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The Cleaner – Mary Watson

Book cover of The Cleaner by Mary Watson

The Cleaner is a story about Esme, a young woman fleeing the poverty and tragedy of her life in an undisclosed country (though South America is strongly hinted at). She arrives in Ireland not just looking for work, but seeking answers to a family mystery. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn that her brother, Nico, was studying at a local university before suddenly returning home, dreams shattered, only to end up in a coma. Esme takes it upon herself to find the truth about what happened, through observation, bribery, and blackmail, she’s willing to risk it all.

Told entirely from Esme’s perspective, The Cleaner is a slow-burning mystery that pulls you in through atmosphere and unease. It doesn’t rush, it creeps, with purpose. Every page feels like peeling back a layer of polished veneer to expose something a little rotten beneath. As Esme navigates the exclusive world of the privileged families she works for, we’re drawn into a murky puzzle where the clues are all there, but just out of reach, waiting to snap into place.

And while it’s a mystery at its core, the book is also intricately woven. Watson’s portrayal of Esme is masterful. We begin to sense, gradually, that this narrator might not be entirely reliable. How much of what we see is real, and how much is Esme’s filtered version of events? It makes you second-guess not only her decisions, but your own sympathies.

One of the most thought-provoking aspects of the novel is its exploration of class and invisibility. Esme doesn’t just clean the houses of the wealthy; she witnesses them, learns their secrets, sees what they overlook. Watson weaves in sharp social commentary about privilege, the commodification of labour, and how different worlds can coexist in the same space without ever truly touching. What one person sees as a minor inconvenience, another sees as survival.

There are a few bumps in the narrative. You do need to suspend your disbelief a little, particularly around just how easily Esme lands the exact cleaning job she needs. Also, despite her supposedly packed cleaning schedule, she often seems to have endless time to snoop, scheme, and theorise. At times, the plot’s pacing can feel meandering, almost static, but if you stick with it, the payoff is worth it.

The Cleaner is unsettling, clever, and quietly bold. It’s the kind of story that lingers with you, not just because of what happened, but because it challenges how you feel about what happened. If you enjoy mysteries that make you think – and squirm a little – this one is well worth your time.

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