Rowan is hired as a live-in nanny for a wealthy family in Scotland- it seems like a dream job- a significant monetary raise from the nursery she currently works at, a high-tech "smart house" to live in, an attractive groundskeeper just next door. But soon she learns nannies have been quitting left and right, and there's allegations of the house being "haunted". The story is told in the form of a letter, ad Rowan writes to a lawyer from jail- where she is after being accused of killing one of the children she is caring for- this isn't a spoiler- it's exactly how the story begins.' I feel like this idea was so interesting, but the majority of the story just dragged on... and on... and on. We hear about Rowan's day to day life as she starts her role as a new nanny; what the children are eating, doing, playing with, etc. Also, I wanted to know more about these parents who left their small children and unruly teenager with a girl they had just met! I felt like I was just waiting for something more to happen for the majority of this book.... and then it finally picks up in the last 15-20% or so, and it feels like everything just got crammed in, like the author was already allotted all her pages already or something. While I was definitely surprised by part of the reveal, it was really pretty unrealistic, and the main reveal was less surprising. Overall, due to the slow burn and not amazing ending to make up for it, this was unfortunately not my favorite read! I'm sorry I cannot give a more positive review.

"I  am the nanny in the Elincourt case, Mr. Wrexham.  And I didn't kill that child."   Things have gone horribly wrong for Rowan.  When she stumbled upon the advert for the job, she couldn't help but be pulled in.  A live-in nanny position in beautiful Scotland... and with the cherry of a generous salary on top.  She's over the moon when she lands the position, but she soon learns there is something not quite right about Heatherbrae House.  A "smart house" where everything is controlled at the touch of a button, where hidden cameras can watch every move...a house that is said to be haunted.  And now a child is dead, and Rowan is being held for murder. 


Ruth Ware's latest novel, The Turn of the Key, had me hooked almost immediately.  Deliciously creepy and darkly atmospheric, it summoned up memories of whispering ghost stories in the dark on long-ago nights.  It gave me the same chill, the same eerie foreboding as Ware dropped little snippets of foreshadowing at a perfect pace.  I also loved how this book was written in the form of a letter to a lawyer, Rowan desperate for him to take up her case.  The fact she was building the story slowly in a letter, a means of communication that would usually be much more concise, gave me the sense that there had to be a reason to all this slow-building detail - a feeling that every layer was important and must culminate in one explosiveness outcome, which made the book all the more compulsive.  I just HAD to find out where it all led!  Sure enough, it was a twisty ride, and I couldn't get enough. The reason this was a 4-star read for me rather than a 5 - and I'm going to keep this vague so as not to give anything away - is because there are a few details that didn't get resolved, and it left me hanging a little. All in all, though, it was a an addictively good read, and I will be recommending it.

I checked out of Goodreads for several weeks due to taking some time off to watch my boys play ball and work being extra worky on the days when I was actually in the office. I returned this week FORTY reviews behind – not including this selection which didn’t even manage to make it to my “Currently Reading” list. Now I’m wondering how many more of these there are. I’m starting with this one because my momma always said if I didn't have something nice to say I shouldn't say much at all.

If you know me, you know I’m not a blurb reader. Apparently I’m also not real good at slap-you-right-in-the-face clues via way of titles. I requested this book without knowing anything about it simply because I enjoyed In a Dark, Dark Wood and because I can’t help myself when it comes to requesting things from NetGalley. I will warn you, if you have a problem with this sort of presentation . . . .

I know I’m going on. And I know you must be wondering when the hell I’m going to get to the point – to the reason I’m here, in this prison cell, and the reason I shouldn’t be. And I promise you, it’s coming. But I can’t – I can’t seem to explain the situation quickly.

Ruth Ware is not the author for you. As for me? I kind of dig this style of delivery. However, I didn’t like this story the first time I was forced to read it back in the dark ages high school when it was called The Turn of the Screw. If I would have known it was a retelling of that old slog I would have avoided it. Sorry, Ms. Ware. I probably still won’t read blurbs in the future, but I’ll definitely read more of your books.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

Wow, wow, wow! Five star read for me. This is the kind of suspenseful mystery I'm always looking for. Spooky, unexpected, well-written.

🗝 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑲𝒆𝒚 𝒃𝒚 𝑹𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒆 🗝⁣⁣
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The synopsis of The Turn of the Key is so promising: Rowan has been hired as the new live-in nanny in a huge, remote manor in Scotland. Although she learns in the interview that the house has an odd history and the past several nannies left without notice, the salary is too good to pass up. Upon moving in, Rowan soon finds out that this position is not the perfect job she thought it was. The children are a far cry from angels, the smart technology home is creepy and ominous, and she begins hearing things go bump in the night. ⁣⁣
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I was thoroughly invested in the storyline for the majority of the book...until things became repetitive. The home is eerie and Ware does a good job at creating a gothic atmosphere. However, the plot become mundane as we read the minute details of the girls’ daily routines, driving them to school, putting them to bed, etc. I kept waiting for something to happen but the real action doesn’t take place until the last 30 pages. ⁣⁣
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This was a decent read and I did enjoy most of it but my issue with this book is the fact that several plot points go unresolved and the twists, although I didn’t see them coming, were not fully fleshed out. I won’t go into detail as I don’t want to spoil anything, but I was hoping for more out of this book since it started out quite strong. Fans of Ware’s previous books will most likely enjoy this one. ⁣⁣
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Rating: 3/5⁣
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Publication Date: August 6⁣
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Thank you to @netgalley and @gallerybooks for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.⁣⁣

The Turn of the Key is told in the form of a letter that Rowan writes from a Scottish prison to a solicitor that she hopes will take on her case, as she has been accused of murdering one of the children that she is a nanny for.

Rowan tells the complete story of how she came to land this job of nanny to three daughters, eventually a fourth returns from boarding school, all the way through to how she is accused of killing the second eldest daughter.

The home of her employers is a smart home where everything works via a smartphone app and the home also has surveillance cameras. Further unnerving to Rowan is a handyman that she doesn't trust and a maid who doesn't treat her well, the poor behavior of the children, and unexplained events in the house that she learns has a tragic history.

The plot of this story is well executed and unique. The characters are well developed, and most importantly, the setting of this isolated smart house really ramps up the creepiness. This one is a bit of a slow burn and I was completely shocked by the plot twist.

This is my second Ruth Ware novel and she is now an auto buy author for me. I highly recommend you check this one out.

Mythanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books, who gifted me an e-copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I love Ruth Ware, and I loved THE TURN OF THE KEY. Each of this author's novels is so different from the rest that, with each new publication, I'm thoroughly impressed with her range.

THE TURN OF THE KEY lays a gothic lit "foundation" that is styled with contemporary "fixtures"--in many ways a type of "form meets function," considering the home in which the main character resides.

Potential perpetrators populate this slow-build mystery, in which familial conflict takes center stage. Ramping up the suspense are the remote, mismatched house, its rambling grounds and secretive staff. Likewise, the narrative method is perfectly suited to this story as it calls into question the reliability of the narrator and ultimately introduces other startling perspectives..

Fans of Ruth Ware will welcome another installment of her signature character-building and perfectly paced plotting.

Rowan is hired on as nanny in a smart/Victorian house that is secluded in a small little town. She finds it difficult to not only mange this increasingly infuriating smart house, but also the second oldest little girl Maddie. She’s trying her hardest to bond with each of the four girls, but as she struggles she notices that there are some odd things that are going on in this house. Is it a ghost that is keeping her awake at night? Or a human being with malicious intent?

This book was so fantastic! The only downer is that the end leaves a lot of things in the air, such as what really happens to Rowan? Other than that, it was such an engaging read that I couldn’t put it down. It’s set as a letter to a lawyer, but you wouldn’t be able to tell until she brings up the lawyers name and tries to plead her case. It’s both creepy and thrilling. I really felt like I was in the book and experiencing all the creepiness that went with it. I’m surprised I was able to sleep after I would read one of the more creepier chapters 😂 Ruth Ware is such a fantastic writer and I really enjoy all the books I have read by her so far. Definitely recommend!

TBH I requested this book from NetGalley with both trepidation and hope. I had read Ware's bestselling hit, The Woman in Cabin 10, a couple of years ago and was surely in the minority when I panned it as just another unreliable narrator novel but I wasn't ready to give up on this author just yet. I'm so glad I didn't!
The Turn of the Key is an atmospheric gem, a Gothic tale with modern day nuances. Among the questionable characters are a creepy old house equipped with modern "smart" technology, a new nanny, absent parents, a sexy handyman, an odd housekeeper and four sisters of various ages and abilities.
The structure of the novel is that of a letter written by the nanny, Rowan, from a Scottish prison to her prospective solicitor. She's accused of a murder she says she did not commit and proceeds to tell the solicitor, a Mr. Wrexham, exactly what happened during her short but highly volatile tenure as nanny to the Elincourt children.
Everyone is suspicious in there own way and the house itself has a tragic past which adds a touch of the supernatural to the story and makes the tale a spine tingling page turner.
The conclusion is well thought out and strikingly sad in an understated way.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to read and review this selection prior to publication which will be released on August 6, 2019. 4.5 stars.

I found my self commiserating with Rowan, a young woman who packed up from her job and apartment in England to move to an isolated house in the Scottish countryside to become a live in nanny to four young girls, She's never met the teenager, who won't be home for a while. And one of the kids is an infant. Yes, the money is good, and she hated her old job, so at first this seemed like a match made in heaven. But then she's left to fend for herself, with just the girls and a glitchy smart home, that keeps emitting random sounds and gives her grief when she tries turn adjust lights or open her curtains. The one other adult on the property, the chauffeur and handyman, Jack, is called away within the first few days, so Rowan is left to her own devices, with 3 sullen little kids, creepy noises, and acres of property where the kids are allowed to roam free. And then there's Jean, the occasional housekeeper who is obvious in her dislike for Rowan.

The story is told as a series of letters from prison, where we know Rowan has been convicted for murdering a child. She proclaims her innocence as the letters form a narrative timeline of her brief but harrowing time in the house. While I had inklings about the ending, it was the surprise twist BEFORE the ending that took me completely by surprise. I loved how the book had a gothic flavor with a modern twist, No spoilers here, you'll have to read The Turn of the Key to find out what happens!

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware caught me completely by surprise. I did not expect it to be the intense, riveting, and heart wrenching tale that it was. Though a quick read, it is also a deep read. It had me on the edge of my seat for the entire time and kept me thinking about it when I wasn’t reading it. Every character in the book is flawed and a victim, one way or the other; each and every one of them with dark secrets of their own. This was much more of an experience than just a book and I highly recommend it, giving it a rare five star rating. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

Thank you so much to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Holy cow, best Ruth Ware novel yet! This book was everything I’ve ever wanted in a great thriller and more! It had paranormal aspects, suspense, and honestly gave me the creeps at times. I have enjoyed all of Ruth Ware’s novels but this was my favorite one!

This story follows Rowan who applies to be a nanny for 4 children at Heatherbrae House, a modern “smart house” tucked away in the Scottish Highlands. Thinking the live-in job is too good to be true, Rowan is shocked when she gets the job. After finding out all of the other nannies have quit due to “paranormal” things, Rowan starts questioning whether the house is haunted. But then a child dies and Rowan finds herself in prison on a murder charge and all of her own secrets start to come out.

This whole story is told from Rowan’s letters to her lawyer while she sits in prison awaiting trial for a murder charge and details everything that happens before she gets hired up to her getting arrested. At first, I thought I would be turned off by that style of writing but I immediately was gripped into the story and couldn’t get enough. All of the suspense and creepiness in this book was amazing and unlike anything I’ve read before. Ruth Ware was so vivid in all of the details that you actually felt like you were there with Rowan, seeing and hearing everything she was. If I can give any advice, don’t read this book alone, especially at night.

The ending of this story completely blew me away, everything that I thought I knew was completely wrong.
She set the book up so well that I couldn’t even begin to guess what was going to happen next and I love that. I don’t like to be able to figure out everything about a book, I want a big surprise at the ending.

This is definitely now my favorite read of the year and something I can reread again and again.

Wow. Let me just start out by saying . . . I love Ruth Ware. She's a modern-day Agatha Christie and her books are fast-paced thrillers that keep you guessing the whole way. I've read all but one of her books, and this is definitely my favorite. The main character, Rowan, takes a job as a nanny at a private country house that is a strange mixture of quaint cottage and modern smart house. There's something infinitely creepy about a "smart house" with cameras in every room, voices carrying through the house from unseen speakers, and the constant big-brother style monitoring. The book is formatted as a series of prison letters written by Rowan to an attorney, but it reads like a normal novel, so this style doesn't distract from the story. If anything, it adds to the suspense because we know from the first pages that Rowan is in prison for killing on of the children she was hired to care for. But which one? And why? Every character was a suspect for me at one point, including Rowan herself. I adore books that keep me guessing until the last page. Absolutely loved this modern-day twist on a traditional "ghost" story. Highly-recommend!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The author has an very engaging style of writing that makes the reader want to turn (or swipe) the page. The atmosphere in this novel was an unique twist of an restored Victorian home contrasted with the use of "smart" technology throughout the home. While this angle is touted in the book's description, it actually plays very little role in the story and seems to be an abandoned concept that makes the reader wonder why this element was even part of the novel. While I enjoyed reading this novel, there were many loose ends that dragged on and were abruptly resolved at the very end which felt highly anticlimactic and rushed. Bottom line, this is worth a read for those who enjoy Ms. Ware's novels but it is not as cohesive and satisfying as her previous works in my opinion.

Ruth Ware is an amazing mystery/thriller writer! She will not disappoint you for those that enjoy that genre! I was so excited to be able to review this and loved it as always!

When Rowan answers an add for a residential nanny position, there are hints that things are not going to go well and the suspense builds throughout the book. This creepy, gothic story has twists and turns that I did not see coming, right up to the very last page. I think Ruth Ware gets better with every book.

Heart pounding, nail biting, with a jaw dropping conclusion, The Turn of the Key reminds me why I enjoy curling up with a good book! Highly recommend Ruth Ware's latest to mystery lovers!

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware is another one of her exciting and intense thrillers. Rowan Caine is in jail, having been accused of murdering a child; she is desperate to prove her innocence. The story starts with her writing a letter to a solicitor to plead for his help, and detailing everything that happened from beginning to end, and that she did not kill the child.

We learn early that Rowan was offered a job to go to Heatherbrae House in Scotland and be a nanny for a family’s three children; the money is very good, and Rowan wanted to leave her existing job. On her arrival she meets the lady of the house, who is welcoming and Rowan s thrilled by the home that has modern technology and conveniences. She will quickly learn that their were 4 nannies previously in less than a year that left, and the children tell her the ‘ghosts’ do not want her there. Is the house haunted?

In a matter of days, the husband and wife go on a business trip leaving Rowan with the two girls (the 3rd girl is away at school until later in the book); Jean, the housekeeper and Jack, the handyman. Jack did turn out to be a friend to Rowan, helping her out when things go wrong, and they do go very wrong. Each night she can hear creaking footsteps, and missing items; even a doll’s head, a locked closet or being taken by the girls to a poison garden. Rowan at first ignores things, but with each passing day, things do get worse and she is desperately trying to fight off her panic. Though this was a thriller, I felt it had too much of the ‘creepy factor’, causing me not to enjoy it as much.

What follows is a dark, scary and intriguing thriller that has us on the edge of our seats, with many twists and surprises as we race to the climax. I do not want to give spoilers, as it will definitely ruin things for those reading this book. I thought The Turn of the Key was a well written story by Ruth Ware. I did think the ending was a little rushed, and a shocker or two that I never expected. I did feel that it left a little bit open at the end. But that is my opinion. If you like a thriller with a bit of creepiness, then I suggest you read The Turn of the Key.

Ive always enjoyed Ruth Ware's books - having read them all. . I would say this,, out of all them, kept me on the edge of my seat right up until the very last page. It was a fun read for sure. I will say that I had a hard time with the ending - while it was wrapped up, it felt a little implausible, or at the very least unrealistic. I would have also loved if they involved the mother more in the story - she seemed to get lost. But still my favorite Ruth Ware book so far

Ruth Ware is one of those rare authors whose entire collection of works I’ve read. I started out in 2016 with The Woman in Cabin 10 (my favorite to date), and I’ve been hooked ever since. Ware’s newest release, The Turn of the Key, is a close second to TWiC10, and once I started reading I just couldn’t stop.

This mystery/thriller is written in letters from protagonist Rowan Caine to lawyer Mr. Wrexham, whom Rowan has never met but is hoping to convince to take her case. We learn quickly that Rowan is in prison and she herself considers her case hopeless, but is nevertheless determined to tell Wrexham the whole story on the off chance he might believe it.

Rowan then unfolds the story of how she came to nanny for the Elincourts — a wealthy Scottish family with four daughters, one of whom is now dead, and for whose murder Rowan has been convicted. This immediate reveal of the novel’s outcome made for interesting reading, and as Rowan describes her relationships with each of the four girls, I couldn’t help but speculate as to which one might end up dead and why.

The Elincourts sprawling home served as its own character, and the house staff added to the short list of potential suspects. In typical Ware fashion, the author excels at weaving in both the setting and an unexpected element — the supernatural, in this case — in order to keep readers even more captivated. There is not only a murder, but also ghosts, poison, adultery, hidden identities, and secrets revealed. How can one possibly put this down?

The Turn of the Key is a fun, quick, spellbinding read that I’d recommend to any thriller reader. Ruth Ware has yet to disappoint.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.