Play Book Tag discussion

The Turn Of the Key – Ruth Ware
3.5***

From the book jacket: When Rowan Caine stumbles across the ad, … it seems like too good an opportunity to miss – a live-in nanny post, with a staggeringly generous salary. And when she arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten – by the luxurious “smart” home fitted out with all modern conveniences, by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and by this picture-perfect family. When she doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare.

My reactions:
Well, I didn’t read the book jacket before I read the book (which I won through Bookreporter.com). My niece loves Ware’s thrillers, so I thought I’d give the author a go.

Written in an epistolary style, the book opens with the main character in prison and her desperate letter to a solicitor asking for help – because “I didn’t kill that child.” Her letter continues outlining all that happened – how she stumbled upon the job opening, submitted her resume, went for the interview, and began the position. And how quickly things began going wrong. There are twists and turns and unexplained happenings. References to ghosts and previous “bad history” of the house. A “poison” garden behind a tall wall and locked gate. A mysterious housekeeper who clearly doesn’t like Rowan. A handsome gardener/handyman who seems too good to be true – and could he be the person causing all this havoc? In no time at all, Rowan is a sleep-deprived mess, who shows very poor judgment.

I will say this for Ware, she kept me turning pages and second-guessing, even if I didn’t quite empathize with Rowan or believe the way the kids or their parents behaved. Her final reasoning seemed really off to me, as if Ware just had to find one more twist to include. And then that final letter just completely caught me off guard.

As a suspense thriller it was better than most. I can certainly see why my niece is such a fan.



LINK to my review

I have this out from the library and I'm quite excited to read it!

I will probably read this at some point. I didn't like In A Dark Dark Wood but I loved The Death of Mrs. Westaway. She writes good ole' fashioned thrillers, with a slight cozy mystery bent.

oooh, I think I need to add this!

I've enjoyed both I've read of Ruth Ware, and this is on my TBR. I didn't realize it was epistolary- that bumps it up a bit on my list! Have I committed myself to too many books in Feb already? Now I want to add this one!!