Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Housekeepers.

I was excited my request was approved because the premise sounded intriguing, sort of like an old timey version of Ocean's Eleven.

The author did a good job of setting the scene, the world building of a 20th century London and a fine household headed by a less than reputable man.

The writing was good, the caper being organized by Mrs. King was intriguing, and I liked the female cast of characters; all different with their personal woes and agendas.

The biggest problem was suspending disbelief and how Mrs. King's plans would be carried out successfully.

Mrs. Bones knew all the right people to bribe, recruiting who to play a part in the farce and not worry they would be betrayed and/or turned in to the authorities was very hard for me to believe.

The sheer cast of characters and all the moving parts and logistics made it very hard for me to believe something like this could work, but it was a different time so maybe people were not as smart back then or self aware.

Ocean's Eleven works well because all the participants know each other, trust one another, and have shared history and goals.

Mrs. King and her core team members have a shared history and familial blood yet they seem to be working against each other; she and Mrs. Bones don't trust each other, and the others in the crew play minor or supporting roles that get lost in the rush of other minor and supporting characters, like the butler.

The narrative also dragged toward the end, when the ball is in full swing, and everyone is rushing about. It was hard to keep track of who was who and doing what to whom.

The ending is satisfactory, and though I enjoyed the premise and parts of the story, I think this could have been better with stronger characters and a caper with a more grounded plot.

A fun and entertaining read. A great perspective from the other side of the stairs. Many unexpected twists and turns. A must read for any historical fiction fan.

Than you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC. The opinions expressed are my own and given freely.

First off, I recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction with a bit of thrill and mystery. The main character, Mrs. King, has been wronged by her employer and her family, and she wants revenge, so she plans the biggest heist in history (not based on an actual event or people), involving 6 other women with their own wrongs to right. From page 1, I was hooked and didn't put it down until I finished it. The main plot, weaved with two great subplots, had me reading late into the night.

I liked how the characters are described; for example, Mrs. King is not married, nor is her family name King, but when her employer suggested that she choose a new name, she went with King to irritate them. When the butler is described, I found him to be immediately loathsome (and rightfully so!): "He made an excellent butler. But he’d have done even better as a priest. He had that air about him, so tremendously pious. He stared at her, feasting his eyes on her, loving every minute of this [Mrs. King's dismissal]."

Overall, the writing, characters, and plot make this book so entertaining; take this detail, for example, "Mrs. King shrugged. They could inspect her bedroom and sniff the sheets and lick the washbasin all they liked."

My main criticism is the conclusion. The focus is on a box of knives, and while Mrs. King is polishing knives when the book opens, knives are not a key motif throughout. A minor criticism is the lack of detail regarding the hundreds of other people involved. How are they paid? What are they paid? Why would they put themselves at such risk for the women to get the proceeds?