This was my first Emma Curtis book, and I enjoyed it very much.

It was fast-paced thriller told from the perspective of 3 different women, and what a wild ride it was. Everyone was suspicious, everyone was shifty, and all of the characters kept me guessing right until the end. I didn’t find it difficult to keep up with all three characters and their stories, which is good for me because usually I'm left flipping back and forth.

The end was also very satisfying. I do love it when everything is basically wrapped up in a neat little bow and I’m not left with any questions.

If you like a twisty thriller with lots of back and forth between who you think is the culprit, then this is for you!

✩✩✩

Thank you to @netgalley for my copy!

Excellent twisty storyline.
Keeps you guessing right to the end.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review

Ten years ago, Claudia was found guilty of the murder of her baby daughter. Despite desperately proclaiming her innocence, Claudia is damned by her own vague, unlikely account of the afternoon in question, some incriminating evidence and testimony from those who knew her that she was mentally unstable. Now she is free to attempt to re-build her life, on the proviso that she accepts a guilty verdict for manslaughter and does not attempt to clear her name. Nevertheless, from the moment her parole is granted, Claudia sets out to find out what really happened to baby Tilly.

Author Emma Curtis made a deliberate decision to tell the reader from the start that Claudia didn't kill her daughter, meaning that we side with her quest for justice immediately. However, she then deftly deploys the unreliable narrator trope by adding in the perspectives of Sara, the new wife of Claudia's ex-husband Joe, and Anna, the babysitter who let Claudia down the day Lotty vanished, now grown-up and married with a child of her own. Each of these women has reason to feel threatened by Claudia's reappearance, and their POV chapters add invaluable balance to hers, casting doubt on her recollections and representations. As we learn more about her l, we start to wonder who we should trust - Anna, who knew Claudia ten years ago, Sara, who is privy to Joe's account of their marriage and life with Tilly, or Claudia herself?

The characterisation in the book is strong and well-developed, with many of the characters being introduced as fairly one-note and revealing new layers as the plot unfolds. Claudia is fierce, determined and frustrated, and this is all underscored by her overwhelming sense of grief for her daughter, her marriage and her life - grief which almost everyone believes she has no right to feel. Even when the doubts about her reliability as a narrator begin to creep in - or when she acts in inconceivably rash ways to further her cause - her plight is never less than heart-rending and some of her scenes are truly devastating.

Of the other characters, I found Sara to be very layered and interesting. Whereas in many books the replacement might be reduced to a jealous, skittish facsimile, Curtis gives Sara the chance to exist as a character in her own right as well as an obstacle for Claudia. She can't help but be curious about Claudia, the other woman who was once her husband's wife and the mother of his child, the one who will always have a piece of his heart, but any fear or dislike which she feels towards Claudia is countered by the sympathy she feels for her. This makes their dynamic as fascinating and unpredictable one.

With plenty of twists and a tense, unexpected denouement, The Babysitter is a cleverly plotted, engrossing domestic noir thriller with a great hook and effective execution. Curtis peels back the veneer of respectability to show us the sordid secrets which lurk within even the nicest middle class families.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Emma Curtis is such an auto-buy of an author for me. Her books are addictive and pacy with an emotional hook that has me gripped through and through.

The Babysitter follows Claudia who’s coming home with her baby when she sees a woman, whom she assumes is the babysitter and invites her. She turns her back for a second and when she does her baby and the woman is gone. It wasn’t the babysitter. However Claudia gets accused of killing her baby due to her depression and is arrested. Ten years later she admits guilt - not because she did it but because it’s the only way she’d be free and able to find out who really killed her baby. Juxtaposed with Claudia’s narrative we also have Anna, Claudia’s old babysitter who cancelled on the day, and Sara her ex-husband’s new wife.

As the three narratives of these different women come together we see fissures and lies are exposed. It’s tense and riveting., I raced through this book unable to put it down. Curtis just gets better and better.

Emma Curtis's *The Babysitter* is a chilling psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of trust, obsession, and the dangers lurking behind seemingly ordinary lives. The novel introduces us to the seemingly perfect protagonist, Anna, a woman who is trying to piece her life back together after a traumatic event. When she starts working as a babysitter for a wealthy family, she finds herself tangled in a web of deceit, suspicion, and dark secrets that threaten to unravel everything.

The narrative is gripping from the start, with Curtis masterfully building tension through her vivid portrayal of Anna’s internal struggles. Anna’s paranoia and anxiety are contagious, pulling the reader into a claustrophobic world where nothing is as it seems. The story unfolds at a steady pace, keeping readers on edge as Curtis drops hints and layers of mystery, making it difficult to discern who can be trusted.

The psychological tension in the book is one of its greatest strengths. Curtis excels at creating flawed, multi-dimensional characters who are neither wholly good nor evil. As Anna’s suspicions grow and the stakes rise, the tension between the characters becomes palpable, with each chapter revealing more about their pasts and motivations.

However, *The Babysitter* isn’t without its flaws. While the plot is engaging, some readers may find the twists and turns a bit predictable, especially towards the end. The pacing also slows at times, and there are moments where certain plot points feel contrived. Still, Curtis’s strong writing and ability to create a foreboding atmosphere make up for these minor missteps.

Ultimately, *The Babysitter* is an engaging and tense psychological thriller that will appeal to fans of domestic noir and suspenseful mysteries. Curtis’s ability to create suspense and her portrayal of complex, unreliable characters make this a worthwhile read for anyone who enjoys a book that keeps them guessing until the very end.

𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘳.

Claudia’s life took a devastating turn the day she was convicted of murdering her cherished 8-month-old daughter, Tilly. She passionately asserts her innocence, but is she truly the reliable narrator she believes herself to be? In her frantic retelling, she describes a mysterious woman—a supposed new babysitter—entering her home, and then, in an instant, her baby vanishes without a trace.

Claudia makes the excruciating decision to confess, an act she claims is pure desperation to minimise her sentence. She believes Tilly might be alive, and Claudia is determined to uncover what happened that fateful night.

The odds are stacked against her. Society views her as a monster - at worst, she’s a child killer; at best, a reckless mother. The media circus surrounding her has only amplified her torment.

Her ex-husband, Joe, has moved on and started a new family, while Claudia's mother and stepfather have gone into hiding to escape the relentless media scrutiny.

Bound by the precarious terms of her release, one misstep could send Claudia back to the confines of her prison cell. Yet, her mission is clear: to convince Joe of her innocence and enlist help finding Tilly.

When Claudia finally reaches out, Joe responds with a cold brush-off—he wants nothing to do with her. But the tension runs deeper than Claudia realises; his new wife, Sara, feels threatened by Claudia’s impending release. Torn between her insecurities and her desire to protect her family, Sara harbours a secret fear that may endanger all of them.

Meanwhile, Anna, the woman supposed to be babysitting that night, is consumed by a furious disdain for Claudia. What secrets does she hide, and what could be her potential motive? Could she hold the key to unearthing the truth about Tilly's disappearance?

Claudia, driven by an insatiable need for answers, is still battling the shadows of her past. Will she unravel the truth about her daughter’s fate before time runs out, or will her desperate pursuit of the truth prove her ultimate undoing?

The Babysitter told from three perspectives, weaves a thrilling tapestry of suspense and intrigue that leaves you questioning every character’s motives and hidden agendas. 4⭐️

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read via NetGalley. As always, this is an honest review.

I feel like it's been a while since I've read a domestic thriller that has totally gripped me and had me on the edge of my seat. The Babysitter has broken that streak. I had so many questions, there were so many plot lines that needed to be resolved, I just could not put the book down until everything was concluded.

There were no characters that I liked really. Everyone had their flaws; some much worse than others. I was able to sympathise with some of them but that was probably the extent of it. I enjoyed disliking them though. I didn't want any of them to walk away with a happy ending really, I just wanted the truth.

I think this would translate so well to a TV drama, I would 100% watch that if it happened. The tension in this story got progressively higher and higher and I was loving watching this domestic drama play out. A great book that I had a great time reading.

Enjoyed this greatly - was genuinely surprised by some of the twists and turns! Great for fans of the domestic thriller genre, it excels.

A really good read
Plenty of lies and secrets in this book
Had me hooked guessing what had happened all them years ago
You will not be disappointed with this book
Thanks NetGalley

I had high hopes for this book, especially early on as the mystery surrounding Claudia and Joe’s daughter, Tilly, drew me in. Unfortunately, it felt overly long and repetitive as the story went on. The three main female characters lacked depth, and I struggled to connect with any of them. As the plot unfolded, it felt like we were stuck in a loop, and by the time the conclusion came, it didn't leave much of an impact.

While I stayed curious enough to finish, I ultimately felt the payoff wasn't worth the lengthy 400+ pages. Though this style of domestic thriller is usually my go-to, this one just didn’t work for me. However, it seems others have enjoyed it, so perhaps it's just a case of personal taste. I'd consider giving the author another try, but not anytime soon.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

WOW!!! What can I say about The Babysitter by Emma Curtis, it's the first book I have read by this author and it won't be the last.

This book is unputdownable and is full of twists and turns which keeps the reader guessing. I didn't have a clue what was going to happen next. Such greatly written characters and the whole book was written really well.

A fantastic gripping read!!

I raced through this book .I found it a real page turner with so many twists and turns. So who did kill Tilly ? Was it Claudia someone or someone else? I did find it a little confusing at times trying to work out what was actually going on at times but I loved the short chapters which made me want to just keep on reading. I would love to read more by this author.

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.