The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware

Rating: ★★★✰✰

Dates Read: 5/7/23 - 5/9/23

    Hal's ordinary day takes an unexpected turn when she receives a perplexing letter, stating that she has inherited a significant sum of money. Although she knows the letter was intended for someone else, Hal's keen cold-reading abilities as a tarot card reader tempt her to seize the opportunity and claim the inheritance for herself.

    Curiosity leads her to the funeral of the deceased, and as she delves deeper into the strange circumstances surrounding the inheritance, Hal becomes increasingly aware that something is amiss. The situation takes a dark and unsettling turn, leaving her questioning the truth behind the mysterious bequest at the center of it all.

    I had high expectations for this book, being a fan of Ruth Ware's work, but I must admit, the back-and-forth narrative style left me feeling somewhat confused and frustrated. The story heavily relies on conversations that never happen, coincidences, misunderstandings, and characters making implausible choices, which made it hard for me to fully immerse myself in the plot. It seemed like the author intentionally made the story needlessly messy to appear clever, which didn't work for me.

    The book couldn't quite decide on its genre, wavering between gothic horror, an Agatha Christie-style whodunit, and a psychological thriller, but it didn't excel in any of them. The whole experience left me questioning some of the plot choices, and I found myself whispering 'are you serious?' as I followed the protagonist's journey.

    Overall, I have mixed feelings about this read. While I didn't dislike it entirely, there were more aspects I didn't enjoy than those I did. This one just wasn't for me in the way Ruth Ware's books normally are, but it was okay as a whole.