As with any good heist book or movie, we have only partial advance views of the plan, and Hay’s writing makes our experience of the actual execution a ton of fun. What gives it an extra dimension are the varying, and at times competing, motivations of the women. When Mrs King, housekeeper to the most illustrious home in Mayfair, is suddenly dismissed after years of loyal service, she knows just who to recruit to help her take revenge. Of course, things rarely go exactly according to plan, and there are hiccups along the way. The night of the ball is fraught with difficulties, and Mrs. King and her team of workers must adapt and think on their feet to escape the notice of others. Alex Hay’s debut novel The Housekeepers won the 2022 Caledonia Novel Award. This upstairs versus downstairs tale is filled with issues of power, inequality, class tensions and personal revenge. A historical romp with plenty of fanciful events, readers of good old fashioned mystery novels will appreciate The Housekeepers.

The Housekeepers by Alex Hay | Hachette UK

Set in 1905 (but often with a more Victorian era vibe), from the blurb I expected a story about a good 'ol heist with a nod to Upstairs Downstairs. But the execution of the story, with its myriad of characters and subplots fell far short of my expectations. Named a Best Book of Summer by The Washington Post * Good Housekeeping * Harper's Bazaar * Reader's Digest On paper, this premise sounds wonderful to my ears. Historical fiction is among my favourite genres and an all-woman gang planning a revenge heist promises a delectable treat. However, a successful heist story ought to be simultaneously complicated and believable. That doesn't happen with this book, which ends up simplistic and farfetched.The twists or secrets were not that big, in my opinion, and, at the end, it all felt farfetched. Also, the reason for the heist was a bit weak and unrealistic. Unfortunately, for me, it did not all add up. It is largely a character driven book and with a long (read, ‘huge’) cast of characters to contend with. The pace is slow in places and the heist itself falls a little flat for me. There was a great deal more going on than the premise suggested and with that large cast, I found it difficult to not only keep tabs but also be invested and therefore thrilled by proceedings.

The Housekeepers: A Novel - Alex Hay - Google Books

When Mrs King, the respected housekeeper in one of the grandest homes in Mayfair, is suddenly dismissed from her post, she decides to take action— by stripping the place bare. This is a heist story, and like all the best heist stories, it starts kind of in the middle. In this particular story it starts with a beginning AND an ending, although neither is either the beginning or the ending of the story. The latest to join this roster is Alex Hay’s debut novel, The Housekeepers, an Edwardian-era-set (1905 to be specific) heist thriller that enlists a group of lower-class women, all entrapped or debased by societal systems, to steal from the household of a wealthy scion of a new money family, creating an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable story set for mass appeal. I was intrigued by the plot, setting and period - the promise of a good heist from a wealthy London mansion - all very ‘upstairs and downstairs’ vibes. There are secrets and revelations to keep readers engaged as the countdown to the big day plays out. How are the various characters connected? Why is Mrs King so driven? Is this plan feasible? The rich house descriptions and eclectic group of characters are certainly unique. They say that history has been largely told by men, but over the past few years crime writers have been throwing light on a hidden past, where women have the starring roles on both sides of the law. The Housekeepers by Alex Hay is an excellent case in point. Get ready to be taken away to Edwardian London for a unique heist story in the author’s debut novel.

I’ve read a criticism that there is an inappropriate 21st century sensibility in the book, but I think that’s slightly off point. It’s true that contemporary idioms pop up from time to time, but they didn’t really bother me. And at times there are words or concepts that seem out of place for a young woman with a minimal education, but that would be true regardless of whether the book was set in the early 20th or 21st century. Still, if you are intrigued and looking for a fun read with elements of mystery, robbery and an eclectic cast then this may well be the book for you. Just as plans are put in place to host the ball of the season, the respected housekeeper of a sumptuous abode in Mayfair is suddenly fired after years of loyal service. Understandably disgruntled with the move, Mrs King enacts a plan of revenge to send a clear message to her previous employers. As Mrs King assembles a small army of worthy accomplices, the scene is set for plenty of trouble, along with secrets to expose. Will Mrs King’s daring plan work and mor Enter Dinah King (or Mrs. King as she’s referred to throughout the story), housekeeper to the late Mr. de Vries, who has been dismissed from her position and seizes the opportunity to exact her revenge by planning the most daring robbery of the century under the very nose of Miss de Vries and her privileged invitees.

The Housekeepers by Alex Hay - Fantastic Fiction The Housekeepers by Alex Hay - Fantastic Fiction

Alex Hay commented: “I couldn’t be happier that The Housekeepers has found such a perfect home with Frankie and the team at Headline.

Ocean’s Eight meets Downton Abbey! Well, maybe an Ocean’s Eight/Ocean’s Thirteen hybrid, since there are a couple of revenge elements involved. With the countdown of the days to the costume ball, they set up the scam with the help of Mrs. King’s sister Alice, Winnie, the two Janes, Sue and Hephzibah. All take incredible skills to the table which will be used to prepare for the night and work the steal before, during and after the Ball. And practice makes perfect!

The Housekeepers | Alex Hay | 9781525805004 | NetGalley The Housekeepers | Alex Hay | 9781525805004 | NetGalley

The novel, which won the Caledonia Novel Award 2022, follows the story of Mrs King, who on being unfairly dismissed from her position as a housekeeper in one of the grandest houses in London recruits an eclectic group of women from the fringes of society to launch an audacious robbery and enact her revenge. I absolutely love historical fiction, so I’ve given it four stars –for its terrific plot, intelligent descriptive writing and beautiful setting, but I’d need a lot more character development and a ratcheting up of the tension for it to score any higher.Despite years of service, Mrs King is unceremoniously dismissed from her role as housekeeper at the de Vries residence on Park Lane in Mayfair. Mr Shepherd, the Butler, has advised the lady of the house, Miss de Vries, that Mrs King was seen entering the male quarters the night before. An example must be made; no whiff of impropriety can stain the reputation of the de Vries family. This book was right up my dark and devious alley. I have always been one to champion the underdog and while Mrs King may seem to be exactly that, she is not to be underestimated. Her plot bands together a fantastic group of women that made my feminist little heart want to own a petticoat containing a secret plan too. I loved the premise of the story but for me, it lost its excitement and momentum halfway through but thankfully regained its buzz and hyper towards the end. I found I couldn’t connect to some of the characters, but found others complex and brilliant and that overpowered the negative. Returning to her criminal roots and the world of con artists and thrives that raised her, Mrs King recruits an eclectic group of women, each seeking their own form of revenge. Revenge is sweet and this group of eclectic women intend to get theirs. Mrs King was the housekeeper for William des Vires until the butler found her in the men's quarters after hours. Thrown out on the streets, Mrs King plans her revenge and calls in the favours she's owed to pull off the biggest heist - stealing all the contents of the grandest house on Park Lane while a ball is taking place. This is a historical work of fiction set in 1905. The author has definitely done his research on what it was like living below stairs in Edwardian London. The females are strong, likeable characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel.