I really wanted to love this historical fiction, girl-power heist story but, unfortunately, too much of the plot involved moving furniture around for it to hold my attention.

The narrative flits between the point of view of various characters – Mrs King, Mrs Bones, Winnie, Alice, the Janes, Hepzibah and Miss de Vries – but all of them have a similar feel and similar voices. Each is trapped, broken, hard, brittle, sharp, hopeful and hungry… they just have different circumstances that made and/or is keeping them that way. As a result, it was sometimes hard to tell the characters apart without context clues, with the exception of the Janes, who remained somewhat blank and mysterious throughout.

There was a darker story, of maids and men, hidden behind the skirts of the housekeeper heist which hooked me in every time it peeked out, but it kept getting lost behind the main plot which I found it very hard to engage with. I just couldn’t believe that the feat described was at all possible, no matter how many step-by-step, cupboard-by-cupboard details the author provided. And it felt a little late to be taking revenge (or even restitution) when the man responsible is no longer in situ, leaving a young woman to pay the price for the sins of her father. It didn’t really fit with the idea of women supporting women (even if in their own self-interest, rather than to out-do the male oppressors specifically) that is demonstrated elsewhere in the novel.

If you enjoy your historical heist thrillers slow-paced and with a large female-centric cast, then this book is well-written and ticks all of those boxes – it just didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

A fantastic debut, funny and gripping. Fast moving and easy to read in just a couple of sittings. Would love to read more from this author and any sequels 😍

This book captured my interest from the very start of the blurb 'UPSTAIRS, MADAM IS PLANNING THE PARTY OF THE SEASON. DOWNSTAIRS, THE SERVANTS ARE PLOTTING THE HEIST OF THE CENTURY'
I loved the fun feisty characters, set in Edwardian England, I'm sure if Debbie Ocean and her crew went back in time, this is what they would be up to. Thoroughly enjoyable read.

I had to DNF this at 34% in - I kept trying to push myself on, but after months of trying I just gave up.

I found the pace very slow and I didn't connect to or find any of the characters interesting. The plot didn't seem to go anywhere.

This was such a fun read, it was hard to put down! I didn't know I needed to be involved in a heist in Victorian London but I'm better for it. Will definitely be keeping a look out for future works from Alex!

Fabulous period romp with a great cast. It was so detailed, atmospheric and (importantly) fun! Do read it! X

I love a bit of mystery and intrigue and I first heard about The Housekeepers by Alex Hay on Twitter. I saw the teaser campaign and thought that this book is right up my street. I didn’t know who the characters were, I didn't know anything about the plot. It was the strength of the cover and the drip drip drip of teasing that made me want to read it. Well done, Headline!

If I had to describe The Housekeepers I would say it is an Edwardian, turn of the century mash-up of Downton Abbey meets Ocean's 8. Quite the image. It is an awesome heist drama filled with family secrets, the ghettos of post-Victorian London and fabulous female characters who have a bootstrap attitude.

Honestly, I was lost in this world and I loved the feistiness of our characters. Definitely a read to get lost in.

The Housekeepers by Alex Hay is available now.

For more information regarding Alex Hay (@AlexHayBooks) please visit his Twitter account

For more information regarding Headline (@headlinepg) please visit their Twitter account.

I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

An audacious plot to seek revenge in a theatrical way is the central premise of this enjoyable book. The connections between characters and events unfolded and I was rooting for the success of their mission.

Unusual story, though totally unbelievable scenario but my interest tailed off as the story unfolded and unfortunately I didn't gel with any of the characters especially the two Janes.
Not for me .

I really struggled with this one , I just couldn’t get into it and found it hard to relate to the characters.

The story revolves around the relationships and secrets between housekeepers and their employers. When a particular event, referred to as "X", is revealed, Mrs. King decides it's time for revenge. Everyone is on edge as the upcoming ball approaches, but only a few are occupied with anything other than planning a heist.
The book is excellent at building suspense, keeping me wondering why the characters are doing what they are doing. The reason behind it all is critical information that helps to piece together the mystery. However, the latter part of the book felt too easygoing, with things just happening with little attention to detail. Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading it and found it an excellent one-time read. It would also be a great book club read, as many perspectives exist to discuss and question.
I appreciated the prominent role of strong women in the story, particularly given the period in which it is set. The plot is intricate and full of surprises. Although the build-up to the heist is suspenseful with many twists and turns, I found the aftermath and conclusion to be the most gratifying parts of the story. Overall, it was a satisfying read.

I'm definitely the odd one out when it comes to this book as I just really struggled to get into this one and sadly dnf-ed it.

The premise really intrigued me but for some reason I found myself losing interest and motivation to pick it back up.

I'm gutted as a lot of people love this one but it just wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Housekeepers is a historical drama that keeps you guessing. It has a rich a ray of characters all with unique personalities who make the book rich in detail and fun to read.

I absolutely loved this book. Think Oceans 8 had a baby with Downton Abbey and The Housekeepers is the product of that pairing. I loved all the women and the heist they pulled off was so good. I can’t wait to read more by this author

This book has so many twists and turns. I loved the concept and the characters, although unlikeable in some ways, I could not help rooting for.

An intricate and original plot. Well written, with a style that draws you in.

Would 100% recommend.

I found that it did take a while to work out the characters and who was who, especially as more was revealed about their backstories. The plot was unusual and I still can’t decide if I would want to read this again. It probably hasn’t helped the two other books with similar titles came out at the same time and I found this to be my third.

I really liked the look of the description of this book but, sadly, for me it didn't live up to expectations. Set in a grand town house in London in the early 1900s, it tells the story of Mrs King who has been sacked as housekeeper from said house. She decides to extract revenge by stealing everything in the house while a ball is taking place. I found the story to be quite unbelievable and the characters didn't appeal to me.
Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

I thoroughly enjoyed this - I am a fan of historical fiction, so a heist set in Edwardian times was right up my street!

Strong women are at the forefront throughout which I particularly enjoyed, especially for the time period the story is set in. The story is twisty and detailed and while the build up to the heist itself is tense with all the twists and turns, I particularly loved getting to see the outcome and aftermath which made the whole story more satisfying.

Mrs King and Mrs Bone are both intriguing characters and a forces to be reckoned with - we are only given the slightest glimpses of their pasts, which suit the needs of the story but I wanted to know more! I would happily read more about them and their family and connections if the author decides to focus more on either of them.

Overall, a great absorbing read - recommended.

This was such a lovely book - kind of a Downton meets gather Christie with all the lovely characterisation of great literary fiction. Would highly recommend.