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A review by serendiptii
The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.25
So UNDERWHELMED by this book.
I heard of this book from a Haunted House thriller recommendation video on Youtube and the people of Goodreads seemed to rave about it, but boy, this is disappointing to say the least.
I have so many thoughts, but firstly, if this is a letter to her lawyer, why is it so freaking long. Is she trying to prove that she lived in that house by giving very detailed explanations? It is 44% and nothing has happened except annoying kids and few instances of creaky floorboards and AI powered kitchens?
It could’ve been divided into parts where she is writing a few pages to get the lawyer intrigued and once they meet Rowan, continued with the story. Could've made it more interesting for the reader.
The details just seem to go on and on and I have skipped/ scanned through a lot of paragraphs to get to the 44% mark.
Was hoping that the second half delivers, but wow, I was more let down by it.
By the end, I was just skipping more paragraphs, most of it was fluff, describing too many unnecessary things. I understand why the lawyer did not read this.
Coming to the lawyer, his name being mentioned TOO many times, really threw me off, even more so in the beginning. If this was meant to remind the reader that it was a letter to the lawyer, it should've been done more subtly.
There were more things I hated about this book than I liked. And the ending wasn't even that shocking. It fell flat and by the end of it, I was left wanting more, and NOT in a good way.
Considering all the other books I read this month were 4+ stars easy, this one was bland.
I heard of this book from a Haunted House thriller recommendation video on Youtube and the people of Goodreads seemed to rave about it, but boy, this is disappointing to say the least.
I have so many thoughts, but firstly, if this is a letter to her lawyer, why is it so freaking long. Is she trying to prove that she lived in that house by giving very detailed explanations? It is 44% and nothing has happened except annoying kids and few instances of creaky floorboards and AI powered kitchens?
It could’ve been divided into parts where she is writing a few pages to get the lawyer intrigued and once they meet Rowan, continued with the story. Could've made it more interesting for the reader.
The details just seem to go on and on and I have skipped/ scanned through a lot of paragraphs to get to the 44% mark.
Was hoping that the second half delivers, but wow, I was more let down by it.
By the end, I was just skipping more paragraphs, most of it was fluff, describing too many unnecessary things. I understand why the lawyer did not read this.
Coming to the lawyer, his name being mentioned TOO many times, really threw me off, even more so in the beginning. If this was meant to remind the reader that it was a letter to the lawyer, it should've been done more subtly.
There were more things I hated about this book than I liked. And the ending wasn't even that shocking. It fell flat and by the end of it, I was left wanting more, and NOT in a good way.
Considering all the other books I read this month were 4+ stars easy, this one was bland.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Child death, Cursing, Death, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Abandonment, Infidelity, Vomit, and Emotional abuse