Emma Curtis

Three women. Three secrets. The women are Claudia, Anna and Sara and yes, I can confirm that they have a large number of secrets.

As the book begins, Claudia is released from prison after admitting the manslaughter of her baby daughter, Tilly, ten years earlier. But Claudia only confessed so she would be released and be able to try and find out what really happened. Anna is the woman who should have been babysitting Tilly that fateful day, but who let Claudia and her husband, Joe, down. Sara is Joe's new wife and they have a baby together and are living in the house where Claudia used to live with her family.

Claudia is determined to get to the bottom of Tilly's disappearance and this makes her quite volatile and vulnerable. She was my favourite character and I was always pleased when the focus switched back to her, probably because she was in the process of uncovering and discovering and I enjoy that in a novel. I did sometimes get Sara and Anna a bit muddled up and found them quite similar whereas Claudia's character really stood out.

I found The Babysitter to be a story that gripped me and kept me reading, wanting to know the truth of what happened to Tilly and who made it happen. It's fast-paced and twisty with a plot that I found compelling. Claudia literally has nothing to lose in leaving no stone unturned whereas Anna and Sara have much to hide. I didn't know who to believe or trust and that's exactly what I want in a psychological thriller.… (mehr)

Eliza Curran is unhappily married to a controlling but wealthy man, whom she is desperate to leave. Her life is turned upside down when she takes on a new tenant for the flat she is in the middle of project managing. He quickly and charmingly inveigles himself into her family. Is he too good to be true?

This is quite a slow burning psychological thriller. It’s well written, atmospherically so, gradually drawing you in to its murky and disturbing depths! None of the characters are particularly likeable. They all have their own peculiar issues. The plot is quite predictable, spiralling into madness sometimes, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying it. I really wanted to give Eliza, who is the narrator, a shake at times. She comes over as such a foolish person, she even made me cringe a little. I think the main gist of the story is really about what happens when a person with an agenda tries to insinuate themselves into your life and the consequences, rather than about how many dead bodies mount up. At the end of the day, however, this is an entertaining and engaging thriller which had me eagerly turning the pages to find out what happens next.… (mehr)

Thank You to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for this ARC!!

Jenny has just given birth to the baby she’s always wanted and she's happier than never before. However, her husband, Leo, knows this baby girl can’t be his.

The same night, a vulnerable young woman, Hannah, wakes to find her newborn lifeless beside her. She’s crazed with grief. When chance throws Hannah into Leo’s path, they make a plan that will have shattering consequences for all of them.

Years later, a sixteen-year-old girl reads an article in a newspaper, and embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about herself. But what she learns will put everything she has ever known – and her own life – in grave danger.

I was attracted to this book for its premise and cover, and I wasn't disappointed. It was exciting and I was engaged throughout. I loved both the concept and the execution!!

Interesting read with a good ending and decent amount of suspense.… (mehr)