Kaira Rouda has done it again with What the Nanny Saw! This thriller kept me on the edge of my seat with its shocking twists and turns. Rouda masterfully crafts a chilling narrative where nothing is quite as it seems, pulling readers into a web of suspense and dark secrets.

The protagonist’s obsession with Cecilia, her "perfect" employer, reveals layer after layer of buried truths that are both unsettling and addictive. As the story unfolds, the tension mounts, and I found myself engrossed in every detail, wondering just how far this nanny was willing to go. Rouda’s writing pulls you in so deeply that you start feeling as if you, too, are keeping all her secrets.

If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the last page, What the Nanny Saw is a fantastic pick!

This was a fun and twisy story. I haven't read the other books in this series, but I feel this worked well as a stand-alone. a definite recommend

thanks publisher and netgalley. all thoughts are my own

I have read and enjoyed a couple of Rouda’s books, so when I had the chance to read What The Nanny Saw for a book tour, I was excited!

This one grabbed me instantly and kept me turning pages. I loved the idea of the good-nanny-but-bad-person character (Lizzie). Her whole backstory was intriguing and her new life was even more interesting than that. She was fun to read!

Sometimes, the book just felt like I was hanging out with very rich friends by the pool, or shopping, or gossiping in the kitchen. That’s how great the characterization was in this one!

The ending was anticlimactic and fell flat for me. I was really hoping that, with as crazy as the story got, there would be a better twist or at least a surprise, but I had figured it out long before the half-way mark of the book.

Still worth the read!

This was a fun and twisy one! I believe this is the third book in a series. I haven't read the other books, but I feel this worked well as a stand-alone. You get enough of the back story to follow along. Lizzie was an unreliable character. She wasn't always likable, but you could partly understand why because of her past. I had a hard time putting this book down and will be going back to read the other books in the series!

This book is getting lots of raves over at The Pulse @thrillerbookloversthepulse, and for good reason!

Thanks, @netgalley and @bookouture, for the #gifted e-arc!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this advanced copy. This one was a roller coaster ride of emotions and I didnt want to get off! Very well told plot and story and character building. I enjoyed this book

Add this title to your to be read list if you like twisty thrillers about coveting another person’s life. Lizzie seems like the solution to Cecilia’s struggle to balance life with the new baby. Lizzie has experience and she is just so helpful. On the surface Lizzie is great but why is she always taking pictures of herself and the baby? Is Lizzie just being helpful or is there something else going on? Add in an ex in jail for crimes that injured Cecilia and the baby daddy that is no help at all and it is the setup for a book that grabs hold of the reader and takes them on a twisty ride. This is part 3 in a series but I read it as a standalone and thoroughly enjoyed it. Many of the characters were delightfully unlikeable and I kept wondering what they would do next. The twists kept me guessing and with so many things going on I was engaged until the very last page.

This electrifying thriller grips you right from the opening pages and doesn't let go until the shocking conclusion. Kaira Rouda has truly nailed it!

The array of ultra-wealthy characters is a rollercoaster of emotions. Cecelia stands out as a breath of fresh air among the cast that you love to hate. Despite her fortune, she radiates kindness and generosity, having faced her fair share of struggles that make her stand out.

Then there's Lizzy, the overworked and underappreciated nanny. She endures the snobbish tantrums of entitled teens, and just when it seems she might find a glimmer of happiness with Cecelia, those ominous red flags start waving furiously.

Kaira Rouda masterfully crafts intricate and compelling characters that leave you craving more! The ending of "What the Nanny Saw" isn't neatly resolved, and I'm hoping for a sequel to unravel the mysteries that still linger. I know Cecelia has more secrets waiting to be uncovered!

A big shoutout to the author and Bookouture for the gifted copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own!

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Thank you so much Booktouture for the early release copy of What the Nanny Saw by Kiara Rouda. This was my first book by this author but definitely won’t be my last! I enjoyed this popcorn thriller and read it in about a day.

The plot was intriguing as were the characters and kept me guessing for a while. I did figure out the final twist but even though I figured it out I still enjoyed the build up to the big reveal.

Unreliable narrators , unhinged female characters , revenge , and deception are some of my favorite themes and trope in a thriller and this one had them all!

This book releases November 13th definitely add it to your tbr!

What the Nanny Saw is a quick, multi-POV, psychological thriller following Cecilia’s new stage of life – motherhood.
It’s important to note that this is the 3rd book in the series, starting with Best Day Ever and followed by The Second Mrs. Storm.

I wasn’t aware that this book was part of a series. Although some reviews stated that it could be read as a standalone, I wouldn’t recommend it.
There’s a tragic event in Paris mentioned repeatedly from the previous book (I think). While it provides enough information about what happened, I can’t help but feel I would’ve connected more if I had read the previous book in the first place.

The characters are not very likeable; in fact, one of them become quite unreliable as the story goes.
I didn’t know who to trust, who’s telling the truth or if it was just Cecilia’s paranoia.
This left me with many questions while reading, which was quite fun.

The last few chapters felt rushed and the twists are pretty predictable. Despite this, I still quit enjoy this psychological thriller drama.

I think I would’ve liked this book better if I had read the previous books. Cause then I would’ve had better understanding of the whole situation especially regarding the Paris tragedy and Cecilia’s ex-husband, Paul.

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Domestic abuse, manipulation, psychological manipulation

2.5 stars

For me this one didn't work. I thought I was going to like it and the beginning looked promising, but later the book got a bit boring. I wanted to know more about Lizzie and have more things happening in the book. I feel like everything was wrapped up soon at the ending and that it was missing more excitement.

Thank you for the free ARC!

Cecilia! Cecilia! She has it all but motherhood is starting to take a toll on her. Her body is still a mess from her fall in Paris and it is tiring having a baby! If she could just find someone to help her a little bit, then things would be great. When a random stranger offers to help at the coffee shop, it seems things are lining up. Lizzie is looking for a new nanny job as the family she is currently with, the kids are pretty much grown. As things all check out, Cecilia takes on Lizzie. It seems too good to be true at first. Lizzie knows just what they both need and Cecilia has nothing to worry about. But then there seems to be some odd signs and Cecilia, even with the help of Lizzie is still just so worn out and tired all the time. What is happening? Wanting to get back to being there for Peyton more, Cecilia gives Lizzie some time off. When she awakes from a longer than anticipated nap, she finds Peyton is missing. Who took her baby? As she works to untangle the web of who is being taking her daughter and what they want, she fears who might be behind it all. She also will do everything and anything in her power to get her daughter back. This was another great book in the Strom series. Thank you to the author for the complementary ebook. Thriller Book Lovers the Pulse has loved this series from the first book!

I just recently listened to The Second Mrs. Strom. I was delighted to see that Cecelia and Paul’s story continued. He played a very small part in this outing so I wasn’t able to chuckle at his ego, but I did get to see what happens to Cecelia after the wild ending of the previous book. While it is book 2 in the series and I easily think it can be read as a stand alone, it will spoil book one if you are planning to read it.

Cecelia has a daughter and is in need of a nanny and basically poaches one from her neighbors. She has a lot going on and is still healing from Paris, dealing with the breakup of her last relationship which is tied into her job, and is raising her daughter Peyton.

The author is known for her popcorn thrillers with their twisty plots, fast pace and generally unlikable characters. I was wondering if Lizzie was maybe going to break the mold. She thinks highly of herself, but seemed competent and did a good job taking care of young Peyton.

I binge read this one and spent a lot of time trying to determine what the twist could be. Maybe I should write a twisty thriller because I came up with so many ideas and not a one was right.

It’s another entertaining, bingeable read that kept me guessing up until the very end.

This was the sequel to The Second Mrs Strom, the third in this series. In this one we follow Cecelia (from book 2) as she tries to move on from the events in Paris. She has a new baby girl and a partner who isn't helping her at all. She kicks him out and hires a nanny to help while she recovers from some injuries. Only the nanny isn't the nice, helpful lady she made out she was.

I actually didn't realise this was part of the series when I signed up to read this one, so I'm glad I'd already read the first two books. It is definitely important to read both before reading this.
I genuinely felt so stressed reading this, because we all know what happens when someone hires a nanny in a thriller. I was absolutely glued to this one and I really hope there's another book coming, because this series is nowhere near ready to end.

The story pulled me straight into the seemingly flawless life of Cecilia, a mother with a picturesque home and a darling baby girl, Peyton. However, beneath this facade lies a murky undercurrent of secrets just waiting to surface.

I really enjoyed the dual perspectives: the keenly observant nanny and Cecilia herself, offering insight into their complex lives. Lizzie, the nanny, comes across as almost too good to be true, which sparked my immediate suspicion. As the plot thickens, both women are unveiled as harbouring dark secrets—Cecilia’s involving threats from her ex-husband—that escalate the tension dramatically.

Rouda skillfully weaves enough context from the previous novel 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐦 to ensure newcomers (like myself) won’t feel lost, while keeping returning fans engaged in the unfolding drama.

One notable aspect of the narrative is that likability is scarce among the characters, reflecting the darker themes of the story. This lack of relatable protagonists may alienate some readers, but it enhances the psychological complexity of the story.

However, the ending felt abrupt, leaving a few plot threads unresolved and giving me a sense of incompleteness. While this may frustrate some, it does pique curiosity about where Rouda will take her characters next.

Ultimately, even with some frustrations regarding character depth and resolution, it remains a captivating read for fans of domestic thrillers!

This is such a guilty pleasure series for me, the true definition of popcorn thrillers and it was so much fun to be back in the world the author created again! This series is best read in order, you should at least read the previous book as that’s when we are first introduced to the main character here, Cecelia. Things pick up awhile after the last book ends and Cecelia hires a new nanny, Lizzie to help with her baby daughter. As always this was filled with unlikable characters, (the kind you love to hate) lots of twisty surprises, and juicy secrets and betrayals. It’s over the top and you may need to suspend some disbelief but it was a blast and a perfect way to spend an afternoon.

What the Nanny Saw is the third installment in Kaira Rouda’s Paul Strom series, and this time, we get to dive even deeper into Cecelia’s story. Picking up after the dramatic events of The Second Mrs. Strom, we see Cecelia navigating life after her traumatic anniversary trip to Paris, shifting the story’s focus from Paul to her perspective and experiences.

I became a fan of Rouda’s storytelling after The Second Mrs. Strom, where we were introduced to both Paul and Cecelia’s complex psyches. Paul’s unnerving personality makes him a fascinating villain, but Cecelia is equally intriguing, and I was thrilled to see her story continue in this novel. This time, we also meet Lizzie, the classic unreliable narrator—a character who appears good and innocent but hides much beneath the surface.

While I loved the pacing and suspense throughout, I felt that the thriller elements came in sporadic waves, rather than consistently building up. The climax arrives quite late in the book (around 85%), and though intense, it resolves quickly, which felt a bit rushed for me. That said, it’s still a page-turner, and the novel does a solid job setting up for future books in the Paul Strom series.

Overall, What the Nanny Saw serves as a refreshing return to Rouda’s dark, layered world and promises more intrigue to come. Thank you to Kaira Rouda, Bookouture, NetGalley, and The Pulse for the eARC! What the Nanny Saw publishes on November 13th.

Name :- What The Nanny Saw
Author :- Kaira Rouda
Genre :- Psychological Thriller
Disclaimer :- Please read BEST DAY EVER & THE SECOND MRS. STROM before reading this.
Plot :- What the Nanny Saw by Kaira Rouda is a suspenseful, slow-burn thriller that dives deep into the dark secrets of a seemingly perfect family. The novel follows the perspective of an unnamed nanny hired by Cecilia, a wealthy single mother who has no idea her new help has her own agenda and a haunting connection to Cecilia’s past. With a fresh and chilling approach, Rouda explores themes of obsession, deception, and betrayal in this twisted domestic tale.
Likes:
1 Creepy and Compelling Narrator: The nanny’s perspective is hauntingly intimate and her observations razor-sharp, offering readers a voyeuristic view into Cecilia's life. Her motivations remain a mystery for much of the book, which adds to the suspense.
2 Suspenseful Atmosphere: Rouda builds an atmosphere of creeping tension, making each interaction with Cecilia and baby Peyton feel fraught with hidden danger. The slow unraveling of the nanny’s plan keeps readers on edge.
Dislikes:
1 Pacing: While suspenseful, the story occasionally lags as the nanny’s intentions remain vague for a while. Some readers might wish for a faster escalation of events.
2 Predictable Twists: Although intriguing, some twists may feel familiar to avid thriller fans, with a few moments that are somewhat easy to anticipate.
3 You've to spend money on the books I've mentioned above and this is not worth it.
Overall :- What the Nanny Saw is an absorbing thriller with a psychological edge, perfect for fans who enjoy a slow-build mystery filled with secrets and suspense. Rouda crafts a haunting tale where a seemingly perfect life hides dark truths, and a nanny with a sinister agenda exposes just how fragile that life can be.
My rating :- 3/5

A totally epic book! The author has written the perfect domestic thriller that had me enthralled from the start right up to the end! I didn't care much for the characters but the plot more than makes up for it. I just had to keep going to find out what would happen next.

This is the 3rd book in the series, which I have really enjoyed the first two books. This book is addicting and has many twists and turns. I do believe you could probably read this even if you haven’t read the other books but I highly recommend reading the others as well! I’m excited for the next book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What the Nanny Saw by Kaira Rouda is an exciting thriller full of manipulations, chills and worries!
I don't know why there is nowhere marked out that this is book three in the series! If this book sparks your interest, please, before you dive in, start from the beginning! (more details on the series at the end of this review!)

I added Kaira Rouda to my favourite author list! She has super quick and easy-to-follow writing! I am hucked from the first pages and always so interested in the story! Some would say it's a slow start but I will say, it's perfect to build the scene, it's perfect to know the characters and start to love or hate them. It's just perfect!

Lizzie is a nanny for 4 children in a rich neighbourhood. She is great with what is she doing but the family setting is wrong and Lizzie can't see herself staying there any longer.
Cecilia survives a shocking and traumatic event and now despite her all traumas she becomes a mother. But it's not all honey and roses and soon she realises, she needs help!

In a true Kaira Rouda style this book is filled with manipulation and secrets. Everyone has hidden motives, nothing is black and white!

To be honest I would love to read more of these series now we have new characters to follow!

About the series:
The first book Best Day Ever published in September 2017 will introduce Paul Storm's character. Paul is a sociopath. Well aware and well masked! This book will let you understand things better in the second book!

The Second book The Second Mrs. Strom published in August 2024 will carry on following Paul and his new developments after the disasters in the first book. Paul is back in his element with a new wife Cecilia by his side!

The third book What the Nanny Saw expected to be published on November 13, 2024, will follow Cecilia after shocking events in Paris. But now we have a new interesting character nanny Lizzie!

How I wish I read this series in the correct order!

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this copy!