This one was a mixed experience for me. Some parts had me hooked while others felt rushed, confusing & easy to skip. I also didn’t find the characters particularly likeable. The premise was promising but the execution fell a bit short. That said, I didn’t dislike the book & I’d still recommend it, it just didn’t leave a lasting impression.

If you're thinking this is just another version of Frieda McFadden’s The Housemaid
then think again, this story brings a unique tale of secrets and betrayal, with so many layers interwoven to keep you gripped to the last page.

It took me a little while to get in to but I felt like this was deliberate in order to pull together so many different threads. Once I was captured though could not put it down.
I would most definitely recommend this book to any one who loves an intricately woven mysterious easy read.

This was my first book by this author. It wont be my last. I liked how she wove the story. It was done in a unique way. I feel like maid books are really popular right now but this one was different.

This is the 1st book I have read by Mary Watson and I really liked it!

I really liked this book and it was amazing! Without revealing too much, there were so many layers to this story and I found myself more interested with each one!

I really liked this book and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a great read full of twists and secrets.

The Cleaner is a debut adult novel anyone woman looking to have her revenge.
Esmie leaves her home and country, and travels to Ireland. She becomes a cleaner to three houses on the woodlands. It’s quite an isolated area. As she spends time with each household, she gathers the information she needs to exact her revenge on the right person.
It took until around half way through before this story really took off. It had a life of its own,and it really gripped me! I had to read to the end to find the answers I needed!
Many thanks to Random House for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #RandomHouseUk, #Marym_Watson.

Well written slow burn.

The twist at the end makes it worth reading, I did overall enjoy this book.

This book sounded right up my street.
Esmie is a cleaner in a small private group of houses. She has furtively managed to gain the trust of all the residents, but she’s not really there to clean, she’s on a mission. Her brother, Nico, had come to Ireland to study but having gotten himself involved with someone who lives here his life took a destructive turn and so Esmie is here for revenge.
I have to be honest this story never really took off for me. Every character was awful, they had no redeeming qualities, but that in its self is not the main reason. I felt the book lacked any great depth and honestly by the end I didn’t care what happened. So for me this is a 2⭐️book. Like I said at the start the premise of the story is good but it was too long and not enough hook and twist for me.
Many thanks to #NetGalley for my ARC of this book.

I really enjoyed this book.
It was gripping, easy to read and it kept my interest.
Would definitely read from this author again.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

Wow… kept my attention from the first chapter. Elements of surprise! Story was fantastic!

Will definitely be reading more of this author

The Cleaner by Mary Watson is a story of justice or possibly vengeance. It is the author’s debut adult novel. Esmie is Nico’s sister and she has come to this country to find out who Nico was having an affair with and who supplied him with the drugs he later became addicted to.
She is working at The Woodlands gated community as a cleaner because here she will find the answers to her questions and then she can return home to Nico, who is now in a coma.
As a cleaner she is invisible to the residents of Woodlands and she learns all of their secrets, behaviours and lies. None of the characters in this sinister story are particularly likeable and in the climax of the story, the reader will see that everyone connected to Nico, will be suitably punished.
Highly recommended

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK for this eCopy to review

The Cleaner is a gripping domestic thriller that delves into the dark underbelly of seemingly perfect lives. The story follows Esmie, a cleaner with a foreign accent, who works in the exclusive Woodlands gated neighbourhood. On the surface, Esmie's job is to tidy up after the wealthy residents, but her true mission is far more sinister.

As Esmie moves through the homes of the privileged, she uncovers secrets of broken marriages, quiet deceptions, and careless failures. However, her primary motivation is revenge. One of the residents took away the person she loves most, and Esmie is determined to get her retribution using the secrets she finds along the way.

Watson's writing is beautifully atmospheric, creating a tense and immersive reading experience. The descriptions of Esmie's meticulous cleaning process and the secrets she uncovers are both chilling and captivating. The plot twists are unexpected and keep the reader guessing until the very end.

Overall, The Cleaner is a compelling read for fans of domestic thrillers. Watson's ability to blend suspense with dark, visceral storytelling makes this novel stand out.

I was attracted to this story by the concept of a cleaner (to the wealthy) collecting secrets. The idea that a cleaner is unassuming, nobody pays attention to them yet their knowledge of their clients goes deeper than they would dare to imagine.

Esmie is a brilliant character. Deceitful, jealous, driven by revenge yet unassuming and sweet to those who see her. Wanting to get revenge for her brother Nico’s downfall, Esmie sets about collecting as much information as possible about the inhabitants of The Woodlands. Here unfolds a captivating mystery full of complex, layered relationships between a series of both likeable and unlikeable characters. There were so many reveals that I stopped anticipating what would happen and just enjoyed the ride.

This one definitely kept me guessing and I enjoyed how dark and complex things got as the story developed. A great adult debut from Mary Watson!

Thank you to Random House UK, Mary Watson and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Esmie is on a mission to uncover what happened to her brother Nico. To do so, she infiltrates the lives of residents in the gated community where he lived.

Although the plot had potential, the pace was too sluggish and failed to keep my interest. I found it difficult to push through and finish reading this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free copy of the book.

I really enjoyed this book - I thought that it was incredibly well written and really placed me in the moment.

The plot drew me in and there were plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing as to how the book was going to end.

I have since bought anoter version of this book for my wife to enjoy!

I enjoyed this book, it was well written with an intriguing plot. It kept my attention throughout. It had elements of suspense and I found it twisty. I definitely would be interested in reading more of this authors work.

I loved the premise of the book and the front cover is amazing, really draws you in! This is a tale of revenge and whilst I did enjoy it, at times it felt long and a little chaotic. The characters were well written and all of them truly unlikeable, but I always think that’s a sign of good writing. I figured out what was going on about half way through, and whilst I knew it didn’t make the ending any less enjoyable.

A gripping read - it certainly made me want to read on, even though I didn't like any of the characters and it felt a little stressful at times. I liked the flashbacks and how we slowly learnt what had brought Esmie to The Woodlands.

I found the premise intriguing, and the book lived up to my expectations.

The plot had twists, it kept me interested and I enjoyed the journey.

The characters sparked feelings, which is always a good sign.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

A great story of Esmie told in two timelines. Revenge, suspense and unpleasant characters makes this a worthwhile read.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review

Mary Watson's The Cleaner is an absolutely gripping read! It's a dark and twisty psychological thriller that blends mystery, suspense, and a slow-burning story of grief and revenge. The story follows Esmie, a quiet cleaner in a little Irish village, and flips between her present-day life and glimpses of her past. The way the story unfolds keeps you turning the pages as you slowly piece everything together. Watson uses a back-and-forth approach to reveal Esmie's past as her current-day plans unravel. It works really well to build suspense, though I'll admit, jumping between timelines might feel a bit confusing now and then.

Esmie is such a fascinating character and you can totally understand her motives, but at the same time, they’re a little unsettling. The themes of grief, betrayal, and revenge are explored so well, and Watson’s writing really pulls you in. Her descriptions are so vivid that you can picture the lush Irish countryside and the grand houses of The Woodlands perfectly. At times, the descriptions might feel too detailed, but it didn’t bother me much because it added to the atmosphere.

It’s one of those books that stays with you even after you’ve finished. The ending might feel a bit rushed for some, but overall, it packs a punch and leaves you thinking about the characters long after. A fantastic debut adult novel from Mary Watson.