A bit of a slow burner but I became intrigued by this group of women - both below and above stairs - as the story of the de Vries ball unfolded. Mrs King's dismissal as housekeeper in this grand London home leads to plans for a heist to happen around the ball. As the story unfolds we learn more of the women involved and life in early 20th century London society.

Thanks to NetGalley for ARC in return for honest review.

Victoria era, Oceans 8 heist. Lots of potential but I found my mind wandering and it took me a while to finish it. Even though the characters, writing and concept and good, it just lacked the suspense to keep my attention and none of the twists shocked me. Would make a better film than a book

I enjoyed this book although it took me a while to get in to the story. The characters were diverse and interesting. The writing style took a little time to get used to.

I enjoyed this title. Took a little time to get my head around all of the different characters but as the plot took hold, I found myself invested in the success of the heist. Girl Power with a historical twist.

I struggled to get to grips with the way this story was written. I felt constantly confused by the narrative. Saying that though, I really liked Mrs King character. She was the perfect blend of feisty and suspicious.

After reading this book, I have 3 words for all of you, my fellow readers:

Pre-order. Right. Now.

This book was perfect, I loved it so much.

This historical fiction is so modern, you have badass women, humour, a heist, fantastic characterisation. This book has it all, I'm really not doing it justice, it was so great. And the cover!!

Alex, please write more books!

Thank you again NetGalley, Alex Hay and Headline the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review also posted on goodreads.

Really enjoyable debut novel. It did take a while to get into the story but then whoosh what a ride!

Following the story of a group of women, many of them housekeepers or servants as they plan a hugely audacious heist from a Park Lane mansion, the tension builds perfectly.

The author creates a great feel of what life below stairs in these great households was like and I liked the varied characters of the Housekeepers.

As the story progresses, there are some startling revelations and dark secrets revealed adding layers to the characters and the story.

Loved the fact that these women were daring to be bold and take chances particularly when they were seen by many to be simply servants and I was really rooting for them to get away with their heist.

Thanks to Headline for a chance to read an early copy

This is one of the finest debut novels I have read, and I cannot wait for Alex Hay's next book. This is funny, heartbreaking, gripping, everything you could want in a flipping good book.

For those old enough to have enjoyed Upstairs Downstairs (long running TV series), then The Housekeepers by Alex Hay might appeal. Set over a 100 years ago, just after the turn of the century, the story centres on the inherited wealth of Miss de Vries. Wilhelm de Vries (the father) was barely cold in his grave when Miss de Vries decides to hold a ball. This gives a golden opportunity for those below stairs to plot an audacious robbery. Things however are not what they seem, for Wilhelm was born Danny O'Flynn and he was a self made man, a definite nouveau riche, made evident by the in your face opulence of the newly built family home at Park Lane. Danny O'Flynn had a few secrets and so does the house itself, dark ones. This gives the heist more depth than that of an audacious robbery, for revenge is at foot.
I enjoyed the story, the characters were good and the feel of London at that time was about right. The robbery was ridiculous though, although rather fun in its implementation.

I finished The Housekeepers by Alex Hay and what a ride!

The story opens with the dismissal of Mrs King, a housekeeper at the grandest house on Park Lane in Mayfair at the turn of the 20th Century. Mrs King has been loyal for years, so what does she do? Starts to plot her revenge and recruit her team. An actress, a black market queen, a seamstress…and all want a piece of the prize. Upstairs, Madam is planning the party of the season. Downstairs, the servants are plotting. 👀 

OMG this was such fun and tense! As the story unfolds, so does the countdown to the night of the party and the mastermind heist. Seriously, as the timer was going, so was my heart rate 😅 I loved all the female characters, so devilishly cunning and strong. It was like Oceans 11 meets Downton Abbey. I loved the setting; the early 1900s with all the glamour and pomp. The descriptions of the house, London, gorgeous gardens all fed to my senses. The plot was full of intrigue, entertainment and surprises. Lots of surprises that I didn’t see coming. A great heist plot with high stakes and so much to lose. I was hooked and found it so hard to put down. I wanted justice for the women!! The last few chapters were 🤯 Such a strong debut. If you enjoy historical thrillers/fiction then check this out.

"The Housekeepers" is a tour-de-force crime caper novel set in 1905 London. This was a time when it was apparently easy to re-invent yourself; especially useful when you came in to money and wanted to leave your poorer, struggling self behind.

This is the story of a group of women who plan an audacious theft which will happen right under the eyes of their "superiors". It is all the idea of Mrs King, ably supported by Mrs Bone and a select few relations and acquaintances. There are twists and turns in the plot and the tension builds throughout. Although quite a long book, it was difficult to put down and I read it in a fairly short time. Alex Hay's writing is wonderful and engrossing. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

A cover that portrays impish foolish fun reminding of the manic Tom foolery of basil faulty unbrandished with a large housescape setting of period drama the bell ringing to draw you in for service please

Loved the audacity of this historical heist. Great fun. Thoroughly enjoyed the well thought out plot

The ‘housekeeper subgenre’ seems to have embedded itself in recent domestic noir in the last couple of years, with highly readable novels devised from the angles of concierges, housemaids and other hardworking, often overlooked servants to the rich and entitled. This novel is a variation on this popular theme, and it is very well done. In the early years of the 20th century, rich heiress Miss de Vries plans a society ball at her opulent Park Lane home in the hope of identifying a suitable husband. She has not reckoned, however, with the revengeful plans of the family’s former housekeeper, Mrs King, who plans to steal the most valuable items from the house whilst the rich guests enjoy the elaborate party. To put her plan into action, Mrs King assembles an interesting, all-female cast of helpers: Alice the maid, Mrs King’s predecessor Winnie, two trapeze artists who go by the name of Jane One and Jane Two, a criminal underworld figure prophetically named Mrs Bone and the enigmatic actress Hephzibah who has also been given a speaking name as the passages relating to her really are a delight to read. I found that I could not turn the pages of this thriller fast enough and started to care more about the characters’ complex characters and the psychological reasons of why they wish to engage in crime rather than the plot itself.

Overall, the writing of this novel is so good, the pace is so pitch-perfect and the reading is so enjoyable that I found it hard to believe this impressive novel is a debut. Alex Hay is definitely an up-and-coming writer to watch for readers who enjoy thrillers with period settings. I cannot recommend this novel highly enough and would like to thank the publishers and NetGalley for the free ARC I received in exchange for this unbiased review.

I’ve rounded my thoughtful 3* up a notch. Let me tell you why…….

It took me quite a while to get into this book. Trying to sort out and box in my brain and memory what was what and who was who not to mention, what are they doing that for? And why react like that? I was a tad confused.

When I was near to calling it time with the book, I was halfway through when not only the penny dropped but the entire cash flow! AHA moment.

It started to take off, the upper chambers and the maids……

What a unique historical piece of fiction this turned out to be.

Revelations were GREAT. The subtleness of some and the bang of others revealed things I just didn’t pick up on.

Very clever.

So that’s why it went to a 4*


Audience, I don’t think it’s going to be for everyone. It’s a bit slow in places and if you’ve no patience (like me) you might become bored or frustrated, or both.

Read others reviews, good, bad and indifferent then make your mind up, that’s what I’d suggest.

This is a change from my normal reading choices but I was intrigued by the blurb and encouraged by the reviews. I liked the idea of the ultimate revenge but really wished I'd drawn up a flow chart at the beginning to keep track of the characters; who was related to whom; who was hired by whom etc. The sheer number of people involved, each with their own story and links to other characters, made it very confusing to follow at times. Some of the characters were fascinating and I would happily explore their lives further.

I did enjoy the plan taking shape and the gradual reveal of key facts but overall felt it was too dragged out and could have been substantially edited. The side issue that only became apparent towards the end felt like a last minute add-in rather than a key part of the story and more of a MacGuffin to simplify the ending. Having said that, it is crying out to be dramatised.

The book takes you on whirlwind ride, it’s fast paced with the most amazing characters. It really is an absolute gem!

What an original and exciting, suspenseful story this is! It is a complicated heist combined with the glamour of the Gilded Age of 1905 when upstairs meets downstairs in a tangled series of unexpected plot twists.
Mrs Bone, Mrs King, Alice, the Janes and Winnie all conspire to rob the mansion of Miss de Vries, stripping it bare of even its curtains, on the night of a grand masked ball when all society will be present. The house is filled with the highest of society while teams of hired burglars stealthily pack up every item and ship it out under cover.
But there are secrets within secrets and there are old family tensions that come to light during the heist - all is revealed when those who are upstairs and those who are downstairs don't always stay in the same place. A brilliantly exciting novel!

What a story!
The year is 1905, and the times are changing. New money, womens suffrage and modern inventions are infiltrating the lives of the aristocracy. Meanwhile a grand ball is being planned in one of the biggest and most ostentatious houses on Park Lane. However, not everyone is working to the same agenda......... The working classes have new choices, many are leaving lives in service to work in shops or run their own business. Opportunities are there for those willing to take a chance. The rich still cling to the old traditions, but if anyone knows their secrets it has to be the household staff who live alongside them. And you really should not upset your household staff.......
This is the story of an audacious heist, the story unfolding slowly as the reader takes in the full connotations of the characters and plot. And what a story! I loved the strong working class characters, in particular the Janes who made me smile, and the picture you get of their lives. There are layers within layers in this story, at times shocking the reader. It keeps you reading on, keen to find out what will happen next. A fabulous read!

Sadly I did not enjoy this book which is really disappointing, because it sounded so amazing. But I just did not gel with this book. Could not keep track of who was who. And I was confused throughout most (if not all) of it! Too many characters. Too much going on. (For me at least) It just wasn't for me.