We first meet Millie, a 27-year-old woman with a criminal record who is desperate for a fresh start and can't believe her good fortune in securing a job as a live-in housemaid for the wealthy Nina and Andrew Winchester.

Very (very) quickly she realises that this job is too good to be true. Her room is in the attic and the door locks from the outside. Nina makes a mess to watch Millie clean it up and she tells lies about her own daughter. 

Andrew seems the perfect husband, devoted and long suffering, and Millie is attracted to him and the life Nina enjoys. 

Who is in charge here? Who's pulling the strings? There are twists and turns and we're never quite sure all is as it seems.

This book has sold millions, topping the charts in the US and the UK. I enjoyed it, just because I had no preconceptions and was eager to find out what all the fuss was about. While a number of elements in the plot didn't 'ring true' if thought through, it was good entertainment and for those who have been hooked, there are sequels, and the film to enjoy too.