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A Zoe Hayes Mystery #1
The Nanny Murders
Zoe Hayes, who works as an art therapist in an institute for seriously deranged patients, is the single mother of an adopted and adorable little girl named Molly. Zoe gets involved in the missing nannies case when Molly, playing in the snow, makes a grisly discovery—She finds a piece of litter that turns out to be a human finger.
One of Zoe’s neighbors (but which one?) seems to be a serial killer. Zoe and a mysteriously scarred detective named Nick Stiles team up to catch the killer when suddenly Zoe becomes the prey….
One of Zoe’s neighbors (but which one?) seems to be a serial killer. Zoe and a mysteriously scarred detective named Nick Stiles team up to catch the killer when suddenly Zoe becomes the prey….
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 2005
10 people are currently reading
663 people want to read
About the author
Merry Jones
25 books101 followersAKA Merry Bloch Jones.
Merry Jones is a Book Excellence Award Finalist in Suspense (What You Don't Know), and a Best Book Award winner from American Book Festival (Child's Play.) She has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil. "If I don't write," she says, "over time, I get agitated and irritable, as if energy is building up inside and I have to let it out."
Accordingly, over the years, she has written a wide range of material, in a variety of styles and for diverse media. She began her career by spending about fifteen years writing and producing video and multi-media for corporate clients, but, when her second child was born in 1989, she decided to pursue her passion and began to write books.
Series:
* Zoe Hayes Mystery
Merry Jones is a Book Excellence Award Finalist in Suspense (What You Don't Know), and a Best Book Award winner from American Book Festival (Child's Play.) She has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil. "If I don't write," she says, "over time, I get agitated and irritable, as if energy is building up inside and I have to let it out."
Accordingly, over the years, she has written a wide range of material, in a variety of styles and for diverse media. She began her career by spending about fifteen years writing and producing video and multi-media for corporate clients, but, when her second child was born in 1989, she decided to pursue her passion and began to write books.
Series:
* Zoe Hayes Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
August 3, 2015
I loved this book! One of those quick grabs off the library shelf and so glad I did! Great mystery and I love Zoe and her daughter!
March 29, 2020
Merry Jones’ The Nanny Murders is an exciting mystery with twists and turns to the very end. Jones begins with an intriguing protagonist, Zoe Hayes, who works as an art therapist in a mental institution in Philadelphia. The novel is full of a wide range of characters who play a vital role in the storyline.
And it’s the storyline that sounds plausible. Scary, but plausible. Zoe adopted Molly, her little girl, and is a single mother. The mystery takes place in Zoe’s neighborhood, Queen Village in Philadelphia, and at Zoe’s workplace, the institution. There are even splashes of romance to keep the reader rooting for Zoe. But in this mystery, the protagonist changes. Zoe is not the same woman she was in the beginning of the story. If you’re looking for a great read at this time of isolation, then Merry Jones’ The Nanny Murders is the story for you.
And it’s the storyline that sounds plausible. Scary, but plausible. Zoe adopted Molly, her little girl, and is a single mother. The mystery takes place in Zoe’s neighborhood, Queen Village in Philadelphia, and at Zoe’s workplace, the institution. There are even splashes of romance to keep the reader rooting for Zoe. But in this mystery, the protagonist changes. Zoe is not the same woman she was in the beginning of the story. If you’re looking for a great read at this time of isolation, then Merry Jones’ The Nanny Murders is the story for you.
April 3, 2020
The majority of this book was entertaining. Nothing crazy or making me want to read continuously throughout the night. HOWEVER, once Charlie was killed, the book got INSANE!! The suspicion of Nick, the entire Woods incident, and the book’s ending had me anxious. And Jake...the one I’d least expected to have anything to do with the nanny murders, that caught me off guard.
This is a fun book to read and will keep you on the edge of your seat. And I just found out that this book is part of a series. I don’t know if I’m going to read the rest; definitely interested but it isn’t a priority. The book did not end on any cliff hangers so I’m pretty satisfied with the how the story turned out as of now.
This is a fun book to read and will keep you on the edge of your seat. And I just found out that this book is part of a series. I don’t know if I’m going to read the rest; definitely interested but it isn’t a priority. The book did not end on any cliff hangers so I’m pretty satisfied with the how the story turned out as of now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2015
I will need to read few more of her books before I have an opinion. This was pretty good. It kept you guessing.
November 8, 2019
I thought this book started off really strong but the ending was a little over done.
January 13, 2025
Oh my godd
December 3, 2024
It started off interesting and I enjoyed the writing, but it went downhill about halfway through. How has Zoe gotten through life? Who continues to talks to their ex 5 years after divorce when kids aren't involved if they aren't in love with them? Especially when that ex keeps asking for things that aren't in the settlement? I was hoping she would finally tell him to shove it, but no. Not only does she give him the ring, but he's still pestering her for more stuff which she's still giving him. So no growth.
Then there's here relationship with Nick, which is strange. She doesn't realize she's in a relationship with him until he calls her pet names. She even thought they were broken up, but he clearly didn't know. We don't even know if she likes him beyond his looks.
Also, why did he involve her in the investigation? We never find out.
Zoe is a therapist, but she sucks at talking to people and getting clarification.
Also, I hope Angela quits for being forced by Zoe to get in a car with a stranger who turns out to be one of the killers. That's probably the point when the book went downhill for me.
Then there's here relationship with Nick, which is strange. She doesn't realize she's in a relationship with him until he calls her pet names. She even thought they were broken up, but he clearly didn't know. We don't even know if she likes him beyond his looks.
Also, why did he involve her in the investigation? We never find out.
Zoe is a therapist, but she sucks at talking to people and getting clarification.
Also, I hope Angela quits for being forced by Zoe to get in a car with a stranger who turns out to be one of the killers. That's probably the point when the book went downhill for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2017
In the tradition of Mary Higgins Clark comes this deliciously written woman-in-jeopardy novel from a wonderful new talent. Zoe, a single mother with an adopted daughter, discovers that one of her neighbors could be a serial killer. Someone is busily dismembering Philadelphia's terrified nannies. Zoe and a mysteriously scarred detective named Nick Stiles together try to prevent the murderer from striking again, but the killer has targeted Zoe.
I have found another favorite author. She IS in the tradition of Mary Higgins Clark. If you love MHC, then you have to read The Nanny Murders. 5 stars.
I have found another favorite author. She IS in the tradition of Mary Higgins Clark. If you love MHC, then you have to read The Nanny Murders. 5 stars.
August 27, 2019
Zoe Hayes, an art therapist in a mental hospital (for very sick people), and she is the single mother of an adopted and adorable little girl named Molly. Nannies near where she lives start to go missing without a trace until she becomes involved when her little daughter Molly is playing in the snow, and finds a human finger.
The police come and interview her and she is instantly attracted to the lieutenant that is her interviewer. He askes her to go out for dinner to discuss the case and …. No hints, you know me better than that!
The police come and interview her and she is instantly attracted to the lieutenant that is her interviewer. He askes her to go out for dinner to discuss the case and …. No hints, you know me better than that!
November 7, 2025
Why does Zoe always put her and her daughter in such horrifically unsafe circumstances. I mean we wouldn’t have a thriller without some of this, but she really got on my nerves.
The book really left off without fully wrapping up the story; and unfortunately, I did not like this one enough to read on to the next book, so I won’t even get a resolution. Continuing to bring up Zoe’s ex husband seemed completely unnecessary. There were a lot of extra irrelevant characters but Merry Jones did keep me on my toes. I definitely didn’t even get close to guessing the twist
The book really left off without fully wrapping up the story; and unfortunately, I did not like this one enough to read on to the next book, so I won’t even get a resolution. Continuing to bring up Zoe’s ex husband seemed completely unnecessary. There were a lot of extra irrelevant characters but Merry Jones did keep me on my toes. I definitely didn’t even get close to guessing the twist
August 19, 2019
I think I can flatly state that the MC is easily the worst at everything - the worst mother, the worst health care professional, the worst EVERYTHING. She's annoying on every level and her kid is too. Her best friend is awful, her baby sitter is awful, her ex husband is awful, even the love interest cop boyfriend is sketchy / alarming. Holy crap, this author made every single character in this book absolutely revolting or just plain offputting.
August 16, 2018
I purchased this book from a used book store; what an absolutely fantastic find. I could not read it fast enough!
The author tells the story of missing nannies. The main female character loves in the area where the nannies have gone missing from. While she knows and is friendly and respectful to her neighbors, the author makes it clear, we never really know others.
This is a must read book!
The author tells the story of missing nannies. The main female character loves in the area where the nannies have gone missing from. While she knows and is friendly and respectful to her neighbors, the author makes it clear, we never really know others.
This is a must read book!
May 27, 2017
I had mixed feelings about this one. Too many red herrings, but a heart-pounding chase scene.
May 2, 2020
An easy read but the characters driove me crazy!
June 10, 2020
The plot is just too jumpy to give this book a good review. The story is all over the place with no steadiness.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
August 25, 2020
Excellent!!
Read
January 22, 2022first read by this author and in this series.
August 24, 2022
I'm a big fan of mistery books, this is like watching a criminal minds episode, a really good one.
Read
December 22, 2024Zoe Hayes Mystery Series, Book 1
February 16, 2025
Picked this up from the library and absolutely loved it! Full of suspense and I really enjoyed the characters. Would def read again
October 20, 2012
#1 Zoe Hayes, art therapist; amateur sleuth, dark cosy. A woman drifting through life puts herself and her daughter in jeopardy when nannies start disappearing and body parts begin to turn up in her neighborhood.
I was afraid this was a mommy-track "cute!!!" mystery, centered around precious kids and their plush lifestyles and schedules, something I’m not fond of. But although the first hundred pages are almost excruciatingly slow, they aren't bad, and by page 150 things really get moving and this becomes an emotionally dark, fast-paced thriller ride that I thoroughly enjoyed, having “bought into” Zoe’s “take” on life and her situation.
Poor pacing and the inability to pare down to essentials often occurs in first books; this would have benefitted greatly from a cutting of about a third (~100 pages) IMO. While this is not her first book it is her first fiction, and thus might be said to be suffering from First Book-itis. I’ll gladly give her another try, though, as overall it was entertaining, well-plotted, and only just a wee bit incredible in its thrillerish denouement. It’ll be interesting to see if the author can surmount the infamous Cabot Cove Syndrome (“how do I *believably* get my amateur protag involved in multiple murder cases?”) that cripples many otherwise entertaining series. .
On the surface I’d ought to have hated this, and I liked it rather a lot. Young, pretty Mom type with cute smart kid, boyfriend is cop fercrissakes, ought to have been too precious for words! But noxious as those components can sometimes be, the book was saved when the tone went dark in the middle and the plotting became very strong. She shows promise.
I was afraid this was a mommy-track "cute!!!" mystery, centered around precious kids and their plush lifestyles and schedules, something I’m not fond of. But although the first hundred pages are almost excruciatingly slow, they aren't bad, and by page 150 things really get moving and this becomes an emotionally dark, fast-paced thriller ride that I thoroughly enjoyed, having “bought into” Zoe’s “take” on life and her situation.
Poor pacing and the inability to pare down to essentials often occurs in first books; this would have benefitted greatly from a cutting of about a third (~100 pages) IMO. While this is not her first book it is her first fiction, and thus might be said to be suffering from First Book-itis. I’ll gladly give her another try, though, as overall it was entertaining, well-plotted, and only just a wee bit incredible in its thrillerish denouement. It’ll be interesting to see if the author can surmount the infamous Cabot Cove Syndrome (“how do I *believably* get my amateur protag involved in multiple murder cases?”) that cripples many otherwise entertaining series. .
On the surface I’d ought to have hated this, and I liked it rather a lot. Young, pretty Mom type with cute smart kid, boyfriend is cop fercrissakes, ought to have been too precious for words! But noxious as those components can sometimes be, the book was saved when the tone went dark in the middle and the plotting became very strong. She shows promise.
June 10, 2010
This book was described as in the tradition of Mary Higgins Clark.
However, I found Zoe to be far less intelligent than most of Higgin Clark's charachters.
She becomes unreasonably angry with a man that she has known only a short time because he does not confide all of his personal secrets or work related secrets to her. She call him dishonest repeatedly. I found myself shaking my head at this. Would she divulge work related information to almost a virtual stranger just because she was sexually attracted to him???? We ask thing from men that we would never accept in return.
At the end of this book, just after being in grave danger, she does something unspeakably stupid. Why is it never ok, for a charachter, to contact authorities or wait until someone can go investigate with them why wonder off into a situation that seems fraught with danger? Especially if you leave a child unattended in your wake?
I would hope that a therapist would be much smarter than this one. I was looking for a new mystery novelist. I was deeply disappointed.
However, I found Zoe to be far less intelligent than most of Higgin Clark's charachters.
She becomes unreasonably angry with a man that she has known only a short time because he does not confide all of his personal secrets or work related secrets to her. She call him dishonest repeatedly. I found myself shaking my head at this. Would she divulge work related information to almost a virtual stranger just because she was sexually attracted to him???? We ask thing from men that we would never accept in return.
At the end of this book, just after being in grave danger, she does something unspeakably stupid. Why is it never ok, for a charachter, to contact authorities or wait until someone can go investigate with them why wonder off into a situation that seems fraught with danger? Especially if you leave a child unattended in your wake?
I would hope that a therapist would be much smarter than this one. I was looking for a new mystery novelist. I was deeply disappointed.
January 2, 2018
Very boring and I had to work exceptionally hard to keep my head in the game, but the very end was quite creepy and almost had me wanting to give the book a higher rating.
Zoe Hayes, the lead character, lives in an upper class close-knit Philadelphia neighborhood where the local nannies begin to disappear. Zoe, an art therapist in a mental hospital, and her daughter are quickly thrown into the foray when Molly finds a human finger in the snow and with this clue, Zoe knows that the serial killer has to be one of her neighbors.
I know a huge jump in the storyline, but pretty much this is how it happened. Of course, you have to throw in the police detective that will make their lives complete and then when the killer is found and the trumpets blare they will all live happily ever after. Unfortunately, that is where the creepy part comes in. When your mom works in an institute for the seriously deranged, part of her work might come home with her and a Steven King-esque twist appears just when you were not expecting it.
Zoe Hayes, the lead character, lives in an upper class close-knit Philadelphia neighborhood where the local nannies begin to disappear. Zoe, an art therapist in a mental hospital, and her daughter are quickly thrown into the foray when Molly finds a human finger in the snow and with this clue, Zoe knows that the serial killer has to be one of her neighbors.
I know a huge jump in the storyline, but pretty much this is how it happened. Of course, you have to throw in the police detective that will make their lives complete and then when the killer is found and the trumpets blare they will all live happily ever after. Unfortunately, that is where the creepy part comes in. When your mom works in an institute for the seriously deranged, part of her work might come home with her and a Steven King-esque twist appears just when you were not expecting it.
September 30, 2014
This was a rather odd mystery book in many ways and it took me awhile to get into it. The main character, an art therapist who works at a mental institution is narrating the story. She lives in a not so nice neighbourhood with her adopted daughter and local nannies are disappearing from the area with increasing frequency. When her daughter finds a bloody finger out in the snow it all moves very close to home. She likes the new detective Nick, but can she trust him? Charlie says there is evil around and he wants to protect her. Can she believe him? Victor never leaves his house - what's up with that? And then there's her ex-husband Michael with his incessant demands and Phillip Woods, another strange fellow. Could life be any weirder? Clearly it could and it happens in this story.For the most part, I didn't really feel I had a deep understanding of all the characters. Did it have a happy ending - well- sort of. 3.5 stars
January 13, 2011
I liked this book because it was set in Philadelphia, a city I know well, and mentioned the Pink Rose (now closed) an awesome pastry shop that brings back many dating memories :) But as for the book, it only earned 3 stars in my eyes because it was disjointed-I think (this being a debut novel) that the author is talented but tried to do too much and succeeded in doing less because the plot line drifted and the characters, well, acted "out of character" and were not fully developed, especially Zoe, the main character. the plot spent inordinate amounts of time on things that had nothing to do with the story (her ex Michael). Overall, I want to explore others by the author because she came strongly recommended by my librarian, who did tell me i would like her later works better.
November 30, 2011
Another quickie thriller by an author I hadn't heard of. I love exploring new authors as I am new to their methodologies and twists and turns occur when least expected. This story deals with a single mother of a 5 year old adopted girl, who gets blown into a whirlwind investigation of disappearing nannies in the neighbourhood, where all neighbours, especially males are suspects. She also is attracted to the handsome detective who is leading the case, and who has a few dark secrets of his own. The story escalates to the final climax when, as is usual with most thrillers, the pace and interest unravels and we are left with a good book at the start which sustained midway, but failed a bit towards the end.
Still, overall a nice thriller to while away time.
Still, overall a nice thriller to while away time.
March 8, 2010
This is Merry Jones' debut novel and to say the least, it was stunning. I loved every minute of it and had trouble putting it down. The plot was well put together and I found the characters to be very believable. Zoe is such an amazing mother, friend and art therapist. She's someone you'd love to have in your life as she is quite stable and generally, lovable.
Merry Jones really had be going, trying to figure out who the Nannynapper was. I had an idea of who it could be, but new information kept popping up that led me off trail. In the end, my first assumption had been right. :) I really enjoyed this novel and am looking forward to reading more of Jones' work.
Merry Jones really had be going, trying to figure out who the Nannynapper was. I had an idea of who it could be, but new information kept popping up that led me off trail. In the end, my first assumption had been right. :) I really enjoyed this novel and am looking forward to reading more of Jones' work.
February 13, 2009
This book was immensely entertaining and wonderful. The main character, Zoe Hayes, is so believable and human. You'd want her in your life. She loves her adopted daughter, loathes her ex, is taunted by her unused stairmaster, and when a sexy yet secretive detective enters her life she is realistically doubtful. Of course, this is a murder mystery, and the Philly neighborhood, with all if its quirks and quirky neighbors, is the perfect setting for weird. Don't miss this one!
March 30, 2010
This book had such an interesting premise and I was immediatly drawn into the mystery. However, I felt like that author completely let go of the mystery and turned it into a romance novel. The main character irked me because she couldn't have an honest conversation with the man she's supposed to be dating, gives in to her exhusband and lets him walk all over her AND makes decisions that no sane mother would make.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews