The Housekeepers

LoveReading Says

Effortlessly stylish and audaciously entertaining, Alex Hay’s The Housekeepers debut is an absolute humdinger of a heist story.

Park Lane, 1905. Unmarried 35-year-old Mrs Dinah King (her surname was chosen, the Mrs bestowed upon her) is housekeeper of London’s grandest mansion. After being seen entering the gentlemen’s quarters, she’s let go after years of fastidious service, mere weeks before her mistress’ grand ball.

Miss de Vries has been excited about hosting the party of the season for some time. After losing her father, Mr de Vries, she’s also set on clearing out his “dead wood” staff and marrying a blue-blooded man. 

Meanwhile, sacked Dinah wastes no time in planning a robbery of revenge. She takes herself off to enlist the considerable skills of Mrs Bone, a notable entrepreneur who knew Mr de Vries before he made his millions. Dinah already has other women lined up to realise her boldly ambitious plan, including Winnie, her housekeeper predecessor, with her sister Alice working on the inside, already commissioned to create Madam’s gown for the ball.

Add to them actress Hephzibah and the circus trained “two Janes”, and a quality, multi-skilled crew is in place. 

Though housekeepers tend to keep secrets (while in office, at least), as Dinah sets her heist in motion, we learn more than a few truths about connections to the de Vries family, along with some unsavoury household secrets.

Incredibly gripping, entertaining and funny, The Housekeepers’ story world is one you’ll be hard pushed to leave, largely thanks to its cast of whip-smart grafters and grifters — distinctly shrewd individuals with axes to grind and the fortitude to wield them with precision. I loved it!

Reviewed by Joanne Owen
Joanne Owen’s lifelong love of reading and writing began when she was growing up in Pembrokeshire, and very much wished that witches (and Mrs Pepperpot) were real.
More reviews by Joanne Owen

About The Housekeepers

'Delightfully mischievous' THE TIMES 'A rip-roaring tale of revenge' DAILY MAIL'Flawless, lawless fun' KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE---------- UPSTAIRS, MADAM IS PLANNING THE PARTY OF THE SEASON. All eyes are on the grandest house in Mayfair as the countdown to their lavish summer ball begins. Everything must be perfect. But with the chandeliers gleaming and the cellars stocked, loyal housekeeper Mrs King is suddenly dismissed. DOWNSTAIRS, THE SERVANTS ARE PLOTTING THE HEIST OF THE CENTURY. As the clock strikes twelve on the night of the ball, Mrs King will return to strip the house of its riches - right under the nose of her former employer. And she knows just who to recruit to pull off the impossible: a bold alliance of women with nothing left to lose and every reason for revenge.***READER REVIEWS***'Trust me, this one's a must-have for your summer holiday''This WILL be in my top reads this year. I loved every page ''Reading should be like this, pure pleasure''Clever, smart, fast-paced with a dash of wry humour' ----------PRAISE FOR THE HOUSEKEEPERS 'Imagine Ocean's 8 had an illegitimate baby with Fingersmith - a big fat diamond of a book' Erin Kelly'A glamorous historical heist' Prima 'Kept me hooked 'til the last page' Jennifer Saint ''Hay's ambitious debut combines a memorable ensemble cast with a panoramic portrait of Victorian London' Mail on Sunday 'Meet the most likeable group of criminals since Robin Hood's merry men' Nina de Gramont'A page-turning delight' Red 'Hell hath no fury like a housekeeper scorned . . . this novel is unputdownable' House Beautiful

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