Book synopsis
1765.
London.
Young Hannah Hubert may be the granddaughter of a French merchant and the daughter of a Spitalfields silk weaver, but she has come down in the world.
Sent one spring day as maidservant to a disgraced aristocrat, she finds herself in a house full of mysteries – with a locked room and strange auctions being held behind closed doors.
As a servant, she has little power but – unknown to her employers – she can read. And it is only when she uses her education to uncover the secrets of the house, that she realises the peril she is in.
Hannah is unable to turn to the other servant, Peg, who is clearly terrified of their employers and keeps warning her to find alternative work.
But help might come from Thomas, the taciturn farmer delivering milk to the neighbourhood, or from Jack Twyford, a friendly young man apprenticed to his uncle’s bookselling business. Yet Thomas is still grieving for his late wife – and can she trust Jack, since his uncle is one of her master’s associates?
Hannah soon discovers damning evidence she cannot ignore.
She must act alone, but at what price?
Maggie Richell-Davies was born in Newcastle and has a first-class honours degree from the Open University. She lives in Kent with her husband. The Servant is her first novel.
If you wish to purchase this book here is the link https://www.amazon.co.uk/Servant-Maggie-Richell-Davies
My review
Wow what a book! I was totally engrossed in this book and transported back to the times of the 1700’s. I loved the characters in this book Hannah had such a hard life and we go through all of the emotions with her and find out what she’s thinking during these dark and terrible times she has to face. I loved how I was thrown into this time and I loved the ending. I loved end note telling us why the book was wrote in the first place.
Talking of workhouses and what happened in them resonated with me as I grew up across the road from Gressenhall rural life museum which was a originally a workhouse.
I would love to read a follow on from this story! Yes, I loved it that much.
Disclaimer – Thank you to the Author Maggie Richell-Davies for sending me a gifted copy of this book for an honest review.