I just reviewed The Beholders by Hester Musson. #NetGalley

Really enjoyed this book of mystery and intrigue. It was a slow-burner but still very enjoyable. In fact, I got so into it that I couldn’t put it down which is why I’m doing this review at 2:15am!

Just when you think you have the gist of what’s going on and who the good guys are, the story has a twist that changes your whole perspective of the tale.

The moral of this book is… how far would YOU go to protect your child from evil?

This is an intriguing historical novel, set in the 1870s. Harriet is a maid working in the grand house of a distinguished MP and his wife. The Gethins appear to have it all - but something doesn’t feel right for Harriet from the outset.

As the novel develops, the grim reality of working for the most privileged in society is revealed in this dark gothic piece. Sometimes the narrative feels a little hard to follow in places. Undeniably, though, there are some vivid characters here and this is an enjoyable read overall. 3.5 stars rounded up to four here.

This was not my usual choice of book, but it sounded interesting, and I was glad I picked it up.

This work of historical fiction is told in the form of diary entries from a young and impressionable maid, Harriet, who is hired to work in Frinton Hall. The owner of the hall is a Liberal MP, his wife and their baby son. The story follows Harriet as she develops a friendship with her mistress Clara, after becoming her lady's maid and dealing with the woman's strange and unpredictable mood swings. The longer she is in Frinton Hall, the darker she feels the atmosphere becoming, and her journey into discovering what is going on there.

The historical detail in this ook was amazing, and I loved that. The story was compelling, and being told in the form of diary entries was a nice touch. A good read in you like a good period drama.

I am 100% the target audience for this novel (female crime/detective fiction author and reader with a PhD in Victorian literature). And I loved it.

Lots of Neo-Victorian novels attempt to introduce or explore sexual violence openly as almost an escalation of the sorts of crimes written about during the period, but do so in a way that feels exploitative or unimaginative. (Anthony Horowitz's House of Silk comes to mind, for example.) I love the way Musson blends the Victorian tradition of exploring coercive control – both of wives and servants – with being more explicit about the sorts of sexual violence that those power dynamics enable and encourage.

The two main female characters feel very genuine, and the monstrous master of the house is wonderfully depicted as a man hiding his cruelties in plain sight alongside his very real charm and charisma. We see clearly the difficulties for servants in a large household, rubbing along together and keeping their place, and the ease with which people living in close quarters can always mistake and misunderstand one another's actions and intentions.

If there is one criticism I'd make, it is that the songbird analogy is slightly overdone, but it's clearly necessary for the dramatic capture that Musson needs to bring about the court scene.

Intriguing story and rather sad in some ways. Very slow going especially the first half where I almost gave up. I did like Harriet. and the story is very much told through her.
Overall not a bad read but not a great one although the ending does highlight the tragedy of women at this time

Once again, thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read what would not normally be my genre.

I don't normally read (what I've seen someone else describe as) Gothic Historical Fiction; but in this case I'm extremely glad I did.

The story unfolds slowly, but very surely; steadily cranking up the creeps and the feels. The character development is beautiful, and across a wide range of heroins and miscreants. I was very much rooting for the protagonist, Harriet, from the outset - and then, thanks to some clever story weaving, found myself siding with others I'd previously not sided with.

Set in a stately home, Harriet is a newly employed servant sent by a previous Madam to 'help' another Lady of the House that seems steeped in personal darkness. She wins the hearts of some and envy of others my becoming the handmaid of the lady of the house. The man of the house is a shady type full of secrets and dodgy dealings (despite masquerading as a much loved MP) and layyer upon layer of a literary onion is peeled back and left my eyes watering that the book was over.

Bravo, Hester. This was some undertaking and the craft of the writing is just stunning. A suprising top marks for a genre I'd previously avoid!

This book was a Gothic historical fiction which is a genre I don’t read too often, although when I pick up books like this one it definitely makes me want to read more of them! The Beholders slowly builds the tension with the first half of the book being slower paced than the second half. The plot was twisty and well written, it is full of characters you either like, or really don’t!

I enjoyed this right from the start, being drawn in straight away to this gothic tale. It did dip a little in the middle, but I found the whole story compelling and the characters well drawn. And, unfortunately, probably some truth in there.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the review copy. This is a difficult one for me to review, mainly because it is such a slow build up, and I felt nothing much happened to keep me interested in picking it up until about 50%. I love the gothic historical genre, and this one definitely picks up half way through, and then I thoroughly enjoyed the plot after that. My rating reflects that the first part was just too slow for me.

I really enjoyed this intense gothic novel. The book was like a jigsaw puzzle that I kept trying to get the pieces to fit and work out what was really going on. Am looking forward to reading more from Hester Musson.

A deeply perceptive debut novel in the 'Upstairs Downstairs ' era - written by a young housemaid, Harriet. Part story, part diary, Harriet is in awe as she enters service for a rising member of parliament with a wife and baby son. Feeling plain featured in a great house full of beautiful objects and people, Harriet is mindful of comments made by her previous, elderly employer who had hinted that the lady of the house, a relative, needed to be protected, kept safe. This is a story of the facade erected by the rich and powerful, diarised in snatches of stolen time when the candle is almost out. The corruption of power and the cruel depths that those who enjoy it, can reach.

This was a good read. There is a sinister feeling that forewarns the unfolding of the story and the momentum builds slowly. I think in places the story seemed to have too many words or could have been described more clearly- but then obfuscation can also be a useful tool in the gothic genre. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the arc of The Beholders by Hester Musson.

Excellent! Well researched and engaging, loved it! 5/5

The cover, title and blirb draw me to this book. I read very few gothic books but I enjoy them. Unfortunately I DNFed early on. It is very slow and quite dry for me. Is a me problem.

An impressive debut into the world of Gothic literature.

‘June, 1878. The body of a boy is pulled from the depths of the River Thames, suspected to be the beloved missing child of the widely admired Liberal MP Ralph Gethin. Four months earlier. Harriet is a young maid newly employed at Finton Hall. Fleeing the drudgery of an unwanted engagement in the small village where she grew up, Harriet is entranced by the grand country hall; she is entranced too by her glamorous mistress Clara Gethin, whose unearthly singing voice floats through the house. But Clara, though captivating, is erratic. The master of the house is a much-lauded politician, but he is strangely absent. And some of their beautiful belongings seem to tell terrible stories. Unable to ignore her growing unease, Harriet sets out to discover their secrets. When she uncovers a shocking truth, a chain of events is set in motion that could cost Harriet everything, even her freedom….’

As a devotee of Gothic historical fiction, I naturally found myself captivated by "The Beholders." This novel, set in the 1870s, commences with a shocking crime before introducing us to its central character, Harriet, who secures employment as a housemaid in the Gethin family residence. Presented predominantly through Harriet's diary entries, letters, and a smattering of newspaper articles, the narrative unfolds at a deliberate, tantalizing pace. In this enigmatic tale, secrets and suspicions abound, the master of the house remains a cryptic figure, Mrs. Gethin's behaviour raises questions, and the formidable Mrs. Clarkson, who oversees the household staff, exudes an aura of both terror and intrigue.

As the narrative unfolds, we find ourselves inexorably drawn into a complex and shadowy story of familial intricacies, concealed truths, and deception, ultimately culminating in tragedy due to Harriet's actions. "The Beholders" unquestionably qualifies as a slow-burning novel, with its momentum truly picking up only in the latter half. Nevertheless, it populates its pages with a cast of captivating characters, many of whom conceal hidden depths, and it weaves a narrative with enough depth to compel you to turn each succeeding page. Harriet's own backstory, conveyed through her diary, was my favourite part. The prose is lucid and succinct, and the period-specific details are impeccably rendered, though some readers may find the level of detail somewhat overwhelming. The book masterfully evokes a strong sense of early Gothic writing which I found a pleasure to read.

Overall it is a fantastic debut and I cannot wait to read more by the author. Thank you NetGalley, Hester Musson and 4th Estate and William Collins for the ARC of this novel which is to be published on 18th January 2024.

Tags: historical fiction, gothic, mystery, thriller

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Not sure what to say in this review, I read it and sort of enjoyed it but thats about all.

Wow! I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a great read. Thank you to the writer, publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book

The cover of this book really drew me in, as did the description of "The Beholders" by Hester Musson. However this isn't the best gothic historical fiction book I've read. I enjoyed the set up of it - told via Harriet's diary entries as she switches from being a maid to lady's maid at a new fancy house in the countryside. The middle bit was truly disturbing with some pretty vile characters and goings-on. The ending for me (the trial and what happens to baby Edward) was the most uninteresting part. I think by then I had lost motivation.

The Beholders is set in the 1870's and is about Finton Hall and the people who live there. The main character is Harriet and is told from her point of view.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book although I did half guess the end of the book so that is why I have given 4 instead of 5 ⭐.

I will definitely look out for this author in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and 4thestatebooks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Her first mistress gave Harriet a diary and encouraged her to use it. After the death of that mistress, Harriet moves on to the home of a politician and his beautiful, if slightly odd, wife. Why does she ignore her baby? Why did she try to destroy her portrait? With her husband absent much of the time, the housekeeper and the butler control the running of the house, including the hiring and firing of staff. But they didn’t hire Harriet, the mistress did, and that sets Harriet at odds with the ‘upper staff’.
When the mistress promotes Harriet from house maid to lady’s maid, she is now part of the ‘upper staff’ and privy to the real goings on in the house. As things become clear to Harriet, she sees her new mistress in a new light and forms an unbreakable bond with her, one that will put Harriet in harm’s way.
The story is told through Harriet’s diary entries, which I didn’t mind, but if I’m honest, I did gloss over the dates. That said, the dates need to be there because it’s a diary after all. I have seen this book described as a ‘slow burner’, and it is, but the first half is setting the scene what comes later. I would recommend that you bear with it because, as a whole, the book is a good gothic novel.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.