Tag: book club

Book Review – The Housekeepers by Alex Hay

whatcathyreadnext2 Comments

About the Book

Book cover of The Housekeepers by Alex Hay

UPSTAIRS, MADAM IS PLANNING THE PARTY OF THE SEASON.

All eyes are on the grandest house in Mayfair as the countdown to their lavish summer ball begins. Everything must be perfect. But with the chandeliers gleaming and the cellars stocked, loyal housekeeper Mrs King is suddenly dismissed.

DOWNSTAIRS, THE SERVANTS ARE PLOTTING THE HEIST OF THE CENTURY.

As the clock strikes twelve on the night of the ball, Mrs King will return to strip the house of its riches – right under the nose of her former employer. And she knows just who to recruit to pull off the impossible: a bold alliance of women with nothing left to lose and every reason for revenge.

Format: ebook (365 pages) Publisher: Headline
Publication date: 6th July 2023 Genre: Historical Fiction, Crime

Find The Housekeepers on Goodreads

Purchase The Housekeepers from Bookshop.org [Disclosure: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops]

My Review

This was a book club pick by members wanting something lighthearted after a series of rather serious books such as last month’s choice, The Zone of Interest by Martin Amis.

‘Imagine it, ladies: the grandest house in London, licked clean on the biggest night of the season.’

I liked the idea of a group of women coming together to plan an audacious heist, a female equivalent if you like of the group of men in the 1960 film The League of Gentleman in which the involuntarily-retired Lieutenant Colonel Hyde (played by Jack Hawkins) recruits seven other dissatisfied ex-servicemen to commit a bank robbery. Although the women who christen themselves ‘The Housekeepers’ each have slightly different reasons for wanting to take part, the underlying motivation is revenge but other motivations become apparent as the book progresses. As a result, the operation turns into a desire to obtain justice for others as much as for themselves.

I found the book entertaining although a bit on the slow side as the heist doesn’t actually take place until nearly two thirds of the way through the book, at which point it all becomes rather frenzied and a little confused. I found the mechanics of the heist (involving the use of rope swings, winches and extendable poles amongst other things) stretched credulity, although perhaps it was the author’s intention to introduce an element of outrageous absurdity to the proceedings. The secret of what has been going on in the de Vries household didn’t come as much of a surprise although it did provide some vindication for the women’s actions. The relationship between sewing maid Alice with her mistress Miss de Vries introduces what has become a familiar trope in historical fiction.

My favourite character was Hephzibah Grandcourt whose gift for acting produces some very amusing scenes and whose sheer chutzpah proves vital to the mission when it encounters some sticky moments. I also liked Mrs Bone, a woman who has built a criminal enterprise to rival – if not outdo – her male counterparts.

To steal an observation by one of my fellow book club members, The Housekeepers ‘does what is says on the tin’. It’s an entertaining book that doesn’t take itself too seriously but sets itself apart from the current wave of ‘cosy crime’ novels by focussing on those carrying out the crime rather than those solving it. (Readers may also want to note there is a bonus chapter in the paperback edition which is not in the ebook. The audiobook version was also highly praised by book club members.)

In three words: Engaging, undemanding, humorous
Try something similar: The Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton

About the Author

Author Alex Hay

Alex grew up in Cambridge and Cardiff in the United Kingdom. He studied History at the University of York and wrote his dissertation on female power at royal courts, combing the archives for every scrap of drama and skulduggery he could find. He has worked in magazine publishing and the charity sector and lives with his husband in London. His debut novel, The Housekeepers, won the Caledonia Novel Award 2022 and was published to great critical acclaim. (Photo: Amazon author page)

Connect with Alex
X | Instagram

Spotlight: BBC Radio 4 Bookclub

whatcathyreadnext7 Comments

BBC Radio 4’s Bookclub has been broadcast monthly for coming up to twenty-five years. It’s hosted by James Naughtie, former presenter of Radio 4’s flagship current affairs programme Today, and himself the author of several books, both fiction and nonfiction. The books chosen are usually the best-known novels by an author rather than the latest releases.

To create an atmosphere similar to a regular book club, the number of participants is kept small. However, unlike most book clubs, the author of the book being discussed is always present giving the audience of readers a chance to ask questions and listen to the always fascinating answers.

I’ve been lucky enough to attend four recordings of the programme so far:

  • Donal Ryan discussing his book The Spinning Heart which is set in the aftermath of Ireland’s financial collapse in 2008. A companion novel, Heart, Be At Peace, set ten years later, will be published in August 2024.
  • Graeme Macrae Burnet talking about his novel His Bloody Project which involves a triple murder that takes place in a small village in Scotland in 1869. It was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2016. A Case of Matricide, the third book featuring French detective Georges Gorski will be published in December 2024.
  • Clare Chambers discussing her book Small Pleasures set in 1950s south-east London and longlisted for the Womens Prize for Fiction 2021. Her new novel, Shy Creatures, set in London in 1964 will be published in August 2024.
  • Lucy Caldwell talking about her novel These Days set in Belfast in 1941 which won the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2023. (The programme will be broadcast on 2nd June 2024). Her short story collection, Openings, was published in April.
Flatlay of book covers The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan, His Bloody Priject by Graeme Macrae Burnet, Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers and These Days by Lucy Caldwell

How can I attend a Bookclub recording?

It’s free to attend recordings which take place at BBC Broadcasting House in London either at lunchtime or early evening. You can book yourself a place via the Bookclub website where you’ll find dates and details of upcoming recordings. (The next one is Marlon James talking about his book, A Brief History of Seven Killings.) There are also links to the archive of past recordings with over 350 previous episodes available to listen to.

What happens at a recording?

If you’re successful in bagging yourself a place, you’ll need to arrive at BBC Broadcasting House at least 15 minutes before the recording start time. There will be a table set up in the main reception where you collect your pass. You’ll need to show some form of photo ID. Any bags will need to be scanned by security. The audience services team will then guide you to the room in which the recording is taking place.

Once you’re there, James Naughtie will introduce the author and set out some house rules including, most importantly, turning off your mobile phone. You’ll have been invited to submit questions in advance but it doesn’t matter if you haven’t, you can just put your hand up on the day and wait for James to spot you. A microphone will then appear in front of you to enable you to ask your question. The programme is recorded so you don’t need to worry about fluffing your lines! If you don’t want to ask a question that’s no problem, you can just sit back and listen. There’ll be around 40 to 50 minutes of questions and answers which will then be edited down to just under thirty minutes by producer Nicola Holloway and her team. At the end, there’s usually an opportunity to have the author sign your copy of their book. As well as being a great opportunity to listen to an author talk about their book, I’ve found it a fascinating insight into what goes into recording a radio programme.

Perhaps I’ll see you at a future recording!