the end. I've read all of Ruth Ware's books and I would say this is my favorite thus far!

In the realm of psychological thrillers, this one did not disappoint. Lots of scary moments, twists and turns, questioning the motives of each character...it all kept me reading.

As this book starts, we immediately meet Rowan Caine, a nanny who is in prison, awaiting her trial for the murder of a child. The book is written in form of letters from Rowan to her lawyer, trying to explain how she got there & what truly happened. I really enjoyed this format, as it kept me guessing & slowly revealed the details (instead of finding out everything right away). This book had a bunch of twists & turns, in true Ruth Ware style, and I really enjoyed where the story went. The only think that was a little bit lacking for me was the ending. I wish that there had been a little bit more about what happened afterwards, but overall, I did really enjoy this book.

Looking for an October read which will leave you holding your breath while turning the pages? Look no further. Ruth Ware has done it again with Turn of the Key. I also love a story which provides the house as a character. (Another example of this was The Girl Before) The nanny role has become a now classic invite to traditional suspense and with good reason. Never one to include a spoiler- this is worthy of a night in.

I love Ruth Ware's books. True to form you can never guess the ending. A simple nanny assignment plus a spooky, haunted house with the latest technology makes an unbelievable story but what is real and what is not?

This is my first Ruth Ware book and while I did enjoy the writing I found the book to be quite predictable. Which is a shame because it seemed like a book with a great idea behind it. What's not creepy about an nanny hired in an isolated house in the middle of nowhere with three children? Unfortunately I had to give this book three stars. I checked off all the things that make a book creepy. We had isolated house, all alone, nannies, ominous sounds, missing nannies, dead children, a big old mansion,oh and a suspicious handyman plus add a sprinkle of creepy attic that owners never redid despite house being remodeled and you have the perfect recipe for a scary story. Sadly outside of the creepiness factor of the writing the story fell short for me. It just felt predictable with the ending and the twist was so lackluster that when one of the reveals was announced I busted out laughing. One of the twist was revealed on 275 but the author put a little hint to it on one of the pages before that. I'm not sure if she was trying to give us a clue or she didn't think about it I don't know. After all three stars for me for this book I'll definitely read this author again I think I have another one of her books but I would be interested in reading her books again.

Ruth Ware is back and better than ever with Turn of the Key. Gripping from the first page, this book is truly unputdownable! Readers are immediately drawn into the narrator's story. Told via an epic letter from a prison inmate, it is full of dark and twisty moments and intrigues. What happens when a nanny in left alone with her three charges in a modernized old house full of secrets? Why is there a poison garden in the woods where children play? Is there a supernatural force at work, or might our lovable narrator be less reliable than she seems? A perfect fit for fans of Michelle Sacks' You Were Made for This!


I was fortunate to receive a free ARC of this book from Netgalley. The above thoughts, insights, or recommendations are my own meek musings.

1st by this author.. I really liked the book and will read more by this author.. A few twist and turns and an ending I did not expect.. I have to say although it moved a bit slow I wanted to continue to read to find out what was going on.. It was a good book. and I was not expecteding parts where it went and where it left..