The Death of Mrs. Westaway Review: Worth Reading?

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware (hardcover)

Photos coming soon.

The short version

Buy it if

Readers who like gothic, atmospheric mysteries
Fans of Agatha Christie style family secrets and inheritance plots
Anyone who wants suspense without much gore

Skip it if

You want a fast, twist every chapter thriller
You read a lot of mysteries and dislike guessing the ending early

What owners like

Hal is a likable, resourceful lead despite her lies
Moody, cold, creepy setting that recalls classic Agatha Christie and Daphne du Maurier
Hard to put down, with reviewers finishing it quickly
Some book bloggers call it their favorite Ruth Ware novel

Common complaints

Experienced mystery readers may see the twists coming
Some wanted more backstory on Mrs. Westaway herself
A few found parts of the ending hard to follow or certain choices unconvincing
The New York Times critic found it slow and repetitive

Based on Ruth Ware's own book page, the Wikipedia summary of critical reception (Kirkus, Washington Post, New York Times), and reviews on Crime by the Book, The Nerd Daily and Book Thoughts From Bed..

Research scores

Does the job 7.5 tense, atmospheric gothic mystery, though twists can be guessed

Quality 7.0 strong lead and setting, with split critical views on pace

Ease of use 8.0 standalone story that reviewers found easy to keep reading

Value 7.5 full length novel at a normal price, cheaper in paperback

Scored from the maker's specs and what owners report. Drew's own notes and photos will refine these.

Ownership

Times bought1

Price range$$

Drew's hands-on notes for this product are on the way. Long-term updates will be added to this timeline.

What it does

A 2018 gothic suspense novel about a broke tarot reader who tries to claim an inheritance meant for someone else.

Hal, a young tarot reader in debt to a loan shark, gets a letter about an inheritance from a grandmother who is not hers
She uses her cold reading skills to pass herself off at the funeral and in the family home
Gothic atmosphere centered on a decaying country house in Cornwall
Tension built from family secrets rather than graphic violence
Also sold in paperback and audiobook

A strong pick for readers who like atmospheric, slow building mysteries with family secrets and a sympathetic lead. The trade-off is that seasoned mystery readers may guess the twists early, and a few critics found it repetitive.

How it compares

The Turn of the Key by Ruth WareBetter if you want the same author with a more modern, tech haunted house setting.$$

Rebecca by Daphne du MaurierThe classic gothic novel reviewers compare it to, for readers who want the original.$

The Guest List by Lucy FoleyBetter for a faster, multi narrator whodunit in a remote setting.$$

Specs

Author: Ruth Ware
Publisher: Scout Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster
Published: 2018
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9781501156212
Setting: Brighton and a fictional Cornish village

Questions

What is The Death of Mrs. Westaway about?

A tarot reader in debt receives a letter about an inheritance that is not really hers and goes to the funeral to claim it, then uncovers dark family secrets.

Is The Death of Mrs. Westaway scary?

It is atmospheric and tense rather than graphic. Reviewers describe it as gothic and creepy, with tension coming from secrets rather than violence.

Where is The Death of Mrs. Westaway set?

It starts in Brighton and moves to a fictional village in Cornwall.

Do you need to read other Ruth Ware books first?

No. It is a standalone novel.

Sources

Researched 2026-10-02. We bought this product; our page is built from the maker's details and what owners report across reviews and forums. We never copy Amazon customer reviews.