Cathy C. (cathyskye) - , reviewed on 8/20/2023 + 2307 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

I've loved a good heist story since I was a teenager. There's just something about vicariously getting one over on the rich and shameless. So when I learned about Alex Hay's The Housekeepers, I grabbed a copy and tucked in with enthusiasm.

The book has a definite Dickensian feel to it with its descriptions of the setting (the smell of dead mice under the floorboards being common, for one!), the characters' names, and the scope of the heist is incredible, too. I mean, who's ever heard of robbing a huge mansion of everything down to the floorboards? With something on such a monumental scale, setting the stage takes some time, and as the story unfolds, readers quickly learn that there's more to this story than mere theft. There are family connections to unravel, there are motivations to uncover. And as these things are revealed, the shadows in the halls of this opulent mansion take on a sinister feel. No one should linger long in these passageways.

There is so much to like about The Housekeepers, but I found the writing style so... subdued... is the only word I can think of... that I found it difficult to become fully engaged in the story. However, I do like how Alex Hays' mind works, and I will be looking for his next book.

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