What carried me through this novel was the nicely done reconstruction of Edwardian settings and interactions, any British historical background or bourgeois milieu from the XIX and XX centuries being a guilty pleasure of mine; pretty much like looking at a dolls' house as an adult, but with a story to go with the tiny furniture and characters.

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!





This said, the focus of the story - what horrors men can make women endure, nearly without noticing any of the consequences but their own feelings, motives and needs - was a bit askew in its realisation. The point was obvious since the start, and well done for the ever so subtle insight into the creeping, silent expectation that an abused daughter needs justification for not wanting to address, forgive or see her father again; however, when it came to the disfunctional Englands, the narration fell short of conveying the effects of gaslighting on people around the victim. I never really believed the "good husband" deception, it all felt quite contrived when it came to the main plot - a nursery maid moving to an isolated wealthy family mansion and being drawn into the abusive household's secrets. The female characters, the nurse and the lady, felt real and likeable, but I could tell the big reveal since the start, and the psychological tricks and manipulations on the part of the husband never looked realistic to me.
All in all, there were a couple of powerful statements here and there, such as when Ruby, the protagonist, refuses to see her father just because she doesn't want to, without yielding to the temtation to justify herself further after all hhe had put her through; and I could feel her back straightening as if it were mine. But the writjng is discontinuous in defining characters and motivations, and this pulls the whole novel down from memorable feminist literature to mere entertainment. ( )

I have just finished reading this book . I have absolutely loved it and I highly recommend it . One of the favourite books I have ever read .
It is so atmospheric, the countryside in Yorkshire so vividly described and with such idetail. As a reader you are walking with her through the forests, in the crags , both in daytime and nighttime. I loved the characterisation of all the people in the book, every one of them do individual . The story is beautiful, delicate, intricately written and mesmerising . Nurse May was just so authentic and beautifully portrayed.
I was just sad t It’s finished now ….

Great atmosphere and really cool to experience life as a Norland Nurse, however it's extremely slow going... no action until almost the end, so I'd recommend this only to those that would be interested in a slow boil and thoroughly enjoy this time period. I personally geeked out on the Norland Nurse history. ( )

Mrs England is a solid book but nothing that's going to knock your socks off or leave you thinking after you finish and close the book.

The novel takes place around the turn of the century (1900) and revolves around Ruby May, a young and exceedingly (almost inconceivably) innocent nanny with a dark childhood secret. She takes a placement in Yorkshire caring for four children of a family who also have their own secrets.

So to start with there are mysteries seemingly abounding. There's the handsome and charismatic master of the house Mr England, who takes charge of everything including duties which would normally be a wife's responsibility, and his seemingly frail and incapable wife Mrs England who gets locked in her room for her own safety, the letters that Ruby May keeps unread in her trunk, the mysterious blacksmith who sends secret letters... Just, you know, lots of secrets.

There's a decidedly Mrs Rochester feel with the Mrs England storyline in parts as Halls makes you question what's really going on. Those moments were interesting and I was glad to see that it went somewhere in the end even if it was quite obvious.

The book is very readable despite the story never really going anywhere all that exciting (until the last few chapters). The suspense doesn't really build and the reveals of the mysteries aren't particularly shocking or unusual. The writing is steady if not exceptional and it was a quick, easy read.

This is the first novel I've read by Stacey Halls and I'd probably give another of the author's books a shot. ( )

An interesting and engaging gothic tale. It takes place in 1904 England . A young lady named Ruby May, trained as a Norland nanny, is assigned to a family living in an isolated estate of West Yorkshire. Nurse May finds the staff of the house to be quite unfriendly , the manner of Mr England to perhaps a bit over familiar. Mrs England, the mother of four children seems cold, withdrawn and rarely present. It's a most entertaining read. I've read her two previous books, The Familiars and The Lost Orphan and enjoyed them very much . ( )