Title: THE CLEANER
Author: Mary Watson
ISBN: 9781529929010
Publisher: Transworld
Pages: 400
Source: Review copy from the publisher
Blog Tour Organised by Random Things Tours
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 own secrets…
Official Summary
31 January 2025
The Cleaner is a clever, atmospheric, and slow-burning thriller that blends revenge, intrigue, and the secrets of the elite into an intoxicating read. The story is driven by Esmie, a cleaner with a hidden agenda, whose quiet determination and sharp observations make her a captivating protagonist.
Esmie’s dual role as an unnoticed cleaner and a seeker of justice creates a fascinating tension throughout the novel. Her foreign accent and humble uniform render her invisible in the eyes of the privileged residents of the exclusive Woodlands neighbourhood, giving her access to their most private spaces. But Esmie isn’t just gathering dust—she’s uncovering their deepest secrets, all in pursuit of revenge against the person who took everything from her.
Mary Watson excels at building suspense. The narrative unfolds with a slow but deliberate pace, giving readers time to fully absorb Esmie’s methodical unravelling of the polished facades in Woodlands. The detailed descriptions of the residents’ lives—marred by broken marriages, infidelities, and betrayals—are both compelling and unsettling, creating a rich tapestry of dysfunction that feels authentic.
Esmie is a brilliant character. Her resilience, intelligence, and hidden pain make her easy to root for, even as her methods push moral boundaries. Watson does an excellent job of keeping Esmie’s motivations grounded in raw emotion, ensuring readers remain empathetic to her plight.
The novel’s strength lies in its psychological depth and the way it weaves social commentary into the thriller format. Themes of privilege, invisibility, and power dynamics are explored subtly but effectively, adding layers of complexity to the story.
However, the pacing might not appeal to everyone. The deliberate buildup can feel slow at times, particularly in the first half, where Esmie’s observations and inner thoughts take centre stage. While this adds depth to her character, it occasionally detracts from the urgency of the revenge plot. Additionally, some secondary characters could have been more fully developed to match the richness of Esmie’s narrative.
The climax, though satisfying, leans more on emotional closure than shocking twists. This works well within the context of Esmie’s journey, but readers seeking a jaw-dropping reveal might find it slightly subdued.
The Cleaner is a thoughtful and gripping tale of vengeance and justice, elevated by Watson’s keen eye for detail and ability to create a vivid, tension-filled atmosphere. A solid 4-star read, this book is perfect for fans of psychological thrillers that delve into the darker corners of human nature while keeping you hooked until the very last page.
Also by Mary Watson
THE WREN HUNT
Every Christmas, Wren is chased through the woods near her isolated village by her family’s enemies—the Judges—and there’s nothing that she can do to stop it. Once her people, the Augurs, controlled a powerful magic. But now that power lies with the Judges, who are set on destroying her kind for good.
In a desperate bid to save her family, Wren takes a dangerous undercover assignment—as an intern to an influential Judge named Cassa Harkness. Cassa has spent her life researching a transformative spell, which could bring the war between the factions to its absolute end. Caught in a web of deceit, Wren must decide whether or not to gamble on the spell and seal the Augurs’ fate.
About The Author
Author bio from the author’s site
I grew up in Cape Town where I worked as an art museum custodian, library assistant, actress in children’s musicals, front-of-house duty manager, and university lecturer. My PhD was in film studies and I’ve always been obsessed with stories.
I attempted my first book (with illustrations) when I was five. At sixteen, I had a vivid dream about a girl and her father who walked a magic garden, hiding an awful secret. This grew into a collection of connected short stories, Moss (Kwela, 2004) which I wrote under the mentorship of André Brink at the University of Cape Town. I was awarded the Caine Prize in 2006. My second book, The Cutting Room (Penguin South Africa, 2013), is about ghosts, sort of, and crime.
In 2009, I moved to Galway, Ireland. After The Cutting Room, I knew I wanted to write a fantasy book. When my youngest child was born, I found reading YA books kept me awake during the long nights. I was lost in stories of brave girls. Of magic worlds and dystopias, zombies and vampires, queens and assassins while (almost) everyone around me slept, and the first seeds of The Wren Hunt were planted.
Thank you to Anne Carter, from Random Things Tours, for sharing this book with me. I am new to Mary Watson and look forward to adding more of her work to my TBR. Are you a fan? Which is your favourite book? I would love to hear from you, please leave a comment below. Until next time…. Happy Reading!
