Title: The Housekeepers Author: Alex Hay Published: 4th July 2023 Pages: 448 Setting: Edwardian England When watching Downton Abbey, did you ever secretly wish that most of the servant characters didn’t treat the Crawley family with such blind reverence? Did you ever wonder what O’Brien could have achieved if she’d spent less time moaning with … Continue reading Review: The Housekeepers by Alex Hay
Title: The Housekeepers
Author: Alex Hay
Published: 4th July 2023
Pages: 448
Setting: Edwardian England
When watching Downton Abbey, did you ever secretly wish that most of the servant characters didn’t treat the Crawley family with such blind reverence? Did you ever wonder what O’Brien could have achieved if she’d spent less time moaning with Thomas and more time inspiring the housemaids into a servants’ uprising? If so, The Housekeepers is definitely the book for you.
A witty, biting historical heist novel, The Housekeepers centres around a grand ball at a grand house in Edwardian London, and the even grander revenge plan concocted by a disgruntled former servant. This premise alone was enough to grab my attention – but there’s definitely more to this story than I assumed at first glance. Prepare to have little idea of what’s going on at first – but don’t worry, because Alex Hay masterfully unveils the layers of this story in a way that compels you to keep turning the pages.
I’m not normally one to pay particular attention to writing style, but Alex Hay’s voice is absolutely one of my favourite aspects of the novel. With a cutting directness that matches his characters, Hay conjures up vivid descriptions of his setting with a few choice words. I found myself completely immersed in the moment, be that a dramatic action scene or a tension-filled conversation between two characters.
And the characters – well, they’re just great. Seven complicated, conniving women, each with their own motivations for taking part in the heist. It makes such a refreshing change to read a historical novel about a group of women with desires that aren’t entirely focused on marriage (or avoiding marriage), and I loved getting to know each of them as they worked together to prepare for the heist.
Although there are definitely some darker moments in this book, I’d say the overall tone is humorous and fun. It’s definitely a story where it helps to suspend disbelief slightly – but I was more than happy to allow myself to get swept along for the ride. Overall, The Housekeepers was a very satisfying read, and I’m looking forward to reading more from Alex Hay.
Top tip for UK readers: The Housekeepers is the Waterstones Thriller of the month for May 2024. When you buy any current Waterstones book of the month in store, you get a free hot drink from the café.
