The Death of Mrs. Westaway
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
A New York Public Library Best Book of 2019
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of In a Dark, Dark Wood, The Woman in Cabin 10, and The Lying Game comes Ruth Ware’s fourth novel, “her best yet” (Library Journal, starred review).
On a day that begins like any other, Hal receives a mysterious letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance. She realizes very quickly that the letter was sent to the wrong person—but also that the cold-reading skills she’s honed as a tarot card reader might help her claim the money.
Soon, Hal finds herself at the funeral of the deceased…where it dawns on her that there is something very, very wrong about this strange situation and the inheritance 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.
A New York Public Library Best Book of 2019
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of In a Dark, Dark Wood, The Woman in Cabin 10, and The Lying Game comes Ruth Ware’s fourth novel, “her best yet” (Library Journal, starred review).
On a day that begins like any other, Hal receives a mysterious letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance. She realizes very quickly that the letter was sent to the wrong person—but also that the cold-reading skills she’s honed as a tarot card reader might help her claim the money.
Soon, Hal finds herself at the funeral of the deceased…where it dawns on her that there is something very, very wrong about this strange situation and the inheritance 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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Community Reviews
I made it 12 pages and could not get into it. I don't think it will get better. To the Little Free Library it goes!
No star rating applicable.
No star rating applicable.
My first read by Ruth Ware, and it was a hooker of a storyline! A little rushed at the end, but well written overall. Could have liked more suspense.
I'd heard quite good things about this book from other people on Goodreads, and I definitely think that it lived up to its reviews. The biggest thing about this book is definitely the ~atmosphere that it eludes. It's very much a mystery novel that follows the gothic tradition, and I got a lot of Jane Eyre and Rebecca vibes from it (I loved the shoutout to Mrs. Danvers!). I very much enjoyed getting to know not only the main character, who was resourceful and tough and badass, but not unrealistic or without flaws, but all of the other characters as well, especially the three brothers.
Regarding the main character, I particularly liked that Hal's skills that helped her solve the mystery were the result of years of being a tarot card reader and learning to read people's body language. It wasn't just luck or some skill that appeared out of nowhere or personal grit; it was something she had worked for and practiced. That was what really sold the character and the book to me. I also loved all the tarot references. There wasn't anything mystical or supernatural in this book, and the idea of tarot as a sort of self-psychology rather than magic was refreshing and a very interesting take.
I'm also super into the idea of a found family, which is my favorite trope, and a big part of this story was Hal finding a family that she didn't know she had. Her relationship with her aunt wasn't a large part of the story, but was still heartwarming, and I loved that part whenever it came up. And her discovery of Maggie and Maud's relationhip and Maud's sacrifices for Maggie and Hal really made my heart hurt as well. I'm a sucker for that kind of thing, and it actually made me quite sad.
I definitely found that this was a fresh air in a long line of mystery novels for me. Definitely an original take on a murder mystery that doesn't start out as well - despite what the title says.
Regarding the main character, I particularly liked that Hal's skills that helped her solve the mystery were the result of years of being a tarot card reader and learning to read people's body language. It wasn't just luck or some skill that appeared out of nowhere or personal grit; it was something she had worked for and practiced. That was what really sold the character and the book to me. I also loved all the tarot references. There wasn't anything mystical or supernatural in this book, and the idea of tarot as a sort of self-psychology rather than magic was refreshing and a very interesting take.
I'm also super into the idea of a found family, which is my favorite trope, and a big part of this story was Hal finding a family that she didn't know she had. Her relationship with her aunt wasn't a large part of the story, but was still heartwarming, and I loved that part whenever it came up. And her discovery of Maggie and Maud's relationhip and Maud's sacrifices for Maggie and Hal really made my heart hurt as well. I'm a sucker for that kind of thing, and it actually made me quite sad.
I definitely found that this was a fresh air in a long line of mystery novels for me. Definitely an original take on a murder mystery that doesn't start out as well - despite what the title says.
Plucky tarot-reading heroine, mysterious family history, threatening loan sharks, spooky old mansion -- this was a very enjoyable read.
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