Dark Truths

The Turn of the Key – Ruth Ware

Thriller, mystery, psychological, domestic, Suspense, fiction.

Rating 8.9/10

Rowan got caught at the wrong place at the wrong time. She was put in prison for a murder she didn’t commit. The story told through letters to Mr. Wexham, she asks for help in clearing her name. She tells him how she got to the present circumstance. Rowan saw an advertisement for a live-in nanny that came with good pay and benefits. She decides to send her resume and plan to meet Sandra and the kids she would be taking care of. The kids and other people warned her of the haunted stories of the house. In these letters, she provides details of what occurred during her time at the Heatherbrae House. The truth comes out and unnerving.

This novel was intriguing and fast paced. Nothing that Ruth Ware had written before and I love the style of letters rather than just traditional forms of storytelling. This was fresh and enjoyable. However, the idea of a woman being in the wrong place at the wrong time was a bit of an overused cliché. Overall, I enjoyed the novel and hoping to read more Ruth Ware novels.

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Lying is DANGEROUS

The Lying Game – Ruth Ware

Psychological thriller, horror, fiction.

Rating 6/10

A group of teenage girls at a boarding school become best of friends and create a game called the Lying Game. It has some rules that are common sense to have. An incident happens and the four girls part ways. As adults, they all are called for a meeting because of that incident. Now they have no choice but to continue to lie so that they don’t get into trouble. It is a fight to make themselves look as innocent as possible. When the truth comes out, someone was murdered, and it is a fight to escape.

This novel was fine and well written. Didn’t really understand the plot much and it confused me of what happened. Ruth Ware has other great novels, this one wasn’t the best Ware’s written. This review is short because I don’t know what else to say. Don’t lie to anyone because lying is wrong. That is the main message of this novel. Lying has consequences and those consequences can be severe. I did like the thrilling scenes that did occur in this novel. Wasn’t happy with the ending though.

A Sinister Mystery

The Death of Mrs. Westaway – Ruth Ware

Inheritance, succession, suspense, fiction, thriller

Rating 9/10

A young woman by the name of Hal works as a tarot reader just to get by with paying bills and such. She is presented with a letter saying she must come forward to receive some sort of inherited money from a deceased family member. The awful twist is that she doesn’t recognize the name and knew the little family she had, all passed away. Hal not only struggling to make ends meet, but during this horrible timing, Mr. Smith, a man whom she borrowed money from, sends a messenger to her to tell her Mr. Smith wants his money back. Hal does an impulse move, respond to the letter by showing up. Even though she has no connection to these people, this might be a shot at getting at something or fail horribly. Hal has come to terms that these strangers might be her actual family and that her recently deceased mother had never spoken of them. There is a possibility that her mother might’ve been connected to this family. Hal is faced with a sudden realization that she knows she doesn’t belong and is about to embark on fraudulent journey and solve the mystery of this situation as well.

I think I have read another novel that Ruth Ware had written, In A Dark, Dark Wood, and enjoyed her suspenseful story telling. At first the book was slow and depressing but things got a bit thrilling when Hal is being chased after by money sharks as well as receiving a possible small fortune from a deceased person whom she has no connection to or possible connection. I love how the book slowly builds up. Also, I had binged read this novel because it made me want to read more and more about what would be the outcome of this scenario that Hal was put in. Totally worth rereading again and I highly recommend this novel.