What do you think?
Rate this book
The Housekeeper
For fans of Notes on a Scandal and The Woman Upstairs, a gripping and voyeuristic novel of psychological suspense about a woman who becomes the housekeeper for a London power couple, only to discover a world of secrets and lies far more disturbing than she could ever have imagined.
“I am the housekeeper, the hired help with a messy past who cleans up other people’s messy lives, the one who protects their messy little secrets.”
A sous chef at a leading London restaurant and the girlfriend of its handsome owner, Anne Morgan used to be happy, fulfilled. And then the handsome owner left her for another woman. Now lonely, depressed, and unemployed, Anne discovers that Emma Helmsley, England’s answer to Martha Stewart, is in need of a housekeeper. And Anne is in desperate need of a quiet place to recover.
Through her books, website, and blog, Emma advises her devoted followers on how to live a balanced life in a hectic world. Her husband, Rob, is a high profile academic. On the surface, they are the perfect couple, even managing to raise two teenagers and still maintain an aura of glamour.
Working for the Helmsley’s, Anne discovers she is very good at cleaning up the messes busy, successful people leave behind. Perhaps too good. Underneath the dust, grime, and whimsical clutter, Anne slowly begins to see that Rob and Emma have dark secrets. But their lives have become hers, their home her sanctuary, and they will stop at nothing to keep the truth hidden, even if it means hurting the one person they rely on most.
The Housekeeper is a nuanced and nail-biting psychological thriller about the dark recesses of the human mind and the dangerous consequences of long-buried secrets.
“I am the housekeeper, the hired help with a messy past who cleans up other people’s messy lives, the one who protects their messy little secrets.”
A sous chef at a leading London restaurant and the girlfriend of its handsome owner, Anne Morgan used to be happy, fulfilled. And then the handsome owner left her for another woman. Now lonely, depressed, and unemployed, Anne discovers that Emma Helmsley, England’s answer to Martha Stewart, is in need of a housekeeper. And Anne is in desperate need of a quiet place to recover.
Through her books, website, and blog, Emma advises her devoted followers on how to live a balanced life in a hectic world. Her husband, Rob, is a high profile academic. On the surface, they are the perfect couple, even managing to raise two teenagers and still maintain an aura of glamour.
Working for the Helmsley’s, Anne discovers she is very good at cleaning up the messes busy, successful people leave behind. Perhaps too good. Underneath the dust, grime, and whimsical clutter, Anne slowly begins to see that Rob and Emma have dark secrets. But their lives have become hers, their home her sanctuary, and they will stop at nothing to keep the truth hidden, even if it means hurting the one person they rely on most.
The Housekeeper is a nuanced and nail-biting psychological thriller about the dark recesses of the human mind and the dangerous consequences of long-buried secrets.
320 pages, Paperback
First published February 28, 2017
36 people are currently reading
1485 people want to read
About the author
Suellen Dainty
4 books58 followersI worked as a journalist and television producer after leaving university. It never occurred to me to write fiction. Like many working single mothers, I was too busy and too tired to try for anything more.
But my two children grew up. Finally I could ditch the day job. I moved from London to a small farm in Somerset, where I ran a B and B and learned how to be a short order cook and iron mountains of bedlinen very quickly. I also studied creative writing at the University of Oxford and at Bath Spa University.Then a fight against breast cancer gave me the impetus I needed. No time to lose!
At the age of 62, my first novel, After Everything, was published by Simon and Schuster in the U.S. and by Picador in Australia. I'm currently writing my second, in between looking out the window at my sheep and my hens.
But my two children grew up. Finally I could ditch the day job. I moved from London to a small farm in Somerset, where I ran a B and B and learned how to be a short order cook and iron mountains of bedlinen very quickly. I also studied creative writing at the University of Oxford and at Bath Spa University.Then a fight against breast cancer gave me the impetus I needed. No time to lose!
At the age of 62, my first novel, After Everything, was published by Simon and Schuster in the U.S. and by Picador in Australia. I'm currently writing my second, in between looking out the window at my sheep and my hens.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
February 9, 2017
*Updated*
The Housekeeper is described as a "nail-biting psychological thriller". It is far from it. Nothing much happens in this book; however, it is an interesting and intense character study about a woman who is trying to come to terms with her past.
Anne Morgan has an obsessive personality. Having no family, she desperately latches onto to whoever is in her life. When her boyfriend, who also happens to be her boss, her world comes crashing down. The only small shred of happiness in her life are the daily affirmation emails she receives from Emma Helmsley, an English version of Martha Stewart/Oprah.
While stalking Emma on instragram, Anne comes across a post that will change her life. She eventually becomes the Helmsley’s housekeeper and immerses herself into the family. She transfers her obsession with Anton onto Emma, her husband, Mark, and their two children. Her love for the family blinds her to their flaws, until it is too late: Anne builds the Helmsely’s up as perfect and protects their secrets until they steal her own.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The Housekeeper is described as a "nail-biting psychological thriller". It is far from it. Nothing much happens in this book; however, it is an interesting and intense character study about a woman who is trying to come to terms with her past.
Anne Morgan has an obsessive personality. Having no family, she desperately latches onto to whoever is in her life. When her boyfriend, who also happens to be her boss, her world comes crashing down. The only small shred of happiness in her life are the daily affirmation emails she receives from Emma Helmsley, an English version of Martha Stewart/Oprah.
While stalking Emma on instragram, Anne comes across a post that will change her life. She eventually becomes the Helmsley’s housekeeper and immerses herself into the family. She transfers her obsession with Anton onto Emma, her husband, Mark, and their two children. Her love for the family blinds her to their flaws, until it is too late: Anne builds the Helmsely’s up as perfect and protects their secrets until they steal her own.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2017
I have to say, I really didn't like this book. I feel bad because I wanted to like it, but I just couldn't. I know that authors put a ton of work into their books, so I'm going to do my best to look at this book critically but also respectfully.
The Housekeeper is about a woman named Anne who has a job as a high profile chef at a popular London restaurant. When she learns her long term boyfriend, the head chef at the restaurant, is cheating on her, she quits her job. Too embarrassed to continue working in the culinary scene, she takes a job as the house cleaner to popular lifestyle blogger Emma and her husband Rob. Eventually she learns that everyone is keeping secrets, but that Rob might be the key to helping her understand her past through helping her find out who her father was.
The Housekeeper was positioned at a "nail biting psychological thriller" and I can't disagree with that statement enough. Not only was it not nail biting, I wouldn't even consider it a thriller. It was barely even a mystery. The only outstanding question was who Anne's father was. She'd never met him and her mother died when she was young, so she never knew. Other than that, nothing happened in the book. The entire first half was Anne leaving her job, starting the new job, and talking about how much she loved the family. There was zero suspense, because there was no aspect of the book that hinged on a big reveal. No murder, no kidnapping, no stalkers...nothing. To be honest, if this hadn't been a book I'd received from Netgalley, I wouldn't have finished it, and I rarely don't finish a book, so that says a lot.
The characters were okay. I liked Anne, but couldn't stand her "best friend" Jude. She was incredibly negative and unsupportive and constantly criticized Anne for working as a housekeeper. I get wanting the best for your friend, but they didn't have any conversations that weren't centered on Jude putting Anne down. Emma seemed off, which made her hard to like. She had no idea what was going on in her children's lives, and basically pretended to be the perfect homemaker even though she hires someone else to do the cooking and cleaning and is super scatterbrained.
Lastly, the writing felt really hard for me to get through, and I can't put my finger on why. I normally read really quickly, but here I felt like I was trudging through the book super slowly. The sentence structure was fine, so it wasn't the grammar, but there was something about the flow and the word choices that just felt off. There were many pages at a time there there'd be no dialogue for 3-5 pages, which felt unnecessary, too. The last 20% of the book was easier to read -there were two "twists" toward the end of the book, but the first was such a small piece of the story and had no bearing on any other event, or even on Anne's life. It didn't directly impact her at all. The second was so far toward the end of the book that it felt irrelevant at that point, and felt like it was thrown in to give closure to the story.
This really wasn't the book for me, so I hope it's a better fit if you choose to read it. Unfortunately, I can't say I'd recommend this one. Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review. The Housekeeper has an expected publication date of February 28, 2017.
The Housekeeper is about a woman named Anne who has a job as a high profile chef at a popular London restaurant. When she learns her long term boyfriend, the head chef at the restaurant, is cheating on her, she quits her job. Too embarrassed to continue working in the culinary scene, she takes a job as the house cleaner to popular lifestyle blogger Emma and her husband Rob. Eventually she learns that everyone is keeping secrets, but that Rob might be the key to helping her understand her past through helping her find out who her father was.
The Housekeeper was positioned at a "nail biting psychological thriller" and I can't disagree with that statement enough. Not only was it not nail biting, I wouldn't even consider it a thriller. It was barely even a mystery. The only outstanding question was who Anne's father was. She'd never met him and her mother died when she was young, so she never knew. Other than that, nothing happened in the book. The entire first half was Anne leaving her job, starting the new job, and talking about how much she loved the family. There was zero suspense, because there was no aspect of the book that hinged on a big reveal. No murder, no kidnapping, no stalkers...nothing. To be honest, if this hadn't been a book I'd received from Netgalley, I wouldn't have finished it, and I rarely don't finish a book, so that says a lot.
The characters were okay. I liked Anne, but couldn't stand her "best friend" Jude. She was incredibly negative and unsupportive and constantly criticized Anne for working as a housekeeper. I get wanting the best for your friend, but they didn't have any conversations that weren't centered on Jude putting Anne down. Emma seemed off, which made her hard to like. She had no idea what was going on in her children's lives, and basically pretended to be the perfect homemaker even though she hires someone else to do the cooking and cleaning and is super scatterbrained.
Lastly, the writing felt really hard for me to get through, and I can't put my finger on why. I normally read really quickly, but here I felt like I was trudging through the book super slowly. The sentence structure was fine, so it wasn't the grammar, but there was something about the flow and the word choices that just felt off. There were many pages at a time there there'd be no dialogue for 3-5 pages, which felt unnecessary, too. The last 20% of the book was easier to read -there were two "twists" toward the end of the book, but the first was such a small piece of the story and had no bearing on any other event, or even on Anne's life. It didn't directly impact her at all. The second was so far toward the end of the book that it felt irrelevant at that point, and felt like it was thrown in to give closure to the story.
This really wasn't the book for me, so I hope it's a better fit if you choose to read it. Unfortunately, I can't say I'd recommend this one. Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review. The Housekeeper has an expected publication date of February 28, 2017.
February 21, 2017
The Housekeeper by Suellen Dainty was not what I was expecting. This novel, although marketed as a thriller, read, instead like a piece of contemporary fiction. I continuously felt like I was waiting for something big to happen.
Let me break it down…
The novel focuses on Anne Morgan. A woman who has it all: a successful, handsome boyfriend and an elite job in a restaurant. Until, all of a sudden, she doesn’t. After her boyfriend leaves her for someone else, Anne ends up becoming a housekeeper to one of her idols, Emma. Emma writes a lifestyle blog that Anna religiously follows. Perfect on the surface, as Emma begins working with the family, she begins to find all their secrets and realizes that even the most prominent families have things they want buried….
This one suggested it its synopsis on Goodreads that it is “nail biting”. This was not the case. It is not a psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is very slow paced and truly, not a whole heck of a lot happens. I must, however, applaud Dainty for her writing skills; although the plot missed the mark for me, I was engaged in her writing style. I had no problems getting through this book; it just was not what I was expecting.
I was also a fan of the characterization; I really like Anne and Emma. I loved the development between Anne and the family as she begins to obsess over them. I also loved her struggle to find her identity of her birth father. It was these little “extras” that kept me reading, long after I stopped hoping something exciting would happen.
If you are wanting a thriller that will keep you flipping the pages and on the edge of your seat, this will not be your choice. However, if you want a well-written piece of fiction that will engage you, then, by all means, The Housekeeper would be a solid selection. Overall, I gave it a 2/5 stars.
Let me break it down…
The novel focuses on Anne Morgan. A woman who has it all: a successful, handsome boyfriend and an elite job in a restaurant. Until, all of a sudden, she doesn’t. After her boyfriend leaves her for someone else, Anne ends up becoming a housekeeper to one of her idols, Emma. Emma writes a lifestyle blog that Anna religiously follows. Perfect on the surface, as Emma begins working with the family, she begins to find all their secrets and realizes that even the most prominent families have things they want buried….
This one suggested it its synopsis on Goodreads that it is “nail biting”. This was not the case. It is not a psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is very slow paced and truly, not a whole heck of a lot happens. I must, however, applaud Dainty for her writing skills; although the plot missed the mark for me, I was engaged in her writing style. I had no problems getting through this book; it just was not what I was expecting.
I was also a fan of the characterization; I really like Anne and Emma. I loved the development between Anne and the family as she begins to obsess over them. I also loved her struggle to find her identity of her birth father. It was these little “extras” that kept me reading, long after I stopped hoping something exciting would happen.
If you are wanting a thriller that will keep you flipping the pages and on the edge of your seat, this will not be your choice. However, if you want a well-written piece of fiction that will engage you, then, by all means, The Housekeeper would be a solid selection. Overall, I gave it a 2/5 stars.
November 25, 2016
Lush and suspenseful--just my kind of book! A housekeeper, immersed in the household of a shining celebrity couple, is haunted by memories of her childhood.
November 29, 2024
literally nothing happened.
April 2, 2017
The Housekeeper by Suellen Dainty is a psychological thriller indeed, but not one of the whippet-fast, racing-heart variety, but that's okay. More than okay, in fact, because after reading a couple of those recently, I felt that I needed something a little more subtle, a little more... quietly threatening, perhaps? In my opinion, that was exactly what Suellen Dainty provided in The Housekeeper. It wasn't IN-YOUR-FACE SHOCK HORROR, but more WATCH AS I SLOWLY AND TORTUROUSLY UNRAVEL THE SECRETS AND WATCH HOW THEY FALL, LIKE DOMINOES, EFFECTING ALL WHO ARE INVOLVED.
In Suellen Dainty's The Housekeeper, readers are introduced to Anne Morgan. Still nursing her wounds after a devastating split from her boyfriend, who also just happens to be her boss, making things more difficult than they perhaps need to be, Anne is on the hunt for a new job. A new life, even. She needs something new and exciting to throw herself into, to take her mind off everything else.
Enter Emma Helmsley, well-known and popular blogger/author/modern day miracle worker. Through her various social media platforms, Emma guides women all over the world and teaches them how to keep a balanced, happy and healthy lifestyle. When Anne stumbles upon a vacancy to become the Helmsley's housekeeper, she can't believe her luck. It is almost too good to be true. Nevertheless, she applies, hoping that the cards will be in her favour. And, dear readers, it turns out that they are. Before she knows it, Anna is appointed as the brand-new Helmsley housekeeper.
It doesn't take long for the perfectly presented surface which Emma Helmsley shows to the outside world to reveal its deep and ugly cracks. After all, there is nothing in life that is ever so perfect, is there? And the author, Suellen, does this is the most subtle, unnerving and compelling of ways. It quickly becomes clear that not only do the Helmsley's have their secrets tucked away tight, but Anne has a few of her own too. I couldn't wait for these tasty little morsels to be revealed, and despite being left hanging for a quite while, when the plot did deliver, it did so spectacularly. There was just so much for me to keep my eye on while reading, so much so I could hardly bear to look away for fear of missing something vital. Emma intrigued me throughout this novel, and so did her husband Rob. Each character seemed to be keeping something from me, and I loved how the author slowly but surely revealed the information I was so desperate to find out.
Although not what would be described as a full-on thriller nowadays, this novel certainly had that pull that comes with the genre. It was dark, bordering on obsession and mystery, and something new to learn about someone with every new chapter. I loved the whole aspect of Emma relying so heavily on social-media to ensure her life looked immaculate to any onlookers. Sadly, I think it's something that happens more often than not these days, so it was a very true topic to include within the book.
All in all, The Housekeeper by Suellen Dainty was an intriguing novel about secrets, truths and what really goes on behind closed doors, despite how flawless things may seem on the outside. I was hooked from page one and found myself racing through the pages simply to discover more about such a complex group of people, Emma's teenagers Lily and Jack included. A tantalisingly secretive novel, delving deep into a household that is nowhere near as perfect as it appears to be on the surface.
With thanks to the publisher for a review copy of this book.
In Suellen Dainty's The Housekeeper, readers are introduced to Anne Morgan. Still nursing her wounds after a devastating split from her boyfriend, who also just happens to be her boss, making things more difficult than they perhaps need to be, Anne is on the hunt for a new job. A new life, even. She needs something new and exciting to throw herself into, to take her mind off everything else.
Enter Emma Helmsley, well-known and popular blogger/author/modern day miracle worker. Through her various social media platforms, Emma guides women all over the world and teaches them how to keep a balanced, happy and healthy lifestyle. When Anne stumbles upon a vacancy to become the Helmsley's housekeeper, she can't believe her luck. It is almost too good to be true. Nevertheless, she applies, hoping that the cards will be in her favour. And, dear readers, it turns out that they are. Before she knows it, Anna is appointed as the brand-new Helmsley housekeeper.
It doesn't take long for the perfectly presented surface which Emma Helmsley shows to the outside world to reveal its deep and ugly cracks. After all, there is nothing in life that is ever so perfect, is there? And the author, Suellen, does this is the most subtle, unnerving and compelling of ways. It quickly becomes clear that not only do the Helmsley's have their secrets tucked away tight, but Anne has a few of her own too. I couldn't wait for these tasty little morsels to be revealed, and despite being left hanging for a quite while, when the plot did deliver, it did so spectacularly. There was just so much for me to keep my eye on while reading, so much so I could hardly bear to look away for fear of missing something vital. Emma intrigued me throughout this novel, and so did her husband Rob. Each character seemed to be keeping something from me, and I loved how the author slowly but surely revealed the information I was so desperate to find out.
Although not what would be described as a full-on thriller nowadays, this novel certainly had that pull that comes with the genre. It was dark, bordering on obsession and mystery, and something new to learn about someone with every new chapter. I loved the whole aspect of Emma relying so heavily on social-media to ensure her life looked immaculate to any onlookers. Sadly, I think it's something that happens more often than not these days, so it was a very true topic to include within the book.
All in all, The Housekeeper by Suellen Dainty was an intriguing novel about secrets, truths and what really goes on behind closed doors, despite how flawless things may seem on the outside. I was hooked from page one and found myself racing through the pages simply to discover more about such a complex group of people, Emma's teenagers Lily and Jack included. A tantalisingly secretive novel, delving deep into a household that is nowhere near as perfect as it appears to be on the surface.
With thanks to the publisher for a review copy of this book.
May 13, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. It is not really a thriller and shouldn't even be called that. It's more of a contemporary story about people. And food. Complicated lives and relationships. Secrets, lies and deceit. Well developed characters, interesting plot. This book has it all.
March 12, 2019
The Housekeeper was an interesting but unfortunately not easy to enjoy read.
This novel is no thriller though it's marketed as one and there's no mystery in it. The main characters are Anne,Emma, Rob and Theo. Anne starts off as a successful chef but her partner cheats on her and she leaves her job for her emotional wellbeing. Being obsessed about Emma, an author who writes Blogs and quotes on time management ( I seriously didn't get why Emma was so busy all the time and why was she so messy in real life), Anne applys for the job of house help and gets selected. Then we see Annes dull life at the house where she's a glorified servant who salvates for some affection from Emma( who's her girl crush) and Rob( again a crush which I fail to understand). Through Anne we see the messy life's of people in limelight, the lies, the relationships and carefully projected images of successful and happy lives while it's all an illusion. Annes the one person who sees and experiences the selfishness of these high brow crowd and still remains obsessed in them. The lure of the bright plumage of a hunting animal came to my mind when Anne was manipulated by Emma and Rob. Theo is one of those character sketches more than a character with some substance. Ofcourse the whole betrayal of Anne and her own past is for the reader to find on his own and I am not going to mention anything about it here but even that was nothing shocking. The ending, I was disappointed with the ending. I had made peace with the very slow pace, lack of mystery and the overall slowness of the book, thinking that atleast towards the end it will be satisfying but the end was abrupt and I was left with many unanswered questions. Why did I read all of the book if it was going to end ins such a haphazard manner.
It was not at all a fast read. Dragged on and on with no end and then came suddenly to and end.
This novel is no thriller though it's marketed as one and there's no mystery in it. The main characters are Anne,Emma, Rob and Theo. Anne starts off as a successful chef but her partner cheats on her and she leaves her job for her emotional wellbeing. Being obsessed about Emma, an author who writes Blogs and quotes on time management ( I seriously didn't get why Emma was so busy all the time and why was she so messy in real life), Anne applys for the job of house help and gets selected. Then we see Annes dull life at the house where she's a glorified servant who salvates for some affection from Emma( who's her girl crush) and Rob( again a crush which I fail to understand). Through Anne we see the messy life's of people in limelight, the lies, the relationships and carefully projected images of successful and happy lives while it's all an illusion. Annes the one person who sees and experiences the selfishness of these high brow crowd and still remains obsessed in them. The lure of the bright plumage of a hunting animal came to my mind when Anne was manipulated by Emma and Rob. Theo is one of those character sketches more than a character with some substance. Ofcourse the whole betrayal of Anne and her own past is for the reader to find on his own and I am not going to mention anything about it here but even that was nothing shocking. The ending, I was disappointed with the ending. I had made peace with the very slow pace, lack of mystery and the overall slowness of the book, thinking that atleast towards the end it will be satisfying but the end was abrupt and I was left with many unanswered questions. Why did I read all of the book if it was going to end ins such a haphazard manner.
It was not at all a fast read. Dragged on and on with no end and then came suddenly to and end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2017
Anne is a chef, happy in her job and in her relationship with the restaurant's owner, Anton. When Anton admits to an affair, her world crumbles around her. She loses her boyfriend and her job in one short night and doesn't know what she is going to do. Following the blog of Emma Helmsley (England's Martha Stewart), she finds they need a housekeeper. Feeling as if she needs to stay away from the restaurant business for a while as to avoid any awkwardness, she applies and is hired immediately. As she pours her heart and soul into the family and their house, she feels herself becoming a part of the family and not just someone who works for them. But the closer she gets to them, the more secrets she learns and in return the more she lets them learn about her. Eventually the past comes to the surface, secrets come out and she has to make a decision.
This book states on the back that it is a "nail-biting psychological thriller". I didn't find it to be either. It read completely as a contemporary novel to me instead. I enjoyed Anne as a character and understood her need for organization and being a part of something that made her feel useful. The family nuances were intriguing and realistic. The relationship between Anne and the Helmsley's was well built and you could understand Anne's point of views in wanting to protect them over time. However, the pace was a bit slow for me. I didn't feel like anything really happened until about half way through and even then I found myself losing interest and my mind wandering.
I was told by other readers that this wasn't really a thriller so I went in not expecting the suspenseful psychological thriller that it appeared to be in its blurb. However, I still felt a bit slighted that it wasn't. Please note that as a contemporary novel that builds on the slow build of complicated relationships that happen through the wants of both parties but for different reasons, it is well written. While this didn't quite hit my book love button, for those who do cater more to contemporary fiction novels, this would be a good read for you. I just happen to prefer my books a bit more fast paced and with a bigger punch.
This book states on the back that it is a "nail-biting psychological thriller". I didn't find it to be either. It read completely as a contemporary novel to me instead. I enjoyed Anne as a character and understood her need for organization and being a part of something that made her feel useful. The family nuances were intriguing and realistic. The relationship between Anne and the Helmsley's was well built and you could understand Anne's point of views in wanting to protect them over time. However, the pace was a bit slow for me. I didn't feel like anything really happened until about half way through and even then I found myself losing interest and my mind wandering.
I was told by other readers that this wasn't really a thriller so I went in not expecting the suspenseful psychological thriller that it appeared to be in its blurb. However, I still felt a bit slighted that it wasn't. Please note that as a contemporary novel that builds on the slow build of complicated relationships that happen through the wants of both parties but for different reasons, it is well written. While this didn't quite hit my book love button, for those who do cater more to contemporary fiction novels, this would be a good read for you. I just happen to prefer my books a bit more fast paced and with a bigger punch.
April 2, 2017
I’ve recently re-discovered the thrill of the slower psychological suspense books where the thrills are gained from understanding a character rather than focussing on twists and turns. There is of course a place for both types of books, not least on my own bookshelf, but I think the former leaves a longer lasting impression than the latter where the enjoyment is often in the thrill of the ride. The Housekeeper was one of those books that crept up on me through Anne’s eyes.
Anne Morgan has just been dumped by her boyfriend, a charismatic chef, worse still he was her boss. After doing the requisite moping around, resisting her friend’s attempts to get her back in the kitchen, she has an epiphany. For weeks she has been following Emma Helmsley, a lifestyle blogger and her daily tips have motivated Anne almost as much as she has spent her adulthood referencing Isabella Beeton’s Book of Household Management and the solution seems simple, she will become Emma Helmsley’s housekeeper.
Now I don’t know about you but I feel somewhat queasy about someone poking around in my drawers and I’m no lifestyle blogger holding myself up as the perfect organiser, but Emma is in dire need of help. The rather disorganised household consists of herself, her husband Rob an academic who is in the midst of writing a book about a pioneer psychologist, and their teenage children, Lily and Jake.
Anne has her work cut out for her, there is plenty of clutter to sort out in the house and as we all know, no sooner is one mess sorted out than another appears but she’s enjoying the slower pace, no more fifteen hour days in a busy kitchen. It doesn’t take long for the façade the couple present as they network their way around London to be revealed for something else entirely.
The Housekeeper had me gripped because of the characters; I was fascinated by Anne’s choices and although they wouldn’t have been mine her background made them entirely plausible. As for the family… well all four were equally fascinating although Emma was more frequently in the picture than the others. A special shout-out has to go to the friend Julie who was that voice of reason often lacking in psychological fiction but will her voice be loud enough?
The whole book was written assuredly, the author really making her mark by painting a picture of the house itself, Anne’s flat and the more mundane bus rides home at night, bringing to life the minutia of a young woman’s life while keeping the pace absolutely steady thereby avoiding that deadly speeding up and slowing down jerkiness. The steady pace also allowed me to absorb the excerpts that headed up each chapter which changed from Mrs Beeton’s household tips, to Emma’s motivational statement to parts from Rob’s book about the pioneer psychologist who treated those with disorders outside the more traditional hospital environment.
I’m not going to give any more of the plot away but suffice to say there is an interesting look at a subject that isn’t often tackled and refreshingly it was done without the usual hullabaloo. The Housekeeper’s very strength the almost reserved way that the truth is revealed and interestingly it isn’t all focussed on one character alone.
This book made for a totally satisfying weekend read, with plenty to ponder and wonder about when I wasn’t salivating over the descriptions of the food, maybe a housekeeper would be nice after all!
Anne Morgan has just been dumped by her boyfriend, a charismatic chef, worse still he was her boss. After doing the requisite moping around, resisting her friend’s attempts to get her back in the kitchen, she has an epiphany. For weeks she has been following Emma Helmsley, a lifestyle blogger and her daily tips have motivated Anne almost as much as she has spent her adulthood referencing Isabella Beeton’s Book of Household Management and the solution seems simple, she will become Emma Helmsley’s housekeeper.
Now I don’t know about you but I feel somewhat queasy about someone poking around in my drawers and I’m no lifestyle blogger holding myself up as the perfect organiser, but Emma is in dire need of help. The rather disorganised household consists of herself, her husband Rob an academic who is in the midst of writing a book about a pioneer psychologist, and their teenage children, Lily and Jake.
Anne has her work cut out for her, there is plenty of clutter to sort out in the house and as we all know, no sooner is one mess sorted out than another appears but she’s enjoying the slower pace, no more fifteen hour days in a busy kitchen. It doesn’t take long for the façade the couple present as they network their way around London to be revealed for something else entirely.
The Housekeeper had me gripped because of the characters; I was fascinated by Anne’s choices and although they wouldn’t have been mine her background made them entirely plausible. As for the family… well all four were equally fascinating although Emma was more frequently in the picture than the others. A special shout-out has to go to the friend Julie who was that voice of reason often lacking in psychological fiction but will her voice be loud enough?
The whole book was written assuredly, the author really making her mark by painting a picture of the house itself, Anne’s flat and the more mundane bus rides home at night, bringing to life the minutia of a young woman’s life while keeping the pace absolutely steady thereby avoiding that deadly speeding up and slowing down jerkiness. The steady pace also allowed me to absorb the excerpts that headed up each chapter which changed from Mrs Beeton’s household tips, to Emma’s motivational statement to parts from Rob’s book about the pioneer psychologist who treated those with disorders outside the more traditional hospital environment.
I’m not going to give any more of the plot away but suffice to say there is an interesting look at a subject that isn’t often tackled and refreshingly it was done without the usual hullabaloo. The Housekeeper’s very strength the almost reserved way that the truth is revealed and interestingly it isn’t all focussed on one character alone.
This book made for a totally satisfying weekend read, with plenty to ponder and wonder about when I wasn’t salivating over the descriptions of the food, maybe a housekeeper would be nice after all!
April 24, 2017
When Anne Morgan’s successful boyfriend—who also happens to be her boss—leaves her for another woman, Anne finds herself in desperate need of a new job and a quiet place to recover. Meanwhile, her celebrity idol, Emma Helmsley (England’s answer to Martha Stewart and Oprah Winfrey), is in need of a housekeeper, an opportunity which seems too good to be true.
Through her books, website, and blog, Emma Helmsley advises her devoted followers on how to live a balanced life in a hectic world. Her husband, Rob, is a high profile academic, and her children, Jake and Lily, are well-adjusted teenagers. On the surface, they are the perfect family. But Anne soon finds herself intimately ensconced in the Helmsley’s dirty laundry, both literally and figuratively. Underneath the dust, grime, and whimsical clutter, everyone has a secret to hide. And Anne’s own disturbing past soon threatens to unhinge everything...
My Thoughts: In the beginning, The Housekeeper seemed to be a book about one young woman’s love gone wrong, and how she found a way to start over as a domestic helper for a famous blogger and her psychologist husband.
But soon we are swept up into a gradual process of enmeshment, as the Helmsley family come to expect more and more from Anne, while making it seem as though they are doing her a favor by making her feel like family. But Anne does not notice the subtle expectations, since she admires Emma and Rob and the life they have created, and being a part of it all feels so good.
When Anne has some memory flashes, it seems natural that she would ask her boss, the psychologist, for his opinions. What will happen next? Will the horrors of her childhood change everything about the life she has recreated?
I was blown away by how the story played out, and could not stop reading it. I was furious with Emma and Rob, and how they played on Anne’s need for family. They seemingly brought her into the cozy circle that was developing between them, when, in fact, they were using her to carry out the façade of the perfect family/professional couple. She did a good job of glossing over their imperfections by keeping their lives running smoothly, and what they gave her in return was betrayal.
Skillfully wrought, the story aroused emotions, kept me engaged, and left me with much more to think about. In the end, there was a sense of closure that I didn’t see coming, and it felt good. A 5 star read for me.
Through her books, website, and blog, Emma Helmsley advises her devoted followers on how to live a balanced life in a hectic world. Her husband, Rob, is a high profile academic, and her children, Jake and Lily, are well-adjusted teenagers. On the surface, they are the perfect family. But Anne soon finds herself intimately ensconced in the Helmsley’s dirty laundry, both literally and figuratively. Underneath the dust, grime, and whimsical clutter, everyone has a secret to hide. And Anne’s own disturbing past soon threatens to unhinge everything...
My Thoughts: In the beginning, The Housekeeper seemed to be a book about one young woman’s love gone wrong, and how she found a way to start over as a domestic helper for a famous blogger and her psychologist husband.
But soon we are swept up into a gradual process of enmeshment, as the Helmsley family come to expect more and more from Anne, while making it seem as though they are doing her a favor by making her feel like family. But Anne does not notice the subtle expectations, since she admires Emma and Rob and the life they have created, and being a part of it all feels so good.
When Anne has some memory flashes, it seems natural that she would ask her boss, the psychologist, for his opinions. What will happen next? Will the horrors of her childhood change everything about the life she has recreated?
I was blown away by how the story played out, and could not stop reading it. I was furious with Emma and Rob, and how they played on Anne’s need for family. They seemingly brought her into the cozy circle that was developing between them, when, in fact, they were using her to carry out the façade of the perfect family/professional couple. She did a good job of glossing over their imperfections by keeping their lives running smoothly, and what they gave her in return was betrayal.
Skillfully wrought, the story aroused emotions, kept me engaged, and left me with much more to think about. In the end, there was a sense of closure that I didn’t see coming, and it felt good. A 5 star read for me.
December 13, 2017
“I am the housekeeper, the hired help with a messy past who cleans up other people’s messy lives, the one who protects their messy little secrets.”
Okay peeps, The Housekeeper centres around chef, Anne, who has recently been dumped by her famous chef boyfriend/boss. Not feeling ready to return to catering, Anne applies for a job as a housekeeper for wealthy power-couple and successful psychologists, Emma and Rob. Despite their seemingly idelic existence, the closer Anne gets to the family, the more she starts to realise that they have more dirty little secrets than she originally thought.
Now, despite my 2 star rating, I actually didn't dislike The Housekeeper. Although it got off to a slippery start, I actually came to quite enjoy the story and was relatively invested in what happened. The problem was, not a lot happened. I kept waiting and waiting for something ground-breaking to happen and it just didn't. The two main storylines also felt almost completely disjointed and whilst Anne's investigation into her mother's life and her upbringing was great for character development, it was pretty dull and didn't add much to the story other than a minor twist at the end.
I don't think that this is particularly the authors' fault; I just feel that the book has been incorrectly marketed as a psychological, edge-of-your-seat thriller when the reality is that it is more of a character-driven, domestic drama. Now, I happen to quite enjoy domestic dramas but having expected to be blown away with the suspense and intensity of the story, The Housekeeper did leave me feeling a bit flat despite my enjoyment of it.
Overall, The Housekeeper is actually a pretty good read if you tailor your expectations. I enjoyed the writing style and was consistently intrigued by Emma and Rob. However, this book certainly isn't a thriller and therefore I came away disappointed by the lack of action.
2 Stars **
April 18, 2017
A beautifully written title with intricate description, layers of suspense, and a well-woven plot. I was surprised several times, and the ending was perfect. I felt however, this was a little short on thrills to be dubbed a psychological thriller but held enough tension to be labeled a psychological suspense drama.
March 31, 2017
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. Loved this story of a family's secrets being discovered by the housekeeper, who, with no family of her own, got a little too close to her employers. The façade they present to the public is just that - a curtain that hides their real life, and very conveniently makes them a living too, through Emma's status as an expert on 21st century domestic and family life. This is utterly laughable when you see the house and family through Anne's eyes...Full review shortly on https://crimeworm.wordpress.com/
February 17, 2017
First, I would like to say thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for sending me The Housekeeper before the publication date. A review will also be up on www.laceyslibrary.wordpress.com
I barely could get through this book. I got stuck multiple times, especially before 50% completed. This book is described as a thriller. I don't see where or why this could be a thriller. There are some parts in the beginning that were interesting, but going through I kept dragging and dragging. This book could've easily taken me a few days to read, maybe even less. It took me weeks to finish because I couldn't find the motivation to complete this book with this story line. I didn't like really any of the characters and it was hard to connect with any of them. I'm sure that if I didn't have to complete a review of this book, I probably would've labeled it as did not finish.
I barely could get through this book. I got stuck multiple times, especially before 50% completed. This book is described as a thriller. I don't see where or why this could be a thriller. There are some parts in the beginning that were interesting, but going through I kept dragging and dragging. This book could've easily taken me a few days to read, maybe even less. It took me weeks to finish because I couldn't find the motivation to complete this book with this story line. I didn't like really any of the characters and it was hard to connect with any of them. I'm sure that if I didn't have to complete a review of this book, I probably would've labeled it as did not finish.
February 28, 2017
Occasionally you read a novel and once you’ve finished, you want to go right back and start again.
For me, The Housekeeper is one of those novels. And - for the record - I will.
For a start, the writing is wonderful. Poised and assured, it’s a joy to read. Characters, descriptions, sense of place: everything is richly layered and acutely observed .
The Housekeeper might be described as a slow burner. Not in terms of plot development, which is perfectly paced, but because of the tension, which is handled so deftly that it’s almost imperceptible as it ramps. Until -
Not wishing to post a spoiler, I’ll leave it at that.
Whether you call this novel a thriller or a drama, this is not your run of the mill psychological read. It can be consumed on so many levels - all the way to its deeply satisfying end.
Highly recommended.
For me, The Housekeeper is one of those novels. And - for the record - I will.
For a start, the writing is wonderful. Poised and assured, it’s a joy to read. Characters, descriptions, sense of place: everything is richly layered and acutely observed .
The Housekeeper might be described as a slow burner. Not in terms of plot development, which is perfectly paced, but because of the tension, which is handled so deftly that it’s almost imperceptible as it ramps. Until -
Not wishing to post a spoiler, I’ll leave it at that.
Whether you call this novel a thriller or a drama, this is not your run of the mill psychological read. It can be consumed on so many levels - all the way to its deeply satisfying end.
Highly recommended.
April 26, 2017
Great book - nailed so much of what goes in the name of celebrity and the chattering classes. Anne's character is most believable and consistent, and the unfolding of her journey invokes sympathy and commiseration. The pace does not justify the label of psychological thriller, but is greatly preferable for that, and more consistent with traditional literary practice.
Couldn't leave it alone for long.
Couldn't leave it alone for long.
September 21, 2018
I picked it up at a bookstore sale thinking it was a thriller. It's a story of housekeepers life and her troubled past. I'd say it's just boring. Most of the book is just walking the dog, tidying and having some talks with the family members. Maybe last 50 pages was a bit more interesting to read. I'd say there's a lot more books to read. I struggled to finish it.
February 19, 2017
I chose this book for no other reason than the fact that the author has the same first name as me. Suellen (spelled the same way) is not all that common so I immediately felt an affinity toward her. As far as the book goes, I felt it was a mediocre thriller/mystery. About halfway through I pretty much lost interest in the characters.
May 10, 2017
When Anne finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her she decides to take a break from the restaurant world. She finds herself applying for a housekeeper position for London's powerhouse couple. After accepting, settling in, and falling in love with this family... secrets get uncovered. I loved the voyeuristic point of view, but overall I wasn't super impressed with it. The writing felt a bit stiff and I was hoping it would be more suspenseful. The best part was the constant drama surfacing!
Full Review --> https://youtu.be/Og5LOVpll8E
Full Review --> https://youtu.be/Og5LOVpll8E
May 17, 2017
Really didn't like how this was written, couldn't get in to it at all, gave up
May 13, 2019
Children love their mothers unknowingly and without measure, realizing only at the final separation how deeply rooted that love is.
Anne Morgan's life is turned upside down with she learns of her husband's affair. In an effort to escape and grieve, she leaves her highly successful job at a restaurant and accepts a position as Housekeeper for the Instagram celebrity and idol Emma Helmsley. But Emma's perfect family is far from perfect.
With such focus on motherhood, reading it on Mother's Day was perfect timing. The Housekeeper is advertised as a dark, intense, psychological thriller but it's far from that. It's more of a slow drama where the secret of Anne's upbringing & mother are exposed. I was also expecting a shockingly surprising secret but was sadly disappointed. Maybe I've read to many psychological thrillers to be surprised anymore. Maybe I went into the book with higher expectations than I should've. Who knows ...
February 3, 2017
3.5 to 4 stars. a really good read ! Obsession, betrayal, strange cult upbringing and a family hiding all kinds of secrets plus a crazy amount of delicious food descriptions ! Look for this one coming out at the end of February!
May 14, 2017
Suellen Dainty's second novel is even more accomplished and seamless than her first novel, After Everything which was published in 2014. Her command of her characters, multi layered plot and subplots matched with beautiful nuanced writing and a sharp eye for the telling detail. Each of the characters ring true. Anne, the protagonist is a former sous chef in a famous London restaurant who takes a job as a housekeeper after her long term relationship with the restaurant owner and chef, Anton breaks down. The couple she works for are famous in British circles. Emma, the wife is the UK answer to Oprah Winfrey/Martha Stewart while her psychiatrist husband Rob is a celebrity as well with his own radio show on the prestigious BBC. The couple and their teenage children have such busy lives, their house and day to day management is in chaos. Anne takes over and becomes their helpmate, support and as they keep telling her, a much loved part of the family. With no family of her own Anne embraces Rob, Emma and children Jake and Lily, caring for them believes she really is a much valued friend and and a cherished member of the family. But as the story unfolds she discovers being paid by direct debit each month does not make her a friend let alone one of the family. But a shocking very public betrayal changes this and she realises that all she has really been to the family is a housekeeper with a messy past paid to pick up after their messes and keep their messy little secrets. The book is full of suspense but it is not a thriller in the general sense, instead a family drama that slowly unfolds and stays with you long after you have read the final page.
October 3, 2021
I loved this book, others have criticized it as not being a thriller. That is true it is not.Rather it is an intriguing study of human nature. I was totally engrossed in the story and couldn't t put in down.Anne is a talented and hardworking sous chef whose boyfriend Anton dumps her for some one else. As he is also the owner of the restaurant where she works Anne finds herself out of a job(So unfair isn t it)She finds a job as housekeeper to a wealthy but disorganized family. Emma Helmsley is a popular lifestyle blogger, a sort of English Martha Stewart who Anne follows religiously. Anne becomes immersed in their life and starts to consider herself part of the family. However she soon realizes that underneath their perfect veneer this family is not all they seem and are hiding dark secrets. I really liked Anne as a character. She has such a good heart and a very strong work ethic. She has quite an obsessive personality ie an almost compulsive desire for order and neatness that is wildly at odds with the chaotic and disorganized family she is working for. She had a sad childhood, bought up by a strict grandmother and has little memory of her mother who appeared to have abandoned her. Anne has no other family, only her friend Jude and her loneliness throughout the story is palpable. I hated the fact that this privledged family took advantage of her vulnerability to their own ends. I absolutely loathed the Helmsley's by the end of the story and wanted justice for Anne so badly.
April 29, 2021
PI am going to start off by saying, I do not think I ever gave a book such a low rating before. The reason for that is because I felt like this storyline just went nowhere. I was waiting for the shoe to drop, I was waiting for something, ANYTHING interesting to happen. So yeah I guess you could say the "big thing" that happened was, the family that Ann went to work for betrayed her. I'm going to write that there's spoilers before people read this but basically she was looking into her past, trying to find out about her family that she knows nothing about because she grew up with her grandmother. She opened up to this family that she became a housekeeper for and the husband took her words and photos of her and wrote about it without her permission in a book. Yes it was absolutely horrible and the way they betrayed her and basically told her oh well deal with it was terrible. But besides that nothing really happened. That was pretty much it and the end. It was very boring and mundane and just I don't even know what the story was intended to be about. I thought there was some interesting or crazy harrowing thing that happened. But not at all. So that's that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2017
What a truly wretched book! Not only was it tedious, dull, and often meandered off topic or skipped to new information with no segue, but it was also twisted and appalling. The main character is a weak-willed, rather pathetic sort of person, who eves drops on others, follows them, and insinuates herself into a family that is not hers and takes on an odd, unnatural relationship with each one. It's hard to feel for her because the author writes her in a very detached sort of way. Her supposed best friend is cruel and ruthless towards her, but strangely loyal despite seeming to only care for herself. The many varied events that occur, while rather disjointed, are despicable and appalling. It definitely had a soap opera feel in a dark, demented way. The author also has clear moral views, many which I strongly disagree with, and she makes those views clear in emphatic, no uncertain terms. I feel icky after reading it and can't seem to find any redeeming quality to it other than showing humanity that is depraved.
June 9, 2017
Suellen Dainty’s, THE HOUSEKEEPER (WashingtonSquarePress), is part of BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge 2017 #SRC2017. Anne Morgan’s super successful restaurateur boss-boyfriend dumps her for another woman and she’s desperate to find a new job and place to lick her wounds. At the same time, Emma Helmsley, England’s answer to Oprah and Martha needs a new housekeeper, pronto who is used to being around A-listers. Ta-da: A match.
Anne is quickly swept into a world of constant parties and media appearances. Emma tells the world how to live a perfect life, while her academic husband writes a book about a shrink leading a cult. Their two well-adjusted teens add to the picture of perfection they present to the outside world.
But everyone has dirty laundry, and its easy to find, especially when you’re doing the laundry. Anne tries to maintain order, meanwhile unburied secrets threaten to cause dangerous consequences.
THE HOUSEKEEPER is a nail-biting psychological thriller about the dark places in our mind.
Anne is quickly swept into a world of constant parties and media appearances. Emma tells the world how to live a perfect life, while her academic husband writes a book about a shrink leading a cult. Their two well-adjusted teens add to the picture of perfection they present to the outside world.
But everyone has dirty laundry, and its easy to find, especially when you’re doing the laundry. Anne tries to maintain order, meanwhile unburied secrets threaten to cause dangerous consequences.
THE HOUSEKEEPER is a nail-biting psychological thriller about the dark places in our mind.
February 7, 2024
this book was absolutely awful. lazy writing that felt very akin to a student trying just to fill pages to hit the required word count (she used a LOT of repeated sentences / descriptions, word for word). There were so many “conflicts” that weren’t really conflicts, but never were really resolved. The one major “twist” was somewhat shocking, but mostly in the sense that it felt completely unrealistic. It is realistic in the sense that people would do what they did, but the lack of realism came in the way the author chose to write these people for 200+ pages before the twist. the entirety of the story is the woman saying “we are just SO lucky to have you!!!” over and over again. Very boring, and the fact that the antagonist gets his karma oh so perfectly in the last three paragraphs again feels like lazy writing and completely unrealistic.
May 21, 2017
This novel is a slow-burn story about Anne Morgan's life that takes a down-turn after her boyfriend, Anton, ends their relationship. We are slowly sucked into Anne's new life as the housekeeper for a celebrity couple and their two children. Whilst reading, I was constantly analysing each character to see what was lurking beneath their skin, which hastened me to the end of the book.
I did work out some of the story-line, but I was surprised by part of the denouement, which is always pleasing. Although this is well written, I'm in two minds about the book overall as it takes a while for the plot to get going - but I'm pleased I've read it.
I did work out some of the story-line, but I was surprised by part of the denouement, which is always pleasing. Although this is well written, I'm in two minds about the book overall as it takes a while for the plot to get going - but I'm pleased I've read it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews