Secrets buried and dug up are woven deep within this novel.  It was an enjoyable, quick read, which held my attention!  I'd recommend!  Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my review copy.

A story about the bond between sisters, young, old and inbetween. A story about what a sister would do when her sister's life is on the line. I found this story to be quite moving. I never had a sister but this book makes me wish I had. A real page turner. I thought it was great. I want a copy in all formats. Eliza Maxwell captured a true, loving, yet complicated bond between sisters.

This haunting story centers on Tessa and Margot, two estranged twin sisters who have suffered for years due to a misunderstanding. Tessa, a documentary filmmaker, helps free an innocent (in her opinion) man from prison.  Once he's released, he kills again.  Wracked with guilt, along with grief from her mother's sudden passing and the sadness from the estrangement of her sister, she escapes to Fallbrook, a creepy, dilapidated mansion she inherits from her mother.  Two elderly caretakers add to the mystery and history of the mansion.  
This was not my normal genre with more of a historical fiction feel, but I loved it!  The author did a wonderful job with descriptions, making me feel like I was there every step of the way.  
Thanks to Eliza Maxwell, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

#TheCaretakers #NetGalley

This book is for the most part about two pairs of sisters: Tessa and Margot Shepard, and Deirdre and Kitty Donnelly. The story pulled me in initially after Tessa, a filmmaker, makes a film about a man, Oliver, who was wrongly convicted of murder, and spent over a decade in prison due to police mishandling of the case. Her film resulted in the man getting released from prison. A police chief, DI Winters, has always believed he put away the right man. Eighteen months later, Oliver tapes a video stating he has kidnapped and killed the DI's daughter Valerie Winters. This leaves Tessa questioning whether Oliver really was wrongly convicted, our did her film result in setting a murderer free?

The reader is also introduced to elderly sisters Deirdre And Kitty, the caretakers of Fallbrook estate. I initially wondered how they fit into the story.  Then, Tessa's and Margot's mother dies and editing the reading of the will we find out that their mother owns Fallbrook estate. At this point what began slowly starts picking up. How do these pairs of sisters stories relate? You will have to read it for yourself!

I liked this book and found that it flowed nicely, however I questioned whether I was going to like it or not.  My patience really payed off nicely in the end. Most of my questions were answered!  I thought I had figured things out at several points in the book, but I was pleasantly surprised when I didn't!

I would recommend this book to fiction and mystery readers!  I would like to thank the publisher for an ARC of this novel!

This was such a great read, enjoyed it thoroughly, i was hooked from the first page, great storyline and loads of twists and turns , highly recommend this book x

This book was really good!  My mouth was dropped at the end. not what I expected at all!  Very well written I read it in only a few hours. I loved it!
#TheCaretakers #NetGalley

Tessa Shepherd helps free a man she thinks has been wrongly accused. But later on, she had to pay for her decision. He actually murders someone again! Now what? Guilt ridden, Tessa must do something. The world won't let her rest. After all, if it wasn't for her, none of this would have happened. Quite an atmospheric read! Can't wait to read other books by this author. Does a perfect job at building a very sinister atmosphere.

Too surface level. There were so many different subplots that the author couldn’t really dive into any one of them. I wanted this to be about the family at Falwell and the murders that happened but it just wasn’t really.

This thriller started out fast-paced but quickly loses steam.  The story spins out in too many different directions and there are too many sub-plots to keep track of.  An old house, squabbling sisters, a man wrongly accused of murder who is released and then actually commits a murder, ancient caretakers with secrets of their own .... just too much going on.  Although I finished it, by the end of the story unfortunately I was not all that interested in what ultimately happens.  This book just didn't do it for me.

This is a book I recommend for those people who like stories full of mystery and a captivating setting.

* Digital version of the book received by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review *

I've not read any of Eliza Maxwell's book before so I went into this with an open mind and looking forward to a good thriller. I was not disappointed. 
Tessa Shepard retreats to an estate left to her by her mother when her life starts falling down around her. But the inheritance isn't all it seems. The plot weaves two stories cleverly, Chilling and well written story of love and loss and mistakes. 
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC read. 
Five stars!!

Full review appears exclusively print in Fangoria magazine. PDFs of said review were sent directly to the publisher and/or author.

A book that wields a tale mixing past and present - this book turned out being a quick and satisfying read.

Toward the end the characters and their motives jumble momentarily and prevent me from giving this five stars.

Isolated estates, tense family relationships and true crime documentaries. Nothing could be more perfect. I also adored the cover of The Caretakers which looks exactly like a still from one of Tessa Shepherd's films. Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

True crime documentaries have seen a major surge in popularity over the last few years, starting with Netflix's bombshell Making a Murderer in 2015.  Many of these documentaries are thrilling, shocking and emotive, meant to take their audience on a journey to a very specific point. In some cases it is to prove innocence, in others to put the system itself on trial. For all of them, however, there is a clear narrative arc that has to end somewhere. Often you can't help but wonder what comes next. What about the rest of these people's lives. Are they happy now or have the years in prison or on trial been too much? What about the families of the victims? Are they happy now that someone is behind bars or, in the days after, does it begin to feel like less of a victory? As the popularity of these types of films has grown, so have think pieces on their benefits and downsides. An audience is easy to excite but will also drop its latest hero as soon as a new one comes along. What does this mean for those whose lives have been laid bare? It's a very interesting choice by Eliza Maxwell to make this a part of her novel and although she can't provide all the answers, it might allow true crime fans a chance to think it over themselves.

Tessa Shepherd has helped free an innocent man, Oliver. She is riding the waves of success, even if her family life is still messy and anxiety waits for her around every corner. That is until Oliver seemingly goes on a violent rampage, implicating her, and her mother unexpectedly dies. Now she has to not only face her twin sister, but also confront the interest of the media and police and her own family's past. It's a lot for one woman to shoulder but as she begins to unravel she also begins to discover the truth. I found Tessa to be a great protagonist. Her eye for a story, for a way to frame a scene, adds a lovely, meta-esque layer to The Caretakers that makes us consider how we look at things. Although The Caretakers is fast-paced, Maxwell takes the time to let the story's emotional beats resonate with the reader. Most fascinating was the relationship between Tessa and her sister, Margot, as well as the two sisters who act as caretakers, which is captured in glances, gestures and the venomous language only two sisters can unleash on each other.

This is my first book by Eliza Maxwell but I was completely engrossed in The Caretakers. I read it within an evening, fully aware I had work in the morning but unwilling to stop reading. Maxwell brings both Suspense and a sense of Magical Realism to her novel, which intertwine beautifully. The descriptions of Fallbrook, the crumbling estate with a secret, were stunning and allow both the reader and Tessa a little escape from the stress of the outside world. Maxwell also approaches both Oliver's case and Tessa's mental health with the right care and awareness, thereby avoiding a sense of sensationalism or exploitation of such personal topics. The twists and turns come fast in the last quarter of The Caretakers, making for a thrilling finale which feels earned. I saw some of them coming while others felt like a surprise. Maxwell ends her novel with a note of unease, which I myself very much enjoyed. Although books, like true crime documentaries, do come to an end, that doesn't always mean the whole story has been told. 

I blazed right through The Caretakers and still find myself thinking about Fallbrook and its lushes woods and dark history. Maxwell has written a fast-paced, thrilling suspense novel perfect for fans of true crime and those with a love for Magical Realism.

I have read and loved this author’s work before and this one is no exception. It’s my new favorite.

Told from two time lines. I love books that do that. This book is intense, emotional and a page turner. One you will love from start to finish. It has all the feels for you. A drama/thriller/women’s fiction at it’s very best. 

Well developed and likable characters. Great descriptions that make you feel like you are right there. Kept me on edge in many places. I enjoyed this book so much and think it’s the author’s best work yet. 

Thank you to #NetGalley, #ElizaMaxwell, #LakeUnion for this ARC. This is my own review.

A 5 star and highest recommendation..

***Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing!***

I was not sure that I was going to like this one when I first started it. I liked Tessa as the narrating character but the story just didn’t grab me at first. Tessa was so real. She had flaws and had made mistakes, she was open with these things and wanted to escape from it. I like characters that feel like real people and Tessa did. This book weaves three different stories that all center on the idea of justice, family and the damage that the past can do to the present.

The first storyline is of Oliver Barlowe. Tessa did a documentary about his conviction for rape and murder. She didn’t go into the project with any particular agenda but along the way she began to believe that Oliver was innocent. And so the documentary ended up leading to a new trial where he was released. But then, a year or so later, he kidnaps and murders the daughter of the police chief. There’s no doubt he did it this time because he made a video admitting it. This throws Tessa into an unwelcome spotlight as she has to examine whether or not she was wrong the first time. And even if she wasn’t wrong about his innocence then, she can’t deny that he’s a murderer now.

Then we have the story of Tessa and her sister Margo. Something really terrible happened when they were newly college-aged that yanked Tessa out of her sister’s life. The death of their mother forces the two of them to confront that past and the reasons why neither one reached out to bridge the gap.

Finally, we have the story of the forgotten family homestead. Again it is a place where awful things have happened. Things that just about everyone would love to forget. But when Tessa runs there to hide from public pressure about Oliver, she can’t resist pressing into the history and trying to find out the truth.

At first, I wasn’t in love with the story about Fallbrook. I kept hoping we’d hear more about Oliver instead, but in the end that story won me over. It chilled me, it touched me, and then it shocked me. Similarly the story of Tessa and her sister. At first I didn’t really care and thought it didn’t belong in the book at all. But as the book went on I was drawn into the tale and it took on a much greater significance to the overall story.

I read the last 140 pages of this book in one sitting. I was so entranced by it that I simply couldn’t put it down. I loved how the three storylines ended up coming together and each one was given more gravity and significance together than it did on its own. I loved it.

What They Say.....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.



What I Say....This was a book that felt pretty timely in our current world.  True crime is one of my favorite genres and there are so many great documentaries, podcasts, and news stories out there.  It was interesting to read a book where the main character is the creator of this type of entertainment.

There were a lot of interesting twists and turns in this book.  Tessa has an uneasy relationship with her sister for unshared reasons, but they now have a home left to them by their estranged mother.

Tess helps to free a man she believes was wrongfully accused of murder.  But once he's out, Tess moves onto her next project and loses touch with him.  It's interesting to see the impact of a man who was wrongfully accused trying to reacclimate to the world that has moved on from him, trying to catch up to all of his missing years - unsuccessfully.  This pressure leads him to kill again and Tessa is devastated.  She wants nothing more than to escape.

But Tessa doesn't have anywhere to go.  She's not speaking to her sister - or rather, her sister isn't speaking to her, and her mother has died.  But when they find out their mother was adopted and has now left them a crumbling creepy house, it seems like the perfect place to escape to.  

Of course what crumbling house with a murderous past would be complete without two creepy sisters who are the caretakers?  Deidre and Kitty live in a cabin on the property, and are just spooky enough to both scare and comfort Tess.

I always love the past-present style of writing, but in this book, I liked the story of the past much more than the story of the present.  That was much more interesting than the bickering between Margot and Tessa.  Overall, I give this book four stars - the gothic past was just much more interesting than the present.

Tessa is a filmmaker who helped exonerate a convicted murderer that she believed had been wrongly accused. Things turn haywire after the ex-convict is suspected of another murder. Needless to say, a lot of people are angry at Tessa. On the other hand, she is battling with the guilt of possibly having helped a dangerous criminal. This is what led her to the derelict property that she inherited from her mother. Although the property has Caretakers, it stands in neglect and holds secrets that threaten everyone around it.

This story is narrated in two timelines. I was intrigued by Tessa’s story and the ex-convict. On the other hand, the second timeline held secrets of the house from decades ago. At first, I struggled to keep track of this story-line and the many characters but soon, I found myself completely immersed in the past. The Caretakers, two old women in their 80s who were hiding decades old secrets, fascinated me.

This was an atmospheric read. The old, crumbling property with its secrets added a gothic vibe. At some point, I expected a lady in white to start floating down the stairs. I couldn’t believe that Tessa wanted to stay in that house. This setting definitely did add to the heaviness that loomed over the narrative creating a foreboding feeling.

This is a story about secrets, lies, betrayal, estranged families. At times, it felt like there was a lot going on in the story. Luckily, it never got confusing and the pieces of the puzzle eventually all slid into place. Definitely recommended to fans of atmospheric thrillers.

Sisters! If you’ve got one, you know what I’m talking about. As for me, I ruined mine’s life when I was born. She continually tried to get rid of me. Seriously. Locked me in the refrigerator back in the olden days when they locked when closed (you couldn’t just push them open from the inside). Apparently, I fit inside perfectly. She pushed me down a hill in a cardboard box into rush hour traffic. Told me Indians were in the barn and waiting for darkness to come scalp me. Anyway, you get the point. Sisters can be huge pains in the you know what. 

Don’t want to lead you astray. This book is not a comedy. Sisters can be many things.

Tessa Shepherd has just made a mistake. A big one. She filmed a documentary about a murderer who was wrongly accused. After her film helps to get him released, he kidnaps the daughter of the police officer who convicted him and implies that Tessa knew the plan all along. She is hounded by the press but cannot call the one person she needs to share her side of the story with… her twin sister. They have not spoken in years.

Tessa’s mother dies suddenly. During the reading of the will, she and her sister find that their Mother was not who they thought she was. They now own a once beautiful, magnificent home that is now ruined and decaying.  A home where her Mother’s entire family was murdered when she was just a baby. 

In an attempt to hide from the press and the murderer, Tessa goes there only to find that the caretakers are two elderly sisters. One of them does not want her there and they don’t seem to be telling Tessa the truth about her family. Tessa vows to get to the bottom of the story, but will she be able to find the truth about her family before time runs out?

“The Caretakers” was a great story that blended old, family secrets with new ones and had a touch of the supernatural. Great imagery of the old house, forest and care taker’s cottage. It had some good twists and turns while getting to the end.

Oh, and by the way, it’s all good now. We laugh about my sister’s attempts to strike me from her life. She is my best friend. 

Publication Date: April 14, 2020
Genre: Suspense, Mystery, Psychological Thrillers, Kidnapping, Family Secrets, Supernatural
Cover: Perfect
Rating: 4 stars
Source:  I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book!
#TheCaretakers #NetGalley

I hadn't read any Eliza Maxwell book before this one so I had no clue what to expect. But knowing how much I love thrillers something told me I would love this and so I did. I would recommend this one to everybody who enjoys thrillers. For some reason, I don't really know why I just loved the cover of this book. I kind of judged the book by its cover while requesting for it, which I know is bad, but I'm glad I did for this one.