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!
Joanne Owen
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The Housekeepers Synopsis
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.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781472299338 |
| Publication date: |
6th July 2023 |
| Author: |
Alex Hay |
| Publisher: |
Headline Review an imprint of Headline Publishing Group |
| Format: |
Hardback |
| Pagination: |
399 pages |
| Primary Genre |
Historical Fiction
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| Other Genres: |
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| Recommendations: |
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Alex Hay Press Reviews
This twisty heist caper is a delightfully mischievous debut - The Times
Downton meets Ocean's 8 - Grazia
A page-turning delight from beginning to end - Red
Tremendously fun - i Paper
Punch-the-air good, this is the Edwardian heist novel you never knew you needed. Flawless, lawless fun -- Kiran Millwood Hargrave
A glamorous historical heist novel that kept me hooked 'til the last page. The strong, determined and memorable female characters pull you into their web of intrigue -- Jennifer Saint
Vivid characterisation, irresistible historical detail and a rip-roaring plot... delivers on every page. Sensational! -- Emma Stonex
Imagine Ocean's 8 had an illegitimate baby with Fingersmith - a big fat diamond of a book, sharp and shiny, joyful and generous -- Erin Kelly
A deliciously clever novel that will place you in the finest homes and meanest streets of 1905 London. Prepare to grow hungrier for justice with every page you turn -- Nina de Gramont
A rollicking romp of a book, tinged with fury, sadness and mischievous delight -- Claire North
Entirely original: an upstairs-downstairs premise set in Edwardian London, but with an Ocean's Eleven-like heist at its core... anyone who relishes a good party gone wrong will devour this -- Sarah Penner
I cannot tell you how much fun you'll have with this book -- Bobby Palmer
I'll miss these resourceful, cunning ladies, the strength of their sisterhood (both literal and figurative) and their collective pursuit of freedom. I badly needed them to win and cheered myself hoarse by the end -- Chikodili Emelumadu
I love everything about Alex Hay's novel... not only is The Housekeepers a rollicking good read, it's also a reminder to the powerful to ignore the downtrodden at their peril. Bravo -- Stephanie Butland -
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