Description

‘Absorbing’ Sunday Times
‘Acutely observed and beautifully written’ Daily Mail

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, SET AGAINST CHARLES DICKENS’ HOME FOR FALLEN WOMEN

The house she was promised, is the first clean page in a new book for girls like her . . .

1847, Shepherds Bush. Charles Dickens’ home for fallen women is about to open its doors. Part refuge, part reformatory, the house and its location are top secret. Among it first inmates are Martha, arrived from a shelter for prostitutes, and Josephine, a convicted thief. But faced with the chance to redeem themselves, how badly do they want it?

Across town, in her Piccadilly mansion, Dickens’ friend, the millionaire Angela Burdett Coutts, receives news that turns her orderly world upside down. Her stalker has been freed from prison, and she knows it’s only a matter of time before their nightmarish game resumes once more.

As the women’s worlds collide in ways they could never have expected, they will discover that freedom always comes at a price . . .

‘A writer of great originality’ Kate Mosse

‘Compelling’ Good Housekeeping

‘Meticulously researched and compelling’ Red

‘Exquisitely written . . . full of heart and hope’ Fabulous

‘This novel is the very definition of unputdownable’ Louise Hare

‘Undoubtedly Halls’ best novel yet ‘ Elizabeth Macneal

*Sunday Times bestseller 19.04.25*
*Winner of the Women’s Prize Futures Award 2022- https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/lifestyle/editors-choice-book-reviews/a41610537/stacey-halls-winner-futures-award/*

Publisher Review

Absorbing . . . Halls weaves together the elements of her story with great skill * The Sunday Times, best historical fiction of 2024 * Stacey Halls is a writer of great originality, great imagination and great sense of place. Atmospheric, intelligent, accessible, every novel is worth reading, then reading again and again -- Kate Mosse With warm and artful prose this is a story richly realised and sympathetically imagined, making THE HOUSEHOLD undoubtedly my favourite novel written by Stacey Halls so far, whose writing goes from strength to strength. I loved it -- Susan Stokes-Chapman, Sunday Times bestselling author of Pandora This novel is the very definition of unputdownable. I loved every one of the women connected to Urania Cottage. Original, engrossing and so true to life. My favourite Stacey Halls novel yet -- Louise Hare I devoured The Household by Stacey Halls. Meticulously researched and thoroughly entertaining, I was struck most of all by its hopefulness: about forgiveness, friendship, the choices we make and the opportunity for a second (or third) chance. This is undoubtedly Stacey Halls' best novel yet - I can't wait to see what she writes next -- Elizabeth Macneal, bestselling author of The Doll Factory Stacey Halls' most ambitious and brilliant book so far. Complex and brilliantly-drawn characters and, at its heart, a message of friendship and hope. A triumph -- Anna Mazzola I loved The Household. Moving expertly between perspectives and locations, it is full of heart, humaneness and menace. I enjoyed every second -- Beth Underdown Meticulously researched and compelling * Red magazine * Inspired by real people who resided at Charles Dickens' home for fallen women. Elegant prose keeps the reader enthralled * Prima magazine * Compelling and richly detailed * Good Housekeeping * Based on real-life events, this captivating tale explores kindness, sacrifice and challenges societal norms * Woman magazine * Compelling . . . As ever, Halls's story-telling is acutely observed and beautifully written * Daily Mail * Fascinating, richly woven and deftly plotted * Best magazine * Time and again, Stacey Halls brings the women of the past so close that you think of them as friends. The Household has all of the beauty of the best historical fiction, and mysteries enough to be a page turning thriller. * Abigail Dean, Sunday Times bestselling author of GIRL A *