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The Household

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The Household

By: Stacey Halls
Narrated by: Sophia Money-Coutts, Stacey Halls, Tuppence Middleton
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About this listen

This audiobook is narrated by the incredible Tuppence Middleton, and features an exclusive Q&A between Stacey Halls and Sophia Money-Coutts.

London, 1847. In a quiet house in the countryside nearby, the finishing touches are being made to welcome a group of young women. The house and its location are secret, its residents unknown to one another, but the girls have one thing in common: they are fallen. Offering refuge for prostitutes, petty thieves and the destitute, Urania Cottage is a second chance at life - but how badly do they want it?

Meanwhile, a few miles away in a Piccadilly mansion, millionairess Angela Burdett-Coutts, one of the benefactors of Urania Cottage, makes a discovery that leaves her cold. Her stalker of ten years has been released 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 . . .

The Household is the new novel from the award-winning, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Familiars, The Foundling and Mrs England. Set against Charles Dickens' home for fallen women and inspired by real figures from history, it is Stacey Halls' most ambitious and captivating novel yet.

©2024 Stacey Halls (P)2024 Bonnier Books UK Historical Mystery Thriller & Suspense Victorian England Exciting

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Critic reviews

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)
All stars
Most relevant  
One of best, loved it from start to finish, especially the interview at the end.

Brilliant

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I was eagerly awaiting this book as I loved Stacey Hall's previous books. However, the style of this one was different. I loved the first person narrator in previous books, which worked fantastically on audiobook. They were also more relatable and gave fascinating insights into the history of the time. However, this book was a series of characters in third person. It felt more disjointed and impersonal. There were some interesting themes but these didn't develop quite as I'd like and bordered on sentimentalism. I felt it would have been so much more interesting and deeper in the style of the previous novels. I felt it was all diluted a but by the number of characters it was following. I also really wasn't impressed with the ending.
In all, it wasn't a bad historical fiction read, but it was so full of promise that it just didn't live up to.

Disappointing

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Couldn’t stop listening to this book, I felt I was there with the girls in the cottage, so real

Amazing

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Many of the characters are fictionalised versions of historical individuals which makes the story more realistic.

I enjoy this writing style as I struggle with abstract, "arty" literature and prefer realistic books with linear story-lines.

It was a fun read and I never got bored.

Absorbing read

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I couldn't stop listening. I read a review which reckoned this wasn't Stacey Halls usual standard and that it didn't work so well in third person. Well, I'm glad I ignored it. This is a cracking story based on a household set up by Charles Dickens to help 'fallen women', and funded by Angela, heiress of the Cootes bank fortune. I loved how Stacey takes these real life facts and then weaves such plausible fiction about them. I was fascinated by the stories of the girls, and of Angela herself. A really gripping story, read beautifully.

A cracking story

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The writing style of Stacey Halls and superb voice of Tuppence Middleton make for such an enjoyable listen. I'm extremely picky with narration and it makes or breaks a book for me. A. Stacey Halls book is always well worth a credit for me consistent in the quality of writing and Tuppence brings the characters to life so well. Together they are the dynamic duo 🤓

The dynamic duo

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Hated putting this down. Brilliant characters and story line particularly as it’s based on truth although all characters are fictional.

Fabulous narration and story.

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Another great book! Stacey has enormous skill at creating her characters and giving them enormous depth. This ensures that right from the start you have favourites, people to root for, feel sympathy for and of course those you love to hate. I have loved all of Stacey's books and this was no different. I also enjoyed the chat/interview with Sophia at the end, opened up some more of the real family history.

Another fabulous read

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The story brings to life philanthropic projects of well known and lesser known Victorian figures. Its basis in fact makes this for an intriguing read.
The interview at the end is worth a listen too

Gritty Victorian fallen women

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Characters were well drawn and lots of the iniquities of Victorian London regarding women are explored. I felt that the story was a little unevenly told and one of the problems of Audible is that you can’t move about to check details. I didn’t like the narration - lots of strange emphases.

Very good fictionalised version of the Dickens “experiment”

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