The Death of Mrs. Westaway

Pay attention to the details in this page-turner from Ruth Ware.

Sorry it was not well thought out which made it seem very implausible?? The characters were confusing at times and I found myself trying to figure out who was murdered and who was alive?? It’s my second try with a Ruth Ware book and sadly my last. While her writing is excellent the setting was great it could have been so much better. You absolutely cannot compare this to Rebecca. It’s not even close.

Loved the premise of the story and all the entanglements between the characters but, it just kept plodding along. It could have been told in half the time without every nuance and facial expression described in every encounter. I gave it 4 stars for the twists and turns and still holding it together. The big reveal was a bit confusing for me. I had to back up listen again and pause to actually get it. I listened to this on audio and the narrator was phenomenal! I think without her my rating would go down to 3 stars.

Fabulous work! Ruth Ware certainly is a MASTER at spinning a tale! All of her books are ‘on the edge of your seat’ stories.

This book is a mystery that had me reading rereading to see why is didn’t catch where the twist and turn was. I enjoyed it immensely.

I’ve read a number of your books. This one was definitely the most disappointing. Able is a homosexual, and I think his parter is Edward. Harding is the oldest and very into $$. Exra hates the house and wants to get away as soon as possible. The made, Mrs. what’s her name is nasty. That’s all we really know about them. SPOILER ALERT! None of these characters were built up enough to get who’s who, and why some were in book at all. What was the point of the children being there?Harding didn’t seem to care about anyone, even Mitzi. What’s the deal with the maid worshiping Ezra? Somewhere it was mentioned that “a boy once drowned in the lake. If you had made this boy the maid’s child, and she used Ezra as a substitute...that would have made more sense. Why did Hal keep returning to the cold attic room?And why did she leave the locks on the outside of the door when she knew she could be locked like the previous occupant? How did Maud get out of that locked room? Plans were made with letters being sent back and forth, but how did she actually escape? Sorry to be so harsh, but I believe you have better writing in you, but this book was not one of those. When she went down stairs, she dropped the glass and spewed glass shards all over the floor. Who cleaned that up the next morning? It was never even mentioned again in the book. Maggie, Maud, it got really confusing at the end. Why have so many siblings? Able says, apropos of nothing, “I am not your father.” But then Hal and Abel never mention the comment again. What happened to Mr. Westaway? And why did Mrs. Westeway birth four children when she didn’t seem to like children in the first place. Why was Ezra so paranoid about Maud having his child that he murdered her. And then Maggie. Why didn’t he leave after the funeral and the reading of the will? He made it clear he was going the second he could? Why didn’t the maid show any special attention to Ezra when they were all in the house, especially when she has a shrine dedicated to him? It needed more work, especially when most of the book went on and on until all was revealed towards the very end. If you’re not going to build their character, why not just get rid of some of the brothers for one? Two would be enough. Drop Able.What’s the point of having him in the book anyway? After 20 years, how did Hal figure out so quickly that her mother was buried their? The wish would have picked away at her anyway. Put 4 more weeks into the book, and get a strict editor. Friends should not be your source. They want the book to be good, because they are your friends.

One of my favorite books in a while...

Nice twist. One of the author’s best

It’s not that it was predictable- it wasn’t- not even in retrospect. Kind of Scooby Doo.

the story was as dark and dramatic as a good mystery should be but it almost felt like the author just stopped and didn’t bother with an ending. Very odd,

Good premise. I enjoyed the setting and the story in general, but the main character was as mousy as she claimed not to be. Which was a little annoying. The book was long, which I normally like, except it was only long because of the unnecessary repetition. Otherwise, I liked the many twists and turns in the story. Just thought it could have been told without all the repetition. Still, I’ll read another book of hers. After reading In the Dark, Dark, Wood, I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy her books, but I did with this one. Now I’m going to read The Woman in Cabin 10. Hope it’s good!

The twists and turns in this book made it impossible to put down! Just when you think you know where it’s going, there’s a plot twist or unforeseen event. A must read!

I have now read The Woman in Cabin 10, The Lying Game and The Death of Mrs Westaway, each is successively worse. Except for cabin 10, these are nothing special, just run of the mill books. Mrs Westaway in particular, I knew where it was going after 2 chapters, so very obvious. I’ll not waste anymore $ on Ruth Ware. Usually writers grow in their writing, not here!

In true “Christie” style, a well written piece that kept me guessing until the final revelation at the end.

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Interesting plot, with good suspense but, unfortunately, an over-the-top, far-fetched ending...something all too common in mysteries and crime novels. Too bad.

I think this is my favorite Ruth Ware novel. I read the book in a few days. The storyline was unique and the development of characters really pulls you in. I usually can predict the ending of a book. This book keeps you guessing until last few pages. Great read. Enjoy

Rarely leave reviews but had to on this one. This book was so god forsaking slow, by Chapter 17 I figured out the twist. Rather than reading the remaining 38 chapters I flipped to the back and lo & behold, the ending was as predicted. Very little character development. The main character was torturously boring and mousey. Another reviewer on here said the same thing. Overall, this book was the worst read I’ve had in a long time. Avoid.

This was my first book by Ruth Ware. I’ve downloaded the rest. I thought it was excellent. I found myself thinking about it while doing other things. Caused me a few late nights. I love her prose. I would recommend it to all my friends.