Set in 1878 Harriet, a young maid has taken work at Finton hall after her past employer passed away. Harriet finds herself drawn into the enigmatic world of Finton Hall, where secrets lurk behind its grand façade. As Harriet uncovers the unsettling truths concealed within the household, she forms an unlikely bond with her mistress, Clara Gethin, leading to a friendship that defies social norms.

The portrayal of characters, from the curious Lady Berrington to the cruel Mrs. Clarkson, is well executed, breathing life into the story. The is a compelling tale of intrigue, friendship, and resilience, skillfully weaving together gothic historical context and vivid storytelling to captivate readers until the very end.


The narration, characterised by excellent accents and distinct voices for each character, enhances the immersive experience of the story.

A brilliant addition to the gothic tradition. This genre doesn't usually fall under my interests, but I saw enough hype for this book that I had to check it out!

Musson creates an incredible atmosphere filled with tension and intrigue, told through the questionable narrator's perspective, which leaves you guessing as to the twists and turns right up to the final page. I had no clue what to expect at any given opportunity and was kept page-turning, on my toes the whole time.

The narrator of the audiobook does a brilliant job of subsuming the reader in the main character's voice through their acting - I would definitely recommend reading the book this way if given the chance! Especially as the book is told in diary format, it adds another layer to the experience to have the book told to you in a singular voice.

This was such a good book. I felt thoroughly ill at ease throughout, and the excellent narration by Ashley Tucker, Harriet Carmichael and Elliot Fitzgerald added to that. Victorian society is always portrayed as being very primitive and proper and on the surface, the Gethins are. But dig a little deeper and there are a lot of frightening things going on in this house.

Ralph Gethin MP, owner of the house, isn’t at all what he seems, and there’s a simple explanation why all of the staff are so attractive.

Clara Gethin’s attitude towards her baby did puzzle me, though. It’s understandable that she doesn’t like her husband and what he and his friends get up to, but why she should distance herself from her baby seemed to be out of character. There would (to me) always be the hope that Clara could influence her sons attitudes towards the staff and those less fortunate and make him less swayed by his father.

Harriet’s diary entries are a really good way of showing just how claustrophobic life as a servant could be: in one house all day, every day, not even able to get fresh air in the grounds, not really able to form friendships. It sounds awful.

This was a gripping listen, made more impactful by the different narrators. I didn’t want to stop listening!

I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.

Another case of "it's not you, it's probably not me, it's just that we don't work well together". I think part of why this wasn't a standout for me is because my expectations for the story and what the book actually was failed to match up. I wanted something more gothic, eerie and haunting (in a more literal, perhaps supernatural way), but what this actually stood out through was the strong voice of a working class girl forced to live at the whims of her enigmatic and erratic employers in order to live a life closer to what she wants for herself. It was stronger in its stark historical realism than any haunting gothic elements for me, which is fine, but not quite what I was expecting.
I'd mostly recommend this to lovers of realist historical fiction, and think this would be a standout for many people as long as they have the correct expectations for it.

Extra points for the audio narration, though, which really brought this to life and kept me reading.

Question marks are cannily shaped. They caught me with their hooks.

Prepare to behold The Beholders. What an incredible book. I was drawn in from the very start, and am still feeling long after finishing the book.

The story is told through journal entries, which made the protagonist Harriet come that much more to life. She was a brilliant FMC who felt very authentic, both lovable and flawed. She is caught in a tangled web of confusion and deceit and unravelling the story from her perspective elevated it so much more than any other point of view could. The narrative is fast-paced right up until the very last second, and the ending is wholly satisfying. One thing I love in books is when a setting becomes a character of its own, and that definitely occurred here.

The audiobook narration was fantastic and really heightened my reading experience. I’m so glad I got to read this one this way as it really added layers of tension.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an Audio ARC. All opinions are my own.

‘Some houses are haunted by the living’ - cover tagline.

My thanks to HarperCollins U.K. Audio Fourth Estate for a review copy via NetGalley of the unabridged audiobook edition of ‘The Beholders’ by Hester Musson. The audiobook was narrated by Ashley Tucker, Harriet Carmichael, and Elliot Fitzpatrick.

This debut novel is a Victorian Gothic mystery that focuses upon a sensational crime.

In June, 1878 the body of a five month old boy is pulled from the River Thames. It is suspected to be the beloved missing child of the widely admired Liberal MP Ralph Gethin. On trial at the Old Bailey is his wife, Clara Gethin, indicted for his murder. During testimony a commotion breaks out in the public gallery caused by a young woman.

After this dramatic opening the story moves back four months as Harriet Watkins comes to work at Finton Hall, initially as a housemaid. She is quickly entranced by the grand country house and by her glamorous mistress, Clara Gethin. Yet Clara’s behaviour is quite erratic and her husband, a highly regarded politician, is often absent.

Harriet’s curiosity gets the better of her and she sets out to discover the secrets of the family. She becomes closer to Clara, becoming her lady’s maid and confidant. When Harriet uncovers a shocking truth, it sets in motion a chain of events. No further details to avoid spoilers.

One of the devices used by Hester Musson is to have Harriet confide her thoughts to a diary as well as the occasional report from the police investigation and the trial.

It is quite a slow burn of a novel building up its characters as well as the setting of Finton Hall, which is full of dark crooks and crannies and exotic objects that fascinate the unworldly Harriet. We encounter Clara and her husband through her eyes.

With respect to the audiobook, while there are three narrators, it is Ashley Tucker who takes the lead voicing Harriet. I felt that she did well in embodying the character’s initial naïveté and her growing confidence as time passes.

Overall, I was impressed with ‘The Beholders’ feeling that it was an atmospheric Gothic mystery that sought to explore the more sinister side of Victorian society. It was a promising debut and I shall be looking out for her future projects.

I think this was a fantastic story made by the audio - the narrator of Harriet was outstanding, making this story so easy to listen to - I really felt like Harriet was telling me the story directly and her character was filled with such expression that it made this story so engaging.

The gothic elements of this story was top notch and the dark premise of the narrative was compelling. There were twists and turns a plenty with some really surprising reveals.

A great and engaging mystery that I’ll absolutely recommend

Actual rating 4.5.

So this was probably one of my biggest surprises recently - I’d fallen out of love with gothic novels a bit and assumed this would be one, but I actually ended up loving it! Whilst there are gothic vibes with the big old house and dark goings on in it, it felt like far more of a great mystery and also a bit adventurous!

It does cover some seriously dark material, like child death and sexual assault, so do be careful going in. But I found it utterly compelling and so clever, with a brilliant ending that had me cheering 👏 I loved the blossoming friendship between Harriet and Clara, and even Mary - the female characters really made this novel, and they were all brave in their own way in an impossible situation. I don’t want to give anything away, but let’s just say I really couldn’t have guessed which way this story would go and loved how unexpected it all felt! Highly recommend for gothic and/or crime fans 👏

Lost in the periphery of elite society, a moody mistress and a master with inquisitive and commanding auro is Harriet, a young lady's maid. Enamoured by the glamorous life of the manor, she forgot her own place and is now tasked with a huge secret for life.

The aura buildup in the book was secretive and one could feel the stench of something horrible that was about to happen throughout the story. I did enjoy the sidelined stories that ran parallel to the main plot as it gave an additional depth towards the end. However, I am not too sure how much justice the title or the cover does to the story. To me, it felt a bit disconnected. Overall a good book to read at least once. Particularly the part where the hunter becomes the prey.


Thank you @netgalley @harpercollinsuk @harperaudio and @hestermusson for the Audio ARC.

Genre: #historicalfiction #generalfiction
Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️

A fairly slow paced gothic novel that had me gripped from beginning to end. I enjoyed this and will be looking for more by this author. Great narration. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers.

I really enjoyed the Beholders as an audio- more so I think than if I was reading it. The story was intriguing and gripping, and although not fast paced was well written and enjoyable. Great narration, would recommend to any lovers of historical fiction.

Creepy Victorian novel set in HERTFORDSHIRE

This is a rounded Victorian Gothic novel, that is perhaps a little slow in the scene setting but warms up well as the story develops.

Harriet is newly employed as a house maid (and later as a Lady’s maid) in the Gethin household, the home of MP Ralph Gethin, who rarely makes an appearance in the family home. His wife, Clara, is aloof and particularly cool with their young son, which Harriet finds curious yet compelling, and notes the woman’s demeanour as she goes about her tasks. Clara’s ethereal singing resonates throughout the house, adding a tingle of otherworldliness.

Finton Hall, set in isolation, is a cabinet of curiosities – items collected over the years by the master of the house as he travelled the world – and as Harriet dusts and cleans, she ponders what she sees. The story is told through her diary entries, which forms a smooth and cohesive narrative, enabling the reader to look over her shoulder and experience her everyday life and musings.

As the days pass. the prickle of unease seeps into her very core and she understands there is a veil of secrecy and lies hanging over the grand house, subsuming all who live there.

The body of a young boy is dredged from the River Thames and it would appear to be the Gethin son. Suspicious eyes naturally fall on Clara…

This is a deftly woven, well written and creepy story, which gradually builds to become a good and engrossing novel.

Written in the form of a diary that belongs to Harriet who is a maid employed at Finton Hall, the home of the highly respectable MPRalph Gethin, this audiobook is an atmospheric gothic style novel set during the Victorian era. Finton Hall is a house full of secrets that are waiting to be discovered and as Harriet goes about her daily duties she is about to discover them She meets strange characters - shady and creepy and all acquaintances of the master of the house himself. And then there is the Mistresa of the house Clara Gethin, who takes Harriet under her wing. The book starts slowly pulling you in and then escalates into a gripping and satisfying well written story that is narrated by Ashley Tucker, Harriet Carmichael and Elliot Fitzpatrick who bring the whole gothic saga alive. For me the beautiful cover of this book is just stunning. This audiobook is out on the 18th of January and is a must read. Thank you Harper Collins for my copy.

Henriette is hired as a maid at Finton Hall. The young woman is amazed by all the beautiful things as well as the beautiful people surrounding her, especially the mistress, Mrs. Clara Gethin, who fascinates her. It doesn't take long for Henriette to realize that something dark, vicious, dangerous even, hides behind the apparent beauty at Finton Hall.

I really enjoyed this book ! It was well written, totally immersive and suspenseful. There are some undeniably dark elements to it, but the reading experience is pleasant.
I won't say more about it for fear that it could reveal important parts of the story that will undoubtedly keep the readers enthralled till the very last page.

🎧 Audiobook 4.5/5 : Very good narrators !

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK Audio for giving me access to this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This audio book os probably the best I have listened to in a long time. The story told in the format of a diary which i dont usually like but it really works here!

. It's very hard to describe this book without giving spoilers so I will just say you will not be disappointed if you read it! The characters are very well thought out and and grow as the story unfolds. I only wish that it was a series because I would love to see what happens to them after this book finishes.

Wow what a book thank you ever so much for the opportunity to review. I could not put it down. Would definitely recommend to others!
The story line is brilliant no boring parts and kept me guessing to the end. Can't wait for the next one!'⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When starting out, I thought this was going to be a gothic, spooky mystery novel however it turned out to be more of a historical novel tinged with murder, abuse and tragedy. An intricate insight into the upstairs/downstairs lives of the unhappy and troubled inhabitants of Finton Hall. The dark and twisty page-turner is a quick read with a host of both pleasant and positively awful characters and you’re rooting for good to prevail right up to the end.
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own unbiased opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and Hester for the Arc of Beholders . I really enjoyed this historical mystery. Being narrated by Ashley Tucker; Harriet Carmichael; Elliot Fitzpatrick. I thought they were very well suited to the characters. Nicely paced narration from all 3 of them.

The story itself was good. The characters were very well fleshed out. With historical fiction, which is a genre I’ve recently started getting into. I surprise myself with how emotive they can be. Especially with how women are treated. Some good twists and turns and wraps up nicely at the end. 3.75 ⭐️for me

I listened to the sudiobook of The Beholders, although the narration was good, I feel that it would have been better if I had been reading the book so I could see the journal entries on the page.
However I did enjoy the book, there were surprising twists and turns and the characters were well written.
I was slightly confused about the relationship between Harriet and Clara.
Overall I enjoyed this book.