The Housekeepers: They come from nothing. But they'll leave with everything...

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The novel, which won the Caledonia Novel Award 2022, follows the story of Mrs King, who on being unfairly dismissed from her position as a housekeeper in one of the grandest houses in London recruits an eclectic group of women from the fringes of society to launch an audacious robbery and enact her revenge. The Housekeepers by Alex Hay is a great historical fiction that has it all: mystery, intrigue, suspense, action, and a heist like no other. If you need to make someone feel small, so that you can feel tall…” Mrs. Bone recited the rest. “Then, my goodness, my dear, you’re no person at all.”

Hay’s award The Bookseller - Rights - Headline pre-empts Hay’s award

It’s 1905, the somber colors and repressive sensibilities of the Victorian era are gone along with the 19th century, and the glittering Edwardian era is in its full if brief splendor of wretched excess in the pursuit of pleasure while so-called ‘Radicals’ agitated towards reform and the world lurched towards the Great War that upended society, killed a generation of young men and hastened the British Empire towards its sunset.I absolutely love historical fiction, so I’ve given it four stars –for its terrific plot, intelligent descriptive writing and beautiful setting, but I’d need a lot more character development and a ratcheting up of the tension for it to score any higher. Named a Best Book of Summer by The Washington Post * Good Housekeeping * Harper's Bazaar * Reader's Digest The twists or secrets were not that big, in my opinion, and, at the end, it all felt farfetched. Also, the reason for the heist was a bit weak and unrealistic. Second, there’s a dismissal. Mrs. King, housekeeper to the late Mr. de Vries was caught entering the male servants’ quarters the night before. Everyone believes it was for an assignation, and she’s dismissed without a character or a reference from her respected, respectable and well-earned job. It’s just the first of many such dismissals, as Miss de Vries is determined to set her own course with her own people around her, so ALL of her father’s ‘loyal’ servants will have to go. The night of London's grandest ball, a bold group of women downstairs launch a daring revenge heist against Mayfair society in this dazzling historical novel about power, gender, and class.

The Housekeepers: A Novel - Alex Hay - Google Books

I’ve read a criticism that there is an inappropriate 21st century sensibility in the book, but I think that’s slightly off point. It’s true that contemporary idioms pop up from time to time, but they didn’t really bother me. And at times there are words or concepts that seem out of place for a young woman with a minimal education, but that would be true regardless of whether the book was set in the early 20th or 21st century. Of course, things rarely go exactly according to plan, and there are hiccups along the way. The night of the ball is fraught with difficulties, and Mrs. King and her team of workers must adapt and think on their feet to escape the notice of others.

Housekeeper Mrs King is dismissed and has revenge on her mind. She brings together a team of female associates to plan a robbery and all whilst the house is in the throes of a party during the season. Laughs and mysteries abound in Alex Hay’s, The Housekeepers.