Halls’ storytelling is the slow-burning and refined kind – allowing readers to experience the growing menace and fear as Ruby does. Set in Edwardian times, the story explores the imbalance of power between women and men, particularly when they’re of different social classes, and what that allows people to get away with. Ruby might be the narrator but the Englands’ marriage – and the fraught relationship between Charles and Lilian – is just as central to the story. It shapes everything that happens in the house – affecting not just Ruby’s mental state but the children she cares for too. Ruby’s own personal trauma makes her fiercely protective of the England children but it also – understandably – clouds her judgement, which begs the question: how much of the strangeness she feels in Hardcastle House is a genuine, tangible concern, and how much of her own trauma is she projecting onto the family? I also enjoyed her depiction of West Yorkshire during this time period, and thought she captured a strong sense of place, the setting contrasting starkly with the earlier chapters set in London, and lending to the gothic atmosphere. I've read both of Stacey Hall's previous novels: The Familiars and The Foundling, so knew I would enjoy this one, and I did. Still though, of the three, The Familiars is my favorite. It's the elements of witchcraft in The Familiars, that and the atmospheric setting, that make it so. The main mystery, however, relates to the characters at Hardcastle House and specifically Mrs England. At its heart this is a story about women's place in society during this time period and their struggle for independence and against the confines of their lives. It is also a story about power dynamics in relationships. There are themes of mental health and 'gaslighting' explored, and I particularly liked the solidarity that eventually forms between Ruby and Mrs England, and how they support each other. this was my first halls book and it most certainly will not be my last. this woman is the future of historical fiction and i will be seated to witness it happen. she’s that good.

Mrs England - Stacey Halls Mrs England - Stacey Halls

I loved the character of Ruby and found her to be another strong female protagonist, something that the author is becoming known for. I enjoyed how the author dropped hints throughout the story about both Ruby’s past and the strange goings-on at Hardcastle House. I tried to piece it all together but there were twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. I have had my lovely signed coloured edged physical book sitting on my shelf since this was published.The story does get off to a great start, as its set in Yorkshire in 1904, when newly gradualted nurse Ruby May takes a position looking after the children of Charles and Lilian England, a wealthy couple from a powerful dynasty of mill owners, she hopes it will be the fresh start she needs. But as she adapts to life at the isolated Hardcastle House, it becomes clear there's something not quite right about the beautiful, mysterious Mrs England.

Book Review: Mrs England – Stacey Halls – The Bibliophile Book Review: Mrs England – Stacey Halls – The Bibliophile

Ruby is concerned for the family as a whole but as strange events start to occur, Ruby feels quite isolated. The other servants ignore her and she’s not sure who she can trust. Ruby has secrets of her own and is desperate that the events from her mysterious past don’t catch up with her. Mrs England by Stacey Halls Review: My Opinion Ruby May è una giovane bambinaia per famiglie altolocate, diplomata in un prestigioso istituto dove ha voluto studiare con tutte le sue forze. Il lavoro è la sua vita, i bambini di cui si occupa il suo unico orizzonte, e sappiamo che ha una famiglia a casa, fratelli che ama molto, ma che non va a trovare da anni. This slow-burn, atmospheric story is set in rural Yorkshire in 1904 and features an eerie, remote locale, a Gothic vibe and mysterious happenings within an unconventional family.

Mrs England is the third book from historical fiction writer Stacey Halls. I read and love both The Familiars and The Foundling, so this was an incredibly anticipated release for me. The story follows Nurse Ruby May a graduate of the Norland Institute. When she is forced to leave her position she knows she needs to find another as soon as possible. When the opportunity comes up to be a nurse to the four England children, Ruby takes the position immediately. When she arrives in Yorkshire she soon finds things aren’t right with the family. Mrs England is detached and mysterious, and the servants won’t talk to her. As Ruby spends more time with the family, she uncovers more than she could possibly imagine. My Year in Nonfiction 2023 #NonficNov #NonfictionNovember #NonfictionBookParty #bookblogger #blogger Ez a gótikus fenyegetésekkel és rejtélyekkel teli Edward-kori történet meggyőző és teljességgel lebilincselő.” – Louise Hare, a This Lovely City szerzője The story is written in the first person, from the viewpoint of Ruby May; a strong and independent young woman who works as a children’s nurse. It begins in the Summer of 1904, with Ruby looking after a young girl, whose parents enjoy a prosperous life in Edwardian London.