Ruth Ware has an amazing knack for taking a simple idea (both The Woman in Cabin 10 and The Lying Game involve a missing person) and spinning it in multiple directions that keeps the suspense going and readers guessing until the very end. While The Woman in Cabin 10 was a fast paced thriller, many were disappointed with The Lying Game's more tedious plot. The Death of Mrs. Westaway takes another straightforward concept-a young girl's inheritance from her deceased grandmother-and turns it into a very dark and sinister mystery. Harriet "Hal" Westaway is still reeling from the hit and run death of her mother several years earlier when she receives a letter informing Harriet that she is a beneficiary of her grandmother's estate. The problem is Hal is certain she is not related to the woman named in the letter. But Hal is young and broke-she lives on meager earnings as a tarot card reader, and is being threatened by the loan shark she borrowed money from-so the idea of even a small inheritance is enough to pique Hal's interest. Using her last penny, Hal travels to Mrs. Westaway's home for her funeral and the reading of the will. Here Hal meets her three "uncles"-Mrs. Westaway's sons who believe Hal is the daughter of their long lost sister. When Hal learns she is the sole beneficiary of the substantial estate, old tensions between the brothers are renewed and Hal fears she will be exposed as a fraud. The Death of Mrs. Westaway has a deeply brooding tone-from the decrepit mansion that is home to Mrs. Westaway and her longtime maid, to the unexplained tensions between the brothers, and especially the cryptic ramblings of the maid-nothing (and no one) is what it appears to be. With a Gothic feel that's a nod to Agatha Christie classics, The Death of Mrs. Westaway is Ruth Ware's best work to date. It's gripping and intense-the mansion's secrets are exposed in twists that literally grab you by the throat and leave you gasping for air. Highly recommended.

Hal Westaway is a young woman, struggling to make a living as a Tarot card reader in the south of England. She can’t pay her bills, and a loan shark is threatening her. When she receives a letter saying she has inherited money, she know it must be a mistake but she is desperate and sees a way out of her misery. What she doesn’t know is how the next few days and people she meets will impact her life, and maybe not in a good way.

While the premise is good, there is too much description and repetition of how Hal feels at every moment. Not a bad read, just average.

Now this is a proper book. The "I'm not even mad I couldn't sleep all night because I had to keep reading this book" sort of book. This feels like a modern day Rebecca as told by P.D. James. It's gothic and mysterious but utterly captivating. Even though I received an advanced review copy I will be buying this book for my library as it's just brilliant.

The Death of Mrs. Westaway is a classic British murder mystery - full of atmosphere. Harriot "Hal" Westaway is living hand to mouth in Brighton - telling tarot fortunes on the pier, just like her mother before her. Desperate to pay her rent and other bills, Hal borrows money from an unsavory character who wants it back - with loads of interest. One night while sifting through her bills, Hal receives a notice from her grandmother's attorney, saying that Hal has inherited and needs to come to her huge gothic estate to collect. Hal knew her grandparents were long dead, but goes along with the plot thinking that she can pay off her loans, and start a new life. After meeting the family, Hal has mixed emotions, and realizes that another mystery is at stake. Who is she really? Who was her father? and what happened to Maud Westaway? This book by Ruth Ware compares to her first book, In a Dark, Dark Wood. I love the British atmosphere - it's like reading Masterpiece theatre! thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an e-book to review.

I am happy to report that Ruth Ware is back. I had really enjoyed In a Dark, Dark Wood, and The Woman in Cabin 10, but she lost me with The Lying Game. She is back in good form with The Death of Mrs. Westaway. It is a deliciously creepy story with a slow-burning tension that builds as you go. It is equal parts mystery and family drama. Hal is a relatable and sympathetic heroine. As she found herself increasingly in peril, I felt terrified at what might befall her. A great classic, gothic mystery.

Another great book from Ruth Ware, she does not disappoint. Sometimes you have an inkling early on about what's going to happen or the backstory but this book truly kept me guessing until the end. Great read for fans of mysteries or thrillers!

I wasn't much of a fan of psychological thrillers until I discovered the talented Ruth Ware, so I was thrilled to find her latest, The Death of Mrs. Westaway, available on netgalley! This story has the feel of an Agatha Christie-esque who-done-it suspense mixed with just the right amount of eerie creepiness. Just like Ware's The Woman in Cabin 10, The Death of Mrs. Westaway will keep you guessing until the end!

I really enjoyed this book. As Ruth Ware got more popular, I kept reminding myself to read one of her books, and now, thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, I have.

I was instantly hooked on the story of Harriet Westaway and the family she never knew. As a daughter of a young single mother, Harriet "Hal" has seen struggle, and now as a young woman orphaned by a car accident, Hal attempts to make ends meet by reading fortunes on a pier and working to pay back a shady loan.

When a mysterious letter arrives naming Hal beneficiary of the titular character, Hal has a decision, to continue to play into the mistaken identity or come clean. But the truth may not be so easily discovered.

Borrowing strongly from gothic tradition, the book was an interesting mystery and I enjoyed the strong main character very much. I look forward to reading Ms. Ware's other books.

I have read most of Ruth's books, but this one I think is her pinnacle! This was a book I did not want to put down, and I found myself reading 3/5ths of it on the first reading very EARLY into the morning, and finishing on the second read. Red herrings about to thwart the reader, in classical Christie prose, as the reader worries about Hal and her immediate future. Will she be able to get an inheritance? Will she survive the weekend? Why was the family SO dysfunctional and what is the big secret they are keeping? This is at once an old-fashioned mystery, wrapped up with a modern coat, and it is perfect for relaxing with over a long weekend, so don't miss this one!

I hate to say I liked it because...yikes! It is creepy! Never the less, it kept me guessing until the end. I blamed someone else all along so I was quite shocked! Another good one from this author

If I could gif my reactions to every twist and turn in this story, I would. This book was very suspenseful. I first fell in love with Ms. Ware's books, The Woman In Cabin Ten. It was so twisty-turny that I couldn't stop reading. Yet, I didn't feel the same connection to The Lying Game, however, it was also a well-written book. Yet, The Death... book brought me back to the same thrilling feeling that I had with my first read. And I plan to read her first publication.
I was between a 4 and a 5 because there were so many characters that I was confused at times. I almost needed a family tree to go back to. And the red herrings were significant enough for me to wonder what the heck happens with that issue. I appreciate how I couldn't solve the mystery. Any time I'm challenged, I bow down to the story.
However, the conclusion was satisfactory. I will certainly be thinking about this tale for a long time.

I love the creepy cover on this one, and the distinct Gothic feeling that I had while reading this... a spine-tingling read with all the chills!

I really loved the affectionate relationship Hal had with her mother - all the memories - how she thought of her fondly, heard her voice in her head, and how she tried to remember all that she had taught her. I felt "all the feels" as I read about this 20-something losing her parent.

This book kept me guessing as to who was who and who were Hal's real parents - I loved all the dark undercurrents of secrets. I know nothing about tarot reading, but the scenes with the cards were really interesting to me. I know all of Ruth Ware's books are standalones, but it would be interesting to see what happens to Hal next. She was a great, great heroine. When the characters stay in your head after you've finished a novel ... to me that's a mark of a satisfying book.

Ruth Ware has done it again in her gripping new novel, The Death of Mrs. Westaway. What was described as a spellbinding experience has more than lived up to my expectations.

Hal Westaway is struggling to make ends meet reading fortunes on the pier, something she learned from her late mother. When she receives a letter stating she is heir to an inheritance from a recently deceased family member that she didn’t know existed, she is sure it is a case of mistaken identity, but sees it as an opportunity to escape her financial woes. In an attempt to pretend to be the long-lost heir, Hal soon discovers that things in the Westaway home are not as they seem. What will happen if her true identity is discovered?

I loved the setting and atmosphere of this book. It was ominous and dangerous, and it was eerily riveting. Unable to put this one down, I was transfixed from page one. It had a bit of real magic mixed in with the tarot card readings. Then, add in the secrets around every turn and plenty of hazards and suspense. I was on the edge of my seat, completely engrossed. The pacing was perfect and I lost myself in the dark all-consuming world of the Westaways.

I would highly recommend this book! Unique from any other book I’ve read, and even unparalleled by Ware’s other novels, this one is a must read. If you enjoy a gothic ambience, historical mysteries, or even a psychologically mind-bending thriller, this contemporary spine-tingling mystery will entertain you for hours on end.

5 captivating stars!

**ARC provided by author for honest review**
Review by Amy, Late Night Reviewer for Up All Night with Books Blog

A bit of a literary snob, I found myself critical of the writing and consequently unengaged in the early chapters. However, I also love a good psychological thriller and had read and enjoyed In a Dark, Dark Wood when it first came out. At the time I was recovering from surgery and recall the earlier book as a welcome escape into a gripping and suspenseful story.  So I read on and soon found myself caught up in a plot with more twists and turns than an Olympic skater.  A run-down gothic mansion, a sinister housekeeper, and ominous family secrets all brought to mind a beloved favorite, Rebecca. The main character, Hal (short for Harriet), as a tarot card reader adds an interesting dimension to the story. Another solid entry from Ware that's sure to be a hit!

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware is a wonderful whodunit thriller. What surprised me was that this not only was a great mystery, but it also had a feel of being an old-fashioned thriller, somewhat similar to Agatha Christie. This was so well done.

Harriet (Hal) Westaway, our heroine, struggles to make ends meet daily. When her mother died in a hit and run, Hal took over their tarot reading business at the Pier to be able to pay bills, and is threatened with a deadline by a loan shark. Hal receives a letter about her grandmother passing away, whom she has not known anything about, and she is asked to attend the reading of the will, where she will get an inheritance. Being desperate, Hal, decides to go and play the part, since she knows it is a mistaken identity. All she wants is some money to pay the loan shark, and give herself a fresh start.

When she arrives at the funeral, the solicitor greets her, and afterwards takes her to Trespassen House, the mansion owned by the deceased Heather Westaway. Hal marvels that it is a mansion, even if it is very much falling apart and in disrepair; but she knows the Westaways are rich, though the family no longer resides at the mansion. Hal will meet her three uncles, and their family, as well as the old mean housekeeper, Mrs. Warren, who is sort of scary.

When the will is read later that evening, everyone is shocked that Mrs. Westaway left everything to her granddaughter, Harriet. Though some of the family is upset, they continue to embrace Hal as the niece that have never known. Hal is upset and besides herself, feeling guilty that she is conning her new found relatives. In a short time, she feels closer to her new family, and has mixed feelings about the inheritance she feels does not belong to her. Hal finds a letter, and photograph that has her investigating the sister who is missing, and her mother, who turns out to be a cousin. What she will discover will change everything, as there are so many hidden secrets, which will push Hal to try and find clues about her mother.

As the plot thickens, with Hal slowly unravels the truth, the story becomes an intriguing thriller that had a lot of twists, turns, betrayals that kept me glued to my kindle, awaiting more details that Hal finds. Ware gives us chapters from the past revolving around her mother, and the missing sister, which leads to many more questions.

What follows is an exciting, intense and at times even haunting mystery, as Hal begins to suspect she is in danger. Someone does not want her getting too close to the secrets of the past. What happened to the missing sister years before? Why did her mother keep secrets from her? Who was her father?

Ruth Ware has written a fantastic story that was part thriller, but mostly a fantastic mystery, with a wonderful heroine. I loved the old fashioned style mystery (but in present time), the many clues along the way, and the exciting, pulse pounding, surprising climatic ending. This was very well done. I suggest if you enjoy mysteries, you should read The Death of Mrs. Westaway.

I so enjoyed this mystery, which reminded me all the way through of the Agatha Christie books. The story was a little dark, menacing, full of unlikeable characters, but a great murder mystery. Hal is a tarot card reader, who really has no faith in her skill and feels pretty much a fraudster. But it seems she does have skill, whether it is psychic or intuitive, which helps her solve the mystery.

This is one of the most atmospheric novels I have ever read. From the Brighton Beach Pier to a desolate old mansion in the Cornish countryside to road trips in snow-blocked roads, Ruth Ware crafts setting like a painter. This is at its heart a Gothic tale that knows very well it is a Gothic tale (they even namedrop Mrs. Danvers!), but never is that to the book’s detriment. It begins rather like many Gothic tales; the heroine, Harriet, is given a reason to journey to an isolated old house in the countryside. In this case, she receives a letter informing her she is the recipient of her recently deceased grandmother’s inheritance. Knowing the letter was sent to the wrong person but financially desperate, Hal decides to go anyway. Once she arrives and finds herself amongst the deceased’s family, Hal begins to realize that perhaps she has a connection to them after all, a connection someone in the house is determined to keep secret.

Again, the atmosphere is the best thing about this book. Ruth Ware never lets you forget that you are in the bleak Cornish countryside by the raging sea, in the midst of fog and rain and mist. This is the crux of what Modern Gothic should be, and it is an objectively well-written book. It takes its time to move the narrative along, reveling instead in its creepy atmosphere and letting you sit in the sense that something is wrong, upping the tension so agonizingly slowly, that you find it impossible to put the book down until you discover what is going on. As a lover of Gothic lit, I had such a fantastic time reading this.

I especially loved the addition of Tarot cards; the descriptions of Hal’s deck made me want to dust off my own deck and do some spreads. I really liked how Ruth Ware connected the themes and plot points of the novel to the meanings of the Tarot cards. I also was really pleased that they were not treated as mystical items, but rather psychological ones, tools that help you examine your future rather than reveal it.

Something else I absolutely loved was the solidarity between the women in this book. I can’t say too much because I try to avoid spoilers in my reviews, but there are so many instances of female characters being kind and supportive of one another and it comes so organically. There is a very strong undertone of this female solidarity running through one of the main plot points that took place in the past, and I so wish we had seen more of that, and more of those characters together! Overall, though, this is a theme that came out very strong, and I adored it.

That said, I did have some issues!

First, there is the pacing. It takes an astonishingly long time for the plot to get going. I know, I know, I just said I liked the slow, tense, atmospheric tale, but that was once the plot got started. This book did not hook me from the start; in fact, by chapter 4, I literally stopped and checked Goodreads to make sure this book was actually meant to be a thriller, because I felt no thrill or pull. Almost nothing happened in these first few chapters besides Hal just…thinking. And thinking. And just…telling us about her backstory. Again, a nod to the Gothic, perhaps, but still. The book is rather long and I can’t help but think it might have been edited down a bit. Several of the chapters are repetitious, featuring Hal just thinking about what is going on – over and over and over again.

Second, there is Hal. Now, I try very hard not to criticize books for not being what I want them to be, so I will preface this by saying that Hal is a perfectly fine character, just one that I did not like. She is a professional Tarot reader, so she is meant to be confident and smooth-talking. I expected a con woman. Hal is not a con woman. She is constantly talking about how she is strong and tough and whatnot but overall she comes off as shy and timid and not especially intelligent or perceptive, or at least not as intelligent and perceptive as a professional Tarot card reader might be. There was nothing wrong with this per se, but I wanted someone with a bit more mettle, someone more conniving, someone who would have no problem conning a family. Hal, on the other hand, is not only timid, but is constantly slipping up, saying things she should not be saying, and I feel like someone who spins pretty words and lies for a living should not be prone to slipping up this much.

Third, there is the ending. So, the big reveal comes in two parts. One of them I guessed at, even though the author took great pains to point us away from it in a rather ridiculous way, but fine, I’ll buy it. The other reveal…well, I won’t be too specific since I don’t want to spoil anything, but I will just say that I found it a bit unsatisfying. I was unable to understand several characters’ motivations for doing the things they did; it seemed like the behavior of people living in the 1850s rather than the 1950s. Perhaps this is intentional and is part of the Gothic atmosphere of the book, but at some point plot cannot be sacrificed for atmosphere. I was expecting something much more complex and taboo than the reality of what had actually occurred. I have so many questions about the ending because the actions of these characters just made no sense.

Overall, however, I enjoyed this book very, very much. If you like Gothic literature at all, you have to give it a shot! The plot is not really this book’s strength; this book’s strength is in its thick, gloomy atmosphere that keeps you hanging on until the very end.

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware is my favorite Ware book to date. This book was written so well that the suspense just builds and builds to a thrilling and very satisfying conclusion. A few years after the death of Hal's mother she learns that she is due to inherit part of her grandmother's inheritance. However, Hal has never met her grandmother and didn't even know she was still alive and she thinks this is a case of mistaken identity. Hal is in a desperate situation of her own so she decides to go meet her possibly new family members. From there Hal becomes entrenched in a web of lies and mysteries that will lead her questioning all that she's known about herself. Read and enjoy!

When Hal goes to her grandmother's funeral, she discovers long lost relatives and secrets long buried. This book is reminiscent of Agatha Christie mysteries. It is a suspenseful, highly readable book.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and Scout Press for allowing me to read The Death of Mrs. Westaway, by Ruth Ware. After the loss of her mother, Harriet, aka Hal, struggles to make ends meet by reading Tarot cards on the pier, but when money falls short, she has to borrow. When she can’t pay back the money, she is threatened and doesn’t know what to do. With the promise of an unexpected windfall, which may or may not belong to her, she has to decide whether to claim the money, or tell the truth. When she meets the Westaway family, who have secrets of their own, she begins to question her life and everything she believes to be true! Will having money, a family, and security, be worth risking her life for? This book will have you reading as fast as you can to unravel the family secrets and where Hal fits into this family. This is a great thriller!