---
product_id: 205340085
title: "The Turn of the Key"
price: "$35"
currency: NZD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 9
url: https://www.desertcart.nz/products/205340085-the-turn-of-the-key
store_origin: NZ
region: New Zealand
---

# The Turn of the Key

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## Description

The Turn of the Key [Ware, Ruth] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Turn of the Key

Review: Good story and a quick read. - This book kept my interest from cover to cover. I finished it this morning and the ending was a surprise. The story is about Rowan, who applies for a job as a nanny in an isolated home in Scotland. The story is written as a letter to a lawyer because Rowan is in prison for murder. Rowan seemed to care about children (for the most part) but I didn't care for the characters Sandra and Bill. Bill showed what he was right away by making a pass at Rowan when he first met her, but Sandra seemed OK but a little careless. Sandra gave Rowan a thick binder with minute instructions as to what the little girls should eat, and when, what they should wear, the games they should play, etc, but apparently saw nothing wrong or dangerous about them running around outside on the property which was huge, and playing around a "poison garden", and around pools filled with muddy water. And Sandra saw nothing wrong with leaving her girls, 5 and 8, with Rowan, whom they just met the day before. There was enough suspense the make the story interesting, and the story moved right along to the end. I like books with a good story line that doesn't get bogged down by a lot of "padding" and this book has none of that. It's right to the point, although it's supposed to be a letter. I overlooked that point and just enjoyed the suspense.
Review: 4 Very Suspenseful Stars! - Wow! Ruth Ware proves once again that she is the reigning Queen of Suspense! This totally addictive 4 Star thriller was worth the wait. SUMMARY This book is written as a letter to an attorney from a prisoner awaiting trial. The narrator is a nanny who is in prison for allegedly killing one of the small children in her care. The letter recounts the story of how this the narrator was happily working at a day care in London until she saw an ad for a live in nanny position. This job would be taking care of four kids in a large estate, with an exceptionally generous compensation package. Even though she wasn’t really looking for a new job, she applies immediately. Who wouldn’t? Before the interview, she is given a warning that the last several nannies have left quickly because of rumors that the house was haunted. Undaunted by the warning, after all, Rowan is not a superstitious person, she puts on her perfect nanny outfit, her perfect nanny personality and boards a train to Scotland for the interview. She is blown away by the enormous property and the large hybrid Victorian/ modern house. The mom, Sandra Ellencourt, seems to be a lovely person, the girls are adorable and although she didn’t have a chance to meet Bill, the father, Rowan really wants this job! And of course, since she is the main character and it’s her story, she gets the job. Almost as soon as she starts, she begins to realize what she’s gotten herself into. When she has been there less than twelve hours, both Bill and Sandra leave for a week long out of town conference. Yikes! The three girls who live at home are 1, 5 and 8 (the older daughter, 15 years old is away at boarding school). Since Rowan is the fifth nanny is six months time, they are not interested in making friends with her and are not at all happy to be left alone with her. In addition to the kids being a handful, the house is a smart house, totally wired with cameras. The lights, music system, door locks, shower, refrigerator etc are all on a smart system, which is great; until it malfunctions in the middle of the night. If only her problems were just misbehaving children who are tired of the nanny parade and absent parents... On her first day alone with the kids, weird things start to happen; doors locked that she didn’t lock, strange noises at night, the doorbell ringing when no one is there and it just gets creepier from there. Did I mention that there is a historic poison garden on the property?? That’s right, a poison garden that’s protected by some sort of historic heritage group. This job just keeps getting more and more weird. And to top it all off, from page one, hints are dropped that Rowan may be hiding something or she may have a hidden motive for being in Scotland. WHAT I LOVED This is exactly how I like my haunted thrillers; creepy, filled with the constant is it or is it not really haunted question and taking place in a big old house with a questionable past. You just never know if it’s going to being the a real ghost or not. It’s go fun speculating! I LOVE my Brit lit! Especially in a big old drafty, remote estate in rainy Scotland! And how amazing is it to read about people sweaters there in the summer while I’m sweating my butt off on Texas when it’s over 100 degrees and humid enough to ruin my hair within 5 minutes of being outside! Lots of love to the UK! I love what a disaster Rowan is. That girl is a hot mess! She is a terrible nanny, has horrible judgement and couldn’t talk her way out of a paper bag. Speaking of bags, she has a ton of baggage. She is not a bad person, but just seems to have no idea how to deal with children over the age of two. Speaking of being a mess; Sandra is an awful mother! Who would actually leave on an week plus long trip and stick their kids with someone she and her children barely know. On her first day on the job??? We won’t even get into Bill here, but a few choice descriptive words come to mind. While all the above mentioned factors make this book good, suspense is the real star of the show! Each day, there is some new oddity or coincidence that makes you wonder what is really happening. This would make a FANTASTIC movie! It would play out so well on screen. WHAT I DIDN’T LOVE I have to say the ending made me ANGRY! I need more resolution, a pretty package tied up in a neat little bow and preferably an epilogue that lets me know where all the characters stand later on down the road after all the dust settles. OVERALL Although the ending annoyed me, I would still recommend this book. Double thumbs up from me!

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #16,299 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #457 in Psychological Thrillers (Books) #588 in Literary Fiction (Books) #859 in Suspense Thrillers |
| Customer Reviews | 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (21,216) |
| Dimensions  | 5.31 x 0.96 x 8.25 inches |
| Edition  | Reprint |
| ISBN-10  | 150118878X |
| ISBN-13  | 978-1501188787 |
| Item Weight  | 2.31 pounds |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 384 pages |
| Publication date  | May 12, 2020 |
| Publisher  | Gallery Books |

## Images

![The Turn of the Key - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Kuh4yd88L.jpg)
![The Turn of the Key - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51VeMOqnERL.jpg)
![The Turn of the Key - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/818UvN6flmL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good story and a quick read.
*by J***N on December 1, 2019*

This book kept my interest from cover to cover. I finished it this morning and the ending was a surprise. The story is about Rowan, who applies for a job as a nanny in an isolated home in Scotland. The story is written as a letter to a lawyer because Rowan is in prison for murder. Rowan seemed to care about children (for the most part) but I didn't care for the characters Sandra and Bill. Bill showed what he was right away by making a pass at Rowan when he first met her, but Sandra seemed OK but a little careless. Sandra gave Rowan a thick binder with minute instructions as to what the little girls should eat, and when, what they should wear, the games they should play, etc, but apparently saw nothing wrong or dangerous about them running around outside on the property which was huge, and playing around a "poison garden", and around pools filled with muddy water. And Sandra saw nothing wrong with leaving her girls, 5 and 8, with Rowan, whom they just met the day before. There was enough suspense the make the story interesting, and the story moved right along to the end. I like books with a good story line that doesn't get bogged down by a lot of "padding" and this book has none of that. It's right to the point, although it's supposed to be a letter. I overlooked that point and just enjoyed the suspense.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Very Suspenseful Stars!
*by R***R on August 10, 2019*

Wow! Ruth Ware proves once again that she is the reigning <b>Queen of Suspense!</b> This totally addictive <b>4 Star</b> thriller was worth the wait. <b>SUMMARY</b> This book is written as a letter to an attorney from a prisoner awaiting trial. The narrator is a nanny who is in prison for allegedly killing one of the small children in her care. The letter recounts the story of how this the narrator was happily working at a day care in London until she saw an ad for a live in nanny position. This job would be taking care of four kids in a large estate, with an exceptionally generous compensation package. Even though she wasn’t really looking for a new job, she applies immediately. Who wouldn’t? Before the interview, she is given a warning that the last several nannies have left quickly because of rumors that the house was haunted. Undaunted by the warning, after all, Rowan is not a superstitious person, she puts on her <i>perfect nanny</i> outfit, her <i>perfect nanny</i> personality and boards a train to Scotland for the interview. She is blown away by the enormous property and the large hybrid Victorian/ modern house. The mom, Sandra Ellencourt, seems to be a lovely person, the girls are adorable and although she didn’t have a chance to meet Bill, the father, Rowan really wants this job! And of course, since she is the main character and it’s her story, she gets the job. Almost as soon as she starts, she begins to realize what she’s gotten herself into. When she has been there less than twelve hours, both Bill and Sandra leave for a week long out of town conference. Yikes! The three girls who live at home are 1, 5 and 8 (the older daughter, 15 years old is away at boarding school). Since Rowan is the fifth nanny is six months time, they are not interested in making friends with her and are not at all happy to be left alone with her. In addition to the kids being a handful, the house is a smart house, totally wired with cameras. The lights, music system, door locks, shower, refrigerator etc are all on a smart system, which is great; until it malfunctions in the middle of the night. If only her problems were just misbehaving children who are tired of the nanny parade and absent parents... On her first day alone with the kids, weird things start to happen; doors locked that she didn’t lock, strange noises at night, the doorbell ringing when no one is there and it just gets creepier from there. Did I mention that there is a historic poison garden on the property?? That’s right, a <i>poison garden</i> that’s protected by some sort of historic heritage group. This job just keeps getting more and more weird. And to top it all off, from page one, hints are dropped that Rowan may be hiding something or she may have a hidden motive for being in Scotland. <b>WHAT I LOVED<b> This is exactly how I like my haunted thrillers; creepy, filled with the constant <i>is it or is it not really haunted</i> question and taking place in a big old house with a questionable past. You just never know if it’s going to being the a real ghost or not. It’s go fun speculating! I LOVE my Brit lit! Especially in a big old drafty, remote estate in rainy Scotland! And how amazing is it to read about people sweaters there in the summer while I’m sweating my butt off on Texas when it’s over 100 degrees and humid enough to ruin my hair within 5 minutes of being outside! Lots of love to the UK! I love what a disaster Rowan is. That girl is a hot mess! She is a terrible nanny, has horrible judgement and couldn’t talk her way out of a paper bag. Speaking of bags, she has a ton of baggage. She is not a bad person, but just seems to have no idea how to deal with children over the age of two. Speaking of being a mess; Sandra is an awful mother! Who would actually leave on an week plus long trip and stick their kids with someone she and her children barely know. On her first day on the job??? We won’t even get into Bill here, but a few choice descriptive words come to mind. While all the above mentioned factors make this book good, suspense is the real star of the show! Each day, there is some new oddity or coincidence that makes you wonder what is really happening. This would make a FANTASTIC movie! It would play out so well on screen. <b>WHAT I DIDN’T LOVE</b> I have to say the ending made me ANGRY! I need more resolution, a pretty package tied up in a neat little bow and preferably an epilogue that lets me know where all the characters stand later on down the road after all the dust settles. <b>OVERALL</b> Although the ending annoyed me, I would still recommend this book. Double thumbs up from me!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A must read
*by S***A on December 28, 2025*

Perfect mysteries are the ones with a twist you do not see coming. This is so representative of Ruth Ware's talent. A must read

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*Store origin: NZ*
*Last updated: 2026-02-13*