I really enjoyed this book. It was a real page turner and kept me hooked from start to finish. I loved the character of Hal, I felt she was well rounded and very likeable. I liked Harding and Mitzi but was unsure of Abel and Ezra though I think we were meant to feel that way. And Mrs Warren scary lady. I had worked out most of who had done what and who was keeping secrets but it certainly did not dull my enjoyment of this book.
This is my third book by Ruth Ware and certainly will not be my last. I really enjoy her style of writing and how she draws you into the story. Very well done.

**I have received an ARC from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review**

When i read this book's blurp i was like....., what???? this sounds soooo good!! ..., and i was lucky enough to be approved by Netgalley for an early copy!!

So lucky as i couldnt wait for this book to come out! First of all, what a great cover!!!

The book is so well written and the plot is unfolded in such a great way! Great atmosphere within the book and the twists of the story..., oh my i did not see these coming!!

To be honest, although Ruth Ware is a very well known author i have not managed to read any of her other books, however i am just looking online to check and purchase her other books as well!!

Oh my! What a deliciously dark, almost gothic, read from the devious mind of writer Ruth Ware!! Having adored her first two books, I sadly have to admit to being disappointed by her last book The Lying Game, but with The Death of Mrs Westaway, she has redeemed herself totally in my eyes! I think this is her best book so far!!

Imagine living on the breadline, having to choose between eating and keeping warm and being in so much debt that you don’t think you will ever be able to crawl out of the very deep hole you have dug for yourself. And then unexpectedly there’s hope! A letter from a solicitor saying you’re a beneficiary in your grandmothers will! This is what happens to Harriet Westaway and you’d think she would be punching the air with joy, wouldn’t you. The only problem is that Harriet’s grandparents died years ago. But desperate times call for desperate measures and Harriet decides to travel down to Cornwall to try to pull off the mistaken identity and get that cash! But once there, the inheritance isn’t quite what she was expecting and it looks like others may be suspicious of this interloper that no one knew existed until now. Can Hal use her fortune telling skills to fool the Westaway family or will they lead her into more danger than the trouble she is already trying to escape?

The Death of Mrs Westaway became my obsession whilst I was reading it! I physically couldn’t bear to part with it for one second! As soon as I began to read it I was transported into the pages and became a fly on the walls of the most extraordinary house, one that was almost a character in itself with its darkly foreboding presence. Harriet (or Hal as she’s known) herself was an intriguing young woman. Her fortune telling “act” was far from the fraudulent trickery that I was expecting as she had an unusual attitude to her clients and the payment she received for using her “gift”. And once out of her natural habitat, it was interesting to see how her character developed once dropped into the dysfunctional Westaway clan!

There were twists and turns galore in this shadowy mystery that brought to mind one of my favourite books “Rebecca” at times. It’s just so gloomily atmospheric and the claustrophobic storyline is central to the narrative with the once beautiful house now falling apart, a far cry from its magnificent heyday, as it decayed around its now deceased owner. Despite this, I fell in love with the place and found myself drawn to the house that I was able to perfectly picture in my head due to some wonderfully descriptive detailing.

I thoroughly enjoyed every single page of The Death of Mrs Westaway. I hadn’t a clue where it was heading so that when I eventually did discover the truths hidden in its pages, I felt a glow of satisfaction at how well the plot threads had been woven together to provide that perfectly executed ending.

Highly recommended!

This book is so well written it's easy to become immersed in the lives of the Westaway family and their many secrets hidden in the big old creaky house. There's even an ancient, grumpy old housekeeper to add to the whole Agatha Christie atmosphere! A brilliant story with very believable characters throughout. I would love to see this adapted for TV.

Rating 4.5 out of 5

When Harriet, or Hal as she’s known, receives a letter from a solicitor to let her know that her grandmother has died and left her an inheritance she doesn’t know what to think – mainly because her mother’s parents, the only grandparents she knew, died years before, leaving her and her mother with nothing.
On any other day, Hal would have called the solicitor and told him he was mistaken. But this isn’t any other day. It’s the day the loan shark she borrowed money from to pay the bills breaks into her flat and threatens her. It’s the day she feels broken and beaten down by life. So, it becomes the day she decides to pretend to be someone else.
Before she has time to think about what she’s doing, Hal is on a train and attending a funeral. Next, she’s met her long-lost family and is sitting down to hear the will being read. It’s then that things start to go wrong, really wrong. The family aren’t what Hal expected and the inheritance she receives is more unexpected still. Now, Hal has a decision to make – does she tell the truth or go along with the lies she’s told. What she doesn’t realise is that the decision she makes could be the difference between life and death – hers.
It’s all so lovely and complicated and twisty and turn-y, I really didn’t know what Hal was going to do or what would happen when she did. Once again, for me, Ruth Ware has written a brilliant thriller that has left me wanting more. The characters are great, the plot was well thought out, and I found I couldn’t put the book down. It’s a far cry from the last book of Ware’s I read, The Lying Game and a return to form for one of my favourite authors. I enjoyed every minute of it – a great read!

This was very much written, intentionally or unintentionally in the style and setting of an Agatha Christie. A large family in a big, old house with lots of secrets, illegitimate children, long lost ones turning up and an inheritance that turns siblings against each other. The twist in the story was actually very good, although at times it was a bit confusing trying to work out who Hal's mother and father actually were, a few red herrings on the way. But it was a good read, not entirely memorable but enjoyable.

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