“I jumped to a conclusion that was so wrong, it was almost completely right.”
Ruth Warburton, known as Ruth Ware in the reading world, is one of the most popular thriller writers in British literature. After studying at Manchester University and developing a keen fascination with Old and Middle English, she began writing YA fantasy novels, publishing five under her birth name. She has worked as a waitress, bookseller and publicist, and made the leap to thriller writing in 2015 with her book, In a Dark, Dark Wood have since become an acclaimed international bestseller with stories such as The Woman in Cabin 10 and The Turn of the Key. Ruth Ware books are known for their (usually) female protagonists being locked in dangerous, claustrophobic environments that conjure up suspense, secrets and dread. If you love psychological thrillers, join us today at What We Reading as we run through the best Ruth Ware books in order of release!
In A Dark, Dark Wood (2015)
Kicking off our list is Ruth Ware’s debut thriller book, In a Dark, Dark Wood. When reclusive writer Leonora is invited to the English countryside for a bachelorette weekend away, she reluctantly agrees to make the trip. But, as the darkness of the first night away rolls in, revelations unfold among friends both old and new. An unnerving memory shatters Leonora’s reserve, and a chilling realisation begins to creep in: this party is not alone in the woods.
By the end of the weekend, someone inside this glass house in the woods is dead, and every member of the party is a suspect. Suspenseful, compulsive and filled with countless twists, In a Dark, Dark Wood is one of the best Ruth Ware books for anyone looking for their next locked-room mystery.
The Woman In Cabin 10 (2016)
The first Ruth Ware thriller nominated for the Goodreads Choice Awards, The Woman in Cabin 10 introduces readers to Lo Blacklock, a journalist who believes that she has stumbled upon the assignment of a lifetime when she bags a week-long trip aboard the Aurora, a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. At first, her stay is nothing but pleasant. The cabins are cosy, and the guests are as sparkling as the dinner parties.
However, as the week rolls on, the grey skies begin to fall, the winds start to whip the deck and then Lo witnesses something she shouldn’t have: a woman being thrown overboard. The only problem? All of the guests remain accounted for. The ship continues its course, even as Lo attempts to convince those onboard that something has gone terribly wrong.
Check Out The Best Books Like The Woman In Cabin 10
The Lying Game (2017)
On a cool June morning, a woman is walking her dog in a picturesque coastal village called Salten along a tidal estuary known as the Reach. The dog then suddenly bolts into the water to retrieve something that at first looks like a stick but is soon shown to be something far more sinister. The next morning three London women – Fatima, Thea and Isabel – receive a dreaded text from their former best friend, Kate.
The four girls were once an inseparable clique at Salten boarding school. They were infamous for constantly playing the Lying Game, telling lies at every opportunity to the faculty and their fellow students alike. Whilst these lies would vary in their seriousness, it was enough to ensure most steered clear of them. But their little game had consequences, and all four were expelled in their final year of school under mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of Salten’s eccentric art teacher, Ambrose.
The Death Of Mrs Westaway (2018)
On a morning that begins like any other day, Hal receives a mysterious letter claiming that she’s been left a substantial inheritance. She realises very soon that this letter has been sent to the wrong recipient, but also that the cold-reading skills she has amassed as a tarot card reader might help her claim the money being offered.
Soon, Hal finds herself at the funeral of the deceased. It doesn’t take her long, however, to realise that there is something very wrong about this strange situation and the murky inheritance at the heart of it all. Before she contemplates getting out of things, she finds herself ensnared in an even more dangerous mystery. One of the best Ruth Ware books for readers looking for a mystery about long-buried family secrets, the decrepit gothic settings in The Death of Mrs Westaway undoubtedly make it one of the creepiest stories in her list of releases.
The Turn Of The Key (2019)
When Rowan Caine first stumbles upon the advertisement, she’s looking for something completely different. Yet, it looks like an opportunity too good to miss. A live-in nannying post with an astonishingly generous salary attached to it. And when she arrives at Heatherbrae House nestled in the Scottish Highlands, she is captivated by its luxury and picture-perfect family of occupants. What she doesn’t realise is that she has already stepped into a nightmare. One that ends with a child dead, and her in prison for murder.
Writing to her lawyer from her cell, she struggles to recall the events that led to her incarceration. It wasn’t just constant surveillance, the faulty electronics or even the girls themselves, who turned out to be far from the immaculately behaved kids she first met. It wasn’t even how she would be left alone for weeks at a time. But, she swears she’s not guilty – at least not of murder. But, if she isn’t, it means someone else is.
Check Out The Best Books Like The Turn Of The Key
One By One (2020)
Getting snowed in at a beautiful chalet deep in the mountains doesn’t sound like the worst problem in the world. Especially, when there’s a breathtaking vista, a cosy fire and good company to keep you sane. But, what happens when this company consists of eight of your coworkers? And you can’t trust any of them?
One by One is one of the best Ruth Ware books that captures the influence classic authors such as Agatha Christie have had on her stories. When an off-site company retreat intended to promote mindfulness, teamwork and collaboration goes completely awry after an avalanche hits, the corporate ladder is tipped over and survival trumps togetherness. By the time the snow retreats, how many members of the team will be fit to face Monday morning?
Check Out The Best Books Like And There Were None
The IT Girl (2022)
April Coutts-Cliveden was the first person Hannah Jones met at Oxford. Vicarious, free-spirited and occasionally vicious, she was the complete ‘It girl’ and quickly pulled Hannah into a dizzying orbit. Together, they amassed a group of devoted and inseparable friends – Will, Ryan, Hugh and Emily. But, by the end of their second term, April was dead.
Fast forward a decade, Hannah and Will are expecting their first child. The man convicted of killing April, former Oxford porter, John Neville, has died in prison. Finally relieved that the past can be put behind her, Hannah is shocked when a young journalist knocks on her door presenting new evidence that John may have been innocent. As she reconnects with old friends and delves deeper into the mystery of April’s death, Hannah begins to realise they all have something to hide… including a murder.
Zero Days (2023)
Released in 2023, Zero Days is the story of husband and wife duo, Jack and Gabe. The pair are the finest specialists in the penetration business, getting hired by companies to break into buildings and hack into advanced security systems. But, after a mundane operation goes horribly wrong, Jack comes home to find her husband dead.
To make matters worse, the police are closing the net around their chief suspect – her. Suddenly on the run and fast running out of options, Jack has to decide who she is willing to trust as she sets out to find the real killer.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
