The Childminder

by Hayley Smith

You trust them with your child. You shouldn’t.

Each Monday after school, I look after my daughter Coralie and four other kids from her class. We go to the park when it’s sunny, snuggle on the sofa reading books when it rains. Tuesdays to Fridays, the other parents take them. It’s perfect – a circle of free childcare, of fun and friendship for our children. But this morning, we all received an anonymous note. And now I’m terrified.

I know your darkest secrets, it says.

None of you are what you seem. How could you have trusted each other with your children?

You have five days to tell the truth. Or there will be consequences.

My blood runs ice-cold.

I’ve hidden my darkest secret for years and can never reveal it. All the other parents must have secrets too…

And soon it becomes terribly the sender isn’t joking. Because one of our group is killed.

Is someone we know responsible? Who will be next? And will revealing our secrets keep our precious children safe, or put them in even more danger?

A totally gripping psychological thriller packed with incredible twists you won’t see coming. Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Jackie Kabler and K.L. Slater.

Genres: Psychological Thriller

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 18, 2024

About the author

Hayley Smith is married with three children and lived for many years in north east Derbyshire, UK, where much of her writing is set.

She has worked as a graphic designer, youth worker and musician, and is still involved in organising music festivals and gigs.

Having a penchant for all things alternative, she often dips into the counter-culture scene for writing inspiration, producing quirky rough-edged characters and dark, unpredictable twists, turns and moral dilemmas.

She now lives in an eco-community in Shropshire.

Reviews

[Josephine Jarman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This s my third outing with this up and coming author and once again a compelling binge fest.
A child care circle which holds many secrets which are revealed dramatically over a weekend away.
The characters were so well written and seemed true to life they came to life of the page and I liked them and hated them in equal measure. The true story as it unfolded was gripping as I wanted to know the truth more than kim.
The ending however was something else and there was a tiny part if me that thought I need this loose end tied up but this was just so entertaining. Can't wait gir the next outing.
Thank you do much to netgallery and publisher and author for this highly recommended 5 star read. Such a pageturner.

[Kate Cedras · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest review.

A decent thriller with an interesting enough storyline and lots of characters to follow. The twists and surprises were great and not predictable but I just felt like this drug on and wasn’t that exciting. I found myself more excited to finish the book than know what happens.

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my very first book by Hailey Smith and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way till the end. Lots of secrets and lies throughout along twists and turns I did not see coming. Really enjoyed this one! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release. Out now.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Childminder is the third psychological thriller by Hayley Smith. This gripping novel is packed with numerous twists you won’t see coming.

Her novels include:
The Perfect Girlfriend (2023)
Such a Loving Couple (2023)
The Childminder (2024)

This is my review of The Childminder.

This is the story of five parents who are all members of a childcare group devoted to providing free after-school childcare for their children, on a rotational daily basis. Each member of the group was given one day per week where they would pickup the children from school, give them a meal, and watch over them until 6:00P.M. when parents came to collect them. So, everyone in the circle got four days of free after-school childcare. A win/win for all!

The circle and their daily schedule included:
Monday-Stacey & daughter Coralie (7)
Tuesday-Kim & daughter Dulcie (6)
Wednesday-Rhiannon & daughter Freya (8)
Thursday-Nina & son Bobby (8)
Friday-Jarvis & son Hayden (7)

But one morning, they all received an anonymous note…and now were terrified.

I know your darkest secrets, it says.

None of you are what you seem. How could you have trusted each other with your children?

You have five days to tell the truth. Or there will be consequences.

But all of them have dark secrets they have kept hidden for years.

And the sender wasn’t joking, as one person in the group is killed.

Who sent these notes and why? Who will be next? And will revealing our secrets keep our precious children safe, or put them in even more danger?

This was a well written gripping psychological thriller packed with incredible twists you won’t see coming. An enjoyable read.

Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for my digital copy.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and to Bookouture for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of The Childminder by Hayley Smith. This was a decent enough read but it did not draw me in enough. The storyline was interesting but I found the book to drag on a little and got bored with reading it. The ending was a complete surprise to me though! Not predictable for me. Not the best thriller but definitely not the worst either. Just "Meh" for me. I gave it a 3 star rating.

[Leona · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Childminder is another gripping and tension induced read by Hayley Smith.. This is the third book I’ve read by this author and hand on heart I have to say each one just keeps getting better and better. This book just pulled me right in from the off and I was hooked after a few pages, It’s got everything I love in a psychological thriller, plot twists, untrustworthy characters and plenty of tension.

[Bo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow!! Twist after twist after twist!
This book felt like a quick read, changing between narrators and timelines. Overall, a fantastic book that begs to be read in one sitting.

I was given this as an ARC for a review.

[Victoria Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a book! I couldn’t work out what twists were coming. I had ideas but none were what happened. Deffo worth a read!

[Jo Pollard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A childcare circle has been set up by a primary school, and the five parents within the circle each have a secret to keep. They plan a weekend away at the coast with their children, but then each one receives a letter asking them about their secrets. Who has the letter come from, and what do they know?

This book is full of twists, lies, and an ending that I loved. It is a perfect thriller, written so well by the author with more added to the story the further you get into the book.

It is a relatively slow start when the reader is introduced to the characters, but once the story kicks in and the pace speeds up, it becomes so gripping that I didn't want to put it down.

A definite five-star read that I would recommend. This is the third of Hayley Smith's novels that I have read, and I can't wait for the next one.

Thanks to Bookoture and Netgalley for an advanced copy.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Childminder is the newest psychological thriller from UK author Hayley Smith.
A child care minding group spend a weekend away together.
Five adults and their children.
Just before leaving each receive a mysterious, menacing letter.
Many secrets are revealed over the days.
Until all is revealed in the ultimate climax.
This was a crazy, wild and twisty ride.
As it slowly unwraps, page by page, it all comes together in the most unexpected way.
A very worthy read.
I must read more from this capable author.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating look at four mothers and one man involved in a Childcare Circle where each takes a turn picking up the children from school and keeping them at their house until the other parents get off work. And then they all get the opportunity to stay at a beach house for the weekend and they are delighted to get away and let their kids play in the sand and water. But suddenly each gets an anonymous letter tell them they have "5 days to tell the truth." We get the backstory from each, interspersed with the present as they ruminate on why they've been thrown together and who knows each "truth." It's frightening and ominous as all the pieces come together; secrets are revealed and lives are lost. It's creepy and often dark but I loved every minute of it!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

[Shauntelle (shauntellereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good!! As someone with personal experience with Erb's Palsy, I loved that it was a part of this book. It was refreshing to see that disability given a voice. I've never seen that mentioned in a book, so I loved that. At times, this book was heartbreaking. The premise of this book was unique, which is always refreshing in a genre where all the storylines resemble each other.

The characters were very well developed. This story unfolds in dual timelines, which provided depth to the plot. This book is full of twists and lies, and has an ending that packs a punch! This book pulled me in from the very beginning, and it kept me fully invested right up until the end.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Alyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Childminder was a well written thriller. A group of parents take their children to the coast for a weekend away. Little do they know, they have been lured there but by whom and why slowly unravels. This is a slow burn with tons of twists and turns.

[Rachel the Page-Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book with an impressed laugh, and an “OMG”. The ending! OMG indeed. A couple of other things I said out loud (to my cats) while reading this are “yeah, you need to just be her friend so you don’t kill yourself” and “she’s going to get herself killed!”.

This centers around people in a childcare circle, where five parents and their children each spend a day taking care of the others, so they don’t have to pay exorbitant childcare costs. Our five parents/children are…

Stacey, daughter Coralie
Nina, son Bobby
Rhiannon, daughter Freya
Kim, daughter Dulcie, and
Jarvis, son Hayden.

The synopsis lays this one out pretty clearly; this group is going to go on a weekend trip together for some fun and bonding. Nina found a seaside house that a friend was willing to let them stay in for free, so off to Kittiwake House they head.

I’d love to say more, but I can’t. Well, I could, but I won’t - there is too much to spoil in this one. The entire book was an entertaining little thriller, but the ending was fantastic. It was starting to wrap up, and I thought “yep, I knew it”, but then the ACTUAL ending floored me with a huge twist I never even considered. Four stars!

(Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me on this book tour. “The Childminder” is slated to be released on September 18, 2024.)

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great story and a very quick read.

[Angela Madin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought this was an excellent psychological thriller . So many twists and didn't see any of them coming . Great book and I highly recommend it

[Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Bookoture for inviting me to join the enthralling journey through the pages of The Childminder by Haley Smith.

Step into a world where a tight-knit group of parents takes turns caring for each other's children after school. However, the tranquility is shattered when a mysterious note arrives, unveiling a hidden secret. As the narrative unfolds through different perspectives, shocking revelations come to light, each with far-reaching implications.

For those who revel in stories that keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page, this book is a must-read. Brace yourself for a rollercoaster of twists and turns that will leave you guessing at every corner. Get ready for a thrilling ride filled with surprises that will keep you hooked from start to finish!

Join the suspense! #TheChildminder #Bookoture #MysteryNovel #ThrillingRead #Unputdownable #PageTurner #BookLovers #MustRead #SecretsRevealed #BookTour.

[Val Wheeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, the first I have read but have read similar style books from this publisher. This seemed like a book I would enjoy so was keen to pick it up,

An interesting psychological thriller that explores a group of parents who take it in turns to look after their children for free, but can they all be trusted and what goes on behind closed doors? A note is received and a weekend away, brings everything to a head, with lots of twists and turns along the way. Very engrossing and cant wait to find out what happens next with some great atmospheric writing from this author helps you imagine the scene and locations in this book.

A solid 4 stars for this entertaining book

I look forward to finding out what comes next from this author.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Bookoutre for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Kelly (aka jsybookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second book by Hayley Smith and it didn’t disappoint, another solid 5 star read!

Nina, Stacey, Rhiannon, Kim and Jarvis have got their after school childcare working perfectly using their children’s primary schools’ weekly childcare circle. Each parent looks after the five children in the circle for one day a week after school, giving them and the other parents free childcare for the other four days. But when each member of the childcare circle receive sinister anonymous notes stating that their darkest secrets will be aired if they don’t tell each other the truth they have been hiding, things begin to unravel. Initially the notes are ignored as not one member of the childcare care circle wants to admit their truth. However, when a weekend away is planned for the October half term for the children and parents and they all arrive at the seaside house, Nina, Stacey and Rhiannon are shocked to realise that they have been to this exact area before, as teenagers, and it’s a memory that they all have been desperately trying to bury and forget. Someone wants revenge, the secrets out in the open and after the weekend away none of their lives will be the same again.

Another great read from Hayley Smith which I thoroughly enjoyed! I loved the information at the start saying which child belonged to which parent to help with confusion at the beginning (but pretty soon in I had learned whose child was whose) and I also really enjoyed the way the story was told from the different points of view of each parent. I was fooled by one of the characters at the beginning of the story and actually liked them until things became a little clearer- I am not sure what that means for my trusting dodgy people in real life – but I did understand why they did what they did. There were a few multi facets to the story which all came together very nicely near the end which was very satisfying. Although I guessed the twist, I believe this is more to do with my reading a lot of psychological thrillers than the actual story twist quality, it certainly didn’t ruin my enjoyment of the book at all.

Ultimately another great read from the talented Hayley Smith which wholeheartedly deserved a 5 star rating. I definitely recommend this for any psychological thriller fans, you won’t be disappointed. I look forward to seeing what she writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hayley Smith and Bookouture for my advanced reading copy. Out 18th September 2024.

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it's a very frequently occurring problem for families where both parents have a job or for single parents with a job. Where to find a childminder you can trust and count on?

That's why I find this a very good solution to share the task with 4 other parents, each taking care of the 5 kids during a few hours every day of the working week. This way it gives each of the parents a few hours to take care of certain things around the house or elsewhere and you know your child is taken care of.

What is buried on the inside very often does not show on the outside and if you could have known you would have tried to work out another solution...

This is a story about parents supporting each other...

This is a story about about hidden secrets bound to come to the surface...

This is a story about a silly thing going terribly wrong...

This is a story about life long friends who will always have your back...

The author leads me down a certain path.  The question is did I follow it all the way or was there something niggling my brain? I wonder how you felt about it. :)

I loved this brilliant story. I felt a little heartbroken too. I adored the premise and all the background stories. I loved the whole package. 5 stars

Thank you

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this author! One dad and four moms form a parent group. Each day of the week, one parent watches all the kids after school until 6pm. All of the parents receive a letter about revealing their darkest secrets. Then they get a text about paying to keep those secrets. While on edge, they all decide to get away for a weekend together. But there is something more sinister happening. The house and that weekend isn’t what they had planned it to be, but it’s something that someone planned it to be.

Smith has written so many layers and pieces into this novel that all nicely fit on top of each other and interlock nicely by the time you reach the end of the book. Part of the mystery is revealed half way, but there is still more mystery and thrills to come. There are reveals from that point until the very end! This is definitely one of those books that will keep you guessing.

I enjoyed all the characters, and the fact that they all had a secret that made them each a little untrustworthy, but there wasn’t anything to make you really dislike them. This, for me, made me want to keep reading. I find it hard when I don’t like the characters.

This isn’t a hardcore thriller book, but maybe a thriller light. Either way, thriller lovers will enjoy it!

[Melissa Suslowicz Bartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved!!!!! What I thought was so great about this one was at first you don’t understand what the heck is going on then bam by the middle it all started to add up. One plus one definitely equals two. Where to start????? So if you like a book with lots of dark secrets and revenge then this one is for you. Every character had something to hide. As each chapter passed you find out more and more then all of a sudden there is an explosion of secrets that were let out. It was awesome. It felt like Christmas Morning to me. The plot was super interesting and kept me engaged the entire time. Now to my favorite part, the ending. Wow, just wow. The last few pages is what did it for me. I was left saying OMG in such a great way. This author created a bomb read and I can’t wait to read more from them.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chocoblock with twists and turns, I could not put it down. Short chapters have that ‘one more chapter’ vibe going on. Thoroughly enjoyable read! Thanks to the author, NetGalley and publishers for the arc.

[Roz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group of parents set up a childcare circle, knowing little about one another, for a group of young children. All of them receive a letter asking about what is their greatest secret, followed by a text in a similar vein. This starts some worry and self doubt among them, which comes to a head during a stormy weekend away at a deserted house. The house which has some memories more than one of the childcare circle share in.

This is a good thriller with lots of twists and turns along the way. The story has a good pace and I enjoyed the characters and finding out more about them and what drove them to the ultimate ending here.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Paula Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read all three of Hayley Smith’s books now and she has blown me away with each one. This latest psychological thriller from her is filled with secretive characters and twists, especially at the end.

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hayley Smith has not disappointed thus far, and she certainly didn’t start now. This story was full of twists and turns, some you think you see coming (and really don’t) and some that you don’t see coming at all. Another fantastic thriller!

[Kayla Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredibly riveting psychological thriller and it had all of the makings of a suspenseful and engaging story!

When 5 adults (Jarvis, Nina, Stacey, Kim, and Rhiannon) come together to form a group called the Childcare Circle, they think they are doing themselves all a favor. Saving on the cost of childcare, while each taking one day a week when they watch everyone's kids. It sounds like the perfect setup, yes? Well, it is. . . until it suddenly isn't. As the group prepares to take a quick weekend getaway together, they are all sudden recipients of a threatening and dark letter giving them an ultimatum: Tell your deepest secrets or else. What is supposed to be a fun weekend getaway ends up being a weekend of drama, suspense, murder, and mayhem.

Hayley Smith tells the story from all 5 character's perspectives (plus a riveting plot twist told from a surprise character at the end). I loved how each transition from each characters perspective was smooth and easy to follow along. It also switches timelines often, but it really helps the story flow and play out in a logical way.

Most importantly, the plot twist upon plot twist kept me interesting until the very last page!

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Child Minder by Haley Smith, Kim and her daughter Dulcie are newcomers to the town so Kim is excited when she becomes a part of a child minding group with four other parents Jarvis is a single dad of little Hayden, Nina is a mother to Lil Bobby Stacy has Carly Joe and Rihanna is the mother to Freya they all struggled with childcare until joining the child minders group. With the exception of Jarvis and herself the other three ladies have known each other for years and were even at one point best friends so when they all receive a letter saying someone knows their deepest darkest secrets and they have five days to confess they all react differently. Jarvis has his own problems to deal with, but when he tries to do just that Something Happens that only makes his problems even worse. Thankfully they’re getting a bit of a break with the child minder group going on a bit of a holiday and it just so happens to be the last day they have to confess. Before it’s over their secrets will come out but they may just have to be coerced. They say confession is good for the soul, but may not be great for the extension of life because they don’t all make it out unscaved. I love Haley Smith‘s books her character they’re always multidimensional people with good and bad and every time you think the twist have been twisted there’s always more to come. Her books are like the gift that keeps on giving and I was down for all of it. There’s a few authors who no matter how tall my TBR list I never reject reading the arc in Miss Smith is definitely at the top of that list. She never disappoints and certainly didn’t with The Child Minder.#NetGalley, #Bookoucher, #HaleySmith, #TheChildMinder,

[Kayl_may · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by Hayley Smith and was interested in reading it after seeing the synopsis. I was not left disappointed!

The story is told by the different characters perspectives of the child minding circle and based on the weekend away and the week leading up to it.

The characters were well written and I particularly liked Kim, who seemed the odd one out from the other members of the circle due to her background and current circumstances. I also liked the fact that there was a single dad in the circle, who brought a different dynamic to the group. On the whole the characters weren’t the most likeable but this added to the enjoyment of the book and the anticipation as to what was going to happen next with this dysfunctional lot.

I found this really easy to read and the story kept me gripped throughout the majority of the book. The story development was great and gave off that “one more chapter” vibe. I did figure out the ending so was a bit gutted there wasn’t more to it. However, having said that, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this book.

I’d definitely like to read more from this author after reading the Childminder.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Eva Edge · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Childminder by Hayley Smith is a revenge-driven thriller full of surprises, completely unexpected turns and a shocking ending!
This story was masterfully woven in a way you would not guess it! It always feels yummy!
This book will present daily challenges and clever solutions around childcare! We've all been there, we all feel the struggle! But how safe is it to trust your kid to someone who you don't know?

One dad and four mothers created a Childcare Circle. The system is simple, each parent has a dedicated day of the week when they will pick from the school their own child plus four other children and will spend a couple of hours with them. Different families, and different social statuses but everyone benefits. One morning they all received an anonymous note stating "I know your darkest secrets". No one is who they pretend they are. Now they are scared! At the same time, they still are ready to go to the side weekend break...

We have a chance to unwrap this story layer by layer and all the dots land on the i's! Stories twist together in a way we would never expect.

I have loved Hayley Smith's writing since I read her first book The Perfect Girlfriend and her second book Such a Loving Coupleand this one didn't disappoint.
In some way, I believe I feel connected to the stories as they are located in Derbyshire or around Derbyshire so when places are mentioned, I can picture where this is happening!

I am so grateful to NetGalley and Bookouture for this copy!