3.5
Clean
ByPublisher Description
INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER!
FEATURED ON NPR FRESH AIR, NPR WEEKEND EDITION, CBS MORNINGS, AND NBC THE TODAY SHOW
“A brilliant literary thriller.” – NBC The Today Show
"A masterclass in suspense … Extraordinary." – Paula Hawkins
“Terrifying, explosive and exhilarating” – Katie Kitamura
"A modern masterpiece." -LitHub
From a global star and International Booker Prize finalist, a razor-sharp, unforgettable novel about a maid who’s seen too much and a family at a breaking point
A young girl has died and the family’s maid is being interrogated. She must tell the whole story before arriving at the girl’s death.
Estela came from the countryside, leaving her mother behind, to work for the señor and señora when their only child was born. They wanted a housemaid: “smart appearance, full time,” their ad said. She wanted to make enough money to support her mother and return home. For seven years, Estela cleaned their laundry, wiped their floors, made their meals, kept their secrets, witnessed their fights and frictions, raised their daughter. She heard the rats scrabbling in the ceiling, saw the looks the señor gave the señora; she knew about the poison in the cabinet, the gun, the daughter’s rebellion as she grew up, the mother’s coldness, the father’s distance. She saw it all.
After a series of shocking betrayals and revelations, Estela stops speaking, breaking her silence only now, to tell the story of how it all fell apart. Is this a story of revenge or a confession? Class warfare or a cautionary tale? Building tension with every page, Clean is a gripping, incisive exploration of power, domesticity, and betrayal from an international star at the height of her powers.
FEATURED ON NPR FRESH AIR, NPR WEEKEND EDITION, CBS MORNINGS, AND NBC THE TODAY SHOW
“A brilliant literary thriller.” – NBC The Today Show
"A masterclass in suspense … Extraordinary." – Paula Hawkins
“Terrifying, explosive and exhilarating” – Katie Kitamura
"A modern masterpiece." -LitHub
From a global star and International Booker Prize finalist, a razor-sharp, unforgettable novel about a maid who’s seen too much and a family at a breaking point
A young girl has died and the family’s maid is being interrogated. She must tell the whole story before arriving at the girl’s death.
Estela came from the countryside, leaving her mother behind, to work for the señor and señora when their only child was born. They wanted a housemaid: “smart appearance, full time,” their ad said. She wanted to make enough money to support her mother and return home. For seven years, Estela cleaned their laundry, wiped their floors, made their meals, kept their secrets, witnessed their fights and frictions, raised their daughter. She heard the rats scrabbling in the ceiling, saw the looks the señor gave the señora; she knew about the poison in the cabinet, the gun, the daughter’s rebellion as she grew up, the mother’s coldness, the father’s distance. She saw it all.
After a series of shocking betrayals and revelations, Estela stops speaking, breaking her silence only now, to tell the story of how it all fell apart. Is this a story of revenge or a confession? Class warfare or a cautionary tale? Building tension with every page, Clean is a gripping, incisive exploration of power, domesticity, and betrayal from an international star at the height of her powers.
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3.5

Eliise-Marie
Created about 23 hours agoShare
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“This was a reflective story that delves into memory, identity, and the weight of personal and political history. The writing is lyrical and pretty easy to follow, with a narrative that flows between timelines.
While the story is competently told, I found myself questioning its deeper purpose. It felt like the narrative didn’t fully justify why it needed to be told, and the open-ended conclusion, though likely intentional, left me wanting more closure or impact.
Ultimately, it has its moments, but it didn’t fully resonate with me. It’s a decent read, but not one that left a lasting impression.”

Zoe Coultan-Noble
Created about 24 hours agoShare
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Drea87
Created 1 day agoShare
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Curlychica
Created 4 days agoShare
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“I have never read a book like this. It is very interesting but sad.
I’m glad I read it . If you want something different this is for you.
The title fits but not in the way you think .”
About Alia Trabucco Zerán
Born in Chile, Alia Trabucco Zerán is the author of a nonfiction book, When Women Kill, and the novel The Remainder, which was a finalist for the International Booker Prize and has been translated into eight languages.
Sophie Hughes is the translator of more than twenty books. She has been nominated for the International Booker Prize four times.
Sophie Hughes is the translator of more than twenty books. She has been nominated for the International Booker Prize four times.
Other books by Alia Trabucco Zerán
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