This thriller reveals some of its secrets early on, but keeps others hidden enough to make it interesting. I liked how the story switches between points of view and lets us see things from the angles of different characters. The author cleverly subverts our expectations and notions about them, possibly even causing us to change who we sympathize with along the way. The art subplot is not very necessary, though, and goes on for a bit too long in my opinion. There is also at least one story thread that is dropped halfway and remains unresolved.

The narrator for Virginia's chapters isn't very good at making different voices without them sounding exaggerated, and her attempts at a 10-year-old girl with an American accent sound especially comical. Other than that, I enjoyed the narration. The standout in particular are the parts where we get to know the thoughts of the absolutely psychotic villain. These are exquisitely narrated and are quite chilling.

This one was off to a slow start but it was worth sticking through it. As the story progressed it got more interesting and intriguing. With a really good ending it was well worth the read.

The story alternates between several different points of view. At first, it may seem haphazard and all over the place. At certain times it’s a little confusing and as mentioned earlier, it’s slow to start. The time jumps back and forth also add a bit to the confusion but once you get the characters straightened it makes a whole lot of sense (and adds a lot of the mystery that is scattered throughout the novel)

None of the characters are likable although Virginia starts to grow on you as you learn more about her and what she went through. It’s surprising at first because she comes across as high brow, snobby and doesn’t really treat Jo like she should. As the story goes on however, you figure out why and what was behind her behavior. All the pieces start falling into place and it makes for a real good plot.

As mentioned before, the plot jumps back and forth and may be hard to follow. Eventually everything starts making sense and turns out to be a well written thriller. The ball gets rolling as the story progresses. I have to admit, however , the role of the police in this book wasn’t much of an impact and it looked like they were just there to tie loose ends and to be a filler. Oh well, I suppose the police can’t do everything right?

Well worth the read if you stick with the slow start. Absolutely loved the fitting ending!

Jocelyn begrudgingly returns home to her posh family estate in England with her young daughter Ruby in tow after the accidental death of her husband. After spending so many years trying to avoid contact with her estranged mother, Jo now finds herself dependent on the family wealth she has come to resent. The only fond memory Jo has from childhood is of her nanny, who unexpectedly disappeared one night due to what she was led to believe were her own faults and misbehaviors. Secrets of an aristocratic family, resentments built on faulty memories, the grisly discovery of a body threatening the family's reputation- these tropes have become very familiar to today's reader of mystery fiction. The Nanny, a new novel by Gilly Macmillan, begins with a well-worn premise but remarkably rises above other suspense thrillers that have already wandered down this path. Jo's mother, Lady Virginia Holt, is not the frosty self-absorbed stereotype that she first appears. Jocelyn is not the likeable but hapless victim of a neglectful upbringing, and the body in the lake at Lake House may not be that of the missing nanny, after all. The story depicts the high moral price that is exacted in order to maintain a status that is hopelessly outdated and even despised by contemporary society. Even Jo and Ruby find themselves drawn into lies that may break their precious bond as they blindly struggle to protect each other. MacMillan's book addresses both the debasement of those attempting to forcibly attain access to a life of privilege and wealth, and the rigidity and false glamour that makes their covetousness undeserved. With vivid characters and well-paced action, The Nanny would be most suitable for lovers of suspense looking for a familiar tale told with a refreshing style.

Thanks to the author, Edelweiss, Library Thing and William Morrow for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

A special thank you to Edelweiss and William Morrow Paperbacks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Our "perfect" girl is Zoe Maisey, a 17-year-old musical prodigy. Zoe and her mother Maria have been ostracized from their former community after Zoe was found guilty of a drinking a driving accident that claimed the life of three teenagers, including her best friend.

Zoe has served time in a juvenile rehabilitation facility and Maria is determined to not only put the past behind her, but to keep the tragedy under wraps from her new husband, Chris, and his teenage son, Lucas.

Ready to embrace her "Second Chance Life", Zoe has recommitted to music and is giving a recital that Maria has been planning for months. But tragedy strikes again and by the end of evening on the day of the recital, Maria is dead and the thread holding everything together begins to unravel.

Because of her past, Zoe fears that she will be the prime suspect. Everyone—police, family, Zoe’s former lawyer—including Zoe, tries to piece together what actually happened. What Zoe knows for sure that the truth can be deceiving and the closer we are to someone, the less we are willing to see.

Told in multiple points of view—Zoe, Tessa and Sam—Macmillan's novel explores the complexities of relationships. The characters were well-developed and engaging. While not a seize-you-by-the-throat, heart palpitation thriller, The Perfect Girl is more of character study/psychological thriller and incredibly clever. Macmillan's pace is spot on, she reveals just enough to secure interest and move the story. She tasks her reader with unravelling the dysfunction—it's a slow burn, but worth your patience.

Got some good stuff at this year's BEA.  My summer is fully booked. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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