*Many thanks to Helen Scarlett, Quercus Books, and NetGalley for arc in exchange fro my honest review.*
The novel starts well and sounds promising at the beginning, bearing all hallmarks of a good Gothic read, with a mysterious heroine who escapes her uncle and hides her identity. However, I think there is too much of a good thing. Too many mysteries and too complicated relationships, with some implausible moments in the plot. I think Ms Scarlett tried too hard ... She had some good ideas but abundance sometimes is an author's enemy.

This is a well written multi-layered tale with many twists and turns. It revolves around the relationship between the two central characters and the terrible secrets they hide. Well researched and beautifully written.

Harriet Fleet is desperate. Otherwise, on arrival at Teesbank Hall, discovering none of the locals will set foot on the property and her post of ‘governess’ is instead more of a nursemaid to a seriously troubled young woman, she would have turned right around and left again. But Harriet has no money and nowhere else to go, so she’s stuck. Trapped in a house of dark secrets and unimaginable cruelty, all Harriet can do is her best to be kind to her charge… who despises the very sight of her.

A very gothic Victorian tale, the story really started twenty years earlier, with the horrible murder of a young child, and the far-reaching effects on the whole family. There’s some pretty searing social commentary on the lack of choices afforded to women - of all classes in society - in this era of supposed enlightenment, and some real horrors in the way mental illness was handled, which was truly nothing short of torture.

A bunch of trigger warnings apply, not just for the aforementioned child death, but also sexual assault, coercive control, self-harm and self-mutilation, mental illness and barbaric medical practices. There are hints of the paranormal but nothing concrete, much of it proving to have been the work of human malice.

I guessed early on that the child of the woman convicted of the baby’s murder would come to play a part, because I knew the law wouldn’t allow a pregnant woman to be executed, but was completely wrong about who it actually was.

A bit to my surprise, because it’s not really hinted at in the blurb, there’s a heavy thread of romance here, with an actual happily-ever-after ending for Harriet and her love interest. It’s not quite enough for this to be an actual romantic suspense, but I don’t think romance fans will be displeased either.

A solidly written and engaging read, obviously well researched, it felt very accurate to the period. I’m happy to give it five stars.

The Deception of Harriet Fleet is a historical mystery novel, the main storyline centred around the death of a small child - Samuel - twenty years previously. I began reading the book thinking that this would be the focal point for the whole story. A historical whodunnit, perhaps with a supernatural element to the narrative, but in actual fact, it was about so much more than a murder.

For me, it was a portrait of how women during the late 1800's were treated, mainly shown through the two incredibly strong female lead characters - Harriet and Eleanor. After finishing the book and reflecting on what happened, it is clear that every female character had been a victim in some way of the times they were living in - whether this was the treatment of women with postnatal depression or other mental illnesses, the opinion that women should not want to be educated or have any desire to build a career, or simply the way in which women (in particular servants) were treated by men in a position of power.

Having said this, the details surrounding the death of Eleanor's brother Samuel were particularly brutal. The different elements of this part of the storyline (told through the old court case records) were intriguing and addictive. Reported in small snippets, there was just enough information each time to keep me guessing and wanting to find out more.

Despite being a cold and, at times, very dark story of a murder - the portrait which was painted of the oppression of women, and the way women were hidden away rather than supported or celebrated was definitely the key factor of the book for me. A fantastic choice for historical fiction or historical mystery fans.

Harriet has escaped her evil uncle and has found herself a job as a governess but its not going to be as easy as she thinks. Her charge is much smarter than she is and requires little help, she is also very hostile but is she as dangerous as Harriet was warned? The family live in a cloud of darkness following the death of the baby son but was he really killed by a governess. Can Harriet figure out the truth of this family and stay away from her uncle.

This was a really interesting story. It focuses heavily on the mental health treatment of women in the past and its tough reading at times. There is a mystery to the plot but you become more entangled in Harriet and Eleanor than that. The plot is slow and steady building to a dramatic moment before a calmer but equally well written ending. I like Harriet from the start and wanted her to succeed in staying away from her uncle. The characters are well written and detailed. I did guess some of what would happen at the end but still enjoyed it. A fascinating historical read.

Welcome to brooding Teesdale Hall, County Durham, the home of the Wainright family - a family that guards the truth behind its traumatic history very carefully. Into this picture of less than domestic bliss, governess Harriet Caldwell, escaping demons of her own, has arrived to care for the young lady of the house, Miss Eleanor. Almost as soon as Harriet crosses the threshold she learns that her task will be to spy on her intelligent, but unbalanced pupil rather than teach her - a fact that Eleanor is very aware of, and none too happy about.

Eleanor's hostility and the strange family dynamic at Teesdale Hall soon begin to wear Harriet down, and she becomes drawn into Eleanor's obsession with the dark secrets that the Wainright family have done their utmost to hide. Manipulated into playing Eleanor's game, Harriet's own ghosts from the past begin to haunt her, and she is convinced that her shameful secrets will be revealed - including her deception about who she really is. Some secrets refuse to stay hidden, and Harriet proves to be the catalyst that will bring the shocking truth to light, with tragic consequences for herself and the Wainright family.

It's true to say that many of the characters here come across as those you would expect to see in a Victorian melodrama, especially the males of the piece (I couldn't quite rid myself of the the image of Harriet's evil uncle as the baddie with an enormous bushy moustache and staring eyes), but this actually plays beautifully with the kind of story Helen Scarlett clearly wants to explore when it comes to her female players.

For it is the women of this story that are we are really here to read about, and through them we get to see many different sides of female powerlessness at the hands of men, all mixed up in a wonderfully atmospheric, Gothic mystery. We have women cast in the roles of dutiful wife, obedient daughter, tractable ward - all of whom stubbornly refuse to follow the male-defined character outlines given to them . Our 'dutiful' wife is in fact weighed down with the sorrows of a life in which she has almost constantly been pregnant, and suffered the trauma of seeing most of her children taken from her in one way of another, while being forced to stand-by and watch her philandering husband take his pleasures where he will (without much sympathy from her harridan of a mother-in-law); our 'obedient' daughter is damaged by the neglect of her parents, despises the female pursuits she is expected to confine herself to and longs for the same freedom to travel, learn and experience life that her brother takes for granted; and our 'tractable' ward has in fact escaped the clutches of her despicable uncle after refusing to be persuaded to take part in his sick fantasies, while being forced to leave behind all that is rightfully hers. All these women have good reason to be dissatisfied with their lot, and yet, denying the roles they are expected to fulfil on this male dominated 'stage' can only lead to pain, sadness and the constant fear of being labelled hysterical.

We also see the suffering of the women below stairs, in service, as they are subjected to the sexual advances of their masters, for them then to be cast aside, labelled as whores, and left to degradation (and worse) at the first hint of trouble. All apparently, due to their own 'wanton nature'.

There is certainly a lot of injustice and gaslighting towards the fair sex on display here, but interestingly Scarlett writes her women with degrees of light and shade, and is unflinching in delving into the nitty gritty of their motives, behaviours and even sometimes, complicity, which leaves you to make up your own minds about the grey area between justice and revenge - and you may not like everything that you find out about them in the process, even if you sympathise with their situations and struggles.

The Deception of Harriett Fleet is a very enjoyable Victorian murder mystery, family drama and romance that gives more than a little nod towards Gothic on the Bronte scale, especially the wonderful Jane Eyre, and I was impressed with the way Scarlett works her complex themes into the telling of it. The threads of the tale play out at just the right pace, with a slick twist I did not see coming, and the oppressive setting is perfect for a tale of terrible family secrets and retribution.

I think, perhaps, there might not be enough supernatural creepiness for the die-hard Laura Purcell fan here, but if you are a lover of a ghostly whisper, rich historical detail and a fascinating look at social history on the scale of Stacey Halls and Michelle Paver's Wakenhyrst, then The Deception of Harriett Fleet should definitely be on your reading pile. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

1871. An age of discovery and progress. But for the Wainwright family, residents of the gloomy Teesbank Hall in County Durham the secrets of the past continue to overshadow their lives. Harriet would not have taken the job of governess in such a remote place unless she wanted to hide from something or someone. Her charge is Eleanor, the daughter of the house, a fiercely bright eighteen-year-old, tortured by demons and feared by relations and staff alike. But it soon becomes apparent that Harriet is not there to teach Eleanor, but rather to monitor her erratic and dangerous behaviour – to spy on her.

It's hard to believe that this is a debut novel. I was pulled into this story of secrets and lies quite quickly. There's a creepy atmosphere throughout the book. There's plenty of twists and mystery. Very good historical, gothic read and one I could not put down!

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Governess Harriet arrives at Teesbank Hall in Durham and as soon as she gets there she is made aware of the Hall being notorious, as no carriage driver will take her there. Due to the bad things that have happened there.

When she arrives she is met by Mrs Jenson,who is the house keeper, and tells Harriet a little more about her pupil Miss Eleanor. She needs to be watched every hour of the day by herself and a nurse Mrs Anderson. Mrs Jenson warns Harriet that her charge can be sly and manipulative and that Harriet must be on her guard at all times and report back if Eleanor does or says anything ‘untoward’.

Harriet is very anxious at these revelations and it would appear that Miss Eleanor is going to be quite a handful! Also Eliza the maid tells her to watch Mr Wainwright and is quite hostile towards her, she goes to bed on her first night feeling worried. Teesbank Hall seems cold and unfriendly on all counts. Agnes the maid mentions that Governesses don’t stay and that the locals call the Hall ‘Murder House’.

I loved this setting of the scene and I was in no doubt that some dark deeds were going to happen here. Then Mr Henry arrives who is Eleanor’s brother and her first dinner with the family is a real eyeopener! The family is really something else so many skeletons in the closet.

Ghostly happenings, family sniping and it also becomes apparent that Harriet is also hiding a secret. As she begins her role as Governess, she begins to find out more about why the house has such a reputation and why Eleanor acts the way that she does. Eleanor’s brother Samuel went missing and was found dead at the age of just two years old.

A woman was hanged for the crime and that poor Eleanor has lived a life of fear and is convinced that the family is cursed by the woman and that she will not rest until she has retribution. The boathouse put in mind of The Boathouse at Agatha Christie’s home Greenway and the writing was so descriptive I could imagine myself at the creepy Teesbank Hall. I was never quite sure who to trust and I will leave you to discover that for yourself!

This is a fantastic read and a stunning debut, it gave me chills and the atmosphere and tension is slow to build but so clever. I loved the nods to Jane Eyre and the setting and the twists and turns kept me reading. Murder, obsession, and love keep the story compelling and the pages turning.

I really love a Gothic mystery and this one ticked all the boxes, a creepy house, secrets, a dysfunctional family and things that go bump in the night.

Spectacular 5 spooky stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Katya Ellis at Quercus for my invitation to the tour and for my copy of the proof in exchange for a fair and honest review.

‘The Deception of Harriet Fleet’ by Helen Scarlett is a tense, gripping and gothic novel, exploring almost every facet of human nature and what it meant to be a woman in Victorian England.

Harriet, a young woman escaping an abusive home life, finds employment in a household that is no less turbulent. Taken on as governess to another young woman, Harriet swiftly learns that the whole family is affected by a tragic event in their past. In a house that may not just be haunted by secrets, who can she trust and who will tell her the truth of what happened at Teesbank Hall?

What was particularly refreshing about this novel was the setting. Maybe it’s just me, but I find many books like this one to be based in London, so for this story to be based in the north of England, specifically Teesside, was a welcome change for me. The desolate, rural landscape surrounding Stockton-on-Tees certainly plays a considerable part in the claustrophobic feel the author has created.

I only had a short time to read this and, fortunately, it’s a real page turner. The reader learns new information at the same time as Harriet and this keeps up the suspense and encourages the reader to make their own deductions. I did work out one of the twists but did not consider another, which I thought was done very well and really changes your perception of one of the key characters.

A very enjoyable read which I highly recommend.

Please note: this novel does contain infanticide, abusive family members and mentions of self harm.

Thank you to the publishers, Quercus, and to NetGalley for the eARC on which this review is based.

I absolutely loved this book! It is dark and gothic and creepy and features all the things I love about gothic fiction: a dazzling heroine, a large brooding house, unreliable narration, murder, madness and potential supernatural occurrences! What isn't there to love?!

Set in the mid 19th century, Harriet is the new governess to Eleanor at Teesbank Hall, a large, desolate and cursed house in County Durham which was also the scene of a brutal murder several years prior. Whilst Eleanor and Harriet both have heavy baggage of their own, the main story follows the strained and fractured relationship between governess and ward as they try to unravel the truth about the murder years earlier.

One of my favourite aspects of this book was that it is set in my local area. Seeing local landmarks and towns mentioned all the way through was an interesting addition to an already brilliant book! Towns like Stockton, Middlesbrough, Yarm and Eaglescliffe are the main points of interest so it felt very surreal reading about my home area in a fictionalised way ❤️

Also, this book reminded me very much of the true case of Constance Kent and Francis Saville Kent. A real life murder in Victorian England that has several parallels with this novel. A similar murder, a similar victim, similar suspects and similar evidence used. I found this really fascinating, but that's just me.

This really is a perfect cross between Jane Eyre and The Turn of the Screw with elements of The Suspicions of Mr Whicher thrown in for good measure, and if that doesn't sell it to you, nothing will!

Thank you to Netgalley, Quercus Books and Helen Scarlett for the ARC in exchange for an honest review - I seriously loved this book!

A dark and brooding bronte-esque mystery set in Durham which is evocatively depicted. We have a strong and determined heroine fleeing from her past and the influence and control of men over her life, which really created a feeling of claustrophobia and panic while I was reading this. Throw in ghostly hauntings and deadly mysteries and this is a very satisfying and enjoyable first novel.

I enjoyed this book although at times I did fund it a little slow. It also reminded me very much of the classic book Jane Eyre. This book was well written and had a lot of creepy undertones which I enjoyed. I didn’t usually read a lot of gothic novels but I’m glad I read this one. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Kindly sent from the publishing team for an honest review.

This book is terrific. Ive not a gothic thriller before and this is just sublime and everything I hoped for.
When you first start to read the book you dont really know who is narrating but the more you continue to rad the more the pieces of the puzzle fall into place. It is set between 1849 and 1871 and takes you through many emotions and tribulations. This book touched on many different aspects such as being a women in this era, not having your identity, being controlled and the affects events can have on a individuals mental health.

The character development is brilliant especially with Eleanor and it makes you reevaluate your impressions about her. I was hooked from start to finish! Looking forward to reading more from the author

Wow ! Full of gothic horror. In my mind I can see the big dark , rooms and the oppression that oozes out from the pages
Harriet has her own problems when she arrives at Teesbank Hall to become the governess of troubled Eleanor..
The family are hiding something. And it's something very big. The story unfolds itself and lays bare the horror of women beholden to men in those times.
It screams to be made into a film , and it held me from the first chapter.

A fascinating read, so creepy, atmospheric, a real page turner!
The story opens with the murder of a child aged 2years old, named Samuel. The year is then 1849.
In 1879 Harriet arrives at Teasdale Hall in Co. Durham, to become a governess to Eleanor, an 18 year old bright, educated and rather scary young woman. Eleanor is hysterical in the language of the time, deeply disturbed, self abuses and has mood swings that petrify the whole household. She is always to be under supervision day and night, and is manipulative and devious. She is a very compelling character with hidden secrets.
Harriet also has secrets, hiding away in Teasdale Hall, a place where you wouldn’t go unless you wanted to be hidden away, unless you were frightened. The two women tentatively become friendly towards each other, not bosom buddies, but a small degree of trust is given and gained.
This is a story of the power that men use to subjugate women, the days when women could be denied their freedom and find themselves locked up in asylums upon the word of a male relative or appointed guardian. If the woman had money, it was an easy way to benefit from their fortune, whilst they were not of an age to have full control of their finances.
This is a real ghostly intriguing story. Doom and gloom surround both the exterior of the Hall and its inhabitants. Eleanor and Harriet were both fascinating characters, Henry, the son of the house, paled into insignificance beside these two women, I enjoyed that. A murder was solved and revenge was achieved. Two people found happiness. The ending was more dramatic than I guessed at, I never saw the final twist!!
A compelling and exciting debut novel, I can’t wait to see what comes along next.
My thanks to Netgalley and Quercus books for my ARC, in return for my honest review. I shall leave reviews to Goodreads and Amazon , and I look forward to recommending this to my friends.

Well.written and draws you in so you have to keep reading, a few twists to keep you guessing and a happy ending, I enjoyed reading this book

eARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Quercus Books.

As a fan of gothic fiction and murder mysteries, I was delighted to pick this up. The writing is incredibly easy to read, which I found very refreshing, as some gothic novels can be quite 'wordy' for want of a better word. This was a quick and intriguing read, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you turning the pages and I read it in two sittings.

I was slightly underwhelmed with how everything was wrapped up at the end, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story as a whole. It was a very ambitious premise and I just found that all of the strands of the various mysteries were tied up a little too neatly.

I will definitely pick up another book by this author in the future. If you are looking for a fairly quick, immersive mystery with interesting characters, please think about picking this book up.

I genuinely loved this book.

Every resident of Teesbank Hall has their secrets, and these are gradually uncovered with all the finesse of a classic gothic tale.

Both the Wainwrights and Harriet herself have things to hide, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of finding out what these were... the overwhelming sense of unease and the uncanny permeated every page.

I look forward to reading more from this author!

First, let me say I am an absolute sucker for Gothic horror. I can't get enough of it and am waiting (rather impatiently) for Scarlett's next book. THE DECEPTION OF HARRIETT FLEET is compelling from the very first paragraph in its suspense, murder mystery, haunted house, drama, and action. There was no part of the storyline that dragged or made me lose interest. Scarlett is a master of twists and turns, which is what makes this book such a page turner. Just when you think you've got everything figured out, whether it be who is haunting the household, to who the murderer is, to how it ends, the plot twists and you're starting from scratch. If you like murder mysteries, gothic horror, drama, period pieces, or all of the above, read this book. You won't be disappointed.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Helen Scarlett, and Quercus Books for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

A gothic story, complex and atmospheric.
I liked the characters and the well developed plot. The atmosphere is quite creepy and the story kept interested.
An entertaining and well written debut, I look forward to other books by this author.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine