Review: The Housekeeper

The Housekeeper by Joy Fielding
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thank you to Library Journal for the ARC and the opportunity to review this title.

Fielding’s (Cul-de-Sac) latest is an exciting roller-coaster ride of family dysfunction, marital dynamics, and gaslighting. Jodi Bishop is a successful real estate agent, wife, and mother whose busy life is made even busier by her mother’s Parkinson’s diagnosis. She hires Elyse Woodley as a housekeeper to take care of her mother and help her aging father, and couldn’t be happier with her choice. Elyse is kind and hardworking, ingratiating herself and becoming a confidante to Jodi. She seems like a dream come true until suddenly she’s shutting Jodi out and her mother’s health declines rapidly. Elyse is wearing her mother’s jewelry, flirting with her father, controlling everything. How did it go wrong so quickly, and why is Jodi the only one who notices? Fielding’s novel is gripping from the beginning, and Jodi is a fleshed-out, relatable protagonist. The plot builds to a nail-biting climax, but readers might feel let down by the quick, albeit satisfying, conclusion.VERDICT Recommended for fans of women-led suspense novels such as Mary Kubica’s The Other Mrs. and Ruth Ware’s The Lying Game.

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Review: The Birdcage

The Birdcage by Eve Chase
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thank you to Booklist for the ARC and the opportunity to review this title.

An intricate story about three sisters, one famous father, and a terrible secret each has tried to bury. Kat, Flora, and Lauren are all summoned to Rock Point, in Cornwall, their father’s seaside home, where they once sat for his famous painting, Girls in Birdcage. The reason for the summons is a mystery. In the two decades since they last visited Rock Point, the women have drifted apart, and each has a good reason to stay away. Can the three women face their pasts, or will they continue to hide from the memories that once darkened their summers in Cornwall? This is a character-driven story of forgiveness and redemption, not only between three sisters but also between a father and his children. The narrative unfolds from each sister’s point of view, switching from past to present, and the relationship dynamics beautifully alternate between complete brokenness and enduring hope. Although sometimes difficult to follow, the plot is suspenseful and blooms at a slow but satisfying pace. Fans of Jane Harper will enjoy the vivid sense of place and the flawed, complex characters.



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