You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
3,5 stars
The book didn’t grip me as quickly as I had assumed and hoped it would. The first part felt like it dragged a bit because of that, I didn’t always feel like picking up the book and continue reading. That being said, I loved the dark atmosphere of the Yorkshire moors and the stately home of the Englands. The scene describing how Nurse May arrives at the house sets the tone immediately.
The pacing issues I had disappeared once the mystery got a bit more pronounced and the events revealing bits of the secrets started following each other more quickly. I was hooked and wanted to know all the sordid details of what was going on in the England household, as well as Nurse May’s own secrets.
In the end I was a bit let down by the revelations. Although all loose ends were tied nicely at the end of the book, I had expected something… more.
I have to admit though that the very last sentence in the book threw me off and made me re-evaluate the entire book, so kudos for that!
The book didn’t grip me as quickly as I had assumed and hoped it would. The first part felt like it dragged a bit because of that, I didn’t always feel like picking up the book and continue reading. That being said, I loved the dark atmosphere of the Yorkshire moors and the stately home of the Englands. The scene describing how Nurse May arrives at the house sets the tone immediately.
The pacing issues I had disappeared once the mystery got a bit more pronounced and the events revealing bits of the secrets started following each other more quickly. I was hooked and wanted to know all the sordid details of what was going on in the England household, as well as Nurse May’s own secrets.
In the end I was a bit let down by the revelations. Although all loose ends were tied nicely at the end of the book, I had expected something… more.
I have to admit though that the very last sentence in the book threw me off and made me re-evaluate the entire book, so kudos for that!
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love Stacey Halls' style of writing (I'm yet to read all 3 books), my only gripe is that this ending felt very "tying up loose ends". I loved the story, and the power of female solidarity, and how Nurse May develops as a person however.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Mrs. England is yet another literary triumph by Stacey Halls'! From the very first page, I was irresistibly drawn into the brooding, atmospheric world of early 20th-century Yorkshire, where secrets linger in every shadow. Halls has woven a mesmerizing tale around the enigmatic Mrs. England, a woman as mysterious as the moors themselves. The narrative follows Ruby May, a capable and determined nurse who takes up a post in the household of the England family, only to find that beneath the polished surface of this seemingly idyllic home lies a web of untold truths and simmering tensions.
Halls’ prose is a symphony of elegance and suspense, each sentence carefully crafted to heighten the sense of unease and curiosity. I found myself captivated by the way she delves into the complexities of power, control, and the silent struggles that women endured in a society that often rendered them powerless. The characters are exquisitely drawn, with Mrs. England herself standing out as a figure of both fragility and quiet strength. The Yorkshire setting, with its windswept landscapes and imposing mansions, adds an extra layer of gothic allure, making this novel an extraordinary experience. I especially appreciated how the real-life location of Hardcastle Craggs was seamlessly woven into the narrative, adding a personal touch to the story, as it's a place my family and I often visit for walks. Mrs. England is a must-read for anyone who appreciates historical fiction with depth, emotion, and a touch of mystery.
Halls’ prose is a symphony of elegance and suspense, each sentence carefully crafted to heighten the sense of unease and curiosity. I found myself captivated by the way she delves into the complexities of power, control, and the silent struggles that women endured in a society that often rendered them powerless. The characters are exquisitely drawn, with Mrs. England herself standing out as a figure of both fragility and quiet strength. The Yorkshire setting, with its windswept landscapes and imposing mansions, adds an extra layer of gothic allure, making this novel an extraordinary experience. I especially appreciated how the real-life location of Hardcastle Craggs was seamlessly woven into the narrative, adding a personal touch to the story, as it's a place my family and I often visit for walks. Mrs. England is a must-read for anyone who appreciates historical fiction with depth, emotion, and a touch of mystery.
I really loved this - Ruby's role as governess, what we gradually learn about her history, the very slowly revealed mystery of Mrs England - a great slow burn of a book with a banger of an ending. [On a side note, I felt like this book was going to say something about child labour in mills - we seemed to head right towards it... only children fit under this bit of the machinery... it's terribly dangerous... workers live in company towns - oh nope we're veering off wildly in another direction and never coming back.]
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
“You’re as green as grass, Nurse May.”
Yes, and a fizzing ball of adolescent hormones, all a-twitter in the presence of the local married men and instantly devoted to her charges, even before she’d been with them long enough to get her first pay.
I enjoyed this story overall, but I did find it slow. Ruby’s back story (which, according to the author’s note at at the end, inspired the novel) seemed wholly unnecessary.
Furthermore, there were elements of the story I found difficult to understand.
Hall’s novel “The Foundling” is much better than this one.
Yes, and a fizzing ball of adolescent hormones, all a-twitter in the presence of the local married men and instantly devoted to her charges, even before she’d been with them long enough to get her first pay.
I enjoyed this story overall, but I did find it slow. Ruby’s back story (which, according to the author’s note at at the end, inspired the novel) seemed wholly unnecessary.
Furthermore, there were elements of the story I found difficult to understand.
Spoiler
If Lilian was married to her child’s father, why did she agree to marry Mr England? Wasn’t bigamy illegal? Didn’t her husband (the blacksmith) have anything to say about it?Hall’s novel “The Foundling” is much better than this one.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a pretty good read. I felt the author captured the period well, the characters felt pretty true to the time rather than modern with period dress which I’m always grateful for.
The story follows Ruby, a nursemaid who starts working for the England family. The husband seems great but the wife is not quite right. Ruby isn’t really as isolated as the blurb suggests, the servants start off a bit abrasive but that’s really it.
The story behind Mrs England is kinda obvious so I wasn’t hugely surprised by any revelations but it’s told in a way that was engaging enough. I do like period novels though so i’m maybe more forgiving for that.
The main thing I found slightly lacking in the book was Ruby’s backstory. I mean it was interesting but I think would have been far better if the book was upfront with it rather than making a mystery of it. When I found out like yeah it was sad and explained why she relates to her family the way she does. However it wasn’t really a revelation that needed drawing out.
I recommend if you want an easy read with a period setting and a bit of mystery. Just don’t expect any shocking twists
The story follows Ruby, a nursemaid who starts working for the England family. The husband seems great but the wife is not quite right. Ruby isn’t really as isolated as the blurb suggests, the servants start off a bit abrasive but that’s really it.
The story behind Mrs England is kinda obvious so I wasn’t hugely surprised by any revelations but it’s told in a way that was engaging enough. I do like period novels though so i’m maybe more forgiving for that.
The main thing I found slightly lacking in the book was Ruby’s backstory. I mean it was interesting but I think would have been far better if the book was upfront with it rather than making a mystery of it. When I found out like yeah it was sad and explained why she relates to her family the way she does. However it wasn’t really a revelation that needed drawing out.
I recommend if you want an easy read with a period setting and a bit of mystery. Just don’t expect any shocking twists
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes