So have we found our first exceptional read of 2023? I guess so. For Loreth Anne White has for us here a scintillating psychological thriller in it’s truest form. The Maid’s Diary is the sort of book that makes one realise why thrillers have such a huge pull as a genre. For when you come across a genuine, fast-paced, action-packed thriller like here, it gives you a different high all together.
The Maid’s Diary is engaging from the word go. It begins in a very 90’s movie feel – a couple making out in a car in a secluded spot and unwittingly witness to a horrendous crime. Thus, the book serves you some raunchy, steamy stuff to start with – which actually wrong foots you into pre-empting what’s about to come.
This is the story about Katarina Popovich aka Kit Darling – a maid with a snooping issue. She loves to peep into her client’s lives. And on one such misadventure, she stumbles upon a secret that is deeply linked with her own past and gives her the power to have her revenge, but also putting herself into grave danger should she be caught.
There are some interesting characters in this book. And the one that I probably enjoyed the most was Beulah Brown. The busybody neighbour watching all the happenings through her binoculars, sitting near her window upstairs. Suffering from a terminal illness, she maintains a daily log of all she watches. Besides, the characters of Mal & Benoit are quite likable and make a great team. There are all clues of this turning into a series with Mal (Mallory Van Alst) at the helm – and I so wish it to be true! Talking of the protagonist, her theatrical, dramatic & unconventional character is so magnetic. I loved her more as the story kept progressing.
The USP of The Maid’s Diary is it’s surprise elements which are there in abundance. I doubt anyone can guess the ending of this gripping story. So it’s only fair not to spill the beans here and spoil the fun. Staying tight lipped, I would only say, this book combines a murder mystery with revenge which makes it a splendid read. Revenge is a theme I enjoy immensely, and this book is a delight in that respect. I love it when a malefactor is given a taste of his own medicine, shredded apart to pieces and decimated. This book, no wonder, was a complete winner for me.
Probably a bit off track, but a word about Alst’s husband Peter. I have felt, Dementia or Parkinsons has become almost fashionable for authors to stuff into their books these days. But the exactitude of Loreth Anne White is commendable. There only are a couple of passages that surface around it. Very few words, but for someone who has seen this disease up and close, you realise how blatantly true and penetrating they are.
A few points of The Maid’s Diary explained (spoiler alert!):
Conclusion
The Maid’s Diary is a compulsive read, hard to put down with it’s fast paced happenings, a sense of urgency and well guarded suspense. Add to it the theme of revenge and you have your underdog’s hero in Kit whom you would undoubtedly be rooting for by the end. Her soft heart despite her blotted past touches you somewhere. The conversations with her diary and how it helps her fight her own ghosts is a revelation. I cannot recommend this book enough. For fans of thrillers, this is your go to book of the year for sure. Grab your copy here -> The Maid’s Dairy
Try out some more revenge thrillers – The Lies I Tell (Julie Clark) , A Tidy Ending (Joanna Cannon)