UPSTAIRS, MADAM IS PLANNING THE PARTY OF THE SEASON.
DOWNSTAIRS, THE SERVANTS ARE PLOTTING THE HEIST OF THE CENTURY.
When Mrs King, housekeeper to the most illustrious home in Mayfair, is suddenly dismissed after years of loyal service, she knows just who to recruit to help her take revenge.
A black-market queen out to settle her scores. An actress desperate for a magnificent part. A seamstress dreaming of a better life. And Mrs King's predecessor, who has been keeping the dark secrets of Park Lane far too long.
Mrs King has an audacious plan in mind, one that will reunite her women in the depths of the house on the night of a magnificent ball - and play out right under the noses of her former employers...
THEY COME FROM NOTHING. BUT THEY'LL LEAVE WITH EVERYTHING.
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The Housekeepers by Alex Hay is published today, 6 July 2023 by Headline. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour.
Mrs Dinah King has just been dismissed from the deVries household. It's a house filled to overflowing with luxury goods, with expensive paintings, with fripperies made from gold and silver, there are precious jewels galore, and Mrs King intends to get her very own type of justice after being sacked.
She's from a family of crooks and chancers and it is Mrs Bone, the mastermind behind many a London crime that she goes to. Very soon, they've created an army of like minded and criminally talented women and they are planning their heist. Their aim is to strip the house, steal everything. However, they are not going to do it when the house is empty. They've chosen the night that Miss deVries will host a costumed ball, attended by so many rich people.
Hay's descriptions of Edwardian London are superb, but it is his character development that really shines out. There are a lot of characters, and it does take a while to get them all sorted out in your head, but once you've done that, you are in! Each and every one of this glorious band of women are colourful and vibrant. Each one of them has their own reason for taking part in the heist, and the multiple narratives enable the reader to be privy to their innermost thoughts.
The Housekeepers is an entertaining read that took me a little out of my usual comfort zone, but that's a good thing for sure and it was certainly worth it for me. There are serious social issues dealt with with flair and ease and the contrast between servant and master is cleverly created.
A book to savour, packed with characters that will leave a lasting impression and a fast plot line that flings in a few twists and unexpected surprises. Recommended by me.
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