The story follows Ruby May who is hired as a nurse/governess for the four children of a rich cotton mill owner in a remote Yorkshire town. Used to caring for the children of rich Londoners, Ruby is startled at the lax rules in the England household and the familial dysfunction - most notably, the unorthodox roles of the parents with Mr. England lavishing his attention on his children while his wife remains aloof and uninterested in them, spending much of her time behind the closed door of her bedroom suite.
The strength in this book is three-fold - its mysterious Gothic setting, the menacing feel surrounding the England family and the strength of Ruby's character. I loved Ruby's determination and capability as a children's nurse and the secrets from her past add to the mystery, but unfortunately, her story isn't woven into the main thread, leaving readers to wait until close to the end of the story to learn what they are. The pacing is slow but deliciously eerie, my only beef is that a romantic element felt too forced to be believable.
The perfect read for a rainy evening, Mrs. England is a compelling, well-written slow-burn mystery that invites the reader to immerse themselves into a different time, place, and a group of characters whose secrets will soon have the reader second-guessing what's going on. When the twists are revealed, they suited the story well, and while they didn't come as a surprise to this reader, I definitely enjoyed the journey. This was my first book by Stacey Halls, but it will not be my last.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to MIRA Books for the advanced copy of this book provided in exchange for my honest review.
My Rating: 4 stars
Author: Stacey Halls
Genre: Gothic, Suspense
Type and Source: Trade Paperback from publisher
Publisher: MIRA Books
First Published: April 12, 2022
Opening Line: The woods at night were far from silent.
Book Description from GoodReads: Simmering with slow-burning menace, Mrs. England is a portrait of an Edwardian marriage, an enthralling tale of men and women, power and control, courage, truth and the very darkest deception.
West Yorkshire, 1904. When recently graduated Ruby May takes a nanny position looking after the children of Charles and Lilian England, a wealthy couple from a powerful dynasty of mill owners, she hopes it will be the fresh start she needs. But as she adapts to life at the isolated Hardcastle House, it becomes clear something is not quite right about the beautiful, mysterious Mrs. England.
Distant and withdrawn, Lilian shows little interest in her children or charming husband and is far from the angel of the house Ruby was expecting.
As the warm, vivacious Charles welcomes Ruby into the family, a series of strange events forces her to question everything she thought she knew. Ostracized by the servants and increasingly uneasy, Ruby must face her own demons in order to prevent history from repeating itself. After all, there's no such thing as the perfect family—she should know.
This captivating new feminist novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Stacey Halls is her third work of fiction and proves her one of the most exciting and compelling new storytellers of our time.
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