Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Samantha Hayes delivers yet another compelling psychological thriller in Her Housekeeper! This book took me on a whirlwind journey filled with tension, suspense, and unexpected twists. The dual timeline format, alternating between past and present, was masterfully handled, adding depth and intrigue to the story.

I found myself completely engrossed in the fast-paced narrative. Just when I thought I had the plot figured out, Hayes surprised me with clever twists that kept me constantly guessing. The main twist was absolutely brilliant and one I truly didn’t see coming.

If you love thrillers that keep you hooked from start to finish, filled with surprises and a satisfying payoff, this one is a must-read. Samantha Hayes has crafted another page-turner that I highly recommend!

(My first five star read of 2025!!)

You let her in...she wants you out...

WOW! Just wow! I love a good psychological thriller and this one hits all the marks and that ending just blew me away. While there was nothing overtly standout about it, it packed a powerful punch at the end. One that leaves you thinking about it long after you've closed the book. I admit, the climax was a tad OTT and requires some suspension of belief but overall it was still a fantastic read and worth every one of its stars.

The opening prologue leaves you wondering where this tale is going to take you while you flip the page and it's an about face as you look at the scrambled pieces of a twenty five year jigsaw and ponder just what is going on. Especially when the housekeeper comes knocking.

Gina and Matt, along with their two children - 3 year old tearaway toddler Tommy and newborn Gracie - find themselves temporarily homeless after Matt's inexpensive installation of a light fixture shorts and burns their house down. Thankfully, they were away with friend Laura for the evening. Not so good for their house or the problem with where they're going to live in the meantime. Their insurance covered a short hotel stay and would also cover a short term rental but they have been unable to find one.

And then they receive a lifeline. In the form of Gina's childhood friend Annie, now a successful singer and actress, who kindly offers them the use of her luxurious renovated home in Hastings while she is out of the country. Annie's kindness and generosity is a dream come true...until it became a nightmare.

No sooner have they arrived and have barely unpacked their bags when they receive an unexpected arrival. Enter Mary, Annie's housekeeper - "just pretend I'm not here". Gina is uncomfortable with having someone unfamiliar in the house with her and her two young children so she texts Annie to verify Mary is indeed who she says she is. She's relieved when Annie confirms this and that she is a godsend, having been with her for over a year. Gina is still a little unsettled, especially as Mary is there almost every day. Until one day Mary turns up with a suitcase and a teenager in tow, having escaped her abusive husband and had nowhere else to go. Knowing Annie wouldn't turn her away, Gina assures her that she's welcome to stay as there is plenty of room. Besides, she's in constant contact with Annie via text for confirmation on anything she is unsure of. Still, she can't escape the unsettling feeling she has around Mary. And her son Tyler just gives her the creeps.

If that wasn't all, Gina is having difficulty being back in Hastings and can't imagine why Annie would return to the place they grew up and escaped some twenty five years before when everything changed. When they were just fifteen and there were four of them. Gina, Annie, Laura and Sara - the GALS, as they called themselves. They all knew Matt from a distance; he was older by a year and was devilishly good-looking. Gina, Annie and even Sara all secretly were crushing for him. But being back here was playing on Gina's mind and she was reminded of what happened twenty five years ago and the missing member of their friendship circle.

But as the days turn into weeks, suspicions around Annie's seemingly competent housekeeper grow and Gina soon discovers some unsettling secrets about the woman, the house and the past...leading to the unsettling realisation of the danger she has unwittingly put herself and her family in.

Unfolding through Gina's, Mary's and "the past" narratives providing a deeper understanding of the characters and the layers of complexity to their stories. The author has peppered a lot of red herrings throughout and it is up to the reader to sift through them all as you begin to piece together the remaining jigsaw pieces for the bigger, clearer picture...leaving you shocked at the final twist, which is truly unexpected.

A fast paced read from start to finish, this is one of the author's best tales to date, despite the OTT climax leading up to the big reveal at the end. I was able to piece together pretty much all of it, even the unexpected twist we are given, but it was the epilogue that will leave you shocked and breathless. For me, that was a genius touch, leaving the reader with so many emotions about it all. It was the twist in THAT that I didn't see coming. The rest I had already figured out. Well done, Ms Hayes.

Overall, a fast paced suspenseful read that can easily be devoured in a day. But be prepared for the powerful mix of tragedy and happiness...and that jaw-dropping end.

I would like to thank #SamanthaHayes, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #HerHousekeeper in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Ein fesselnder Thriller, der einen bis zur letzten Seite in Spannung hält!

"Her Housekeeper" von Samantha Hayes hat mich von Anfang an gefesselt und die Geschichte hält einen bis zum Ende auf Trab. Der Thriller dreht sich um eine Frau, die nach einem tragischen Vorfall eine neue Hausmädchen-Stelle antritt, nur um in ein Netz aus Lügen, Geheimnissen und Bedrohungen verwickelt zu werden. Die Atmosphäre ist düster, und die Spannung steigt mit jeder Seite.

Besonders beeindruckend ist die Art und Weise, wie Samantha Hayes die Charaktere zeichnet. Die Protagonistin ist komplex und vielschichtig, was ihr Handeln oft schwer nachvollziehbar, aber umso faszinierender macht. Die verschiedenen Wendungen in ihrer Geschichte und die unerklärlichen Ereignisse im Haus tragen dazu bei, dass man ständig rätselt, wem man vertrauen kann und was wirklich vor sich geht.

Der Schreibstil der Autorin ist packend, schnell und lässt einen kaum zur Ruhe kommen. Es gibt zahlreiche Überraschungen und unerwartete Wendungen, die die Spannung stetig anheizen und einen immer weiter in die Geschichte hineinziehen. Das Ende war für mich absolut überraschend und hat das gesamte Leseerlebnis perfekt abgerundet.

Fazit:
"Her Housekeeper" ist ein Thriller, der durch seine dichte Atmosphäre, die fesselnden Wendungen und die komplexen Charaktere glänzt. Samantha Hayes hat ein packendes, spannendes Buch geschrieben, das man nicht mehr aus der Hand legen kann. Wer auf Psychothriller mit überraschenden Wendungen und einer durchgehenden Spannung steht, wird dieses Buch lieben.

Her Housekeeper by Samantha Hayes is an absolute must-read! From the very first page, I was captivated by the intricate dynamics between the characters. The way Hayes weaves tension and emotion into every chapter kept me on the edge of my seat. I found myself deeply invested in the protagonist's journey, as she navigates her complicated relationship with her housekeeper, who proves to be far more than just a domestic helper. The twists and turns are expertly crafted, leading to a conclusion that left me both satisfied and pondering long after I closed the book. If you're looking for a compelling story filled with rich character development and unexpected surprises, don't miss this one!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Samantha Hayes, bravo! Oh wow….this book will keep you flipping the pages I promise! I gotta say a few times I felt my heart racing as I was reading a more dramatic scene! Samantha has written a twisty suspense book that slowly burns into a full fledge thriller. You know there’s going to be drama but you find yourself trying to figure out who, what, when, where, and realize you had it all wrong. So many thoughts and questions so if you’ve read Her Housekeeper message me so we can discuss.
After a fire burns down Gina and Matt’s house the two take their little family of four and move to Gina’s childhood friends luxury home. Anne is on a holiday and offers her home to her friends for however they need it. Gina is a mom to one active little boy and a brand new baby girl, so to say her hands are full is an understatement. A knock on the door produces a nice looking woman who says her name is Mary and she’s Anne’s full time housekeeper. Although Gina is thrilled to have some help she’s a little concerned Anne never mentioned Mary. A quick text confirms that yes, Mary is the housekeeper and she’s A-mazing! With Matt traveling and trying to rebuild their home Gina accepts that some help might be good.
But…..weird things start happening and Gina is pushed back to memories of a tragedy that happened in high school. Best friends that experienced the highs and the lows and swore to keep their biggest secret. Has this secret gotten out? Is Mary somehow involved or using this secret against them? How can Gina find out what’s going on without putting her family in danger? Or is it already too late……

Yet another brilliant book from Samantha Hayes. This one had me holding my breath in parts and up all night turning the pages.
Lots of twists and turns, a must read!

Quite an engrossing read that kept me guessing. This is packed with twists and red herrings. Overall an enjoyable thriller.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

Another 2.5 star read.

I'm always willing to suspend logic if it's a good thriller. This however, was not.

I felt the twist coming from almost the beginning of the book. The climax was beyond unbelievable and the characters all fell very flat. The second "twist" at the end made absolutely no sense nor was it expanded upon well enough to even try to make it fit in with the plot.

Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book nor will I be reading any more from this author.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for a copy of this ARC.

I found myself holding my breath through some of the more intense scenes. The suspense was perfectly executed from start to finish.

Samantha Hayes keeps getting better and better. There isn't a book by her that I've read and didn't like. I loved the way suspense was built up bit by bit. The story kept getting better and better and I could not read fast enough. I was scared of Mary myself! I totally was not expecting that ending! It felt like I couldn't breath right! Definitely recommend!

I love this author and I loved this book. This book had me guessing and I love that in a book. Highly recommend. One of my favorite books of hers so far.

Well… I thought I had figured this book out and had got the ending right but I was so far away from what it actually was! So many twists and turns that I just didn’t see coming!

Big thanks to Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Samantha Hayes writes clever, hooking and entertaining psychological melodramas and she puts the thrill in thriller.
Her Housekeeper is another to add to her ever growing list of memorable books.
Four friends share a teenage trauma when one of them dies.
Gina and Matt and their two young children continue to have bad luck.
Their house burnt down and they have no where to go.
Then best friend Annie suggests her mansion as she is away for some time.
So the family temporarily move in.
One day there’s a knock at the door and standing on the step is Mary, the housekeeper who works for Annie.
Gina texts Annie and the response is yes it’s all good go with it but soon Gina finds that Mary is a little strange and too friendly.
Suspicions grow and secrets are revealed, what is happening…
Gina is correct in being suspicious as Mary is here for revenge.
Why…..
This is a sharp, smart and twisty book full of surprises, tense moments and interesting situations.
Samantha has yet again created a compelling story with lots to enjoy and be shocked by.
A great ending and premise makes this tale a book worth reading.

Her Housekeeper by Samantha Hayes published by Bookouture on 11th November 2024

Book 119 of 2024

🖋4🌟review🖋
Samantha Hayes is one of my go to authors, I read the books knowing I am in for a great story.

This one interestingly is told from a variety of viewpoints, so you get to hear the inner voice and thoughts of the housekeeper, as well as the main character, Gina.

The plot is filled with intrigue, suspicion and action, being fast-paced and action packed. For me, however, there were certain parts of the story which stretched my imagination beyond its limits, appearing too unbelievable - either that or I’m a very suspicious person.

Having said that, I did enjoy the story, finding out what happened to the group of friends from so long ago, going back in time seeing how the story unfolded, then seeing the characters in the present.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! I wasn't a huge fan of this book but I wanted to be. I felt like the book was longer than it needed to be.

Another great book from Samantha Hayes. Twists galore and when you think you have it all worked out.............................. you are wrong. I loved this book.
Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC in return for an honest review

This thriller wasn't what I was expecting but it kept me wanting more with each turn of events.
There was some stuff were I knew what was gonna happen then others it was jaw dropping.

This is also the first book I have read with type 1 diabetes being involved and I appreciate how the author went about it and explained everything. I have family with it and it's not something easy to explain to others at times.

Omg this was an amazingly twisty psychological thriller. We get dueling points of view and clips from the past to help us understand who the characters really are. The more I read, the harder it was to put down. You may think you have things figured out but just wait. The twists keep coming. When I reached the end of the book I was thinking how amazing the book was, but it wasn’t over!!! There were more twists that had my mouth hanging open. I want to read everything this author has ever written now.

Samantha Hayes, an Amazon No.1 bestselling author, has written a gripping psychological thriller that kept my attention throughout. I suspected one twist, but was quite surprised with some of the twisted secrets some of the characters were hiding. I love this latest page-turner from Hayes!

Thank you, Samantha Hayes, Bookouture, & netgalley for my early gifted copy! All opinions are my own.