Opinions of a Wolf

A moody, character-driven thriller about survival, intuition, and the blurry line between opportunity and deception.

Summary:
On a day that begins like any other, Hal receives a mysterious letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance. She realizes very quickly that the letter was sent to the wrong person—but also that the cold-reading skills she’s honed as a tarot card reader might help her claim the money.

Soon, Hal finds herself at the funeral of the deceased…where it dawns on her that there is something very, very wrong about this strange situation and the inheritance at the centre of it.

Review:
I’m a big fan of Ruth Ware. With this book, I’ve now read eight of hers (all but two—I’m currently reading her newest release), although I’ve only reviewed four on my blog. When I spotted one I hadn’t read yet at the library, I figured it would be the perfect way to scratch my summer thriller itch while waiting for her latest.

As I was reading, I wondered if it was one of her earlier books. Although the main character is quite young, the writing itself also felt like a newer author’s voice. It turns out this was her fourth book. My hunch was right! I liked it more than the other early ones I’ve read—though I enjoy all of her work.

The book does a good job of making Hal likeable and well-rounded. She doesn’t believe in the tarot, but she’s not out to scam people either. She’s just trying to survive, doing her best with what she inherited from her mother. Both the booth on the pier and the knowledge to read cards (and people). Her grief, youth, and trouble with a loan shark add a sense of urgency and vulnerability that draws you in.

It would be easy to write the Westaway family as wealthy caricatures, but each of them (with the possible exception of the housekeeper) is written with a mix of strength and flaws. Even the housekeeper gains complexity later in the book.

That said, the plot depends heavily on a coincidence: Hal’s mother and her cousin had the exact same name—Margarida Westaway. That’s a pretty specific and unusual name for two relatives to share, especially in an upper-class British family. A quick explanation or justification for that naming choice could have made the premise easier to accept.

I didn’t figure out every twist, but I had the gist pretty early on. Some elements felt like things Hal probably should’ve picked up on too. But of course, it’s easier to put things together when you’re not the one in danger. The twists were still fun, and the ending was satisfying, even if it wrapped up quickly.

I especially liked how the tarot was integrated. Hal doesn’t believe in it literally, but she respects it as something people find meaning in, and she does her best to be helpful. It also connects her to her mother—not through magic, but through memory. When she recalls how her mother approached readings, it offers a window into her grief and her past.

There’s no racial or ethnic diversity in this book. That’s a missed opportunity, especially among the secondary characters or romantic partners. One of the uncles is gay and has a bisexual partner, but the bisexual representation is frustrating. The partner cheats, and it’s presented as an even worse betrayal because it’s with a woman. Oof. Hal acknowledges she developed problem drinking habits after her mother died and by and large chooses no longer to imbibe. (There is one night when she does).

There’s no sex in the book. The violence is mild by thriller standards: one drawn-out survival fight, a few off-page murders, and a jump-scare involving a dead body.

About the twists…spoilers in this paragraph.
It was fairly easy to guess that some sort of mix-up had happened between Maud and Maggie—both nicknames for Margarida. I suspected from early on that the woman who died in the car crash wasn’t Hal’s biological mother. That twist didn’t surprise me. The others—the fate of Hal’s bio mom and her father’s identity—were partially predictable. I guessed the mother was murdered and suspected the father did it. I thought it was the grandfather, given how no one mentioned him and how angry the grandmother was about the pregnancy. So I was surprised to learn it was actually the youngest uncle, Abel. The book frames him as the golden child—the one least abused by the family matriarch, but perhaps the most like her. That worked, even if it felt a little like older sibling wish fulfillment. But this also means Hal is the child of two first cousins, and the book doesn’t address that at all. Hal doesn’t even seem fazed. I had to remind myself that cousin marriage is legal in the UK, although it’s illegal in most U.S. states. Still, I would’ve liked at least a moment of acknowledgment or emotional reaction to this knowledge.

Overall, this was a fun thriller that delivered chills and mystery without being too gory or scary. About half the twists were predictable, but the rest kept me guessing. Strong characters and the layered use of tarot added depth. It’s not a perfect read, and it lacks diversity, but it’s a solid summer pick for fans of slower-paced, atmospheric thrillers.

If you found this review helpful, please consider tipping me on ko-fi, checking out my digital items in my ko-fi shop, buying one of my publications, using one of my referral or coupon codes, signing up for my free microfiction monthly newsletter, or tuning into my podcast. Thank you for your support!

4 out of 5 stars

Length: 368 pages – average but on the longer side

Source: Library

Buy It (Amazon or Bookshop.org)