Description
Housemaid wanted.
Skills required: Discretion, and the willingness to go the extra mile.
It seems like the perfect job. Great wages, accommodation provided, and all located within the walls of Highwood Hall, a stunning stately home owned by the Howard family. Not many little girls dream of becoming a maid, but this is an opportunity for me to get back on my feet. And for me to revisit my past…
But I soon realise I’ve made a mistake. The strict housekeeper, Mrs Huxley, watches my every move, emerging from the shadows when least expected. Lord Howard’s son, Alex, takes an interest in me, and as a former addict, I find myself drawn to him because I know he’s bad for me. There’s a general atmosphere of unease at Highwood Hall, from the narrow tunnels laced throughout the sprawling house, to the abandoned north wing, rumoured to be haunted. It’s easy to imagine the secrets hidden within these walls, like the secrets I hold close.
On my first day, I receive a mysterious package. I open up the pretty gift box to find a miniature doll version of me trapped inside a dollhouse. In this scene I’m dead, lying in a pool of red paint at the bottom of the perfectly recreated staircase. Someone sent this threatening diorama to me, but who even knows I work at the hall? And what do they want?
I know only one truth: my perfect job is turning into my perfect nightmare.
About the author
Sarah A. Denzil is a British suspense writer from Derbyshire. Her books include SILENT CHILD, which has topped the kindle charts in the UK and Australia, as well as being a top ten Amazon bestseller in the US. SAVING APRIL and THE BROKEN ONES are both top thirty bestsellers in the US and UK Amazon charts.
Sarah lives in Yorkshire with her partner, enjoying the scenic countryside and rather unpredictable weather. She loves to write moody, psychological books about ordinary people in extraordinary situations.
Find out more at: http://www.sarahdenzil.com/
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Email: sarah@sarahdenzil.com
Writing as Sarah Dalton – http://www.sarahdaltonbooks.com/
My thoughts
I’ve lost hours being absolutely gripped by this fab book. Emily’s desperate position in taking the job at Highwood Hall gave me the shivers. Every turn in that house felt like a sinister one, like the walls were trying to tell a story.
I loved how well this book flowed, making it impossible to put down. Then came the creepy packages and the eccentric, weird family. Head housekeeper, Mrs Huxley gave me the chills too. I really enjoyed the relationship between Emily and Siobhan and the way in which they confided in each other.
What is there not to be entranced by when it comes to this book? It has everything. A large house with a maze of rooms and passageways, a cast of characters whose depths reach the Earth’s core and a vulnerable young woman who is trying to seek the truth of her past.
It’s a psych thriller and a half!
Thanks for reading!
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