The Housekeepers by Alex Hay is a fun heist novel set in Edwardian London. The story follows Mrs. King, a formidable housekeeper recently dismissed from the grand Park Lane home she managed for years. Rather than accepting defeat, Mrs. King assembles a team of spirited and skilled female accomplices, each with a unique talent, to plan an audacious heist. Their target? The very house that cast her out. With meticulous plotting and daring improvisation, the crew aims to steal every valuable item in the house on the night of a lavish ball—right under the noses of the rich and powerful guests.
Alex Hay’s debut novel is a charming yet thrilling heist, with a goodly amount of social critique. The world of women in Edwardian London is rife with rules. Women are often invisible, especially the below-stairs women. But they really grab society by the short and curlies in this story. Each character has some grudge against the house and they deliver a memorable performance in their con women roles.
Perfect for fans of historical fiction with a feminist edge—I’m thinking of The Phoenix Crown—as well as for those who enjoy films like Oceans 11 or the show Lupin.