ARC Review: The Caretakers by Eliza Maxwell
In the isolated estate she’s found the perfect getaway. But there’s no escaping the past in this chilling novel from the bestselling author of The Unremembered Girl.
Filmmaker Tessa Shepherd helped free a man she believed was wrongly imprisoned for murder. When he kills again, Tessa’s life is upended.
She’s reeling with guilt, her reputation destroyed. Worse, Tessa’s mother has unexpectedly passed away, and her sister, Margot, turns on her after tensions from their past escalate. Hounded by a bullying press, Tessa needs an escape. That’s when she learns of a strange inheritance bequeathed by her mother: a derelict and isolated estate known as Fallbrook. It seems like the perfect refuge.
A crumbling monument to a gruesome history, the mansion has been abandoned by all but two elderly sisters retained as caretakers. They are also guardians of all its mysteries. As the house starts revealing its dark secrets, Tessa must face her fears and right the wrongs of her past to save herself and her relationship with Margot. But nothing and no one at Fallbrook are what they seem.
Filmmaker Tessa Shepherd helped free a man she believed was wrongly imprisoned for murder. When he kills again, Tessa’s life is upended.
She’s reeling with guilt, her reputation destroyed. Worse, Tessa’s mother has unexpectedly passed away, and her sister, Margot, turns on her after tensions from their past escalate. Hounded by a bullying press, Tessa needs an escape. That’s when she learns of a strange inheritance bequeathed by her mother: a derelict and isolated estate known as Fallbrook. It seems like the perfect refuge.
A crumbling monument to a gruesome history, the mansion has been abandoned by all but two elderly sisters retained as caretakers. They are also guardians of all its mysteries. As the house starts revealing its dark secrets, Tessa must face her fears and right the wrongs of her past to save herself and her relationship with Margot. But nothing and no one at Fallbrook are what they seem.
**ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
I have read every book that Eliza Maxwell has published, and I am a big fan of her stories. She just has a way with words and knows how to create a mysterious and creepy atmosphere. You can't help but be sucked in and try to figure out what is going on. I love stories that can keep me guessing until the end, and this was definitely the case with The Caretakers. The story is told from Tessa's, and the caretakers Deidre and Kitty's POV. I am going to be pretty vague with my review, because I don't want to spoil anything. I just want to say that nothing is as it seems. Make sure to keep track of all the small things. I loved discovering new things throughout the book, which had me changing my theories about what was going on. I loved the twists and turns, which of some really surprised me.
There is a lot going on in this book but everything fits really well together. There was no dull moment and I was hooked until the end. This book was heartbreaking but also heartwarming in a way. I loved seeing the main character Tessa find peace and mend her relationship with her sister. I also enjoyed seeing Tessa learn the truth about her family. The cover of this book is gorgeous, and it really fits with the vibe of the story. I highly recommend this book if you are intrigued with what you read in the blurb/my review, or if you have read books by this author before. I think Eliza did a great job with this book, and I already look forward to the next one.
Eliza Maxwell lives in Texas with a patient man, two impatient children and a bird named Sarah. When she's not working on her next novel, she stays busy trying to keep her children from some future therapist's chair.
You can reach her at theelizamaxwell@gmail.com.
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