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Nursery Crimes
A crumbling island mansion. Two unruly children. One nanny caught in a family’s darkest secrets.
Zoe Smith thought she could outrun the past. But when she arrives at the isolated Mansfield estate to care for twin siblings, it doesn’t take long to realize something is deeply wrong.
The children’s mother is missing in action, consumed by addiction. Their grandfather, Thomas Mansfield, rules the home with cold authority, while his much-younger wife, Carlotta, keeps to the shadows, guarding secrets she refuses to share.
Then come the strange noises. The late-night sightings. The feeling that someone is always watching.
As Zoe tries to protect the twins from the dysfunction swirling around them, she finds an unlikely ally in Frenchie, the family’s loyal and mysterious butler. But the deeper she digs, the more twisted the truth becomes.
Because on this island, the past doesn’t stay buried, and the worst threats live inside the house.
Nursery Crimes is a chilling new installment in the domestic thriller series The Nanny Problem Thrillers from best-selling authors Lauren Street and Nolon King.
Zoe Smith thought she could outrun the past. But when she arrives at the isolated Mansfield estate to care for twin siblings, it doesn’t take long to realize something is deeply wrong.
The children’s mother is missing in action, consumed by addiction. Their grandfather, Thomas Mansfield, rules the home with cold authority, while his much-younger wife, Carlotta, keeps to the shadows, guarding secrets she refuses to share.
Then come the strange noises. The late-night sightings. The feeling that someone is always watching.
As Zoe tries to protect the twins from the dysfunction swirling around them, she finds an unlikely ally in Frenchie, the family’s loyal and mysterious butler. But the deeper she digs, the more twisted the truth becomes.
Because on this island, the past doesn’t stay buried, and the worst threats live inside the house.
Nursery Crimes is a chilling new installment in the domestic thriller series The Nanny Problem Thrillers from best-selling authors Lauren Street and Nolon King.
323 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 12, 2025
3 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Nolon King
57 books82 followersNolon King writes smart psychological thrillers designed to leave you on the edge of your seat. His stories are dark, twisty, and often decidedly close to home.
He’s not afraid to explore the darker side of human nature through stories featuring families torn apart by secrets and lies. If you enjoy reading authors like Darcey Bell and Harlan Coban, movies like A Simple Favor and The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, or shows like Ozark and Dead to Me, you’ll love Nolon King.
When not writing you will find Nolon drinking black coffee and observing humans in their natural habitats.
He’s not afraid to explore the darker side of human nature through stories featuring families torn apart by secrets and lies. If you enjoy reading authors like Darcey Bell and Harlan Coban, movies like A Simple Favor and The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, or shows like Ozark and Dead to Me, you’ll love Nolon King.
When not writing you will find Nolon drinking black coffee and observing humans in their natural habitats.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 21, 2025
Great continuation from book 1 !
Zoe is back!! After the fiasco in book 1 with the Stockport family, I’m surprised she wants to continue to be a nanny! Nonetheless, she ended up with The Mansfields family this time around.
She definitely still has that tough skin, dealing with Simone & Simon was definitely a handful at first, but they ended up being great kids overall. The problem is never the kids though, It’s typically the adults in these households with their many secret secrets that are often times deadly. The Mansfields have custody of their grandchildren And the granddad is “off” right from the start! This story took many twists and turns until the reveal occurred on what was truly happening. Overall, a solid domestic thriller that I enjoyed, and would recommend. I am looking forward to book 3 in 2026. Thank you Sterling & Stone and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Zoe is back!! After the fiasco in book 1 with the Stockport family, I’m surprised she wants to continue to be a nanny! Nonetheless, she ended up with The Mansfields family this time around.
She definitely still has that tough skin, dealing with Simone & Simon was definitely a handful at first, but they ended up being great kids overall. The problem is never the kids though, It’s typically the adults in these households with their many secret secrets that are often times deadly. The Mansfields have custody of their grandchildren And the granddad is “off” right from the start! This story took many twists and turns until the reveal occurred on what was truly happening. Overall, a solid domestic thriller that I enjoyed, and would recommend. I am looking forward to book 3 in 2026. Thank you Sterling & Stone and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
August 28, 2025
Another amazing thriller by the dynamic duo. The second book in the nanny series, this was even better than the last. Zoe gets a new job caring for twins on a private island. The only people on the island are the family and her. It’s the perfect, creepy setting for a thriller. I’m crossing my fingers for another Zoe book soon!
September 27, 2025
Zoe Smith, a young woman looking to leave her difficult past behind, is where our story starts. She takes a job as a nanny at the isolated Mansfield estate, where she is supposed to look after twin siblings whose lives are anything but typical. Their mother is nowhere to be seen, lost to addiction, while their grandfather, Thomas Mansfield, runs the household with a strict, unyielding attitude. His wife, Carlotta, stays in the background, hiding her own secrets. From the moment Zoe arrives, a strange feeling of unease fills the air. The estate is plagued by strange happenings; unexplained noises, shadowy figures at night, and a constant feeling of being watched.
Just when things seem unbearable, Zoe finds an unexpected friend in Frenchie, the family's mysterious butler. Although he's completely devoted to the family, his involvement in the unsettling events makes both Zoe and the reader question his true motives. As the story goes on, the plot gets more complicated with dark twists, making it hard to tell the difference between sanity and madness, and making you wonder who, or what, can really be trusted.
The Nanny Effect's appeal comes from its overall feeling of dread. It's not just a story about a family's problems; it dives into hidden secrets and a past that wants to come back. The isolated island setting makes the feeling of being cut off stronger, increasing the stakes. The writers do a great job building suspense throughout the story, slowly revealing the mansion's horrifying secrets.
The pacing is done well, with a balance of slow-building tension and shocking plot twists. And the ending? It's a chilling reminder that within the mansion's walls, the past never truly disappears, waiting to pull you down if you dig too deep.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers with complicated characters, dark family secrets, and a disturbing atmosphere, The Nanny Effect is a must-read. It will keep you guessing until the very end, making you question everything you thought you knew.
Just when things seem unbearable, Zoe finds an unexpected friend in Frenchie, the family's mysterious butler. Although he's completely devoted to the family, his involvement in the unsettling events makes both Zoe and the reader question his true motives. As the story goes on, the plot gets more complicated with dark twists, making it hard to tell the difference between sanity and madness, and making you wonder who, or what, can really be trusted.
The Nanny Effect's appeal comes from its overall feeling of dread. It's not just a story about a family's problems; it dives into hidden secrets and a past that wants to come back. The isolated island setting makes the feeling of being cut off stronger, increasing the stakes. The writers do a great job building suspense throughout the story, slowly revealing the mansion's horrifying secrets.
The pacing is done well, with a balance of slow-building tension and shocking plot twists. And the ending? It's a chilling reminder that within the mansion's walls, the past never truly disappears, waiting to pull you down if you dig too deep.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers with complicated characters, dark family secrets, and a disturbing atmosphere, The Nanny Effect is a must-read. It will keep you guessing until the very end, making you question everything you thought you knew.
December 29, 2025
Thanks to Sterling & Stone and NetGalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
These authors are new to me, but just look at that cover! It's giving Freida McFadden, and I thought I might get ahead of a trend and read these authors before anyone else LOL. In fact, this is very much in the FMcF vein, so I would definitely recommend it as a read-alike. As to how much I, personally, enjoyed it ...
The story itself is fine. The writing ... is not. Sentence fragments are the order of the day. The FMC is TSTL, and her young wards are by turns wise beyond their years (seriously, the dialogue for the boy twin is better suited to a 40 yo MMC) and creepily unhinged and violent (the girl twin has an unhealthy obsession with death that no one in the family is dealing with, even though these kids lost their father some time ago - no therapy, nothin'.).
This is also one of those stories where the family is extraordinarily wealthy and weird. I feel like this has become a common trope both in suspense novels and in romance fiction, and it's getting a bit played out. The story takes place on a private island, only accessible by boat, and the mansion has steep stone steps that are mentioned so frequently that someone falling to their death on them is clearly a matter of when, not if. Take that, Chekhov's gun!
Did I mention that there are two characters named Thomas, two named Simone, and one named Simon?
If you can get beyond all of this, I'm sure you will enjoy this book. There were MANY mentions of the nanny's previous posting, in Stockport, where bad shit went down, and I feel like reading that first would've been the way to go, but alas! That book is out of print (weird!). At any rate, the book kept my attention well enough (WHO is going to fall down those stairs? I must know), so if you can suspend your disbelief, go for it.
3 stars
These authors are new to me, but just look at that cover! It's giving Freida McFadden, and I thought I might get ahead of a trend and read these authors before anyone else LOL. In fact, this is very much in the FMcF vein, so I would definitely recommend it as a read-alike. As to how much I, personally, enjoyed it ...
The story itself is fine. The writing ... is not. Sentence fragments are the order of the day. The FMC is TSTL, and her young wards are by turns wise beyond their years (seriously, the dialogue for the boy twin is better suited to a 40 yo MMC) and creepily unhinged and violent (the girl twin has an unhealthy obsession with death that no one in the family is dealing with, even though these kids lost their father some time ago - no therapy, nothin'.).
This is also one of those stories where the family is extraordinarily wealthy and weird. I feel like this has become a common trope both in suspense novels and in romance fiction, and it's getting a bit played out. The story takes place on a private island, only accessible by boat, and the mansion has steep stone steps that are mentioned so frequently that someone falling to their death on them is clearly a matter of when, not if. Take that, Chekhov's gun!
Did I mention that there are two characters named Thomas, two named Simone, and one named Simon?
If you can get beyond all of this, I'm sure you will enjoy this book. There were MANY mentions of the nanny's previous posting, in Stockport, where bad shit went down, and I feel like reading that first would've been the way to go, but alas! That book is out of print (weird!). At any rate, the book kept my attention well enough (WHO is going to fall down those stairs? I must know), so if you can suspend your disbelief, go for it.
3 stars
August 25, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Overview
The Nanny Effect by Nolan King and Lauren Street is a mystery thriller that blends domestic suspense with psychological intrigue. The story follows Zoe, who steps into a nanny position that is far from ordinary. Caring for a set of difficult children quickly becomes more than just a job as she becomes entangled in family secrets, simmering tensions, and unsettling dynamics. With a cast of characters each hiding something beneath the surface, the novel sets the stage for twists, suspense, and plenty of drama.
My Thoughts
I found The Nanny Effect to be an enjoyable mystery thriller with a lot of engaging moments. The children, those little hellions, were particularly entertaining to read about and added a unique layer of tension to the story. Each of the characters had distinct personalities, which helped keep the narrative lively and unpredictable.
That said, I felt some characters lacked depth. For example, Zoe’s background especially her relationship with her parents, was hinted at but never fully explored, which left me wanting more development. I think the story would have benefited from diving deeper into her history rather than introducing characters like Tristan, who felt unnecessary and didn’t add much to the overall plot. Perhaps for those that have read the nanny problem the history of Zoe and inclusion of wider characters would make sense but as a stand-alone reader it felt like I was missing information.
Despite those shortcomings, the book still held my attention, and its fast pace made it a quick, entertaining read for fans of mystery and domestic thrillers.
Overview
The Nanny Effect by Nolan King and Lauren Street is a mystery thriller that blends domestic suspense with psychological intrigue. The story follows Zoe, who steps into a nanny position that is far from ordinary. Caring for a set of difficult children quickly becomes more than just a job as she becomes entangled in family secrets, simmering tensions, and unsettling dynamics. With a cast of characters each hiding something beneath the surface, the novel sets the stage for twists, suspense, and plenty of drama.
My Thoughts
I found The Nanny Effect to be an enjoyable mystery thriller with a lot of engaging moments. The children, those little hellions, were particularly entertaining to read about and added a unique layer of tension to the story. Each of the characters had distinct personalities, which helped keep the narrative lively and unpredictable.
That said, I felt some characters lacked depth. For example, Zoe’s background especially her relationship with her parents, was hinted at but never fully explored, which left me wanting more development. I think the story would have benefited from diving deeper into her history rather than introducing characters like Tristan, who felt unnecessary and didn’t add much to the overall plot. Perhaps for those that have read the nanny problem the history of Zoe and inclusion of wider characters would make sense but as a stand-alone reader it felt like I was missing information.
Despite those shortcomings, the book still held my attention, and its fast pace made it a quick, entertaining read for fans of mystery and domestic thrillers.
August 13, 2025
The Nanny Effect was quite a trip! I really enjoyed the first one in the series and hoped that this one lived up to it. It did not disappoint! It was fast paced and a very quick read. Nothing was quite as it seemed and everyone was at least a little bit suspicious.
Zoe is again an enjoyable character. She's written as a strong female lead but still has her flaws and vulnerabilities. She is relatable. She is able to form a connection with some very difficult children. The things she does with them may be a little unorthodox but hey, she's able to connect with them! I did find Simone to be a bit of a creepy little thing but I think that was kind of the point, so job well done! Some of the other adults were likeable, some not so much. They were all well written though. I am looking forward to seeing what Zoe gets up to next!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Zoe is again an enjoyable character. She's written as a strong female lead but still has her flaws and vulnerabilities. She is relatable. She is able to form a connection with some very difficult children. The things she does with them may be a little unorthodox but hey, she's able to connect with them! I did find Simone to be a bit of a creepy little thing but I think that was kind of the point, so job well done! Some of the other adults were likeable, some not so much. They were all well written though. I am looking forward to seeing what Zoe gets up to next!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 17, 2025
Series overall 4⭐️🌟🌟🌟
This is a review of the series The Nanny Problem & this book The Nanny Effect. Both books had great characters, settings and enough little twists and turns to keep you guessing. I finished them in under two days.
Psych suspense, domestic noir lovers - it’s all in these two books. Highly recommend!
Con:
I didn’t go back and check but I assume the authors “team” must have had a change or two because the second book had several editing errors or weren’t edited by someone who doesn’t understands that line-editing is literally editing word for word. The proofreader nor Alpha and Beta readers either didn’t catch th errors or the author just called it a day.
I don’t enjoy editing while reading and normally would’ve closed book 2 and left a 1 star review. M
This is a review of the series The Nanny Problem & this book The Nanny Effect. Both books had great characters, settings and enough little twists and turns to keep you guessing. I finished them in under two days.
Psych suspense, domestic noir lovers - it’s all in these two books. Highly recommend!
Con:
I didn’t go back and check but I assume the authors “team” must have had a change or two because the second book had several editing errors or weren’t edited by someone who doesn’t understands that line-editing is literally editing word for word. The proofreader nor Alpha and Beta readers either didn’t catch th errors or the author just called it a day.
I don’t enjoy editing while reading and normally would’ve closed book 2 and left a 1 star review. M
August 17, 2025
The Nanny Effect by Nolon King and Lauren Street is the second book in the excellent The Nanny Problem series and I have really enjoyed reading these books, especially as this book was better than the last book. I love the character called Zoe, she is brilliant but flawed and you can relate to her, she handles all the unruly children as an expert, You would think she has years of experience within this line of work, But, she has fulled everyone, even the readers!!!!! Very clever the way the authors have written about this character.
The Nanny Effect has many great twists and turns throughout with great plots I loved reading these book, especially as they made me laugh out loud, made me cry and shocked in several places . . . . . . .There are a great get away series.
The Nanny Effect has many great twists and turns throughout with great plots I loved reading these book, especially as they made me laugh out loud, made me cry and shocked in several places . . . . . . .There are a great get away series.
August 9, 2025
I adore this series and have flown through both books. Zoe is an amazing character and is so good with all the kids she's worked with. This book made me laugh, made me gasp, made me wonder what was gonna happen next, and made tears come to my eyes. I loved the little hellions. Their characters were great. I also loved S. She was the perfect mix of tough and caring and sweet. I really, really hope this series carries on. I can't wait to see where Madeline sends Zoe to next, and I wonder if we'll see more Frenchie!
I definitely recommend this book!
Thank you to Netgalley, Sterling & Stone, Nolan King, and Lauren Street for an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.
I definitely recommend this book!
Thank you to Netgalley, Sterling & Stone, Nolan King, and Lauren Street for an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.
September 4, 2025
This is the second book in the Authors Nanny series and can in my opinion be read as a standalone
Zoe's new job looking after two twins , who are a real handful , takes all her strength and resilience
The household is strange .... from the coldness of the Grandfather to his much younger wife with her secrets
keeping to the shadows to the late night sightings - who is watching from the shadows ?
This is an entertaining book , with a strong female lead , with moments of intrigue and mystery - a great read
I look forward to more books in the series in the future
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
Zoe's new job looking after two twins , who are a real handful , takes all her strength and resilience
The household is strange .... from the coldness of the Grandfather to his much younger wife with her secrets
keeping to the shadows to the late night sightings - who is watching from the shadows ?
This is an entertaining book , with a strong female lead , with moments of intrigue and mystery - a great read
I look forward to more books in the series in the future
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
August 24, 2025
The Nanny Effect is the second book of the The Nanny Problem series. Just like the first one, it is a great read.
Zoe does a great job taking care of two kids who are a handful. She is a strong, capable woman who, like all of us, has flaws. She is able to find ways to connect with them, though they may be out of the norm. There is some suspense and twists that are just enough to keep you guessing about what is coming next.
Hope there is a third book!
Thank you Netgalley, Nolon King and Lauren Street as well as Sterling & Stone for the chance to read this advanced copy of "The Nanny Effect" All thoughts are my own
Zoe does a great job taking care of two kids who are a handful. She is a strong, capable woman who, like all of us, has flaws. She is able to find ways to connect with them, though they may be out of the norm. There is some suspense and twists that are just enough to keep you guessing about what is coming next.
Hope there is a third book!
Thank you Netgalley, Nolon King and Lauren Street as well as Sterling & Stone for the chance to read this advanced copy of "The Nanny Effect" All thoughts are my own
August 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5 STARS, 5 STARS, 5 STARS!!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is the second book in a series by these creative geniuses! The first does not have to be read to understand the second, but I highly recommend it. I promise it will just add to the experience. While your typical "nanny" type book, kids who don't listen and adult parents who seem un-involved, I love everything about the Nanny Zoe. She is witty, strong, and great at her job. I connected with her right away. However, reader beware....not all is as it seems.
Than you NetGalley for the eArc.
This is the second book in a series by these creative geniuses! The first does not have to be read to understand the second, but I highly recommend it. I promise it will just add to the experience. While your typical "nanny" type book, kids who don't listen and adult parents who seem un-involved, I love everything about the Nanny Zoe. She is witty, strong, and great at her job. I connected with her right away. However, reader beware....not all is as it seems.
Than you NetGalley for the eArc.
October 2, 2025
This was a creepy fast paced psych thriller! I liked the mc, but loved the twins, and the relationship between the three made for great reading. I almost wanted to skip the interactions with other characters to get back to the twins, although I’m not downgrading those parts and it all added well to the story. There were some twists keeping me hooked but there was more focus on the eeriness, which was not a bad thing in this book! I do wish I’d read the first book, however this was still a great standalone.
August 14, 2025
A riveting story with quite the cast of characters will keep you turning the pages. Every time you think you know what’s going on something changes. There is one twist after another in this story. I was given a complementary copy of this book and the opinions are my own.
August 19, 2025
This was a great followup to the first Nanny Problem book. I loved going on this adventure with Zoe. The kids were adorable too. The story was suspenseful without being too much. The ending left me hopeful for a third installment in the series. Thank you the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!
August 24, 2025
4.5 ☆.
FULL REVIEW SOON...
FULL REVIEW SOON...
September 3, 2025
If you're a fan of thriller books. I would really recommend you this book. It kept me guessing on who's the killer and the motives behind it. Thanks NetGalley.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews