This one wasn't quite for me. While I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC, I found the writing style a bit tough to get through and struggled to connect with the story at the beginning.

However, there's no denying it's a disturbing read that will definitely stick with you. The story seems to play on your mind in a way that's both unsettling and intriguing. So, if you're looking for a dark and thought-provoking book that might be a challenge to get into but linger long after you finish, this one might be worth checking out!

Thanks Netgalley and Atlantic Books for allowing me to read this e-book in exchange for an honest review.


This book took me on a journey full of twists and turns, with moments of excitement and disappointment. However, despite the ups and downs, I found it rewarding to persevere to the end. Curtis skillfully tells the story from the perspectives of Claudia, Sara, and Anna, keeping the narrative engaging and revealing the complexity of their intertwined lives. From the outset, the three women have things in common, which deepen as the story progresses. In 'The Babysitter", the author uses multiple perspectives to show their different, often negative sides. This narrative technique is fascinating as it offers insights into the characters' relationships from different angles and allows readers to get a full picture of their dynamics.

The first half of the book progresses well, developing the relationships between the characters while keeping the story interesting. I admired Claudia’s courage (or rather her desperation) in turning to other women to get justice for her daughter. You can tell the woman has no plan for her goal, and at times I found her path too risky. In other cases, however, I was confused by her way of acting. An example of this is the unexpected visits to her home, both at night and when she's not home, and the constant jokes she makes around the house. Why didn’t she come up with something to figure this out and fix it instead of allowing it to continue?

In the second part of the story I found it dragged a bit and only towards the end, when the plot reached its climax, did the pace pick up again. However, the ending seemed too short and half-baked to me, as the author left a lot of clues throughout the story. I’m not saying the ending wasn't satisfying, but it felt a bit rushed when it could have used more development. For example, why isn’t there a scene where Claudia reconnects with her daughter? or even takes part in the process of ending his situation?

In summary, “The Babysitter” is a good read, for those who are interested in the mystery thriller genre where it focuses much more on the relationship than the action.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The Babysitter by Emma Curtis in exchange for an honest review.

This was a whirlwind. I enjoyed this book and loved the plot twists! It was fast paced, dark and tense and the multiple POV’s was really interesting to read.

I absolutely hated Joe; he is nothing more than a pedophile who preys on his students - it seems like every relationship he’s had is with a student! I hated how romanticised all the underaged relationships were and how he has managed to successfully groom both of his wives and what seems like countless other students.

I would recommend this book to thriller readers.

A fabulous thriller with plenty going on to make this a gripping page turner.

Told in the pov of 3 women, which was great to follow.

I'd give this one a 4 star as it had me hooked and the plot was full of twists.

I loved this book. I ended up listening to the audiobook, and the narration was excellent while the storyline kept me deeply invested. I adored that we had this semi-unreliable narrator who didn't trust her own memories and behaviour, along with the three POVs that were twisted together to reveal little snippets of the story, piece by piece. I was absolutely enraptured, and I listened to the whole thing in one sitting, desperate to know what had happened to Tilly - and to see the right people face their consequences.

One of my favourite aspects of the book, that I found absolutely fascinating, was the way that Claudia had to deal with her incarceration. It changed her whole perspective, her whole character, and I really enjoyed exploring the way that 10 years incarcerated for a crime she didn't commit impacted this woman. Her false confession to make parole, plus the pain of being shunned in her home town made for a heart-wrenching read, and I liked the way that Emma Curtis explored the juxtaposition that some people feel after being freed from incarceration - that she never wanted to go back there, but that she'd been somewhat institutionalised and that it was hard to feel safe without the closed walls and loud noises of prison.

A slow burning thriller about 3 women with secrets. Full of twists and turns. I could not wait to read more to find out who was capable of murder. A very tense psychological thriller.

This was a great story, read between paperback and netgalley arc. Emma Curtis is fab at weaving a twisty storyline that you are constantly shocked by! Great book :)

More of a domestic thriller this is the deep dive of a neighborhood or friend group. It’s pretty page turning and a fun read.

This hooked me from the very first page, I honestly couldn't read it fast enough.
The story is amazing too, Claudia is released from prison after pleading guilty to a crime she did not commit, she knows a stranger kidnapped and possibly murdered her baby but nobody else believes her, now shes out she's got nothing to lose.
Sara is Claudia's ex husbands new wife, I thought something was strange with her right from the beginning and the more I read the more my suspicions was confirmed.
And is the babysitter who let claudia and her husband down the night that Tilly was taken but was she really poorly at home or was she doing something else?.
I know it's only january but I jut know that this book will be one of the best that I read all year, it's jut perfect in every way and such a wild ride.

From the start of this book, it was a page turner. You didn't know who was going to be responsible at the end. Great storyline, sad in parts with death involved. Would be interested in how they bring it all together in a Netflex series/film (noted at the end)

Thank you very much to the publicist for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Emma Curtis is a great domestic thriller author for anyone who hasn’t read anything by her before
The very first chapter of this book sucked me in. I immediately knew that Claudia wasn’t to blame. My heart really went out to this character; serving time for the murder of her child, but knowing she never killed her child and having to grieve at the same time.
There was one character in this book (I won’t mention the name for spoilers!) who I really didn’t trust. They had such an ulterior motive and I was right!
The book keeps you guessing throughout, and Emma really demonstrates the anxiety and grief that the parents are feeling through the pages.
A high recommendation from me!

I don't think I have read any books by Emma Curtis before, so this was a good introduction.

The story follows Claudia, just released from prison and determined to find out the truth about her missing daughter after being imprisoned for her murder with a body ever being found.

We also get to see the perspective of Sara, who is the new wife of Claudia's ex-husband Joe - she loves being married to him and a mum to their little girl Maeve and she doesn't want Claudia coming back and causing any issues.

None of the characters are particularly likeable, but each have their own reasons and the pieces start to fall together as things escalate. I did guess the twist, but still feel it was told in an original way.

Towards the end the story gets a bit muddier with side characters adding details that seemed unnecessary - but then again I guess in real life situations there is often more than one narrative and not always clear from the start what the correct sequence of events is.

Overall I though it was a good story and I think a lot of people will enjoy all the twists and turns.

Absolute nightmare situation for new mother Claudia, handing her beloved toddler Tilly over to a new babysitter and then being accused of Tilly's murder, as she is never seen again. Claudia goes to prison for Tilly's manslaughter, adamant that she wasn't involved, but with no way to prove her innocence. Claudia's husband Joe has moved on with wife 2 and they have their own daughter now.

When Claudia is released from prison, she has nothing left but is determined to do what it takes to find the truth. Everyone is against her, neighbours turn against her, her stepfather is very unwelcoming, she has hardly anyone on her side.

The plot twists and turns so many times, each twist adding more complexity to the story and more drama to Claudia's heartbreaking situation. The ending was perfectly pitched

This book is SO good! I read it in 3 nights. I couldn't wait to go to bed so I could get straight back into it. It is a real puzzler - you cannot help but wonder what happened to the child and who was responsible for it. The husband, well ex-husband, was such a well written character too. Totally spinless and self serving. This book had me totally gripped, I could not wait to find out what had happened. The 3 women are all brilliantly written too and driven by each of their own reasons for doing what they do but its hard not to root for Claudia - she is brilliant. Highly recommend!!

This book was so good! It was intriguing and really drawed me in. I'll be reading more of this authors work.

I had not read anything by Emma Curtis before but I will now be adding her to my ‘go to’ authors list.

Tilly disappeared and Claudia - her mother - was found guilty of her murder. She confessed to her manslaughter in order to uncover what really happened to her baby. Her investigations hinge on Sara - the new wife and Anna - the babysitter.

She uncovers facts about her ex-husband, Joe, which cause her to rethink her marriage and life with him.

Her return to her parents’ home cause unease amongst her neighbours and the main characters to react to her probing.

None of the main characters are likeable and as secrets are slowly allow to emerge you begin to work out who is likely to be the killer.

The novel was fast paced and dramatic although the ending for me was perhaps over dramatic.

Overall a satisfying psychological thriller.

The Babysitter by Emma Curtis was a brilliant book from start to finish. This book is about three women who has three secrets. But, we all know, secrets always have a way of coming to the surface. It doesn't matter how hard you try to keep these hidden, they always have away of coming out..............

Then years ago, Claudia 's life stopped, when she collapsed inward as from external pressure from the Police and confessed to the murder of Tilly her eight month old daughter and was convicted. But, the body of Tilly was never found. Now, she has done the unthinkable and confessed to manslaughter only to be granted parole. This is the only way and hope of actually finding out what happened to Tilly. Especially as the killer who took her daughter is still out there, and she will do anything to find them and hopefully her daughter is still alive!

Sara is married to Joe, who was Claudia's ex-husband, they have a young child together. She finally has everything she ever wanted, but Claudia's release threatens their perfect life she has created.

Anna was the babysitter who let Claudia and Joe down on day their daughter disappeared. Married with a child of her own, Claudia's reappearance in her quiet cul-de-sac is an unwelcome surprise.

These three women are tied together in more ways than they realise.

But only one of them is capable of killing.

But, Who?

WoW this book was so good and full of brilliant twists and turns that will have you turning the pages to find out what happens next.

I highly recommend this book I loved it!

Big Thank you to NetGalley Viper and Serpents Tail for my E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Babysitter is a really good psychological thriller that I enjoyed.
Claudia has been jailed for the murder of her child, she has now managed to get released by admitting to the crime but she has other ideas because now she’s out she’s going to find out who did murder her child. Joe is Claudia’s ex husband and is married to Sara, they have a daughter together and Sara will do anything to stop her perfect life being turned upside down.
This was a decent read that I enjoyed, I liked how it was a tightly knit community and everyone seemed to live on top of each other making it a more tense read. Claudia was a food lead character and showed a inner strength through everything that happened to her. The dimension of her mother and step father not agreeing if she was innocent or not gave a different side story. I would recommend this book.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Atlantic Books for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, where do I start with this review?!? I knew from the synopsis that this was going to be a dark thriller. The subject matter is always going to be one that resonates with me having two young daughters myself, but I wasn't expecting it to be quite so tense right from the outset. I just love a thriller where you are so convinced on a characters guilt or innocence that you are completely blindsided when, within the space of one page, you start to doubt everything you previously thought.

In this case there are three women - Sara and Anna are determined to continue pushing Claudia's guilt regarding the disappearance/murder of her daughter. Whereas Claudia, who has always maintained her innocence, is desperate to go right back to the start and prove them wrong. She knows that she wasn't involved, but has to find a way to justify her claims.

The characters in this book are so strong and the guilt and grief exhibited by Claudia and her ex-husband Joe felt very realistic despite that fact that their situation in the story is quite extreme.

Domestic tension, gaslighting, abduction, mental health struggles, fear, unreliable narrators - I couldn't ask for more from a thriller. The Babysitter really was for me, a read in one sitting situation. There was no way I was going to wait until the morning to finish this one! A gripping story, a shocking thriller and overall just a brilliant book that I will not hesitate to recommend to any psychological thriller fans.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. This is the first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it. The prologue draws you in and has you full of questions from the start. I buddy read this one with a friend and we had great fun trying to figure out what was going on! We had plenty to discuss along the way! I found Sara a likeable character but I was just waiting for the twists to come... I found myself sympathising with Claudia. A great cast of unlikeable characters in this book. I look forward to reading more of this authors backlist. ⭐⭐⭐⭐