The Book of COVENTRY (A City In Short Fiction)
Mystery set in 1905 Mayfair, LONDON
28th April 2023
The House Keepers by Alex Hay, mystery set in 1905 Mayfair, London.
In the Author’s Note, Alex Hay sets his story in context. The early 20th Century was a time to gorge on a great dollop of luxury before war raised its ugly head. It was also the period when Emmeline Pankhurst was active and revolution in Russia was brewing, so it felt like a quite heady period; politically tumultuous times are a perfect choice in which to set a novel.
The author has created a large house, based on extraordinary houses, long since gone to make way for the swanky Dorchester Hotel on Park Lane. There is marble and finery, a wealth of jewels and paintings, and all the traditional trappings associated with the wealthy of the era, all beyond the imaginations of mere mortals. The house belongs to the de Vries family and Mr de Vries has recently passed away, leaving Miss de Vries to keep the household running smoothly. Her first venture is to hold a costumed ball, a very inappropriate event to be scheduled so soon after his death. But the rich, the famous, the lords and ladies of the realm and even royalty are all expected to descend on the fateful evening of 26th June, 1905.
Mrs King the house keeper finds herself fired for entering male quarters and soon she is rabble-rousing her team of nifty grifters. She turns to Mrs Bone, a shrewd hustler, and then to Hephizibah Grandcourt for her dilettante acting abilities and to the two Janes, stars of the trapeze. It’s a motley crew of women, relishing the challenge of a big heist, as much as the reward. The novel counts down the days to the grand ball, as they finesse their strategies and deal with hiccups along the way. Will they succeed in plundering the riches, whilst the elite citizens are schmoozing and carousing elsewhere in the house?
The author evokes the early Edwardian era very well, and often through a profound sense of smells – often rank and odiferous. The characters are colourful and they fit right into their environment, whether tramping through the squalor of the streets or being sufficiently obsequious and solicitous to Park Lane posh people as they go about finalising their dastardly plan.
An unusual read that reminds the reader of the TV series Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey, Oceans 8 and the novel Fingersmith (get your head around all those comparisons in one novel!).
Tina for the TripFiction Team
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