Jodi thinks she has found the perfect solution for her family problems....Elyse. Elyse seems perfect to step in as a housekeeper/caretaker for her ailing mom and take the pressure off her and her mom. But is she too good to be true? Suddenly her mom's condition starts to rapidly decline. Her stubborn grump of a dad is becoming more passive and even a little flirty with Elyse. As things transpire there Jodi struggles to keep her parents safe all while trying to keep her marriage from falling apart.

I loved the pacing of this book. While I did not particularly connect to any of the characters. I could not help myself from flying through this book in a few hours without ever wanting to put it down. It was fairly slow going, but it still kept me intrigued and wanting to keep reading.

This was the first book I have read by this author and I will absolutely be reading more from her. Thank you Netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by one of my long-time favorites, Joy Fielding - 4.5 stars!

Jodi Bishop is stretched - she's the main breadwinner in her household while her husband, Harrison, works on his novel. She works as a real estate agent in her father's company and they have two small children. Her mother has Parkinson's disease and it has progressed enough that her father needs help with her care. Jodi hires a live-in housekeeper, Elyse, to provide assistance. Elyse seems like a dream come true and even watches Jodi's children when necessary and proves to be a good listener to Jodi's problems. But be careful when things seem too good to be true!

I'm a huge fan of Joy Fielding's books - and this one was no exception. It was a quick, satisfying read with plenty of twists to keep things interesting. I also loved how the author had Jodi's voice give us clues as to events to come. This should also be a cautionary tale, as the events in this story are sadly all too common. Pick this one up for a good read!

The Housekeeper is a slow burn thriller. It was my first novel by Joy Fielding and I don’t think it will be my last.
Jodi has to hire a housekeeper to take care of her aging mother who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. She is bedridden and her father is finding it too challenging to take care of her by himself. Jodi interviews many candidates and ultimately decides on Elyse Woodley. Elyse seems too good to be true. She appears to be taking great care of her mother and her father, who did not initially want hired help, and is now warming up to her as well.
Jodi is the main breadwinner in her family. She is a real estate agent, working in the firm her father started. Her husband Harrison is a writer and working on his second novel. They share childcare of their two young children (although Harrison disagrees on this). Harrison believes that Jodi’s priorities are work, her parents and then him. This creates a great deal of stress in Jodi’s life. Her sister Tracy does not offer much help in taking care of her parents. In fact, she is in her early forties and still being supported by her father!
Elyse begins to take over the household, including making major decisions. Jodi notices that Elyse is starting to wear some of her mother’s clothing and jewelry. This is troubling to her and tries to get some answers from her dad. He is now enamored by Elyse and is of no help to Jodi. As things go from bad to worse, Jodi can only think, “In the end, I have only myself to blame. I’m the one who let her in”.
While some of the story is predicable, there was still parts that were completely surprising. I found myself constantly rooting for Jodi, who is always put down by her father and her husband. Her sister Tracy and her husband Harrison are not very likable characters.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
I read & loved 2 books by Joy Fielding, "The Bad Daughter" & "All The Wrong Places", so when I discovered her newest book, "The Housekeeper", was available to review I had to request a copy.
I am pleased to write that I also loved this book.
It was an addictive, interesting, well written domestic thriller that pulled me in right away & didn't let me go until its final page.
I loved the unexpected ending.
I can't wait to read what Ms. Fielding decides to write next!

Jodi has a lot on her plate: a demanding career, a family, and elderly parents. Hiring a housekeeper should solve most of her problems. Except her problems are just beginning.
It’s a deliciously pernicious tale of an Insidious creature who worms her way into,their lives. If something is too good to be true, it usually isn’t.
As more problems arise, Jodi makes a few missteps of her own, but remains consistently persistent.
I didn’t like her father. He was just a mean jackass and her husband wasn’t too far off either.
Tracey improves, but what a mooch.
It’s a good read.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this novel. This book was enjoyable but very forgettable.

It’s the story of Jodi, her sister Tracey, and their family. Their mother has late stage Parkinson’s and their father is approaching 80 so they decide to hire the titular housekeeper. Enter Elyse. She seems too good to be true. But of course Jodi starts noticing strange things like the housekeeper wearing her mother’s Cartier watch. Is she stealing from them? Trying to replace her mother?

The book is really too long for the story it’s telling. Alongside the story of the housekeeper, we also have the saga of Jodi’s marriage to the horrible Harrison, a struggling writer. None of these characters are remotely likeable. I would suggest checking out some of Fielding’s older novels and skipping this one.

Jodi and her husband Harrison agree to hire a housekeeper for her aging parents
Her mother is suffering from advanced Parkinson's disease

Elyse Woodley is hired and all goes well for awhile, Ashe time goes on Elyse seems to be getting rather close to Jodi's father and wears his wife's jewelry.

Jodi and her sister Tracy begin to be concerned about what is going on. One day Jodi finds her mother dead at the bottom of the stairs and Eylse and her father are caught in a compromising situation

Jodi is told not to come visit her father without first calling and Elyse tells her she is quitting and gives Jodi her mother's jewelry so that the next housekeeper won't steal it. However the police accuse Jodi of stealing it since Elyse changes her story about quitting and of giving the jewelry to Jodi for safekeeping

Jodi tells her sister Tracy of her fears for her father,

Elyse and their father elope,

Jodi personally visits Elyse's references and discovers that Elyse is not whom she appears to be
As time goes on her father's health seems to suffer and Elyse plans big changes and alienates the sisters from their father until matters are taken out of their hands

Two sayings come to mind: if its too good to be true and be careful what you wish for

This is my 10th book by this author. She's Not There is still a book I recommend years later, so obviously I was super excited for this new release.

Jodi is trying to do it all ~ raise her 2 children, Sam & Daphne, support her writer husband, Harrison, and help her parents, all while being a real estate agent. Her mother has Parkinson's and her father is having a tough time managing her care. Her older sister, Tracy, offers no assistance at all. Jodi hires the perfect woman to move in and help out full time, Elyse. But apparently looks and actions can be deceiving of this 62 year old who originally put off the perfection vibe.

Just about every character was unbearable. Jodi is a doormat. Her father was horrible to her and I wanted to punch his 80 year old face. Harrison was not an ideal husband when he's feeling stressed about completing his next novel that's somehow taking a decade to complete! Tracy is so self absorbed and stills rely's on financial support from their parents at age 40, really!?

Side note ~ I went to college some 20 years or so ago, so maybe this is a more current thing, but I found it odd that Harrison hosted a bbq for his new students every year. I could never imagine hanging out with a professor and I especially wouldn't go to their home.

Overall, this one has it's up and down's, but it was a decent read. Not an original plot, predictable and not twisty enough for me, but some might not see the obvious coming. Each chapter ending gives off the vibe that things aren't what they seem and the bad will be coming soon. Could the police really not have done more to help?? Although not my favorite by her, I will still continue to read her work.

TW ~ adultery, body image shaming in abundance

I wanted a suspense story with some twists and this hit the mark. Cringey at points and infuriating at others. A domestic chiller of a tale of a family faced with a dying mother and controlling father who need help with day-to-day care. Enter The Housekeeper - the exact person you would want to care for your family, until she wasn’t.

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it and all I can say is "wow". I read this book in a day. I couldn't put it down. This author has been kind of hit or miss for me but I loved this book.

Most psychological thrillers, you have to wait until the end to find the answers but this book had so many twists that I kept asking myself "what can happen now?"

Jodi hires a housekeeper to take care of her mom who has Parkinson's disease. This woman is absolutely perfect and just seems too good to be true. You guessed it, she is!!!

Jodi's parents are older and need assistance with daily activities. She finds Elyse and thinks she is heaven sent because she is so good. But is she really as good as Jodi thinks?
This book is by the wonderful author Joy Fielding and you cannot go wrong with her books.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and to the publisher Ballantine Books.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Housekeeper is the second book that I've read by Joy Fielding and she continues to captivate me. The plot appears to be your expected thriller but Fielding puts a few twists and surprises that I really enjoyed.

Jodi is a successful career woman, loving wife and mother. Even though, Jodi is underappreciated by her parents and self absorbed sister, she still tries to do what's best for the family. Like interview plenty of prospect housekeepers to help her father take care of her invalid mother. Enter Elyse who seems way too good to be true. Elyse moves in and starts working but soon Jodi starts to notice that things start to go missing and everyone close to her are beginning to behave suspiciously. There were a few red flags as a reader that I didn't really like of Jodi's character but the author made it easy to get past with the added twists.

Joy Fielding is back following Cul-de-sac (2021) with her thirtieth novel, THE HOUSEKEEPER —a sixty-two-year-old femme fatale wreaks havoc on an entire family in this wicked and witty devious game of cat-and-mouse.

With twisty thrills and seduction by the minute, from gaslighting, manipulation, and blackmail to murder. Your head will be spinning as to who will wind up dead next!

In the end, I have only myself to blame. I'm the one who let her in.

Meet Jodi, married to Harrison. Jodi is a real estate agent and a high producer at her father's real estate company. She is the breadwinner and makes the money. She is married to Harrison, an author (writing teacher) who has not produced anything recently. Jodi wants to be an interior designer.

He whines and complains about everything, including taking care of the two kids (Daphne and Sam) and anytime she has a showing. She also thinks he is having an affair (which he is). She needs to dump him. He also complains about her spending too much time caring for her aging parents, particularly her mom with Parkinson's. Her dad cannot be bothered.

Jodi is getting tired of Harrison, and because she thinks he is having an affair, she has a little fling herself with a man she recently showed a condo to. But that will turn out as not a chance meeting. She later discovers this man is an accomplice and will wind up blackmailing her. Very funny at the dinner party with the connection.

In light of this, she finally talks her father into hiring a live-in Housekeeper to take care of her father's household and her mother. The mom put up with abuse from her dad their entire life. Neither are very warm and caring parents. The father is demanding, unfaithful, abusive, and controlling. They also have money and prestige, and their home is worth millions. The father is in his late seventies and does not have the patience to deal with his wife's Parkinson's.

Jodi is the younger of the sisters, and Tracy is the eldest. Tracy is worthless. She is only good at spending money and buying designer clothes. But she is funny. The dad pays all her bills, including her credit cards. She does want to be an inspiring writer but, as of yet, has not produced anything, but that may change if her money goes away.

Enter Elyse Woodley. The new housekeeper. A young looking sixty-two, tall, slender, muscular, short blond hair and an engaging smile and manner. She had personal references (which turned out to be fake) and knew the right thing to say. However, the devil in disguise.

She says she has a son about Jodi's page who lives in California. Is he her son? The jury is out on this one. She appears to be able to cook and entertain and steal things. (that would be jewelry, people, and money).

In the blink of an eye, the spider has made her move. She is sleeping with the father, wearing the mother's jewelry and clothes, and not caring for the mother. Elyse and the dad try and keep Jodi and Tracy away. No one is safe in this house. The gold digger is out for the money, and soon, the girls will be cut out of the will entirely, and she is already pursuing selling the house.

Frantic, Jodi tries everything from going to the police to the attorney. What is wrong with her dad? Can he not see what she is doing, but he is crazy about her, and soon the wife ends up dead, and the father and new housekeeper run off to Niagra Falls and marry with no prenup. Is her dad crazy?

Then the blackmail starts, but at this point, Jodi does not care. Then Evelyn starts drugging her dad with pills in his food, wants to change the will, and starts changing doctors and attorneys. She tries to keep them away, and they cannot get rid of her. Her dad is spellbound.

Later the dad seems to be afraid, hiding, making calls during the night to Jodi. From gaslighting, manipulation, lies, and deceit. Who will wind up dead next?

I loved the ending- two years later! Priceless. Jodi and Tracy are hilarious and by the end, you like them both.

Witty, wacky, smart, twisty, comic, and surprising! I laughed out loud and thought this book was hilarious. Joy is a pro when it comes to plotting, domestic suspense with colorful characters both flawed and believable.

A few things- my take First, this is the wrong cover for the book. Does not do the book justice. It needs to be WOW, funny, and dangerous. Secondly, I disagree with the reference from the Library Journal blurb. I have read every Mary Kubica and Ruth Ware book, and for me, this one is a standout comic/satire and reads like a funny Sally Hepworth, Kaira Rouda, Ellen Meister, and Elle Cosimano's Finlay Donovan novels— full of dark humor, flawed characters, mixed with some devilish wicked fun and games with everyday life issues.

Pick this one up and get some laughs! I love Joy's books and must go back and read Cul de sac, which I missed.

Thank you to #RandomHouse and #NetGalley for an ARC to read, review, and enjoy.

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@JudithDCollins |#JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars ✨✨✨✨✨
Pub Date: Aug 16, 2022
Aug 2022 Must-Read Books

This is only my second book by this author, but so far she has not disappointed! I flew through this one in a day. I hated Elyse and sometimes Jodi, which I'm pretty sure was the point. I enjoyed all the twists and turns Fielding took us through on the way to the ending. My jaw honestly dropped when I got to the ending. This book will take you on a ride in the best way!

The Housekeeper was an excellent psychological/domestic thriller. I flew through this book because Joy Fielding has a great writing style. It had many twists and I did not see the ending coming! This book had me so angry at times but I could not put it down. I haven't read a Joy Fielding book in a while and I'm not sure why. I will definitely be going back and reading her previous books! I highly recommend The Housekeeper.

Expected publication date is August 16 2022

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the digital arc.

I am a huge fan of Joy Fielding & her books just keep getting better & better!!!! This newest one is filled with so much drama & deceit it is an utterly delicious read!!! I couldn't put it down.

How can a book that made me want to throw my kindle still get four stars? Well, it was entertaining. So...everyone is terrible in this book (besides the kids). You will loathe everyone but still keep turning the pages. I just started cheering for the villain at specific points because why not? I read to be entertained, and this fit the bill. Thanks for the advance review copy.

I flew through this book. Joy Fielding's writing style keeps you turning to the next page. The chapters were shorted and I just couldn't put this book down. Jodi is trying to have a career, a family of her own and take care of parents that are aging (and her mom is ill). She hires a live in housekeeper for her parents, who looks great but once she gets into the house strange things start happening. I really felt for Jodi as she tried to figure out how to right the wrong and also deal with things in her personal life that weren't going so well. Another winner from Joy Fielding!

Jodi Bishop is a successful real estate agent who hires a housekeeper to help her father care for her ailing mother. After several interviews, Jodi thinks Elyse is the perfect person to care for her incapacitated mother and keep up the household. Jodi’s father is dead set against it in the beginning, but he quickly warms up to Elyse and they become close. Soon, Elyse takes over the house and becomes too comfortable, wearing her mother’s jewelry and clothing. Jodi quickly realizes she has made a mistake hiring Elyse.

Jodi’s father was an awful character, controlling and critical of Jodi in every aspect of her life. I thought the portrayal of Elyse was so well done. She was so conniving and deceptive. I truly despised her in every way.

I was glued to the pages and my anxiety was at its highest as chapter after chapter things became worse for Jodi. I love when an author can do that to me! There were so many twists throughout, and I thought it was so well written! I had a difficult time putting down this book and I have no problem recommending this heart pounding thriller to anyone!

Jodi Bishop wants what's best for her aging parents, as any daughter would. Vic and Audrey Dundas are in their upper seventies, and Audrey is in the later stages of Parkinson's. Though ornery and obstinate, Jodi convinces her dad to give a live-in housekeeper/aide a try. Enter Elyse Woodley, charming, and sweet, a widow in her sixties, who has provided such services before. Elyse fits right into the Dundas home, filling Jodi with relief and leaving her free to focus on her own family.

Soon however, Jodi's relief turns to a distinct feeling that something is wrong. The housekeeper seems a little too cozy with her dad, and Jodi begins seeing some of her mother's belongings in Elyse's room. What does she want, and how far is she willing to go to get it?

I found this book very difficult to put down, finishing it in two days. Fielding invested me in the story from the start and I couldn't wait to see how things played out! I really enjoyed the characters and the flow of the book. I'm already looking forward to Fielding's next book!

My thanks to Ballantine Books for allowing me to access an e-ARC of this book via NetGalley. The book is scheduled for publication on 8/16/22. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.