I’m sure I said this a few posts back, but I feel like I’ve been reading like a fiend these past couple months, and it continues with The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware! I was a huge fan of her first novel, In a Dark, Dark Wood, so I’m always excited to see what she’s got next. Earlier this year I read her latest installment, The Death of Mrs. Westaway, and that sucker stuck with me. Needless to say, I was very surprised when a new novel dropped just a few months after finishing that up – but it was a happy surprise!
The book follows English nanny, Rowan, via emails to a lawyer from jail, who has taken up a new gig at a remote smart-house in Ireland. While it is obviously a long-winded letter, it recounts her nightmarish time caring for two young girls and a house full of secrets. Almost all of the characters are a bit stand-offish besides groundskeeper, Jack, and as someone who isn’t super fond of kids, these two sounded like a literal nightmare. I too, would be frustrated by all of the smart house features that always seemed to be malfunctioning for Rowan (anyone remember the old Disney Channel original movie Smart House?!)
For the novel being well over 300 pages, there really wasn’t that much covered, nor were several loose ends tied up. There were a plethora of interesting leads that were either dropped completely or only half explained. I would say of all of Ware’s novel, this was by far the weakest of the bunch, but I still enjoy her writing style, so it definitely wasn’t a waste of time. The concept was cool, just not necessarily executed properly or thoroughly. If you’ve never read any of Ware’s work, certainly don’t start with this one, but add it to the list if you like mysteries!