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- Title: Housekeeper: A twisted psychological thriller
- Author: Natalie Barelli
- Narrator: Susie Berneis
- Length: 08:05:00
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 24/03/2020
- Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC
- Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Horror, Suspense
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
It reminds me of a time when I was winding through the narrow streets of Lisbon, the cobblestones slick with rain, listening to an audiobook that twisted my perception of reality. That same visceral thrill washed over me as I dove into “Housekeeper: A twisted psychological thriller” by Natalie Barelli, narrated by Susie Berneis. The story unfolds like a map to a hidden destination – one you’re not entirely sure you want to reach, but you can’t stop following the path.
This audiobook experience dropped me into the mind of Claire, a woman whose life has crumbled into a shadow of what it once was. She’s overweight, unkempt, and drowning in bitterness – a far cry from the vibrant teenager she describes from her past. When she spots Hannah Wilson – now Mrs. Carter – living the life Claire believes was stolen from her, the gears of revenge start turning. Claire’s decision to infiltrate Hannah’s home as a housekeeper is both audacious and chilling, a plot twist that hooked me from the start. You can almost feel the tension coiling tighter with every chapter, like the air before a storm breaks over the Andes.
The personal connection hit me hard. Years ago, I stayed with a family in Oaxaca, where the grandmother wove tales of betrayal and redemption under a flickering oil lamp. Her voice carried the weight of lived experience, and I found echoes of that intimacy in “Housekeeper”. Claire’s descent into obsession reminded me of those stories – how resentment festers, how it transforms us. I’ve seen it in my travels too: the way people cling to grudges like souvenirs, carrying them across borders and years. Barelli captures that human truth with a sharpness that cuts deep.
Thematically, this thriller is a masterclass in deception and identity. Claire’s ability to don a mask – both literally and figuratively – speaks to the masks we all wear, whether in a bustling mercado or a quiet suburb. The story probes the fragility of trust, the danger of envy, and the lengths we’ll go to reclaim what we’ve lost. It’s not just Claire who’s hiding something; Hannah and the others in that pristine house have their own secrets, layering the narrative like a palimpsest of lies. The suspense builds steadily, each revelation a jolt that kept me pacing my apartment as I listened, unable to sit still.
Susie Berneis’ narration elevates this audiobook to something extraordinary. Her voice is a chameleon – soft and unassuming one moment, then taut with menace the next. You can hear Claire’s unraveling in the way Berneis shifts her tone, her pacing mimicking the character’s spiraling thoughts. It’s reminiscent of that Oaxacan grandmother’s storytelling: deliberate pauses that make you lean in, a cadence that pulls you deeper into the dark. The audio quality is crisp, every whispered suspicion and creaking floorboard rendered with clarity by Dreamscape Media. At just over eight hours, the duration feels perfect – long enough to immerse you, short enough to devour in a weekend.
But it’s not flawless. At times, Claire’s inner monologue borders on repetitive, circling her grievances like a vulture over carrion. I found myself wishing Barelli had trusted the listener to connect the dots without so much reiteration. And while the twists are satisfyingly unpredictable, a few threads – like the backstory of Hannah’s husband – feel underexplored, leaving me hungry for more. Still, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise gripping listening experience.
Compared to other suspense audiobooks, “Housekeeper” sits comfortably alongside Lisa Jewell’s “The Family Upstairs”, another tale of domestic secrets narrated with haunting precision. Yet Barelli’s focus on a single, obsessive protagonist gives it a unique edge – a psychological depth that lingers like the scent of mezcal after a night in Oaxaca. It’s less about whodunit and more about “why”, a question that gnaws at you long after the final chapter.
For potential listeners, I’d recommend this to anyone who loves a slow-burn thriller with a side of character study. If you’ve ever felt the sting of envy or the pull of retribution, Claire’s journey will resonate. It’s ideal for a long drive – like my trek through the Atacama Desert, where the surreal landscape of “One Hundred Years of Solitude” kept me company – or a rainy afternoon when you want to lose yourself in someone else’s chaos. And if you can snag it as a free audiobook, as some platforms offer, it’s an even sweeter deal.
Reflecting on it now, “Housekeeper” feels like a story I stumbled upon in some hidden corner of the world – a whispered confession from a stranger at a roadside café. It’s raw, unsettling, and beautifully crafted, a reminder of how stories, like travel, can shake us awake. Berneis’ narration only deepens that connection, making it an audiobook experience I won’t soon forget.
Until our next adventure in stories and places, Marcus Rivera
