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The Inspector's Daughter and the Maid.
The Inspector's Daughter and The Maid
is a moving and delightful blend of
historical and speculative romance fiction.
The foundations of traditional structures reveal themselves to be no longer stone, but sand, and in the hearts of
the Inspector's Daughter and the Maid
some natural ease gets broken, and their trust in a promising future loses its innocence.
In the severance of winds, beyond their wildest dreams, possibilities are awakened.
Which one will win the heart of the wealthy merchant's son - the Music Teacher?
__________________
What Beta Readers say about The Inspector's Daughter and the Maid.
"The author takes us to another time and place with authenticity and a strong feminist story." —Diana Jewel, M.A., Mission, Canada
"Amidst current travel restrictions, this novel is a special treat. The author took me on a journey through time and place to 17th century Delft. With tremendous heart and a fluid writing style, Marlene Cheng wove a tale which captivated me from the very first page, putting me in the shoes of her protagonists and fully engaging me in their trials until the very end." —Desiree Sy, Milan, Italy.
"The Inspector's Daughter had me gripped from the very beginning. Marlene successfully throws the reader into the past and into the characters' lives. You live through the characters' lives right along side them and are rooting for them every step of the way. I couldn't recommend this book more, I can't wait to see what the author does next!"—Clare Appezzato, editorial, WordWorks magazine, Federation of BC writers.
historical and speculative romance fiction.
The foundations of traditional structures reveal themselves to be no longer stone, but sand, and in the hearts of
the Inspector's Daughter and the Maid
some natural ease gets broken, and their trust in a promising future loses its innocence.
In the severance of winds, beyond their wildest dreams, possibilities are awakened.
Which one will win the heart of the wealthy merchant's son - the Music Teacher?
__________________
What Beta Readers say about The Inspector's Daughter and the Maid.
"The author takes us to another time and place with authenticity and a strong feminist story." —Diana Jewel, M.A., Mission, Canada
"Amidst current travel restrictions, this novel is a special treat. The author took me on a journey through time and place to 17th century Delft. With tremendous heart and a fluid writing style, Marlene Cheng wove a tale which captivated me from the very first page, putting me in the shoes of her protagonists and fully engaging me in their trials until the very end." —Desiree Sy, Milan, Italy.
"The Inspector's Daughter had me gripped from the very beginning. Marlene successfully throws the reader into the past and into the characters' lives. You live through the characters' lives right along side them and are rooting for them every step of the way. I couldn't recommend this book more, I can't wait to see what the author does next!"—Clare Appezzato, editorial, WordWorks magazine, Federation of BC writers.
251 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 30, 2022
1 person want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 29, 2024
I have borrowed this book thanks to my Kindle Unlimited subscription and I have read it on the Kindle app of my tablet.
"The Inspector's Daughter and the Maid" is one of those indie books that will surprise you for the good.
I'm going to be honest from the beginning; I'm not a super fan of romance books, or books where romance is the primary setting, but with this one, something is different. The historical scene is perfectly set by the author. You can tell the level of references used to perfectly describe the Delft of the 17th century, but that is carried out to perfection that is overwhelming. I would say that this is what got me hooked from the beginning to the end. Congrats to the author for such an amazing work!
On the other (good) hand, you will find a quick read, as quick as the prose of the author. You will surf through the pages thanks to the quick rhythm of the storytelling. I really liked the "just to the point" style of the author, even though sometimes a little bit more of a pause wouldn't do any harm to the story.
Story-wise, you will find a solid story with characters that flow perfectly in the stream of the story. If you love reading romance books set in a historical time, this is a must-read for you.
"The Inspector's Daughter and the Maid" is one of those indie books that will surprise you for the good.
I'm going to be honest from the beginning; I'm not a super fan of romance books, or books where romance is the primary setting, but with this one, something is different. The historical scene is perfectly set by the author. You can tell the level of references used to perfectly describe the Delft of the 17th century, but that is carried out to perfection that is overwhelming. I would say that this is what got me hooked from the beginning to the end. Congrats to the author for such an amazing work!
On the other (good) hand, you will find a quick read, as quick as the prose of the author. You will surf through the pages thanks to the quick rhythm of the storytelling. I really liked the "just to the point" style of the author, even though sometimes a little bit more of a pause wouldn't do any harm to the story.
Story-wise, you will find a solid story with characters that flow perfectly in the stream of the story. If you love reading romance books set in a historical time, this is a must-read for you.
March 5, 2026
This is such a beautiful book. Set in Delft in the 17th century, it’s about women and their desire to break away from the notion of themselves as chattels in a patriarchal society. They want to think for themselves and learn and be responsible for their own lives.
It was such a joy to read this book.
It was such a joy to read this book.
February 20, 2026
The Inspector’s Daughter and the Maid is a tender, quietly radical story that explores love, class, and possibility within the fragile frameworks of tradition. Set against a vividly rendered historical backdrop, the novel allows its romance to unfold with emotional honesty, revealing how easily certainty dissolves when social order is built on sand rather than stone.
What works especially well is the emotional symmetry between the two women at the center of the story. Their growing awareness of choice, desire, and consequence gives the novel its forward momentum. The speculative elements feel organic rather than imposed, gently widening the boundaries of what is permitted and imaginable in their world. The setting enriches the tension, grounding the story in time while allowing it to speak clearly to modern sensibilities.
At its heart, this is a novel about awakening. The loss of innocence is not tragic here, but necessary, making room for agency, risk, and hope. The story lingers because it asks not just who will be chosen, but who gets to choose at all.
What works especially well is the emotional symmetry between the two women at the center of the story. Their growing awareness of choice, desire, and consequence gives the novel its forward momentum. The speculative elements feel organic rather than imposed, gently widening the boundaries of what is permitted and imaginable in their world. The setting enriches the tension, grounding the story in time while allowing it to speak clearly to modern sensibilities.
At its heart, this is a novel about awakening. The loss of innocence is not tragic here, but necessary, making room for agency, risk, and hope. The story lingers because it asks not just who will be chosen, but who gets to choose at all.
March 1, 2024
Captivating!
I've read several books by this author and this one didn't disappoint.
Marlene has her own distinct style that is truly sublime! Her writing is almost poetic while creativity shines through.
This story is magnificent! With strong female characters throughout, Marlene weaves a captivating story of enduring friendship and loves enduring power to overcome. Beautiful. Just beautiful!
I've read several books by this author and this one didn't disappoint.
Marlene has her own distinct style that is truly sublime! Her writing is almost poetic while creativity shines through.
This story is magnificent! With strong female characters throughout, Marlene weaves a captivating story of enduring friendship and loves enduring power to overcome. Beautiful. Just beautiful!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews