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Title details for The Housekeeper by Joy Fielding - Available

The Housekeeper

A Novel

by Joy Fielding
Finlay Stevenson
Audiobook
1 of 2 copies available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
1 of 2 copies available
A woman hires a housekeeper to care for her aging parents—only to watch as she takes over their lives in this riveting novel from the New York Times bestselling author Samantha M. Bailey calls “an ingenious master of domestic suspense.”
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Reader’s Digest
In the end, I have only myself to blame. I’m the one who let her in.
Jodi Bishop knows success. She’s the breadwinner, a top-notch real estate agent. Her husband, Harrison . . . not so much. Once, he had big dreams. But now, he’s a middling writer who resents his wife’s success.
Jodi’s father, Vic, now in his late seventies and retired, is a very controlling man. His wife, Audrey, was herself no shrinking violet. But things changed when Audrey developed Parkinson’s ten years ago and Vic retired to devote himself to her care. But while still reasonably spry and rakishly handsome, Vic is worn down by his wife’s deteriorating condition.
Exhausted from trying to balance her career, her family, and her parents’ needs, Jodi starts interviewing housekeepers to help care for Audrey and Vic. She settles on Elyse Woodley, an energetic and attractive widow in her early sixties, who seems perfect for the job. While Vic is initially resistant, he soon warms to Elyse’s sunny personality and engaging ways.
And Jodi is pleased to have an ally, someone she can talk to and occasionally even confide in. Until . . .
She shuts Jodi out. And Audrey’s condition worsens—rapidly. Who is this woman suddenly wearing her mother’s jewelry? What is she after? And how far will she go to get it?

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    August 16, 2022

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780593587744
      • File size: 317946 KB
      • Duration: 11:02:23

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      June 20, 2022
      Toronto real estate broker Jodi Bishop, the narrator of this engrossing psychological thriller from bestseller Fielding (Cul-De-Sac), has a lot to worry about. Jodi’s husband, a onetime literary sensation whose second novel has been stalled for years, takes his writing too seriously to care for their children. Her parents, Vic and Audrey Dundas, are overwhelmed by Audrey’s advanced Parkinson’s disease. When Audrey suffers a dangerous fall, Jodi overrides her father’s objections and hires a live-in housekeeper. Interviewing Elyse Woodley after several lackluster candidates, Jodi ignores her sense that the vibrant 62-year-old widow seems too good to be true. Elyse promptly charms Vic and gets the Dundas household organized, freeing Jodi to focus on her embattled marriage and busy career. Then Audrey’s health fails precipitously while Elyse begins wearing Audrey’s expensive Cartier watch and limiting Jodi’s access to her parents. Unsure whether these are warning signs or coincidences, Jodi tries to ensure her parents’ safety without overriding their wishes. Though this isn’t Fielding’s most inventive plot, her well-wrought characters carry the story. This insightful exploration of the complexities of caring for aging relatives deserves a wide readership. Agent: Tracy Fisher, WME.

    • Library Journal

      June 10, 2024

      As Jodi's mother faces her final battle with Parkinson's, balancing her parents' needs with her family and career becomes too much. Disrespected by her family and desperate for help, Jodi interviews candidates to step in as housekeeper and health aide. When the practically perfect Elyse comes along, with knowledge of degenerative diseases and a seemingly genuine kindness and compassion, Jodi can't hire her fast enough. Things take a dark turn, however, as Elyse gets a little too friendly with Jodi's father and a little too comfortable "borrowing" jewelry and clothing from Jodi's ailing mother. Too late, Jodi remembers what they say about things that seem too good to be true. Fielding (All the Wrong Places; The Bad Daughter) has created a compelling, character-driven story full of secrets and suspense. Cliffhangers and foreshadowing keep the narrative fast-paced, while narrator Finlay Stevenson enhances the unsettling atmosphere with tones varying from fragile to frantic. VERDICT This audio will appeal to listeners looking for an intricately plotted psychological suspense where nothing is as it seems and betrayal abounds. Recommended for fans of Lisa Scottoline, Tarryn Fisher, and David Bell.--Lauren Hackert

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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