Alex Hay grew up in Cambridge and Cardiff and has been writing as long as he can remember. He studied History at the University of York, and wrote his dissertation on female power at royal courts, combing the archives for every scrap of drama and skulduggery he could find. He has worked in magazine publishing and the charity sector, and is a graduate of the Curtis Brown Write Your Novel course. The Housekeepers is his debut novel and won the Caledonia Novel Award 2022. Alex lives with his husband in South East London
This twisty heist caper is a delightfully mischievous debut * The Times * Downton meets Ocean's 8 * Grazia * A page-turning delight from beginning to end * Red * Punch-the-air good, this is the Edwardian heist novel you never knew you needed. Flawless, lawless fun -- Kiran Millwood Hargrave A glamorous historical heist novel that kept me hooked 'til the last page. The strong, determined and memorable female characters pull you into their web of intrigue -- Jennifer Saint Vivid characterisation, irresistible historical detail and a rip-roaring plot... delivers on every page. Sensational! -- Emma Stonex Imagine Ocean's 8 had an illegitimate baby with Fingersmith - a big fat diamond of a book, sharp and shiny, joyful and generous -- Erin Kelly A deliciously clever novel that will place you in the finest homes and meanest streets of 1905 London. Prepare to grow hungrier for justice with every page you turn -- Nina de Gramont A rollicking romp of a book, tinged with fury, sadness and mischievous delight -- Claire North Entirely original: an upstairs-downstairs premise set in Edwardian London, but with an Ocean's Eleven-like heist at its core... anyone who relishes a good party gone wrong will devour this -- Sarah Penner I cannot tell you how much fun you'll have with this book -- Bobby Palmer I'll miss these resourceful, cunning ladies, the strength of their sisterhood (both literal and figurative) and their collective pursuit of freedom. I badly needed them to win and cheered myself hoarse by the end -- Chikodili Emelumadu I love everything about Alex Hay's novel... not only is The Housekeepers a rollicking good read, it's also a reminder to the powerful to ignore the downtrodden at their peril. Bravo -- Stephanie Butland