*4+ stars.

Twenty-one year old Harriet ‘Hal’ Westaway is desperately trying to hold her life together. Three years before, her mother was killed by a hit-and-run driver and Hal took over her tarot reading kiosk on the pier in Brighton to support herself. But during a hard financial stretch, Hal went to a loan shark for help and now she is being threatened with bodily harm over non-repayment of the ever-increasing amount.

So when a letter from a lawyer appears in her mail, Hal expects another threat..but instead, it informs her that her grandmother Hester Westaway has died and she is in line for a sizable inheritance. Oh happy day!

The problem? Hal’s maternal grandparents died before she was born and she never knew her father—she was supposedly the result of a one-night stand and Westaway is her mother’s maiden name. So obviously some mistake has been made, a case of mistaken identity. But she so desperately needs the money…could she pull off the deception that she is indeed the long-lost granddaughter??

She convinces herself she can, packs a pathetic suitcase, and scrapes enough money together to take the train to Cornwall for the funeral. As she gets her first view of Trepassen House, dark and forbidding, she notices magpies circling the house:

One for sorrow
Two for joy
Three for a girl
Four for a boy
Five for silver
Six for gold
Seven for a secret
Never to be told

Ruth Ware has created a rather gothic tale of dark, hidden secrets with a likable character in Hal and an interesting cast of supporting characters. The tension builds deliciously and just when the reader thinks she's figured it all out, the story twists again.

Interspersed with Hal's story are journal entries written by a young woman living in the attic room at Trepassen House in 1994...a woman who gets increasingly desperate as she realizes she is pregnant. Someone who may have been the one who scratched 'HELP ME' in the pane of the room's barred window...

Grandmother Hester had written a French phrase which translates to something like "After me, the flood." Was she hoping or predicting that all their family secrets would be revealed after her death? And what will the truth unleash if it is revealed?

Another winner from Ruth Ware! Put this on your summer reading list!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me with an arc of this new suspense thriller for an honest review.

I've heard so much hype about Ware's books, and this one served as my introduction to her work. Many of the early reviews are touting it as her best book yet; if this is indeed true, then she may not be the author for me. Ware is a perfectly capable writer, and this book has both an intriguing setup and atmosphere to spare. However, I never feel like the story completely took off to have the kind of urgency that compelled me to keep turning the pages. Most of the plot reveals are either predictable or convoluted, plus I didn't find protagonist Hal to be particularly interesting. I feel like an opportunity to create a truly memorable tale reminiscent of classic suspenseful literature was squandered, which is disappointing.

This book had all of Ware's usual goosebump-inducing suspense, but with a decidedly more Gothic feel. Seriously, Daphne du Maurier would be proud, I think. I was certainly sucked into the story, and I really liked Hal, despite the fact that her life was totally alien to me. I would argue that Trepassen House had much more presence than Manderlay, and Mrs. Warren is definitely a modern-day Mrs. Danvers. There seemed to be a lot more family to keep track of than in the classic Gothics, and while it was difficult at first, their personalities and places in the family fell into place in my mind. The central thread of Hal (and her mother)'s tarot cards and whether they actually have powers or whether it's the subject's mind who give them meaning - that really added an interesting dimension to the novel as various characters have their cards read or interpret the readings. The eerie feeling of the story never really developed into full-on "fear" for me (unlike in In a Dark, Dark Wood, in particular), but the slowly creeping dread certainly keeps the pages turning. I think I lost a bit of the impact because I was pretty sure I knew the big secret, so that took away from the drama. (It's funny, in some books I want to be able to work out the mystery and in some I don't. I think the difference is whether it's meant to be more mystery or suspense.) Anyway, I definitely recommend all of Ware's books, and this one especially to fans of the classic Gothic novels.

Ruth Ware is the Agatha Christie of our time. The Death of Mrs. Westaway is a Gothic mystery with many logical twists that will keep pages turning. Evocative prose and a strong heroine make this mystery novel highly recommended

From my blog: Always With a Book:

Ruth Ware is one of those authors that I put everything down to read - I've read each of her books so far, discovering her when she was signing copies of her debut book, In a Dark, Dark Wood at Book Expo back in 2015. Since then, I've been such a fan - and I'm so excited that she will once again be at Book Expo this year - I so hope to see her again, so I can gush about her books!!!

As much as I have enjoyed her previous books, I think this latest one might be my favorite one yet. I love it as much for the characters as for the atmosphere - this one definitely has a much more Gothic feel to it and it works so well. Even the tarot card angle added to the overall creepiness of this book - all these layers give this book such dimension and suspense to create a well-rounded, utterly dark, unsettling sense of foreboding that makes up this book.

This book is not so much a fast-burning mystery as it is a more slow-burning one, which I also really liked. And I loved the diary entries interspersed throughout the chapters that added to the overall mystery. At first, you are trying to figure out who they are written by and then you are trying to figure out who they are referring to. The overall mystery of this book is made up of many layers, so while you might figure out one, it's unlikely you will figure out everything...and that's the fun in this book. It really will keep you on your toes as all the pieces are slowly unraveled.

This was such a creepy, twisty read. It is intriguing and cleverly crafted so that you just don't want to put it down. This is definitely going down as a favorite!!!

Family secrets, fortune telling and intrigue set at a gothic mansion - the set up was perfect. From the beginning, Hal receives a letter telling her about the inheritance she is entitled to, confused as she has no family, but scared because she has gotten herself into debt with some shady characters, she pursues the letter. Immediately, something is off - but what exactly is it? The mystery unfolds in such an intriguing way, I was instantly hooked and curious to know what was happening here. I really enjoyed the way the story played out and this was my favorite Ruth Ware to date. I liked The Woman in Cabin 10 but didn't think it was the masterpiece some other people did and I did not finish The Lying Game so I wasn't sure how this one would be for me - and I was thoroughly impressed. 5 stars from this bookworm!

Thank you to Gallery, Threshold and Pocket Books for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own

You think you know...but you have no idea...

Harriet (Hal) Westaway is struggling to make ends meet after the death of her mother. She's taken over her mother's tarot card booth on the pier but she's plagued by debt and a nasty loan shark. So when a letter arrives stating that she's the beneficiary in her grandmother's will, Hal sees a way out. The only catch...Hal's grandparents died long before she was born.

Oh the twisty twistedness of a Ruth Ware novel! Somehow, every book is better than the last. (Yes, I even liked The Lying Game) I hate being able to predict the endings half way through and if an author can make me second guess myself every few chapters or stop and reread a sentence, well, more power to them!

From the very start, the book sets a haunting and creepy tone. Ware's atmospheric storytelling and thoughtful character building telling sucks me in every time. Hal was no exception. This little mouse-like human turns out to be a force to be reckoned with. I especially loved the thread of tarot cards throughout. The parallels helped to create a mystical, and at times foreboding, story line.

If you want a page turner that keeps you up WAY too late at night, Ruth Ware has definitely got you covered.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

This is a creepy atmospheric mystery that keeps you guessing right up to the end. Hal is down on her luck, a tarot card reader barely scraping by. Her mother was killed when she was 18 and Hal has been on her own since. With no family she finds it strange and probably a mistake when she receives a notification in the mail telling her that she was named in someones will as a beneficiary. Even though it may be a mistake inheriting a few thousand would solve her immediate issues and help her to catch up. Hal decides to give it a try and uses the last of her money to get to Penzance for the reading of the will. What she finds is a big run down house that seems familiar, and a family that is broken by secrets, anger, and mistrust.

Ware is known for her creepy atmospheric books and this one doesn't disappoint. The mystery keeps you on edge and as the book nears the end you find yourself holding your breath while you watch the final scenes play out. Well done, fast paced mystery that takes you for a ride and when you think you have it all figured out you realize you really had no idea.

Hal is a 21 year old making her living by reading tarot cards at the pier in Brighton being hounded by loan sharks when she receives a letter from a lawyer telling her grandmother has just died and left her a legacy. The problem? Hal's grandparents have supposedly been dead for years and there's no one to ask. Her mother was killed by a hit and run driver three years ago and she has never even known her father's name. Still Hal thinks this could be a way out of her grinding poverty and decides to take a chance.

She discovers a family with three uncles and a troubling family history. As the story unfolds she discovers her mother has lied to her much of her life and nothing is as it seems. The grandmother turns out to have been a horrible woman who no one but the housekeeper mourns. As abuse and terrible secrets come to light, Hal discovers her life could be in danger.

I liked the book and the ending but it was slow. It took me so long to get involved in the story and I did not really care for Hal. The author kept saying she acted like a mouse but was strong and I just didn't see that side of her. She just seemed to bounce along without clearly thinking things out. If you like old style gothic fiction that slowly unwinds this might be the one for you. It was just too slow for me.

Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

Hal (Harriet Westaway) is a young woman who is struggling to make ends meet. Her mother died three months earlier, a victim or a hit and run accident. Hal has followed in her footsteps as a boardwalk, physic reading tarot cards for tourists. She's flat broke and has even borrowed money from a loan shark who is now threatening her.

One day she receives a letter in the mail stating that a relative has died and that she's in line for an inheritance. Although she is pretty certain that the letter was sent to her in error and mean for someone else, she's desperate and decides to travel to Cornwall for the funeral of the deceased, a woman who is supposedly her grandmother. A reading of the will is to follow the services.

An atmospheric, creepy, Gothic type mystery with cranky, suspicious characters. The setting, Trepassen House, a creepy old mansion was ideal for the story to play out. I enjoyed the characters and the way that the story unraveled.

Rating - 4.5/5 stars -https://bibliophilebythesea.blogspot.com/2018/05/a-few-quick-reviews-noise-downstairs.html

Another Ruth Ware book that I struggled to get into and wanted to stop reading through the first 80% or so. Then the last 20% everything comes together like her othe books and I find it to be an alright read. Worth reading if you like her other books and style of writing.

Ooh, I enjoyed this book. After "The Lying Game" which I was my least favorite by this author, I was hoping that this one would blow me away. It definitely did not disappoint. I think I had this mystery figured out pretty early on but there was a twist I didn't see coming. Ruth Ware is good at describing atmospheric settings that are creepy, unsettling, and uninviting. I do think that Hal made some choices that some would find odd, but I enjoyed this book a lot. Highly recommend.

Wow! So many ways to spoil this, I really have to be careful. I had no idea when I started reading where this was going. I totally never expected the ending, excellent suspense, great characters, and a creepy old house. I cannot wait to hand sell this title. Perfect!

Another great book by Ruth Ware!

The creepy setting in an old run down house which draws a family together after the death of the matriarch. So many lies have been told and kept in this house.
You will spend the whole book trying to figure out how the main character is related. It was like a huge train wreck that I could see coming. I just didn't know who or when. It was epic and kept me guessing until the very end!

I cannot say no to a mystery set in an big old house...okay...mansion. And this one did not disappoint - the characters keep the reader on their toes and the story had great twists and turns.

This hard-to-define book is neither a mystery, nor a thriller. It tells the story of Hal, a tarot-card reader who has lost her mother and is struggling to pay her bills when a mysterious letter hinting at a large inheritance from her late grandmother arrives. Although she believes she has been wrongly identified as an heir, out of desperation, she travels to meet her long lost "family" anyway. The suspense - although there isn't actually very much suspense, truth be told - revolves around the identity of Hal's late mother and her actual relationship to the family.

The lack of any actual suspense or shocking plot twists made for a pretty dull read. None of the characters were particularly interesting and the entire story could have been summarized in a few pages. I enjoyed Ware's "The Woman in Cabin 10," but was disappointed by this mediocre novel.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ware’s debut, In A Dark, Dark Wood was one of my favorite reads of 2015 and then The Woman in Cabin 10 was another solid read for me, although I wasn’t as obsessed with it as IADDW. When The Lying Game was released last summer I grabbed a copy but I still haven’t read it. I saw SO many mixed reviews that I just skipped it for now, but all of that to say, as soon as I read the blurb of this one I was excited! It sounded like it would have some of the same elements that I enjoyed in IADDW and it definitely did, and while Ware’s debut remains my favorite of her books, this is definitely a close second.

Ware has an amazing talent for writing in an atmospheric way that really pulls the reader into the worlds she creates. When Hal enters the world of the Westaway family there was such a dark intensity, such a strong feeling of menace and danger lurking in the family home, it was creepy and strangely intoxicating. Hal is a tarot card reader and this added a mystical tone as well that when combined with the setting created that perfect storm of scary and fascinating.

Ware is really such a talented writer, her skill is even more apparent when I realized that some parts of this dragged a little for me but I was still entirely hooked. That doesn’t happen often, if things begin to drag I’m usually forcing myself to read, and the wait was most certainly worth it this time, when all was revealed I was shocked and totally satisfied! I also really enjoyed Hal as a character which makes it even better, I’ve had issues with Ware’s previous protagonists and this time I was behind Hal one hundred percent.

The Death of Mrs Westaway in three words: Ominous, Unsettling and Creepy.

'The Death of Mrs. Westaway' is a wonderfully creepy, gothic family mystery. Set primarily in a rambling, secluded old mansion on the English coast, the story is dark and full of characters with questionable motives.

Hal receives a letter telling her grandmother has passed away and left her an inheritance. Hal is young, on her own, and barely making ends meet so the letter seems like an unexpected gift. However, she knows that she can't possibly be related to the family of the deceased woman, Mrs. Westaway. Can she get away with posing to be the granddaughter? How much harm could it really do? It turns out that Hal isn't the only one keeping secrets in this dark and twisty mystery.

Highly recommended book for anyone who enjoys an intelligent, gothic, classic-style mystery.

smart well plotted novel that takes on classic plot (orphan, inheritance, gothic sensibilities, daunting housekeeper( with an up to date sensibility

I enjoy Ruth Ware and was a big fan of The Woman in Cabin 10 but wasn't bowled over by The Lying Game. The Death of Mrs. Westaway was much more enjoyable and is Ware in good form. This reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel in some ways, and had an old fashioned feel to it that I quite enjoyed. There were some fun twists and turns, and a somewhat unbelievable background for our main character, but a little suspension of disbelief is often required in a suspense or mystery novel. Definitely recommend as an enjoyable mystery.