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The Housekeeper
In this enthralling novel—already in production as a major movie starring Anthony Hopkins, Helena Bonham Carter, Catriona Balph and Emma Laird— the award-winning author of Absolutely & Forever and The Road Home brilliantly reimagines Daphne du Maurier, and the origins of her timeless bestseller Rebecca. This daring and emotional tale of an illicit affair is narrated by a Mrs. Danowski, known as Danni, who is hired as housekeeper at Manderville Hall, Lord Grenville-Whithers’ mansion on the wild coast of Cornwall. A loyal and lonely woman troubled by childhood memories of alienation, Danni dreams of finding love. Those dreams are fulfilled when Daphne du Maurier arrives at Manderville Hall for lunch with Grenville-Whithers. Succumbing to her secret sexual desire for women, Daphne begins a love affair with Danni, meeting on the housekeeper’s days off in the secluded boathouse at Manderville Cove. For both women, this forbidden passion is both beautiful and terrifying. But of course such a love cannot last—and both Danni and Daphne must deal with the aftermath of their passion. While Danni struggles to find a new place in the world, Daphne reconfigures the experience into her most famous work, Rebecca, with surprising results.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published September 17, 2026
About the author
Rose Tremain
86 books1,211 followersDame Rose Tremain is an acclaimed English novelist and short story writer, celebrated for her distinctive approach to historical fiction and her focus on characters who exist on the margins of society. Educated at the Sorbonne and the University of East Anglia, where she later taught creative writing and served as Chancellor, Tremain has produced a rich body of work spanning novels, short stories, plays, and memoir. Influenced by writers such as William Golding and Gabriel García Márquez, her narratives often blend psychological depth with lyrical prose.
Among her many honors, she has received the Whitbread Award for Music and Silence, the Orange Prize for The Road Home, and the National Jewish Book Award for The Gustav Sonata. She was shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Restoration and has been recognized multiple times by the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. In 2020, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her services to literature. Tremain lives in Norfolk and continues to write, with her recent novel Absolutely and Forever shortlisted for the 2024 Walter Scott Prize.
Among her many honors, she has received the Whitbread Award for Music and Silence, the Orange Prize for The Road Home, and the National Jewish Book Award for The Gustav Sonata. She was shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Restoration and has been recognized multiple times by the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. In 2020, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her services to literature. Tremain lives in Norfolk and continues to write, with her recent novel Absolutely and Forever shortlisted for the 2024 Walter Scott Prize.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"...That was a statement my father used to utter frequently, that we only have one life, but he used to add something else, He used to say, 'The secret of a successful One Life is to cram many lives into it. As many as possible.'"
Over many years, Rose Tremain has written some superb novels- Restoration; The Road home and The Gustav Sonata to name but three.
The Housekeeper will join this compendium of fictional brilliance.
This is a tale that imagines the creation behind Daphne Du Maurier's phenomenal novel "Rebecca".
This is a novel of suppressed love and emotions told from the perspective of Lillian Danowski- Danni the Housekeeper at Manderville Hall. When Daphne du Maurier visits the hall, Danni is requested by Lord Grenville- Whithers to accompany the writer on a tour of the estate; a fire is lit and an all consuming but forbidden passion begins.
As changes occur at Manderville Hall, Danni's life is thrown into turmoil and a subsequent exit. Throughout the events of the story, she reminisces about her childhood in Poland as Jewish girl and subsequent escape with her father- the rejection, not belonging and not being accepted for who she is.
The story of Danni is heart-breaking but with moments of light and understanding. The ultimate rejection and treatment by the writer is compelling and cleverly delivered.... darkly summed up in the line " Do you think I will ever find it, Danni? The key to a story which no one will ever forget?"
This is a beautiful novel laced with melancholy - an awareness that the path taken can never succeed despite the power of imagination and every moment of happiness should be seized . Full of period details , class division and social history from the late 1930s with WWII on the horizon- the lives of the fortunates and less fortunates in all strata. This a is gripping read that pulled me in and one I couldn't put down. Rose Tremain is the consummate storyteller.
A film version of the novel is due to be released in the autumn which will be interesting - written by Rose Tremain
" Learn from them Lilianne. Learn animal endurance. Learn stillness. Then your life will consider much less to disappoint you."
"Sometimes we become the thing which others see in us. It felt to me that nothing remained for me except to embrace this darkness."
Thank you to Chatto & Windus and NetGalley for the advance copy for an honest review
Over many years, Rose Tremain has written some superb novels- Restoration; The Road home and The Gustav Sonata to name but three.
The Housekeeper will join this compendium of fictional brilliance.
This is a tale that imagines the creation behind Daphne Du Maurier's phenomenal novel "Rebecca".
This is a novel of suppressed love and emotions told from the perspective of Lillian Danowski- Danni the Housekeeper at Manderville Hall. When Daphne du Maurier visits the hall, Danni is requested by Lord Grenville- Whithers to accompany the writer on a tour of the estate; a fire is lit and an all consuming but forbidden passion begins.
As changes occur at Manderville Hall, Danni's life is thrown into turmoil and a subsequent exit. Throughout the events of the story, she reminisces about her childhood in Poland as Jewish girl and subsequent escape with her father- the rejection, not belonging and not being accepted for who she is.
The story of Danni is heart-breaking but with moments of light and understanding. The ultimate rejection and treatment by the writer is compelling and cleverly delivered.... darkly summed up in the line " Do you think I will ever find it, Danni? The key to a story which no one will ever forget?"
This is a beautiful novel laced with melancholy - an awareness that the path taken can never succeed despite the power of imagination and every moment of happiness should be seized . Full of period details , class division and social history from the late 1930s with WWII on the horizon- the lives of the fortunates and less fortunates in all strata. This a is gripping read that pulled me in and one I couldn't put down. Rose Tremain is the consummate storyteller.
A film version of the novel is due to be released in the autumn which will be interesting - written by Rose Tremain
" Learn from them Lilianne. Learn animal endurance. Learn stillness. Then your life will consider much less to disappoint you."
"Sometimes we become the thing which others see in us. It felt to me that nothing remained for me except to embrace this darkness."
Thank you to Chatto & Windus and NetGalley for the advance copy for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
'Birds! How terrifying if, one day, they thought we were prey and started to attack us. It might signal the end of us all.'
From the afterword, it seems that Tremain has been thinking continually about Mrs Danvers: first in a short story ('The Housekeeper' in The American Lover) then in a screenplay and, finally, now as a novel. I can't help wondering if this re-engagement has emptied out, rather than deepened, the engagement with Du Maurier and her fictional Mrs Danvers?
I was intrigued by the blurb and the idea of a novel which merges a reception of Rebecca with an engagement with Daphne du Maurier and her complicated sexuality. But, from the opening line, 'Last night I dreamed I saw Daphne again', spoken by the narrator, Lilianne Maria Danowski, the Polish Jewish housekeeper who, in the fiction, becomes transformed by Du Maurier into Mrs Danvers, we got off on the wrong foot: aping the iconic first line of Rebecca in this way felt way too obvious to me (as, indeed, did that scene of Daphne musing on the birds in the head quotation here).
As a reception of Rebecca, this certainly picks up on the queer eroticism of the original, as well as Du Maurier's affairs with women, something she identified as the 'boy' within her. But the psychology that makes the fictional author re-write Dani as a malign character didn't really work for me - and Rebecca has always contained a shadow-text that makes Mrs Danvers more the grieving widow for Rebecca than Max - the passionate beating heart of the text that can only end in emotional and physical conflagration.
I don't know: in the end, I think Rebecca is a hugely complicated and deceptive (in the best way!) text and this re-writing felt far simpler than I'd hoped. I felt that the wonderful concept at the heart of this re-writing didn't really come together and I wasn't wholly convinced by either the characters or the premise. Given the network of intertexts that already surround Rebecca, from its own reception of Jane Eyre to the companion-text of Wide Sargasso Sea which is a postcolonial and feminist insert into the Jane Eyre story, this re-visioning didn't stand up to its predecessors in the complex way I wanted.
Definitely still worth a read for fans of either Rebecca or Du Maurier. And, for anyone interested, here is my take on Rebecca.
Many thanks to Vintage for an ARC via NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Lilianne Maria Danowski, Mrs Danowski known as Mrs D or Danni, is the housekeeper at Manderville Hall in the employ of widower Lord Grenville-Whithers. One day the writer Daphne du Maurier visits the Hall seeking inspiration and research for her latest novel. She and Danni are very attracted to each other and begin a secret affair. However, their secret is a fragile thing and great care must be taken because judgement will be swift and unkind. Things take a turn for the worse when Mrs D discovers that her portrayal in Daphne’s new novel is of a malign, chilling and jealous figure. She decides to turn the tables on the author with a story of our own and thus The Housekeeper is born. Her life has been stolen and now she will set the record straight.
These are BIG boots to fill as like many Daphne du Maurier fans, Rebecca is one of my favourite novels of all time, indeed, it’s in my top five. However, this is Rose Tremain and in these capable, creative hands the legacy is safe. It feels authentic, believable and the storytelling is vivid with some aspects of the novel that are rooted in fact. It also conveys the late 1930’s to perfection, especially in what society believes and expects which adds to the feeling the novel evokes. As for Cornwall, its unique atmosphere comes through strongly, adding another dimension.
The author strikes a number of intriguing tones throughout the novel. There are highs and lows, light and shade, the joy and the heartache, the passion and its suppression, with the pain of jealousy and betrayal but overall, the feeling is one of sadness and melancholy, of weariness, resignation and loneliness. There’s also resilience for both women.
The portrayal of Mrs D as oppose to Mrs Danvers is a fascinating contrast and Daphne positively bounces off the pages. I can picture both with ease.
Overall, I’m totally caught up in this book, it’s a really good tribute and homage, capturing the spirit of the times, of Manderville and Manderley. If you’re a fan of Daphne du Maurier it’s well worth a read. As for that cover, if that doesn’t draw people in, I don’t know what will! It sends shivers down my spine
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Chatto and Windus - Random House U.K. /Vintage for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
These are BIG boots to fill as like many Daphne du Maurier fans, Rebecca is one of my favourite novels of all time, indeed, it’s in my top five. However, this is Rose Tremain and in these capable, creative hands the legacy is safe. It feels authentic, believable and the storytelling is vivid with some aspects of the novel that are rooted in fact. It also conveys the late 1930’s to perfection, especially in what society believes and expects which adds to the feeling the novel evokes. As for Cornwall, its unique atmosphere comes through strongly, adding another dimension.
The author strikes a number of intriguing tones throughout the novel. There are highs and lows, light and shade, the joy and the heartache, the passion and its suppression, with the pain of jealousy and betrayal but overall, the feeling is one of sadness and melancholy, of weariness, resignation and loneliness. There’s also resilience for both women.
The portrayal of Mrs D as oppose to Mrs Danvers is a fascinating contrast and Daphne positively bounces off the pages. I can picture both with ease.
Overall, I’m totally caught up in this book, it’s a really good tribute and homage, capturing the spirit of the times, of Manderville and Manderley. If you’re a fan of Daphne du Maurier it’s well worth a read. As for that cover, if that doesn’t draw people in, I don’t know what will! It sends shivers down my spine
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Chatto and Windus - Random House U.K. /Vintage for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
September 18, 2026
Many years ago I came across a copy of Daphne du Maurier’s book, The Rebecca Notebook & Other Memories. In her chapter on Rebecca, she describes how during the course of writing the book the character of Mrs Danvers became more sinister, noting ‘Why, I have no idea’.
In The Housekeeper, Rose Tremain provides an answer to that question, namely that it was the result of the breakdown of a passionate affair between Daphne du Maurier and the housekeeper of Manderville Hall, Mrs Danowski, known as Danni. Danni is the author’s fictional creation but the book borrows much from the real life of Daphne du Maurier, such as the fact she had affairs with women.
I very much enjoyed the back story the author creates for Danni. Brought up in Poland in a Jewish family, she is shunned and subjected to abuse by her schoolmates. Her instinct becomes to hide her true feelings, leaving her something of an outsider. Tutored by her tailor father, her skills as a dressmaker eventually bring her to the attention of Lady Edwina Grenville-Whithers, owner of Manderville Hall where she takes up the role of housekeeper. Danni was devoted to Edwina, her role becoming more like personal maid and confidante rather than merely supremely efficient housekeeper. But now Edwina is dead and Lord Grenville-Whithers, known as Perry, is grief-stricken and the future of Mandeville Hall now uncertain because there is no direct heir. Enter Daphne du Maurier to further disrupt life at Mandeville Hall.
Within seconds of their meeting, Danni feels a strong physical attraction to Daphne. It’s reciprocated and in the blink of an eye they’re in a full-on sexual relationship. I must admit I found the speed with which their relationship developed rather implausible. As Danni relates it – because we only ever hear her side of the story – their relationship allows Daphne to free the ‘boy’ within her and achieve complete sexual satisfaction, something she assures Danni she doesn’t experience with her husband, Frederick Browning. (Incidentally his nickname was ‘Boy’.). Daphne is a demanding and voracious lover, seeking to monopolise any spare moment of Danni’s time to ‘wax’, Daphne’s rather cloying term for having sex. When Daphne believes she has been betrayed by Danni she responds in an act of literary revenge and, fearing that their relationship may damage her reputation should it become public, shuns Danni completely.
My main issue with the book was the way the author chose to characterise Daphne du Maurier, a real person. I would have felt far more comfortable if the novel had explored the intimate relationship between Mrs Danvers and Rebecca some feel is hinted at in du Maurier’s book. Would I be alone in thinking Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys, which expands on the character of Bertha Mason, Mr Rochester’s first wife in Jane Eyre, is preferable to a novel which imagines Charlotte Brontë having an affair with a woman who, when it ends badly, is immortalised as the ‘madwoman in the attic’ of her most well-loved book? (I hope I haven’t given an author an idea there…)
In case this sounds as if I disliked The Housekeeper, there were many aspects of the book I loved. I thought Perry was a wonderful character and found his grief at Edwina’s death intensely moving. I also felt the story developed in interesting ways following Danni’s departure from Manderville Hall. In fact, some aspects made the relationship between Danni and Daphne more believeable in retrospect.
There are many echoes of Rebecca in the book from the location of Daphne and Danni’s trysts to the costume ball during which a pivotal event occurs. Tremain also refashions the famous first line of Rebecca, ‘Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again’. As the fictional Daphne ruefully admits, writers are ‘terrible thieves and pickpockets’.
In The Housekeeper, Rose Tremain provides an answer to that question, namely that it was the result of the breakdown of a passionate affair between Daphne du Maurier and the housekeeper of Manderville Hall, Mrs Danowski, known as Danni. Danni is the author’s fictional creation but the book borrows much from the real life of Daphne du Maurier, such as the fact she had affairs with women.
I very much enjoyed the back story the author creates for Danni. Brought up in Poland in a Jewish family, she is shunned and subjected to abuse by her schoolmates. Her instinct becomes to hide her true feelings, leaving her something of an outsider. Tutored by her tailor father, her skills as a dressmaker eventually bring her to the attention of Lady Edwina Grenville-Whithers, owner of Manderville Hall where she takes up the role of housekeeper. Danni was devoted to Edwina, her role becoming more like personal maid and confidante rather than merely supremely efficient housekeeper. But now Edwina is dead and Lord Grenville-Whithers, known as Perry, is grief-stricken and the future of Mandeville Hall now uncertain because there is no direct heir. Enter Daphne du Maurier to further disrupt life at Mandeville Hall.
Within seconds of their meeting, Danni feels a strong physical attraction to Daphne. It’s reciprocated and in the blink of an eye they’re in a full-on sexual relationship. I must admit I found the speed with which their relationship developed rather implausible. As Danni relates it – because we only ever hear her side of the story – their relationship allows Daphne to free the ‘boy’ within her and achieve complete sexual satisfaction, something she assures Danni she doesn’t experience with her husband, Frederick Browning. (Incidentally his nickname was ‘Boy’.). Daphne is a demanding and voracious lover, seeking to monopolise any spare moment of Danni’s time to ‘wax’, Daphne’s rather cloying term for having sex. When Daphne believes she has been betrayed by Danni she responds in an act of literary revenge and, fearing that their relationship may damage her reputation should it become public, shuns Danni completely.
My main issue with the book was the way the author chose to characterise Daphne du Maurier, a real person. I would have felt far more comfortable if the novel had explored the intimate relationship between Mrs Danvers and Rebecca some feel is hinted at in du Maurier’s book. Would I be alone in thinking Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys, which expands on the character of Bertha Mason, Mr Rochester’s first wife in Jane Eyre, is preferable to a novel which imagines Charlotte Brontë having an affair with a woman who, when it ends badly, is immortalised as the ‘madwoman in the attic’ of her most well-loved book? (I hope I haven’t given an author an idea there…)
In case this sounds as if I disliked The Housekeeper, there were many aspects of the book I loved. I thought Perry was a wonderful character and found his grief at Edwina’s death intensely moving. I also felt the story developed in interesting ways following Danni’s departure from Manderville Hall. In fact, some aspects made the relationship between Danni and Daphne more believeable in retrospect.
There are many echoes of Rebecca in the book from the location of Daphne and Danni’s trysts to the costume ball during which a pivotal event occurs. Tremain also refashions the famous first line of Rebecca, ‘Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again’. As the fictional Daphne ruefully admits, writers are ‘terrible thieves and pickpockets’.
Did Not Finish
October 29, 2026DNF at 50%.
I went in expecting to love this book. This was to be Rebecca from Mrs. Danvers viewpoint. Instead I got a story of a passionate love affair between Daphne du Maurier and the Hosusekeeper (Danni) that seemed to go on and on. I know Daphne is supposed to turn on Danni and make her the evil Mrs. Danvers in her book, but there is no way I was going to wade through more of the same/ same to get there.
I have never read a book by Rose Tremaine but I will revisit her at some later date as she is a good writer, but this story was just not working for me. Apparently, it started off as a short story, then written as a movie script- movie coming out this fall, and then became a novel. I bet it was a great short story.
Published: 2026
I went in expecting to love this book. This was to be Rebecca from Mrs. Danvers viewpoint. Instead I got a story of a passionate love affair between Daphne du Maurier and the Hosusekeeper (Danni) that seemed to go on and on. I know Daphne is supposed to turn on Danni and make her the evil Mrs. Danvers in her book, but there is no way I was going to wade through more of the same/ same to get there.
I have never read a book by Rose Tremaine but I will revisit her at some later date as she is a good writer, but this story was just not working for me. Apparently, it started off as a short story, then written as a movie script- movie coming out this fall, and then became a novel. I bet it was a great short story.
Published: 2026
October 20, 2026
Цікавий рітелінг, але в памʼяті навряд чи відкладеться. Написано гарно, атмосферно, але сюжетно мало що відбувається. А останні сторінок 50 так взагалі вже зайві як на мене. Мені не відгукнулись страждання головної героїні, а сама Дафна Дюморʼє тут видалась якоюсь карикатурною. Проте фільм я мабуть таки подивлюсь як вийде.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars)
This was my first novel written by Rose Tremain and I gotta say that this imagined origin story for Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca has been SUCH a worthy read.
Lilianne Danowski, known as Mrs D or Danni, is the housekeeper at Manderville Hall. When du Maurier visits looking for inspiration, the two women are drawn into a secret affair in a world that would judge them rather swiftly and harshly. Then Danni discovers how the writer has portrayed her in a new novel...that is as a malign and jealous figure. And the Housekeeper is her way of taking her own story back.
As one probably gets from the beginning of this review, Danni is the heart of the book. Her pride in being an impeccable and respectable housekeeper pulls against a part of herself she has spent years suppressing, and her memories of growing up Jewish in Poland and of her father's counsel run through the story and give her real depth. I felt her so many emotions while reading her story, everything ranging from excitement to surprise to anger and sadness. Du Maurier herself is also lively on the page, though I sometimes found her a little less believable than Danni. As a fictionalised version, she works well enough though. Besides that, I want to point out that the atmosphere was done soooo wonderful. The late 1930s setting comes through in everything society expects of women, especially in the class divide between household and servants and the sense that those in service must set aside their own lives in a way. Cornwall as a place adds its own gothic mood there too then, and the echoes of Rebecca are a treat!
I have to admit though that I haven’t ever read the original so I cannot point out any easter eggs or stuff. But for the enjoyment of the boom this didn't matter at all. The book stands on its own, though fans of du Maurier will surely catch more layers (this might just also be my sign to pick up the original and re-read this one after, who knows?). The overall feeling of this book is melancholy, but one with moments of light. And speaking of that, the ending was really heartrending and entirely fitting.
I still want to say that the pace sometimes lagged in places, and the affair moved really quickly... I would’ve loved to see the relationship more drawn out so that the manipulation within it could burn a little longer. The acknowledgements explain that the novel grew out of a script Tremain wrote for an upcoming film, and that context did make sense of it. In a way this book did indeed read like a film brought to life on the page. I'd call it less a romance than a tragic, sapphic love story, and it's all the more compelling for that.
Overall, this was a beautifully written, gripping, and haunting book. And this is well worth reading, especially if you love Rebecca!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and voluntarily written review!
This was my first novel written by Rose Tremain and I gotta say that this imagined origin story for Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca has been SUCH a worthy read.
Lilianne Danowski, known as Mrs D or Danni, is the housekeeper at Manderville Hall. When du Maurier visits looking for inspiration, the two women are drawn into a secret affair in a world that would judge them rather swiftly and harshly. Then Danni discovers how the writer has portrayed her in a new novel...that is as a malign and jealous figure. And the Housekeeper is her way of taking her own story back.
As one probably gets from the beginning of this review, Danni is the heart of the book. Her pride in being an impeccable and respectable housekeeper pulls against a part of herself she has spent years suppressing, and her memories of growing up Jewish in Poland and of her father's counsel run through the story and give her real depth. I felt her so many emotions while reading her story, everything ranging from excitement to surprise to anger and sadness. Du Maurier herself is also lively on the page, though I sometimes found her a little less believable than Danni. As a fictionalised version, she works well enough though. Besides that, I want to point out that the atmosphere was done soooo wonderful. The late 1930s setting comes through in everything society expects of women, especially in the class divide between household and servants and the sense that those in service must set aside their own lives in a way. Cornwall as a place adds its own gothic mood there too then, and the echoes of Rebecca are a treat!
I have to admit though that I haven’t ever read the original so I cannot point out any easter eggs or stuff. But for the enjoyment of the boom this didn't matter at all. The book stands on its own, though fans of du Maurier will surely catch more layers (this might just also be my sign to pick up the original and re-read this one after, who knows?). The overall feeling of this book is melancholy, but one with moments of light. And speaking of that, the ending was really heartrending and entirely fitting.
I still want to say that the pace sometimes lagged in places, and the affair moved really quickly... I would’ve loved to see the relationship more drawn out so that the manipulation within it could burn a little longer. The acknowledgements explain that the novel grew out of a script Tremain wrote for an upcoming film, and that context did make sense of it. In a way this book did indeed read like a film brought to life on the page. I'd call it less a romance than a tragic, sapphic love story, and it's all the more compelling for that.
Overall, this was a beautifully written, gripping, and haunting book. And this is well worth reading, especially if you love Rebecca!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and voluntarily written review!
October 6, 2026
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
This book is an imagining of how Daphne de Maurier came to write Rebecca, and a movie adaptation will soon be released. It is also, like Rebecca, a slow and quiet book and does not have a traditional happy ending. And, much like many gothic romances, the love affair between Danni and Daphne is slightly toxic, mildly problematic, and fraught with peril as Danni falls in love with someone who will never truly love her back, not the the way she desires.
I think the book is at its best when the focus is on Danni and the house, Danni and Lord Percy, Danni and the staff … all the moments before and after a visit with Daphne.
The writing is lighter, smoother, and feels more genuine when the story is just focused on the historical foreshadowing of Rebecca and the life and times of a housekeeper.
If you’re a fan of Rebecca, or historical stories set pre- and on the cusp of WWII, you will find a great deal to enjoy in this book. But if you’re looking for a sapphic romance, you won’t find it here. This isn’t a romance; it’s a whirlwind affair that Danni gets caught up in, not always for the worse, but never for the better.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
This book is an imagining of how Daphne de Maurier came to write Rebecca, and a movie adaptation will soon be released. It is also, like Rebecca, a slow and quiet book and does not have a traditional happy ending. And, much like many gothic romances, the love affair between Danni and Daphne is slightly toxic, mildly problematic, and fraught with peril as Danni falls in love with someone who will never truly love her back, not the the way she desires.
I think the book is at its best when the focus is on Danni and the house, Danni and Lord Percy, Danni and the staff … all the moments before and after a visit with Daphne.
The writing is lighter, smoother, and feels more genuine when the story is just focused on the historical foreshadowing of Rebecca and the life and times of a housekeeper.
If you’re a fan of Rebecca, or historical stories set pre- and on the cusp of WWII, you will find a great deal to enjoy in this book. But if you’re looking for a sapphic romance, you won’t find it here. This isn’t a romance; it’s a whirlwind affair that Danni gets caught up in, not always for the worse, but never for the better.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
October 25, 2026
Danni for sure has a subscription to Delusional Premium
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.75 stars???
This was a great read and twist on how the inspiration of Rebecca apparently came to be.
It was an interesting take of Daphne, although I think she came across a lot different to how I could had imagined her from reading about Daphne many moons ago. But I like the idea of how Mrs Danvers came to be, the idea of Rebecca and the little bits of things she "stole" since she herself even said all writers are thieves. Loved it apart from the sudden dive into their relationship which was mainly the only things I felt could had gone on longer and also just as I mentioned how Daphne came across but as a fictional version of her it was great. Just would have loved their relationship and the manipulation to burn a little more.
Also the little nod to The Birds 🤌🤌🤌🤌
This was a great read and twist on how the inspiration of Rebecca apparently came to be.
It was an interesting take of Daphne, although I think she came across a lot different to how I could had imagined her from reading about Daphne many moons ago. But I like the idea of how Mrs Danvers came to be, the idea of Rebecca and the little bits of things she "stole" since she herself even said all writers are thieves. Loved it apart from the sudden dive into their relationship which was mainly the only things I felt could had gone on longer and also just as I mentioned how Daphne came across but as a fictional version of her it was great. Just would have loved their relationship and the manipulation to burn a little more.
Also the little nod to The Birds 🤌🤌🤌🤌
September 22, 2026
Really quite bad. Awful, poorly drawn characters getting to obvious, hammy plot points slowly. Really weird, I’ve loved Rose Tremain in the past but this is very basic, pulpy garbage. Like a children’s book with a bit of lesbian erotica thrown in.
Review of advance copy
Breathtaking. Devastating. An absolute must-read!
When it was announced that the Irish actress, Caitriona Balfe, would star in a movie being made from this book, I knew I had to read it. When I learned it was based off of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, I realized I needed to read that book, too. I just finished Rebecca on Monday evening and picked up The Housekeeper on Tuesday morning. It wasn't even close-of-business on Wednesday and I had finished Tremain's breathtaking, devastating story.
As a member of the LGBTIQ+ community, I'm tired of lesbian love stories that traumatize. And have no doubt: This book will traumatize you. But, unlike other books, you will also see and feel triumph and be left breathless to the last page. (Perhaps the beauty of the prose was impacted by my seeing Balfe's image in the role of Danni and knowing -- based on watching her in all 101 episodes of Outlander and loving her in every single scene -- that she will knock this role out of the park!)
Even without Balfe in my mind's eye, Tremain has done such a beautiful job writing characters who leap off the pages and settings that are tangible. You can smell the brackishness in the cove where Danni and Daphne meet for their forbidden trysts in the boathouse. In that secluded setting, you feel the light filter gently, but protectively, through the drawn curtains. You can see the beauty and peacefulness of Hampstead Heath and imagine the gentle, intimate, arm-in-arm conversations between two lovers who mask as close friends enjoying a brisk, winter stroll. Your heart stops when Adelaide makes a discovery that you know will not end well. You feel the suffocating sadness of Danni’s Truro workshop and the terror of Daphne’s reunion in the bookshop.
At the end, you feel the anguish and the forgiveness and the realization of who really owns the ugliness of Mrs Danvers in Rebecca.
And now, having written this brief, anorexic review, I think I may pick up The Housekeeper and read it again, but more slowly this time, savoring every word, knowing it will traumatize me (again), but also knowing that – at last – the responsibility for the supposed ugliness of being LGBTIQ+ is worn not by our community. Tremain’s beautiful reimagining releases those shackles from us and puts them back where they belong – on those of you who cannot see the triumph and beauty of love in all its forms, even when the story doesn't end the way your heart hopes and wishes it would.
P.S. I purchased this book through Waterstones UK. It isn't available in the US for a few more weeks.
When it was announced that the Irish actress, Caitriona Balfe, would star in a movie being made from this book, I knew I had to read it. When I learned it was based off of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, I realized I needed to read that book, too. I just finished Rebecca on Monday evening and picked up The Housekeeper on Tuesday morning. It wasn't even close-of-business on Wednesday and I had finished Tremain's breathtaking, devastating story.
As a member of the LGBTIQ+ community, I'm tired of lesbian love stories that traumatize. And have no doubt: This book will traumatize you. But, unlike other books, you will also see and feel triumph and be left breathless to the last page. (Perhaps the beauty of the prose was impacted by my seeing Balfe's image in the role of Danni and knowing -- based on watching her in all 101 episodes of Outlander and loving her in every single scene -- that she will knock this role out of the park!)
Even without Balfe in my mind's eye, Tremain has done such a beautiful job writing characters who leap off the pages and settings that are tangible. You can smell the brackishness in the cove where Danni and Daphne meet for their forbidden trysts in the boathouse. In that secluded setting, you feel the light filter gently, but protectively, through the drawn curtains. You can see the beauty and peacefulness of Hampstead Heath and imagine the gentle, intimate, arm-in-arm conversations between two lovers who mask as close friends enjoying a brisk, winter stroll. Your heart stops when Adelaide makes a discovery that you know will not end well. You feel the suffocating sadness of Danni’s Truro workshop and the terror of Daphne’s reunion in the bookshop.
At the end, you feel the anguish and the forgiveness and the realization of who really owns the ugliness of Mrs Danvers in Rebecca.
And now, having written this brief, anorexic review, I think I may pick up The Housekeeper and read it again, but more slowly this time, savoring every word, knowing it will traumatize me (again), but also knowing that – at last – the responsibility for the supposed ugliness of being LGBTIQ+ is worn not by our community. Tremain’s beautiful reimagining releases those shackles from us and puts them back where they belong – on those of you who cannot see the triumph and beauty of love in all its forms, even when the story doesn't end the way your heart hopes and wishes it would.
P.S. I purchased this book through Waterstones UK. It isn't available in the US for a few more weeks.
October 24, 2026
Interesting take on how a fictional character takes reins of their own storyline, and rewrites it, providing us readers a deeper insight of their "invisible story".
And isn't it ironic that the "character/author" is weaving thread at her machine, in front of a window... take the stage now Danowski and tell us how truly things went... and who you were.
The irony of this... I hated Daphne du Maurier as much as the housekeeper in Rebecca.
The Housekeeper as a servant... a servant to the rich... a servant for love. The melancholy of it. And the impossibility of happiness. It saddened me.... of how many use and abuse others for their own pleasures and vices. All of it combined with Jewish heritage, ostracism and the impeding WW2. At some point the book made me think of Virginia Woolf.
And now I am watching interviews of Daphne du Maurier... and waiting for the movie to be released.
I felt bad for the Housekeeper.
Interesting.
And isn't it ironic that the "character/author" is weaving thread at her machine, in front of a window... take the stage now Danowski and tell us how truly things went... and who you were.
The irony of this... I hated Daphne du Maurier as much as the housekeeper in Rebecca.
The Housekeeper as a servant... a servant to the rich... a servant for love. The melancholy of it. And the impossibility of happiness. It saddened me.... of how many use and abuse others for their own pleasures and vices. All of it combined with Jewish heritage, ostracism and the impeding WW2. At some point the book made me think of Virginia Woolf.
And now I am watching interviews of Daphne du Maurier... and waiting for the movie to be released.
I felt bad for the Housekeeper.
Interesting.
October 16, 2026
The Housekeeper by Rose Tremain was a beautifully written book and will have you going back in time, especially the way the author Rose described everything was amazing it was Gothic masterpiece. I found it very cleverly written and a book that pulls you in from the very beginning especially as I did not know what expect as the book cover did not catch my eye - stand out. But it was dark as the book. I am so glad I had a chance to read it and I would recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction, this is a book for you.
October 21, 2026
What a beautiful and captivating story on an affair between a housekeeper and Daphne du Maurier. This book was packed with emotion and oozes with sensual passion. And of course we see how the aftermath plays out and how it affects everyone. I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 17, 2026
I really enjoyed this - always a sucker for an interwar English story (extra points for including a bit of upstairs downstairs shenanigans) An easy immersive read that tells a satisfying story
October 14, 2026
It really pains me to give this book only 2 stars, as I love Rose Tremain, and have given so many of her other books high ratings.
After reading the afterword at the back of the book though, I think I understand what is it about it that didn't work for me.
This book is a fleshed out version of a short story written by Tremain, also called 'The Housekeeper', over a decade ago. It appears that the idea behind expanding the story was for it to be turned into a film. I don't know if this was the case, but the book reads like an afterthought, with the screenplay perhaps being the main intention. The story is a fictional retelling of Daphne Du Maurier's life around the time she wrote Rebecca, with our protagonist, Mrs Danowski being the inspiration behind the housekeeper character, Mrs Danvers, in Rebecca. It is a story of forbidden love between two women, and societal pressures of class, marriage and status.
In Tremain's previous work, what I have loved the most is the depth and complexity of the characters, more so than even the plots. In this book, the characters were shallow and the writing did nothing to evoke the emotions that the story was telling us to feel. Everything felt quite vague and there was a coldness to the tone throughout. Despite being longer than the original short story, I am not sure it actually gave us much more, and left me feeling like it was written as a tie-in for the film, rather than as a true standalone novel.
After reading the afterword at the back of the book though, I think I understand what is it about it that didn't work for me.
This book is a fleshed out version of a short story written by Tremain, also called 'The Housekeeper', over a decade ago. It appears that the idea behind expanding the story was for it to be turned into a film. I don't know if this was the case, but the book reads like an afterthought, with the screenplay perhaps being the main intention. The story is a fictional retelling of Daphne Du Maurier's life around the time she wrote Rebecca, with our protagonist, Mrs Danowski being the inspiration behind the housekeeper character, Mrs Danvers, in Rebecca. It is a story of forbidden love between two women, and societal pressures of class, marriage and status.
In Tremain's previous work, what I have loved the most is the depth and complexity of the characters, more so than even the plots. In this book, the characters were shallow and the writing did nothing to evoke the emotions that the story was telling us to feel. Everything felt quite vague and there was a coldness to the tone throughout. Despite being longer than the original short story, I am not sure it actually gave us much more, and left me feeling like it was written as a tie-in for the film, rather than as a true standalone novel.
September 24, 2026
Couldn’t stop listening. So brooding and atmospheric. Fantastic for fans of Rebecca. Will never be able to hear the word ‘waxing’ in the same way now though 😂
October 10, 2026
I am going to have to give up on this author. I absolutely loved 'The colour ' and 'Restoration' and just assumed I would enjoy all her books but ' Gustav Sonata' and last years 'Absolutely and forever' I could not get along with and this title I really did not enjoy at all. I found it boring with the same sex scenes repeated endlessly using more or less the same words. There were so many ridiculous dreams and silly whimsical asides which drove me mad. I had no connection emotional or otherwise to the characters other than Basil the black Labrador. I feel the author decided on the idea of repositioning Mrs Danvers so had the framework but could not really build on that. There is to be a film I am interested in how that pans out as there did not appear to be much story here. Love the atmospheric cover though.
Review of advance copy
What a disappointment. On paper I should have loved this book. References another literary classic. Tick. An author whose previous novels ‘Music and Silence’ and ‘The Road Home’ I loved. Tick. Narrated by Queen Catriona Balfe from Outlander. Tick. I was expecting this to be some sort of Rebecca retelling. It isn’t really about Rebecca at all. I couldn’t believe or invest in the relationship between Daphne and Danny and it read like a poor Sarah Waters. It was slow and I really just couldn’t care what happened. There are some many books to read- I’m disappointed I spent time on this.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love Rebecca, it's my favourite book, ever. Over the years I've enjoyed books by other authors dealing with Rebecca herself or Du Maurier's life as she wrote the novel.You might imagine then that I've been looking forward to reading this for over a year. Now....I'm bitterly disappointed. The character of Danni was little more than a sheltered teenager lusting after her idol. Her imagined ramblings were just that, rambling. Du Maurier doesn't fare much better, a romantic idiot who simply dumps the supposed love of her life with no qualms.
Disappointed doesn't really cover it.
Disappointed doesn't really cover it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In Acknowledgements at the end of ‘The Housekeeper’, Rose Tremain explains that the origins of this imaginative take on the creation of the novel ‘Rebecca’ by Daphne du Maurier originates from Tremain’s short story of the same name. It feels like a travesty to say so as I much admire her writing but this version, expanded into novel form, is not the all-involving narrative I was expecting.
It helps to have read ‘Rebecca’ in order to understand the many literary echoes in ‘The Housekeeper’, also set in the 1930s. There are certainly episodes when the writer can sympathise enormously with Danni, the Jewish housekeeper from Poland who looks after the running of the beautiful house on the Cornish country estate of Manderville Hall. Danni is a lonely outsider in almost all respects. So, when Daphne du Maurier seduces her and allows her to be her true self, she falls deeply in love. Of course this is a love that must be kept secret. When it is exposed, Danni is abandoned both emotionally and materially.
Not only does Danni have to cope with this rejection; she also feels horribly shamed by her lover who goes on to use her as inspiration for the often vicious character, Mrs Danvers, in ‘Rebecca’. (Some interpretations of ‘Rebecca’ argue that Mrs Danvers was in love with Rebecca. Hence the reason why she so resents the new Mrs de Winter.)
Unusually for Tremain, there are a few ‘purple prose’ passages in the novel. These do nothing to convince the reader of the reality of the relationship between Danni and Daphne – but maybe that’s the point. It can only exist in the boathouse or in a borrowed London house.
Whilst this novel reinforces our understanding of the barriers of class and the impossibility of single sex liaisons in the first half of the twentieth century, it doesn’t expand my appreciation or understanding of ‘Rebecca’ in any way, as does ‘The Wide Sargasso Sea of ‘Jane Eyre’ or ‘Longbourn’ of “Pride and Prejudice’ for example. ‘The Housekeeper’ is likely to be enjoyed by many but it’s not up there with Tremain’s best novels.
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK Vintage for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
It helps to have read ‘Rebecca’ in order to understand the many literary echoes in ‘The Housekeeper’, also set in the 1930s. There are certainly episodes when the writer can sympathise enormously with Danni, the Jewish housekeeper from Poland who looks after the running of the beautiful house on the Cornish country estate of Manderville Hall. Danni is a lonely outsider in almost all respects. So, when Daphne du Maurier seduces her and allows her to be her true self, she falls deeply in love. Of course this is a love that must be kept secret. When it is exposed, Danni is abandoned both emotionally and materially.
Not only does Danni have to cope with this rejection; she also feels horribly shamed by her lover who goes on to use her as inspiration for the often vicious character, Mrs Danvers, in ‘Rebecca’. (Some interpretations of ‘Rebecca’ argue that Mrs Danvers was in love with Rebecca. Hence the reason why she so resents the new Mrs de Winter.)
Unusually for Tremain, there are a few ‘purple prose’ passages in the novel. These do nothing to convince the reader of the reality of the relationship between Danni and Daphne – but maybe that’s the point. It can only exist in the boathouse or in a borrowed London house.
Whilst this novel reinforces our understanding of the barriers of class and the impossibility of single sex liaisons in the first half of the twentieth century, it doesn’t expand my appreciation or understanding of ‘Rebecca’ in any way, as does ‘The Wide Sargasso Sea of ‘Jane Eyre’ or ‘Longbourn’ of “Pride and Prejudice’ for example. ‘The Housekeeper’ is likely to be enjoyed by many but it’s not up there with Tremain’s best novels.
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK Vintage for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca is one of my favourite books, so I was intrigued when I saw that it was the inspiration for Rose Tremain’s new novel, The Housekeeper. I’ve had mixed experiences with Tremain’s books in the past, but I knew I would have to try this one.
The Housekeeper is set in the 1930s at Manderville Hall, a large country house in Cornwall. Lilianne Maria Danowski has been housekeeper there for several years, having left Poland with her father as a young girl. Danni, as she is known – or sometimes Mrs D – is happy with her job and fond of her employer, Lord Grenville-Whithers, an elderly widower. However, the old man is starting to think about the future and as he has no heir of his own, he invites his niece Adelaide to come and stay, with the intention of leaving the house to her. Adelaide is an unpleasant, overbearing woman and Danni knows she will have to tread carefully around her, particularly as she’s currently in a relationship that could cost her her job if discovered…
Danni’s lover is the author Daphne du Maurier, who has come to research her new novel and has been given permission to use Lord Grenville-Whithers’ boathouse to do her writing. The two women are immediately drawn to each other; for Danni it’s a passionate love affair and she assumes Daphne feels the same, but when Daphne’s new novel is published, Danni is left feeling hurt and betrayed by what she reads.
Lilianne Maria Danowski was not a real person; she’s a fictional character invented by Rose Tremain, but if you’ve read Rebecca you’ll be able to see the parallels with Mrs Danvers, the housekeeper at Manderley, referred to by Rebecca as Danny. Tremain imagines that Danowski was du Maurier’s inspiration for Mrs Danvers and explores how she may have felt at seeing an unflattering portrayal of herself in a book. If you haven’t read Rebecca you’re probably wondering if you need to do so before reading The Housekeeper. My answer would be no, it’s not essential, but it would definitely be a good idea as then you would be able to spot all the little echoes of Rebecca that Tremain weaves into the story.
The Housekeeper is a beautifully written novel, but I did have a few problems with it. I felt that Danni and Daphne’s relationship began very suddenly with no real build and I just didn’t feel very convinced by it. I know quite a lot about Daphne du Maurier’s history and background, having read her autobiography Myself When Young, as well as Jane Dunn’s biography Daphne du Maurier and Her Sisters, and the impression I got from those books is that she was a complex person – shy, private and reclusive, which could make her come across as distant or aloof, but also loyal and affectionate towards her close friends. There’s not much of that complexity in Tremain’s novel; her Daphne is cold, manipulative and selfish, caring more about her reputation than Danni’s feelings.
Although I didn’t care for the portrayal of Daphne, I did like Danni. I loved the little glimpses we get of her childhood growing up as a Jewish girl in Radom, Poland, and I would have liked more of that. I also enjoyed the sections of the book set after Danni’s relationship with Daphne ends and she sets up her own business as a seamstress; there’s an interesting little subplot here involving a girl for whom Danni is asked to make a wedding dress, and another featuring two other former servants from Manderville Hall.
Apparently The Housekeeper, which began as a short story several years ago, is already being adapted for film and will star Caitriona Balfe and Emma Laird as Danni and Daphne, Anthony Hopkins as Lord Grenville-Whithers and Helena Bonham Carter as Adelaide.
The Housekeeper is set in the 1930s at Manderville Hall, a large country house in Cornwall. Lilianne Maria Danowski has been housekeeper there for several years, having left Poland with her father as a young girl. Danni, as she is known – or sometimes Mrs D – is happy with her job and fond of her employer, Lord Grenville-Whithers, an elderly widower. However, the old man is starting to think about the future and as he has no heir of his own, he invites his niece Adelaide to come and stay, with the intention of leaving the house to her. Adelaide is an unpleasant, overbearing woman and Danni knows she will have to tread carefully around her, particularly as she’s currently in a relationship that could cost her her job if discovered…
Danni’s lover is the author Daphne du Maurier, who has come to research her new novel and has been given permission to use Lord Grenville-Whithers’ boathouse to do her writing. The two women are immediately drawn to each other; for Danni it’s a passionate love affair and she assumes Daphne feels the same, but when Daphne’s new novel is published, Danni is left feeling hurt and betrayed by what she reads.
Lilianne Maria Danowski was not a real person; she’s a fictional character invented by Rose Tremain, but if you’ve read Rebecca you’ll be able to see the parallels with Mrs Danvers, the housekeeper at Manderley, referred to by Rebecca as Danny. Tremain imagines that Danowski was du Maurier’s inspiration for Mrs Danvers and explores how she may have felt at seeing an unflattering portrayal of herself in a book. If you haven’t read Rebecca you’re probably wondering if you need to do so before reading The Housekeeper. My answer would be no, it’s not essential, but it would definitely be a good idea as then you would be able to spot all the little echoes of Rebecca that Tremain weaves into the story.
The Housekeeper is a beautifully written novel, but I did have a few problems with it. I felt that Danni and Daphne’s relationship began very suddenly with no real build and I just didn’t feel very convinced by it. I know quite a lot about Daphne du Maurier’s history and background, having read her autobiography Myself When Young, as well as Jane Dunn’s biography Daphne du Maurier and Her Sisters, and the impression I got from those books is that she was a complex person – shy, private and reclusive, which could make her come across as distant or aloof, but also loyal and affectionate towards her close friends. There’s not much of that complexity in Tremain’s novel; her Daphne is cold, manipulative and selfish, caring more about her reputation than Danni’s feelings.
Although I didn’t care for the portrayal of Daphne, I did like Danni. I loved the little glimpses we get of her childhood growing up as a Jewish girl in Radom, Poland, and I would have liked more of that. I also enjoyed the sections of the book set after Danni’s relationship with Daphne ends and she sets up her own business as a seamstress; there’s an interesting little subplot here involving a girl for whom Danni is asked to make a wedding dress, and another featuring two other former servants from Manderville Hall.
Apparently The Housekeeper, which began as a short story several years ago, is already being adapted for film and will star Caitriona Balfe and Emma Laird as Danni and Daphne, Anthony Hopkins as Lord Grenville-Whithers and Helena Bonham Carter as Adelaide.
October 11, 2026
‘Last night I dreamed I saw Daphne again.’
In this novel, Ms Tremain reimagines aspects of Daphne du Maurier’s life and her inspiration for the novel ‘Rebecca’. The narrator is Mrs Danowski (known as Danni), the housekeeper at Manderville Hall on the coast of Cornwall. Manderville Hall is the home of Lord Grenville-Whithers, who is mourning the death of his wife Edwina. Danni, who also mourns the death of her beloved mistress, is a Jewish Polish emigrant. She is alone in the world and has memories being shunned.
The story opens in 1936 and closes in September 1939. In 1936, Daphne du Maurier arrives at Manderville Hall to take lunch with Lord Grenville-Whithers. She is undertaking research for a novel, is shown around the house by Danni. Lord Grenville-Whithers agrees that Daphne du Maurier may use his boathouse at Manderville Cove.
Ms Tremain imagines a love affair between Danni and Daphne du Maurier. The pair meet on Danni’s day off in the boathouse. The affair ends when the threat of exposure drives Daphne from Danni and Danni from Manderville Hall. Sigh. While Daphne du Maurier draws ‘Rebecca’ from the experience, Danni establishes a small sewing business in Truro.
I have mixed feeling about this story. Yes, I enjoyed the storytelling. But imagining aspects of Daphne du Maurier’s life to incorporate a fictional affair makes me uncomfortable. I kept reading because I wanted to see how the story would end, whether Ms Tremain would reunite Danni and Daphne at some stage. No, but I understand that a film is in production.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
In this novel, Ms Tremain reimagines aspects of Daphne du Maurier’s life and her inspiration for the novel ‘Rebecca’. The narrator is Mrs Danowski (known as Danni), the housekeeper at Manderville Hall on the coast of Cornwall. Manderville Hall is the home of Lord Grenville-Whithers, who is mourning the death of his wife Edwina. Danni, who also mourns the death of her beloved mistress, is a Jewish Polish emigrant. She is alone in the world and has memories being shunned.
The story opens in 1936 and closes in September 1939. In 1936, Daphne du Maurier arrives at Manderville Hall to take lunch with Lord Grenville-Whithers. She is undertaking research for a novel, is shown around the house by Danni. Lord Grenville-Whithers agrees that Daphne du Maurier may use his boathouse at Manderville Cove.
Ms Tremain imagines a love affair between Danni and Daphne du Maurier. The pair meet on Danni’s day off in the boathouse. The affair ends when the threat of exposure drives Daphne from Danni and Danni from Manderville Hall. Sigh. While Daphne du Maurier draws ‘Rebecca’ from the experience, Danni establishes a small sewing business in Truro.
I have mixed feeling about this story. Yes, I enjoyed the storytelling. But imagining aspects of Daphne du Maurier’s life to incorporate a fictional affair makes me uncomfortable. I kept reading because I wanted to see how the story would end, whether Ms Tremain would reunite Danni and Daphne at some stage. No, but I understand that a film is in production.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
October 9, 2026
This was an absolute treat. The whole book is a brilliant homage to Daphne du Maurier. It works as a sort of meta-prequel that imagines how Rebecca came to be. Tremain weaves in fabulous echoes of the original classic. She plays with specific, tangible Easter eggs that I revelled in noticing and truly appreciated. The open line is a cheeky twist on the most famous opening line of ‘Rebecca’ and sets the fan-reader up perfectly for what is to come. Manderley is Manderville Hall on the Cornish coast, with a history of a woman drowned at sea. The cove and secluded boathouse mirror Rebecca’s private hideaway. There is a Big Bash, a costume ball that goes tragically wrong. Edwina’s bedroom and wardrobe of beautiful dresses remain in homage to their owner. These shared details allow Tremain to reuse du Maurier's writing, showing how a writer ‘steals’ real life to make fiction. And clearly a superfan herself, Tremain seems unable to resist seasoning the book with other delicious nuggets from the du Maurier universe; there’s a great nod to The Birds near the beginning.
I was immediately engaged and thoroughly enjoyed the connection to one of my all-time favourite novels, relishing the intense, atmospheric relationship between the two books. However, I hit a bit of a speed bump in the final stretch. Once the initial suspense and the secret affair have run their course, the narrative shifts inward, swapping the compelling tension for a slower, meditative look at Danni's reflective internal processing and life after Manderville. I also felt unsure of the tangle with the other former staff of Manderville.
However, even with these reservations, it doesn't take away from how clever the setup is and my overall hearty recommendation of the novel. For anyone who appreciates the dark, brooding layers of Rebecca, watching Tremain reverse-engineer the origin of this most notorious housekeeper is incredibly satisfying.
I was immediately engaged and thoroughly enjoyed the connection to one of my all-time favourite novels, relishing the intense, atmospheric relationship between the two books. However, I hit a bit of a speed bump in the final stretch. Once the initial suspense and the secret affair have run their course, the narrative shifts inward, swapping the compelling tension for a slower, meditative look at Danni's reflective internal processing and life after Manderville. I also felt unsure of the tangle with the other former staff of Manderville.
However, even with these reservations, it doesn't take away from how clever the setup is and my overall hearty recommendation of the novel. For anyone who appreciates the dark, brooding layers of Rebecca, watching Tremain reverse-engineer the origin of this most notorious housekeeper is incredibly satisfying.
November 2, 2026
Like so many others, I have long been a fan of Daphne Du Maurier's 'Rebecca', so was looking forward to reading Rose Tremain's latest novel, 'The Housekeeper'. In it, Tremain presents an imagined backstory to what might have inspired Du Maurier's novel. In this re-imagining, the narrator, Mrs Danowski (aka 'Danni'), recounts the events that led to a passionate affair she had with Du Maurier, and explores the reasons why the character of Mrs Danvers, in 'Rebecca', might have become such a malevolent being.
The writing, the descriptions, the historical context and the tension had me engrossed all the way through. Such a clever enterprise and one that I enjoyed immensely. I think some familiarity with Du Maurier's novel would be helpful in appreciating Tremain's work here.
The writing, the descriptions, the historical context and the tension had me engrossed all the way through. Such a clever enterprise and one that I enjoyed immensely. I think some familiarity with Du Maurier's novel would be helpful in appreciating Tremain's work here.
October 18, 2026
The Housekeeper is the latest novel by Rose Tremain, imagining the inspiration behind Daphne du Maurier's cult classic Rebecca
We follow Danni, a housekeeper at Manderville Hall and a magnificent seamstress who, after the death of his wife, now takes care of Mr. Grenvile-Whithers. There she meets Daphne du Maurier, already an established author when we first encounter her. Daphne quickly becomes enamoured with Danni, and soon after they begin a passionate love affair. That affair becomes the inspiration for Rebecca, which, I'm ashamed to say, I still haven't read.
Rose Tremain is a master of her craft, and I was hooked from the first page. I also fell in love with the main character, whose strength and resourcefulness I admired. The only drawback is the lack of surprise. We know how the story will wrap up pretty early on.
Another thing I absolutely loved is that, even though Danni's love for Daphne upended her life and she was completely overcome, she kept working and building a life for herself. The love changed her immensely, but she continued doing what she loved and stayed true to herself.
We follow Danni, a housekeeper at Manderville Hall and a magnificent seamstress who, after the death of his wife, now takes care of Mr. Grenvile-Whithers. There she meets Daphne du Maurier, already an established author when we first encounter her. Daphne quickly becomes enamoured with Danni, and soon after they begin a passionate love affair. That affair becomes the inspiration for Rebecca, which, I'm ashamed to say, I still haven't read.
Rose Tremain is a master of her craft, and I was hooked from the first page. I also fell in love with the main character, whose strength and resourcefulness I admired. The only drawback is the lack of surprise. We know how the story will wrap up pretty early on.
Another thing I absolutely loved is that, even though Danni's love for Daphne upended her life and she was completely overcome, she kept working and building a life for herself. The love changed her immensely, but she continued doing what she loved and stayed true to herself.
Did Not Finish
October 10, 2026NO: A book I borrowed from the library to try before I buy (tired buying hundreds books and hating half)
I do not rate these “tested”
books. This is really for me. I will not be buying, reading borrowing this book.
I read first chapter or more -first 10-100 pages skim around at times. I read many of my GR friend’s reviews. This is what I did and didn’t like:
This is a HF romance. Nope 👎 I don’t do romance.
I do not rate these “tested”
books. This is really for me. I will not be buying, reading borrowing this book.
I read first chapter or more -first 10-100 pages skim around at times. I read many of my GR friend’s reviews. This is what I did and didn’t like:
This is a HF romance. Nope 👎 I don’t do romance.
October 20, 2026
I have read Margaret Forster’s biography of DDM and I have read Rebecca many times and so this book was like crack cocaine to me. Read in one sitting, very intense, melancholy, very sinuous and clever, blending DDM’s real life and fiction. At times it had the heady dream-like feel of Rebecca too, just too brilliant, I did not want it to end.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Masterly writing, as might be expected of Rose Tremain, coupled with an interesting take on Daphne du Maurier’s ‘Rebecca’, makes for an interesting read.
The character of the housekeeper, Danni, is captured and drawn to align with Mrs Danvers in ‘Rebecca’ to terrific effect, whilst that of du Maurier is not quite so believable. The cast of characters was convincing and engaging, although at times the pace lagged. The final chapters compensated, the denouement, heartrending and entirely appropriate.
The character of the housekeeper, Danni, is captured and drawn to align with Mrs Danvers in ‘Rebecca’ to terrific effect, whilst that of du Maurier is not quite so believable. The cast of characters was convincing and engaging, although at times the pace lagged. The final chapters compensated, the denouement, heartrending and entirely appropriate.
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