The Caretakers

By: Eliza Maxwell

Narrated by: Janet Metzger, Erin Mallon

In the isolated estate she’s found the perfect getaway. But there’s no escaping the past in this chilling novel from the bestselling author of The Unremembered Girl.

Filmmaker Tessa Shepherd helped free a man she believed was wrongly imprisoned for murder. When he kills again, Tessa’s life is upended.

She’s reeling with guilt, her reputation destroyed. Worse, Tessa’s mother has unexpectedly passed away, and her sister, Margot, turns on her after tensions from their past escalate. Hounded by a bullying press, Tessa needs an escape. That’s when she learns of a strange inheritance bequeathed by her mother: a derelict and isolated estate known as Fallbrook. It seems like the perfect refuge.

A crumbling monument to a gruesome history, the mansion has been abandoned by all but two elderly sisters retained as caretakers. They are also guardians of all its mysteries. As the house starts revealing its dark secrets, Tessa must face her fears and right the wrongs of her past to save herself and her relationship with Margot. But nothing and no one at Fallbrook are what they seem.

©2020 by Amber Carter. (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Suspense fans will be satisfied.” (Publishers Weekly)

so many twists I'm dizzy!

This was a fast paced, engrossing read for me. Sometimes I find a twist at the end of a story to feel contrived, but in this book the twists were central to the plot which was slowly revealed. I really enjoyed this book and loved the narrators voice.

Wow! This book kept giving and giving!

I read the reviews before purchasing this one. I was apprehensive because I was also annoyed at the narrator’s voice after listening to the sample but the storyline was still intriguing enough that I wanted to give it a chance. To me, at least, the voice got better and fit perfectly with the character. The other narrator did speak quickly at times, but even that fit the character she was reading for.

At times this book is a mystery thriller and at times it is what I would call a “woman’s drama”. I am a woman myself, but never voluntarily watch Lifetime movies or read books like this. I just don’t go in for that kind of stuff.

That being said, I not only Don’t Regret my purchase, but will be looking for others by the same author. Not everything in this book is perfect (some cheesiness that is difficult to stomach) but DANG! This woman can write mystery! I said in the title that the book keeps giving because it gave my favorite part (a twist) over and over again. I didn’t know it was possible to reach the climax of a book, then find more and more and more. It felt it only got deeper and more complicated and was really, really good.

Fantastic read!

The characters were very very real, and I could identify with them. Following along as the book opened up more clearly two storylines. The book became more and more intriguing towards the end, and I just could not put it down.

Excellent book!

My favorite book of the year and impossible to put down even after it's over.

Excellent read

Captured and kept my attention. Lots of great twists. Heartbreak. Unrequited love. Twisted minds. Everything a girl could ask for in a good book.

Great twist!

The way it goes back and forth between character narration was a little confusing at first. But I finally was able to follow & ended up loving the story! Would love to see this on screen.

Story is great, narrator is grating and annoying

I was disappointed when I started this book and heard the narrator. I actively avoid books read by her. She has the most annoying voice and her variations and especially male characters are so hard to listen to. It really makes getting into the story difficult. The book was good and I really enjoyed the plot, but I recommend finding a different recording or going for the paper copy!

very suspenseful chilling and times I was on

very suspenseful at times I was on the edge of my seat Dee was a true caretaker

great suspence

I loved this book. suspenseful the ending was complex and unpredictable. kinda spooky and haunting.

Overall, a good tale

This is an interesting story with just the right amount of twists and turns to keep it engaging. There were times when the words felt stilted, and there are a few overused expressions -- phrases a good editor should have caught. Yet the story was so interesting I stuck with this book to the end. few parts were predictable and those that were, even the climax, still felt satisfied and fit the tale.
I was listening to the narrated version. I personally favored the reading voice of the second narrator on this audiobook, the one who spoke for Deirdre and Kitty. The one who read for Tessa's chapters did nothing wrong that I can put my finger on, yet I realized my issues with the writing disappeared under the other reader. perhaps it was simply my subjective reception.