'𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒘𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑯𝒂𝒍𝒍.'
This was one of the creepiest, craziest books I have read this year.

Broke, homeless, and tired of couch surfing, 21-year-old Ruby Dean, a recovering addict, ends up as a housemaid to the affluent Howards. But unbeknownst to them, Ruby has another motive - to find out what happened to her mother Emily, who was also a maid at the house twenty years ago, but is since then, missing. As she dusts and cleans under the watchful eye of the rigid housekeeper Mrs.Huxley, Ruby makes a plan to uncover the secrets of Highwood Hall.

Suspense drips from every page in this book. The plot twists were simply fascinating. The author's impeccable writing lends an eerie tone to the narrative, keeping you on edge. Despite the slow pace at the beginning, describing the minutiae of the maids' daily chores, I flew through the story at cracking speed, desperate to know what happens next. And yes, the grand reveal of the mystery at Highwood Hall, did live up to my creepy expectations.

The plot also gives you pause regarding the plight of maids everywhere. They are likened to a ghost - an unseen entity that slips through rooms, doing their jobs, but on whom the eye never lingers. Treated as second class citizens, they are replaced without a thought, based on the whims of their employer.

Overall, a well-crafted and thrilling page-turner. (I read this while at work; I was that engrossed.)
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my! I was rather dubious about this at first, it took a while to get going and in the beginning, seemed a bit... predictable. I ended up loving it. The characters are interesting, and well thought out, I liked Ruby for the most part, I liked Roisin, I liked Ade (him I liked quite a lot, actually). I could also sense the unease swirling around the hallowed halls.

I found the FAMILY (they warrant capitals, seriously) something else. Like you would an interesting, but annoyed wasp, you study them from a safe vantage point. Everyone seemed off at times in this book, really, everyone. I had my doubts about the cook, the gardener (even though I really liked him), the son, the father, and of course, the housekeeper. The housekeeper is a story unto herself, to be honest, and ghosts around a chilling, forbidding house in a way that borders on the supernatural. There are a lot of very dodgy people in this book, and it takes a while to get going, but my goodness, it was rather worth it.

The ending, sort of suspected in a way but not at all in another, grips and sucks you in. There are a few unexpected twists, and remember that saying about the light at the end of the tunnel? Well, it could be a train, could be a fire, could have all the answers or mean the end of everything, depending on which way you look at it. I will definitely lookout for more from this author, I enjoyed this tremendously. Many thanks to the author and publisher for my proof copy.

I really enjoyed this one! I have been wanting to get back into mystery/thrillers and this was a great way. Sarah Denzil did a masterful job crafting the story and left me curious until the very end! I cannot wait to read another mystery by this author!!!

I am a huge Sarah Denzil fan, so I was extremely excited to receive an advanced readers copy of The Housemaid. What I love most about the book is that the plot is completely original. I read a lot of thrillers & mysteries, so it takes a lot to intrigue me, and this book sucked me in. Throughout the entire book, I was intrigued and had no idea how it would end. The characters are complex (in a good way), and the ending was absolutely perfect. Sarah Denzil wowed me again. I will be telling everyone about The Housemaid!

While this wasn’t my favorite of all the authors books I’ve read, I think that’s just because the bar was set so high! I still found this one to be intriguing, consuming and full of twists. Would definitely recommend and look forward to Denzil’s next thriller!!

I have read a couple of thrillers by Sarah Denzil, this was good but wasn’t my favourite from this author. It’s started off really fast paced but it was a slow ending in my opinion.

Ruby gets the chance to work at Highwood Hall as a maid. Mrs Huxley the head housekeeper watches her every move. On Ruby’s first day she receives a diorama, as days go by more appear to other workers at the Hall. Ruby soon realises something isn’t right, could she be in danger?

This story will keep you guessing. The characters are interesting but also very intriguing . Although I only rate it 3 stars it is still worth a read.

Thankyou netgalley for my Arc in exchange for an honest review

A suspenseful read. I love reading stories about the "help." It always gives you a nice peek into a world you might never see. Very atmospheric and mysterious read.

Thank you Net Galley for an ARC of The Housemaid by Sarah Denzil. This was a Mystery/ Thriller that was both enjoyable and exciting to read. I love reading about Ruby and her journey of being a housemaid and solving a mystery.

There is so much to this book that it makes writing a review quite difficult. A cleverly plotted mystery with an incredibly dark twist, The Housemaid is also a narrative on the British class systems and the value we place on human life. The unnamed housemaid remains nameless not just to add to the suspense, but also to hammer home how such people - the cleaner, the cashier, the delivery driver - are viewed within society. Nameless, faceless, all merging into one. I thought this theme was incredibly clever and provides a brutally honest view into modern British society.

A poignant, deliciously dark novel which kept me gripped.

Decent mystery, keep you hooked until the very last...
For some reason, I keep imaging Cindrell moving around in a big castle to serve Howards

Of course, things are direr than the Disney version of Cinderella, maybe close to the original Brothers Grim's adaption because this is the house where maids just disappear, and because of their trouble background no one looking for them. I like to storyline and atmosphere since I live near the same area, it is easy to imagine the type of scenario. Family tradition idea seemed far-fetched to me but overall it was a good mystery.

The Housemaid is a book about a girl who gets hired on as a maid for a rich family at Highwood Hall. On her first day, she receives a chilling diorama. As more dioramas appear, each depicting increasingly disturbing scenes, she quickly learns that something is wrong at Highwood Hall.

If you want a book that will give you the creeps - this is it. The author does a great job of creating suspense and scenes that will keep you on the edge the entire time. The POV has a way of genuinely making the reader feel uncomfortable. This is definitely a read-in-one-sitting book. I really enjoyed the ending of this book and the "big reveal" was so clever. It's another book where you think you know what is happening, to find out you didn't know at all.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Denzil, and Victory Editing for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Just love this author. This was a great suspenseful novel. Not my favorite of hers. But keeps you intrigued enough to want to keep reading.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

A young housemaid is desperate for work and a place to live - both of which she finds at Highwood Hall. The typical fairy tale mansion with plush carpets, oil paintings on every wall, and priceless antiques throughout. Yes, her boss, Mrs. Huxley, is beyond strict - but it is a large estate to run and there are only a handful of workers to keep it going. Lord Howard doesn't seem that bad, he prefers to hire girls like her from the Providence rehab program, who deserve a second chance. The company of his son, Alex, will also make the job quite enjoyable - he breathes life and vitality into the household. And his killer looks don't hurt, either. Add to that an eccentric old mother-in-law and Alex's sister, Lottie, who's lounges about all day, and it makes for one wealthy, but ultimately harmless, family.

But what's with the large turnover of housemaids who have come before her? Why is there that one wing of the house that no one goes in? Exactly how many secret corridors can one mansion have? And why does she get the impression that it's all a carefully conceived façade, with danger lurking behind every false panel?

You'll get the answers you seek when you read The Housemaid - a stunning tale of suspense and intrigue that will caution you against questioning what lies behind closed doors. Some secrets are better off locked away. Just ask the Howard family.

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.

I think this book would be enjoyed by those that enjoy thrillers but maybe were ready for a bit of a fantastical twist.

This story of a young woman who takes a job as a maid to landed gentry is a little plodding. Young woman with addiction problem seeks new start so accepts job as maid at country estate. Enter housekeeper who resembles the infamous Mrs. Danvers and the tempting son of the lord of the manor and our heroine finds herself in a lose/lose situation. Add a dollhouse with a mini replica of our heroine, tunnels and passageways under the country manor and you have a Gothic that is just a little too derivative of the genre. The heroine is hard to warm up to, immature, whiney and seemingly clueless. All the elements were here to make a great story, but lack of character development was a major problem

I've read quite a few books by this author and I can't say this was one of my favorites, but it also wasn't horrible. The story is basically about a maid trying to figure out things in her past thinking that the answer is lie within this Mansion she's working in. The story moved along quickly enough and had some twists and turns I didn't see coming which is why I'll give it at least three stars, maybe four. Thank you to the publisher and that galley for an arc and exchange for honest review

I received an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review

Not my favorite from this author- definitely not her best. Hope the next one is up to snuff

Done in the span of a busy Sunday should speak volumes about what a fast and racy read this is. But then, I was expecting that from Sarah A Denzil, an author whom I've enjoyed reading earlier too.
The story of a housemaid, Ruby, who it seems is ready to move on in life after bagging a job at Highwood Hall! But as the story unfolds and secrets unfurl, it leaves you gasping for breath in places and a constant feeling of uneasiness. The twists are shocking and nasty, but the work is compelling enough to make you want to fly through the pages and see where it's going next!
A huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this ARC.

The Housemaid is about a maid hired to work at Highwood Hall. Highwood Hall is an ancient estate that has been the home to the Howard’s for centuries. Currently Lord Bertie, Lady Margot, Alex, and Lottie reside in the mansion.
Mrs. Huxley is the head housekeeper in charge of the servants. The new maid lives in the estate with another maid. The maids follow a regiment schedule cleaning rooms and providing services to the Howard’s.
The estate sits upon large acres of land butting across a thick forest of trees. The house looks more like a museum than a home. A map was provided upon employment to help assist through the hidden corridors and passageways.
The maid grew up poor living with her aunt after her mother abandoned her. Being a maid came naturally to her. She has limited education and not much desire to learn. Althiugh, the maid is curious about the Howard’s family.
Once the new maid started working at Highwood Hall strange things began to happen. The creep meter was high and continued to climb as you read more into the story. I was glued to the pages wanting to get closer to the truth. Highwood Hall is full of surprises that will keep you guessing until the very end. So many secrets to uncover and the maid is just the right amount of curious to get it done. Her snooping skills are very good.

This might be the first time I’ve read a book that doesn’t immediately identify the main characters name. Her presence is known by giving voice to her character, yet she’s known as “the maid”. It’s very curious why her name has been withheld. I thought at first it might be too revealing to have her name revealed, but that hasn’t been the case at all.

Sarah A. Denzil is a bestselling thriller author from Derbyshire. She lives in Yorkshire. Her books resonate with British verbiage and hold an English backdrop. This book has a ghostly element to it with its creepy portraits and hidden passageways. Something strange is happening in Highwood Hall and the maid plans to figure it out in this who-dunnit story.
The maid’s paranoia, curiosity, and nosiness was the driving force in the story which drew my interest. This was an easy to read story.
Sarah illustrated a magnificent mansion full of ancient history and artifacts. The diorama added a mysterious twist to the storyline. I was guessing until the very end who the mysterious sender was.
The Housemaid is the type of story you’ll want to sit and enjoy in one sitting. To remove yourself for even a day would take away the element of suspense. It’s an excellent mind bender story tricking your thoughts in all directions.

I really like the story line where the main character is trying to find out why her mother abandoned her at such a young age and what is wrong with the Mansion. She does feel that there are some weird events going on and I had my suspicions about one of the characters from the beginning but I never expected the second character to be involved as well. All in all an amazing story with an interesting story line and unexpected plot twists at each point.