"The Cleaner" by Mary Watson is an outstanding adult novel debut. As promised author delivers very complex plot with dark and atmospheric twist. It is incredible picture of family links, jealousy, secrets and revenge. Likeable characters are changing with each exposed secret and teaching us that we all have darkness within. It is definitely well thought book and deserves 5 stars.

Description :
Esmie is supposed to be invisible. Just a cleaner with a foreign accent that no one quite has time to place. Her uniform of leggings and a duster allows her to explore the homes of the wealthy, unseen; an outsider creeping around the edges of privilege.

But as she sweeps through the exclusive Woodlands gated neighbourhood, cleaning is the last thing on her mind. Treading silently over the polished wooden floorboards and cloud-soft carpets, Esmie gathers up the mess of broken marriages, quiet deceptions and careless failures. She tucks away their fragments, keeping them safe. For now.

Because one of the residents took from her the person she loves most. She’s not here to clean; she’s here for revenge – and she’ll get it using the weapons her employers unwittingly handed her along with the keys to their homes: their own secrets…

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for giving me the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

Esmie is a cleaner for an exclusive neighbourhood in Ireland. Wearing plain t-shirts and leggings, Esmie is invisible to the privileged families who live at The Woodlands.

But Esmie isn’t really a cleaner. She’s only there for one thing, revenge. Quietly sneaking around and scrambling for pieces of information, Esmie soon finds herself entangled in the lives of the people that she came to destroy.

The Cleaner is Mary Watson’s debut adult book. I read this in less than one day, a real page turner. Full of thoroughly dislikeable people, plot twists and a few surprises along the way.

3.5 stars


What a bunch of thoroughly dislikeable people.
With their secrets and obsessions, lies and manipulations.
We know from the start Esmie is out yo discover what happened to her brother Nico in this small community, and becoming the cleaner, someone who hardly gets noticed is perfect cover.
She unearths a few surprises along the way, which was entertaining.
An enjoyable read.

In the Woodlands gated community, the well heeled never notice the hired help. Put on an overall and leggings, and brandish a duster, and it renders you invisible.

Esmie is there to clean up. Not just the detritus of the lives which are less than perfect the closer you look. She's there for revenge.

And her weapons of choice are the secrets that the Woodlands residents try to keep hidden.

Excellent