What an absolute joy to read! Superb, evocative writing that transported me straight to a Victorian mansion on Park Lane. Excellent authentic characters. Widows meets Ocean’s eleven meets Fingersmith. A feminist story of working class women’s rise up against those who exploit them but with a tender heart.

I generally stay away from historical fiction, but The Housekeepers caught my eye when it was compared to Ocean’s 8. This made me curious and I had to find out what the fuss was about. When you reach for this book you can expect a bit of everything; mystery, intrigue, suspense, action and a heist that would give Ocean’s a run for its money.
This debut novel is lots of fun. It delivers some laughs while some serious subjects came up as well. The backdrop is a marvellous mansion filled with the division between upstairs and downstairs personas. The author brought 1905 London to life allowing you to experience the complex world of the turn of the 20th century.
Mrs King is the Housekeeper at the grandest house on Park Lane Mayfair until the butler finds her sneaking around the men’s quarters after hours. An instant dismissal leaves Mrs King out on the street. But this woman is no ordinary housekeeper. With revenge in mind, Mrs King gathers a group of friends to help her pull off the heist of the century. She is determined to steal everything from the mansion on Park Lane on the same night that the lady of the house has planned the ball of the century.
This book was an entertaining, intriguing read that held my interest right to the end. I found myself enjoying 1905 London and the surprises and twists along the way were brilliant.
The women in this book were fabulous. The characters were strong, determined, likeable women who left you rooting for their success. Mrs King was born into a world of con artists and thieves, she puts everything she has learned from these people to use as she plans the perfect heist. She may be a villain – but she steals your heart and wins your support.
This was a rather unusual choice of book for me, but I must admit I loved it. I will be looking at historical fiction a little differently after reading this one.
If you enjoy historical fiction, then you won’t want to miss this debut novel. This book is lots of fun and will keep you on the edge of your seat as go along for the ride. I absolutely recommend you give this book a try – even if historical fiction is not your thing.

I enjoyed elements of this book. I think the overall story was great with the slow reveal of why Mrs King wanted to damage the family so much and enjoyed many of the characters but found that I got confused by so many characters at times. Although this could have just been a situation of me reading the book at the wrong time so I feel I will revisit this book to explore this and discover more of the secrets I may have missed this time round.
I did enjoy reading the heist and found this part very fast-paced while some of the earlier parts may have been a little long. But it was a concept I had not previously seen so was fascinated by this view of the 1900s.

I would recommend if you enjoy historical fiction - particularly the alternate view of high society.

After Mrs King loses her job as housekeeper at a wealthy London mansion, she sets out to get revenge on those responsible. She recruits a team of women to carry out her extravagant plan.

As a huge Ocean's Eleven fan I knew that I simply must read this book.

The Housekeepers is the kind of book that will worm its way into your thoughts as you are trying to sleep. I found myself thinking "what's going on with that character" or "I wonder if that will happen". I was instantly drawn into the exciting plot, especially as it it so unique.

I really enjoyed the strong female characters and rooted for them throughout the story. I sometimes got myself confused between Mrs King and Mrs Bone because I'm not used to characters using such a formal name, but it was very in keeping with the time period. The whole Edwardian London setting was very well-written.

A brilliant story that will keep you captivated.

Thank you NetGalley and Headline for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This was a most unusual story. A group of servants plan the robbery of all the contents of a house while a ball is taking place! The main organiser is Mrs King. She had been the housekeeper at this house but had left when the owner died. There are a number of others involved that also worked at the house at one time. Mrs. King has a number of secrets of her own and these gradually come to light. She is a strong and determined character. I did liked that the reader knew what happened to everyone at the end of the book. It did get a little complicated at times, describing how different parts of the robbery would be managed, but overall an entertaining read. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A marvellously constructed story of the working classes getting revenge upon their employers.
Mrs King, the housekeeper at the House of the De Vries family, has been dismissed from her post. She was seen entering the Gentlemen’s quarters, was it a love affair or an innocent case of somnambulism?
So starts a story that manages to confuse and amaze in equal measures! It is full of contradictions, breathtaking in audaciousness, and at times, completely bizarre. Relatives crawl out of the woodwork, family secrets emerge, and you do wonder, exactly how many of this cast of characters are related to each other, and what this network of people will bring to this story.
They are very crafty and resourceful ladies, think Downton Abbey inhabited by crooks , seeking revenge for past slights put upon themselves and others, who were too poor and friendless to ask for help and protection.
A magnificent debut novel, with many laugh out loud moments.
I loved the character of Dinah King, she was very composed , meek and mild to general view, but seething underneath.
Winnie, a previous housekeeper, is a loyal friend and stalwart fellow conspirator. Mrs. Bone, is a hard faced character, apparently ruled by money, but possesses a determined streak of resilience and fighting talk.
I found the ending, after all the previous excitement, do and daring, to be rather subdued, but perhaps some secrets are best left undisturbed. Let sleeping crooks lie!
My thanks to Netgalley and Headline publishers for my advanced digital copy, freely given in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. A five star read. I will leave a copy of this to Goodreads and Amazon UK.b

An entertaining and fun read, giving a voice (and what a voice) to those below floor for a change, A period drama with a difference with twists and intricacies galore.
At first I struggled to get my head around who was who not least because of all of the pseudonyms! But essentially, Mrs King (made up name!) has been ‘let go’ from her position as housekeeper of one of the grandest houses on Park Lane, London and the plot follows her plotted revenge - a heist on such a scale that it would seem impossible. Spies are planted, forces gathered and we really start to get a feel of London at the turn of the century for the masses rather than the elite few.
The character list is extensive but each is truly given their own personality and background and that is what draws you in (and sorry to leave). So many strong women!
The ending is a little(?!) fantastical but I’m not sure where else it could have gone and did not spoil the read for me.
Bravo - a crime drama with a difference and a thoroughly enjoyable read.

I tried to like this book but couldn't get in to it. Netgalley feedback ratios demand each book is rated even if not finished, so I will give it 2 stars as it's not the author's fault.

Mrs King isn’t a Mrs, nor is she a King. What she is, is a logistical genius, able to conceive and execute a world class heist. Everything must go! Starting as a scullery maid, Dinah O’Flynn (under the name Dinah King for reasons which become clear later in the story), worked her way up the ladder in the de Vries household on London’s Park Lane, to the pinnacle position, for a woman, of Housekeeper. The post comes with the title: Mrs. Caught in a minor indiscretion she is fired, by the Butler, Mr Shepherd, on the order of Miss de Vries, mistress of the house following the death of her multimillionaire father, Wilhelm. In what appears to be a simple act of revenge, Mrs King recruits a team of six other women; her aunt, Mrs Bone, younger sister, Alice, a young actress, Hephzibah, an eccentric milliner, Winnie, and two gymnastic circus performers, Jane-one and Jane-two; an eclectic bunch with eclectic skills, gathered to help expedite Mrs King’s plan: to strip everything out of the de Vries mansion and sell it all, leaving Miss de Vries with only the shell of the building. This will be hidden within a massive Masked Ball which Miss de Vries is holding, but which was designed by Mrs King before her dismissal. This looks like overkill but Mrs King, her aunt and sister, have history with the de Vries family going back nearly thirty years. To carry out the plan requires a large number of extra people to play various roles and as muscle, but fortunately Hephzibah can rustle up out of work actors and Mrs Bone has funds and access to a large cadre of the criminal fraternity. The most complex heist in History is good to go.
On the face of it, this is a heist story but with the novelty of being set in London in 1905, and entirely carried out by women (very much second-class citizens at that time). However, the underlying story concerning the historical relationship between Wilhelm de Vries and Mrs King is revealed piecemeal throughout and is, in some ways, the most important part of the story. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a sequel. In a heist story, there has to be a balance between the planning stage, essentially the first half, and the execution and resolution. Because of the need to include most of the backstory in the first half, it feels a bit too slow; not a complaint just an observation. The characters are all well drawn and differentiated (the two Janes are interchangeable but the plot needs two), and the social interactions of the time are nicely exposed; below stairs versus above stairs, the rich and the poor and the peerage. It isn’t perfect, the slowish first half and the off-the-wall craziness of the ball, knock it back. On the other hand, perhaps, the “off-the-wall craziness of the ball” is an advantage. So not a 5 but more than a 4, which ends up rounding to 5. I’m happy with that.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

Wow! A debut novel? I would never have believed THAT!

Mrs King is a Housekeeper - and a very good one at that. When she is suddenly dismissed after many years of loyal service, she knows how - and with whom - to extract her revenge. Never, ever, underestimate women!

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I began this one but, firstly, I loved the blurb - and then I saw the cover; how could I resist? This is a terrific read. It reveals itself layer-by-layer and it the surprises just keep on coming. Revenge is a dish best served cold and this one is like a carefully plotted feat of engineering. I cannot begin to tell you how cleverly written this one is; it certainly kept my attention throughout and I just loved everything - the setting, the characters and the AWESOME plot! Absolutely, definitely, highly recommend and well worth every single one of the five glittering stars I'm so very happy to give it. Alex Hay is, without doubt, an author to watch!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

I do enjoy a good heist story, one where the mark has been carefully chosen and every little detail planned to the most exacting perfection. This story is just that. A fiendishly clever group of women plotting a most audacious crime - empty the entire contents of one of London’s biggest houses on the night of its costume ball. The women behind this masterpiece each have their own motives for carrying out this particular act and together they are truly unstoppable. I thought this was highly entertaining and I can really imagine it as a terrific film! A real page turner full of brilliant characters and as the cover quite rightly says, never underestimate the women downstairs!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for a review.

4.5

Such an enjoyable read and not like anything I've ever read before. The deception, the glamour, the twists and turns. You're rooting for Mrs. King and Mrs. Bone but you're not sure if they can be trusted. It all comes together bit by bit and you just need to keep reading until you find out what happens next. A very well crafted book and I'll be surprised if its not picked up for either a movie or a TV show.

Upstairs, Downstairs meets Hustle.

This book reads like an historical heist movie – and I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets turned into one.

There is a fierce cast of female characters who attempt to pull off the crime of the century, with some darker undertones sprinkled throughout.

Just after the turn of the twentieth century, Mrs King (not her real name) has been relieved of her duties as housekeeper at a property in Park Lane, Mayfair as she was found trying to enter a gentleman's quarters- another one of the staff. Mrs King has a plan and goes to see Mrs Bone to rally some more people to carry this out. She already has one person in place at the house who is now employed as a sewing maid. Her plan is to take every single valuable object from the house during a grand ball which is planned for the end of June. Can the plan be carried out without anyone discovering what is going on and will Mrs King reveal her true identity?
An Edwardian tale of intrigue and incredible planning which I'm smiling about writing this as I think about it. A very clever plot where the most intricate detail has been thought about. I liked Mrs King and the determination and steely character of Mrs Bone- both forces to be reckoned with along with Alice who comes across wonderfully. A brilliant period crime drama so very cleverly executed. A book perhaps to make you smile.

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

Thanks to publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a brilliant book this is, I was drawn into this thrilling world after just the first page and from then on it didn’t let me go.

I was fascinated by the planning of the heist, the women Mrs King recruits to be part of her team to plan and execute the daring raid/heist are all formidable and so fun and interesting to read about.

The mystery and intrigue in this story has layers after layers, it seems like after every page you learn more, which I loved and oh my the twists and revelations left me shocked!.

I can’t really say too much without giving the plot away as you really need to read it yourself to be fully immersed, what I will say is that it’s one of the best books I’ve read this year!.

I don’t know if my readers have watched the Tv Show Ripper Street?, this book reminds me so much of that as it set around the same time and some of the storylines in it are similar and it’s one of my favourites series.

3 Stars
One Liner: Doesn’t reach its full potential

1905, London
Mrs. King isn’t a regular housekeeper. She has other talents in dealing with items, sellers, auctions, and buyers in the black market. When Mrs. King is dismissed from her position at the House of de Vries, the largest property in the region, she decides to pull off a heist of a lifetime.
After all, the house is brimming with artifacts, art pieces, and all things precious. She recruits different women (and men) to play their parts and rob the house of every possession when the year’s most anticipated costume ball is happening downstairs.
Mrs. King also has a plan of her own, an extension to the original, where she needs to find something and settle the scores. However, the house has too many dark secrets, and the elusive Miss de Vries may not be who she is. What’s more, the women she hired have secrets of their own that could expose their heist.
Can the Housekeepers fight all odds to pull off the heist? What happens if they are exposed?
The story comes from the third-person POV of multiple characters.

What I Like:
The book has a great atmosphere- a gothic-like house with secrets, all characters with secrets, creepy vibes, complexities in abundance, and loads of things that could go wrong anytime with little margin of error.
Even with the story having multiple POVs and many characters, it’s easy to track the backstories of all the leading ladies. The limited third-person POV choice keeps things smooth enough (though scene breaks are missing in the ARC).
The book starts with a bang. The chapters start at the present, move to the past to present the events until the present, and shift between the past and present a few more times. However, I didn’t feel overwhelmed at any point. I didn’t have to go back to track the date.
The Janes were possibly the best characters in the book. I’d have loved to read more of them. After all, their roles are so crucial to the plot.
There are a few light moments and a couple of chuckles, with the rest of the book trying to be intense and heavy. The Victorian era is done well, though. Be it the reality behind marriage contracts or the balls, scandals, etc.

What Could Have Been Better for Me:
The pacing is slow from start to finish. While it is necessary to establish the setting and characters in the first half, it gets boring in the second half. I started checking how much was left to read, especially when the heist began around the halfway mark.
The book tries to be too many things at once. It is dark but not dark enough to make readers uncomfortable. It touches on many topics like revenge, greed, envy, money, power, manipulation, control, illegitimacy, loan sharks, abuse of servicewomen, (hinted) flesh trade and kinks, possible Sapphic inclinations, a sort-of romance, female friendships, etc. Except for some, the rest are only hinted at or used to add a twist to the plot. Finally, I ended up not really caring for anything or anyone.
The heist is the central plot of the book. The reasons are just as important, of course. But if and how the women pull off the heist needs to be compact. While there are some dangers, none of them cause tension or anxiety. The whole thing feels a little too easy. Given the high stakes, it just doesn’t hit the mark.
With complex characters, desperate times, and danger all around, the book could have been outstanding. It needed intricate plotting and execution. However, we get a mashup of too many things and writing that only skims the surface. The key conversation between Mrs. King and Miss de Vries should have been the highlight but is underwhelming.
Even with the detailed backstories of the main characters, we don’t know much about them. It’s hard to connect to any of them. There are too many gaps left to the reader’s imagination. I can fill them myself, but that doesn’t enrich the characters.
The ending fell flat for me. It’s surprising as I prefer such types of endings. However, here, I like only a portion of it. The rest feels a bit too neatly tied up. There’s an attempt to make the ending strong, which didn’t work for me.

To summarize, The Housekeepers is a decent debut with a great premise that doesn’t reach its full potential. It reads like a debut. No denying the author’s talent, though. I’ll be happy to read more by the author.
Thank you, NetGalley and Headline Review, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

I love historical novels set around the turn of the century and so was looking forward to The Housekeepers set in London in 1905.
Housekeeper Mrs King is dismissed from her post at a Park Lane house and comes up with a plan to take revenge on the household.
The novel starts out well, I loved the setting and the author beautifully portrays a sense of time and place. The characters are intriguing and I loved the back stories of Mrs King and the group of women she recruits to carry out her plan. I did find that the novel became a little too slow paced in the middle with some overly long passages that could have been edited to make the novel more pacy. However it was still a hugely enjoyable read and I'd love to read more about Mrs King and the gang.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
3,5 stars.

Mixing the Edwardian under-stairs genre with a heist movie has never occurred to me, and I guess this is why I’m reviewing the thrilling “The Housekeepers” and not writing my own novel…

Hugely enjoyable, with a great set of characters and nicely paced tension as we get closer to the day of the ball of the season and the planned heist. The tension between above stairs and below stairs, and the back story of the key protagonists is well revealed - there’s an awful lot going on and Hay keeps all the plates spinning entertainingly. Great summer read

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC

Historical fiction is something I rarely gravitate toward and yet, a book promising an all-female Ocean's Eleven-style heist AND a middle finger to British aristocracy? Come on now, how could I say no

What I most enjoyed abt The Housekeepers was each member's individual storyline. You got quesions of legitimacy and inheritance, escaping debt collectors, finding love in dangerous places, standing your ground against the competition, strategizing your own future, and many more. And for the most part these individual destinies and competing interests worked together seamlessly and excitingly. Given that this is the author's debut, I consider that quite the feat.

Something that seems to happen quite a bit with debut authors, however, is an untamed love for lengthy descriptions of environments and clothing. Admittedly, I do not know the first thing about early 1900s fashion or household jargon, so that may very well have influenced my opinion here but still, many of these descriptive paragraphs could have been taken out, especially towards the climactic events of the heist where they only served to slow down and zoom out and didn't do the pace any favours.

I enjoyed my time w this book, loved seeing a cast of characters of a wide range of ages in an adventure story for a change.

Perfect for a casual read in the park.

Oceans 11 meets Downtown Abbey in this upstairs/downstairs heist of the century.

I was really excited by the premise of The Housekeepers and was expecting it to be my book of the year from the blurb alone, which is high expectations going in! The main characters are mainly female-led which is great and I really enjoyed the plot being presented – ransacking an entire household of possessions during the party of the year undetected.

Unfortunately, some aspects of this book fell short. Firstly, I didn’t feel like I got to know the characters as well as I could have – there are quite a few of them and they all have their own secrets which aren’t revealed until later in the book. This means that it feels like you are held at arms-length with some of them. There were also quite a lot of strands to the story – the part about young girls in the household didn’t really make sense to me and I was unsure why it was included. Lots of people seemed to be related to other characters as well which was difficult to keep track of in my mind.

The pace is quite slow which was a surprise – I was expecting myself to be racing through it. I also felt that the conclusion of the heist itself wasn’t as satisfying as I had hoped. Don’t get me wrong, it is a fun, light read but expectations were high, and it didn’t quite deliver!

Overall, The Housekeepers is a brilliant premise but was let down on the execution which was a shame, with a pace that dragged and too many characters and sub-plots which muddied the plot. Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin, Graydon House & Headline - Review for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.