Solve a Whodunnit with Ruth Ware’s Best-Selling Books
Nothing hits quite as hard as a good whodunnit mystery! If you’re a fan of twisty turns, Agatha Christie-like set-ups, and unreliable narrators, you’ll love picking up a Ruth Ware book. With a little help from us, you can get a glimpse at what each of her published books is about.
Who is Ruth Ware?
Ruth Ware, a renowned British author, is known for her internationally best-selling psychological thriller novels. With titles on the New York Times and Sunday Times lists and more than 10 million copies sold, Ware has managed to make quite a name for herself in the mystery genre during the last decade. No Michigan bookstore is complete without a few on its shelves!
Common Themes and Tropes in Ruth Ware Books:
- Unreliable narrators
- Claustrophobic settings
- Isolation
- Whodunnit scenarios
- Complicated friendships
Are Ruth Ware and Ruth Warburton the Same Person?
Yes, Ruth Ware and Ruth Warburton are one and the same—but it’s not widely known! Ruth Ware is the pen name she uses to distinguish her thriller books from the young adult fantasy novels she had previously published. If you love Ruth Ware books, but have younger readers in your life, consider grabbing her YA paranormal romance series, The Winter Trilogy.
Ruth Warburton’s The Winter Trilogy:
- A Witch in Winter
- A Witch in Love
- A Witch Alone
Do Ruth Ware Books Need to Be Read in Order?
Almost all of Ruth Ware’s books are written as standalone novels, with unique and unconnected characters and plots. This allows you to pick up any title, in any order, at any time, and dive right in solo or with a book club.
The only exception is the most recent Ruth Ware book, The Woman in Suite 11, which was written as a direct sequel to one of her most popular novels, The Woman in Cabin 10. Both follow the same protagonist and should be read in publication order, so as not to miss a beat.
The Inside Scoop on Each Ruth Ware Book
Ruth Ware’s books have their own fanbase in the world of thrillers and mysteries. With so many popular titles on the shelves, how are you supposed to know which one to start with? The next time you’re in your favorite indie Rochester bookstore, consult this list to get a glimpse of what each title is about.
In a Dark, Dark Wood
Leonora Shaw hasn’t seen Clare since the day she walked out of her old life and never looked back. One day, 10 years later, an invite to Clare’s hen party arrives out of the blue, and with a little bit of hope, Leonora reluctantly agrees to leave her reclusive life and make the trip to the remote English countryside. Who knows—maybe a weekend in a remote cottage will help the ex-best friends reconnect and put the past behind them, once and for all. But as night falls, secrets come out, and everything begins to go horribly wrong, Leonora and the guests realize they might not be alone. Find out what happens in In a Dark, Dark Wood.
The Lying Game
The Lying Game starts with a simple text sent from Fatima, Thea, and Isa’s old best friend Kate: “I need you.” Spurred by those three words, Isa drops everything, taking her baby daughter and heading straight to Salten, the boarding school where she and the girls spent the better parts of their lives together. It was there they grew a reputation for playing the Lying Game, telling fibs to their peers and faculty alike. But the game had consequences—and what Kate found on the beach that day may mean that the dark secret they’ve kept for the last 17 years may finally come to light.
The Death of Mrs. Westaway
When Hal Westaway receives a letter in the mail notifying her of her Cornish grandmother’s passing and the substantial inheritance left behind, it seems almost too good to be true—and it is. Hal’s real grandparents died over 20 years ago, and this letter was never meant for her. But with a loan shark breathing down her neck, Hal decides to take a chance and con her way into getting the money. It isn’t until she finds herself at the funeral that it becomes very clear something is very, very off. Risk everything and uncover secrets alongside Hal in The Death of Mrs. Westaway.
The Turn of the Key
In The Turn of the Key, Rowan Caine’s new job seems too good to be true. Who wouldn’t accept a live-in nanny job with a staggeringly large salary at the “smart” Heatherbrae House in the Scottish Highlands? But the picture-perfect family she works for isn’t what it seems. When a child under her care dies, Rowan finds herself awaiting trial for murder. She admits to making mistakes, but she certainly isn’t guilty. So…who is?
One by One
Ruth Ware’s book, One by One, is impossible to put down. Snoop’s corporate retreat to the luxurious ski chalet in the French Alps has everything a business trip should have: presentations, strategy sessions, team bonding, and more. But when one shareholder takes over and begins pushing a lucrative buyout offer, tensions rise, and loyalties are put to the test. There may be a storm inside the cabin—but the avalanche that cuts the group off from the outside world is even worse. With every hour passing, panic begins to mount, and the group begins to dwindle…one by one.
Zero Days
In Zero Days, Jack and her husband, Gabe, are the best security system penetration specialists in the business. But when a routine assignment goes off the rails, Jack arrives home to find her husband dead and the police claiming she’s the main suspect. On the run and nearly out of options, Jack is determined to figure out the truth before her pursuers get her, too.
The It Girl
Vivacious, bright, and sometimes vicious, April Clarke-Cliveden was The It Girl—Hannah was just lucky enough to be pulled into her orbit at Oxford. Together, the two girls developed an inseparable friend group with Will, Hugh, Ryan, and Emily. But by the end of the year, April was dead.
Now, 10 years later, with Hannah and Will expecting, and the man convicted of killing April, John Neville, dead, she assumes she can finally put the past behind her. That is, until a journalist comes to the door with evidence that Neville may have been innocent the whole time. Determined to solve the case, Hannah reconnects with the old gang, diving deep into the mysterious murder of her old best friend and uncovering secrets she never knew were there.
One Perfect Couple
Cited as the modern-day version of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, Ruth Ware’s book, One Perfect Couple, has all the intrigue of a thriller and the fun of reality TV. Things with Lyla’s doctoral research aren’t great—and neither are things with her boyfriend, Nico, an aspiring actor. When he gets the chance to join the cast of a new reality show, One Perfect Couple, she agrees to give it a shot.
After making it through the audition process and being whisked off to a tropical island, Lyla and Nico are prepared to compete against four other couples to win a cash prize. But almost as soon as they arrive, everything starts to go wrong. With a storm that cuts the cast off from the crew and outside world, the couples must band together to survive—and the stakes have never been higher!
The Woman in Cabin 10
For travel writer Lo Blacklock, this trip was meant to be perfect. With plush lodging in a luxury cruise and elegant dinner parties, what could possibly go wrong on their journey to see the Northern lights? Turns out, everything. When Lo witnesses a woman being thrown overboard, everything turns sour, fast. But with every guest accounted for, no one will believe her. In The Woman in Cabin 10, it’s up to Lo to find the murderer before it’s all too late.
Note: The Woman in Cabin 10 is now a major Netflix film, starring Keira Knightley. Grab the Ruth Ware book and read it before checking out the movie for yourself!
The Woman in Suite 11
Ruth Ware’s sequel book to The Woman in Cabin 10, Lo Blacklock returns to chaos and danger in The Woman in Suite 11. Three years after the birth of her youngest, Lo is ready to re-enter the world of journalism, but everything’s very different than it was ten years ago when she left. When reclusive billionaire Marcus Leidmann sends an invite to attend the press opening of a luxury Swiss hotel, she doesn’t hesitate to say yes.
The chateau in Lake Geneva is everything she could have dreamed of, but interviews with Marcus seem to be downright impossible to get. When she gets a late-night call to swing by his hotel room, she goes, against her better judgment. But Marcus is nowhere to be found. Instead, she’s greeted by a woman claiming to be his mistress, explaining she’s in grave peril. Can Lo save her? Or will her attempts lead to her own demise?
Whether you prefer audiobooks, e-reading, or traditional physical novels, Ruth Ware books can be enjoyed across all platforms. Head to Novel to buy the title that interests you most and escape into her exhilarating thrillers!