Mrs England is the third novel by Stacey Halls, a Sunday Times bestselling author known for her novels that blend historical fiction and mystery.
I’ve read both her previous works, The Familiars and The Foundling, and really enjoyed them both. I really like Stacey Halls’s style of writing so I was really excited to read Mrs England.
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Plot
Set in 1904, Norland nanny Ruby May is posted to a remote home in Yorkshire, charged with caring for the four England children. The children are the offspring of a wealthy couple from a powerful dynasty of mill owners.
Mr England is charismatic and welcoming but Mrs England is beautiful yet mysterious. Mrs England is not what Ruby expected. She is quiet, withdrawn and seems to lack any maternal feelings for her children. Her relationship with her husband is a strained one and Ruby is intrigued to know why she seems so detached from her family.
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 Book Review
Stacey Hall’s novels always have a dark and menacing undertone which I just love. Her style of writing always captivates me and keeps me gripped until the final page. Mrs England had the same simmering tension and sense of foreboding as her previous novels and I really enjoyed it.
I loved the character of Ruby and found her to be another strong female protagonist, something that Stacey Halls is becoming known for. She 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.
The West Yorkshire landscape created an atmospheric backdrop to the mysterious events and the descriptions were so vivid that I could almost smell and feel Ruby’s surroundings. The contrast between London and Yorkshire perfectly highlighted how wild and dangerous Ruby’s new home was.
It’s a story of power and control but also the strength of women to survive and thrive in such a time.
Another winner by Stacey Halls.
What should I read after Mrs England?
If you enjoyed reading Mrs England, I’d definitely suggest reading more books by Stacey Halls, such as The Foundling, The Familiars and The Household. If you’re looking for more gripping tales set during Victorian London, you may also enjoy The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal.
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