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It's not dust she's looking for.
It's dirt.

Esmie is supposed to be invisible. Just a cleaner with a foreign accent that no one quite has time to place. Her uniform of leggings and a duster allows her to explore the homes of the wealthy, unseen; an outsider creeping around the edges of privilege.

But as she sweeps through the exclusive Woodlands gated neighbourhood, cleaning is the last thing on her mind. Treading silently over the polished wooden floorboards and cloud-soft carpets, Esmie gathers up the mess of broken marriages, quiet deceptions and careless failures. She tucks away their fragments, keeping them safe. For now.

Because one of the residents took from her the person she loves most. She’s not here to clean; she’s here for revenge – and she’ll get it using the weapons her employers unwittingly handed her along with the keys to their homes: their own secrets…

This beautifully sinister, propulsive page-turner that explores themes of identity and privilege is perfect for fans of Harriet Tyce and Lisa Jewell.

'The Cleaner is a masterclass in tension.' - JENNIE GODFREY, Sunday Times bestselling author of The List of Suspicious Things

'Beautiful, dark, visceral, truly spellbinding.' - ANDREA MARA, Sunday Times No. 1 bestselling author

‘Taut, twisty and beautifully atmospheric.' - KIA ABDULLAH, author of Waterstones Thriller of the Month Those People Next Door

© Mary Watson 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025