I was generously provided a copy to review via Netgalley.

Sarah, a young woman, is stagnating at her position at a local daycare and applies for a position that is almost too good to be true-an residential nanny position for a wealthy family in their beautiful, secluded home in Scotland. When she applies, she doesn't think she ever had a real shot at getting the position, but feels compelled to apply, not wanting to miss any chance she may have. Once she arrives at the stately Heatherbrae House, she knows she must do whatever she can to get this position, but everything isn't quite as iddylic as it seemed on the surface. She finds that the children aren't quite as well behaved and the position not quite as cush as previously presented. That must be why the previous nannies had fled so quickly. Right? It couldn't be the bloody past of the beautiful home and that the rumors of hauntings had any real merit, could it? Yet, Sarah finds herself questioning everything she assumed about the home and those possibilities, unravelling to a dramatic and heart-wrenching conclusion.

This novel may be one of the best I have read in the recent past. Absolutely compelling, the narrative takes you directly into the mind of Sarah, yet still doesn't divulge too much. Even when you think you've figured something out, it's only the very tip of the iceberg. The novel starts as a domestic mystery/suspense novel about a nanny accused of murder before morphing into a stunningly well written and we'll paced Gothic novel. The book saves it's biggest reveals for the final few pages, falling like dominos, racing toward even reveals that somehow build in ability to shock the reader while never feeling unbelievable or contrived. Once revealed, everything slides into place that each twist makes absolute perfect sense and you find yourself stunned that you didn't see it before because it just feels so RIGHT. Ruth Ware proves to be a master of captivating her audience and ensuring they are so concentrated on the trees that they don't see the forest she is leading your through.

I really loved this book. I feel Ruth Ware is a terrific writer and have always enjoyed her books( save The Death of Mrs. Westerway). This was about a young woman hired to be a nanny to a family living in Scotland in the middle of nowhere. There are 4 daughters aged 18 months to 14 years, and two dogs. As soon as she arrives, the parents leave the country and her in charge of everything. It is one part horror story, one part romance, one part crazy unexplained noises etc and all parts very readable. I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book!

Thank you Netgalley. A super twisted, thrilling pager turner! Fast paced. I have read all of Ruth Ware's books and this one did not disappoint. Loved it!

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware was one of my highly anticipated summer reads. I have really enjoyed her writing in the past and the Woman in Cabin 10 left me on the edge of my seat with anticipation. The summary of the book sounded right up my alley and I was intrigued by the idea of it being written in letter format.

I found that the story was a slow build and didn't totally engage me right away but I stuck with it. I think Ware is a fantastic author who really knows how to keep you guessing and The Turn of The Key had all the elements of a Gothic tale...a faraway vacation home, a nanny, a garden and house filled with secrets, mysterious characters, and haunting happenings.

Unfortunately, I struggled to connect and kept waiting for the mysteries to unravel. When they finally did, they felt like they were really crammed into the last few chapters of the book and many of them just seemed unbelievable. I am not sure if it is just me and maybe I am just thrilled out", but this one just didn't deliver as I had hoped. All in all, this one was just okay for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Gothic thrillers and horror are back in vogue, and this makes me so happy! I grew up reading Barbara Mertz aka Barbara Michaels, who could write a fantastic Gothic tale. Her, Amelia Peabody mysteries, that take place in Egypt is another great series.

Jess and I recently did a podcast over on Books Don’t Review Themselves for Lock Every Door by Riley Sager, where Ruth Ware is quoted on the cover saying, “Move over, Rosemary’s Baby, urban paranoia has a deliciously Gothic new address.” And Ware certainly knows what she is talking about with this Gothic novel that takes place in the more traditional setting of a large house in the middle of nowhere.

While I enjoyed Sager’s book for all the nods to horror movies, Ware’s book actually had me feeling creeped out at times. And me being creeped out really is a high compliment to an author, since it rarely happens.

It could be that I was reading it on the Kindle with all the lights turned off, or because children can really give stories more of a scary vibe, think Children of the Corn, the twins in The Shining, or Gage in Pet Sematary. More likely, it’s because Ware is a fantastic writer that knows how to slowly ratcheted up the fear and paranoia.

The other thing that Gothic is known for is all the secrets, and Ruth revealed them in a slow, steady stream. Just when I thought I knew who the murderer was or who was sabotaging the house, another secret would be revealed that had me changing my mind. What was behind the locked door really had me questioning my previous thoughts.

So lessons learned time and time again. Don’t babysit children in the middle of nowhere or at all. If you start hearing bumps in the night and things are in different places then you left them, burn the house down. Trust no one and become a hermit in the woods. Just make sure you bring enough books with you!

Ruth Ware is excellent at leading her reader down the mysterious path. She is an author I would read again.

Rowan couldn't resist the nanny position that came with a high salary and benefits. She thought living in a modern day mansion run by smart technology could be the fulfillment of her dreams.

But in her dreams, she never imagined she would find herself in prison, accused of murdering a child.

Told in letters to her lawyer, Rowan's story is one of days and nights in an isolated house, full of mysterious noises and terrifying incidents and children who fight her every move. Rowan insists she is innocent, but is she blaming ghosts, or is there someone else out there who brought more death to the home?

This is another amazing book from Ware. She is so good at taking classic mystery situations that I've always loved and adding her own (brilliantly written) spin to them. There were so many twists and turns that were impossible to guess, but made sense looking back. I was never quite sure what was truly going on and the story kept me constantly on my toes.

Also, this was one creepy read. I've always loved gothic horror, and Ware integrates it so well. There is this slow building dread that stays with you through every sentence.

I loved this book, there was nothing not to like.

As soon as this book comes out, I highly recommend everyone go out and get their hands on a copy. I hope so much that Ware continues to write for many, many more years to come.

I really wanted to like this book as I have read some of her other books. However, I found it a bit slow to start. When I read a thriller, I want to be pulled in from the very beginning. I suppose if you don’t mind a slow build, you may enjoy it more than I did. It wasn’t bad, but sadly it wasn’t one I would recommend to my friends as a must read, as I had hoped it would be.

Excellent suspense story. Great psychological thriller. Well written loved the countryside setting. Kept me guessing right up to the end. Crazy little girls

Thank you for the advanced review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I did not thoroughly enjoy The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware. I found it tedious and boring and there was little to no excitement in it for me.

I read every page of this book and it didn’t start to get interesting until 50-70 percent through and I didn’t particularly care how it ended. I didn’t like any of the characters either.

I really wanted to enjoy this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for access to this book in exchange for my honest review.  I have previously read The Woman In Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware so I was ecstatic when I was approved for an advance reader copy of The Turn Of The Key!

Letters.  This book is one big letter written by Rowan Caine, a nanny accused of murder, to Mr. Wrexham, a lawyer she hopes will take on her case.  Rowan takes us step by step on how she was hired and what happened during her time as nanny at the Heatherbrae House in Scotland. 

Is she unreliable?  Ware wrote this to have the reader going back and forth wondering if Rowan is really innocent as she claims.  Is she just going crazy?  What really is going on?  I don't want to reveal too much more because the less I describe, the better it is for you the reader.

Side note: I couldn't read this at night, there are some pretty scary parts.  There are definitely some creepy parts.  This is a TRUE psychological thriller...I have not read one this spooky in a LONG time.  Talk about a modern ghost story, this one is chilling to the core.  I was flipping through the pages wanting to seek vengeance on who could kill an innocent child as Rowan told us all she knows.

This ending.  THIS ENDING!!!!!!  This book made my head spin and kept me up at night thinking what could be going on.  I never, NEVER suspected the ending...and I loved every second of it.  It is not a let down and it's a shock that will make you gasp out loud.  There's more than meets the eye with The Turn Of The Key.  This was the best book I have read all year and will be hard to top!  

***WILL BE POSTED AT https://www.donnasreadingchair.home.blog ON MONDAY AUGUST 5TH***

🗝ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When I was approved for this book- I couldn’t believe my luck. I love Ruth Ware and this is by far her best book to date. Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for this advance reading copy.

This story begins with a young nanny, Rowan, sitting in jail awaiting the charge for the murder of a little girl, whom she was in charge of. The entire book is told through a series of letters that Rowan has been writing to a lawyer she is hoping will represent her as she hasn’t received much support from her current lawyer. In these letters, Rowan talks about the events leading up to this incident and how she came to learn of this nanny position.

We soon learn this family has gone through several nannies in a short time, some only lasting in the house for one night. The house itself is very peculiar and has quite a past. The house has secrets, the family has secrets and Rowan has secrets of her own. But if she isn’t responsible for the death of this little girl, who is?

The pace of this book was just right and there were so many creepy components to this story. When a book makes you question if you’re losing your mind or the character is, then it’s a must read. Following that, there were many twists I didn’t see coming and although the ending felt a bit rushed, I was truly stunned by the final letter that was revealed.

This book will be published 8/6/19- mark your calendar.

Adequately spooky, this story grips you from the very beginning and doesn't let go! Another winner by Ruth Ware! I enjoyed the unraveling of this story more so than I did a few of her previous books!

The Turn of the Key is another thriller from Ruth Ware with a complicated, damaged female narrator.
"Rowan answers an add for a full-time nanny job out in the country. The house is an old Victorian mansion with a history. The architect couple have transformed it into a modern smart-home with updated technology everywhere. Rowan is left with three young children on her first day and things get weird right away. Noises in the attic - windows and doors opening - snide remarks from the cleaner - and the discovery of a poison garden. Rowan becomes overwhelmed, especially when her secret is found out. And then someone dies..."

This is a slow build. The story is actually a letter from Rowan to a lawyer asking for help and telling her side of the story. About how a child could die, but it wasn't her fault. Ware drops hints that Rowan is not what she says. There are a couple of late twists - one you may guess - the other you won't suspect at all.
The reveal is a little different at the end. I like that Ware tries something a little different, but I think something else might have worked better.
The smart-house technology was pretty creepy. Imagine working with cameras in every room and voices coming from the speakers at unexpected times. And can you get any creepier than a poison garden?
If you're a fan of Ware, you should enjoy this book also.

Talk about suspenseful, this book has so many twists and turns that are impossible to see coming. I loved it! Besides the plot twists, I found myself enthralled by the atmosphere of Heatherbrae House, the creepy renovated smart house in Scotland where the story takes place. I could not turn the pages fast enough to get to the ending that I did not see coming. What a ride! Dive right into this book without reading too much about it, and enjoy what you find when you open The Turn of the Key.

Summary : The narrator opens the novel by attempting to write several letters to a barrister, in hopes that he will listen to her rather bizarre story and represent her. She is currently in jail awaiting trial for the murder of a child. The young woman, who calls herself Rowan, is desperate. Like most convicts, Rowan claims she is innocent and feels she could be proved so if only the esteemed Mr. Wrexham could represent her.

When Rowan finally launches into her story, it is a tale of Gothic proportions. Rowan applies for a job as a nanny to a couple of wealthy architects with four children of varying ages. The house is a mishmash conversion, part old, part frighteningly modern with its all too smart house panels and cameras. The children have been through several nannies in succession, each frightened off by something. Immediately after her arrival, the parents head to a convention, leaving her alone with the children. There is little instruction other than a thick, detailed binder which she is expected to read.

Shortly after the parents drive off, Rowan discovers that there are noises in the attic, mysterious occurrences, a handsome, if enigmatic, groundskeeper and a garden of poisonous plants. She is also faced with emotionally scarred children who have to adapt yet again to a stranger in their lives.

The story ratchets up slowly, drawing the reader in, until the shocking turn of events that gets her arrested after one of the children dies.

Comments: The Turn of the Key has all of the elements of a classic Gothic tale — a nanny, a mysterious house, a lecherous man, things that go bump in the night and even access to poison. In lesser hands, this story could have been just one among many in the genre. But Ruth Ware has added some unique twists that keep the reader wondering right up until the end…and beyond. Read it to find out what that means!

Highly recommended for readers of suspense, mystery, psychological suspense and classic “girl running away from castle” books.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Another bestseller right here for Ms Ware. I read this in one day and as her others I loved it!!!!!!!! It has that gothic, creepy, scary even, creep you out vibe to it that Ruth Ware is known for!!!!!!!!!!!! Rowan applies for a live in nanny position but the sweet darling children are not as they seem and nothing about the house is either. She is left alone on her second day for two weeks with the children while the parents are off working. The children become problematic, the house is turning creepier by the day. Bad things happen in this house and Rowan hasn't seen the worst of it yet. Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Pocket Books/Scout Press for my honest review

The Turn of the Key is the latest story from Ruth Ware. Ms Ware has the reader wondering along with her "heroine" what is going on, ghosts or human trickery. Throughout much of The Turn of the Key Ms Ware manages to keep the reader on the edge of their seat wondering how this story is going to unfold. I was given an early copy to review.

Ruth Ware doesn’t disappoint with her newest novel, The Turn of the Key!! Edge of your seat thriller, captivating, and keeps you wondering....
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Rowan Caine is a young lady that has worked as a nanny and in a daycare center. Rowan responded to an ad for a live in nanny that she saw in the newspaper, and was swept up to Heatherbrae house in Scotland for an interview. Things seem too good to be true while she is at her interview - the children are well behaved, the mom is attentive and friendly, and the family is incredibly wealthy and offering an astounding yearly salary to Rowan. Rowan excitedly accepts the job and wraps things up in London to return to Heatherbrae. From here, things rapidly get strange. Rowan is left to care for the children and piece together what is causing the problems - is Heatherbrae haunted by the ghosts of its past, or is there a more earthly explanation for these troubles?

One of my favorite things about Ruth Ware’s books is how different, yet captivating, they all are. The Turn of the Key is written in a completely different style from her previous books, as it is a collection of letters written by Rowan. The letters start out short and choppy, as Rowan can’t quite decide how to start. However, they rapidly move into longer letters that unveil the nail biting tale that unfolded at the Heatherbrae house. I couldn’t put this one down, and was continuously working to piece together the clues given to us. However, the ending still surprised me, and I reread it just because I was so surprised!!

Another great thriller from Ruth Ware- I need you people to hurry up and get this book when it is published (August 6th) and quickly read it so we can talk about it!!!! Thanks to Simon & Schuster for the advance copy!!

#TheTurnoftheKey #RuthWare #SimonandSchuster

This is Ruth Ware's best book yet! The combination of supernatural with thriller/suspense is one of my favorite themes. I couldn't put this one down and read it in one day. The twists that came at the end of the book, OMG! I also enjoyed the way it was written and organized as a group of letters to the main character's possible solicitor/attorney. This one has just the right amount of creepy to suck you in right away. Read it now!