The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware: A Thriller I Couldn’t Put Down

Ruth Ware is my absolute go-to author when I want a thriller that actually thrills me. So many thrillers out there promise to be “unputdownable” but end up being so boring I could fall asleep. But Ruth Ware? She never disappoints. And The Turn of the Key was no exception. This book freaked me out, made me bite my nails (they’re gone now, thanks Ruth), and kept me up at night listening for every creak and crack in my house.

Here’s my honest, fangirl review so you can decide if this book is for you!

A Letter That Starts It All

This book opens with a letter, but not just any letter. Rowan, the main character, is in prison for a murder she swears she didn’t commit. She’s writing to a famous lawyer, begging him to take her case because she feels like no one else believes her. She keeps trying to write the perfect letter, but it’s so hard for her to find the right words, and you can literally feel her panic and desperation.

I loved how the entire book is Rowan’s letter to this lawyer, telling him the whole story about what happened at Heatherbrae House. It feels personal and makes you feel like you’re the one she’s confiding in. You get to see her fear, her confusion, and her guilt (or is it guilt?) in every line. It sets the tone for the creepy ride ahead, and I was instantly hooked.

Honestly, this was one of the coolest ways to tell a thriller. It made it feel real, like you were reading someone’s diary, trying to piece together whether Rowan is innocent or not.

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Heatherbrae House: The Smart Home from Your Nightmares

Heatherbrae House is practically a character on its own in this book. It’s this giant, old Victorian house in the Scottish Highlands that has been turned into a “smart” home where everything is controlled by an app. Sounds cool, right? Well, it’s not so cool when you’re alone at night, and the lights start flickering, doors unlock themselves, and you hear footsteps above you when there’s no attic.

Rowan gets a nanny job here, and it sounds perfect at first—good salary, a beautiful house, and a fresh start. But as soon as she moves in, you know something is off. The kids dislike her immediately, the parents are rarely around, and the house itself feels like it’s watching her.

I loved the creepy tech aspect. The mix of old creaky floors with the modern tech made the tension even stronger. Ruth Ware did an amazing job making the house feel alive and sinister.

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Creepy Kids, Creaky Floors, and a Murder

Rowan’s job was to look after three kids (plus a baby), and oh boy, these kids are not easy to deal with. Maddie, the middle child, is like a mini villain, always trying to get Rowan in trouble, being bossy with her little sister Ellie, and just making life difficult. Ellie is younger and not evil, but she’s spoiled and demanding, which doesn’t help. There’s also an older teen who comes on weekends, and she’s got her own mysterious vibe.

The way these kids behave reminded me of every creepy kid in horror movies. Maddie especially made me want to scream at times, but it also added so much to the tension. You keep wondering, “What’s up with these kids? Are they hiding something? Are they just kids, or is there something darker here?”

And then, of course, the murder happens and Rowan is accused of killing them. The entire book is Rowan telling her side of the story, trying to prove she didn’t do it. The suspense of “Did she do it?” or “If she didn’t, then who did?” is what keeps you turning the pages.

The creaky floors, the late-night footsteps, the rumors of hauntings, the poison garden around the house—everything piles up to create this feeling of dread that makes this book so addictive.

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Twists, Tension, and That Ending

If there’s one thing Ruth Ware knows how to do, it’s plot twists. Just when you think you’ve figured out what’s going on, something happens that makes you question everything you thought you knew.

Rowan is also an unreliable narrator, which makes the book even more fun. She’s hiding secrets, and you can sense that she’s not telling you everything. It keeps you on your toes, trying to figure out what she’s hiding and whether she’s truly innocent.

The pacing of this book is perfect. It’s fast enough to keep you interested but detailed enough to make you feel the tension. I personally read it in two sittings, and I would have finished it in one if it wasn’t already 3 a.m. and I was too tired to keep reading.

Now, let’s talk about the ending. I won’t spoil it, but I will say this: it wasn’t what I expected. After all that tension and build-up, I felt the ending was a bit underwhelming. It tied up the story, but I wanted something bigger. However, it still left me thinking about the book long after I finished it.

Should You Read It? Final Thoughts

If you love thrillers that actually thrill you, The Turn of the Key is a must-read. It has everything:

✔️ A creepy Gothic house with modern smart-home tech
✔️ Kids that make you question your sanity
✔️ A murder mystery that keeps you guessing
✔️ Plot twists you won’t see coming
✔️ A main character you’re not sure you can trust

Even though the ending wasn’t my favorite, it didn’t ruin the experience for me. Ruth Ware’s writing is so good, and she keeps getting better with each book. This has definitely become one of my favorite thrillers of the year.

⭐️ Final Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
This book is the perfect mix of modern tech and classic Gothic vibes, with a mystery that will keep you hooked until the last page. Just be prepared for a few jump scares, a lot of tension, and maybe a sleepless night or two.

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