Claudia has been released from prison after admitting to the manslaughter of her baby daughter. She's been incarcerated for ten years and wants out so she can find out who really took her daughter.

What I liked: This is a fast paced thriller. There are lots of twists and turns and plenty to think about. Who really took Tilly? Was it Sara who later went on to marry Claudia's husband, Joe, was it Anna, the babysitter who never turned up leading Claudia to hire an agency babysitter and thus be duped into handing her child to a stranger, Or was Claudia guilty of manslaughter through neglect? We are kept guessing throughout and I certainly suspected every one of these women.

What I was less sure of: There's a huge information dump at the end when we are told what happened. The modern day equivalent of Hercule Poiret gathering everyone round to deliver what his little grey cells have worked out. I found Joe to be a very ambivalent character and it didn't seem likely to me that he would have such a magnetic attraction for teenage girls. But what do I know about teenage girls? My teenage years are a long time ago! I also found a lot of the plot completely unbelievable;

In spite of these caveats I did enjoy the story. I'd recommend it for anyone who likes domestic noir or psychological thrillers and who is willing to suspend disbelief. Thanks to Atlantic books and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is the first book by Emma Curtis that I have read but I don’t think it will be the last.

The Babysitter starts in 2013 with Claudia handing over her baby to a woman she believes is the agency babysitter she has ordered for the evening, a night she is to go out with her husband Joe. Then every parents worst nightmare as they turn their back for a minute and their baby disappears.

10 years on Claudia is released from prison following her conviction for the murder of her own daughter. The Babysitter mainly follows her story, and that of Sara - her ex-husband’s new wife - and several others through a tangled web of deceit, lies, secrets and tension towards a resolution.

This book was completely gripping, I read it in one afternoon as I found it hard to put down. Full of twists and turns, it is an emotional rollercoaster with more villains than the prison Claudia has been released from. I did have to stay on my toes to remember all the characters and how they linked together as the story begins to change time frames as it goes on.

All in all, I would definitely recommend this book to mystery/thriller fans. It’s subject matter is close to home for any parents but an enjoyable read none the less.

I really enjoyed this! Most of the characters were absolutely loathsome which always makes for a good drama! One of my major fears is being falsely imprisoned so this definitely gave me the fear. I like how the story was told from different POVs, this always adds layers to the story as we hear from the perspective of each of the characters. The subject matter was pretty dark to begin with but I was surprised just how dark things got as the story progressed, it was certainly quite disturbing in parts.

Love Emma’s books and this one has to be the best so far!! It’s a gripping exploration of deceit and danger, culminating in a shocking climax you won't see coming. A must-read for any thriller aficionado. Once again she has surpassed any expectations!!

The characters in the book were all a little unlikely which made it hard for me to get into. However the plot line was good.

This is the first book I've read by this author and it didn't disappoint. A clever thriller, that has plenty of twists which keep you totally immersed in the story. There are four main characters in the story and they all have their own, as yet , undiscovered secrets. I liked the style of the ending, with the main characters, all having a different spin on why , when and who did it!

Claudia has been released from prison after ten years for murdering her 8-month-old daughter Tilly. But her body was never found. Now released, she admits that she lied about killing her and the killer who took her daughter is still out there, and she will do anything to find out whom. Is her daughter still alive?
When she is released, she stays at her parent’s house as now ex-husband Joe is married again to Sara, and they have a young child and so is the babysitter Anna who is now grown up and has her own child. But as she investigates, tensions rise between the trio and bad things start to happen and all the blame is put on Claudia. Because everything was good before she arrived.
This is the first book from Emma Curtis that I have read, and it has unique, several point of view storyline full of tension and suspense. This is also and emotional ride between the three main characters and who is the real killer. You will have to read it to see. I thought the real villain of this story was ex-husband Joe. If as a teacher, her didn’t fraternise with the children in his care. It would have been a different story. 4 stars from me.

I really enjoyed this unique storyline told by the point of view of 3 women who's lives are all connected to 1 man,all the characters were hard to like each having their own agenda but this read was strong and gripping with secrets galore.The story flowed really well throughout and made a twisty read your in for a treat.
Recommended
Thanks to Netgalley and Atlantic Books for the ARC.

Wow, just wow. I really enjoyed this book, it kept me on the edge of my seat throughout and the final few chapters gave me a twist I didn’t see coming. Such a sad story, so many complex characters that were portrayed really thoroughly and kept me interested. Exceptionally well written. I haven’t heard of this author before but I’ll definitely be looking out for more of their books. Highly recommended!

Claudia was sent to prison for killing her 9 month baby daughter Tilly. On that day their babysitter let them done last minute so Claudia called an agency for a babysitter. Claudia knows she didn’t murder Tilly but she was suffering from postnatal psychosis and everything was confused at that time. Claudia needs to find out what happened to Tilly that day so she confesses to manslaughter and gains parole. She is determined to find out the truth about what really happened that day.

Sara is married to Joe who is Claudia’s ex husband and they have a daughter. Sara is dreading Claudia’s release and is determined that she won’t let Claudia near Joe or their daughter. Sara hasn’t been entirely honest with anyone about her past. She agrees to help Claudia get information from Anna but she has an ulterior motive as she is curious about Claudia.

Anna was the babysitter who let Claudia and Joe down on the day Tilly died/ disappeared. Anna is now married with a child and lives next door to her mother. Anna hates the fact that Claudia has been released and that she lives back in her mothers house opposite Anna and her family. She is determined to drive Claudia away.

The three of them are linked and all have secrets. They are all connected to Joe too.

A fast paced book that had me hooked. I loved it.

I was delighted to pre-approved by Corvus books to read The Babysitter on netgalley.

After being imprisoned for 10 years for the murder of her baby Tilly, Claudia is granted parole when she finally confesses to manslaughter. But Claudia knows she’s innocent and has confessed only so she can find out what really happened to Tilly.

Once out she connects with her ex-husband Joe’s new wife Sara and her former babysitter Anna and her investigations throw up some interesting connections and possibilities. .

This book has twists galore and was a real page turner. The lives of the three main female characters and Joe are closely interlinked and I really needed to be on my A game to keep up.

Definitely a book I’d recommend and would read more by Emma Curtis

I've not read any of Emma's books before, but this sounded so juicy and inviting that I dove straight in. And now I've finished it, I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for her others.

This is exactly what you want from a good thriller. It's dark and angry and curious and sad and smart. It had me utterly hooked. It is so well created, multi-layered, truths hidden and lies built upon lies. I really cared about it. I really wanted to discover the truth. That's the worry with some books, that I just don't care about the characters, but this couldn't have been further from that.

There are several threads going through this book, all related to the main story of the missing child in some way or another. That makes it quite a fast, interesting book, as it's not just taken over by one story. There's little nuances, it puts everyone in the frame for guilt, and it's up to you to try and dig your way through.

I had my suspicions throughout, but I was still shocked by the ending. It is full of twists and turns and red herrings and shocks and surprises.

The characters are all delightful. I don't mean that they are all delightful, perfect people, some are very cruel indeed, but the way they've been written, their characteristics, their development, is a delight to read. There are a number of characters, but I'll just name a few:

Firstly you have the main protagonist of Claudia, who pleads guilty to manslaughter in the hope she will be released from prison to hunt down her child. If I'm honest, I felt really sorry for her. I obviously won't give it away as to her guilt or innocence, but whatever happened, and for whatever reason, she was struggling, but she was thrown toe the wolves, and she didn't get the compassion I felt for her.

Joe is Claudia's ex-husband, now married to Sara. I liked him. And again I felt his emotions were ignored. All the focus was on Claudia's devastation over the loss of her child, that no-one really paid attention to Joe. He has some darker moments and we do start to question him, but alongside Claudia, he was my favourite character.

Joe's new wife Sara...I flitted from like to dislike with her. Again, I felt she wasn't all that she appeared to be, there were definitely some secrets there, but she was an interesting comparison with Joe's first wife of Claudia, and her character development was perfect.

And then there's Anna, who has her fingers in all the pies, involving herself in Claudia's story, and Joe and Sara's life. She was a bit strange. I felt she was definitely hiding something, and didn't take no for an answer if she wanted something. She was continuously inventing things, bringing out new disguises, and I felt she was the perfect addition to a thriller.

I'd say it's a balance between plot and character development. Enough story to keep you interested, but with enough character development that means you are fully invested in the outcome of the story. I think she's found a great balance here. It is fast paced which is exactly what you want from a thriller, and it makes it all the more exciting to read.

The book on the whole gives you a lot to think about. Can people ever be 100% good or 100% evil? Can you be purely hero or villain? Can you really believe anyone? Do you trust your kin or your friends? Can you trust your own mind and your own memory?

I have read and enjoyed other books by Emma Curtis, and this book was no exception.

The Babysitter centres around Claudia, who is released from prison after falsely admitting the murder of her baby daughter Tilly, who disappeared 10 years ago. Sara, now married to Claudia's ex-husband Joe, is not keen to have her life unravelled by the return of Claudia. Anna, the old Babysitter of Claudia's seems to harbour a lot of anger towards Claudia when she returns to live in the cul-de-sac.
Claudia is determined to prove to everyone that she is innocent, but someone doesn't want the truth to get out and will stop at nothing.

The story is told from the perspective of the three female characters. Emma Curtis's crafts her characters well, and you get a feel of each of their personalities. None of the characters were particularly likeable, and it's difficult to know who to trust. I was eager to find out what really had happened to Claudia's daughter Tilly.

A character-driven psychological thriller that gathers suspense as the story progresses and a fantastic read which you will devour in one-sitting!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for the ARC.

Puplication Date: 05.10.2023

Another superb psychological thriller from Emma Curtis. Told from the view point of three different women whose lives are connected through the abduction and perceived death of a baby. But where does the truth lie?
Who can be believed? As the story unfolds the reader's confidence in the reliability of the three women is totally undermined. This is a gripping tale, a real page-turner. I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended.

Fantastic book with great energy!
I couldn’t put it down- it drew me in like a true life story that I needed to know the outcome for.
Great writing, great characterisation and brilliant suspense.
If you haven’t read it- get it!
A great novel by this author! Cannot wait to read more!
Thanks to Netgalley and Atlantic books for an ARC copy in return for an honest review

Set in a small town, the story revolves around Claudia, who's released from prison after admitting guilt in her daughter's disappearance a decade earlier. The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of Claudia, Sara (Joe's wife and Tilly's stepmother), and Anna (a new mother). As secrets and lies intertwine, the characters' unreliability keeps you guessing about their hidden motives. Curtis crafts complex individuals, with Claudia's fragile mental state and intense emotions shining through. The tale is a roller-coaster of emotions, packed with suspense and shocking twists. Amid the toxic relationships and suburban facades, the truth unravels in unexpected ways. While the ending might stretch belief slightly, it's an enthralling conclusion to this well-woven psychological thriller. "The Babysitter" promises a thrilling ride that will leave you eagerly turning the pages this autumn.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! The publication date is the 5th October 2023. Wow what a gripping, twist filled book that kept me on my toes and turning the pages! The writing style of the book kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat the entire book, just when I thought I knew where things were going another exciting twist was presented!

I loved that I had no clue about what was going to happen next this is a perfect psychological thriller! This book kept me reading well into the night from the very beginning to the very last page, this was a thrilling page turner! My favourite character was Claudia she was a likeable character.

Overall, I throughly enjoyed this book and all the plot twists that it presented! Another fantastic book by Emma Curtis!

Loved this book, devoured it in no time! Had to force myself to put it down to get some sleep. A big five stars from me!

Overall a good read.

I had an inkling who was behind it all. I did feel for Claudia, how much trauma she went through.

Good plot. The author definitely made me think and try to change my mind throughout the story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This is a fab, tense, fast-paced thriller! I really enjoyed it and found it to be really gripping and hard to put down. A great little book!