The Death of Mrs Westaway

The Death of Mrs Westaway - Ruth Ware

Description

When Harriet Westaway receives an unexpected letter telling her she’s inherited a substantial bequest from her Cornish grandmother, it seems like the answer to her prayers. She owes money to a loan shark and the threats are getting increasingly aggressive: she needs to get her hands on some cash fast.

There's just one problem - Hal's real grandparents died more than twenty years ago. The letter has been sent to the wrong person. But Hal knows that the cold-reading techniques she’s honed as a seaside fortune teller could help her con her way to getting the money. If anyone has the skills to turn up at a stranger's funeral and claim a bequest they’re not entitled to, it’s her.

Hal makes a choice that will change her life for ever. But once she embarks on her deception, there is no going back. She must keep going or risk losing everything, even her life…

Review

This is the third Ruth Ware novel I have read and I think it's her best yet.

From the description I was expecting Harriet to be a real piece of work as she owes money to loan sharks and sets off to deceive a family to inherit a bequest. I was so surprised to find the character to be the complete opposite of what I had imagined and enjoyed her role so much. I also enjoyed the tarot card aspect of the book - which surprised me. It was well written about throughout and was a nice twist to the plot.

I thought that the book built a gripping suspense that was always just bubbling under the surface of the normal day to day activities. I also felt I should be able to work out how the mistake of Harriet getting the letter about the inheritance occurred - teasingly it just kept out of my grasp.

I couldn't wait to get back to this book and in the end I invested a few hours to finish it in one sitting as I just needed to know what was going to happen. I certainly didn't expect the ending which was real nail biting stuff.

If I have one problem with the book it is the nickname of Harriet being Hal - couldn't get used to it and kept thinking of the AI in the film 2001.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC to review.

Comments

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