The Death of Mrs. Westaway in Around the World in 80 Books

May 09, 2019 Colleen Chi-Girl rated it it was amazing

Shelves: thrillers, audiobooks, england, 2019

5 SOLID STARS! This is definitely one of my favorite thrillers of all time. I listened to it on audiobook in just 5 days and am very happy that I did. The female narrator, Imogen Church, did a fabulous job voicing the different characters, staying in character, and creating much suspense and terror. You actually feel part of this story hearing the elevated voices and the frightening events as they occur in real-time. I was hooked from the get-go with the vulnerable lead character and the English ...more

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Jul 10, 2018 Pam rated it really liked it

Shelves: uk-mystery, 2018-books-read

AUTHOR Ware, Ruth
TITLE The Death of Mrs. Westaway
DATE READ 07/10/2018
RATING 4.5/B+_
GENRE/ PUB DATE/PUBLISHER / # OF Mystery/2018/Simon & Schuster / 368 pgs
SERIES/STAND-ALONE SA
CHARACTERS Hal Westaway/tarot card reader
TIME/PLACE Present/ England
FIRST LINES The girl leaned, rather than walked, into the wind, clutching the damp package of fish and chips grimly under one arm even as the gale plucked at the paper, trying to unravel the parcel and send the contents skittering away down the seafront ...more

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Feb 18, 2019 Jillian rated it really liked it

3.5 stars. There were so many things I liked about this story--and so many things that bugged me. First of all, Ware is an excellent weaver of plot and creator of mood. Whenever I read anything by her, I truly feel like I am wrapped up in the tone, colors, and feeling of the setting. Ware also is very good at evoking those feelings we associate with psychological thrillers: vicarious fear, a strong desire to know the answers to the questions, claustrophobia, panic, and all the rest.

Things that 3.5 stars. There were so many things I liked about this story--and so many things that bugged me. First of all, Ware is an excellent weaver of plot and creator of mood. Whenever I read anything by her, I truly feel like I am wrapped up in the tone, colors, and feeling of the setting. Ware also is very good at evoking those feelings we associate with psychological thrillers: vicarious fear, a strong desire to know the answers to the questions, claustrophobia, panic, and all the rest.

Things that annoyed me. There is one HUGE error in this book. On page 176, Hal tells Ezra that her nickname is "Hal" and Ezra says it "slowly, as if rolling the word around his mouth, tasting it." He then says it again, and add "I like it," indicating that he is just now learning this fact. Now, in a story like this, details matter. And yet! On page 168, Ezra says "I'll give Hal a lift," proof he already knows this name. Now I thought, this could be a clue as to Ezra already knowing who Hal is. Fine, but! Hal doesn't even notice this, or even realize it after the fact (and she's supposedly this "reader" of people with careful attention to detail), so it comes across as a writing error. Also, Mitzi calls her "Hal" as she drives off in the other car--and I don't remember Hal ever once mentioning that her name is anything other than Harriet. Additionally, we have unique words the narrator uses, like "niggled" (a word I hate and that is used 1000 times in this book), that Hal then uses in her own dialogue. Words also like "padded" are way overused. Also, in the first five pages of the book, we hear about how salty everything is: the chips, the air, Hal's lips, Hal's fingertips: salt, salt, salt! The problem with this book is truly within the writing as a craft. We also tend to get the same description, but in three or four different ways. Something like "she let go," and then a paragraph later "she could feel herself letting to" and then finally "before she truly let go"--it slows down the pacing but doesn't add anything to the action.

Finally, yes yes, I guessed the ending (which I don't think reflects poorly on the author of any mystery or thriller)--but then doubted my guess, because I thought "man that would be really convoluted." Hm.

But despite all the things that irked me, the story itself is creepy, the imagery very crisp and effective, and I couldn't help but turn the pages. I can see why people like this, and why it's so popular. My annoyances were more offensive because they were getting in the way of something I might otherwise have LOVED. ...more

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Sep 24, 2018 Sarah rated it it was ok

Shelves: whodunnit, audio

2.5 stars. It could have been three stars were it not so repetitive and overly long. Also I don't know if it was the audiobook narration (and I usually like Imogen Church) but it seemed too melodramatic. The "mystery" isn't really that mysterious, despite the best efforts of Ms. Ware. We have a large, gothic mansion. We have a creepy housekeeper a la Mrs. Danvers. We have an attic room with bolts on the doors and "help me" etched onto the barred window. We have ominous tarot readings. We have le ...more

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Dec 07, 2019 Ann rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2019-atw-80

I tried but her work is not for me. I'm fine with formula and genre but the fillers are too obvious in this one. Plus at least two instances of "tiny skeletons crushed by her feet" and the awkward "she pulled the book into her waiting arms". ...more

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Apr 27, 2021 Stil de scriitor rated it liked it · review of another edition

Cred ca am inceput cartea asta de mai bine de doua saptamani. Nu a fost neaparat vina cartii, ci mai degraba a lunii aprilie aglomerate. Nu prea am avut statea necesara sa citesc. Moartea doamnei Westaway promite foarte mult, insa nu s-a ridicat la asteptarile mele. Finalul insa a fost interesant si destul de bine construit. Dar pana la final, autoarea a taraganat mult actiunea. Facem cunostinta cu Hal, o tanara care aparent mosteneste o avere mare. Dar totul este mai complicat decat pare. Zic t ...more

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Aug 27, 2019 Astrid Lim rated it really liked it

Shelves: thriller-mystery, twist, british, dysfunctional-family, psychology

I like this book better than The Woman in Cabin 10. The gothic setting is great and very atmospheric. The main character, Hal, is pretty believable and can make you at least root for her. And the mystery itself, although a bit too subtle, still create an eerie feeling throughout the book. Now I want to read more Ruth Ware books!

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Jul 21, 2019 Julie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Fantastic! Dark and twisty, I loved the setting and atmosphere of this thriller, and how the characters’ intentions and perspectives slowly unfolded. Highly recommend!

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