Absolutely brilliant!

There is a very specific mash of genres that combines psychological thrillers and family dramas, set in a haunting background, that I absolutely adore. They are very difficult to get right, especially when they incorporate killer twists and unreliable characters. When they do end up being done well, they produce amazing novels like The Thirteenth Tale and Verity. I'm very happy to say, Maxwell absolutely nailed it with The Caretakers.

I can not rave enough about this book, and I definitely think all readers should try it. Fast-paced and thoroughly engrossing, The Caretakers is a wonderful piece of writing.
A huge thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC.

4.5/5

Although The Caretakers focuses on Tessa there are an abundance of other stories and mysteries woven throughout the narrative. There is the story of Oliver Barlow, ex-prisoner and murderer on the run, Tessa coping with the death of her mother, the mystery surrounding Tessa and Margot's years-long estrangement, questions about the crime that originally put Oliver in prison, the truth behind Fallbrook's disturbing history, and of course, the truth about the Caretakers.

The fact that this list of elements seems overwhelming just goes to show how masterfully Eliza Maxwell has crafted this novel. Maxwell elegantly intertwines the various narratives in an easy-to-follow, enjoyable reading experience. She seamlessly draws information from each character's past throughout the alternating chapters without overloading the reader on information or creating confusion.

A problem that often arises in psychologically-focused novels is a lack of physical action. This is not an issue in The Caretakers. Maxwell has managed to effortlessly use external psychological and emotional pressures to create strong tension throughout the novel, resulting in a true page-turner with real surprises and shocking revelations.

Overall, this is an excellent novel featuring impressive writing skills and story-crafting. I would recommend it for anybody interested in psychologically-driven novels and suspense. I will definitely be picking up another book by Eliza Maxwell in the very near future.

Thank you to Netgalley, Eliza Maxwell and Lake Union Publishing for my arc of The Caretakers in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: Tess is a maker of docu-series' and her most recent one about a man wrongly accused of murder has made her an overnight success. But when he kills again, Tessa's life is turned upside down as she is considered partly to blame for his release. Between that, the fact Tessa's mother has just died and her sister hates her, Tessa has no choice but to run for the hills. So when she learns of a strange inheritance bequeathed by her mother, it seems like the perfect place to hide. A crumbling mansion, Fallbrook is cared for by two elderly sisters living in a cottage in the grounds, they also guard the mysteries of the house and the terrible Murders that happened there...


Review: This book gave me major 'Making a Murderer' vibes! The storyline of Tessa's side of things was so similar. I thought it was an interesting way of setting out a book though! I really liked the shift between the two seemingly unconnected parts of the stories and the way they came together. I was a lot more interested in the sisters' story I have to admit. It was very cleverly done, the writing was lovely and the plot nice and twisty! Overall I really rated this story and would read more from this author.

The Caretakers is a very well written suspense. Great plot with many twists and turns. I highly recommend this book. I received an arc from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

Such a good story! It gets high marks from me for plot, atmosphere, character development… pretty much everything. A fast-paced, suspense-driven story filled with twists, turns and shocking reveals, there were times when I was on the edge of my seat, fearful of what would happen next and yet unable to put the book down. A crumbling, derelict mansion – especially when located in a remote area with no cell phone reception - is such a perfect location for a family secrets kind of story. Some readers may find the two alternating storylines and the multiple plots (Tessa’s estranged relationship with her sister, Fallbrook’s mysterious past and the police case/current crime angle) a lot to take in, but Eliza Maxwell expertly brings everything together, striking the right balance between suspenseful action and characterization. Fallbrook’s gruesome past, guarded by the two elderly caretakers, and the crumbling mansion lend a wonderfully Gothic atmosphere to the story. While parts of the story (some of the sections focused on Oliver) have some elements of predictability for me, the overall effect is a highly satisfying mystery suspense thriller. Eliza Maxwell has now been added to my favorite authors list! A solid 4.5/5 star read for me.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book reminds us that while it might be fun to read these stories, it couldn't have been very fun to live in the actual time (which is why I can not stand time travel stories that strand women in the past, where are the stories that bring a lady from that time and strand her in the present and watch her blossom with all the freedoms and opportunity she could have).

I really enjoyed this book that was FULL of twists and turns. I look forward to more books by this author.

Initially I was drawn to this book because of the cover but the story and characters quickly dragged me into the story. I love it, couldn’t put it down for long. Can’t wait to see what else comes from this author.

Well written suspense. It has twists and turns you never seen coming. A fast-flowing book that is very well written and quite enjoyable mystery.

2.5 Stars, rounded up!

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Filmmaker Tessa Shepherd helped free a man she believed was wrongly imprisoned for murder. When he kills again, Tessa’s life is upended.

She’s reeling with guilt, her reputation destroyed. Worse, Tessa’s mother has unexpectedly passed away, and her sister, Margot, turns on her after tensions from their past escalate. Hounded by a bullying press, Tessa needs an escape. That’s when she learns of a strange inheritance bequeathed by her mother: a derelict and isolated estate known as Fallbrook. It seems like the perfect refuge. But nothing at at Fallbrook is what it seems...
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This book gave me major "Making a Murderer" and "The Family Upstairs" vibes! While I am OBSESSED with both of those, I struggled to completely love THE CARETAKERS. This book was super easy read and I demolished it in a couple sittings. The story was super intriguing and I loved how the two separate story lines started to allign. However, I never felt a strong connection to any of the characters, which left me a little unsatisfied. Even though this book wasn't a total win for me, I would still recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fictional true crime or family drama thrillers!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy!

This book by Eliza Maxwell was filled with twists and turns and unexpected circumstances. Filmmaker Tessa Shepherd was responsible for freeing a man whom she believed was wrongly imprisoned for murder. Just when she is feeling really great about what she has accomplished the man kills again and as the story unfolds with more quirky twists we discover that Tessa is wrapped up in a spiderweb of mysterious occurrences. I was keep guessing as several points in the story and was not sure what the outcome would be. Definitely a book to read to keep you guessing. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book for review purposes.

I have read every book that Eliza Maxwell has published, and I am a big fan of her stories. She just has a way with words and knows how to create a mysterious and creepy atmosphere. You can't help but be sucked in and try to figure out what is going on. I love stories that can keep me guessing until the end, and this was definitely the case with The Caretakers. The story is told from Tessa's, and the caretakers Deidre and Kitty's POV. I am going to be pretty vague with my review, because I don't want to spoil anything. I just want to say that nothing is as it seems. Make sure to keep track of all the small things. I loved discovering new things throughout the book, which had me changing my theories about what was going on. I loved the twists and turns, which of some really surprised me.

There is a lot going on in this book but everything fits really well together. There was no dull moment and I was hooked until the end. This book was heartbreaking but also heartwarming in a way. I loved seeing the main character Tessa find peace and mend her relationship with her sister. I also enjoyed seeing Tessa learn the truth about her family. The cover of this book is gorgeous, and it really fits with the vibe of the story. I highly recommend this book if you are intrigued with what you read in the blurb/my review, or if you have read books by this author before. I think Eliza did a great job with this book, and I already look forward to the next one.

Wow, what a book! This book captured me from the first page. This story is packed with twists and turns. It has all the great elements of a really good mystery thriller, suspense, intrigue, mystery and then throw in a love story and a complicated relationship between sisters that appears to be both a love and hate relationship. Just when you think you know what's happening, two pages later you realize you were completely wrong! The characters are vivid, bold and haunting. The plot and subplots are very well written and stream smoothly through the pages. There really is no "down" time in this book, it's a breath taker from the beginning and keeps you until the last word! I am blown away by the twists and turns in this book. I literally could not put it down, I read it in one sitting. After reading this book, I am now an avid fan of Eliza Maxwell and her writing style. She kept the story alive, and yet she also wrapped up lose ends, but not in a way that spoiled the plot, The end of this book left me satisfied that I got the full story, it didn't leave me feeling like something was left out or left wanting more. Wonderful job. I can easily give this book 5 stars.

The Caretakers is a remarkable novel that is a must read. It would make a great gift. It is well written and has great characters.

A story about estranged sisters. The story flowed flawlessly within the two timelines. I was hooked until the end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Tessa's world is falling apart. After filming a documentary to help a man she believed was wrongfully convicted of a murder get free, he kidnaps the police chief's daughter. Believing another woman dead, the public and the victim's family turn against Tessa for helping free him. Then Tessa's mother dies unexpectedly. She returns home and the strained relationship between her and her twin, Margot, and the press camped out on her doorstep leave her nowhere to go but an isolated, crumbling estate in rural Pennsylvania that her mother left in her will. Mystery and tragedy surround Fallbrook and the only way to discover the truth about the history of the place is through the two aging sisters who are caretakers. As more of the past is revealed, Tessa discovers that some stories should never be told.
Wow what a great story! Two storylines converge in this creepy setting of a crumbling murder house. The truth about the past history of the house was shocking, I never saw it coming, especially the connection to Tessa herself. The mystery in the present with Oliver was a little predictable but helped support the plot and the action of the rest of the story.

This novel is amazing, and I don't use that word lightly.
If you enjoy an author who takes you by the hand and leads you down an unknown path while you're wearing a blindfold, then The Caretakers is a book you should pick up.
EStranged sisters is at the heart of the plot, but also a decades old mystery and an unexpected ending makes Maxwell one of my new favorites.

Absolutely enjoyed this book and one that was full of twists and turns. It is not often that i am able to read a book within a day or two, but on this occasion, i did. The story flowed so well and although i am not going to write what the story is about as i prefer one to read the book for themselves, i can recommend. I shall be looking out for more books by Eliza Maxwell.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy. This is my honest review, which i have voluntarily given.

An incredibly easy read I thought... 
Told over two timelines of parts of the same family,both of them dealt in murder.
I'm actually struggling to find anything to say about the book... it was entertaining in itself,but there were no big surprises,and for me,it didn't stand out.

What a brilliant tale +5 stars from me. Beautifully crafted, as it unfolds you will discover two trails to follow. Just remember nothing is ever as it seems. Highly recommended. With thanks to Netgalley and Union Lake publishing