Well, I really liked this book - and then there was the ending. I am a fan of Ruth Ware and have read several of her books. This is a page-turner. It's creepy. It's mysterious. There are secrets that are unveiled over time. There is everything that you need in a good book. What I was astounded by was the extremely ambiguous ending. I don't need all the answers at the end of a book. I certainly don't need everything tied up in a neat little bow. Discussing different interpretations of not-clear endings of books makes book club more interesting. What threw me with this one is how abrupt the ending was - and how many things were left unsaid. I actually went online to search on what other people thought of the ending. Ha! I was not disappointed! Lots of negative responses for sure.
The story is about a young woman (Rowan) who applies for a nanny position at a home in the Scottish Highlands. The family is wealthy, so the nanny salary is generous. There are four daughters, ages 1 (?) - 14. The oldest is away at school, so Rowan is responsible for the three youngest while the parents work/travel. The area of concern in this new job is the fact that the last four nannies left abruptly, one after one night. There are rumors that the house (mansion, really) is haunted. The original owner's teenage daughter died after eating poison berries and the owner was never the same again, due to his grief.
It doesn't take long for Rowan to find out that the girls are a handful. Another challenge is the technology. It's like a "smart" house with camera's everywhere and an iPad that controls pretty much everything. Then there is a housekeeper who is definitely not friendly to Rowan when she arrives - and a chauffeur/handyman who lives on the property who is a little too friendly (wink, wink). Oh, and of course there are two large dogs because Rowan doesn't have enough on her plate!
The house (and it's creepy sounds & missing keys & the girl's mother randomly talking to her through the speakers set up throughout the house even though she is traveling) scares Rowan. After a few days she can't even sleep in her own room she is so frightened, so she sleeps on a couch in the common area. Since the book starts with Rowan being charged with murder, it's not a spoiler to say that one of the girls dies.
Suddenly, the book is over! The author jumps ahead two years after the tragic death event, but we have no idea what happens to Rowan - or any of the remaining daughters - or their parents. It's the oddest thing. There are some "hints" (I guess you could call them) at the end, but those hints are definitely open to interpretation! I don't agree with most of the online comments though. I have my own theory, but I don't want to ruin the book for anyone who decides to read it.
Wendy's Rating: ****
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