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The Housekeeper

A breathtaking story of forbidden love, passion and betrayal

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The Housekeeper

By: Rose Tremain
Narrated by: Caitríona Balfe
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Narrated by actress Catriona Balfe.

'She lifted me high, high up into another world, and then let me fall . . . Daphne du Maurier stole my life.'

A dramatic story of forbidden love, from enduring bestseller Rose Tremain

Mrs Danowski – known as Danni – is the housekeeper of a grand mansion on the wild coast of Cornwall. When glamorous young writer Daphne du Maurier visits Manderville Hall to research her new novel, she and Danni are drawn into a clandestine and intoxicating affair.

For Danni, it is an all-consuming love; for Daphne a submission to long-suppressed desires. But their fragile secret is vulnerable to prying eyes and destined for heartbreak. When Daphne’s novel launches to triumphant success, Danni is distraught to find herself transformed into a malign and jealous character on the page. She seeks respite from the hurt by telling her own story: The Housekeeper.

What unforeseen encounters, what forbidden feelings can inspire a writer? With flair and panache, Rose Tremain has invented the story of how a great novel of the past came into being and in turn creates a masterwork of her own.

‘A sweeping, atmospheric story of forbidden love, power and privilege’ ERIN KELLY

‘Exquisitely drawn, poignant and devastating’ STACEY HALLS

‘An absolute masterclass’ CLAIRE LYNCH

© Rose Tremain 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

 20th Century Genre Fiction Gothic Historical Historical Fiction Horror Literary Fiction Romance Heartfelt
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Critic reviews

'Exquisitely drawn, poignant and devastating. Rose Tremain is masterful in her depiction of a summer romance, and how a shared experience can be so utterly different for the people involved'
'An absolute masterclass in character and style. The Housekeeper is a novel of patient observation and irresistible passion all at once. Just as this novel grows from between the lines of another, so we see the great layering of Tremain’s writing. It is, in some ways, a book of half-lived lives. It is also a book of what can be imagined, the possibilities of desires followed, ambitions pursued'
‘A sweeping, atmospheric story of forbidden love, power and privilege. The Housekeeper shines a devastating light on one of the most iconic characters in twentieth-century fiction and the nature of authorship itself. A must-read for all du Maurier fans’
'It takes a brave author to reimagine Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. Luckily, Rose Tremain is more than up to the task… thrilling'
This brilliant construction is a Rubik’s Cube that yields multiple meanings while Tremain, a master storyteller, keeps the reader compelled
[The Housekeeper is] arguably as compelling as the original
Melancholy, moving and cinematic
Rich in gothic atmosphere, betrayal and longing, this is an absorbing, beautifully written reimagining that will especially resonate with readers and fans of Rebecca
What makes Tremain such a master of narrative is the palpable joy she takes in the act of creation. There’s an almost childlike relish to her world-building and a glorious freedom to her imagination. Approaching her fiction in a spirit of pure play, she conjures a world so sensory and atmospheric it completely ensnares the reader
Tremain…shares her [Hilary Mantel’s] ability to evoke time and place with specific and tactile details… For those previously unfamiliar with du Maurier’s biography…The Housekeeper will certainly change hour they read Rebecca
All stars
Most relevant
I loved it all.The relationship between the two women was masterfully executed and the unfolding of the story was riveting

The amazing story

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I consume audible books on a daily basis and have my favourite authors and readers so I may be biased in my review of this one. The story itself is excellent classic Tremain, whose work I enjoy, and a totally immersive must read for fans of Du Maurier, I loved the creative recasting of well known characters, and the storyline was both melancholy and tragic. But this success was slightly marred by the odd pronunciation of certain words at times, by the narrator. (‘pudding’ rhyming with ‘putting’ as in golf and ‘Miss du Maurier’ being announced as what sounds like ‘Mr Morier’ repeatedly, Tried to work out if it was in a particular accent but could not identify one. Whilst listening I tried to hear the voice of KST who of course played the perfect Danvers in the recent Film version of Rebecca. I shall buy the book now.

I’d rather I’d read the book

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I loved this, the parallel development of Rebecca and the fact it actually referred to truths about DDM relationships with husband and kids. Very clever. Didn’t want it to end

Mrs Danvers

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I loved this particularly the brilliant narration which kept my attention. The story occasionally dwindled into the repetitive or dangerously close to it,, or perhaps it was more a lack of variety in the emotional intensity, but the narrator was superb and kept me hooked. Interesting and innovative plot.

Brilliant narrator keeps the listener hooked

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Nothing much, Just put me off Rebecca which I adored but has given me another insight into DDM

Very well written and narrated

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