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The Housemaid
Housemaid wanted.
Skills required: Discretion, and the willingness to go the extra mile.
It seems like the perfect job. Great wages, accommodation provided, and all located within the walls of Highwood Hall, a stunning stately home owned by the Howard family. Not many little girls dream of becoming a maid, but this is an opportunity for me to get back on my feet. And for me to revisit my past...
But I soon realise I've made a mistake. The strict housekeeper, Mrs Huxley, watches my every move, emerging from the shadows when least expected. Lord Howard's son, Alex, takes an interest in me, and as a former addict, I find myself drawn to him because I know he's bad for me.
There's a general atmosphere of unease at Highwood Hall, from the narrow tunnels laced throughout the sprawling house, to the abandoned north wing, rumoured to be haunted. It's easy to imagine the secrets hidden within these walls, like the secrets I hold close.
On my first day, I receive a mysterious package. I open up the pretty gift box to find a miniature doll version of me trapped inside a dollhouse. In this scene I'm dead, lying in a pool of red paint at the bottom of the perfectly recreated staircase. Someone sent this threatening diorama to me, but who even knows I work at the hall? And what do they want?
I know only one truth: my perfect job is turning into my perfect nightmare.
Skills required: Discretion, and the willingness to go the extra mile.
It seems like the perfect job. Great wages, accommodation provided, and all located within the walls of Highwood Hall, a stunning stately home owned by the Howard family. Not many little girls dream of becoming a maid, but this is an opportunity for me to get back on my feet. And for me to revisit my past...
But I soon realise I've made a mistake. The strict housekeeper, Mrs Huxley, watches my every move, emerging from the shadows when least expected. Lord Howard's son, Alex, takes an interest in me, and as a former addict, I find myself drawn to him because I know he's bad for me.
There's a general atmosphere of unease at Highwood Hall, from the narrow tunnels laced throughout the sprawling house, to the abandoned north wing, rumoured to be haunted. It's easy to imagine the secrets hidden within these walls, like the secrets I hold close.
On my first day, I receive a mysterious package. I open up the pretty gift box to find a miniature doll version of me trapped inside a dollhouse. In this scene I'm dead, lying in a pool of red paint at the bottom of the perfectly recreated staircase. Someone sent this threatening diorama to me, but who even knows I work at the hall? And what do they want?
I know only one truth: my perfect job is turning into my perfect nightmare.
9 pages, Audible Audio
First published May 25, 2021
About the author
Sarah A. Denzil
56 books2,851 followersSarah A. Denzil is a Wall Street Journal bestselling suspense writer. She is also known as young adult author Sarah Dalton.
Sarah lives in Yorkshire with her partner, enjoying the scenic countryside and rather unpredictable weather.
She is the author of international bestselling psychological thriller SILENT CHILD, which topped the bestseller lists on Amazon in the US, UK and Australia.
You can read now read AIDEN'S STORY, a short story and sequel to SILENT CHILD. It's completely free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/n7lb74chp3
Find out more at: http://www.sarahdenzil.com/
Join the newsletter for updates: http://eepurl.com/cwAmZD
Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahadenzil
Check out her Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/sarahadenzil/
Email: sarah@sarahdenzil.com
Sarah lives in Yorkshire with her partner, enjoying the scenic countryside and rather unpredictable weather.
She is the author of international bestselling psychological thriller SILENT CHILD, which topped the bestseller lists on Amazon in the US, UK and Australia.
You can read now read AIDEN'S STORY, a short story and sequel to SILENT CHILD. It's completely free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/n7lb74chp3
Find out more at: http://www.sarahdenzil.com/
Join the newsletter for updates: http://eepurl.com/cwAmZD
Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahadenzil
Check out her Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/sarahadenzil/
Email: sarah@sarahdenzil.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,359 reviews
May 30, 2023
Omg I read this whole book thinking it was the one by Freda McFadden and it was only after I went to rate it on goodreads that I realized I’d read the wrong damn book. For several days, I thought everyone had gone insane because this book was not worthy of the praise I’d heard. It’s me, hi, I’m the problem it’s me.
Currently Reading
July 19, 2021What you should know about THE HOUSEMAID!
1. I've created a Spotify playlist of piano music to listen to while reading the book. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4UJ... The main character sits with the mysterious Alex Howard and turns the pages of his music as he plays the piano. Why not transport yourself there!
2. The stately house, Highwood Hall, is based on Haddon Hall in the Peak District. https://www.haddonhall.co.uk/ I visited when I was a child and thought it was very beautiful. I wanted to go while writing The Housemaid but unfortunately, it coincided with lockdown. But at least I could look through the gallery on the website.
3. The publication date is 20th July. You can go here to buy the book! https://geni.us/thehousemaid
4. The Housemaid is one of my favourite books. It was such a challenge to write but I'm really proud of how it turned out. I can't wait to share it with you all and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Sarah :)
1. I've created a Spotify playlist of piano music to listen to while reading the book. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4UJ... The main character sits with the mysterious Alex Howard and turns the pages of his music as he plays the piano. Why not transport yourself there!
2. The stately house, Highwood Hall, is based on Haddon Hall in the Peak District. https://www.haddonhall.co.uk/ I visited when I was a child and thought it was very beautiful. I wanted to go while writing The Housemaid but unfortunately, it coincided with lockdown. But at least I could look through the gallery on the website.
3. The publication date is 20th July. You can go here to buy the book! https://geni.us/thehousemaid
4. The Housemaid is one of my favourite books. It was such a challenge to write but I'm really proud of how it turned out. I can't wait to share it with you all and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Sarah :)
October 1, 2023
A mystery shrouded in money and privilege.
The suspense was strong in this one. A young woman takes a job as a live in maid-not only because she is essentially homeless and needs a place to live just as much as she needs a job, but also because her mother worked there as a maid 20 years ago.
The mother she never knew.
She longs to find out about who she was and why she made the decision to give her baby to her sister to raise. What happened to her? Ruby’s aunt doesn’t know either but Ruby needs to figure this out to move forward in her life.
Ruby finds out so much more than she was looking for! As the reader, I kept looking left when I should’ve been looking right.
Exciting read.
The suspense was strong in this one. A young woman takes a job as a live in maid-not only because she is essentially homeless and needs a place to live just as much as she needs a job, but also because her mother worked there as a maid 20 years ago.
The mother she never knew.
She longs to find out about who she was and why she made the decision to give her baby to her sister to raise. What happened to her? Ruby’s aunt doesn’t know either but Ruby needs to figure this out to move forward in her life.
Ruby finds out so much more than she was looking for! As the reader, I kept looking left when I should’ve been looking right.
Exciting read.
February 17, 2022
Suspenseful, mysterious, and entertaining audiobook while I listen to when I run errands and do my chores. The storyline was interesting, with just the proper narration that brings the story to life. Every bit enjoyable. 😊
May 14, 2021
That was nasty 😝
Trying to make a life on her own after being abandoned by her mother when she was a child, a young woman is accepted as a housemaid for a rich family of Highwood Hall after years of battling addiction and rehabilitation.
Mrs. Huxley who has been working there for the past twenty three years has been guiding all the workers but something is there about her which is quite unsettling for Howard.
"Her, Miss Trunchbull, me Matilda." Exactly.
She gets disturbing mail threats depicting her dead. And more disturbing mails which depict threats to the rest of the Bertie family. And things about the family has so many secrets to uncover. The house just haunts it seems. The Bertie family members are quite interesting but quite bizarre.
I like the writing. It's haunting and intriguing. It gets more creepy the more you read.
Each of the character introduced seems like they have a big mystery hidden with them. Everything makes the reading quite fun and interesting. It makes you feel like a big reveal is going to happen anytime and you cannot afford to miss any of it.
The ending surprised me.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It's such a thrill.
Thank you, author and the publisher, for the advance reading copy.
Trying to make a life on her own after being abandoned by her mother when she was a child, a young woman is accepted as a housemaid for a rich family of Highwood Hall after years of battling addiction and rehabilitation.
Mrs. Huxley who has been working there for the past twenty three years has been guiding all the workers but something is there about her which is quite unsettling for Howard.
"Her, Miss Trunchbull, me Matilda." Exactly.
She gets disturbing mail threats depicting her dead. And more disturbing mails which depict threats to the rest of the Bertie family. And things about the family has so many secrets to uncover. The house just haunts it seems. The Bertie family members are quite interesting but quite bizarre.
I like the writing. It's haunting and intriguing. It gets more creepy the more you read.
Each of the character introduced seems like they have a big mystery hidden with them. Everything makes the reading quite fun and interesting. It makes you feel like a big reveal is going to happen anytime and you cannot afford to miss any of it.
The ending surprised me.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It's such a thrill.
Thank you, author and the publisher, for the advance reading copy.
August 5, 2021
I've read most of Sarah Denzil's books and thoroughly enjoyed them. This one, not so much. The writing was excellent but the characters simply didn't ring true, especially Emily/Ruby. The entire plot line was rather hard to follow; it read as if it were Victorian gothic until there was suddenly a cell phone. Perhaps it would have been more believable if it were Victorian? I don't know. I found the characters unlikeable, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but the protagonist was completely unbelievable. The twist at the end with Pawel made no sense at all. It felt as if it were just thrown in there to create a situation that had no relevance to the story. Where did Ruby/Emily and friends get the money and time to set up their/her elaborate plan? A "GoFundMe" plot in the background? And Alex happens to get away? Did Alex die (it's not clear), and what finally happened to Bertie? Mrs. Huxley's illness was very convenient, and what was the story with Charlie? He was thrown into the mix without any real purpose that I could find; certainly left unclear. If he was the motivation for Mrs. Huxley's actions, could he not have been fleshed out a little more? What about Margot and Lottie? There is really no closure regarding any of the characters, The more I think about it as I write this review, the less I am inclined to recommend this book to anyone. I may again be in the minority, but being fan of Sarah Denzil, this book was a big disappointment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2022
If you like torture, conspiracy, murder and a class of people getting away with it for a generation this is for you. I'm not a fan. 1 of 10 stars
July 12, 2021
Stop what you are doing and grab this book! Seriously, The Housemaid is a clever and addictive novel that you won't want to put down. I have read alot of Sarah Denzil's books and this is up there as my favourite. You will never see where it is going and the ending with absolutely shock you.
Who wouldn't want to work as a housemaid and personal assistant at Highwood Hall, a beautiful stately home in Yorkshire. Accommodation included and a great wage. The chance comes up for this young woman, an opportunity for her turn her life around after a rough few years. It also allows her to look into a family mystery. But behind the walls of Highwood Hall, dark secrets are being kept by the family and the staff. Why is there a high turn over of maids? And who is sending the sinister packages, that are targeting the people that live there? You will have to read it to find out.
Thanks to Victory Editing Netgalley Co-Op for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishing on July 20th
Who wouldn't want to work as a housemaid and personal assistant at Highwood Hall, a beautiful stately home in Yorkshire. Accommodation included and a great wage. The chance comes up for this young woman, an opportunity for her turn her life around after a rough few years. It also allows her to look into a family mystery. But behind the walls of Highwood Hall, dark secrets are being kept by the family and the staff. Why is there a high turn over of maids? And who is sending the sinister packages, that are targeting the people that live there? You will have to read it to find out.
Thanks to Victory Editing Netgalley Co-Op for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishing on July 20th
November 7, 2024
Honestly I am just so happy it is over
May 17, 2023
Entertaining enough but storyline was a little predictable will no real twists. Characters were a little one dimensional. I kept hoping for more sides to them but seemed they all just had the one purpose. Easy story but nothing special.
August 19, 2022
3.5 stars. This one works as a Gothic-style novel, complete with the huge house, creepy rich family and strange sounds. You will need to suspend quite a bit of disbelief and some of the surprises and reveals are easy to guess. All in all, this was good.
March 11, 2022
This book was awful, no wonder it was free on audible, lol. Totally unbelievable and just ridiculous quite frankly. I can’t believe I listened to the whole thing. Also- why choose a narrator with a southern accent when the entire book is about people born and brought up in Yorkshire??
August 11, 2023
When Kat tells you to read “the housemaid” for book club and you realize 46% of the way thru that it’s the wrong book 😂 first half was boring af but honestly I didn’t love the writing at all in the second half but the plot wasn’t half bad! Lol ☠️
May 17, 2021
After being abandoned as a child by her mother, Ruby (the author doesn’t mention her name much and I really needed to know) decides to interview for a job as a housemaid at the last place her mother worked.
Highwood Hall is a huge mansion lived in by the Howard’s. Lord Bertie is the Patriarch of the family, his mother in law Margot and two children, the creepy Alex and the somewhat strange Lottie. Ruby interviews with the formidable housekeeper Mrs Huxley and moves in ready to work the next day.
In her first few days Ruby receives a terrifying diorama in the post, despite having no family and no friends she doesn’t really seem as concerned as I would be with someone knowing where she is and threatening her life. This is one of the points I continue to be stuck on after reading the book. Throughout she seems largely unfazed by absolutely terrifying events.
The twist in this book was absolutely too far for me. I can easily suspend disbelief for many things but this went too far and was very disappointing. The entire ‘red room’ schtick is way too far and was done to perfection before.
I think this book would be enjoyed by those that enjoy thrillers but maybe were ready for a bit of a fantastical twist.
Highwood Hall is a huge mansion lived in by the Howard’s. Lord Bertie is the Patriarch of the family, his mother in law Margot and two children, the creepy Alex and the somewhat strange Lottie. Ruby interviews with the formidable housekeeper Mrs Huxley and moves in ready to work the next day.
In her first few days Ruby receives a terrifying diorama in the post, despite having no family and no friends she doesn’t really seem as concerned as I would be with someone knowing where she is and threatening her life. This is one of the points I continue to be stuck on after reading the book. Throughout she seems largely unfazed by absolutely terrifying events.
The twist in this book was absolutely too far for me. I can easily suspend disbelief for many things but this went too far and was very disappointing. The entire ‘red room’ schtick is way too far and was done to perfection before.
I think this book would be enjoyed by those that enjoy thrillers but maybe were ready for a bit of a fantastical twist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2022
"No one aspires to be a maid. You are one because you are desperate."
I enjoyed this audiobook so much. This is the first time I've listened to a novel narrated by Sophie Rundle. Her voice reminds me of Rosie Jones. I was so captivated. Highly recommend. ❤❤
I enjoyed this audiobook so much. This is the first time I've listened to a novel narrated by Sophie Rundle. Her voice reminds me of Rosie Jones. I was so captivated. Highly recommend. ❤❤
May 27, 2024
The Howard family all have their own if not somewhat warped personalities. Alex in particular and you feel early on that this is someone who is dangerous and things can’t possibly end well where he is concerned. Mrs Huxley, the house keeper, is also someone who creeped me out. In some ways she is your stereotypical house keeper that you come across in the sense that she is extremely strict with a no nonsense attitude that comes across as very unfeeling. It just added to the already tense atmosphere of the story.
The story is mainly set in present day with Ruby the new housemaid but it does jump back occasionally to her mother Emily. Ruby’s own connection with this house along with the ongoing events in the home make you keep turning those pages.
The story is mainly set in present day with Ruby the new housemaid but it does jump back occasionally to her mother Emily. Ruby’s own connection with this house along with the ongoing events in the home make you keep turning those pages.
May 30, 2023
The setting is Highwood Hall, a Downtown Abbey-like household in modern England. A young housemaid is starting her new job there and on the down-low, trying to find out what happened to her mother after she disappeared while working at the very same house 20 years ago.
Overall, it's a pretty good mystery with an easy to follow story line that takes the reader through the then and now timelines.
Overall, it's a pretty good mystery with an easy to follow story line that takes the reader through the then and now timelines.
August 22, 2021
Although set in today's timeline, due to the setting of the book it has a creepy, gothic feel to it. I loved the atmosphere, the story itself and most of all Ruby, the housemaid.
September 6, 2023
*0.5 Stars rounded up
Never going to read another thriller novel by this author ever again 💀.
Never going to read another thriller novel by this author ever again 💀.
March 21, 2024
If I have to read the word “diorama” one more time I’ll lose it
May 19, 2022
I can't believe this is the same author who co- wrote "Poison Orchids", which I loved.
This book was a mistake as an audiobook. Once I realized it was written from the perspective of two different people, I couldn't easily flip back a few pages to re-read them.
The story was mostly long and boring as heck. Like a modern day Downton Abbey with a ridiculous twist at the end.
This book was a mistake as an audiobook. Once I realized it was written from the perspective of two different people, I couldn't easily flip back a few pages to re-read them.
The story was mostly long and boring as heck. Like a modern day Downton Abbey with a ridiculous twist at the end.
August 21, 2023
I picked up the wrong book with the same title and decided to read it anyway. I should not have done that.
October 16, 2023
wow, that was way better than I expected. I sort of kind of guessed some of the plot twists but overall I was still pleasantly surprised, especially at the end. Solid thriller!
July 22, 2021
I'm not sure how to review this book without giving away clues to the "twist". At the end of Part One, there was a twist that was shocking. I was actually disoriented and confused. I needed to go back and read a couple chapters in Part One to put it together in my head. It did make sense when you knew what you were looking for. This was a long book, and I think that maybe about 80% of the way through I did start to get a little tired, hoping that things would speed up. This is a sad, scary, and maddening book. It begins with a young woman, around 21, who was abandoned by her mother when she was just a baby. She is a recovering drug addict, and has applied for a job at an aristocratic estate in England. She'd be a maid with room and board included, besides a salary, and considering that she's homeless and couch surfing, that's a big perk. There's another reason she wants to work there---her mother worked there, about 20 years earlier, shortly before she abandoned her and left her to be raised by her aunt. So now the daughter is hoping to find someone who was there when the mother was, to try to find an explanation as to why she was abandoned. Her mother thought there was something strange going on Highwood Hall, and now the daughter is experiencing the same thing. I'm not sure how I feel about all of the ending. I think a couple of the characters went overboard in their attempt to bring down the villains. There had to be a simpler way. That's the reason I'm giving this book 4 stars instead of 5 stars. It went on too long with the convoluted "sting operation". There's more of an ending than there needs to be. Still, I would recommend this book to psychological suspense fans, because the rest of the novel is fantastic. It's well-written, and the characters really draw you in.
August 22, 2021
She's applied for the of housekeeper and to her delight she is hired. The job comes with a great pay, a room of her own, and in a stunning stately home owned by the Howard family.
But she soon realizes she's made a mistake. The strict housekeeper, Mrs Huxley, watches her every move, emerging from the shadows when least expected. Lord Howard’s son, Alex, takes an interest in her, and as a former addict, she finds herself drawn to him. There’s a general atmosphere of unease at Highwood Hall, from the narrow tunnels laced throughout the sprawling house, to the abandoned north wing, rumored to be haunted. It’s easy to imagine the secrets hidden within these walls, like the secrets she holds close.
On her first day of work she receives a package .. but she's told no one where she's working. It's a gruesome miniature doll in her likeness, trapped inside a dollhouse, lying in a pool of blood. Who sent it .... what does it mean? Is this a threat .. or a warning?
Everyone is suspect in this well-written novel with compelling twists and turns at every corner leading to a killer of a conclusion. The characters are deftly drawn and all seem to have deep, dark secrets.
Many thanks to the author / Victory Editing Netgalley Co-Op / Netgalley for the digital copy of this riveting psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed hear are unbiased and entirely my own.
But she soon realizes she's made a mistake. The strict housekeeper, Mrs Huxley, watches her every move, emerging from the shadows when least expected. Lord Howard’s son, Alex, takes an interest in her, and as a former addict, she finds herself drawn to him. There’s a general atmosphere of unease at Highwood Hall, from the narrow tunnels laced throughout the sprawling house, to the abandoned north wing, rumored to be haunted. It’s easy to imagine the secrets hidden within these walls, like the secrets she holds close.
On her first day of work she receives a package .. but she's told no one where she's working. It's a gruesome miniature doll in her likeness, trapped inside a dollhouse, lying in a pool of blood. Who sent it .... what does it mean? Is this a threat .. or a warning?
Everyone is suspect in this well-written novel with compelling twists and turns at every corner leading to a killer of a conclusion. The characters are deftly drawn and all seem to have deep, dark secrets.
Many thanks to the author / Victory Editing Netgalley Co-Op / Netgalley for the digital copy of this riveting psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed hear are unbiased and entirely my own.
March 12, 2022
The stately home plays a big part in this story. The images were so vivid in my head as the author really brings it to life. You’ve got to love a house with a history and we keep learning more about what dark secrets it holds. With it being an old house, there are also lots of secret passageways which gave the whole feel of the story an even more edgier feel.
The Howard family all have their own if not somewhat warped personalities. Alex in particular and you feel early on that this is someone who is dangerous and things can’t possibly end well where he is concerned. Mrs Huxley, the house keeper, is also someone who creeped me out. In some ways she is your stereotypical house keeper that you come across in the sense that she is extremely strict with a no nonsense attitude that comes across as very unfeeling. It just added to the already tense atmosphere of the story.
The story is mainly set in present day with Ruby the new housemaid but it does jump back occasionally to her mother Emily. Ruby’s own connection with this house along with the ongoing events in the home make you keep turning those pages.
The Housemaid was a tense and chilling story that was impossible to put down. The suspense was electrifying at times and I could see this making a great film. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I ended up reading it in two sittings as I found it so compelling. Another great read by the author!
The Howard family all have their own if not somewhat warped personalities. Alex in particular and you feel early on that this is someone who is dangerous and things can’t possibly end well where he is concerned. Mrs Huxley, the house keeper, is also someone who creeped me out. In some ways she is your stereotypical house keeper that you come across in the sense that she is extremely strict with a no nonsense attitude that comes across as very unfeeling. It just added to the already tense atmosphere of the story.
The story is mainly set in present day with Ruby the new housemaid but it does jump back occasionally to her mother Emily. Ruby’s own connection with this house along with the ongoing events in the home make you keep turning those pages.
The Housemaid was a tense and chilling story that was impossible to put down. The suspense was electrifying at times and I could see this making a great film. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I ended up reading it in two sittings as I found it so compelling. Another great read by the author!
August 18, 2021
People really like this. Cool, cool...
I thought I was going to like this. It started out well. Gothic setting and brooding dude. Our Brontë-esque main character actually has a little more edge than expected. I was in.
Until I wasn't.
See...this whole diorama thing was kind of like that CSI Miniature Killer story line, only toothless and kind of useless. Even the teeny explanation behind it all in the end didn't really make sense to me. I mean...why even do that?
There's no real surprise about the who of anything and the why is surface-level villain behavior. And even though I liked our edgy main character, I still didn't get *why* she would put up with certain things.
It's a fast read and it is interesting, but I couldn't help feel that much of it was illogical and really a stretch.
*ARC via Net Galley
I thought I was going to like this. It started out well. Gothic setting and brooding dude. Our Brontë-esque main character actually has a little more edge than expected. I was in.
Until I wasn't.
See...this whole diorama thing was kind of like that CSI Miniature Killer story line, only toothless and kind of useless. Even the teeny explanation behind it all in the end didn't really make sense to me. I mean...why even do that?
There's no real surprise about the who of anything and the why is surface-level villain behavior. And even though I liked our edgy main character, I still didn't get *why* she would put up with certain things.
It's a fast read and it is interesting, but I couldn't help feel that much of it was illogical and really a stretch.
*ARC via Net Galley
June 24, 2021
I’ve read books by this author before and loved them all but this was just not for me.
It felt more like a Victorian romance novel than a crime/mystery thriller. The writing, as always is wonderful and that’s what kept me going. Sarah has a real talent for creating imaginary landscapes.
I felt this book was a bit too slow for my liking, the plot was a bit obvious and cliche and so I just didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped I would.
Thank to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
It felt more like a Victorian romance novel than a crime/mystery thriller. The writing, as always is wonderful and that’s what kept me going. Sarah has a real talent for creating imaginary landscapes.
I felt this book was a bit too slow for my liking, the plot was a bit obvious and cliche and so I just didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped I would.
Thank to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
January 3, 2022
Another brilliant read from Sarah Denzil.
It's a psychological/murder mystery that was very enjoyable. Yes, it is formulaic but the characters and plot are very good and worth a read if this is a genre you enjoy, as I do.
It's a psychological/murder mystery that was very enjoyable. Yes, it is formulaic but the characters and plot are very good and worth a read if this is a genre you enjoy, as I do.
December 24, 2021
Emily got a job just 6 months after she had a baby. Happy to be a housemaid at Highwood Hall, a stunning stately home owned by the Howard family. After that, all her husband hears from her is that, six months later, she disappeared, leaving a letter that this was all too much for her to bear and she was going away, never to come back.
21 years later, Ruby, her daughter, is back at Highwood Hall as a maid, taking up a job after her problems with addiction, and in hopes to find what happened to her mother here that made her disappear forever.
But Ruby receives a box on her first day at work. A mysterious box wrapped in red ribbon and white paper that reveals a grotesque scene of her as a doll lying in a pool of blood at the foot of the stairs.
Disgusted and terrified of this naked threat, Ruby then learns of the mysteries that haunt Highwood Hall, and why no maid in the past 21 years had stayed for longer than a year or two at the place.
This is a page-turner. The non-linear narration and artistic reveal of plot twists made this for a delicious thriller to rea on a cold December evening. It's the kind that makes the gears in your brain turn furiously, working hard to find who's the killer, and never fully knowing where the story is going next.
The end reveal felt way too dramatic, almost reminiscent of a 1990s Hindi television serial, and it didn't impress me much. But I'd forgive the author because of how brilliant her storytelling is, and how wonderfully she has strewn various red herrings throughout the story to keep the readers recommend. At just 200 pages, this is the recipe to a perfect happy Sunday in December.
21 years later, Ruby, her daughter, is back at Highwood Hall as a maid, taking up a job after her problems with addiction, and in hopes to find what happened to her mother here that made her disappear forever.
But Ruby receives a box on her first day at work. A mysterious box wrapped in red ribbon and white paper that reveals a grotesque scene of her as a doll lying in a pool of blood at the foot of the stairs.
Disgusted and terrified of this naked threat, Ruby then learns of the mysteries that haunt Highwood Hall, and why no maid in the past 21 years had stayed for longer than a year or two at the place.
This is a page-turner. The non-linear narration and artistic reveal of plot twists made this for a delicious thriller to rea on a cold December evening. It's the kind that makes the gears in your brain turn furiously, working hard to find who's the killer, and never fully knowing where the story is going next.
The end reveal felt way too dramatic, almost reminiscent of a 1990s Hindi television serial, and it didn't impress me much. But I'd forgive the author because of how brilliant her storytelling is, and how wonderfully she has strewn various red herrings throughout the story to keep the readers recommend. At just 200 pages, this is the recipe to a perfect happy Sunday in December.
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