Book 26 of 2018

So this is the 3rd book by Ruth Ware I've read (The Woman in Cabin 10 and In a Dark Dark Wood) and I was a little worried - because to be honest, I'd enjoyed both of the others very much, right up until the end.  In a Dark Dark Wood particularly had me reeled in - I checked out from the library where I work and I'd read a large chunk of it on my break and during lunch, and as soon as I got in my car to leave for the day I pulled it out intending to read a chapter or so and I wound up finishing the whole thing and going home late.  So there was no question of how readable, or how enthralling it was, but the ending really disappointed me.  And of course, because I had enjoyed so much of the majority of the book, that disappointment was even keener than it would have been otherwise.  Much of what I remember from the book is colored by that frustration.

So I was excited by this book because it sounded precisely like the sort of thing I love (secrets and a big English manor house), but I was wary, too.  So how was it?


I really, really liked it!  Oh gosh, I was so happy that I enjoyed it.  For no real reason, I'd been stressed out about whether or not I would like it, so I'm pleased that it wound up being so good.

I had planned to write a little about the history of English manor house mysteries, talk about the comparisons to Ruth Ware and Agatha Christie (one reason I keep coming back to Ware's books, because that's not a light comparison to throw around), and maybe talk about the book a little more analytically or critically.  Well, I'm going to tell you right now that's not happening, but I will expend enough effort to make sure my discussion of the book here is spoiler free.

If you haven't read the book, here's the summary:

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.

This was another one that I had difficulty tearing myself away from.  For a large portion of the book, I listened instead of read.  And I absolutely recommend the audiobook - it was fantastic.  It was read by Imogen Church, who did a wonderful job, really bringing the characters to life.  If you enjoy audiobooks and can get your hands on this one, I highly recommend it.  Our protagonist, Hal, was endearing and while the mystery was engaging enough as its own puzzle, it was really brought to life because Hal had a personal connection to what was happening.  This makes the reader - or at least me, as a specific reader - even more invested in what's going on.  It's not exactly a difficult puzzle and I'd guessed the big twist fairly early on.  There was enough in the book, though, to make me doubt my conclusions, and new evidence and pieces of the puzzle that on their own seemed to lead down different paths or give different answers.  It was very satisfying in the end - and that was despite my predicting much of what turned out to be behind the secrets Hal was trying to work out.

Overall, the characters were interesting, the mystery - though honestly I hesitate somewhat to call it that, because it's certainly not a whodunit or anything like that - was well thought out, and the writing was crisp and engaging.  I gave this one four stars!