The Cleaner - by Mary Watson (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

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

Esmie is meant to be invisible. A cleaner for an exclusive gated neighborhood in Ireland, Esmie fades into the background, slipping in and out of kitchens and closets, quietly observing her clients' perfect domestic lives. These entitled families only see a quiet woman with a mop in hand, who speaks with an accent they don't bother to place, and this is exactly what she wants.

Esmie is well aware that her employers don't truly see her. To them, she's a foreigner who cleans up their messes. But there's one mess she refuses to clean up. Because Esmie is not a cleaner. She's come to this neighborhood for one purpose and one purpose only. Revenge. Armed with a duster and a cunning plan, Esmie could soon find herself entangled with the very people she came to destroy.

The Cleaner exposes the dark underbelly of a protected society, revealing the dirty truths that lie beneath its polished facades of privilege.

Review Quotes

"The Cleaner is the ultimate one-sitting read--a dark and visceral tale that is as much about class and privilege as it is a high-stakes game of obsession and revenge. A sinister, slow-burn of a thriller positively simmering with rage."―Kimberly Belle, internationally bestselling author of The Paris Widow

"A slow-burn thriller with bite . . . Mary Watson's adult debut is moody, morally murky and brimming with quiet rage."--The Seattle Times

"This is the book I'll be telling everyone to read--lyrically dark and brilliantly unpredictable."―Washington Post bestselling author Minka Kent

"A heart-thumping thriller packed with exciting twists."―Daily Mail

"Simmering and tension-filled . . . Watson's novel builds real suspense by carefully revealing the layers of the characters and their stories."--Library Journal

"Watson's vivid sense of place and devious plotting make her a writer worth keeping tabs on. It's a hair-raising good time."--Publishers Weekly

"A rollercoaster ride of manipulation and obsession--I couldn't put it down."―Lisa Hall, bestselling author of Between You and Me

"A modern fairy tale--beautiful, dark, visceral, truly spellbinding."―Andrea Mara, author of No One Saw a Thing

"The Cleaner is a richly textured thriller that veritably hums with menace. Taut, twisty, and beautifully atmospheric, it pairs a gripping plot with dark, intricate themes. Class, privilege, wealth and entitlement are all put on trial in this immersive tale of betrayal and revenge."―Kia Abdullah, author of Those People Next Door

"In The Cleaner, Mary Watson creates an immersive, twisty, character-driven web of family secrets and lies that builds to an ending you won't see coming."―Fiona McPhillips, author of When We Were Silent

"Watson's adult debut is full of damaged characters, mindboggling twists, and tension that ratchets up to a fever pitch. It's a dark, sinister, oppressive, utterly riveting book about obsession, lies, and revenge and is guaranteed to keep readers mesmerized until the shocking finish."--Booklist

About the Author

Mary Watson is from Cape Town and now lives on the west coast of Ireland. She's worked as an art museum guide, library assistant, theatre duty manager, and an actor in children's musicals. She has a PhD from the University of Cape Town where she taught for many years. She won the Caine Prize and the Philida Award, and her YA novels have been nominated for the Irish Book Awards and the Carnegie Medal. The Cleaner is her worldwide adult debut.