The title made me curious but the book was predictable. Both the nanny and the mother were carrying secrets of their own. Author’s writing is beautiful. The book was engaging. If you are looking for a gripping mystery, this is the book for you. Thanks to the Publisher

I like when stories continue from a new angle - not necessarily a sequel, but new characters in different worlds. I liked the character of Cecilia and was rooting for her.

I really enjoyed the audio of this one, and will say, I wished Paul was more prevalent in this story, without him it was not the same as he was such a great villain. But he is lurking, so don’t worry but this one focuses on Cecelia, Paul’s second wife. That being said, this works okay as a standalone but you’d really benefit from reading the first two books if you have not yet. Nannies can be tricky, you let them in, let them around your kids, and next thing you know, they are taking over everything, including your role. Oh, that’s not the norm? My bad. Well it seems to be in this series, and I could not wait to see how it would end.

Thank you to Bookouture for the digital copy to review.

Since I have read Kaira's Best Day Ever and the Second Mrs Strom I was looking forward to this one! And it is indeed helpfull to help you getting into the story because it starts over five years after Paris.

Paul is now in prison and Cecilia has a newborn baby with Evan. But things are working out with him and she is still suffering . For this reason they hire a nanny. And with her lots of turns and twists move in!

I can honestly say that all the characters are highly unlikeable which makes this story super enjoyable as usual!
Thank you #NetGalley #Bookouture for this ARC

Move over Mary Poppins — the nanny in this book isn’t here to sing lullabies or tidy up the nursery. She’s got a baby monitor in one hand, a revenge plot in the other, and a growing collection of your dirty laundry (literally and metaphorically).

Meet Cecilia: wealthy, stylish, and living that beachfront dream. Or... at least she was. Now she’s a struggling single mom with a mysterious past, a messy divorce, and a baby named Peyton who cries at all the worst moments. Enter Lizzie — the helpful, quiet nanny who seems too good to be true.

Because she is.

You see, Lizzie’s not just there for the diapers and tummy time. She’s there for answers. And secrets. And maybe a little casual vengeance. She’s rifling through drawers while Cecilia naps, spying on phone calls, and oh yeah — she’s been following Cecilia for a while now. Creepy? Definitely. Entertaining? Absolutely.

The book kicks off strong — suspense, short chapters, shifting POVs, and that signature Kaira Rouda flair for messed-up characters with twisted motivations. It’s like Desperate Housewives meets You, with everyone hiding something and no one acting quite like a sane adult.

But here’s the tea: while the pacing is brisk and the writing style kept me flipping pages like a maniac, the plot does ask you to check your logic at the door. Billion-dollar fortunes disappearing overnight? Office buildings shutting down in 24 hours? Okay, sure, Jan. And while the big killer twist is teased throughout, it fizzles rather than explodes — especially if you’ve read your fair share of domestic thrillers. You’ll probably see it coming from halfway through the book (with a magnifying glass and a smirk).

Also, that ending? Abrupt, like someone ripped the last chapter out mid-sentence and yelled “To be continued!” I wanted more payoff after all that buildup. Still, if you’re already addicted to the delicious dysfunction of the Strom universe (you know who you are), you’ll enjoy this wild ride.

Fast, juicy, and perfect for a weekend binge, What the Nanny Saw is suspenseful soap opera fun — just don’t go in expecting airtight realism or a jaw-dropper of a twist. It’s a popcorn read with some plot holes, but if you love your thrillers with a side of chaos and unhinged characters, grab a copy and buckle up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

Cecilia is in desperate need of a nanny for her infant daughter Peyton and when she happens to meet Lizzie at a coffee shop one day, it seems like fate - or was it all part of Lizzie's master plan? Cecilia starts to second guess her decision to hire Lizzie when she notices things going missing and a number of changes in Lizzie's appearance and behaviour, but is it too late?

I liked the alternating chapters between Cecilia and Lizzie, the Nanny, because I felt like I got to see both sides of the story. There was definitely a gradual reveal of information as the story went on, as good thrillers usually do, and that helped to build the tension and keep me interested without being too scary.

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

She’s baccckkk!!! The queen 👸 of cray is back and better than ever!! 👏👏 The second I heard my besties 👯‍♀️ @thrillerbookloversthepulse were reading this… I had to get a copy asap!! Plus @kairarouda is one of my favorite authors! 😍Thank you @bookouture for this gifted copy. 🥰🫶 Pub date is 11/13🥳

Are you ready for it?? Best Day Ever is one of my favorite books EVER!! It got me hooked 🪝on thrillers. I LOVE LOVE LOVE how @kairarouda always gives us the most snarky…crazzzy characters!! The ones I love to hate. Okay so if you are like me… I HAVE to know what this nanny saw. 🤔🤷‍♀️ Right?!

Cecilia does have it all… the clothes 👠👜… the home 🏡… the adorable baby 🤱🏻…and her hottie Evan. 😉 Paul who?!! Right?! Except it’s just all too much for Cecelia… Sooo of course she needs a nanny. 🤷‍♀️ Or does the nanny need her more? 😏

The dynamics were fantastic! Twisted…shocking… fun.. ALL the rich people behaving badly… I couldn’t put it down. I am hoping we get more of this fantastic series! 🫶

It's every Mother's worst nightmare when her baby is snatched. Has she been careful in who she chose to help care for little Peyton or has she made the biggest mistake of het life? A good read.

Having not read the previous introductory books my focus equally drawn to the desperate nanny as well as Cecelia, who is living a life of luxury while her imprisoned husband counts the days.
    Lizzy, the nanny, is going nowhere. She has high aspirations, having been exposed to a lavish lifestyle in her menial nanny job, but she is underappreciated there and would quit in a heartbeat.
    Cecelia is an exhausted new single parent desperate for sleep. A random encounter at a coffee shop results in the two ladies meeting and Lizzy, the baby whisperer, has a new boss.
    The prisoner husband ( soon to be released) is sending threatening notes to Cecelia while Lizzy is inching her way into the good life via clothing donations from Cecelia and itchy fingers in her jewelry box: two parallel storylines.
    The reader is very squeamish about hiring a random person to take care of your baby without the usual background check. You just know this isn't going to go well.
    The threats become more worrisome and Cecelia is facing a real money crunch and faces some lifestyle changes.
     While it's a murder mystery, the build up to that event is full of unexpected twists that has you fearful for one and disliking the other.

This is a gripping thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish
The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, making it impossible to predict what will happen next.
The writing is both engaging and suspenseful, with well-developed characters that add depth to the narrative.
The pacing of the novel is perfect, with just the right amount of tension to keep readers hooked without feeling overwhelmed.
Highly recommended!

What the Nanny Saw is an excellent thriller with plenty of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. I hadn't realised that it is actually part of a series, but it can easily be read as a standalone story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

You can trust the nanny, she’s always there, watching over you and the baby with equal affection, she helps you when you’re injured and overwhelmed, she even makes it look easy. But she’s never satisfied with what she has. With a new born baby, a recent break up and a dangerous husband in prison who caused her long term injuries, the nanny comes to the rescue. Soon she’s wearing your clothes and posting pictures of you child on her Instagram and that’s only the start of an obsession that goes too far and risks everything Cecilia has worked and fought for. Her house, her baby, her security, and even her life. Slowly slowly the lies and betrayals unravel but who’s left to believe her.

What the Nanny Saw by Kaira Rouda has me seriously thankful that I never had need of a nanny...absolutely addictive read! Will be purchasing for library collections.

What the Nanny Saw by Kaira Rouda is a suspenseful, psychological thriller that expertly delves into the secrets, lies, and power dynamics within a seemingly perfect family. The story is told from the perspective of the nanny, who becomes an observer of the cracks forming within the picture-perfect life of her employers. As the narrative unfolds, we begin to see just how much the nanny’s presence—and her unique vantage point—puts her in a position to uncover dark truths about the family she works for.

What made this book so gripping was the slow-burn tension that Rouda builds. The nanny, while dutiful and observant, also has her own personal struggles, and as she gets closer to the family, she starts to see things that no one else is aware of. There’s a voyeuristic element to the story, as readers are given insight into the family’s carefully curated facade, only to discover that behind closed doors, there’s a whole other story unfolding. The sense of foreboding grows steadily, and just when you think you have things figured out, Rouda pulls the rug out from under you with unexpected twists.

The writing is sharp, and the pacing kept me engaged throughout. I appreciated how Rouda used the nanny as both an observer and an unreliable narrator of sorts—sometimes it’s hard to tell whether she’s being overly suspicious or if there’s truly something sinister going on. This uncertainty adds layers of suspense and keeps you questioning everyone’s motivations.

The characters are complex, and while you may not always like them, Rouda makes sure they are fully fleshed out, which adds to the tension. The family at the center of the story—especially the parents—are fascinating in their own right, hiding secrets that become more twisted as the plot progresses.

In the end, What the Nanny Saw is a well-paced, entertaining psychological thriller that keeps you guessing. It’s a story about power, control, and the dangers of not knowing the people closest to you. If you enjoy domestic thrillers with unexpected twists and dark secrets, this book is definitely worth reading.

All of the stars for this book. I love novels by Kaira Rouda and this novel was no different. I love thrillers that keep me guessing to the end and this book had exactly that. With so many secrets, deceptions and betrayals, this will have you reading at the edge of your seat until you turn the last page.

A must read that I highly recommend!

This was definitely an insane read. I didn't see a lot of the twists happening. Also, if you liked Housemaid, I think this book will be right up your alley. The book keeps your attention the entire time. The reveals were so good.

What the Nanny Saw is the follow up to The Second Mrs Strom. With Paul in prison, Cecilia has moved on with a new partner and a baby, living in a luxurious home in Malibu. When she meets Lizzie at the coffee shop, who agrees to be her nanny, everything seems perfect...until things start to go wrong. Paul won't give her a divorce, her health starts failing and the nanny seems a little too obsessed with her life. This story is full of plot twists and turns that kept me guessing till the end!

Wow! This book highlights that sometimes the help you hire, are the ones out to hurt you the most. Loved everything about this book and can't wait to read more books from this author.

What the Nanny Saw (Family Secrets #3)
By Kaira Rouda
Publish Date November 13, 2024

Review:

This is book three to the Family Secrets, however, it could be read as a standalone. But I highly recommend you starting at the beginning with Best Day Ever.

Paul is the reason why this is all happening. Paul started it.

Cecilia has a baby daughter named Peyton and has decided that she needs help and hires a Nanny. So she hires Lizzie… but what she doesn’t realize is who Lizzie is.

Be ready to make some time for this one because you will NOT want to put it down.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader.


Description:

I keep all her secrets. She thinks she can trust me…

Cecilia has it all. The house on the beach. The cute figure. The beautiful baby. But she’s a long way from perfect.

She’s let me into her gorgeous house as her nanny because now she’s on her own, she needs a little help with her baby daughter Peyton. She barely notices me. But I see everything.

While Peyton naps, I rifle through her drawers and discover the dark secrets in her past, the threatening letter from her ex-husband.

It's a shame that Cecilia doesn’t have my powers of observation. If she took some time, she might just recognize me. I’ve been following her for a while, after all.

If she knew who I was then I don’t think I’d be so invisible. And she wouldn’t be so surprised one morning when little Peyton’s cot is found empty…

Had no idea this was the third book in a series but read great as a standalone. Maybe that’s the point? Regardless…really kept me intrigued the whole time and will be looking forward to reading more from this author!