Barbara Mutch's stunning first novel tells a story of love and duty colliding on the arid plains of Apartheid-era South Africa When Cathleen Harrington leaves her home in Ireland in 1919 to travel to South Africa, she knows that she does not love the man she is to marry there —her fiance Edward, whom she has not seen for five years. Isolated and estranged in a small town in the harsh Karoo desert, her only real companions are her diary and her housemaid, and later the housemaid's daughter, Ada. When Ada is born, Cathleen recognizes in her someone she can love and respond to in a way that she cannot with her own family. Under Cathleen's tutelage, Ada grows into an accomplished pianist and a reader who cannot resist turning the pages of the diary, discovering the secrets Cathleen sought to hide. As they grow closer, Ada sees new possibilities in front of her—a new horizon. But in one night, everything changes, and Cathleen comes home from a trip to find that Ada has disappeared, scorned by her own community. Cathleen must make a choice: should she conform to society, or search for the girl who has become closer to her than her own daughter? Set against the backdrop of a beautiful, yet divided land, The Housemaid's Daughter is a startling and thought-provoking novel that intricately portrays the drama and heartbreak of two women who rise above cruelty to find love, hope, and redemption.
The Housemaid's Secrets "The Housemaid's Secret" by Freida McFadden, published in 2023, is a gripping thriller that serves as the second novel in a series featuring a housemaid as the main character. This novel revolves around Millie Calloway, a convicted felon who finds work with wealthy clients in Manhattan. The story unfolds with Millie taking a job with the Garricks, where she becomes involved in a complex and dangerous plot. The novel opens with Millie losing her job due to her felony conviction, making it difficult for her to find new employment. She is eventually hired by Douglas Garrick, CEO of Coinstock, to assist his wife, Wendy, who is purportedly ill and confined to their guest bedroom. As Millie starts working for the Garricks, she observes suspicious behaviors and signs of potential abuse towards Wendy. Her suspicions are confirmed when she witnesses injuries on Wendy, prompting her to intervene. The plot thickens as Millie, who has a past of helping women escape abusive relationships, tries to assist Wendy. This leads to a series of dramatic events, including an attempted escape, a murder accusation, and a shocking twist where the true identities and motives of the characters are revealed.
Regency Romance and Mystery from Bestselling Author Julie Klassen Pampered Margaret Macy flees London in disguise to escape pressure to marry a dishonorable man. With no money and nowhere else to go, she takes a position as a housemaid in the home of Nathaniel Upchurch, a suitor she once rejected in hopes of winning his dashing brother. Praying no one will recognize her, Margaret fumbles through the first real work of her life. If she can last until her next birthday, she will gain an inheritance from a spinster aunt--and sweet independence. But can she remain hidden as a servant even when prying eyes visit Fairbourne Hall? Observing both brothers as an "invisible" servant, Margaret learns she may have misjudged Nathaniel. Is it too late to rekindle his admiration? And when one of the family is nearly killed, Margaret alone discovers who was responsible. Should she come forward, even at the risk of her reputation and perhaps her life? And can she avoid an obvious trap meant to force her from hiding? On her journey from wellborn lady to servant to uncertain future, Margaret must learn to look past appearances and find the true meaning of "serve one another in love."
She's a liar. She's a stalker. She's in your house. When Claire sees Hannah Wilson at an exclusive Manhattan hair salon, it's like a knife slicing through barely healed scars. It may have been ten years since Claire last saw Hannah, but she has thought of her every day, and not in a good way. So Claire does what anyone would do in her position—she stalks her. Hannah is now Mrs. Carter, living the charmed life that should have been Claire's. It's the life Claire used to have, before Hannah came along and took it all away from her. Back then, Claire was a happy teenager with porcelain skin and long, wavy blond hair. Now she's an overweight, lazy drunk with hair the color of compost and skin to match. Which is why when Hannah advertises for a housekeeper, Claire is confident she can apply and not be recognized. And since she has time on her hands, revenge on her mind, and a talent for acting… Because what better way to seek retribution—and redress—than from within the beautiful Mrs. Hannah Carter's own home? Except that it's not just Claire who has secrets. Everyone in that house seems to have something to hide. And now, there's no way out.
In the summer of 2006, Emma Price watched helplessly as her six-year-old son's red coat was fished out of the River Ouse. It was the tragic story of the year - a little boy, Aiden, wandered away from school during a terrible flood, fell into the river, and drowned. His body was never recovered. Ten years later, Emma has finally rediscovered the joy in life. She's married, pregnant, and in control again... ... until Aiden returns. Too traumatized to speak, he raises endless questions and answers none. Only his body tells the story of his decade-long disappearance. The historic broken bones and injuries cast a mere glimpse into the horrors Aiden has experienced. Aiden never drowned. Aiden was taken. As Emma attempts to reconnect with her now teenage son, she must unmask the monster who took him away from her. But who, in their tiny village, could be capable of such a crime? It's Aiden who has the answers, but he cannot tell her the unspeakable. This dark and disturbing psychological novel is a page-turner you will not be able to put down. What readers are saying about Silent Child: "Everyone, buy this book, it's brilliant. I just kept reading it, instead of cleaning. Now I'm sad it's ended." "A tense, haunting story which I had to finish in one sitting." "What a fantastic read. Kept me on the edge of my seat 'til the end." "One of the best books I have read. I stayed up most of the night to read it." "I read this book from cover to cover in one sitting. It's been a long time since a book has captivated me so much to do that. Gripping and full of twists and turns."
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK • “A heartwarming mystery with a lovable oddball at its center” (Real Simple), this cozy whodunit introduces a one-of-a-kind heroine who will steal your heart. “The reader comes to understand Molly’s worldview, and to sympathize with her longing to be accepted—a quest that gives The Maid real emotional heft.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice) “Think Clue. Think page-turner.”—Glamour In development as a major motion picture produced by and starring Florence Pugh Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by. Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life’s complexities all by herself. No matter—she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection. But Molly’s orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows what’s happening, Molly’s unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black—but will they be able to find the real killer before it’s too late? A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and a heartwarming journey of the spirit, The Maid explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different—and reveals that all mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart.
For the first time in trade paperback, #1 New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag's second thriller in the Oak Knoll microseries, exploring the early days of forensic investigation, the characteristics of innocence—and the nature of evil. Marissa Fordham had a past full of secrets, a present full of lies. Everyone knew of her, but no one knew her. When Marissa is found brutally murdered, with her young daughter, Haley, resting her head on her mother's bloody breast, she sends the idyllic California town of Oak Knoll into a tailspin. Already on edge with the upcoming trial of the See-No-Evil killer, residents are shocked by reports of the crime scene, which might not have been discovered for days had it not been for a chilling 911 call: a small child's voice saying, "My daddy hurt my mommy." Sheriff's detective Tony Mendez faces a puzzle with nothing but pieces that won't fit. To assist with his witness, Haley, he calls teacher-turned-child advocate Anne Leone. Anne's life is hectic enough—she's a newlywed and a part-time student in child psychology, plus she's the star witness in the See-No-Evil trial. But one look at Haley, alone and terrified, and Anne's heart is stolen. As Tony and Anne begin to peel back the layers of Marissa Fordham's life, they find a clue fragment here, another there. And just when it seems Marissa has taken her secrets to the grave, they uncover a fact that puts Anne and Haley directly in the sights of a killer: Marissa Fordham never existed.
Inside the quiet village of Ashton, nestled amidst rolling hills, stood St. Andrews Manor—an area of intrigue and whispered secrets. In "Unveiling the Housemaid's mystery," Sarah Abbott, a more youthful and decided housemaid, reveals herself entangled in a web of deceit and long-hidden truths. A psychological mystery, this novel takes readers on a suspenseful adventure with breathtaking twists and a shocking revelation. As Sarah arrives at St. Andrews Manor, she consists of with her the hope of beginning anew. However, the load of the manor's ominous past soon becomes apparent. Assigned obligations via the pinnacle housekeeper, Mrs. Jenkins, Sarah senses the unstated recollections that permeate the grand halls. Unbeknownst to her, her arrival will set in motion a chain of occasions with a purpose to get to the lowest of the mysteries hid within the manor's partitions. Pushed by using the use of her insatiable interest, Sarah embarks on a quest to find out the enigma surrounding the manor. Atypical occurrences and whispered reminiscences of ghostly apparitions handiest gasoline her dedication to discover the reality. Guided by means of an old diary found within the depths of the library, Sarah embarks on a clandestine exploration, venturing into forgotten rooms and hidden passageways that preserve the key to the housemaid's interesting mystery. Delving into the manor's records, Sarah reveals a forbidden love affair between the preceding owner, Sir William Whitaker, and a lady named Beatrice. Their ill-fated romance, entangled with family rivalries and betrayals, left an indelible mark at the manor and its populace. Sarah soon realizes that the Whitaker circle of relatives has lengthy long past to great lengths to cover their beyond, but she will become determined to deliver the reality to light, although it way confronting the very foundations of the manor's legacy. During this captivating story, Sarah's journey intertwines with the lives of the modern-day-day Whitaker circle of relatives members. As she uncovers the dark secrets and techniques that have haunted them for generations, she starts of evolved to recognize the weight they bring approximately and the energy of redemption that lies inside their draw close. With the assist of Mrs. Jenkins, a effective best pal along with her personal secrets and techniques to guard, Sarah seeks to reconcile the past and present, weaving collectively the threads of love, forgiveness, and the enduring human spirit. "Unveiling the Housemaid's thriller" famous a legacy of truth and healing, as Sarah's tenacity brings slight to the dark corners of St. Andrews Manor and lets in the Whitaker own family to discover peace in embracing their past. With dropping twists and a breathtaking revelation, this psychological mystery will hold readers on the threshold of their seats until the very last page. Because the sun units at the manor, whispers of an extended-forgotten history echo through its walls, for all time transformed through the housemaid's exquisite journey of discovery.
In 1559 England, Meg, an orphaned thief, is pressed into service and trained as a member of the Maids of Honor, Queen Elizabeth I's secret all-female guard. But her loyalty is tested when she falls in love with a Spanish courtier who may be a threat.
