I have no idea where I can start with reviewing this book which had me guessing from start to finish.

I wsa never sure which of the three female leads could be believed, and as things start to ramp up, I was enthralled by what I was finding out.

What I think it could be safe to say is that the police weren't as thorough as they should have been during the initial investigation.

I can't even comment on the characters as my feelings towards them might sway your own opinions as you are reading.

But suffice to say this is definitely up to Emma Curtis's normal high standards and it is a truly excellent tale of deception, intrigue and infatuation.

Thank you to Corvus and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

A fast paced and gripping thriller that will demand your attention from the first page. Perfect for a rainy afternnon.

This book was ok. It was an easy read and did named to keep my attention, but I have read others that I liked more.

Told from three points of view. I enjoyed watching the story unfold to find out what had really happened to Tilly. The three women are very unlikeable. These are definitely 'love to hate' characters. I did enjoy how it all pieced together and enjoyed the many twists.

This was a really good enjoyable read, it keeps you on the edge of your seat with all the twists and turns. The characters were great, the story itself was really suspenseful and the style of writing was perfect. I have read books by this author before and none have disappointed me.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes reading psychological thrillers.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

Thank you net galley and Emma Curtis for this early release

I really enjoyed the story and the plot, I loved the twists and turns, the only thing I found was it was hard to believe, there is no way anyone would be friends with someone convicted of murdering a child

But the premise of the book was really well written

A gripping start and I wanted to see how this would develop. Tricky to follow 3 different main women leads and I'm not entirely convinced they had unique voices, it all seemed to merge a bit,

Timeline was also a tad jumpy towards the end in particular. All seemed a bit clunky.

Not really any likeable characters so I didn't trust anyone particularly. A guessable ending.

★★★☆☆

I must admit that some of my issues with this book might be my own fault. I read this very intermittently and alongside other books, and I have a feeling that that is what caused some of the pacing to be strange and me to be a bit distanced from the characters.

It started out promising - the prologue had me hooked and I enjoyed that it didn't just follow the mystery of Tilly be stolen in the present and instead jumped to Claudia being released from prison. But other than that...it was a bit anticlimactic. I guessed the big reveal about halfway through and while that doesn't usually bother me, the ending felt very choppy and all thrown together at once when the rest of the book had frankly been quite slow.

I don't think this is is a bad book - it is an easy to read mystery, and had I focussed my attention on it more it may have been a more enjoyable reading experience, but for right now, not my favourite.

4+

Ten years ago in November 2013, eight month old Tilly is snatched from her home in leafy Kingston. Claudia, her mother, distracted by a phone call leaves her daughter momentarily with the new agency babysitter “Nadine“, except it’s not Nadine as the real deal turns up moments later, by which time Tilly has vanished. Claudia is convicted of killing Tilly whose body is never found, her innocence not believed as her story is a muddled one thought a fabrication to cover her guilt. Ten years later in October 2023, Claudia is released from prison after admitting her guilt, her agenda to get to the truth about who took her daughter. The story is told by Claudia, Sara now married to Joe, Claudia’s ex and father of Tilly, who has no intention of letting Claudia derail her life and by Anna, a new mother, who seems to know more than she should and harbours much anger and resentment.

This really is an unholy trinity of storytellers, herein lies the delicious dilemma of trying to figure out who is unreliable or perhaps that should be the MOST unreliable, in an attempt to sift through the truth from lies and figure out game plans! I can’t say any of the characters are especially likeable, but some are certainly more unlikeable than others with the author doing a great job in presenting the contrasting points of view. The characterisation is good and we watch the face off, who will concede first? Claudia is strongly portrayed with her mental fragility being very well conveyed and it’s inevitably an emotional read in places. at others, I have my fists clenched in disbelief at the gameplaying and manipulation.

This is a complex and carefully constructed psychological thriller that draws you in easily to the drama of these peoples lives. The pace is brisk throughout, as the plot reveal secrets, lies, and so much toxicity lurking behind comfortable, middle-class doors. There are plenty of suspenseful moments, and some good twists one which is a jaw/floor situation. The ending is dramatic, may be a tad far-fetched but nonetheless very enjoyable.

Overall, this is another compelling winner from Emma Curtis.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Atlantic Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

This book is told from the perspective of 3 women. Claudia, Sara and Anna
Claudia is newly released from prison after being convicted for the manslaughter of her and her husband Joe’s daughter Tilly
Sara is Joe’s new wife and mother of Joe’s new daughter Maeve
Anna is the babysitter who was supposed to be looking after Tilly on the night she vanished (Tilly’s body was never found so she is presumed dead)
Now that Claudia has been released she’s determined to prove to everyone she is innocent and find her daughter
The book did keep me interested and I like the way it was told from the different perspectives of the 3 women who all very clearly have something to hide.
What I didn’t like was that none of the characters were particularly likeable so it was hard to root for any of them, and when some big secrets are uncovered in the lives of Joe and the 3 women (can’t say anymore without ruining the ending) I felt the real villain/villains came away largely unpunished. There were also some procedural issues with the conditions of Claudia’s release and licence so I felt it should have been better researched (I work for the Probation Service so am probably more critical than most would be about this though)
Overall it wasn’t a bad read so I would give it 3/5

This is a superbly written book with lots of unexpected twists. The plot is quite dark but it is not too intensely written. The characters are thought provoking. I really enjoyed it overall.

3.7 stars
Claudia has just been released from prison after 10 years, having finally admitted killing her own daughter.
Sara is Joe's wife, now living what used to be Claudia's house.
Anna is the babysitter who cancelled the evening Tilly was taken from Claudia.

3 women- all connected. But who took Tilly? Was it really Claudia?

A suspense read, chilling at times. I really enjoyed it though at some point I felt there were too many twists and theories of who could have done what and found it challenging to keep track.

OMG, I couldnot put this book down. I have not read a book by this author before, so i am also a bit cautious, and worried that I might not even finish the end. The characters flowed well with the story, The story kept me guessing, little twists through out the book. Slightly disappointed that the husband didnt get his " just desserts".. I cant wait to read another book by this author.

This was a really quick and easy read which seems a bit at odds with the strong subject matter! It wad so original and such a strong emotive premise that I was keen to get stuck in but the book didn't seem to really capture the severty of the subject in my opinion. It felt a bit of a light hearted, he said, she said type mystery rather than this story about the someone doing the worst thing a person could imagine. In saying that, it was a really good story and there's certainly a lot of doubt and secrets to keep you guessing.

A little too far fetched but well written characters and a fast pacy plot.

If you can suspend some belief you’ll love it.

This is such a great book you won't want to stop reading it. It tells the story of Claudia who was sent to prison for killing her baby even though the body was never found. She is out now after 10 years and is set on proving her innocence. Her husband Joe has since remarried and they have a child of their own, friends have deserted her.
She will have a battle to get them to believe her but at the same time also find out what happened to her baby and who was responsible.
Someone doesn't want the truth to get out and will stop at nothing.
A very enjoyable book from start to finish.

A really good fast paced read. It held my interest right until the end, I just kept reading and reading as I was thoroughly invested in what happened to Claudia next.
A truly thrilling plot, Claudia has just been released from serving nine years for the murder of her 8 month old daughter Tilly. Claudia has always swore she never killed her, that someone took her and so to get out and prove it, she pleads guilty.

There are so many people conspiring against her, trying to keep her from finding out the hidden truths and trying to get her recalled back to prison. No one at all is very nice, everyone believes she killed her baby.

The fact I had no real idea of how the story would go, what happened Tilly or if Claudia was truly responsible or not, is what had me gripped. I really wanted Claudia to be innocent and for Tilly to be alive.

A truly brilliant read that I highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Ten years ago, Claudia admitted to the manslaughter of her baby daughter Tilly. She did it in order to receive a lesser sentence and to try and find the real killer when she was released. Her husband has moved on and had a baby with his new wife who isn't happy about the release of Claudia. It's a bit unbelievable at times but a quick read and has some fun twists.

Claudia, recently released on parole, after falsely admitting the murder of her baby, goes back to revisit her past and see if she can find out what really happened the night her daughter disappeared. She is joined in the story by her ex husbands new wife, Sara, as well as their old babysitter, Anna. Told by these alternate voices we find out what really happened to baby Tilly on that fateful day.

I was so excited to read this and pushed it to the top of my reading pile as I love Emma Curtis’ books. You are always guaranteed a fast paced, unique, well plotted story and this is exactly what you get with The Babysitter. I will go as far as saying this is my favourite of hers yet! I was immediately hooked by the story, feeing invested in the characters, which were so well developed. The actions of the characters provoked a lot of emotions (especially anger at some of the situations that occur!). The book flows so well and does not lose pace at all. I loved the suspense and watching all the connections fall in to place. I won’t hesitate to recommend this well written, intelligent mystery and can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next! Thanks very much to the publisher and NetGalley for this early copy.

This is my first book by Emma Curtis! It was great! Anna, Claudia, and Sara all are connected through Joe. Claudia is his first wife who went to prison for murdering their child. But she maintains that someone took the child. Sara is Joe's new wife and agrees to help Claudia figure out what Anna is hiding. Then Anna disappears. What happened to the baby? What is everyone hiding? Could Joe be the problem! Good book!