Told in multiple points of view set between their current day, a future time, and letters of another perspective throughout, the main part of the cast are the servants and staff of a northern English manor that is frequently empty of its master, seeking a mistress, and looming beneath the pall of a mystery that predates most of the staff. That said, the house isn't the only being shrouded in mystery and secrets. Through the unraveling of the secrets, the past becomes clear, but so do their futures.

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This was a really interesting book and I loved the plot and the idea around it. At times it felt a little longer then it needed to be but ultimately I really enjoyed this one!

I started reading this book during middle of the night feedings with my newborn daughter. I was happily surprised that I got into the story quickly. It kept my attention which was hard to do at the time. I was so sleep deprived but this book gave me something to look forward to when her cries stirred me out of a dead sleep.

I really liked the main character, Kate. She had such a quiet strength despite the horrible things she had been subjected to in her past. I liked how her relationship Jem developed slowly and organically. I never felt like it was rushed or didn’t make sense.

The side characters and storylines were equally intriguing. I hated the ones that were I felt like the reader was meant to hate. I rooted for the characters who the reader was meant to root for. It definitely evoked a lot of emotions due to the hardships and tragedies within the pages.

There was also a mystery that was present. It wasn’t the sole focus but it would come back around every now and then. I felt like it came to a satisfying conclusion and added layers to the story that were welcomed.

Overall, I would happily read more books from this author. I’m going to seek out this author’s backlist.

What a delight! If you’ve been looking for something that reminds you of “Downton Abbey,” this novel is sure to be a welcome addition to your bookshelf. Well-plotted and sumptuous.

Many thanks to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book.

A historical novel with several characters, a love story, and many secrets. All under one roof. Fans of Downton Abbey will love this book! It took a bit for me to get into this book, and I almost gave up on it several times. I'm glad I stuck with it because the story is incredible.

Kate and Jem's story will have you hooked until the end. With wonderful character development, looming secrets, a bit of crime and mystery, this book has something for everyone. If you're a fan of historical fiction, this book is for you.

Fans of Downton Abbey will love this one! Lots of upstairs/downstairs drama, a host of secrets, and a romance keep the pages turning in this latest by Iona Grey. It is focused more on the servants than the family upstairs, and instead of the glamour and elegance of Downton we get a rather dark and cold estate that suits the mystery and drama. This story really does give Anna/Mr. Bates vibes and I am here for it!

The Housekeeper’s Secret is a beautifully written novel and although very slow paced at times, is still enjoyable. The story alternates timelines between the summer of 1911 and WWI as well as perspectives between Kate and Jem. It’s a historical romance with murder mystery thrown in which was entertaining and exciting. The authors attention to detail and research was impressive. I love Iona Grey’s writing and storytelling style.

Thank you to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fans of Downton Abbey rejoice! This scratches the itch for the sumptuous Edwardian era while being a deliciously sinister thriller! It was truly a page turner.

"The Housekeeper's Secret" by Iona Grey is certainly full of secrets! Many layers of mystery in the backdrop of a bustling residence with lots of staff, with a dark past, strong characters, and uncovering the truth. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

This historical fiction novel was a bit slow moving with just a touch a romance and mystery. The time period of early 1900s is such an interesting time period. I think overall the novel was too long but very interesting.

This book was a wonderful treat! I thought about giving up after the first few pages, because I wasn't in the right frame of mind for a historical read, but once the stranger was spotted through the window, I was hooked. I thought this story was very well-written and plotted out. I loved all the characters and I truly savored this read!

This historical novel takes place before and during WWI from 1911 - 1918. Coldwell is an old rambling house in a very remote location of Derbyshire England. It provides a quiet haven of safety for a wonderful cast of chartacters and I found it easy to get immersed in this world that the author created. And, there are secrets...

Young housekeeper, Kate Furniss, has hidden her secret behind the walls of Coldwell and her mask of assumed professionalism for the past 10 years. And it is imperative that she stays safely hidden.

Handsome Jem Arden arrives at their doorstep when the household is in desperate need of another footman. But Jem has his own agenda.

I loved all the characters! There are too many to make mention of in this review, but they each had their own unique personality and were easily identifiable. I also enjoyed the multiple timelines and POV's the author achieved and the letters written from the trench. It was a beautifully interwoven story that I thoroughly became engaged in and would highly recommend!

**Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher St Martin's Press, and the author for an advanced DRC**

When I read this romantic historical novel, set between 1911 and 1919, it immediately reminded me of Downton Abbey, with its focus on a time on the verge of modernization. I appreciated the author’s attention to detail in depicting everyday life and the difficult tasks servants faced—it really brought the era to life for me. The main characters, Jem and Mrs. Furtness, are well-written, and I enjoyed the eclectic cast of characters surrounding them.

Set in the moors of Northern England at Coldwell Hall, the story is told from the servants’ point of view, which I found refreshing. Kate, a skilled housekeeper, is determined to keep both the secrets of Coldwell Hall and her own hidden. But when she meets Jem, who has secrets of his own and came to Coldwell Hall with his own motives, things begin to unravel.

The story unfolds through different timelines and perspectives, and I think the author did a great job of getting the historical details right. What stood out to me was the unique focus on the servants, rather than the wealthy homeowners, which is a new subject matter for me. The book felt well-researched, and the author’s commitment to accuracy really enhanced the reading experience.

I want to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance review copy. The book is set to publish on August 13, 2024, and I’d recommend checking it out.

I DNFed this book very quickly, The way it was written was very confusing and I couldn't follow it at all. I may try again in the future because it does sound interesting, but it was beyond difficult to read.

Stars: N/A - DNF

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It had a very moody, atmospheric feel to it that conjured up feelings of Jane Eyre and other Gothic Horror. Although this was not truly horror.

Kate is the very young housekeeper at a remote grand house in Northern England. We know little about her at the start but more of her story unravels as the novel progresses.

Jem shows up at Coldwell House at an opportune time: they cannot keep and get staff and the prodigal son is coming home. More staff are needed and Jem steps into the vacancy as a footman.

Coldwell is an odd house with mysteries and a dark past. Jem is tied to the dark past but we also discover that Kate is running from her past. Jem and Kate end up falling in love but what will happen when all is revealed??

Such a good romantic and historical novel!

If you're a fan of Downtown Abbey I can tell you that you would absolutely love this book at it had so many similar elements, and the time period was also the same.

The amount of research done by this author was really impressive as this book did an incredible job at realistically portraying so many of this time periods difficulties, problem areas, and overall struggles and hardships. The struggles of the servants hauling hot water up and downstairs for baths was really a profound description for me. The characters were written so brilliantly and they really were very remarkable. They stayed with me even after finishing the book, and I still find that I think of them fairly often.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Iona Grey for this eArc in exchange for my honest review.

Iona Grey's The Housekeeper's Secret is a must-read for anyone who loves historical romance and mystery. It's perfect for fans of forbidden love, hidden secrets, and the emotional ups and downs of life, all set in the rich setting of Edwardian England and the chaos of World War I.

The Housekeeper’s Secret is a new novel by Iona Grey that centers around an old manor house and the lives of the servants that live there. Kate is a young woman in charge of the large home and is the head housekeeper, perhaps living above her station. Jen is the handsome newcomer who appears one day looking for work, but is he looking for more? The first part of the book moved relatively slow and I am happy to report that I stuck with it and it picked up it’s a pace for the last part. Overall, I was interested to discover what became of everyone and how their conflict was resolved. I received an ARC of this book, all opinions are my own. 3.5 stars

HOUSEKEEPER’S SECRET by Iona Gray. The two main characters have their own secrets. Jem came to work at the house at the end of WWI. We meet him first in the trenches of the war. For me, it was a personal flashback to some conversations with my Great Uncle when he was 100 years old. His job during WWI was to drive lumber to the front line to be used to build trenches and take wounded soldiers back from the trenches. Jem is trying to find out how and why his younger brother Jack was killed while working at Coldwell. Kate Furniss is the housekeeper, who keeps the house running while hiding her own secrets. The house has several Downstairs characters to follow, and we also get a look at Upstairs life. I felt the first half of the book could use some editing as the story dragged a bit with all of the characters. The second half did not disappoint! I found I was rooting for the two main characters. Lots of action! I thought the author nailed what everyday life might have been like for the downstair’s staff. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

"The Housekeeper's Secret" by Iona Grey is a captivating historical novel set in the Edwardian era, with echoes of Downton Abbey. The story follows Kate, the young housekeeper of Coldwell Hall, and her budding romance with the mysterious new footman, Jem. Told in alternating timelines, it explores forbidden love, hidden secrets, and the looming shadow of WWI. While I found the setting and characters intriguing, the romance and mystery elements felt a bit underdeveloped. A great read for fans of historical fiction and hidden secrets.

My thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this eARC.

I enjoyed both the plot of this book and the way the author unfolds the story. It reminded me a bit of Downton Abbey, but with multiple twists.
The characters are the staff and owners of an English manor located in a somewhat isolated location. They seem a motley and unlikely combo of characters, but find themselves allies as the story develops.
Not only does the housekeeper have secrets, but many of the other characters do as well. Explainations are revealed as the book progresses, making reading quite absorbing, anticipating what will happen next. There are several villains who are quite despicable and seem to have the upper hand over more honorable characters. Still by the end, honesty and the unraveling of secrets bring resolution and moral retribution.
I recommend this title to readers who like a bit of mystery and history with their love stories. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.