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. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I didn't find this very easy to read. I struggled to get into it. A disturbing, story which plays on your mind. Not my most favourite reads of thus year. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest, independent review.

Ten years ago, Claudia was convicted of the murder of her baby daughter. Now she has confessed to manslaughter in order to be granted parole… and to find out what really happened to Tilly.

Sara is married to Joe, Claudia’s ex-husband. They now have a young child together. Will Claudia threaten their marriage?

Anna was the babysitter who let Claudia and Joe down on the day of their daughter Tilly’s disappearance.

As the paths of all three women intertwine, secrets start to be revealed.

The Babysitter is a complex, fast-paced psychological thriller, which draws you straight into the gripping drama. Emma Curtis skilfully weaves a web of secrets, lies and drama, making it difficult to know who to trust.

It’s hard to know which character to believe. Each character is cleverly crafted and realistically flawed, though not particularly likeable. Gripping from the start, the story is told from the POV of each women, so we gain insight into their damaged pasts, raising the question of who among them is capable of murder.

Full of suspenseful moments, this is a compelling character-driven read.

We are following three women Ann's,Claudia and Sara thier lives are all intertwined after Tilly death.

Claudia's journey after the ending of her Jill sentence, which she pleaded guilty to even though she she's not.

Claudia has just been released from prison, where she was serving a sentence for the murder of her own daughter. She didn't do it, but to get parole and find out who did it, she must admit her guilt. Her husband has remarried, her friends don't want to know and her quiet neighbors are cold, but she must find out what happened to this beautiful baby.
This is the first book I've read by Emma Curtis - but it certainly won't be the last. I loved Claudia from the beginning; I have no problem believing in her innocence and always supporting her. It was a gripping thriller that kept me in suspense and even when the culprit was revealed, I still found it hard to believe. The twists and excitement kept me reading long after I should have been in nod land. Fascinating from start to finish and full of surprises. Easily earns five shining stars and my highest recommendation.

This book was really difficult to get into, It sounded great and was something I was very interested in reading, but it did feel a little bit like a chore at times, and I tried to read it as quickly as I could. Some parts felt unnecessary and we could have done with them. It started getting exciting around the 88% mark and I am glad I persevered and stuck with the book. It is a rollercoaster and it does keep you guessing. 3.5 stars.

I really enjoyed this gripping thriller filled with toxic relationships, secrets and lies. Emma Curtis is a talented author and she knows how to keep the reader turning the pages. 5 stars from me!

I've not read any of Emma Curtis' previous work, but I will be sure to look out for this author in future. The Babysitter is a cleverly plotted thriller that will have you second guessing every character and their motives.

Claudia's life was destroyed ten years ago when she was convicted of the murder of her 8 month old daughter Tilly. She doesn't know what happened to her daughter all those years ago. She had let a woman she believed to be the babysitter into her house, turned her back to take a phone call, and her daughter was gone.

Having been imprisoned for ten years, she reluctantly admits her guilt in order to be granted parole. In reality, she is determined to find out what happened to Tilly, and is hopeful that her daughter is still alive.

No one wants Claudia to be released, the media storm around the time of her conviction centered on her irresponsibility as a parent, and her mental health status at the time. Her now ex-husband Joe, has remarried and has a young daughter. Her Mother and Stepfather out of the country to avoid another media storm.

Claudia knows that she must not break the conditions of her parole, or she'll be sent back to prison. But she must speak with Joe and convince him of her innocence, as he's the only person who can truly help her find their daughter.

As soon as she is able to, she contacts him. Joe doesn't want his life turned upside down, and tells Claudia to stay away. But his reasons for doing so are not as straightforward as Claudia might think.

Sara his new wife is threatened by Claudia. Although she knows deep down that Joe loves her and believes in Claudia's guilt, she can't help but feel insecure by her release. She doesn't want her husband meeting her ex. But is there another reason for wanting Joe to stay away from Claudia.

Meanwhile Anna, who should have been the babysitter that night hates Claudia even more than Sara. But what possible motive could she have for this? Does she know more about that night that she is letting on?

There's no doubt that Claudia was safer in prison, but she will she be able to get to the bottom of her daughter's disappearance before her actions get her recalled, or worse?

"The Babysitter" initially drew me in with its intriguing premise. The first few chapters were gripping and I was eager to find out how the story will unravel. Unfortunately, the plot became repetitive and increasingly unrealistic as the story progressed, and in the latter part of the book, it veered into absurdity, making it a tedious read. I found myself simply wanting to reach the end without much concern for the culprit's identity. This is the kind of book that is easily forgotten by the next day.

Didn't see THAT coming!!

Claudia has just been released from prison where she was serving a sentence for murdering her own daughter. She didn't do it, but in order to get parole and find out who did, she had to admit her guilt. Her husband has remarried, her friends don't want to know and the neighbours are frosty to say the least, but she has to find out what happened to here gorgeous baby.

This is the first book I've read by Emma Curtis - but it most definitely won't be the last. I took to Claudia from the very start; I had no problem believing her innocence and was rooting for her throughout. This is a cracking thriller which kept me on my toes and even when the guilty person was revealed I struggled to believe it. Twist, turns and excitement galore kept me reading long after I should have been in the land of nod. Gripping from beginning to end and full of surprises. Easily earning all five glowing stars and my very highest recommendation.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest original and unbiased review.