Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Maid's Diary by Loreth Anne White Narrator: Jane Oppenheimer
Published by Brilliance Audio on March 1, 2023
Genres: Mystery
Length: 12 hours, 10 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible
Kit Darling is a maid with a snooping problem. She’s the “invisible girl,” compelled to poke into her wealthy clients’ closely guarded lives. It’s a harmless hobby until Kit sees something she can’t unsee in the home of her brand-new clients: a secret so dark it could destroy the privileged couple expecting their first child. This makes Kit dangerous to the couple. In turn, it makes the couple—who might kill to keep their secret—dangerous to Kit.
When homicide cop Mallory Van Alst is called to a scene at a luxury waterfront home known as the Glass House, she’s confronted with evidence of a violent attack so bloody it’s improbable the victim is alive. But there’s no body. The homeowners are gone. And their maid is missing. The only witness is the elderly woman next door, who woke to screams in the night. The neighbor was also the last person to see Kit Darling alive.
As Mal begins to uncover the secret that has sent the lives of everyone involved on a devious and inescapable collision course, she realizes that nothing is quite as it seems. And no one escapes their past.
Here are your unlikeable characters where it is hard to know who to champion. The Maid’s Diary spends more time in the character’s heads than with dialogue. We have the points of view of Kit Darling, the maid, the elderly woman next door, Mal, the police detective, Daisy, the pregnant wife, and John, the husband. So it is clear what they are thinking but that doesn’t mean they tell us the whole story or are reliable in their narration. The elderly woman next door is the only one I believe and she’s dying and on some heavy meds and considered unreliable.
Kit and the young couple knew each other in high school and it was not a good acquaintance. Kit was wronged and never really got justice. As a minor, others made her decisions, which may be different than her personal choices. She has made a good life for herself but now her tormentors are back in town.
Daisy and John are wealthy and privileged. They came back to start their family, close to Daisy’s parents, and for John to take a promotion for a new ski resort. Nothing goes quite as planned. John has never been exactly faithful and wow, is he entitled. Daisy is only a little better.
With information from past and present, things lead to a Halloween night murder. But nothing is what it seems in this twisty tale. I enjoyed the story and there is closure to the situation.
Narration:
I’ve listened to this narrator previously and enjoy her work. Her voices are easy to understand and appropriate for the characters. There is limited dialogue with most of the story in people’s heads. I listened comfortably at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Loreth Anne White
Loreth Anne White is an award-winning, bestselling author of romantic suspense, thrillers, and mysteries.
A three-time RITA finalist, she has also won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the Romantic Crown for Best Romantic Suspense and Best Book Overall, in addition to being a Booksellers’ Best finalist, a multiple Daphne Du Maurier Award finalist, and a multiple CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Award winner.
A former journalist and newspaper editor who has worked in both South Africa and Canada, she now resides in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest with her family. When she’s not writing, you will find her skiing, biking, or hiking the trails with her Black Dog.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 23-COYER
It seems like a lot of POVs to keep track of, but I guess it worked since you enjoyed the book!
It’s only 5 and the elderly woman was very limited. It’s like stated when it begins their chapter too. I did enjoy it.
Interesting! Sounds pretty good. Thanks for sharing 🙂
It’s a little crazy but I liked it.
I have this one on my list – I like twisty, but I also like dialog heavy books. I’m still going to give it a try since you rated it fairly highly. Thanks for the visit.
Terrie @ Bookshelf Journeys
Thank you Terrie. I enjoyed the twisty. I’ll be interested to see how you like it. I hope you enjoy it.
I’ve got this one on the stack for some point. I like how she writes her unreliable narrators.
yes I’m a big fan of this author. I hope you like it.
I have this one on my reading list. Glad to see you enjoyed it.
Thanks Nadene. I thought it was good and hope you enjoy it.
I enjoy a twisty tale, Anne. Lovely review. Thanks for putting it on my radar.
Thanks Kimberly. I enjoyed it.
Nice review, Anne. I enjoy it when a book has unreliable narrators
Thanks Wendy. I am not a fan of unreliable narrators but I am a fan of Loreth Anne White. This was a good and twisty.
Oh it looks interesting!
Things certainly went in unexpected directions.
I grabbed this one through Prime first reads as I enjoy Loreth Anne White’s mysteries. Sounds like Kit needs some justice? I hope she gets some. It does sound like a list of unlikable characters.
I liked it but it’s weird that I didn’t like Kit or root for her more.
I do really like Loreth Anne White, but I am getting tired of books with such unlikable characters!
you know I can’t disagree with that. It’s part of why I limit my psychological type thrillers. They are unlikeable but it’s seemingly more ambiguous. It’s easier to read a police procedural with the clearly bad guy serial killer.
I have not read this author before but I have a feeling that I would like this one.
I hope you get to try her work Carole. I’ve read a lot of her books and she’s a favorite.
This sounds really interesting. I sometimes struggle with books where the characters aren’t likeable, but this sounds like one I might actually like. Great review!
Thank you Suzanne. There are plenty of people who just look the other way rather than get involved for many reasons including not wanting to be a target of bullying themselves (in high school). There’s also the idea that mental suffering is harder to prove than a gunshot for example. But I wasn’t sorry to see a guy who took advantage of his looks and sports skills to use women to be held accountable.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on The Maid’s Diary by Loreth Anne White. The premise of a maid with a snooping problem stumbling upon a dangerous secret sounds like an intriguing mystery. I’m curious to know if the audiobook narration by Jane Oppenheimer added to the suspenseful atmosphere of the story. Have you listened to any other audiobooks narrated by her?
yes and yes. I believe the narration added to the emotional aspect of the character’s feelings. I have listened to her in other works including Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn and some of the Widow’s Island series by Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot.
“Halloween night murder”! Sounds like a goodie.
I’m surprised more murders don’t happen on Halloween with it being easy to hide who you are in costumes and all.