The Turn of the Key, Ruth Ware. Hardcover.

Modern twist, classic ghost story.

Okay, I admit it: I’m a sucker for gothic ghost stories. A cursory glance at my Instagram feed will tell you that. Old house in the British countryside? Yes, please. Young governess, au pair, or other variety of ingenue in over her head and quite on her own? Sign me up. Creepy kids? Sure, why not.

Ever since I read Henry James’ gothic classic The Turn of the Screw while studying abroad in England many years ago, I’ve been hooked. So when I came across this title, an on-the-nose nod to the master James himself, I had to read it. And I wasn’t disappointed.

There is an old house, to be sure, but this one has been renovated to within an inch of its life by its husband-and-wife owners, both architects. The result is an unsettling juxtaposition of Victorian elegance and modern severity, only augmented by the omnipresent smart home app, Happy, which controls everything from the lights to the showers.

The manor resides in the Scottish highlands, where protagonist Rowan arrives from London to nanny for the couple’s four daughters. And in addition to the difficult children she will, of course, have to contend with a very disturbing possible haunting—all while both parents are away on business.

Oh and, as Rowan’s letters-from-the-future in the beginning of the book will tell you, all does not go well: someone ends up dead, and someone else is on trial for murder. I’ll let you find out who.

Though I had a few qualms with some details in the ending, I loved this read and eagerly finished it in about a day. I could see it made into a very successful limited series, a la “Sharp Objects.” If you’re looking for a quick, suspenseful read for spooky season, you can’t go wrong with this one.

Favorite Quotation: “People do go mad, you know, if you stop them from sleeping for long enough…”