I don't usually go for thrillers but I decided to give this one a go given that I knew it was going to be Waterstones Crime book of the month for April. I did enjoy it despite it being outside my comfort zone in terms of 'genre'. I felt it was a bit of a slow burn but the explosive ending was a shock to me and I did not see the twists coming. The tension that builds throughout the book as a result of Ruth Wares skillful atmospheric writing was the highlight for me though.

3.5 stars rounding up to 4!

I absolutely loved this book! Cleverly written and developed, I was truly freaked out by parts of this book and couldn't put it down! I loved the way it was written and the character development was brilliant. The slow gradual discovery of the truth and that ending... Brilliant work from Ruth Ware! A big fat five stars from me and highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ruth Ware and Random House UK for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is another great instalment from Ruth Ware. She really can hold suspense and keep the reader hooked right up until the very end. This is a dark mystery, it's eerie and very very creepy, The setting is wonderful, in the highlands in Scotland. The house is old but has been totally modernised with state of the art technology to become a smart home. Rowan the lead protagonist is thrilled when she is offered a job that seems too good to be true, as nanny to four children in Scotland. The pay is excellent but the work load is heavy as the parents, Bill and Sandra, both architects work away from home a lot. Something is amiss however as many nannies before her have abruptly vacated their positions. Rowan the nanny gives her version of the tale in a series of letters to the solicitor Mr Wrexham proclaiming her innocence and giving her account of all the strange and unusual events that happened at Heatherbrae House, the home in which she was employed, that led to the death of a child and her subsequent imprisonment. She isn't particularly endearing as a character and even admits in the letters to some of her short comings as a nanny, Ruth Ware does evil and twisted very well and succeeds here in telling a very twisted tale. It was an easy thriller to become immersed in, it kept me guessing and I enjoyed it a lot. 4 stars from me!!!

I recieved a free digital edition in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and given freely.

I could not finish this book - i avoid horror because i don't like being scared and this one was just... Less thriller and more horror to me.

I couldn't get into it at all, but I believe that was due to the scare factor rather than the way it was written since ive enjoyed previous books by the author..

I will definitely be looking out for other books by Ruth Ware

*A big thank-you to Ruth Ware, Random House and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
The title gave me some hints regarding where I would be taken while reading this book, and my expectations were rather high. Unfortunately, it did not turn out to be a page-turner for me. For one thing, too much time is spent on the descriptions of the smart house, in my opinion. I was not interested in finding out how the house worked as I have some idea of this type of a house. Moreover, Rowan Caine seems an unstable character, which is surprising if you take her profession into account and the time she has had her job. This remark of mine may be a little unfair, however, has Rowan really been able to supress her negative attitude to children successfully for so many years and yet remain employed as a nunny? Also, I was unable to find the situation in which a nanny, just employed, is left with two small children and the third one about to arrive all alone. I enjoyed the story of the poison garden and the mystery behind it most.
It a good read but nothing gothic or spectacular about it for me.

This was the first Ruth Ware book that I've read but it certainly won't be my last.
The Turn of the Key is one of the only books that has ever made my stomach churn with fear and had me apprehensive to turn the next page because I was more than a little bit scared.
This has suspense, scares and suspicious characters. Even the children leave you wondering what is really going on with them.
You truly feel in Rowan's shoes as she experiences life at Heatherbrae. From the creepy older parts of the grounds to the even creepier technology being used, such as the cameras and the 'Happy' app, this added up to a book that I couldn't put down.
The ending, however, was a bit of a let down for me and the only thing stopping me from giving this 5 stars.
It ends abruptly, with many things being left in the air. And I didn't feel like I got a real resolution.
But this was such a great read apart from that.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Before reading The Turn of the Key, I had heard a lot of praise for Ruth Ware and her writing, but was yet to read any of her books. So when the opportunity arose to read The Turn of the Key, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to see what all the fuss was about. Since reading the book, I have to say, I totally get it!

I really enjoyed Ruth Ware’s writing style, and particularly liked how the book was written as letters. I love an unreliable narrator, and that is exactly what we got in the form of Rowan Caine. It made the story all the more interesting. From the very beginning, this story has you hooked, desperate to find out the truth of what happened, and as the story unfolds, the truth becomes more and more disturbing.

Although The Turn of the Key is predominantly a thriller, throughout the book, there is a strong paranormal vibe, which I thoroughly enjoyed. There are definitely moments in the book that you don’t want to be reading alone at night!

The characters are all well written, and nicely developed. Although she doesn’t appear until quite a way in to the story, Rhiannon’s character was particularly well done, and her actions were very believable of that of a stroppy teenager.

However, I have to admit that I don’t think the ending lived up to the rest of the story. Don’t get me wrong, it is not an awful ending, but it wasn’t up to the standard of the rest of the story.

The Turn of the Key is a gripping, spooky, and thoroughly enjoyable read, and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Vintage Publishing for my copy, in exchange for an honest review.

I give The Turn of the Key a 4 star rating. It would have been a 5 star, but my thoughts towards the ending of the story have been taken in to consideration in my rating.

I love author Ruth Ware - she is the absolute master at crafting a disturbing, sinister atmosphere. This one was quite similar to one of her other books 'The Death of Mrs Westaway' with a large, isolated, old house providing the perfect ghostly setting for unexplained noises and things that go bump in the night. The mood created is so realistic that main character, Rowan, wasn't the only one lying awake at night - I too was terrified to sleep. Not to self don't read Ruth Ware alone in the house at night.

The premise of this book was a nanny in prison awaiting trial for the murder of one of the four children she'd been employed to look after. In fact the entire book was one (very long) letter from Rowan to a potential solicitor pleading them to take her case and trying to convince him of her innocence by describing the events leading up to the child's death. However, refreshingly for a main character, Rowan is not always likeable - she's a nanny who doesn't like children and therefore has an ulterior motive for accepting the job.

Aside from the haunted house and ghostly going-ons this was full of creepy elements. The house might have been old but fascinatingly it was also a 'smart house with the parents able to watch the children (and nanny) via the cameras installed in every room of the house, turn lights on and off remotely, and control things via their voice or phone. And, it wasn't just Rowan who less than perfect, most of the characters were dark and mysterious - none more so than second child Maddie who seemed possessed at times.

But, it is these elements and the skilful telling that made this completely compulsive. I was completely hooked from start to finish. With the author's clever telling throughout you're just focused on reading a gripping narrative and it's only afterwards that you realise that in fact every detail and word is completely relevant to the plot.

Some have criticised the ending. For me it worked but it wasn't quite what I was hoping for. Not that I guessed it - because I didn't - but that it was fairly straightforward and slightly unimaginative. It felt like the easy option rather than the dramatic expose I was expecting from the author. To be honest I also didn't completely understand it, not the reveal but more the epilogue, as it was a bit ambiguous.

The ending didn't detract from my enjoyment of this. Once again its another 5 stars from me for this latest offering by one of my favourite authors.

This gripping thriller starts off with Rowan being jailed for the murder of a child she was caring for. She is writing to Mr Wrexham (a solicitor’s advocate), from a Scottish jail, begging him to take on her case, as everyone believes she is guilty.

As Rowan tells her story, you immediately feel a sense of threat and menace. Initially, the job seems to be too good to be true, with its fabulous pay package and modern, hi-tech rooms. There is a sense of secrecy and mystery surrounding Rowan, along with the strange noises and chilling events which happen as she settles into her new job. And like all good thrillers, the book draws you in from the very first page.

The children that Rowan is caring for take an immediate dislike to her, and Maddy especially does everything she can to make her feel unwelcome. Rowan has her own reasons to want the job to be successful, and the story explores her background and events leading up to the crime.

This is a well crafted plot, with unexpected twists and turns, keeping you absorbed in the compelling story. I couldn’t put the book down, and enjoyed reading immensely. I highly recommend this gripping thriller by Ruth Ware. Although this is the first book which I have read by this author, it won’t be the last.

When Rowan Cane stumbles across an ad looking for a live-in Nanny, it sounds too good to be true. Heatherbrae House is a luxurious “smart” home in the beautiful Scottish Highlands, fitted out with all the latest technology.
What she doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare—one that will end with a child dead and herself in prison awaiting trial for murder.

Writing to her lawyer from prison, she describes the events which led up to her imprisonment.
The constant surveillance cameras installed around the house.
The malfunctioning technology which caused chaos at all the wrong moments.
The girls, who turned out to be far from perfect.
The way she was left alone only a couple of days after accepting the job, with no adults around apart from the handyman, Jack Grant.
She admits that she wasn't perfect, but she maintains that she's not guilty of murder. Which means someone else is.

I LOVED this book. It's one of the best books I've read this year. It has everything I want to read in a thriller. Creepy and full of suspense, with a few twists I didn't see coming until the very last moment.

I've seen a few reviews criticising the ending. I did feel it was a little abrupt, however, I thought it did a good job of tying all the loose ends together.

I read my first book from Ruth Ware in January this year and I instantly knew she would become a favourite of mine, and this book just solidified my thoughts! The Turn of the Key kept me on my toes, and even made me keep my lamp light on in the evenings... No spoilers but the ending’s twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat and truly got me! Would 100% recommend this to anyone looking for a good thriller. Ware does not disappoint!

I enjoyed this book and it was a great read but it didn’t blow me away unlike the authors other titles. For me it just lacked something that I can’t put my finger on. Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this title.

I've wanted to read this for soo long, so a big thank you to @netgalley!

When she stumbles across the ad, she’s looking for something else completely. But it seems like too good an opportunity to miss—a live-in nannying post, with a staggeringly generous salary. And when Rowan Caine arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten—by the luxurious “smart” home fitted out with all modern conveniences, by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and by this picture-perfect family.

I LOVED this book! I was so hooked. I loved the fact that it was actually a letter, because honestly thoughout reading I complete forgot until she addressed the lawyer. She's going through the events of the period of time she was at Heatherbrae House and the events leaving to her now being in prison.

Rowan talked through her experiences from the first time she visited the house, all the little things she noticed. There was times I wasn't sure if I liked Rowans character but I absolutely loved how much she cared about the children.

The twists definitely had me in shock! I think there was only one I had a suspicion about, everything else had me in shock! I loved how this book was written and it was definitely a brilliant Thriller!

The Elincourts are looking for a live-in nanny and are offering a very generous salary and fantastic living conditions. This seems to be an opportunity that is too good to miss, so when Rowan accidentally stumbles across the ad, she is determined to get the job.
With luck on her side, she nails the interview and is quickly offered the job, but as she arrives to take up her post, little does she know that her nightmare is just about to start and she will soon be accused of murder.

The story is told in a very original way, in the form of letters that Rowan sends from prison to her prospective lawyer.
It was a brilliant and instantly gripping mystery thriller. The slow-building suspense kept me on the edge of my seat and had me itching to find out what put Rowan behind bars as quickly as my reading would allow.
The added bonus was that it was set in Scotland and some of the characters actually used Scottish slang.
To be honest, there is nothing negative to be said of the story.
It was an unputdownable read, with a twist that I didn't see coming.
It was my first book from this author, so I delved into it without any expectations, but I'm happy to say that the book delivered on all accounts. In simple words, READ IT!

This is the 1st book I have read by Ruth Ware and definitely not my last. It’s a dark and eerie read. Rowan takes a job as a nanny at an isolated house is Scotland, what happens there is creepy, chilling and will keep you wanting to read on. The book is written as a series of letters from Rowan to a solicitor who she wants to represent her as she is awaiting trial for murder. The book follows her story and the ending and twists and turns will keep you gripped throughout. Ruth writes with a skill that keeps you guessing and doesn’t disappoint. A fabulous read which will makes you want to read more of her books if you haven’t already.

I loved the writing style and gothic atmosphere.
However, the plot was very predictable in my opinion and the protagonist seemed very unbelievable to me. I didn't buy her 10 years nanny experience and her whole background story. Also, the format of the novel felt like a gimmick to me.

When Rowan Caine comes across an advert seeking a live-in nanny in a remote area of Scotland, it sounds too good to be true. A seemingly perfect family, a beautiful old house, and a very generous salary. The only red flag being that the four previous nannies quit as they were convinced that the house was haunted. Rowan doesn’t believe in ghosts, so pays no attention and packs up her life in London to start the job immediately. But what seems too good to be true usually is, and deep dark secrets begin to reveal themselves.

Written as a series of letters to a lawyer from prison, Rowan explains the turn of events which led to her incarceration. She insists that she is innocent but as a result of the strange circumstances leading up to the murder of one of her charges she is aware that most people are unlikely to believe her account.

Wow. Where do I start. I loved everything about this book! It was beautifully written, not overcomplicated with interesting characters and a creepy atmosphere.

I loved the fact that the author took a gothic classic and brought it to life in a modern setting. The descriptions of the house cleverly made a point of emphasising the modern equipment and security used which gave it a very contemporary feel. At the same time, there were references to the past and history of the house which linked with The Turn of the Screw and kept the essence of an older gothic thriller.

Some of my favourite thrillers and mystery stories are the ones that make you wonder if there is a supernatural element to the story. It takes a lot to scare me but there was something about the setting of the book and the feeling of isolation but also claustrophobia at the same time which made it very creepy to read.

My favourite book from Ruth Ware so far – I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to read a clever, entertaining and suspenseful psychological thriller.

#TheTurnOfTheKey #NetGalley
Psychological thriller at its best. No one can write like Ruth Ware. Fantastic novel.
Rowan stumbles across the advert, it seems like too good an opportunity to miss: a live-in nanny position, with a very generous salary. And when she arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten by the luxurious ‘smart’ home fitted out with all modern conveniences by a picture-perfect family.What she doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare – one that will end with a child dead and her in cell awaiting trial for murder.
I don't want to reveal much here so go and give it a read. I bet this will make you shiver.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for giving me an advance copy of this awesome psychological thriller.

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware 🗝...
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars 🌟💫...
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When she stumbles across the ad, she’s looking for something else completely but it seems too good an opportunity to miss... a live-in nanny post with a staggeringly generous salary. But as with all things it’s too good to be true as she steps into a nightmare that will end with a child dead and herself in prison awaiting trial for murder...
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I need to take a minute to digest what I just read! I have read Ruth’s Woman in Cabin 10 before and enjoyed it but that was nothing compared to this! It had horror, it was creepy and it had oh my god moments that left me wanting more - it was such a page turner!
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The story was written in the format of letters written by the nanny to a lawyer convincing him of her innocence and a few other ones at the end revealing some very interesting information! I found this such a great unique way of writing the book as it was as if she was talking directly to us narrating what went on.
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There were twists and turns galore! Along with creepy kids whispering, bumpy goings on in the attic and mysterious writing on the walls. Couple that with a house entirely controlled by an Alexa style control panel and you’re in for a great psychological thriller that will play on your mind for days! 😱
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Publishing day is 2nd April so please pick this one up you won’t regret it! Thank you @netgalley and @vintagebooks for this amazing ARC 😁.

I hadn't realised, when I requested The Turn Of The Key, that it errs more on the chiller side of thriller (complete with thing that go bump in the night). While this isn't my usual genre, I read on regardless and did find myself enjoying it. The good - some genuinely tense moments and a number of twists that surprised me. The not so good - I wasn't convinced by the narrative device of having most of the book in the form of letters written by the main character.