this had compelling sociopolitical subtexts but i found myself apathetic to the plot and characters until the end. i think suspense/thrillers aren't really for me 😅

The girl dies at the end… this is not a spoiler. We are told this almost immediately by the narrator, Estela, a live-in maid to a wealthy Chilean family. Her confidence that we will continue reading to find out more is certainly intriguing. She speaks from a locked room, we don’t know where, we don’t know why, and we don’t know who to, but we become part of her mysterious audience too.

It is quickly clear that there is more to the story than just a dramatic ending, Estela tells us of her daily life and routine with details that at first may seem unimportant, explaining the chores that she does for the family, and her role within the household. Underneath this story of household mundanity, however, is an interesting exploration of class, with Estela highlighting the toll it takes upon domestic workers, treated sometimes more like tools for the wealthy rather than as human beings. Often having left behind their own families in order to work in another’s home. 

The longer the story goes on we see Estela grappling with the realisation that she is almost invisible within the home, and it was later in the book that I really began to connect with her as a character. And in terms of social criticism too, this is where the harder questions began to appear. 

Initially this is quite a slow burn, almost a domestic noir, but with far more layers to the story. Although it takes place within the walls of one house, it is so clear throughout that there is a wider story to be taken, about the class system, violence and politics in Chile. I thought it was perfectly paced to build suspense and leave the reader wanting more. 

@4thestatebooks are fast becoming one of my favourite imprints… whenever an envelope drops into my postbox with their logo on it I get excited so thank you to them for this one too! It hit the shelves yesterday and you should go and buy it!