THE NANNY By Ruth Heald

Hailey took a job as a nanny when she went backpacking to Thailand. She was initially only taking care of the couple's two girls and not the baby, but she instantly bonds with Baby Chloe as well. Due to an unfortunate event Chloe disappears. Hailey is instantly the suspect but because there was no evidence she was let go.

😊What i liked -

✔ Psychological Thriller.
✔ I liked how the story kept bouncing from the present to the past and back.
✔ I liked Hailey's character. She is such a strong lady despite what she had to go through. (I like strong and real characters)
✔ I loved how I kept guessing about what was going to happen next or where Chloe could be.
✔ It's a very gripping story with a lot of twisty twists. A very on the edge kind of a read.
✔ This book has the kind of an ending where you are left baffled. (out of all the guesses i made , the end was far from it)


🤔What could have been better -

✔ Even though I loved the book and yes I do recommend it to everyone, there were times i felt it was stretched a little.


📚Who Should read :

👶Beginners
👮Thriller lovers
🕵Psychological Thriller lovers

📈My Rating : 4/5


Thank you Ruth Heald , Bookouture and Netgalley for a copy.

Swapping gears for one more fun blog tour today--from historical fiction back to psychological thrillers/mysteries. That would be my other genre of choice, in case you might be wondering.

Oh I so needed this book! It was just the perfect option for a psychological thriller, full of twists and turns. I loved how the story flipped between present day Haley and going back to 1999 Haley, filling in more information about the disappearance of baby Chloe.

The Nanny is a rather fast paced novel, and it's so hard to put it down. It's definitely one of those one more chapter type books until you realize it's the middle of the night and you've actually finished the book. You just have to keep try to solve what happened in Thailand and how that reconciles with present day Haley's life.

Read more on RockyMountainReads.com

The Nanny by Ruth Heald was another fantastic book I loved it. It was full of great twists and turns throughout that will have you hooked from the start to end a great page turner. Plus, it's one of her best books Ruth has written.

I highly recommend this book.5 star book.

Big Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I just finished reading The Nanny by Ruth Heald for a book tour with Bookouture and here is what I thought about it.

20 years is a long time for the past to come back and haunt you but this is what happened to Hayley.. During her time abroad, the baby she was looking after goes missing. The guilt ripped her apart every day but she did her best to live through it.

A woman ends up on her doorstep to rent the room she has. She looks familiar but she thinks she is imagining it. Then a man wants to do a story on the kidnapping and he is asking questions she doesn’t want to answer.

Can she keep from having her past collide with her present? Can Hayley stop a secret so devastating from ending her marriage? Can she keep her daughter safe from the dangers the truth might bring?

This book…. THIS BOOK! I wasn’t sure I had figured it out the whole time. It kept me guessing right to the very end. I love books like this. The kind of read that keeps twisting you around until you aren’t sure what way up or down is. Even the end was a twist to end all twists!
Hayley and Lars have a daughter together and a life, with some financial issues but nothing a lodger won’t help with. Trouble is, she has a face that reminds her of the past and I loved watching how all that unraveled. It was so great seeing all the strands coming together to blow your mind.
The story strandles to time lines. The present and 20 years previously and I usually don’t like books that jump around the way this one did but it actually made a lot of sense to write it the way the author did. It helped bring the whole thing to the kind of climax any thriller reader loves to have.
The pace was well done and I never felt that the story waned at all. I felt terribly sorry for Hayley all the way through. You really feel for what she lived through. I found the character development was well done for the limited amount of time spent on anyone else. It all came together really well and the ending just explodes out and you won’t be able to help saying WHAT!!!!
Are you a thriller lover? Do you like feeling like a pretzel? THIS HAS TO BE YOUR NEXT READ!
5 stars. Take all the stars! Brilliantly captivating masterpiece.
Thank you to bookouture and #netgalley for the privilege of reading this book!

Somehow, I only recently managed to discover Ruth Heald’s books, and I knew straight away that I had found a new favourite author.

This latest novel is superb. I found myself totally drawn into it, and I just couldn’t stop reading it.

The story has a dual timeline, and goes between the events of 1999 in Thailand, and the present day. I really liked Hayley as a character, and I was really intrigued as to what might have happened to baby Chloe. Hayley didn’t strike me as a character who would intentionally harm Chloe, who she was really fond of.

As the story unfolds there seem to be multiple potential scenarios and so many people keeping secrets. I was really struck at how, when Hayley recalls her time in Thailand, she was so young and couldn’t even see how badly she was being treated. David and Julie were really taking advantage of her. When the plot all comes together at the end, it all makes perfect sense.

Really cleverly plotted, with enough twists, turns and secrets to keep you riveted, this psychological thriller is a must-read.

3.5/5 rounded up to four.

This book is a flip back and forth tale of a woman who may or may not have stolen a baby from a couple she was working for. What has Hayley done? What does she know? Where is baby Chloe?

I was rushing to the end of this tale to see what had happened to the little baby and what Hayley was hiding. The ending will shock you and coke up quickly.

Thanks to bookouture and netgalley for this arc!

I am a big fan of Ruth Heald, having loved some of her previous books.
The Nanny is a gripping, fast paced and clever thriller and is unputdownable. All qualities that are a must for me in this genre.
The dual timeline adds a new interest for the reader as Hayley balances her new life with her past. There's a lot to keep track of- the timeline, the characters and their relationship together made the denouement something to behold. I would recommend readers keeping their concentration when reading this one!

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A captivating read, full of twists and turns and an explosive conclusion. A recommended read.

The Nanny is an immersive page-turner. It’s provocative and shocking and hurtles along at breakneck speed.

The past forges the present; that’s a fact that’s well known. How long can we keep running before it catches up with us? We can lace up those Nikes and get a head start, but the funny thing about our past is that it’ll always know where we are, where we reside; its GPS is continually trained on you. Some people are lucky in the knowledge that their past harbours no secrets, no skeletons in the closet – but for some, as is the case of the protagonist, Hayley, her past is something she’s worked hard to bury.

The Nanny is one of those rare novels that engages you from the start and holds you captive until the end. It’s entertaining; it makes your heart skip a beat, and there are too many “OMG” moments to keep count. It pays tribute to the old saying – you can’t trust anyone or anything. Finally, it makes you appreciate your boring life; although not much happens, at least you’re not left trying to swim through the murky waters of the past.

Okay, so Hayley is a multi-layered character that I felt immense sympathy for. First, the reader gets an insight into her past and present – the present-day Hayley is a mother to six-year-old Alice. She works in Student Services at the local university. She’s married to Lars, a successful businessman working incredibly hard to keep them afloat; they are undoubtedly facing financial ruin if he doesn’t land an important contract. Her mother stays with them as she declines with Dementia; she has a carer, Michelle, who comes in daily to help her but fears she might need to up her hours as her mother’s memory worsens. Hayley is worried for another reason. However, student Ryan, an aspiring crime writer, is interested in the case where a baby girl went missing in Thailand – a girl she nannied for, a secret she’s determined to keep. He wants to write a true crime story about it and thinks it’ll be his big break.

Hayley spent her gap year travelling, found herself in Thailand, and nannied three beautiful girls – Eva, Emily & baby Chloe. She loved the job but hated Julie, her employer; her husband David was nicer to her, but neither bothered with David’s children from a previous marriage, Eva and Emily. It broke my heart how they were treated and then ostracised when Chloe came along. However, it was only going to be a matter of time before things came to a head.

Don’t assume you know the end of this story; nothing is as it seems; you’ve got a jigsaw in your hand with about 10 bits missing – you don’t know that until the crucial moment. Ruth Heald is a mistress of compulsive plots – I found myself chewing on my nails; I was that nervous. There is nothing not to love about The Nanny.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Great thriller!!! Lots of unexpected twists. The twists kept me interested and made the book less of a cookie cutter of other psychological thrillers.
Really good one.

I loved this very twisty book. I was constantly trying to guess who the culprit was and getting it wrong. This was a quick read but it was so good I just couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this book from Bookouture via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This is the first book I have read in a while that I was racing through, not wanting to put it down. The chapters alternating between 1999 & present-day were a great tool to build suspense. I loved the vivid descriptions of Thailand and the backpacker life. Two of the twists I saw coming but not for a while into the book. Two other twists surprised me. If I am mentioning 4 twists, this is clearly a twisty novel!

I was a little disappointed in the ending but it may just be my personal preference and desire for a different outcome. Also, without spoilers, I think one character's reactions to events are not at all believable as it would take superhuman strength to not react to the situation this character was presented with. You will know immediately what I mean once you read it!

So this book had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish and i loved that twist at the end.A definite recommendation

thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read so i can give an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are my own and arent influenced by anyone else

This is an enjoyable story told in two timelines and two countries. Some great characters and lots of twists to keep the reader interested. . Another great story from this author. Well done Ruth !!

This book left me reeling! Full of twists and turns, I had a hard time putting this book down!!!

The Nanny is told in two timelines with each chapter titled so there is no confusion. In the past, we see Haley as a nineteen-year-old who is backpacking in Thailand and takes a job as a Nanny. Haley instantly forms a bond with the children in her care. She adores them and stays at this job even when Julie, her employer is less than nice to her. In the present we see Haley as a married mother who takes in a Lodger due to experiencing money problems.

Her lodger begins to ask questions which make Haley uncomfortable, such as what happened to the baby who went missing twenty years ago?

WOW! This book took me by surprise! I loved the two timelines and how the author gave us little bits on information in each. As Heald built her plot, I was fully absorbed and invested in what was happening and tried my best to figure out how the book would end. I was WRONG! I love when that happens. It makes the final resolution even more enjoyable.

I found this book hard to put down. I just HAD to know what whapped and what was going to happen.

Gripping well thought out, and a page turner!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ruth's books are always page turners and this one was no exception.

The story is about Hayley, a young girl travelling with her friends around Thailand. Short of money, she accepts a job as a nanny to a British couple and their three children, Emily, Eva and baby Chloe. It seems like the dream job until Chloe suddenly disappears and Hayley is initially blamed, although later released. Fast forward twenty years and Hayley is married with a young daughter of her own, Alice. But the secrets of the past and the tragic events that took place all those years ago are never far away from Hayley's thoughts, coupled with a new lodger who may not be who she seems.

Hayley is your classic unreliable narrator and I loved how you never quite knew whether you could believe her or not. She is likeable however and so I found myself rooting for her. All the characters are richly drawn, some were downright evil, but believable nonetheless. The Bangkok scenes were expertly captured, I almost felt I could smell and taste some of the descriptions! The dual timelines also worked really well, drawing you ever closer to what really happened, and the twists! At least one twist left me gasping out loud!

A book I'd highly recommend to all. Can't wait for Ruth's next book!

Thanks to author Ruth Heald, publishers Bookouture and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

1999

Julie and David McFarlane live in Bangkok, Thailand. They have two daughters from David’s first marriage staying with them temporarily and Julie is expecting a baby any day.

Hayley Taylor has been in Thailand with two friends touring around and enjoying the sights. When her money is stolen, she needs to find a job. So, she responds to an ad for a nanny with the McFarlane’s. By now, Julie’s baby, Chloe, is born and she wants to go back to her job as a doctor. Hayley has full responsibility for all three girls day and night in addition to cooking and cleaning. It’s a lot of work, but she loves the girls and wants to give them the attention and love they need.

When Hayley finally realizes she cannot take Julie’s abuse anymore, she resigns. But then Chloe goes missing and Hayley is arrested. Kept only overnight in jail, she is released and returns home to the UK.

Present Day

Hayley is now married to Lars and mother to 6-year-old, Alice. Hayley’s mother lives with them because she has been diagnosed with dementia. Lars works in his office upstairs at home. However, his company is not doing well and money has become very tight for them. They realize that if they take in a Lodger, the money from that will help with some of the bills. Johanna is the perfect person and they welcome her into their home. But, she reminds Hayley of someone and she wonders if the past has come back to haunt her.

Switching back and forth in time, little clues come to light and we see a bit more each time of what happened in Thailand and who the characters are. Hayley is keeping secrets and doesn’t want to upset her family. Now, she wonders whom she can trust.

A good story here with lots of questions. Readers will boo-hiss Julie and David and root for Hayley…maybe. Come read this book and see if you can solve the puzzle.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

When eighteen-year-old Hayley accepts a job as a nanny for British couple David and Julie while in Bangkok she can’t believe her luck and quickly bonds with baby Chloe and her sisters Emily and Eva. But tensions soon rise between Hayley and the couple and when little Chloe disappears the same night that Hayley leaves, she is blamed and questioned by police. With no evidence the police release her and she is free to rebuild her life.

Twenty years later Hayley is married with a young daughter of her own but is still haunted by what happened all those years ago and the secret she’s been keeping ever since. A secret that is now at risk of being revealed.

Tense, twisty and unpredictable, The Nanny is a compelling thriller. The story alternates between timelines as it tells the story of what happened in Bangkok and current events. Hayley is an unreliable narrator and we are never quite sure what secrets she is keeping or if we can really trust her. All the same, she was a likeable character who I enjoyed reading and felt a lot of sympathy for during her time in Bangkok. There are some well-written background characters such as Johanna, who I liked but never fully trusted. But it was Julie who was the best character for me. A new mother isn’t your typical villain but Heald has created someone I truly despised and, quite frankly, needed telling where to get off.

This is one of those books that really keeps you guessing for most of the book and just when I thought I’d got it all figured out, the rug was pulled from under me with another shocking twist that changed everything I thought I knew. As the suspense builds to a heart-stopping climax, I was on the edge of my seat and reading in breathless anticipation.

A first-rate thriller filled with mystery and foreboding, The Nanny is a riveting page-turner from one of my must-read authors.

First, I want to thank Ruth Heald, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.

O.M.G. WOW!! Inspired from the 1990s Louise Woodward case, The Nanny is one of Ruth Heald’s most fascinating reads to date! The Nanny was gripping, fast paced, addicting, intense, heartbreaking, tragic, secrets, wicked twists, shocking revelations galore that you will not see coming! Go put this on top of your TBR list!! You won’t be sorry!!

Ruth chose to start off The Nanny in an out of the box sort of way. She posted a newspaper article of the specific event that would set the tone for the book. She hooked me into the storyline as instantly she knew how to pull hard on my heartstrings!

What I thought was different about this book compared to others that I have read it this book didn’t just have one but two prologues to it.

If I had been blessed to be a mother (which I am not-yet a proud Auntie) however, I too like Hayley would be worried and overprotective over Alice!

I liked how Ruth set most of this book in Bangkok, Thailand. It gave the book a little cultural feel to it.

This is one book that had situations and characters that if you blinked you would miss something important. Infact, I ended up going back and re-reading parts of it to make sure that I didn’t miss anything!

Well I absolutely loved The Nanny. The description alone gave me chills and I was totally engrossed in the story from the first chapter. I enjoyed the dual timeline as we learnt more about just what happened when Hayley was on her gap year in Thailand. It was a complete page turner which I just could not put down, Fantastic!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.