When I read this romantic historical novel, set between 1911 and 1919, it immediately reminded me of Downton Abbey, with its focus on a time on the verge of modernization. I appreciated the author’s attention to detail in depicting everyday life and the difficult tasks servants faced—it really brought the era to life for me. The main characters, Jem and Mrs. Furtness, are well-written, and I enjoyed the eclectic cast of characters surrounding them.

Set in the moors of Northern England at Coldwell Hall, the story is told from the servants’ point of view, which I found refreshing. Kate, a skilled housekeeper, is determined to keep both the secrets of Coldwell Hall and her own hidden. But when she meets Jem, who has secrets of his own and came to Coldwell Hall with his own motives, things begin to unravel.

The story unfolds through different timelines and perspectives, and I think the author did a great job of getting the historical details right. What stood out to me was the unique focus on the servants, rather than the wealthy homeowners, which is a new subject matter for me. The book felt well-researched, and the author’s commitment to accuracy really enhanced the reading experience.

I want to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance review copy. The book is set to publish on August 13, 2024, and I’d recommend checking it out.

I DNFed this book very quickly, The way it was written was very confusing and I couldn't follow it at all. I may try again in the future because it does sound interesting, but it was beyond difficult to read.

Stars: N/A - DNF

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It had a very moody, atmospheric feel to it that conjured up feelings of Jane Eyre and other Gothic Horror. Although this was not truly horror.

Kate is the very young housekeeper at a remote grand house in Northern England. We know little about her at the start but more of her story unravels as the novel progresses.

Jem shows up at Coldwell House at an opportune time: they cannot keep and get staff and the prodigal son is coming home. More staff are needed and Jem steps into the vacancy as a footman.

Coldwell is an odd house with mysteries and a dark past. Jem is tied to the dark past but we also discover that Kate is running from her past. Jem and Kate end up falling in love but what will happen when all is revealed??

Such a good romantic and historical novel!

If you're a fan of Downtown Abbey I can tell you that you would absolutely love this book at it had so many similar elements, and the time period was also the same.

The amount of research done by this author was really impressive as this book did an incredible job at realistically portraying so many of this time periods difficulties, problem areas, and overall struggles and hardships. The struggles of the servants hauling hot water up and downstairs for baths was really a profound description for me. The characters were written so brilliantly and they really were very remarkable. They stayed with me even after finishing the book, and I still find that I think of them fairly often.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Iona Grey for this eArc in exchange for my honest review.

Iona Grey's The Housekeeper's Secret is a must-read for anyone who loves historical romance and mystery. It's perfect for fans of forbidden love, hidden secrets, and the emotional ups and downs of life, all set in the rich setting of Edwardian England and the chaos of World War I.

The Housekeeper’s Secret is a new novel by Iona Grey that centers around an old manor house and the lives of the servants that live there. Kate is a young woman in charge of the large home and is the head housekeeper, perhaps living above her station. Jen is the handsome newcomer who appears one day looking for work, but is he looking for more? The first part of the book moved relatively slow and I am happy to report that I stuck with it and it picked up it’s a pace for the last part. Overall, I was interested to discover what became of everyone and how their conflict was resolved. I received an ARC of this book, all opinions are my own. 3.5 stars

HOUSEKEEPER’S SECRET by Iona Gray. The two main characters have their own secrets. Jem came to work at the house at the end of WWI. We meet him first in the trenches of the war. For me, it was a personal flashback to some conversations with my Great Uncle when he was 100 years old. His job during WWI was to drive lumber to the front line to be used to build trenches and take wounded soldiers back from the trenches. Jem is trying to find out how and why his younger brother Jack was killed while working at Coldwell. Kate Furniss is the housekeeper, who keeps the house running while hiding her own secrets. The house has several Downstairs characters to follow, and we also get a look at Upstairs life. I felt the first half of the book could use some editing as the story dragged a bit with all of the characters. The second half did not disappoint! I found I was rooting for the two main characters. Lots of action! I thought the author nailed what everyday life might have been like for the downstair’s staff. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

"The Housekeeper's Secret" by Iona Grey is a captivating historical novel set in the Edwardian era, with echoes of Downton Abbey. The story follows Kate, the young housekeeper of Coldwell Hall, and her budding romance with the mysterious new footman, Jem. Told in alternating timelines, it explores forbidden love, hidden secrets, and the looming shadow of WWI. While I found the setting and characters intriguing, the romance and mystery elements felt a bit underdeveloped. A great read for fans of historical fiction and hidden secrets.

My thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this eARC.

I enjoyed both the plot of this book and the way the author unfolds the story. It reminded me a bit of Downton Abbey, but with multiple twists.
The characters are the staff and owners of an English manor located in a somewhat isolated location. They seem a motley and unlikely combo of characters, but find themselves allies as the story develops.
Not only does the housekeeper have secrets, but many of the other characters do as well. Explainations are revealed as the book progresses, making reading quite absorbing, anticipating what will happen next. There are several villains who are quite despicable and seem to have the upper hand over more honorable characters. Still by the end, honesty and the unraveling of secrets bring resolution and moral retribution.
I recommend this title to readers who like a bit of mystery and history with their love stories. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Kate Furniss, the housekeeper at Coldwell Hall, lives every day dreading that her secrets will be revealed. While the estate has been left to deteriorate, she manages the staff with authority. With the death of the lord his son returns from London to settle down and take over the estate. It is the perfect opportunity for Jem Arden, a stranger who arrives looking for work. He has come to Coldwell Hall to learn the fate of his younger brother who was last seen visiting the estate with his employer. Hired as a footman, Jem catches the eye of Mrs. Furniss, Offering help wherever it is needed, the two become close. When the lord is in residence he is accompanied by his valet Mr. Henderson, who takes an instant dislike to Jem. Henderson is a vile character who loves to discover other’s secrets and use them to his advantage. When he decides to pursue Mrs. Furniss he arranges Jem’s disappearance. Furniss, however, has an ally in the lady of the estate who helps her get away.

Iona Grey’s story alternates between Jem’s experiences in the trenches of WWI and the developing romance between Jem and Kate. Life on the estate is a reminder of the conditions endured by the servants. With the war approaching it was also a time of change. The arrival of the new lord brings the first automobile to replace the traditional carriages and the installation of the first bathrooms. While Jem is serving in the trenches he composes letters to Kate that he hopes will reach her in the event of his death. The letters and the conditions that he experiences are heartbreaking. Grey gives you a story of romance, secrets and murder that introduces characters that you can genuinely care for. Fans of Downton Abbey will find The Housekeeper’s Secret an enjoyable story. I would .like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin Press for providing this book.

The Housekeeper's Secret by Iona Grey
#historicalfiction
⭐⭐⭐✨ (rounding down to 3 for ratings)

I so wanted to like this book more. It was so close to me loving it. I think it was the writing. The writing was a bit inconsistent. At one point it would be very fluid and the next very choppy. It's almost like it needed another go around or two by an editor. I liked the story. But I was surprised by how much the writing itself would pull me back out of the story. And I rarely comment on the writing.

I enjoyed the way the secrets of the 2 MC's were slowly released. I enjoyed the plot of the of the earlier timeline. I wish that the 2 timelines were revered. It was a bit confusing with the later time being formatted into the book at the end of the chapters. I feel that if the time in the war was first and then slipped back in time to tell the origin story, it would make more sense.

#netgalley
#stmartinspress

The story is told in alternating timelines with multiple POV. There are a lot of characters and details to remember at the beginning which gives it a slow start. There were too many characters and storylines for me to personally feel invested in all of them; it seemed chaotic and I would have preferred a narrower focus. That said, it's a well written and well researched book that will be of interest to readers who enjoy an upstairs-downstairs Edwardian/Downton Abbey vibe.

I love historical fiction and was really excited to read this book. However, it took months for me to muddle through this and I found it incredibly dull and at times difficult to figure out the time period/narrator. I think this book may have turned me off the author altogether.

I don't enjoy leaving negative reviews, but I received this as an ARC from NetGallery and promised my honest opinion.

Excellent fiction for fans of Downton Abbey and historical fiction set in the Edwardian years. Though similar to recent books and series about household servants during this time period, this novel had a deliciously dark, tense vibe. The housekeeper is a relatively young woman who is not who her colleagues think she is. The love interest is a footman hired because no one else will work in this house, and he has his own agenda. The sexual tension between the two is great.

Well written, well plotted, great characters. It's a fairly long book, so perfect for taking on a long trip.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the copy of this book.
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Read if you like: WW1 fiction, Downton Abbey vibes, historical mystery, and forbidden romance.
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The book focuses on two perspectives: Kate, the housekeeper of an estate in northern England just before WW1, and Jem, who shows up at the estate as a new footman. Each has different reasons and secrets for being at the estate, and neither can afford the forbidden romance that they embark on.
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This book had many things that I love in a historical fiction book, and I liked how the book was told through alternating perspectives and timelines so that the reader could piece together what happened. Overall, I was fully immersed in this book and loved it!

Title:  The Housekeeper's Secret
Author: Iona Grey
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating:  4.5 out of 5

Duty, desire, and deception reside under one roof.

Standing in the remote windswept moors of Northern England, Coldwell Hall is the perfect place to hide. For the past five years, Kate Furniss has maintained her professional mask so carefully that she almost believes she is the character she has created: Coldwell’s respectable housekeeper.

It is the summer of 1911 that brings new faces above and below the stairs of Coldwell Hall―including the handsome and mysterious new footman, Jem Arden. Just as the house’s shuttered rooms open, so does Kate’s guarded heart to a love affair that is as intense as it is forbidden. But Kate can feel her control slipping as Jem harbors secrets of his own.

I enjoyed this historical fiction read! Even the reader didn’t know Kate or Jem’s secrets all at once, and the gradual reveal was well-done and immersive. The servants’ lives in the early 1900s was fascinating to read about, and even the secondary characters tugged on my heartstrings.

Iona Grey is an award-winning author. The Housekeeper’s Secret is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Thank you St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review The Housekeeper's Secret by Iona Grey on NetGalley.

Published: 08/13/24

Stars: 4

Reminiscent of Downton Abbey without the glamour. I had to remind myself several times people lived and worked under conditions I can only try to imagine through the Arts. Life was hard and there were no conveniences. Strict social protocols were followed. Reputations and references were paramount. The ease at which an upper class person could tarnish a lower class existence kept most people in check. Knowing all this, I thought Grey wrote the historical portion well. I liked the characters and the roles that they played. At times I had to stop and adjust mentally who was who. People worked hard, but they didn't cross over in their positions, and consequently there are quite a few people. I thought the story ran long.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, and would recommend it.

This book had too many characters and that distracted from the story, but good overall.

Thank you to St Martin's Press for providing an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Historical fiction, romance and mystery. All the things that make a great book.

The story is a dual timeline that follows Kate and Jem two individuals working for a wealthy family in England at a remote country house called Coldwell. Kate is the no nonsense housekeeper that has a secret hidden under her mask of professionalism. Jem, the footman, is new to the ranks of Coldwell Manor and has ulterior motives trying to solve his own mystery. I don't want to give too much away but lets just say dangerous events start to unfold that bring the housekeeper and the mysterious footman closer together.

I have to say that the amount of time Iona Grey put in to research really shows in this book. It is expertly described and really added layers to the story. I agree with other reviewers that during this time period 1911-1919 is glamorized from shows like Downton Abbey but the lives of the servants during that time were not glamorous at all and the book really opens the door to understanding what life was like during that time. I truly feel like I received an education reading this book!

Thank you to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.

The perfect book for Downton Abbey lovers, of which I am one.

A young man takes a job at an estate looking for answers about his brother’s death and falls in love with the housekeeper who has a secret of her own. Then there’s the maid and the valet - what are they hiding?

Gray does a marvelous job with the little details. Her crumbling estate has just the right amount of shadowy mystery to give her book a good gothic feel.

The story itself has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end.

A good read.