Review | The Death of Mrs Westaway by Ruth Ware

Hal is down on her luck, owing money to a loan shark and struggling to survive on her own. When she receives a letter informing her that she is a beneficiary of a will after her grandmother’s death, her money problems seem to be resolved. Never mind the fact that she knows that her grandparents have been dead for years, and that the letter was clearly sent to the wrong person. But Hal is desperate, and she believes she has the skills to convince the family that she is the long-lost granddaughter they are looking for. As she slips into the Westaway family, she soon realises she is not the only one with secrets. 

Substantial estate … beneficiaries of the will … Hal’s stomach rumbled, and she picked up the chip and ate it, almost absently, trying to make sense of the words in front of her.

Because it didn’t make sense. Not one bit. Hal’s grandparents have been dead for more than twenty years.

The Death of Mrs Westaway is a gothic mystery with the perfect setup. Who amongst us haven’t imagined receiving a letter informing us that we’re about to receive money from a long-lost relative? Especially when we’re in Hal’s situation, painted into a corner. I believed how desperate she was that she would lie her way to a stranger’s family in order to get some money. Although, one scene had her throwing away an unfinished meal that cost her £5 and I just don’t think someone with no money would do that!

Unfortunately, when the story moves to Hal meeting the Westaways, it starts to fall apart. A lot of the plot doesn’t make sense to me. One example is how Hal plans to steal someone’s identity but she doesn’t read up on the documents concerning her family members who might have been related to the Westaways. Hal constantly refers to herself as a strong, self-sufficient person but nothing in the text shows proof of that. Her personality constantly wavers so that it’s hard to grasp who she is as a character and root for her to pull through.

The supporting characters are distinct but speak in a very old-fashioned way that feels off-kilter. They remind me of Agatha Christie’s characters, only less entertaining. I also quickly figured out the truth behind the mystery of the letter. While this doesn’t impede my reading, I thought the story moves too slow to be enjoyable. The reveals at the end are convoluted and drawn out. It’s disappointing because there is potential for a suspenseful story that just doesn’t appear.

What I liked is the atmosphere of the book. The setting of Trespassen House, with its creaky boards, dilapidated frames and dark passages is wonderfully spooky. I wish the book had focused more on the sinister aspects of the house. There are enough moments that I liked though that I’m willing to give the author’s other books a try in the future.

About the author: Ruth Ware

Photo by Debby Hudson