Six months after the tragic automobile accident that claimed the life of her husband, Cassie makes a clean break from her life in London. She buys an almost derelict house in the country, thinking she can use her husband's life insurance money to renovate it. She plans to open a B&B. After her arrival at the house, she quickly realizes that there is far more work to do than she had anticipated... Hindon House has had many occupants over the years. Besides individual families, it was also an army hospital during the war years, and then later on it was utilized as a convent.

Cassie hires some builders and gets to work herself filling skip after skip with the rubbish left in every room by previous owners.

Strange things begin to happen. Though she has been assured by the electrician she hired that the electrics are in good working order, the lights go out periodically - usually at the most inconvenient times. She injures herself several times while clearing out the house. Is she extra clumsy, or is something else, or someone else, at fault? Is someone trying to scare her away from Hindon House? Why did previous owners only live there for such brief periods of time? With her bank account dwindling dangerously, Cassie is between a rock and a hard place.

Determined to make her dreams come true, Cassie tenaciously endeavours to 'stick it out' despite some alarming setbacks. That is... until she can no longer do so... Hindon House's secrets and murky past are gradually revealed.

I just hate it when the description of a thriller reads that it is 'unputdownable'. However, that being said, this one pretty much lived up to this overused word. I devoured it, and enjoyed every page.

Cassie is a protagonist that I was uncertain about. Should I like her? Is she a nice person? At first yes, then maybe not, then yes again... The predicaments she finds herself in would try the patience and good humour of a saint. No running water except for in the antiquated kitchen. No hot water at all... She is sleeping on an air mattress. Her days are filled with more physical labour than she has every had to do before. Her every muscle aches.

I admit, the title threw me off. I really thought this book was about a perhaps creepy 'housekeeper'. Nothing could be further from the truth. Note the separation of the title words - House Keeper - or, keeper of the house.

I suspected several different characters at one time or another, yet, I was thoroughly surprised by the villain of the piece. The ending was highly satisfactory.

With the twists and turns of a truly suspenseful thriller, I can heartily recommend this book to fans of the genre. I'll definitely be reading more by Valerie Keogh.

4.5 stars rounded up

Valerie Keogh is one of my favourite authors, I will read all of her books always!!! This story was no exception, was a great read!!!

When I started this book I was unsure what to expect.
I found the character Cassie, a bit annoying but I think this is how she was written to be.

The story was a little slow and the most action was in the last 20%

I guessed who/what was causing the issues early on but this did not deter from enjoying the book as I wanted to see if I was right

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion

What a fantastic read. Read this book in two sittings I couldn't put it down I had me gripped from the first page. When Cassie is widowed she feels responsible for her husband's death so decides start a new life by buying a derelict house and restore it with a view to turning it into a guest house but things start going wrong from the beginning and she experiences some very worrying encounters. Full of twists and turns and plenty of drama and the outcome is deeply disturbing for her .A brilliantly written story and definitely a 5 ⭐read.

Valerie Keogh is an awesome author and her skill at planting little nuggets here and there is brilliant. A fully enjoyable and page turning read.

Without giving too much away, there is an old scandal which is associated with the house and this, unbeknown to it's owners, leads to mysterious happenings and so the house has had a few recent owners who have quickly sold up. The latest one Cassie isn't so easily put off which leads to other things. Lots to keep the reader guessing what is really going on and with a great ending too.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

It took a little while to get going but was a good thriller - Claire stalks' Hannah who she has not seen for a long time and becomes quite obsessed. Hannah has the life that Claire thinks belongs to her and so when a chance to become Hannah's housekeeper presents itself Claire cannot resist.....
Good thriller, I would recommend this book

The House Keeper by Valerie Keogh

Slow-burnt and twisty! It starts off slow but then picks up the pace. The story plot is suspenseful which let me hooked! It would be great if some parts can speed up a bit. Yet, I like the characters and this is a solid three-star read.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for my copy.

Pub date: Oct 9, 2023

A slow burn, but interesting read. Lots of plot twists and turns, some a little unbelievable but a good rainy day read overall.

This book held my interest the whole way through. Quite a number of suprises to keep you entertained. I love an unpredictable ending so this book definitely hit the mark for me.

This book was awesome. I loved this book and I was hooked from the beginning! And the twists! I never saw then coming or figured it out beforehand. So good!
I just reviewed The House Keeper by Valerie Keogh. #TheHousekeeper #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

In the chilling mystery novel, the author invites us into the haunting world of Cassie Macreddin, a woman grappling with the tragic loss of her husband, Richie. Seeking solace and a fresh start, Cassie moves to historic Hindon House, a place she hopes will be a sanctuary for healing and a refuge for her secrets. Little does she know that the grand estate carries its own dark past and concealed mysteries.

The novel unfolds as Cassie realizes that not everyone welcomes her arrival at Hindon House. A palpable tension fills the air, and she becomes the target of a mysterious force determined to drive her away. As the plot intensifies, we dive deeper into a web of intrigue, leaving us on the edge of our seats, questioning the motivations behind the sinister efforts to expel Cassie from her newfound refuge.

The character of Cassie is a compelling protagonist, haunted not only by personal grief but also by the unfolding mysteries surrounding Hindon House. Her journey to unearth the truth becomes a fight for survival, as events take a dark and ominous turn. The story masterfully builds suspense, creating an atmosphere where we becomes as invested in solving the mysteries as Cassie is.

The pacing of the novel is well-executed, with escalating events and hidden secrets coming to light at strategic moments. The author's vivid descriptions bring Hindon House to life, making it a character in its own right—a place with a past that refuses to be forgotten. The unraveling of the house's secrets mirrors Cassie's own journey of self-discovery and resilience.

This is a must-read for fans of atmospheric thrillers.

I just reviewed The House Keeper by Valerie Keogh. #TheHousekeeper #NetGalley

Starts off very slow and very hard to follow, slightly picks up towards the end but not one of Valerie Keoghs best , ideal reading for a rainy day

A good read. A but slow to start but we get to see the story of Cassie and how she comes to buy an old run Down house in Hindon. We get to see what happens when sh gets the builders in to revamp the house. A few unexpected twists and turns but an interesting story.

This was a slow burn and eventually got there for me but it took awhile. Not my favorite thriller but it was okay. The opening was shaky and I didn't really understand why the big buildup for not much pay off but again, ok for a domestic type thriller. Good setting and atmospheric.

This is definitely a thriller and is mind bending, suspenseful and unputdownable! What a great read.

Set in a quiet English country town where Cassie is renovating Hindon House but things in this small town are not as they seem and with strange things happening and an icy reception from the locals Cassie has yet to realise what she is being drawn into.

This is one of those books that will have you twisting and turning and not knowing which way is up. It is full of suspense, thrills and drama and it is a true page-turner. It is haunting in more ways then one and there is so much mystery surrounding this small community that you will want to pay attention so you can see what is happening.

A great read, well paced and well developed characters makes this a book to be on your TBR pike for sure.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book was very good! I loved the suspense and the characters! I would definitely recommend and I’m excited to read other titles by this author!

In this gripping thriller-mystery novel, Valerie Keogh transports readers to a quiet town in the English countryside, where Cassie, recently widowed, undertakes the restoration of the dilapidated Hindon House. Initially focused on moving forward after her husband's death and breathing new life into the old property, Cassie soon finds herself entangled in a series of mysterious events. The villagers' strange reactions contribute to an eerie atmosphere, intensifying the thriller aspect of the narrative.

As Cassie delves into the renovations, the novel unfolds, revealing a complex and mysterious web of relationships, emotions, and the dark history surrounding Hindon House and the village. Keogh's skillful characterization and vivid setting propel the story forward, infusing tension into the narrative. The interactions among the characters, their enigmatic pasts, and Cassie's evolving understanding of them play a central role in shaping the mystery and uncovering the secrets that lie hidden.

"The House Keeper" masterfully immerses readers in the charm of an English village with a sinister past, keeping them engaged through lively characters and the allure of mysterious, vague histories. With its captivating storyline, Keogh's novel stands as a testament to her prowess in the thriller genre and serves as an excellent introduction to her body of work.

This book started off slow for me, and I had to put it down and keep going back to it. Claire ends up stalking Hannah, who she hasn't seen in quite some time and becomes obsessed with her.

Hannah is living a life that Claire feels should belong to her. She used to be thin and beautiful and has now gained weight and her appearance looks different, which is why Hannah doesn't recognize her when she becomes her housekeeper.

Overall a good twist/thriller, and I would recommend.

When Cassie moves out to the country to get away after her husband, sudden death. She finally makes her dream come true, and opens a B&B. But the house she picks ends up being a perfect character for this mystery sorry full of twists and turns the plots it keeps you guessing..