Read all my reviews at https://brainfartsandbooks.wordpress.com

Fan-flippin-tastic! Wow! That ending though. Ok, ok, I won't ruin it but you seriously have to read this book if you love shocker endings. Rowan is in jail for committing murder. She is being charged with murdering one of the girls she nannies for. But she claims she is innocent. As she writes a local solicitor a letter, begging for him to come see her to represent her, the story unfolds in her eyes. Is the Carn house haunted? Are the little girls evil? Why did all the other nannies quit? Are her bosses spying on her every move? These questions and more are all answered slowly throughout the book. With details such as a poison garden and a feather-filled attic, who knows where the story will take you. One of the best books I have read this year. Possibly my favorite Ruth Ware book thus far.

Thank you to Netgalley, Ruth Ware, and Pocket Books for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was probably one of my favorites by Ruth Ware. I love the supernatural element, the mystery I couldn't figure out and the twists and turns. Such a great thriller and great writing.

Five stars right up until the end. I hate ambiguous endings. But what a ride.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Ruth Ware is a contemporary mystery writer with an enviable record of turning out suspense filled novels. “The Turn of the Key” is her latest but not, I submit, her greatest. It’s very good with a well-written scenario, strong characters, sinister underpinnings, and good inducement to keep the pages turning. The ending, for me, was not her best work, a little sophomoric and contrived for all the promise in the story.

All the elements for a good, fear-inducing read are here. There are mysterious footsteps in the middle of the night, objects found where they’re not supposed to be, situations created that supposedly have been disposed of, creaky doors and reluctant old keys, and a whacked out high tech system that could be dangerous. Kids are unpleasant, coworkers are sinister, and the main man, who promises to be the protector, might not be all that saintly.

Ware gathers it all together for a finish that needs some careful explaining. Unfortunately, I found it all a little too convenient and unsatisfying. Maybe that’s just me. I’ll be interested to read other opinions, as I’m sure they will be voiced.
So, don’t let me discourage you from having a look. Ware is too good a writer and has a glorious history to simply ignore her work.

Ruth Ware is one of my favorite authors in this genre and I did enjoy this book. This book is told in flashbacks. Rowan is currently in prison for a crime she claims she didn't commit and is writing letters to a possible attorney to represent her. The ending was a surprise but I am on the fence if I liked it. I was waiting for the parents' characters to be more fleshed out, but it turns out, except for one big twist at the end, that they weren't as integral to the story as the reader is led to believe. The ending seemed rushed a bit but maybe because I was hurrying to finish and see what happened. Another enjoyable book by Ware!

It’s no secret that I love Ruth Ware’s writing. This book is no exception. I read this book in just a little over a day. It is just that unputdownable!! Give me a book with the premise of a haunted house/new nanny any day! Not just a haunted house, I might add. A haunted SMART house. Creepy and contemporary.

Of course, no new nanny story is complete without a terrifying child or two! This one covers that as well.
Not only is the story spooky and addicting, but there’s also a secretive, mysterious feel to this one. Ware has really pulled out all the stops for this book! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

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.