The Turn of the Key

The Turn Of The Key is the best book I’ve read this year!

I read in one sitting, I was pulled into the world immediately and could visualise it perfectly. The setting was brilliant, I loved the smart home, the mix of architecture and the poison garden.

I read on a sunny summers afternoon but I was terrified! Despite the outside heat I still got chills and that’s beyond impressive, I can’t remember the last time I read a story that did this to me. Ruth Ware is one of my favourite authors and The Turn Of The Key did not disappoint!

I'm always keen to read a new Ruth Ware book but this one really surpassed all expectations! Rowan takes a lucrative job in Scotland at a remote location nannying for four children. She's warned that the high fee is because of the turnover of staff and her new boss hints at supernatural goings on in the home. I haven't been quite so chilled by a book in ages, this has all the makings of a classic ghost story. I found it kept me guessing right until the end and I read it in less than a day. Can't recommend highly enough!!

Don’t come here, they won’t like it. The ghosts won’t like it. 

When Rowan decides to apply for a job as a live in nanny to a family that are very well off. Rowan never expected to walk into a grand house that was built in the Victorian era but had mod coms and gadgets and gizmos a plenty that are all controlled by an app on your phone. The coffee machine that can have your perfect cup of coffee ready for you when you wake up, the shower that remembers your specified heat, angle and pressure only the start. There’s the cameras in each room, the intercoms that wirelessly connect you to a call, the security systems, the heating controls, the lighting and so much more. That can be controlled wirelessly on your phone wherever you are. 

Rowan is a little freaked out on her first visit to the Elincourts. But the thing that freaks her out the most is when little Maddie who hasn’t wanted to look at her or talk to her the whole time she has been in the house over the course of the interview weekend. Runs up to her, wraps her arms around her, and whispers. Please don’t come here, they won’t like it. The ghosts won’t like it. 

But with a £50k+ annual income, not including all groceries, lodging and car Rowan simply cannot pass up this opportunity. 

What continues next is a creepy, chilling, edge of your seat, nail biting ride. I literally read this book over the course of a few hours. With my chest in my mouth. Completely gripped to every word that Ruth Ware was writing and the journey that she was taking me on. 

Ruth I do not know how you do it. But you always manage to outdo your last book and produce something that is hands down better than the last. It is pure mastery and I cannot get enough. 

This book is sooo clever. My heart was pounding and my heart was in my mouth and my breath was caught and I was hooked completely. 

I didn’t guess the ending of this book. Until you wanted me to, it has been a long time since I can say that with hand on heart honesty. Probably not since Ruth’s last book. But I was shocked by many of the red herrings and the secrets that were unravelled in the course of the story. 

If you only buy and read one book this year. Make sure that it is this one as it is one simply not to be missed. It is phenomenal and it completely blew me away. 

Thank you for the opportunity to read it for an honest review.

Ruth Ware is quickly becoming one of my go to authors. I have loved everything she has written and this is no exception. I'm hesitant to go into details of the plot in case I inadertently spoil anything however once again she has delivered a perfect head scratching mystery.

Excellent! 

This has genuinely scary parts, lots of mystery, suspense and an excellent ending. Well worth a read for any thriller fans.

Thanks to Random House UK, Vintage Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#TheTurnOfTheKey #NetGalley

Ruth Ware just keeps getting better and better. Well, what can I say? There are not enough superlatives in the English language to do justice to Ware's wonderfully addictive and imaginative novels. 'The Turn of the Key' is without doubt one of the best books I have read this year. I suspect that in the waning days of 2020, it will be at the top of the pile as my read of the year, bar none. The 'hook' of this novel is irresistible; contextualising the old adage that if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. This is certainly the case for Rowan, who applies for a live-in nanny position in the remote Scottish Highlands. The salary is generous - perhaps too generous, and the perks... car, holidays... well, they really are too good to be true. There is logic to such generosity, however, and that lies in the fact that no nanny has stayed in the employ of the Elincourt family for long.... Indeed, there is something unnatural about the Elincourt family home. Or more accurately, supernatural, with its rumoured ghosts and ghoulies and  proverbial things that go bump in the night. This does not put Rowan off from taking up the post, but she soon begins to regret her decision when things start going wrong. Very wrong, indeed. The rest? Well, here we enter the pernicious realm of spoilers. Suffice to say what unfolds is stunningly imaginative, fiendishly clever, creepy, tense and suspenseful, in equal measure. 'The Turn of the Key' is Ruth Ware at her best. Then again, I cannot remember a time when Ruth Ware has not been at her most brilliant best. So, read this. Read this now. You really won't regret it.

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.

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'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!

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.

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!

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 😁.

Just superb. Every book I've read from Ware was great and this one is no exception. 
It starts with a letter of plea, where a nanny tells her innocence and the whole book is actually a long letter written to a lawyer by the nanny's hand.
She's hired by  a rich couple living in a remote Scottish estate and soon after she arrives, she's left aone with 3 children and two dogs, in a house she doesn't know how to operate (the whole house is being managed by a app called Happy) and things start happening...
I could not drop this book, literally, didn't stop until the end. it was SO good!
Highly recommended, and this is my favourite of Ware together with In a Dark Dark wood!

I absolutely loved this book , I think it’s the first I’ve read by this author. Great start writing a letter from prison then going back through the story . Full of suspense all the way though and great ending. Highly recommend

I've never read Ruth Ware before so wasn't sure  what to expect.
What I got was an intriguing and tense thriller, told in the first person,  through a letter from a nanny in jail on a murder charge to her prospective QC.

The story is an intriguing set up.

Rowan Cain appears to have found the nanny job of her dreams, living in for a family in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands.
The house itself is a mish-mash of the old and the ultra modern, which takes some getting used to and creates problems enough for Rowan before we even get to the children themselves.
She is left alone with them for a week only a day into the job.

As she struggles to get to grips with the technology of the house and the children, odd things begin happening in and around the house.
The tension builds as we move through the story until the excellent ending with a couple of great twists in the final few chapters.

This is a real slow burner that ramps up the tension and intrigue gradually and in great detail.

An excellent book. Highly recommended.

In these days where the reader is spoilt by a wide range of psychological thriller it is a real treat to come across something that is completely original and most importantly really well-written.

This spooky tale that demonstrates this particular writing skill that Ruth Ware has displayed time and again by creating a pervasive feeling of spookiness without tipping into the ridiculous, something that I have a low tolerance for. 

The book actually takes the form of a letter from our protagonist to her attorney Mr Wrexham. The woman is pleading her innocence and the assumption is that given her job of a nanny the crime committed has something to do with a child.  The first person narrative is all important, in fact it was often only when the writer asks a question to her lawyer that I remembered this is an account, a setting down of facts because I was so drawn into the Scottish home, a mixture between old and new, the four children, the odd characters, and most frightening of all the cameras and smart tech that the family use to run their life.

Top marks for an appealing story, perfect for autumn that has come crashing in and top marks also for the skill in keeping the reader guessing whilst ensuring that they remain totally enthralled on every page. Ruth Ware has sealed her place as a 'must-read' author for sure now.

This is a wonderfully creepy psychological thriller. From the start we are aware that Rowan has been accused of a child's murder. Until the close of the bok it is unclear who the child is, or quite what has led to this event. Told in the form of a letter to ger solicitor, this is a slow reveal of a family with a closet full of secrets and lies. 
The setting of the book is perfect in the form of Heatherbrae House. It is an isolated period property (with a tragic past) that has been brought bang up to date by the new architect owners who have a penchant for the latest technology. The ghosts of the past and the modern technology create a jarring sensation for both Rowan and the reader, and what seems a picture perfect idyll in the countryside soon becomes anything but. Similarly, the aspirational family are not all that they seem and Rowan is immediately left on her own with the children, who do not want her to be there. There are noises in the night, discovered rooms, wilful children and an unruly teenager to play havoc with Rowan's sense of equanimity and my own sense of what to believe or who to trust. Towards the end of the story, there are some great reveals and the final reveal of the book I found incredibly sad. 

It's a great book, perfect for an Autumn night. My thanks go to the publishers and Net Galley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

What an awesome story with loads of twists throughout. Nothing is quite what it seems and can anyone be trusted?

‘Did you download Happy?’

Ruth Ware’s “The Turn of the Key” is even better than her last novel, “The Death of Mrs Westaway”. Like the previous book, the story takes place in a remote Victorian house and is reminiscent of many classic gothic novels, but this time the house in question, Heatherbrae in northern Scotland, is a chimera, its ancient stone walls extended in modern steel and glass, every function, every utility, (almost) every lock controlled by smart devices - du Maurier meets Crichton...

The story is told from a prison cell as a nanny, jailed for the murder of a child, writes to a lawyer, pleading for his help, protesting her innocence. Rowan Caine, engaged by successful architects, Bill and Sandra Elincourt, is almost immediately thrown in at the deep end - left to look after the couple’s children as her employers attend a conference. As well as struggling with the unfamiliar house, the unintuitive, highly complex Happy interface, and Mrs. Elincourt’s detailed childcare ‘manual’, Rowan is met by hostility from the girls in her charge. Maddie, the elder of the two girls at home, seems particularly determined to reject any attempt to build a relationship, the prospect of a returning moody teenage daughter is daunting, and a series of strange noises in the night, accompanied by a malfunctioning Happy, suggest that there may be truth to the stories that previous nannies left their posts in fear.

Ruth Ware builds tension through the book and some passages are really creepy. And there is the suspicion that Rowan may be an unreliable narrator, the only version of events we get being hers. The pages start to race by as we build to the inevitable conclusion, the inevitable death. And when the end comes, there is a devastating twist which leaves the reader exhausted.

You are guaranteed a great read from Ruth Ware. Love this book, told from a great letter writing perspective, yet you didn't realise it was a letter as you felt in the book and the life of Rowan and the house she was working in.
Rowan gets a job as a nanny in a remote part of Scotland, but why do all the other nannies keep leaving quickly? Why doesn't the middle child Maddie want her to work there? Why is Rowan writing a letter from prison? 
This is a great book telling a great story, and it's not until the end that you work out exactly why everything happened.

**4.5 stars**
Rowan’s feeling a bit lost with her flatmate gone, so she answers an ad for a nanny in a remote part of Scotland. Heatherbrae House is not something ostentatious but a modest Victorian lodge with a look of warmth and luxury. And once she has seen it, she wants this job but four Nanny’s have already walked out of the job....why would that be?
I think I might say that Ruth Ware is my favourite modern gothic storyteller. The creepiness of all the smart gadgets in the house certainly left me feeling that I’d want no part in them. And then there is the mysterious note Rowan found in her room just saying “To the new Nanny.......”. All through this book there were moments that sent chills down my spine and kept me turning the pages fast.
We know that something has already happened because it starts as Rowan is writing a letter from prison to someone called Mr Wrexham, with the hope he can help her. It starts off in letter form then morphs into the present tense, with little reminders now and then letting us know that Rowan is telling the story as a letter. I didn’t mind this way of story telling, I find it better sometimes as you know the worst has already happened. 
I’m not really sure I liked Rowan, I often felt she had a hidden demeanour but at the same time I really believed that she was innocent. I nearly gave this book a five star rating but felt the ending just fell a little flat for me. I guess it didn’t have that wow factor in the end but I still really enjoyed it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy to read.

With echoes of Henry James, the title here is an homage to that author, and a fitting nod to the similarity of situations, if not to the plot overall.

Rowan Caine has a job as a childcare worker in a nursery in London. Recently passed over for promotion, she is fed up and one day when idly googling she comes across a job that seems too good to be true. Bill and Sandra Elincourt are architects. They live in the Highlands and are looking for a live-in nanny for their four children; teenager Rhiannon, who is at boarding school in Inverness during the week; Maddie and Ellie who are both at primary school and 18 month old Petra.

The pay is exceptional but as Sandra explains to Rowan when she invites her for interview, they have gone through quite a few nannies which has been disruptive for the children; the house itself is quite remote and both Bill and Sandra require to travel for their work which can mean they are both away from home for more than a week at a time. So they have determined to pay well, so that they get the best possible person for their children.

The house itself is a mixture of old Victorian and brand new glass and steel. In keeping with their trendy image, the house is served with the latest in smart technology with a ‘Happy app’ controlling everything from the lights to the food ordering to the door locks. Each room is monitored and though this should make life easier for Rowan. In reality it all feels a little too ‘big brother-ish’ to be comfortable for Rowan.

There are two other staff; Jack a gardener come all round handyman, who lives in the stable block across from the house and Jean who comes in from the nearby village twice a day to do a little housekeeping.

Needless to say, Rowan gets the job and almost immediately Sandra tells her that she and Bill have to leave for a European trade fair.

We know all this because Rowan is writing everything in a letter to a Scottish Solicitor Advocate, seeking his representation. She is on remand, in custody awaiting trial for the murder of a child.

She has no confidence in her court appointed solicitor and so has sought advice from the other inmates and is writing to the most recommended advocate to beseech him to take her case. Proclaiming her innocence, she sets down her whole case and her experiences leading up to the death of a child.

As we read her letters, we learn of her difficult start in the house; of the way the children are difficult with her and of the air of creepiness and sometimes downright malevolence that seems to intrude on Rowan at night. Ghostly noises, changes in temperature, creakings, all add up to a chilling and unsettling experience for a 24 year old girl left alone in an unfamiliar house with young children who neither like nor trust her.

Through her pleading letters, we learn of these occurrences and more. Of the house’s strange history and a physic garden that contains only poisons. We also learn something of Rowan’s own history and begin to understand that her version of events has not always been reliable.

Ruth Ware is always a fascinating writer and The Turn of the Key is both chilling and intense. The storyline is compelling and propulsive and the prose enjoys a slow build up that is deliciously wicked and suspenseful. Ware builds in some great creepy moments and there are many twists and turns to keep the reader awake into the small hours creeped out and guessing.

Verdict: A chilling, intense read that is wicked and compelling.

This is the second book that i have read by Ruth Ware and as much as i enjoyed her previous book (The Lying Game), i enjoyed this one even more so.  A well written book and whilst i rarely write what a story is about as i prefer one to read the book for themselves, i do highly recommend.  Highly recommended.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy.  This is my honest review, freely given.  



Please note that i am waiting for Amazon to publish my review.

As soon as I read the description for this book I knew I had to read it. And I am so glad I did. I've really enjoyed each Ruth Ware book I've read (haven't got round to The Lying Game yet but I'll get there) and this was no exception. 

The story is told by Rowan, through a letter she writes to a solicitor while she's in prison awaiting a murder trial. 

The Turn of the Key is a gripping story that had me spooked numerous times. Suspenseful and twisty, I couldn't work out what was happening until it was literally spelt out for me at the end. 

I loved it and personally, I think this is Ruth's best book yet and I can't wait for the next. Highly recommended!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers and also Pigeonhole for the ARC, which I have thoroughly enjoyed reading.
I have read books of Ruth Ware before and I found this one spooky, sad and intriguing. At times you wondered if two parents would really leave a young woman whom they have only just employed home alone on a big estate in Scotland with sole responsibility for their 4 children ?But then both husband and wife renovated their home which had fallen into disrepair and they were very busy focused business people with many other renovation projects they were working on.
 Is the house and grounds haunted? Why did all the other nannies leave? Why is Rowan writing from prison and who died? The reader is swept up in all the intrigue and wants to know the answers to all the questions they have, the more you read.
Highly recommended.

Another creepy, atmospheric thriller from Ruth Ware!
The story is written in the form of a letter by the main character, Rowan. She is the accused in a high profile murder case and is writing to a lawyer to try and get their help with her case. Through the letter, Rowan goes right back to the start as she tries to explain the whole situation to the lawyer and prove her innocence in the hope that they will represent her. 
Rowan had only just started what seemed to be her dream job - a Nanny to a high profile family with four children ranging from baby to teenager. They live in a huge old house in the middle of nowhere that they have renovated into a smart house with cameras and controls that would put Alexa to shame! It doesn't help Rowan though when the weird stuff starts happening!
With the atmospheric setting and rich, descriptive writing, it was easy to get drawn in and I learnt quickly not to read this late at night!

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
Thanks @netgalley @ruthwarewriter and @randomhouse for my ARC
Publication date 8th August 2019
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A deeply dark and atmospheric story told in a really unique way. A young nanny, currently incarcerated, accused of murdering the children in her care. And this is her story. If you love a good gothic horror then you will love this. It’s creepy and dark and truly menacing. I seriously didn’t let my breath go during some chapters. Another fantastic story from one of the best writers out there xx

Having read several of Ruth Ware's books, I was expecting to be reading this behind a cushion! I was correct! Ruth writes books that make you wonder right up until the very last moment and I think that I wrongly accused virtually every character in this book!

A great psychological thriller with many twists in it. Good stuff!

I absolutely loved this book!  The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware was a fabulous read, and the ending was stunning - I literally was stunned for words!  (Which doesn't happen very often I can tell you!)

The story is written in a form of letters, from one girl in prison (who is accused of murdering a child), to a lawyer of whom she is telling the whole truth to, in a last attempt to prove her innocence. But can the reader of the letters trust her? So far, no one else has. Besides, she is not entirely told her new employers the truth in the first place. 

But this is no normal 'child is murdered, let's get the police to investigate' book. And should you pick this up (yes, you should!), you'll quickly see what I am talking about. It's not a police procedural, and it has strong supernatural elements to it. It's like nothing I've ever read before. 

I had my suspicions about who was guilty throughout, the girl in prison, the hunky (there's a word you don't hear much these days) groundskeeper/DIY handyman, or even one of the parents with a twisted sense of humour. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole 'poison garden' theme and the ghostly goings on, really had me on tenterhooks as I read late at night. Which I did, eager to get to the final conclusion. 

Full review coming on my blog very soon. I am also featuring this as my Friday Find. 

Thanks to the publisher, author and NetGalley for my ARC copy of this book, this is my honest and unbiased opinion. .

I'm the first to admit that I'm hit and miss with Ruth Ware's books. I've loved some, being indifferent to others, but something about this one lured me in. And I'm happy to report that The Turn of the Key was a HIT all the way for me.

FIRST LINE:

“Dear Mr Wrexham,

I know you don’t know me but please, please, please you have to help me.”

MY THOUGHTS ON THE TURN OF THE KEY BY RUTH WARE

I absolutely loved this, and in my opinion it’s Ruth Ware’s best book to date. It takes the format of a Nanny, who is accused of murdering one of her charges, writing to a solicitor and pleading her innocence.

The relationships between her and the children are realistic and entertaining. The Victorian house is like another character in the book. A smart home run by apps and kitted our with all the latest technology and sinister as hell. And then the ghostly occurrences start to happen.

My heart beat like a drum reading this, as I knew it was leading up to the death of one of the kids. And the scary events did nothing to ease up the tension. Best of all I didn’t predict the ending. Actually being honest, it floored me. In a great way.

FINAL THOUGHT

Great read. Highly recommended.

WHO SHOULD READ THE TURN OF THE KEY BY RUTH WARE?

I’d recommend this to you if you enjoy highly charged atmospheres, unsettling family dynamics and spooky settings. Fans of Ruth Ware’s previous books should also enjoy, as would fans of Lucy Dawson or Lisa Jewell.

Suspenseful, secretive psychological thriller. 
Ruth Ware has done it again even better this time with a combination of modern technology and a sense of being in centuries past.
Rowan Caine is determined to get a job as a nanny in an old home remodelled with high tech gadgets, by the architect owners Bill and Sandra Ellincourt. The reason for her determination to get the position as nanny unfolds as Ware's skilful brilliance leaves no clues as to where the plot will end. This makes yet another book of hers unputdownable.
Rowan gets the excessively well-paid job that seems too good to be true and ends up awaiting trial for the death of one of the girls in her charge. She writes a letter to a lawyer she is hoping will listen to her reasoning and her side of the story because absolutely no one will listen to her. The bizarre events all lead to Rowan's apparent guilt. However, there are many secrets on all sides, and everything is not as it seems. But the secrets are deep and dark, leading to an unfathomable conclusion that leaves possibilities in the reader's mind for days.
Ware's descriptions are made in vivid imagery that takes her readers right into Rowan's sad story and into the heart of the ancient home, made modern.
BonnieK
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

THE TURN OF THE KEY, the new brilliant novel by one of my favourite authors is out next week and I had the pleasure to read it earlier thanks to Harvill Secker and NetGalley.

The first thing I say every time I read a new novel by Ruth Ware is: “This is her best one so far!” and it happened again after I finished reading THE TURN OF THE KEY. The premise is brilliant: a young woman is in prison, accused of killing the child she was looking after, but she claims to be innocent. Gripping, right? Then I started reading and there was another surprise: the story is told from Rowan, the protagonist, in form of a letter written to her lawyer, explaining the events that landed her in jail. Granted, it’s a very long long letter where sometimes I forgot that she was addressing the lawyer, but still, I loved it. And I loved the setting: Heatherbrae House, a remote and isolated mansion in Scotland. I found it a bit claustrophobic and unsettling. The mansion is old but the technology inside is absurd. Everything is controlled by an app and it creeped me out how the voice of the children’s mother would suddenly boom into the kitchen when you less expected. And let’s not forget about the strange and inexplicable noises around the house at night when Rowan was supposedly alone with just the children sleeping in their rooms. It literally gave me goose bumps.

The protagonist of the story is Rowan, a young woman I found difficult to figure out. She leaves her job in a nursery in London, a job she didn’t much like, to move into a remote house looking after four children. As I read her narrative, from the job interview to the wait for a response, from getting the job to her first day at Heatherbrae House, it was clear that Rowan was hiding something. Why did she want the job so much? Although she was something of a mystery and at times I didn’t like her very much, I found Rowan relatable (having worked as a nanny for four years I know that children can test the patience of a saint), brave, and very determined.

The mysterious noises around the house, the inexplicable deaths occurred in the past, and the ghost stories give the novel a supernatural touch that kept me on the edge of my seat. There is tension and a sense of dread that never leave the pages and the twists just kept coming and took me by surprise.

THE TURN OF THE KEY is definitely a must-read and I can’t wait to see whatever Ruth Ware is working next (which will be my new favourite 😉)!!!

Rowan Caine isn’t too happy with her job working in a nursery so when she sees an advert for a live in nanny with a stunningly generous salary she doesn’t hesitate to apply. The problem is it seems too good to be true and Rowan soon finds out this is indeed the case at a great cost. 

The novel is basically a long letter Rowan writes from prison to a solicitor in an attempt to convince him she has not committed the crime of which she has been accused - the murder of one of the children in her care. Rowan recounts her story, from applying for the role to finding herself in a huge renovated house in the remote Scottish Highlands left in sole charge of three unruly children and one about to return from boarding school. 

The Turn of the Key is a highly atmospheric, creepy and chilling mystery incorporating the best elements of gothic literature. Its locked room setting has echoes of Agatha Christie and the gothic touches are reminiscent of Du Maurier. We know that one of the children is dead but we don’t find out who until the end as we follow Rowan struggling to adapt to her new job and home. She finds herself in loco parent is as her employers, Bill and Sandra (both architects) find themselves working away. Rowan realises she is the latest in a line of nannies as the last few have left the job very suddenly. This, combined with strange noises, a tragic past concerning the house and lights and noises suddenly starting convince Rowan something seriously disturbing is happening. 

As with so many current psychological thrillers none of the characters are particularly likeable and there are serious questions marks about the narrator’s reliability. This doesn’t detract from the enjoyment at all though and whereas this can make other books within the genre fall down, it only enhances The Turn of the Key. 

Rowan freely admits she has made mistakes and isn’t as innocent as she portrayed herself at her interview but she is adamant she has not committed murder. But in such a remote location, if she didn’t then who did? 

I have no hesitation in giving this fantastic novel five stars and Ruth Ware has become one of my must read authors. Many thanks to her and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

OMG…THIS BOOK IS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT! There, that got your attention didn’t it!? I have read all of Ruth Wares books now and enjoyed them all but this book is definitely my favourite so far! If you’ve ever read The Turn of The Screw, then you’ll recognise a little nod in the title towards the classic that also inspired the films The Innocents and The Others. But even though the plot basics are similar (nanny looking after children in remote and creepy location where something supernatural may or may not be occurring) Ruth Ware has brought A Turn of the Key to an audience living in a world of social media and technology and so has adapted her storyline to become relevant to the digital age. In a way it feels like a hybrid of an old fashioned mystery and a techno thriller which sounds strange but that really lends itself to this gripping storyline.

Rowan is sitting in prison awaiting her trial for murder-the murder of an unnamed child. She tells the circumstances of how she came to be there in a letter to Mr Wrexham, a solicitor advocate she wants to represent her at her trial. Through these letters we discover how she found the job advert for a nanny to children of a family living in a remote part of Scotland. Her determination to acquire the position is palpable but also questionable as although she works in a nursery, she doesn’t seem to particularly like children that much! Her methodology of childcare wasn’t quite what you’d expect and I wondered why she would put herself through a job she obviously didn’t really enjoy! But this job isn’t the norm either! It’s VERY well paid because it seems as though the family struggle to keep a nanny for longer than a few weeks. And when Rowan moves in, very strange things start to go bump in the night and she begins to understand why…

As the saying goes, if something seems too good to be true then it usually is but unfortunately once Rowan discovers this then she’s in way too deep to escape. Some very creepy children and a house that seems to have a mind of its own await Rowan instead of the picture perfect family she was expecting but the longer she’s there, the less sense things make. And I was completely and utterly gripped, not knowing who to trust or why. There’s not a huge cast of characters but all of the people living or working at Heatherbrae House seemed to be hiding something from Rowan. This made for a ridiculously tense read that I would have been watching from behind a cushion if it had been a tv drama (and it would make a brilliant tv adaptation can I just say?!) as more and more intriguing incidents occur. And did I work out what was happening and why? NOPE!! I read the final few chapters with a racing heart rate and a desperation to be right with my prediction for the outcome but I wasn’t. But the last few pages made me so glad that I hadn’t worked out the ending as as the shock value was just so much higher! Honestly this book totally blew me away and I loved every dark and twisty moment. It has one of THE BEST ENDINGS I HAVE EVER READ and that’s saying something as I read A LOT!

This book will definitely be appearing on my Best Books of 2019 list at the end of the year and I would give it more than 5 stars if I could! The Turn of you Key is an addictive read that will keep you glued to its pages until the very small hours of the morning. Loved it loved it LOVED IT!

‘WANTED: Large family seeks experienced live-in nanny.' 

When childcare worker, Rowan Caine, stumbled across the advert she couldn't believe her luck. It's the opportunity she'd been waiting for.

But mere months later she’s sitting on remand in a Scottish prison, accused of killing one of the children in her charge. Furiously scribbling letters to a top advocate (barrister under British law), she pleads with him to take her case.

‘”I didn't kill that child. Which means someone else did. And they are out there. While I'm in here, rotting.”’ 

This was definitely the right book for me. As a former sole-charge nanny (both live-in and live-out), and in more recent years, regular pet-sitter, house-sitter, I've spent a significant amount of time in other people's houses, largely with only children and/or pets for company, so I found the subject matter in this book hugely relatable. I could feel Rowan's frustration as she struggled to grasp the smart house's various panels, apps, and features, and as someone who once stayed in a property where during a nighttime power cut all the doors unlocked, because the battery on the back-up generator was flat, I know the feeling of being in a strange house with malfunctioning technology, and not being entirely sure what to do. Rowan's first day, the two older children disappear on her, playing/hiding in the expansive grounds, and she's frantically searching for them while trying to juggle a fretful baby. Again, I've totally been there, more than once. There were many other instances I could mention, but I've bored you enough with details of my life.

However, even though I enjoyed the day-to-day routine of Rowan settling into her nanny position, I'm not entirely certain other readers will feel the same way. And a large portion of the book was devoted to this. It's a slow burn, alright! 

But, the more I think on it, the more convinced I am that I would've enjoyed it regardless, as you get to experience exactly what Rowan went through from the moment she arrived until the tragic end. You get to know the lay of the land so to speak, and feel Rowan's mounting uncertainty and fear, her slow realisation that something’s not right with the place.

Strange occurrences in the night – creaking, footsteps, cold spots, missing keys, etc – beginning the moment Rowan arrived, also assisted in moving the plot forward, and upping the creepy ante. Technology played a big part in the ‘hautings' making this a bit different from usual. The house itself was part restored Victorian/modern architecture which I found as unsettling as Rowan did. The wild, overgrown, neglected gardens, so different from the interior, heightened this feeling. Being an old house it did of course have an ominous history, and was rumored to be haunted, which as some of you know are two of my favourite gothic elements. 

The four children (aged 14, 8, 5, and 1) had complex, age appropriate personalities and behaviours. Ruth Ware even included Scottish dialogue, which I thought was a nice touch. Even though the entire book was written as a series of letters, it quickly morphed into present tense, with the protagonist occasionally pausing to address the recipient. I for one was grateful for this, as I wasn't fond of the beginning letter format as it was all ‘tell' and no ‘show’. It was an original set-up though, and the way it all came together in the end cemented this novel's 5 star rating for me.

My favourite Ruth Ware crime/mystery by far.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this compelling book

and what a book it was...one surprise after another...written in the style of a letter to a lawyer but going over the events that lead up to the death of one of the children...its a compelling read and one that grips you till the end with surprise after surprise happening with things that even i was suspecting....

its creepy as well as the thought of being in a smart house i would forever be wondering who could control what....and who could hack in....plus the thought of all those cameras 

anyway a brilliant read would totally recommend this one...keeps you on tenterhooks right till the very end...keep an eye out for the author

Thanks to Netgalley and Random books for an honest review of “Turn of the key “

As a fan of Ruth Wares previous books I was expecting a book full of intrigue and suspense that kept you guessing right to the end , and this didn’t disappoint.
From the start of the book we knew something awful had happened , and we had hints that not everyone was telling the truth , but all was very cleverly revealed , and I loved how all the loose ends were tied up..I truly didn’t guess the ending.
I was totally caught up with the setting of the Scottish Highlands and the description of the house Rowan went to become a nanny in.
I loved the pace and suspense of the book and I had to stop myself from rushing through the pages to find out what had happened at Heatherbrae House.
I can wholeheartedly recommend this book, and wait impatiently for the next book by Ruth Ware.

The Turn of the Key is a brilliantly written book .The story is told through the letters written to her Lawyer by Rowan the Nanny who is now in prison awaiting trial for the murder of one of the children in her charge which she denies .Rowan applies for a job as a live in nanny to a wealthy family living in Scotland .Heatherbrae House is a old Gothic house which has been extensively renovated into a smart home with many cameras and is still  very creepy and seemingly haunted .There have been 4 Nannies before Rowan but none of them have stayed very long .No sooner  has Rowan arrived to start work then she is told that she will have to look after the 4 children on her own as her employees are off working for a week and so Rowan's nightmare begins as all is not as it seems with Rowan .The descriptions are fabulous ,the poison garden very creepy at least she has Jack the chauffeur and Jean the housekeeper ?I loved the creepiness of this book and I  didn't guess the ending in fact I gasped when it was revealed just brilliant .Many thanks to the Publisher .the Author and NetGalley  for my review copy in return for an honest review

Ruth Ware just gets better and better, she is fast becoming the queen of the unputdownable thriller. Troubled children, ghostly goings on and an electronically controlled house. What could possibly go wrong for a new Nanny? Oh yes, I forgot to mention an isolated location, a poison garden and an amorous employer. The skilful way these layers are revealed is mesmerising. The twists and secrets keep coming at the end. This has to be the beach read thriller of the summer.

Another great book from Ruth Ware, thank you Netgalley! The story starts off in the form of a letter, which I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy at first. But as I got into it I forgot it was a letter and in fact, there are no chapters at all. This didn’t deter me and actually still made for very gripping reading. I just wasn’t sure where to stop and it would quite easily be read on one sitting. 
Rowan lands herself a job as a live in Nanny in an old house in the Scottish highlands. This in itself is full of mystery and was a bit spooky at times. But Rowan has a secret and I didn’t actually guess until it was revealed and then it all became clear. 
A great thriller and highly recommended

This was a brilliant read, I finished it a few hours after starting the story. I couldn't believe I had got to the end already. I did realise very early on what Rowan's secret was although at the conclusion we find out that she has an even bigger secret that we are totally unaware of. The ending seemed to arrive suddenly without a full explanation and we can only assume that Rachel's letters were never sent and she ended her days in prison, I wish there had been more to the conclusion of the story although one letter does explain how the murder and haunting happened. Ruth does write excellent books and I would recommend this to readers but once you start you have to keep going. All the characters were real, I could imagine everyone from baby Petra to Jack Grant, Sandra and even Rhianon. Fascinating story line.

The opening of The Turn of the Key is a tiny bit confusing as we find Rowan the protagonist, attempting to write to her solicitor to explain what has occurred prior to her arrest for murder.  We stumble through her repeated attempts to set out how everything transpired: how awful it is in prison; how terrible other prisoners are and her insistence of her innocence.  Rowan tells of how she came across an advertisement for a nanny to live in a remote part of Scotland with a professional couple (architects) and their three daughters.  Currently working for a day nursery in London, she misses her former colleague and flat-mate Rachel, who is currently abroad and decides to apply for the position.  

After travelling for hours she arrives in Scotland, is met by the chauffeur who transfers her to Heatherbrae for her interview.  She is offered a salary of £55,000 p.a., use of a car, time off, and live in.  The downside, the parents are often away from home for up to a period of two weeks at a time and Rowan would be in sole charge of the children.  Other help was employed in the form of Jean who seemed to be responsible for the house and Jack the chauffeur handy man.

One of the leading characters in this tale is Heatherbrae a rambling, gothic style Victorian mansion as approached from the front – whilst the back of the house has been restyled to be open plan, huge swathes of glass overlooking the scenery.  The whole estate is covered in woodlands, with a stream and even a poison garden!  In addition the house is a ‘smart’ house with technology at every turn – no humble light switch but a panel that controls everything.  Think Alexa – but mega!

Rowan is no sooner there than the parents are gone – away for a conference and client meetings.  She is left with two little girls who are strangers, missing their mummy.  The sheer responsibility of the task, the worry of the girls’ anxiety and the weird house start to take their toll.  Oh, did I mention ghosts and the fact that Rowan cannot sleep; oh and of course the ‘smart’ house malfunctions?  Oh, and Rowan is not quite sure whether there are cameras in every room that can be accessed remotely by the parents…

Before I even read this it put me in mind of A Turn of the Screw by Henry James which has a similar theme; a nanny supervising two children in a remote house with ghostly goings on, oh and a child murdered.  Of course they are only similar themes, but I was quite confused with James’ story and at least in this one there was more clarification.

Excellent, atmospheric, scary – would make a great film.  Loved it and recommend it whole-heartedly if you are not to easily scared.

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

Wow. What can I say about The Turn of the Key? A unique, harrowing, twisty book that kept me guessing the entire time. But that description doesn't seem to do this book justice. I'm a big fan of Ruth Ware, having read and enjoyed all of her books for different reasons, but The Turn of the Key is in a league of its own. A truly gripping story, written without chapter breaks, which only serves to increase the pace and dramatic effect. 

Ware just keeps getting better and better, I can't wait to see what she does next.

I have loved Ruth Ware’s other titles so was keen to see if this one would live up to the others. 
I can certainly say it did! A really good storyline with a fantastic plot.
The book begins with a letter to a solicitor which then weaves into the main story, which sets the scene and throughout the book comes to tell you why the person writing the letter Is in prison.

The plot is centred around a bored nursery worker who we know as Rowan who ‘stumbles’ across a job advert for a wealthy family hundred of miles away in the remote Scottish Isles. Rowan accepts the job which she learns many others have not succeeded in. She is sole charge of 3 hound children and one teenager. When the parents are called away on business Rowan is literally plunged into the deep end and the story really begins.

It’s a dark and atmospheric story and very we’ll written as you can picture what Rowan is faced with. It has surreal and gothic elements weaves into this story which make it all the more gripping!

It had an ending I didn’t see coming which tops off a perfect read

Would thoroughly recommend this book. I struggled to put it down!

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Random House UK, Vintage Publishing, for the ARC.
Goodness Me! - whatever you do - don't read this in the dead of night!  What a frightener!

This story unfolds through letters from 27yr-old Rowan Caine, on remand at HMP Charnworth, Scotland, to a Mr Wrexham, an Advocate to whom she pleads her innocence of killing a child in her care.
Unhappy in her job in the baby room of a local nursery, Rowan comes across an advert for a live-in nanny to a family of 4 children in the remote Highlands.  The salary is ridiculous, but she learns later that they had had 4 nannies quit recently and needed an incentive to keep one for at least a year.  Sandra and Bill Elincourt run their own architects firm and have to be away at times.
The house, in the middle of nowhere, looks like a large Victorian family home.  However, it is a hi-tech Smart home controlled by Apps and secreted wall panels which Rowan struggles to get to grips with.  Within 24 hours of her arriving the Elincourts have to leave her in charge of the 3 youngest children for at least a week.
Rowan is plunged into a personal hell.  Mrs McKenzie (the Daily) seems to detest her on sight.  Ellie (5) seems to be controlled by her sister Maddie (8) who persists in goading Rowan at every opportunity, but Jack Grant the handyman, offers a helping hand.
She can't sleep because there are pacing feet all night above her bedroom;  the electronics go haywire;  there's an un-fenced pond in the vast garden as well as a walled poison garden.  There are also stories of tragedy attached to the house. 
And when Rhiannon (14) arrives home from boarding school Rowan finds herself in a very difficult position indeed - a very major twist in the tale.
There's more, lots more, and I certainly didn't see that ending coming. (no more, in deference to any spoilers).
Suffice it to say that this really is extremely sinister, menacing.  My brief synopsis really doesn't convey the atmosphere so cleverly created.  Excellent writing - totally absorbing.
Thoroughly recommended.

Wow.  One of the best books I’ve read in a while.
I have to say that I found the first few pages a bit uneventful and boring until I realised their purpose.
Once I’d got into the book I was hooked.
It’s a gripping story following a nanny called ‘Rowan’ who lands what seems to be a dream job.
It’s not as it seems though and she’s disturbed by spooky goings on that she just can’t explain.
Full of suspense and terror it’s really well written and draws you into life at the house.
Lots of unexpected twists leave you wanting to read on to find out what happens next.
A very unexpected ending!

Excellent. A very well written and beautifully creepy book. Although I figured out both Rowan's secrets early on (guess I've read enough unreliable narrators to spot the signs!) that didn't spoil my enjoyment of the story in the least, because there was clearly another mystery at work – and of course, knowing that everything would end in disaster and death gave the whole book a sense of urgency and almost unbearable anticipation. When I got to the end of Rowan's narrative with so few pages left in the book, I was afraid the real mystery would be left unsolved – but I needn't have worried. A really good read and I will look out for more books by Ruth Ware in future.