Nearly three million copies of Ruth Ware’s books sold worldwide. The highly anticipated fourth novel from Ruth Ware, The Globe and Mail and New York Times bestselling author of the In a Dark, Dark Wood, The Woman in Cabin 10, and The Lying Game. Harriet Westaway–better known as Hal–makes ends meet as a tarot reader, but she doesn’t believe in the power of her trade. On a day that begins like … but she doesn’t believe in the power of her trade. On a day that begins like any other, she receives a mysterious and unexpected letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance. She realizes quickly that the letter was sent to the wrong person–but she also knows that she can use her cold-reading skills to potentially claim the money.
Hal attends the funeral of the deceased and meets the family…but it dawns on her that there is something very, very wrong about this strange situation and that the inheritance is at the center of it.
Full of spellbinding menace and told in Ruth Ware’s signature suspenseful style, this is an unputdownable thriller from the Agatha Christie of our time.
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I love Ruth Ware’s work, and this book didn’t disappoint. A crazy, creepy gothic thriller.
I’m a big Ruth Ware fan. This one took me a little longer to get into, but I’m glad I stuck with it. A real page-turner that kept me guessing all the way to the end!
You guys, I am so torn about my feelings! I liked The Death of Mrs. Westaway a whole lot more than The Lying Game, but I didn’t love it like I loved The Woman in Cabin 10. It was a bit repetitive (like describing how one man is doughy around the middle constantly), and Hal, the main character, said sorry so much that it started driving me crazy. However, The Death of Mrs. Westaway did make me laugh out loud more than once, and I really enjoyed the diary entries that are interspersed throughout.
The Death of Mrs. Westaway is about a girl named Hal who is down on her luck (to say the least). Her mom passed away, she owes a loan shark money, plus the tarot reading business she took over when her mom died is barely bringing enough money in to pay the bills, let alone pay off her loan. So when she gets a letter from a lawyer about being named in a dead woman’s will who is supposedly her grandma (even though she knows she isn’t), Hal jumps at the chance for some free money. Using what little she has, Hal hops a train and heads out to the estate. From there so much suspense ensues that this book was incredibly action packed.
I never got bored with The Death of Mrs. Westaway and the ending was like BAM, so crazy and I didn’t see it coming. There was mystery and suspense from the first page which a lot of people are going to love. It also has an old-timey feel even though the latest the book goes back is the mid-90s. I honestly felt like I was reading something based in the 40s or 50s then someone would mention a phone and I’d be like whaaaat? I loved the old timey feel though, and it really made this book stand out for me.
Final Thought: Even though this book didn’t quite live up to what I was hoping it would be, I still really enjoyed it. I think a ton of people are going to enjoy this new creation from Ruth Ware. It is just so different from her other books, but in a good way. Ware is definitely one of my favorite authors, and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.
The Death of Mrs. Westaway in 3-ish words: Imaginative, Delightful & Deceptive
The classic gothic novel rides again! A young heroine, orphaned, no money, no hope, gets a fancy letter revealing that she’s inherited a possible fortune. But she’s not really the person the letter is addressed to…or is she?
Twisty and turny, well-written and fun, I could not put it down!
What a great, gothic-y suspense with fabulously realized characters
I’ve enjoyed several of Ruth Ware’s books and decided to give this one a whirl. I liked Hal from the very beginning because she’s a realistic character trying to make ends meet. Living in the cold and damp with hardly a penny to rub together, you find yourself inside Hal’s world, running away from a crooked money lender. It’s hardly surprising then that when she receives a letter that may be the answer to prayer, she chooses the only way out. But there is a slight hitch and you’re never entirely sure whether she can pull it off. The funeral, the family and the old house are full of lies and secrets that are sure to turn her world upside down.
I agree Ware’s novels are somewhat Christie-esque. Everybody is a suspect and the books carry that British cozy mystery mood despite the modern setting. The prose is straightforward with a focus on plot and dialogue and where hints and suspicions are assembled from conversations and plot twists. Every character abounds with secrets and resentments so you’re never quite sure who’s done what. The protagonist, in this case Hal, stumbles into an adventure where she must solve a crime putting many of Ware’s books into the super sleuth category: One I absolutely love.
Full review on https://wordpress.com/post/clairestibbe.wordpress.com/3276
Well worth a read if you’re looking for atmosphere, family secrets, and tarot cards.
When a 23-year-old tarot card reader receives a letter that a substantial inheritance awaits her, she knows that it’s a mistake. But as she attempts to claim the money, she unravels a whole lot more…
I read this eerie murder mystery in two sittings — and the ending took me by surprise. I would definitely recommend this engrossing novel as a quick beach read!
Creepy and atmospheric, and populated by an intriguing mix of characters. The main character, Hal, is in desperate straits when she receives a letter naming her the heir of a Gothic estate, Tresspassen house. Although she knows the letter has to be in error, circumstances force her to try to pull off the deception–or is it a deception? This books layers mystery upon mystery and clue upon clue, keeping the reader guessing about the relations in the Westaway family and Hal’s connection to them. I found her an extremely likable heroine.
I thought the book was a little slow in getting started but that didn’t stop me from reading through the first three-quarters in one sitting. Highly addictive reading, especially given the writer’s skill with description and scene setting. I would have probably finished the book in a single day if I hadn’t had to call it a night. This was my first book by Ruth Ware, but I intend to look up her other titles. This was just the type of suspenseful, creepy read I love best.
Ruth Ware has definitely proven her talent with The Death of Mrs. Westaway. Thoroughly developed characters, complex family dynamics, a gothic setting with plenty of engaging foreboding, and a mystery worthy of seasoned readers…it was excellent. I love Ruth Ware’s storytelling and The Death of Mrs. Westaway is not to be missed. Check it out!
Wow! So far, I think this is my favorite Ruth Ware novel. I’ve read everything but In a Dark, Dark Wood, which I’m starting tomorrow… then I’ll be fully caught up thru 2021. Phew… I enjoy her writing style, and even though the endings aren’t as grand as I’d like, they are still wonderful reads.
In The Death of Mrs. Westaway, Harriet (Hal) receives a note that she’s inherited something from her late grandmother. Hal realizes it’s a mistake… while it might be the right family name, she doesn’t recognize all the people mentioned in the will. She’s confused, but she also owes money to someone who has threatened to physically assault her. Hal decides to pretend to be the right heir, and she sneaks away from London to the country manor. When she arrives, her three uncles aren’t thrilled to meet her, as they lost an inheritance. But how exactly does she connect with the family?
Oh, I did enjoy this one. I will say that the plot was partially predictable, but it was still something readers have to guess at… did Hal know the truth about her mother? Probably not. Through journal entries, we learn what happened ~21 years ago when she was born. Who is her father? What did her grandmother know at the time, and did someone actually kill her today? Let’s not forget about that crazy housekeeper, a Mrs. Danvers type. Phew, she was nasty. All the characters are interesting, but they weren’t quite fully developed. We spent a little too much time debating whether or not Hal should confess, and we should’ve spent more time getting to know the uncles.
The story was well written. I enjoyed most of it. The ending left out a few pieces… for instance, what happened to the money Hal owed? Did the person she borrowed from every find out about her inheritance? How was he connected to all of this? I’m being purposely vague so I don’t give away the plot, but also… it wasn’t addressed. I’m all for a vague ending on occasion, but this was something so big in the beginning that it needed to be closed, even if a thread was left slightly torn astray. Oh well… maybe I’m just too demanding of a reader these days!
If you want a solid thriller with a few strange elements, give this one a shot. You will find a lot of intriguing section in the book, where the author describes the manor and the surrounding grounds. I could get lost just in those descriptions alone. Looking forward to the last Ware book on my TBR!
I’ve read all of Ruth Ware’s books and this one did not disappoint. Ware does an excellent job of creating a diverse and wonderful cast of characters along with a twisted, intriguing plot that keeps me turning the pages. Usually I’m not able to figure out the big twists in her stories. While in this one, I did figure it out before the end, it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the story. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves Psychological Thrillers with lots of family drama.
Actual rating: 4.3
The whole tone of the book sent chills down my spine. I loved how everything, from tarot cards to a magpie rhyme, tied in together. The only weak point for me was the ending, which felt a bit underdeveloped, but Hal’s perspective on every situation turned this into a suspenseful read. Hal was a fleshed out character who I ADORED. What a gem!
This was one that I was looking forward to after reading Ware’s “The Woman in Cabin 10.” This book didn’t disappoint; in fact, I thought it was a much sounder mystery than “Cabin 10.” The characters were interesting and quirky and Ware raised lots of questions as I read.
Good read. The suspense kept the pages turning. It got a little gummy when she started figuring things out, but a solid book from start to finish. I loved the references to Rebecca and the house did have a Manderley type feel, though on a smaller scale.
“The Death of Mrs. Westaway” by Ruth Ware finds Harriot, (Hal) struggling to make ends meet by reading Tarot Cards on the Brighton Pier. When she receives a letter notifying her that she is named in the will of an estate owner in Cornwall, she knows the “bequest” is a mistake. Because she is desperate for money, she makes the trip to find out about the will anyway. She reasons that she can pull off her identity deception and use whatever small inheritance she gets to pay her way out of debt. Things do not go as planned, what a surprise, and she discovers that there are other Westaway secrets in addition to her own. In fact, there is something very, very wrong with the Westaway family.
Ruth Ware created an unnerving story with a darkly abnormal atmosphere. It is the story of a dysfunctional family troubled by conflicts, intrigue, and unspoken secrets from the past. The narrative proceeds at an expert pace, and the slow revelation of secrets and details create a constant sense of jeopardy and menace.
Hal is a sympathetic yet damaged character, who invokes sympathy from readers as she outlines her own ruse and navigates the minefield that is Trepassen House. Readers forgive her deceptions and applaud her bravery and courage in the face The Westaway family and their dark secrets.
This is a creepy, absorbing, entertaining, and enjoyable. I highly recommend “The Death of Mrs. Westaway” by Ruth Ware.
This was different. Reminded me of when I first started reading books, gothic novels.
So, I’ll preface this by saying I had this book on hold at the library but was number 84 in line. I couldn’t wait that long! I bought it and am so happy I did! I was expecting a little more “gothic” in this novel, the atmosphere really lent itself to that genre. There were no ghosties or ghoulies in this book, but I honestly didn’t miss them at all. The straight forward mystery turned out to be anything but. I had to go back and re-read sections of the book after I finished, I was that taken by surprise!
I can usually guess who done it. The only other book that got me this good was The Thirteenth Tale, a phenomenal book I recommend to EVERYONE. To be coupled in my mind with The Thirteenth Tale means this was an amazing book. The characters were interesting and, as I said above, the setting was spot on. Hal was an interesting heroine, pushed into a sketchy act by her precarious financial situation. Her “family” reacted in a realistic way, not instantly holding out open arms and welcoming her into their hearts. Well worth the read, loved it!
4 STARS
THE DEATH OF MRS. WESTAWAY BY RUTH WARE
*****NOW AVAILABLE*****
After “The Lying Game” which was a little disappointing to me, I was thoroughly thrilled and engrossed in this new book. Ms. Ware has again written a twisty, dark, atmospheric thriller, this time throwing family, inheritance and sibling rivalry into the brew.
Hal Westaway is still reeling from the death of her mother three months previously. She had to forgo her plans to attend college in order to take up her mother’s tarot reading kiosk on the pier in order to pay the bills. Still she fell short and she make an enormous mistake, borrowing money from someone who was beginning to put pressure on her to pay back the loan with lots of interest and even more threats, bodily threats!
While dealing with all of this and what her next step will be she gets a letter that she is heir to a substantial inheritance from her grandmother, Mrs. Westaway. Hal never knew that she had a grandmother and really thinks that there is a mix up but as she is pinned against the wall with the threat from her loan shark, she makes the decision to go to the funeral and see what the inheritance is all about. She is hoping for a few thousand pounds to help her get cleared of debt and start fresh.
Once at Trepassen house, a falling down, once gorgeous estate, she discoveres that her inheritance is much more than just some money and her “uncles” are none too happy about it, with the exception of Ezra who seems to take her under his wing. The house lends a lot of creepiness to the story, including the terrible attic room which Hal is now sleeping in, with it’s bolts on the outside of the door and it’s message scratched into the window.
Most of the family, however, embraces her as the daughter of their long lost sister and seem ready to accept her into the fold. Once the will is read, however, Hal is not so sure she wants any part of this, thinking she has perhaps dug herself into a really dark hole. Then she decides she will “take this step by step…with the slow, measured pace of a reading. She had to turn each card as it came, consider it, find it’s place in the story . . . . . only the next card was not a card at all, it was a photograph. the photograph . . . .”
There are lots of characters quite well developed including the cranky, constantly lurking, Mrs. Warren, who has been the housekeeper since the uncles were children. She seems to know all of the secrets but seems to be biding her time, does she have a secret of her own?
Mystery/thriller fans are going to love this new book, I did! The only thing that brought it down to a 4 was the fact that I figured out who the “bad guy” was and most of the mystery long before it was revealed. Still the ending is a great one and I loved every minute of this novel.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for an ARC of this book.
This story grabbed me from the first page. The death of a family matriarch. A will. An unexpected beneficiary with something to hide. Then chaos. Wow. This tale had twists and turns the whole way and just when you thought you’d figured it out-wham! A great read that had me sucked in from the start. 5 stars!