This is now my favorite Ruth Ware book, by far (I’ve read and liked them all). It drew me in from the very first page and didn’t let me go. I tried to read it slowly — after pre-ordering and anticipating it for months — but ended up binge reading it.
I won’t give major spoilers, I’ll just say why I found it so compelling:
The suspense and subtle dread. I had to know what the next page held.
The great character study. A classic whodunnit. Was it him? Her? Him? Who?! I truly didn’t know until the end. The twists and red herrings were perfectly done ... not exploiting the reader at all, but how the story moved organically. They made complete sense, and that’s rare nowadays in this genre. I also loved how, even though Mrs Westaway had passed on, her presence was still felt so menacingly and strongly. I mean, yes, the book centered around her actions ... but instead of her being a vague idea, this cloud of doom, I felt like she might actually come around the corner at any time. The housekeeper, of course, did do just that, often, and was quite the scary character! Not in a cheesy way, no, the tension and malignancy she brought was very well done. I love family sagas, especially about old English families and estates, and this certainly delivered that!
The wonderful descriptions of the mood and setting. I felt like I was there, in that cold, drafty old house that held so many secrets and heartache. My only minor complaint about that — I would’ve liked a bit more closure regarding the attic room and how a certain someone in the past was basically held prisoner there.
The emotions! Hal is so likable, so strong, yet vulnerable. I desperately wanted things to get better for her. I cheered her on and felt what she felt. And then the family — a mixture of both sympathy and, “One or more of you is the bad person(s) here, so I’m hesitant to like you or feel compassion”. It’s fun not knowing. Ms Ware shaped them all so well, letting the reader come to their own conclusions, nothing was overtly obvious. So many books in this genre fall into cliches; this one never did. And I like how the family grappled at first with embracing Hal ... this complete stranger thrust into their lives/complicated emotions regarding their mother, her death, and the house. That aspect was another so well done. I liked them all for most of the book, but again, knew evil lurked among them, and knew some of my sympathy would be wasted at some point.
The side story with Hal and the loan sharks. Fear for her.
The great research Ms Ware must have done, and included, about Tarot cards/readings. Not a subject I’ve ever believed or had much interest in, but wow, I really got into it more and more ... and the explanations of how Hal and her mother didn’t take it literally, but could read them figuratively. It was so fascinating to me.
The ending was great. I won’t say more, just that it was satisfying in many ways. Again, rare for this genre. It makes me wish I was in a book club, I want to discuss this book with others!
Thank you, Ms Ware, for such an entertaining book! It was well worth the wait. I’m just sad it’s over and that we won’t get to see how young Hal’s life turned out afterwards. I’ll miss her and the family (well, some of them). I highly recommend this book to anyone, not just psychological suspense fans. And I really think this would make a great movie!
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Popular Highlights in this book
You can’t influence fate, or change what’s out of your control. But you can choose what you yourself do with the cards you’re dealt.Highlighted by 883 Kindle readers- When they gave themselves over to superstition, they were giving up on shaping their own destiny.Highlighted by 707 Kindle readers
- Hal’s mother—the woman who had loved her, and brought her up, and cared for her—was not the woman who had given birth to her.Highlighted by 387 Kindle readers
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Reviews with images
No spoilers, but there is a hint!!
I actually enjoyed this book far more than the other two I read by this author (The Lying Game and In a Dark, Dark Wood). I’m a huge fan of British “whodunnits”, and as a long time fan of Agatha Christie, this felt similar to something of hers. The antagonist is very easy to spot but it was still a good book and easy to get through. The characters, while not very fleshed out and little depth (my biggest gripe with the book), I loved our heroine. Very rarely do you meet a heroine that is intentionally deceiving and you ROOT for them. I felt like Hal needed a break, though, and was happy when she got one. This isn’t a book that begs you to be intelligent and you don’t finish feeling like you’ve learned anything new, but it IS entertaining and definitely written better than Ware’s previous novels. If you’re looking for an easy-to-read gothic mystery to get wrapped up in, this is a great one to start.
Top reviews from other countries
Janet B
A SUSPENSE STORY THAT WILL KEEP YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT!
Reviewed in Canada on July 9, 2018
YvonneB
Wow, page turner from start to finish
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 26, 2019
ナオキートJJF
the setting is a lovely spot
Reviewed in Japan on September 15, 2020
ナオキートJJF
Reviewed in Japan on September 15, 2020
She is such a great author but also an excellent excursion coordinator.
Readers are led from Brighton to Penzance Cornwall,the setting place.
We can imagine the picturesque view changing its colour depending on good or bad weather from time to time.
Alongside the coastline, the storm porch attaches to the building and St.Piran's old church is at the end.
The flock of birds reminds me of a Hitchcock film.
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