Let’s get right to it, shall we? I never wanted Ruth Ware’s The Turn of the Key to end.
I was reading full speed ahead for two days straight, and then I did what I usually do when I absolutely love a book – I refused to read the last 40 or so pages because I didn’t want the experience to be over. In fact, I actually got into a lil’ depressed funk when I knew I couldn’t put it off anymore and had to finish reading the story.
If that’s not incentive to read this book, I don’t know what is.
What’s The Turn of the Key about?
The Turn of the Key is a delightfully modern twist on a classic ghost story. It’s a modern telling of Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw, which I’ve tried reading. Twice. I fell asleep both times after only a few chapters. However, I couldn’t race through The Turn of the Key fast enough.
You’ve probably stumbled across the story premise before: a down-on-her-luck young woman accepts a nannying job in a rural country home; the parents are never there, the house is huge and creepy, and the children are just a little bit “off.” Sure, it could be haunted. But, all the weird stuff could just be happening in the nanny’s mind…
Ware’s given us an expertly crafted suspense novel that balances delicately on the edge of the supernatural and psychological. The mysteries – yes, there’s more than one – unravel slowly, with steadily mounting tension and carefully revealed clues that drive you deeper into an all-consuming story.
What I loved about The Turn of the Key
Reading The Turn of the Key is an immersive experience. Thanks to Ware’s detailed descriptions of the gorgeous remote Scottish landscape, and of the creepy but impressive smart house that main character Rowan goes to live in, you’re plugged into the action at every turn. Before you know it, you’re holding your breath with Rowan when those footsteps creak overhead at night. You can’t decide if Heatherbrae House is severely haunted, or if someone is severely fucking with the main character’s head.
There’s enough seriously creepy ish going down at this Scottish house to give me the shivers, and I surprisingly loved the fact that, while the goings-on are certifiably supernatural, you can’t deny that a flesh-and-blood person (albeit, a quite fiendish one) could be behind what’s tormenting poor Rowan.
I couldn’t wait to finish up work each day and read a little more of the story. The Turn of the Key kept me guessing, and not much does that these days. I didn’t see the twist coming, despite the fact that I was feverishly trying to piece together the clues Ware drops for her more astute (than I) readers.
And, I really loved the ending. I know some people have been disappointed with it, but I liked how the author left it. It’s a bit different (again, I say this not knowing how The Turn of the Screw ends), and I always like different.
Should you read The Turn of the Key?
Tartlets, please go The Turn of the Key. If you like suspense, if you like mystery, if you like psychological thrillers, if you like a little bit of creepy, if you like sweeping Scottish moors…heck, if you like BOTANY (ha! I got ya there, didn’t I??) – you need to read this book.
Go do it, and then come back here and tell me in the comments how much you enjoyed it. (If you don’t like it, we can’t be friends. Just kidding. Kinda. We can still be friends, but I may not acknowledge you in public.)
My Ruth Ware book track record
2025 update: I’ve read most of Ruth Ware’s previous novels, and here’s my take on them thus far:
- In a Dark, Dark Wood. Ware’s debut novel that I thought was just okay.
- I really liked The Woman in Cabin 10, though, admittedly, it did nothing to assuage my deep-seated fears of cruise ships… and/or small, confined spaces. I might read The Woman in Suite 11 when it publishes.
- I was pretty “meh” about The Lying Game, but I think we all were since no one really seems to talk about that one.
- I DNF’d The Death of Mrs. Westaway. It dragged, leaned too heavily on tropes, and just didn’t engross me.
- I enjoyed both One by One and The It Girl, but neither novel blew me away.
The Turn of the Key, though? This one is fantastic.
I’m with you! Henry James and I do not get along – The Turn Of The Screw was tolerable, but The Golden Bowl had me clawing my eyes out and I’ve sworn I’ll never read anything of his again. The Turn Of The Key was FAR more readable! I’m not normally into spooky reads, but this one got me. 😉👍 I guess we can still be friends?
Oh god, I’ve not even HEARD of The Golden Bowl. Seems there’s a reason why, ehh??? 🙂 Thank goodness I’m not the only one who couldn’t get into Henry James. I had to read Turn of the Screw in college for an English class, and I was SO excited — and then I couldn’t force my way through it. I ended up reading the Sparknotes for it instead, haha. I tried again after college and met with the same wall after awhile. Ugh. I’ll take Ruth Ware’s version any day. 😀 So, yes, you’re allowed to still be my friend, haha.