A death, an inheritance, a tarot card reader who is down on her luck and appears to be a victim of mistaken identity... a complicated family history and a big, creepy house in Cornwall with a mysterious housekeeper...all make for the perfect mystery. I can't imagine how long Ruth Ware must have taken to weave the plot of her latest book as everything unfolded so unexpectedly but then also so naturally.

I never like to give much of the plot away with suspense novels, but we know that Hal is struggling to pay her bills and one day receives a letter informing her that she is the beneficiary of her Grandmother's will. The problem is she doesn't have a Grandmother and he Mother has recently died in a car accident. After some thought, Hal decides she has nothing to lose but to make the journey down to Cornwall to maybe get enough to pay her debts. What she doesn't realise is that life is about to get a tiny bit complicated and her ability to read people (honed through her job as a tarot card reader) takes her deep into the Westaway family history.

I’ve read all of of Ruth Ware's books and in my opinion this is by far her very best. Unlike her previous books, it reminded me of books I have read by Jane Morton, beautiful imagery, subtle revelations and set somewhere I would like to go myself. It had everything- mystery, family, subtle, slow building suspense, love, betrayal and many secrets. I also learned a lot I didn’t know about tarot reading and how tarot readers make their living - not necessarily by deceiving people but by making them ask questions and search their own hearts in order to find the answers they need. I personally found this aspect of the book really absorbing and I would like to read it again to go through these parts.

What I enjoyed most about this book was the fact that I did want to know the outcome but I was never tempted to race ahead because every page held something I either needed to know or wanted to know. I truly did escape from life for a couple of days.

A definite highlight of the year for me.

I am a bit of a fan of this author having read and enjoyed several of her previous books so I was quite looking forward to this, her latest release. And I wasn't disappointed. It actually reads quite a bit like an Agatha Christie book, although there is no main detective. But we have a family and a big house, a death and a will. A will that serves up quite a few shocks. In true Christie style, we also have identity issues and deep dark secrets from the past.
The action revolves around Harriet "Hal" Westaway who currently works as a tarot reader on the pier in Brighton, having taken over the spot from her mother who recently-ish died in a hit and run. She is not having a very good time of things as she is in a bit of a pickle financially. So, when she receives a letter telling her she is a beneficiary of the will of one Hester Westaway, recently deceased, allegedly her grandmother, even though she knows she really isn't, she decides to take her place at the table so to speak and travels to the family home in Cornwall, Trepassen House, and there meets her "relatives". But before long, she realises that maybe the means to the end she so desperately seeks may not be worth all the danger that goes with.
I absolutely loved this book. Start to finish. Even though I knew what Hal was doing was wrong, I rooted for her. I wanted her to have that lucky break. Even more so as I learned more and more about the rest of the Westaway family. How Hal learned more and more about her "mother" and her "family", all of whom appear to be hiding something. And then there's the housekeeper...
The plot is a bit convoluted at times and there is actually quite a lot going on all at the same time so I did have to have my wits about me and slow my reading down so that I could stay on track. It was not a book to whizz through as there were so many small hints dropped in every so often, some of which definitely put the cat among the pigeons. Or should that be magpies! But I managed to stay with it all the way, holding the confusion in my head until such time as it could be explained. Which it all was, very satisfactorily. With an ending that brought the whole book together very nicely, leaving me completely satisfied at the end.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Hal (Harriet), recieves a mysterious letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance. She quickly realises that the letter has been sent to the wrong person. Could Hal pull off claiming the inheritance as her own? Or will she be caught out.

If there is one thing for certain, it's that Ruth Ware knows how to write an eerie story. Hal is down on her luck. Her mother was killed in an accident outside their home, three years ago. Her mother earned a living reading tarot cards in a booth on Brighton pier. Since her mother's death, Hal has taken over the booth. Hal's bills are all outstanding and she owes a fortune to a money lender. When the letter arrives telling her about the inheritance, all Hal is hoping for is enough money to clear her feet.she travels to the family home, Trespassen House, in Cornwall. The family welcome her with open arms and that makes Hal feel uncomfortable. As secrets emerge, Hal life could be in danger. Is there anyone she can trust?

Once I got into this book I did not want to put it down. There are many twists in this well written book and a few surprises too. I had no idea where this story was going and the plot just seemed too thicken. I loved everything about this eerie tale. I do recommend it.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK, Vintage Publishing and the author Ruth Ware for my ARC in exchange for an honest review

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

Twenty one year Harriet (Hal) Westaway was alone in the world after the death of her mother Margarida in a hit and run accident. Hal did not know her father, all her mother divulged was she was the product of a one night stand with a Spanish student. After her mothers death Harriet took over their tarot reading booth on Brighton pier and became Madam Margarida. Hal was in debt to a vicious loan shark who was threatening to break her legs if she could not pay him back. Hal was contemplating moving when she received a letter from a solicitor in Cornwall, apparently she had received an inheritance in the will of Hester Mary Westaway.

Hal knew her grandparents had died before she was born and knew she had been wrongly named in the will. Hal knew it was wrong but she decided to attend the funeral of Mrs Westaway and hear the reading of the will. The solicitor organised a room for Hal in the family home called Trespassan House looked after by the formidable housekeeper Mrs Warren. Trespassen had once been grand but was now a ruin in need of repair.

Hal was greeted by her mothers 'family' Harding, Able and Ezra who although shocked were keen to embrace her in the family. The next morning at the reading of the will Hal found out Mrs Westaway had believed she was the child of her daughter also called Margarida Westaway. Apart from a few cash legacies Hal had inherited the vast Trespassan Estate. After being taken in so readily by her 'uncles' she felt guilty and unable to admit they had traced the wrong Margarida. That is until Able gave her a photo of her mother with the rest of the Westaway siblings. Her mother had never mentioned she was a member of a large family and Hal decides to find out what happened with devastating consequences.

The Death of Mrs Westaway was a dark book in the style of Agatha Christie. Especially with the foreboding presence of Mrs Warren who knew how to keep the Westaways dark secrets. This story went at slow pace which I appreciated because of the two characters with the same name. The book was very atmospheric, you could sense the isolation and Hal's mounting unease, unsure who to trust in the house. The Westaway brothers were interesting characters, and I enjoyed reading about the simmering sibling rivalry hidden barely under the surface.

The ending of this book was stunning. It was so good when the truth was revealed I gasped out loud and fanned myself like I had 'the vapours'. I recommend this book and look forward to reading her back catalogue.

This is an interestingly constructed story. It is a murder but not requiring a detective! The woman who has an unexpected inheritance believes it has come to her mistakenly but that doesn't stop her accepting it then investigating how it came her way. The family relationships are well constructed and the story is well written. It certainly kept me reading!

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was interesting, engrossing and a marvellous story to read. The death of Mrs Westaway opened up a past full of secrets and lies, mysteries and murder. It would make a wonderful film.
Highly recommended.

I loved this book! The imagery was stunning and the way Ruth Ware writes family dynamics was fantastic. By far one of my favourite books of 2018!

The Death of Mrs Westaway was a delicious read.

Twenty one year old Harriet (Hal) Westaway is on her uppers - barely scratching a living by reading tarot cards in a kiosk on Brighton pier, and heavily in debt to loan sharks. Undoubtedly, Hal’s situation is dire and since the unexpected death of her beloved mother, she has no one to fall back on. When she receives a letter from a solicitor advising of a bequest from her deceased grandmother, it should seem heaven sent - except for the fact that Hal knows the lady in question can’t possibly be her grandmother. But the wolf is not only at but inside the door and Hal is all out of options, so she uses the last of her money to travel to Cornwall - to Trepassen, the country house of the late Mrs Westaway.a

Hal has no idea what to expect, but what she finds is still a surprise. Trepassen is a chilly Gothic pile complete with creepy housekeeper - and not everyone is pleased to see her. Hal herself, all too aware of her own deception and feeling she has no right to be there at all, is just hoping her skills as a “cold reader”, honed in her kiosk on the pier, will see her through. The late Mrs Westaway still looms large over her family, and in the wake of her death, secrets, lies and dangers will be uncovered...

I’ve enjoyed all of Ruth Ware’s books but I think this is her best yet - the plot is intriguing and the character of Hal very engaging. It’s easy to sympathise with the situation in which she finds herself at the beginning, and all her actions and reactions seem credible.

A very enjoyable read with the tarot reading element, while in no way integral to the plot, adding an unusual extra dimension.

I love Ruth Ware’s books as you always know there’s going to be a great mystery at their centre.
In this book Hal is struggling to make ends meet in Brighton and her tarot reading booth is not making enough for her to live on.
She is then chased for money she owes by an intimidating thug and she doesn’t know what to do.
Hal then receives a letter telling her that her Grandmother has passed away and has left her something in her will.
Unsure whether to believe it, Hal goes to the funeral and is invited to stay at the family home for the night.
There’s Uncles, cousins and an Aunt that she’s never met before but deep down Hal knows they have contacted the wrong person, but waivers about what to do next.
As the days pass by more and more family secrets are revealed and Hal is left reeling when she makes a shocking discovery.
This is a gripping read and the final few chapters are breathtaking.
Thanks to Vintage Digital and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I really enjoyed this book, which kept me riveted throughout.
Each new book by Ruth Ware seems to be so very different from each other, unlike some authors who seem to trot out the same story, or setting, with only minor variations.
The thing linking her books seems to be that they are very well written, and have a certain suspense to them that keeps me reading until the book is finished, regardless of what I am meant to be doing with my time.

Ruth Ware is back!!! I still remember how completely engrossed I was in In A Dark Dark Wood, surprised that it was a debut novel, and now, three years later, I get excited when she has a new novel coming out. With a very likable main character and a gripping and suspenseful plot, THE DEATH OF MRS WESTAWAY has quickly become my favourite Ruth Ware’s novel.

Harriet “Hal” Westaway is 21 years old and she makes her living reading tarot cards at a pier in Brighton. Her mother died in a hit-and-run three years earlier and she has never met her father. She is also broke and she owns a lot of money to a loan shark. So when she receives a letter from a lawyer to inform her that she is one of the heirs of the estate of a Mrs Westaway, Hal thinks this is her chance to solve her problems and travels to Corwall to claim her inheritance. But she didn’t expect three sons estranged from their mother for years, a house full of secrets, and a past that it is slowly revealed.

I really liked the character of Hal. Even though she pretends to be someone else to inherit Mrs Westaway’s estate, she is a good genuine person. The only family she ever had was her mother and she’s been completely alone since her death. By pretending to be Mrs. Westaway’s lost granddaughter she hopes to get not only a bit of money that will get the loan shark off her back, but also a new family.

The family secrets, the gothic oppressive mansion in decline, and, also, an old servant who can’t cook and seems to know more than she should create a gothic atmosphere worthy of an Agatha Christie’s novel. The house in itself is a character of the novel with its secrets and its strange vibe that I almost expected a ghost to make an appearance.

If you are looking for an entertaining and intelligent novel, this is the one for you. THE DEATH OF MRS WESTAWAY is one of my favorite novels of 2018, an unsettling, gripping, and propulsive read that shows that, once again, Ruth Ware is really good at what she does.

Well, I devoured this book. It took me just over 4 hours in total to read. I have read every other book by Ms Ware and this one was just as good.

Hal works reading tarot on Brighton pier when she receives a letter that could turn her world upside down. She is summoned to Cornwall as she is named as an heir to Mrs Westaway and is a beneficiary of the will. She believes that there has been a mistake but is in desperate need of some money so decides to use her skills as a cold reader to infiltrate the family and get the cash. Not everything is that simple though.

The book is told via Hal and diary chapters from another character. You follow Hal as she tries to uncover the family secrets.

I’ve just finished this book and the ending has taken me totally by surprise. I didn’t guess the plot which is very unusual.
It’s a dark, hugely atmospheric mystery that kept me intrigued throughout.
This is my first Ruth Ware book which I enjoyed and will read her other books.
I’ve given it 4 stars overall as I found it slowed down mid way through.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️I just love this book! I am a massive fan of Ruth Ware and was so excited to receive an advanced copy of this book. I absolutely devoured the story and didn't want it to end. Once again Ruth Ware has come through with an amazing book.

Hal Westaway is an orphan after losing her mother in a hit and run accident and never knowing her father. She lives in a small apartment in Brighton and works on the pier as a tarot card reader. She is in serious debt to so not so nice people and her life is really going nowhere. One day she receives a very official looking letter from a lawyer to inform her that her grandmother has passed away and that she has been left an inheritance. Hal knows this can't be right as she lost her grandparents over 20 years earlier. But it is addressed to her and she really needs the money... what's a girl to do? She travels to the family estate for the funeral and meets the family. Every family has their secrets and this family is no different. Hal's arrival sees them start to unravel until the truth is finally out.

This book is beautifully written with its gothic scenery and spooky old mansion with no heating. The characters are real and it has an Agatha Christie feel to it. It would make a great movie.

Big thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book ahead of release in exchange for my honest opinions. Easily 5 ⭐️from me and I will be recommending it to all my book loving friends

Although I really enjoyed Ruth Ware’s debut novel, “In a Dark, Dark Wood,” my reading commitments meant that I have not read any further books by her until this, her latest. However, having enjoyed this so much, I really need to go back and read her other books.

Harriet (Hal) Westaway is a young woman, who lives in Brighton. After the death of her mother in a hit and run incident, she was forced to drop out from college and take up her mother’s job, as a tarot reader on the pier. She just about scrapes a living and has managed to keep the small flat she lived in with her mother, but, when bills mounted, what seemed like to the answer to a prayer turned ugly and she is now in danger from debt collectors.

While Hal is debating what to do about the unpleasant notes, and threatening visits, she receives a strange letter from a solicitor, informing her that she is a beneficiary in her grandmother’s will. Scared of staying at home, but certain that the letter was a mistake, Hal sets out for the country estate of Trepassen House. She hopes that she can pretend to be a member of the family and, possibly, get a financial bequest from the will, to help pay off her debts, and vanish before she is found out as an imposter. However, things turn out to be far more complicated than she expected.

This is a wonderfully creepy novel, complete with a Mrs Danvers like housekeeper, an array of Westaway relatives, dark family secrets, a glorious Gothic estate and rooms with bars on the windows and bolts on the outside of the doors… Can Hal manage to keep up the deception, or is she, indeed, linked to the inhabitants of Trepassen House by more than just her name? I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

The Death of Mrs Westaway had me hooked from start to finish. The dark mystery of it, the suspense and the creepy old house sucked me right in. Lots of twists that all fall into place nicely. I loved The Woman In Cabin 10 (still to read In A Dark, Dark Wood, which I now can't wait to read) and this was another great book by Ruth Ware.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book for free in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved this book and devoured it in two days. I had to keep putting it down though as I wanted to savour it and enjoy reading it in the sunshine, I didn’t want it to end. The creepy old house in Cornwall, the situations the main character got herself into and all the secrets and lies, past and present, made for an excellent read.I would recommend this for a holiday read when you have nothing else to do but enjoy this book.

I would firstly like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows Harriet Westaway, who receives an unexpected letter telling her she's inherited a substantial bequest from her Cornish grandmother, it seems like the answer to her prayers. She owes money to a loan shark and the threats are getting increasingly aggressive: she needs to get her hands on some cash first.
There's just one problem - Hal's real grandparents died more then twenty years ago. The letter has been sent to the wrong person. But Hal knows that the cold-reading techniques she's honed as a seaside fortune teller could help her con her way into getting the money. If anyone has the skills to turn up at a stranger's funeral and claim a bequest they're not entitled to, it's her.
Hal makes a choice that will change her life for ever. But once she embarks on her deception, there is no going back. She must keep going or risk losing everything.....

Wow what a read! Definitely Ruth Ware's best book so far! The whole plot was intriguing right from the very start, and got darker and creepier the more I read. There were so many parts of the book that literally sent chills down my spine and made my heart race. The whole book was a thrilling page-turner that had me hooked from start to finish!
I loved the main character Hal! She was such a great character that was extremely well written! I'm not a very superstitious person but I throughly enjoyed reading around all the tarot card descriptions and Hal's views on tarot reading and what they meant to her. Brilliant!

Overall, a very cleverly-written hard-to-put-down thrilling book that I highly recommend!!

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.
I loved Ruth Ware’s previous book, The lying Game, so had high expectations for this. But unfortunately it did not meet these. Whilst it was well written and fairly intriguing, it was quite slow and lacked impetus and impact.
3.5 stars

I was intrigued to read Ruth Ware’s latest having enjoyed her other books but soon realised this was very different....in a good way...and it took me to the most unexpected of places!

It was a true reading experience that made me shiver despite reading it in the midday sun. It starts off as a story of a girl struggling with life, working as a tarot card reader on Brighton Pier and then....well it takes a remarkable twist the thrill of which lasts throughout the novel

It’s those tarot cards you see - the cards which lead Hal, guide her and warn her of things to come....When she gets a letter saying she’s been left an inheritance from her grandmother who lives in a grand gothic mansion....the cards come in very handy indeed. This was a narrative thread which made em shiver as I read. Very effective and perfect for this gothic twisty tale!

The novel over all has a golden age crime feel to it but also one of Rebecca and indeed the main servant of the house is often called Mrs Danvers. There’s mentions of Jane Eyre (Hal goes to stay in the attic room), sibling rivalry, a dysfunctional family in a grand old house with secrets of inheritance and more to come flooding out.

Trepassen House where the novel is set is fictional but even the name - Trespass - conjures up very real images and emotions.

Step inside...if you dare.
Highly recommended