Set in 1904 this intriguing and atmospheric tale had me hooked from the start.
Ruby May loves her job as a children's nurse in London but when the family she works for decide to emigrate to America Ruby declines to go with them. Needing a new job quickly she takes a place with a wealthy mill owner's family in West Yorkshire.
When she arrives she is surprised to find that the Master, Mr England, meets her at the station and drives her to the remote house himself. Mrs England seems very withdrawn and has little to do with her children, she barely leaves her room. Ruby senses that all is not right within the house but snubbed by the other servants she concentrates all her efforts on looking after the children.
Mr England is warm and charming and Ruby needs to be careful not to overstep her own set boundaries. As events spiral it will take all of Ruby’s self control to protect not only the children but herself as well.
I have read Stacy Halls’ previous books and enjoyed them but this is my favourite so far.

Another wonderful novel by Stacey Halls! If you loved The Familiars or the Foundling, you will like this.

Stacey's books are always so well written and researched. Mrs England is set in Edwardian London and Yorkshire and follows Ruby, a Norland nanny, who starts her new placement with the England family. It's a very gripping read with several twists and reveals. A must-read for fans of historical fiction.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an advanced review copy in exchange for a review!

My thanks to Stacey Halls, Bonnier Books and Net Galley for the ARC of MRS ENGLAND.
Another wonderful book by Stacey Halls who has become one of my go to authors for a stonking good story. I absolutely loved Ruby who was so honest about her position in life in the Edwardian era. After a terrible incident when she was a girl, she seems to be constantly running from the shame she feels it has brought down on her. She knows she is a good carer so takes an exam with the Norland Institute and is hired as one of their nannies. Her position with the Englands comes after she refuses to go to America with her current employers whom she loves because she doesn't want to leave her young sister who was also damaged in the incident.
The Englands reside in Yorkshire, a place that Ruby is not familiar with. Her past informs her observations on life, but the dynamic between the Englands is hard for her to read. On one hand she feels Mr England is the easy-going employer who more or less runs the household, and Mrs England takes a back seat in the running of her family, through choice, but then things happen as they do in all the best stories and she feels pulled to change her perspective. Of course, nothing is as it seems. Brilliant.

What a book! I really enjoyed Stacey Halls two others, but this is top of the three.

Stacey is so clever at conjuring settings; a few paragraphs and you see, hear and smell where the story is taking place. Two hours have lapsed while I finished the last part. I feel I’ve been in Yorkshire, in a damp valley, climbing hills, walking between crags. This is a fantastic twisty turny story with enormous atmosphere.

Read it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC.

The story is set in England during the early 1900s. Ruby works as a nanny and when her current family move abroad she starts work for a new family where not everything is what it appears. Mrs England is hiding something. But so is Ruby.

I started reading this book and I was hooked! So much I had to go buy two more books by the same author as I just loved everything about it. It's written so beautifully that I couldn't put it down. I do love historical fiction and this one is another firm favourite of mine. This book has an haunted feel to it which gave me goosebumps reading it. I was fascinated by the house it gave me a feeling of Downton Abbey. I absolutey loved this book.

Another new author for me!

A lovely story which flowed really well. The only part that was a bit odd for me was the mystery part, I think I missed part of it somewhere as it was only a very small part of the book. It took me a long time to finish reading this book which tells me that is was ok, , but not exciting enough for me to keep wanting to pick it up and read more of the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This will definitely be one of my books of the year. It’s , gorgeously written and very moving. A triumph, and I want to read all of her other books

Wonderful read full of atmosphere that keeps you turning the pages until the very end. Highly recommend.

I enjoyed the previous 2 novels by Stacey Halls and so held high hopes for her third. I wasn’t disappointed. The novel is so beautifully written. There is a creeping sense of unease that builds throughout the story that is reminiscent of Wuthering Heights.
There is an obvious amount of research that has been done for this book on the mills and the Norland nannies. The research sits so well within the narrative, not screaming out for attention like in other historical novels.
I’m excited to see what Stacey Halls comes up with for her fourth novel.

Mrs England -Review

Mrs England is yet another soberb and eloquent book by @staceyhallsauthor. Great joy was what I felt the moment I realised that I was granted a copy of this book before the publication day on the 10th of June 2021!!

With a beautiful and fluent writing, Stacey Halls compels the reader and each chapter seems to fly by very quickly( Took me just one day to read the book!!!)

This historical fiction novel takes place in London 1904, telling the story of nurse Ruby May that is presented with the difficult choice of not going abroad with the family that she works for as a nanny and by doing so, putting her livelihood at risk.
Her new start with a new family in West Yorkshire will bring her adventure, horror and family tragedy. Being still young with a good character and not much experience in life, the challenge ahead threatens to overcome even this proficient nanny!!
Along the narrative, the reader becomes more aware of her own family problems and how her past experiences shaped her way of living.

As I mentioned previously I couldn't stop reading the book and that normally is a sign of a great book therefore my 5 star rating. I truly recommend it to everyone especially readers that enjoy historical fiction.


A big thank you to @manilla_press and @netgalley for the #gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#mrsengland #netgalley

Another wonderful gothic tale of families, secrets and lies.

I was delighted when a NetGally ARC of Stacey Hall’s new book became available. I loved “The Familiars”, although “The Foundling” didn’t click quite so well with me, so I was keen to see how “Mrs England” sat.
I shouldn’t have worried. What we have here is another glorious journey into early 20th century England, with all the requisite strange families, young heroine and dark secrets.

It’s London, in 1904, and Nurse Ruby May, a nanny from the prestigious Norland College, finds her life changed forever when the family she works for move to America. Unwilling to leave England, she travels to West Yorkshire to become nanny to the four children of Mr and Mrs England, wealthy mill owners who live in a remote house situated in Hardcastle Crags. She soon discovers that Mrs England, mistress of her new household and who is oddly distant, is troubled, and in fear of something.

As the story unfolds, we learn that although Ruby is a proficient nanny, and who comes to love the four children, she is an innocent and troubled young woman with a hidden past. We also discover that Mrs England has secrets, while her charming and oddly unorthodox husband Charles welcomes Ruby into the family. Ostracised by the servants and feeling increasingly uneasy, Ruby must face her own demons in order to stop what happened to her, happening to the children.

The story moves along nicely, and we slowly learn more about Ruby’s past, and the secrets of the England family emerge. The book paints a vivid picture of Edwardian Britain, and is and beautifully written. It explores families, relationships and the events that take place behind closed doors. It has all the classic gothic elements of haunted heroine, spooky house, family secrets and windy moors.

The prose is delightful, and the story compelling. The book will appeal to fans of Bridget Collins, Sarah Burton and Diane Setterfield, and is thoroughly recommended.

I have loved the two previous novels by this author so was looking forward to reading this. I was not disappointed! It was one of those books where you just didn’t want to put it down, and could become completely engrossed in the world created by Stacey Halls. Her research and depiction of the time periods she writes about are faultless, the characters are all convincing and engaging with mysteries slowly revealed that you couldn’t guess. It just had everything. A great gothic novel which accurately depicted the class divides and hardships of the time.Thoroughly recommended. Can’t wait for her next one! Definitely one of my favourite authors. Great for fans of Tracey Chevalier.

I'm delighted to report that the writing inside this beautiful book is just as beautiful as the cover.
Stacey Halls has written a deliciously page turning historical drama, centred around a young woman Ruby, who works as a Norland nurse and has to leave her position when the family she works for move abroad, although we are not given the exact reasons she is so reluctant to leave England. She accepts a job as Nurse to 4 children and this is when we are introduced to Mrs England, who is the Mistress of her new household.
There is so much bubbling and simmering beneath the surface in this book. At first it seems pretty standard upstairs downstairs fodder. We watch Ruby begin to find her feet in the new household, gradually it becomes apparent Ruby has a hidden past. This young woman is rather innocent about life and relationships, although it's not until later we discover why.
Simultaneously we discover that Mrs England also has secrets, but what they are, also has to be peeled shred by shred like an under ripe orange.
I will say no more as I don't want to be guilty of any spoilers, its quite a gentle tale which lulls you into a false sense of security, but it has the most delectable twists and relatable characters to ensure that reading it is sheer pleasure from start to end. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to all fans of womens quality historical fiction.

I wanted to read Mrs England for a number of reasons. One, I have read Stacey's first two novels and have thoroughly enjoyed them, and two, she has set this one in West Yorkshire not too far away from where I grew up and wanted to see how she 'tackled' the landscapes & people in her descriptions.
The story follows Ruby who is a nurse who has graduated from Norland School and is hired by the Englands to look after their children. Ruby is quite wary of the distant Mrs England at first but as things become apparent, they are drawn in together - not everything is as it seems.
Stecey's writing draws you in to the characters and her descriptions are enchanting and atmospheric. Some nice and interesting characters and I liked how Ruby's homelife was discussed alongside her new life in Yorkshire, and the similarties that were exposed.
I would give this book 3½ out of 5.

I absolutely adore Stacey Halls' previojs two books so was over the moon to receive an ARC of Mrs England.

The novel is set in London and Yorkshire in the early 1900s and Halls can really set a scene. I felt like I was seeing Harrods for for first time with it's mesmerising 'rising staircase' and I also equally felt like I was roaming the Yorkshire crags.

I loved the complex character of Ruby and how her past impacts on her vocation as a children's nurse. There are perfectly gothic undertones with wandering wives, brooding husbands and a spooky stately home. I did roughly guess the way the story was going but this didn't detract anything from my enjoyment of it. This was an enjoyable read. Thank you @netgalley for the ARC.

Rebecca meets Jane Eyre in this evocative historical fiction. Stacey Halls transports us to West Yorkshire in 1904 as Ruby May, a young nurse, goes to work for the Englands, a wealthy couple living in the grand estate of Hardcastle House. As she battles her own past and tries to navigate life with the mysterious Mrs England, Nurse May realises that all is not what it seems at Hardcastle House, and there’s no such thing as a perfect family.

A gripping read with a perfect, Gothic setting, MRS ENGLAND is a portrait of family dynamics, secrets, desire and power in Edwardian England. Though it is not exciting as such, it is utterly immersive and I was enamoured with the mysteries found within, finding myself racing through it till my heart was satisfied with answers. This is my first Stacey Halls book but it will not be my last - her characterisation is so vivid and her plotting so rewarding that it is a true delight to read her words. I adored the time period and if you love Downton Abbey, you will too! The vast Yorkshire landscape of the moors and the mills was haunting, paralleling Mrs England’s isolation from her family and expertly lulling the reader in. This was a firm 4/5 for me & a huge thanks to the publisher for my ARC!!

@whatalicereads on Instagram

Thank you to netgalley, manilla press and Stacey Halls for allowing me to read this eARC in return for my thoughts. Publication date 10 June 2021

Stacey Halls has a way of writing captivating historical fiction and I absolutely adore her books. I was lucky enough to obtain an audiobook ARC of her second book, The Foundling, and I have very kindly been accepted to also read an e-ARC of Mrs England.

Mrs England was a quick easy read and left me wanting more. I hope this won't be the last time we hear from nurse Ruby May, but the story did finish off in a way that the reader was satisfied with the ending. The depth that went into the characters was phenomenal; you can tell Stacey Halls researches into the time period she is writing about and really thinks about her characters and their story. After reading the author's note, I also found out that the character Ruby May was based off of Ruby Browne, which adds to the touching story line we see. Mrs England is clearly distant from nurse May; the reasoning for this isn't obvious to the reader until we are given the missing pieces, but I found her story blended well with that of Ruby and her time at Hardcastle House. The writing style was descriptive so really set the scene and I really felt connected to the characters. I like that the writing was clear and easy to follow for the readers, with only occasional idioms and phrases which are central to Yorkshire. I'm not surprised that this received 5 stars, which now marks the third book of hers which I've rated high. I can't wait to see what Hall's brings out in her future releases.

She is a firm favourite author of mine. I hope you will all enjoy this story as much as I did! Release date is 10 June 2021, I've had my copy preordered since January and can't wait to get my hands on this stunning book!

Wow this book. I've loved both of Stacey Halls books so far but think this one is my favourite. Loved the characters, the setting, the time period, the beautiful writing. It had all the ingredients I love in an historical fiction story. Highly recommended.

Set in 1904, Nurse Ruby May, a nanny from the prestigious Norland College embarks on her new role with the England household up in West Yorkshire. She is to become the nanny to four charges, the children of Mr and Mrs England, wealthy mill owners, who live in a remote house situated in Hardcastle Crags in West Yorkshire.

This is a daunting opportunity for Nurse May having only lived in cities, but she has her reasons to accept this post and she hopes it will be a great new start for her, but not only does she have her secrets kept close to her heart, she soon learns that something isn’t quite right within the England household, as Mrs England’s behaviour towards her home and her children are rather peculiar as she has little interest in her family.

For me, this was a very quick read as I could not put it down. I had no idea where the story was taking me, although I did have some suspicions, I could not settle on one, and besides, none were quite right and the ending was one which I did not predict at all. Each character's individual personalities drew me in and had me constantly changing my mind about their intentions. With so many twists and turns, the mystery was kept alive right the way through till the end. Once again, another brilliant book from Stacey Halls!

Description


From the bestselling author of The Familiars and The Foundling comes Stacey Halls's most compelling and ambitious novel to date.

'Something's not right here.'
I was aware of Mr Booth's eyes on me, and he seemed to hold his breath. 'What do you mean?'
'In the house. With the family.'

West Yorkshire, 1904. When newly graduated nurse Ruby May takes a position looking after the children of Charles and Lilian England, a wealthy couple from a powerful dynasty of mill owners, she hopes it will be the fresh start she needs. But as she adapts to life at the isolated Hardcastle House, it becomes clear there's something not quite right about the beautiful, mysterious Mrs England.

Distant and withdrawn, Lilian shows little interest in her children or charming husband, and is far from the 'angel of the house' Ruby was expecting. As the warm, vivacious Charles welcomes Ruby into the family, a series of strange events forces her to question everything she thought she knew. Ostracised by the servants and feeling increasingly uneasy, Ruby must face her demons in order to prevent history from repeating itself. After all, there's no such thing as the perfect family - and she should know.

Simmering with slow-burning menace, Mrs England is a portrait of an Edwardian marriage, weaving an enthralling story of men and women, power and control, courage, truth and the very darkest deception. Set against the atmospheric West Yorkshire landscape, Stacey Halls' third novel proves her one of the most exciting and compelling new storytellers of our times.


Review

Eagerly anticipating the third book from Stacey Halls. I loved The Familiars, and The Foundling kept me gripped throughout. I wasn't quite as bewitched by Mrs England, and i cant quite put my finger on why. The writing creates the times very well - early 1900s and the Norland Institute. Ruby is a Nanny sent to Yorkshire, and it is her employment on the moors that provides the setting for Rubys past and her current placement all culminate in a slow burning finish. It is perhaps Mrs Englands distance from her children that perhaps has coloured my judgement. The story is slow burning and seems to simmer below the surface - there must be a reason for the Mrs Englands offhand attitude towards her children?

The novel explores Edwardian England and a marriage that is subject to a husband's control and deceit. The landscape plays a strong visual role, helps create a rugged atmosphere that dominates the England household.

Whilst I dont feel it is the best of the 3 books, I did find myself wanting a resolution to Rubys past and the Englands current events. I will still be drawn to Stacey Halls books, and eagerly await her fourth novel.

#MrsEngland #NetGalley
3/5