The Turn of the Key

Ruth Ware’s latest novel, The Turn of the Key, is written in epistolary form. The main character, a nanny, writes to an attorney from prison. It is clear from the beginning that a child is dead and the nanny is to blame. The nanny’s letters are incredibly detailed, making the letter-writing form feel forced and awkward. No one writes letters as if they are writing a novel. Ignoring the awkwardness of the form, though, I found the story to be intriguing and the novel a quick read. I guessed some of the twists but was surprised by the ending and even forgave the letter writing by the last chapter.

I Know Who You Are

Aimee Sinclair, an up-and-coming actress, is surprised when her husband suddenly disappears in Alice Feeney’s I Know Who You Are. The premise of this novel is intriguing, but the delivery was absolutely frustrating and ultimately disturbing. Aimee is one of those female characters that drinks too much, doubts her memory, and withholds information from the police for no good reason. I wanted to scream at her throughout the novel and often wondered why I was putting myself through the torture of reading about her stupidity. In the end, I did want to know what happened in the story. I got sucked in, but I’m not sure I recommend the book to others that want to keep their sanity.

My Sister, the Serial Killer

Oyinkan Braithwaite’s novel My Sister, the Serial Killer starts, not too shockingly, with a murder. It is told from the point of view of Korede, a nurse always overshadowed by her beautiful younger sister, Ayoola. I was disappointed at first by story elements I thought were cliché—men falling for the beautiful sister, a patient in a coma. Ultimately, though, the novel makes important statements about the privilege of men and rights of women. It was not as easy as I thought to judge Ayoola or Korede. My Sister is a fast, interesting, and worthwhile read.