The housekeepers A novel

Hay's debut features an Ocean's 11--style heist set in London in the early 1900s, carried out by an all-female gang of thieves. The women have all been servants for the über-wealthy Wilhelm de Vries in his very large, very vulgar mansion on Park Lane. Now he's dead, and, though she's officially still in mourning, his headstrong daughter has decided to hold a lavish ball to impress Lord Ashley, the man she's determined to marry. The intrepid Mrs. King sees the night of the ball as a perfect opportunity to steal everything from the de Vries mansion--priceless artwork, carpets, curtains, furniture, books--and sell it for a fortune. Enlisting the help of a ragtag band of de Vries' former servants, Mrs. King plans the robbery down to the tiniest detail. But of course, things don't go completely according to plan. This wonderfully inventive story paints an authentic portrait of London society in the early 1900s and is full of shocking secrets, suspense, hidden identities, flamboyant characters, and subtle humor; there's even an unexpectedly satisfying ending. Fans of historical fiction, strong female characters, and twisty, pacy thrillers will love it.

In Hay's glittering debut, a former housekeeper in Edwardian London embarks on an ambitious plan to burgle the mansion where she used to work. Assisting Dinah King in robbing the de Vries house, home of Dinah's late employer Wilhelm, are Winnie Smith, Dinah's predecessor and close confidante; Mrs. Bone, a black-market trader and Dinah's mentor in crime; a pair of circus performers each named Jane; and servants Hephzibah Grandcourt and Alice Parker, the latter of whom still works in the house. The crew hatches a scheme to rob the house on the same night Wilhelm's daughter plans to hold the biggest ball of the season there. What initially appears to be an act of revenge against Dinah's former employer evolves into a multifaceted tale of individual desires, social machinations, and the reckoning for long-buried secrets. Hay spins a remarkable yarn of daring and defiance, and gleefully piles on one outrageous event after another over the course of the party, involving both thieves and guests. Though the hijinks require a broad suspension of disbelief, readers will delight in the shenanigans. This lighthearted romp is a treat. (July)