Replete with likeable characters, a winning plot, and a satisfying approach to both, Hays’ The Housekeepers is one of the year’s best summer reads, combining explorations of class and gender with the giddy thrill-ride of a well-honed heist adventure that, while rooted in the past, helps propel the genre into the future. London. When Mrs King is suddenly dismissed from her position as housekeeper at the de Vries home, she isn't worried because she has an ace plan up her sleeve. On the night of the de Vries's ball coming up about three weeks later, Mrs King, along with her carefully chosen group of six women, will strip the de Vries mansion of its valuables. Is this just a revenge for being fired, or does Mrs King have some ulterior motive? How will this heist proceed? I loved the premise of the story but for me, it lost its excitement and momentum halfway through but thankfully regained its buzz and hyper towards the end. I found I couldn’t connect to some of the characters, but found others complex and brilliant and that overpowered the negative.

Book review of The Housekeepers by Alex Hay - BookPage

I adored the incredible women Mrs King draws from the underbelly of Edwardian London to pull off her outlandish endeavour – each with their own score to settle and very particular take on morality – and couldn’t help but urge them on in their pursuit of revenge, riches and the truth.”This book was right up my dark and devious alley. I have always been one to champion the underdog and while Mrs King may seem to be exactly that, she is not to be underestimated. Her plot bands together a fantastic group of women that made my feminist little heart want to own a petticoat containing a secret plan too. The focus of the first two-thirds of The Housekeepers is pulling together the operation to strip Stanhope House bare to the walls (Stanhope House really did exist although the O’Flynn/de Vries family did not). The final third of the story is, naturally, the edge of the seat thrill nail-biter of pulling off the meticulously planned caper. Imagine Ocean's 8 had an illegitimate baby with Fingersmith - a big fat diamond of a book, sharp and shiny, joyful and generous, intricately plotted and featuring an ingenious use for a trapeze." - Erin Kelly With the countdown of the days to the costume ball, they set up the scam with the help of Mrs. King’s sister Alice, Winnie, the two Janes, Sue and Hephzibah. All take incredible skills to the table which will be used to prepare for the night and work the steal before, during and after the Ball. And practice makes perfect!

Alex Hay Books | Historical thriller author Alex Hay Books | Historical thriller author

An intricate conspiracy is put in place, and they must convince the cast of characters they have chosen to accept. They must convince the daughter, Miss de Vries to throw a costume ball. Difficult since her father has just died, but quite easy when you believe the world revolves around you. So hence it begins. Alex Hay’s debut novel The Housekeepers won the 2022 Caledonia Novel Award. This upstairs versus downstairs tale is filled with issues of power, inequality, class tensions and personal revenge. A historical romp with plenty of fanciful events, readers of good old fashioned mystery novels will appreciate The Housekeepers.

But it was the intrepid plan to remove every single item from the grand house, all while a costumed ball is underway that really intrigued me. Leave your disbelief in the servants quarters and just enjoy the dancing. The book does a great job of building up the Suspense. For the most part of the book, that kept me wondering, why are they doing this? The reason is the key info to piece together the mystery. I would have enjoyed it more if the latter of the book was also equally scrupulous. However, I felt it was a bit easygoing, making things just happen. Yet I did have a good time reading this one and did find the book a good one-time read. Also, I do feel this would do good as a book club read as it has a lot of perspectives to be discussed and questioned. Ocean’s Eight meets Downton Abbey! Well, maybe an Ocean’s Eight/Ocean’s Thirteen hybrid, since there are a couple of revenge elements involved. The goal? Clean out the estate. Of everything. Leaving nothing. Of course, along the way they come to many crossroads but with determination they will not fail. They will stay strong not for themselves but for the justice that will be served for all the housekeepers who have had to pay with sweat, tears and sometimes their lives. These housekeepers will learn they are extremely strong and capable with more skills they ever thought they had which gives them the courage needed to get the job done. Senior commissioning editor Frankie Edwards won world rights to the Edwardian heist novel from Alice Lutyens at Curtis Brown. Headline Review will publish it as a lead launch title in spring 2024.

The Housekeepers: A Novel by Alex Hay, Hardcover | Barnes The Housekeepers: A Novel by Alex Hay, Hardcover | Barnes

Alex Hay commented: “I couldn’t be happier that The Housekeepers has found such a perfect home with Frankie and the team at Headline. Returning to her criminal roots and the world of con artists and thrives that raised her, Mrs King recruits an eclectic group of women, each seeking their own form of revenge. On paper, this premise sounds wonderful to my ears. Historical fiction is among my favourite genres and an all-woman gang planning a revenge heist promises a delectable treat. However, a successful heist story ought to be simultaneously complicated and believable. That doesn't happen with this book, which ends up simplistic and farfetched.Dazzling, stylish and wildly entertaining, The Housekeepers lets loose an outlandish alliance of women you'll never forget... That being said, Alex Hay does a spectacular job of navigating sensitive issues and topics in his engaging prose without veering into an exploitative territory.