This was a fun read, perfect for summer reading. Think Oceans 8 but instead of pulling a heist at the Met gala, it’s a 1900's heist being pulled at a Downton Abbey style mansion during a prestigious ball by a group of thieves who were previously employed as the help. The characters backstories are all connected and are slowly revealed as you progress through the caper.

I love a good heist story and this book delivers! The premise is like Ocean's 8 meets the Victorian era (or maybe the Edwardian? I'm not sure). I enjoyed how all the housekeepers banned together to pull off this heist and it was a lot of fun to see all the obstacles that they need to overcome. I was excited to see whether or not they would be able to pull it off. I would love to see these ladies try their hands at thieving again!

Oceans 8 meets Downton Abbey

This was a good tale of a group of housekeepers and other downstairs workers in an early 1900s London mansion who try to pull off the theft of the contents of the house. All of the contents, While a costume ball is being held.

The story was good. There were some very good characters and some creative thievery. Each housekeeper had her own reason for wanting in on the caper and some of the stories were great, My only complaint was that it fell apart a little at the end. A few of the main characters left a lot of money on the table and that didn't ring true to me. They were all broke and looking for a way out. But, otherwise it was a great book.

4/5

Someone described this book as a Bridgeton take on Ocean Eleven, and I think that’s a pretty accurate description. In 1900s London a group of cast aside women come together to execute the a heist and right the scales.

There were a few things taken a bit too dark for the tone of the book for me, but overall a quick enjoyable read.

The concept of this book was excellent. I really love the idea of it... the execution fell flat for me. I did not feel connected to the characters which is huge for me. The story was a bit convoluted. Just don't think it was for me!

The text is quite wordy and I only managed to get through 20% before completely giving up. Unfortunately, I did not find the storyline and characters relatable or engaging.

This is a fun heist story that does a good job of entertaining the reader.

I don't necessarily see the Downton comparisons. Except that both take place on a large estate during the early 1900s, the stories and vibes are pretty different.

The conspiracy hatched in THE HOUSEKEEPERS is somewhat intricate but nonetheless easy to follow. Some steps really require the reader to suspend their disbelief and just go with the flow.

Various obstacles are thrown in their way, which they handle with aplomb.

Recommended for fans of the Oceans 11 movie franchise and readers looking for a fun Robin Hood theme.

Thank you NetGalley & GraydonHouse for the complimentary e-galley; all opinions are my own.

Alex Hay's intriguing historical mystery novel The Housekeepers has a lot of balls in the air. Set in the early 20th century, it begins with Mrs. King, who runs a grand Mayfair home, being dismissed from her prestigious position for the crime of being seen going into one of the male worker's rooms.

Mrs. King does not intend to take this firing lightly and plots her revenge against the unpleasant young woman who has inherited the stately manor from her recently deceased father. She will rob the home of all of its possessions on the night of a grand ball, held to impress a wealthy suitor for the new mistress of the mansion.

Mrs. King rounds up a posse of women who each have something they want- the queen of the black market with connections to the everyone in the criminal underground, a young seamstress who becomes the confidant of the mistress and whose loyalty becomes confused, and a fading actress looking to create the performance of a lifetime.

Each of these women has a reason for participating, and as their secret connections are revealed one by one, the reader is surprised and taken aback (in a good way). As Mrs. King learns more about nefarious events that took place in the home, she becomes even more determined to get justice.

The story can be a bit outrageous- Mrs. King and her cohorts plan to strip the manor of its entire contents, furniture and all, while the home is filled with revelers- but it is interesting reading how it is done. Think Downton Abbey meets Ocean's Eleven and add in the #MeToo movement, and you've got The Housekeepers, a caper story with serious undertones. It would make a fantastic movie, and if you liked Deanna Raybourn's recent novel, Killer of a Certain Age, The Houskeepers is your next good read.

Like a Downtown Abbey style mystery - so many hidden secrets and plot lines to unravel. The characters were well developed and I only became more impressed with the story the more it unfolded. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

As someone who loves a good revenge story (nothing is Better Than Revenge ;)) I was hoping to absolutely love this one! The cover and synopsis were perfect!

I was sold on the plot initially but unfortunately became so bogged down with character details that it was so hard for me to actually understand where we were in the story and to remain interested in where it was going. Maybe some of the details should have been left out in order to keep the plot more precise.

I hope this one is still a hit for others!

As I read this one it kind of reminded me of Ocean 11 and the various movies like that. Unfortunately it was pretty slow for me and I really struggled to stay entertained. I do think this will be one that will be loved by many. Sadly it just wasn't for me.

This was a fun book perfect for fans of Upstairs Downstairs and Oceans 8! I definitely think this would be a great book club read with lots of plot points, a grand historical setting, and a cast of unique characters. Worth the read.

The Housekeepers is a smartly written Downton Abbey like story with humor, intrigue and empowered women during the early 1900’s. When a group of housekeepers band together to plot the heist of the century from the estate of a recently departed wealthy businessman who it seems left everything to his narcissistic spoiled daughter, well, they have had enough. Especially because as housekeepers they see all and know all and it’s not pretty. The housekeepers plan the con of cons, and chaos ensues!

The two lead scammers are Mrs. King who works as a housekeeper at The Mayfair a huge estate owned by the wealthy late Wilhelm de Vries in Park Lane London and Mrs. Bone, the owner of a pawnshop in town, but owner of much more. They have much in common, especially intelligence and a history of getting what they want.

An intricate conspiracy is put in place, and they must convince the cast of characters they have chosen to accept. They must convince the daughter, Miss de Vries to throw a costume ball. Difficult since her father has just died, but quite easy when you believe the world revolves around you. So hence it begins.

With the countdown of the days to the costume ball, they set up the scam with the help of Mrs. King’s sister Alice, Winnie, the two Janes, Sue and Hephzibah. All take incredible skills to the table which will be used to prepare for the night and work the steal before, during and after the Ball. And practice makes perfect!

The goal? Clean out the estate. Of everything. Leaving nothing. Of course, along the way they come to many crossroads but with determination they will not fail. They will stay strong not for themselves but for the justice that will be served for all the housekeepers who have had to pay with sweat, tears and sometimes their lives. These housekeepers will learn they are extremely strong and capable with more skills they ever thought they had which gives them the courage needed to get the job done.

The night of the Ball arrives and of course disaster after disaster occurs, but with this group of unwavering women, they will fight to the very end for what they are rightly due.

The Housekeepers is the female version of Robin Hood and his merry men (women) who only want to take from the rich and give what is rightly due to the poor. But don’t let this story fool you. Woven within the plot are secrets and lies and shocking twists which makes the story even more exciting.

Thank you #NetGalley #GraydonHouse #TheHousekeepers #AlexHay for the advanced copy.

Thank you @NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Housekeepers! Here is my honest review in return. I loved it! 4.5stars! There is a reason the author compares The Housekeepers to Downton Abbey and Ocean’s Eleven. Ocean’s Eight is a more accurate depiction, as this star cast is full of large and in-charge leading ladies. Mrs. King leaves her position at a gigantic manor in 1905’s Mayfair, England. She seemingly wants to seek revenge on her employer for letting her go, but plot over plot, twist after twist reveals there are more intricate motives throughout the cast of housekeepers. The sidekicks are so relatable, such as Winnie or my favorite Mrs. Bone. I hope you’ll all love them as much as I did.

In Edwardian society the wealthy households have servants. These men and women below the stairs are part of the background and very nearly invisible. Until they do something wrong. When the housekeeper, Mrs King, is dismissed she begins to plot her revenge. She knows just who will help her and that it will occur on the night of a magnificent ball.

The Housekeepers is a story about a heist that will make all other robberies pale in comparison. The story is rich with glimpses into the lives of both the people below the stairs as well as the wealthy and privileged. It’s a fairly slow-paced story, as the author sets up the plot and reveals the mechanics behind the heist. It’s not any lengthier than many books I read, but it took me much longer to finish than I would have expected.

The story jumps between different characters which seems to make it a bit disjointed and not always easy to follow. The characters are an interesting lot and they all have a story to tell, albeit some are more detailed than others. The end was satisfying and overall The Housekeepers was an interesting and enjoyable read. NetGalley provided an advance copy.

The premise for this book is brilliant: Downton Abbey meets Ocean's 8. But it never really came together for me. I wonder if a heist story is just better suited to the screen than the page. It is difficult to build and sustain tension across so many pages read at different times whereas a film is a couple of consecutive hours. I do hope to see this story on the silver screen someday, with an all-star female cast.

Wasn’t really a favourite of mine. I found that it jumped around with the characters a lot. It didn’t really hold the story line together

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 3.5 stars

It's been described as Ocean's Eleven meets Downton Abbey and I think that's a fair assessment as far as the heist and setting goes.

I love seeing the "little guy" come out on top. This clever heist being planned by those who keep the house running, over those who run it, is a fun read.

Apart from the heist, there's also a bit of a mystery element, along with a sordid past that comes to light.

This story is told from multiple POVs, has many supporting characters that could be a little confusing to follow at times, and has fairly good pacing.

Thanks to NetGalley, Graydon House (HarperCollins), and the author for this digital Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Could an Edwardian costume ball of over-the-top excess and a mansion wide theft of everything (exotic rugs to ceiling dome artwork) happen simultaneously – during the same time, at the same address? Absurd…unthinkable…impossible? Enter the Housekeepers and their conspirators, each with her own motivation, secrets, and reasons for revenge. Meticulous details, deceptions and timing mesh like clockwork gears into a scrumptious puzzle mystery. How-did-they-do-it was as much fun as who-did-it and why.

What if Downton Abbey took a more nefarious turn? This really gave me Downton Abbey vibes with the time period and the rich and their servants. Except everything is not what it seems and a little bit wild. There are all types of secrets and a countdown to the planning of a heist. Throughout the book, as the heist planning gained new participants, I kept wondering why they were doing it.

While it is a little bit of a slow build, it ends up with mystery and suspense. The reasoning behind the heist is complex and the layers unravel slowly., but eventually all is revealed. I paid close attention but I was still surprised by some of the double and even triple crossings. I did have a little trouble at times keeping track of all the characters and would go back and start a chapter over, but that cleared up any confusion I had.

I think this would make a good book club choice as there is lots to talk about and maybe even a better buddy read with stops to chat about where things are headed while reading.

A unique twist on a historical mystery. I am interested in what the author has planned next.