Rowan Caine comes upon an ad for a live-in nanny with a salary almost too good to be true. She takes the position and is thrilled, but she is faced with something she never fathomed. Her time at Heatherbrae House is told through letters Rowan writes from her prison cell to an attorney she wants to hire, trying to convince him that she's innocent and has nothing to do with the murder of the child she once took care of. Ruth Ware delivers another thriller with twists and turns no one will see coming.

I just finished this book and my mind is blown! Turn of the Key was absolutely brilliantly perfect.

I’ve read other reviews where people have complained about the ending, but in my opinion it was completely unexpected. Most thrillers conclude in a fairly predictable way— with the reader finding out who the antagonist is, the playing out of some dramatic scene where the protagonist tries to escape until ultimately he/she does, and then the book ends. Turn of the Key was nothing like this. The ending was unique and probably took this book from 4 stars to 5. Wares leaves you guessing about how it will end until almost the final page.

I have yet to read all of Ruth Wares’ books, but of the ones I have read, I was most impressed with this one. It was well-paced, suspenseful, and compulsive. There were times as I was reading that I would literally jump at a sound in my house because I was so absorbed in the tension of the scene I was reading. It was a gripping, heart pounding out of my chest read and I loved it.

One of the most brilliantly written thrillers I’ve read in a while! Told in a letter written in prison while awaiting trial for murder, Rowan lays out the circumstances of her taking a job as a nanny to a family in Scotland, the death of one of her charges, and her innocence, hoping she can convince a famous solicitor to take her case.The setting in an old manor in the middle of nowhere Scotland adds to the creepy, ghostly, almost gothic like atmosphere. The addition of smart lights,cameras,sounds and the Happy app to control the entire house just add to the feeling that someone is watching Rowan at all times. It is richly written, has a wonderful, complex plot, and an ending that will leave you agape… I’m still trying to process it all. Oh, Ms. Ware… you’ve done it again!!

Thank you #NetGalley & #RuthWare for my ARC!
Ruth Ware is BACK & has written a book that I could not stop reading until I finished the book!

A young woman starts a new job & things don’t seem right: she can’t sleep, she can’t focus & things seem out of reality. The Turn of the Key is a new thriller by the amazing Ruth Ware & it’s one of the best books of 2019!

Ruth Ware strikes again with her newest novel, The Turn of the Key. For fans of The Lying Game and The Death of Mrs. Westaway, Ware’s fifth novel will satisfy any domestic thriller fan with every twist of the plot...and household keys.

This novel opens with an experienced childcare provider, Rowan Caine, writing from prison. She explains her crime after she applied for a private nanny position with the family who lives in a secluded, magical Scottish Highlands smart-home, Heatherbrae House. Looking for a new start after working at a dead end job, Rowan ignores the successive nannies who have mysteriously left their positions after short periods in with this family. With a series of events that arise in relation to a past crime committed in the home by a previous owner, Ware’s latest endeavor draws questions about the family unit and what extent relations go to make things seem perfect and put together.

I am having a difficult time reviewing this book in great detail without pulling the most intriguing parts of the novel out and spilling on the twists and turns. This is a novel that should be experienced with blind expectations so each twist, turn, and red herring hits readers like it did the main character/narrator. The elements of intensity and mystery are well-suited to remain more anonymous until readers have the privilege of reading them in time.

It will be well worth it. Ware is an expert author of the modern gothic thriller that encompasses both the contemporary relevance of high profile authors in her genre and the by-gone brilliance of mystery authors of the past like Edgar Allan Poe.

Thank you Netgalley, Ruth Ware, and Gallery, Pocket Books for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

This novel is set to be released on August 6, 2019.

I want to thank NetGalley for my ARC.

Once again, Ruth Ware has written a book that I simply could not put down.

A young woman takes a job, but things aren't quite what they seem. Things start to confuse her, she can't sleep, what's real?

If you enjoy a great thriller, please give The Turn of the Key a try. It's possibly the best book of 2019.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The novel was captivating and mysterious.. The ending threw me for a loop--I had many possible scenarios in my mind, but that was not among them.

Ruth Ware never fails me. Excellent read.

This newest installment has a bit more of a “spooky” vibe than her previous stories. As with most of Ware’s books, this one is a slow burn. It starts off innocuous enough, but with each passing chapter Ware drops hints that something is not quite right. These bits build up and soon you feel just as confused and paranoid as Rowan. Some of the reveals were easy to predict, others were definitely unexpected; it leaves you surprised without feeling like it came out of left field.

The problem with The Turn of the Key, and the thriller genre in general, is that with such great build up comes great responsibility to end it satisfyingly. Rarely does this happen. In this instance, the ending felt rushed and a little deflated. There was a quick paragraph of exposition of how everything worked and that was kind of the end to all of the set up that Ware created. Side note, too many sentences contained "with a sigh".

However, it is a generally enjoyable read for anyone who likes thrillers or who is already a fan of Ware

Ruth Ware is BACK!

After not really liking her last two books, this one brought her back into my "favorites" list! This is a creepy thriller. It mixes old-fashioned ghost stories with cutting-edge technology to make one amazing book. I never saw the twists coming!

Do yourself a big favor and read this one! You won't be disappointed.

This was a really good thriller and mystery. You never saw the twists coming. Ruth Ware us an exceptional writer and keeps you guessing all the way through.

The Turn of the Key is a wonderful, dark and incredibly rich mystery/thriller novel, so well built and fast paced that I wasn't able to put it down till I reached the end. I was absolutely captivated by the atmosphere, and the characters.

This novel submerges the reader in a landscape so imaginative and detailed that the information of the world building/plot never feels forced, and is never difficult to understand or picture in one's mind.

Ruth Ware has become an automatic buy for me!

I’ve read all of Ruth Ware’s books, and this one has been my favorite so far! A very twisted and ominous story that will capture your attention immediately and leave you wanting more. A dream job as a nanny takes a turn for the worst for Rowan Caine. She is isolated in an old Victorian house with four young girls left to her care, while soon learning about the house’s sinister past. The plot build up and eerie suspense was superb. This book has a dark edge and complex plot that I cannot recommend enough!

I absolutely loved it! THE TURN OF THE KEY is creepy, twisted, and disturbing, and totally absorbing — a modern-day The Turn of the Screw, but far more entertaining.

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware starts out in a letter written from a Scotland jail by Rowan Caine, a former nanny, to Mr. Wrexham, an attorney. She's pleading for him to represent her in court as she's been accused of murdering a child, her former charge.

Rowan then goes on to tell the story of how she got her nanny job with the Elincourts at their supposedly haunted estate, Heatherbrae House. There are several references to the Victorian, which I can't help but think is a nod to similarly styled books that came before this one such as Jane Eyre or Turn of the Screw.

Nanny position? Check. High salary? Check. Creepy, secluded location? Check. Possibly haunted? Check.

The characterization is spot-on and the suspense, especially at the chapter breaks is skillful. What puts a modern twist on this seemingly Gothic, Victorian inspired novel is the technology Rowan has to deal with at Heatherbrae House. The father of the house is a technology buff and has installed a very Big Brother-esque system called Happy that basically runs the place. There are cameras everywhere to track Rowan's every move as well as thumbprint locks and other devices.
I read Ware's In a Dark, Dark Wood and it wasn't my favorite book. With The Turn of the Key, she has really come into her own as a true master writer of suspense and thrillers. There are certain scenes that are so gripping and terrifying that I could not stop reading. I just have to add that I never thought footsteps could be so scary.

Just when I thought the book couldn't get any better, it did. At the eleventh hour, we get a big twist that is so salacious, it's almost cathartic. Love her or hate her, you have to be curious about what will end up happening to Rowan, which is really the whole drive of the plot.

There are so many twists and turns, even right up until the end, that truly keep the suspense going. I felt like the ending might not be as satisfying as it was. The whole book is written in an epistolary/frame story style and I loved every bit of it. In true Gothic novel form, the reader is both satiated but still left with a little bit of mystery about nearly every one of the characters. This is a must read for sure.

This my first read of a Ruth Ware book. WOW! The beginning grabs the reader - a 27 year old woman in prison for a child's murder - is pleading to a well-known attorney for help.

Rowan is not happy with her current position at a daycare center. She takes a job with Sandra and Bill as nanny for 4 children (well paid) in the Highlands of Scotland. Though the house is Victorian, there are many computerized devices within. The parents leave for a conference less than 24 hours after Rowan starts working there.

The first day is awful and it doesn't get much better for Rowan. Between the cries of a baby, a 5 year old and a decidedly wicked 8 year old ( the 14 year old will be home soon), Rowan more than has her hands full. Of course, let us not forget that with all of Bill's strange computerization there are few places (if any) that are private.

Luckily ( or we shall see) Rowan befriends the driver/handyman, Jack, who assists her through these early days.

However, why have there been 4 nannys who have left within the past 14 months? ,

A spectacular story - Thanks to Gallery, Pocket Books and NetGalley for a brilliant suspense read !

Ruth Ware should be known in most of households due to her creativity, wonderful writing skills and a great imaginative character as an author. I read most of her books. I loved them. As for this one I liked it a lot, although it was not her best book written. Saying that, I still enjoyed the book a lot! Her wonderful ability to keep us in suspense and uncover piece by piece puzzles to all the story and dusted with some paranormal flare is a wonderful skill that makes me read this author's every published book there is!

This is a creepy, fast-paced, gothic suspense novel by Ruth Ware. I really enjoyed the setting and the character development. I did, however, feel the ending was too abrupt and would have liked more context. Overall, another great read by Ruth Ware! I always enjoy and look forward to reading her books.

Thanks to Ruth Ware, Gallery/Pocket Books, and Netgalley, for providing me with a digital advance copy of The Turn of the Key. Rowan Caine takes a job as a nanny in an isolated Scottish house, which is rumored to be haunted. Will she be scared off like all of the previous nannies? Can she figure out what is really happening? I loved this book and devoured it in less than 24 hours. A Gothic Scottish setting, an old mysterious house, a secret garden, the possibility of ghosts in the attic - what more could one want? This book kept me guessing, and the writing was excellent. Highly recommend.

Ware is a master at building suspense and she succeeds once again with "The Turn of the Key." Ware has an uncanny way of writing situations that cause me to get the shivers and double check the locks on my doors - and I love it! This is a very descriptive, well-plotted title that kept me guessing until the last page; I was truly sad to come to the end. A fast-paced read, although the ending did feel a bit abrupt, and I wish some more context had been provided. Still, this was an exciting, creepy read that will be sure to be popular.

Ruth Ware has made a name for herself the past couple of years with "The Woman in Cabin 10" and "In a Dark, Dark Wood," and she is without a doubt one of the modern=day queens of suspense. Ware really knows how to build suspense and keep the readers engaged with the plot, but there was just something about "The Turn of the Key" that makes me feel like it perhaps not one of her best. Maybe it was that the plot was TOO slow or that some of the plot twists are just a little too unbelievable, but it was not one of my favorites.