The Nanny: A Psychological Thriller

by A.J. Rivers

“The first rule of Grey Manor is you don’t ask questions.
You take care of the kids and keep your mouth shut.”

Growing up, I dreamed of having a loving family. A place to call home.
This new job was my chance at a fresh start.
A place where my past could never catch me.

That was what I thought, until the day I arrived at Grey Manor.
Behind the quiet whispers were secrets that sent chills down my spine.
The way they treated the children.
The way the staff treated one another.
I never imagined that I would soon unleash something far more terrifying than my past.
A truth that they had kept hidden there all along.

I tried to keep my head down. Ask no questions.
Step only into the rooms where I was allowed to go.
To pay attention only to the children.

But curiosity got the best of me.

I heard something that gnawed at me. I had to find out.
Now I was no longer running away from my past.
I was running into uncharted territory.

They say curiosity killed the cat. But this cat has many skills.
One of them is surviving against all odds.
Even while standing at death’s door.

Knock. Knock.
“Scream all you want… No one can hear you.”

Genres: Mystery, Thriller

276 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2026

Reviews

[Mary K]

I felt like this book had a good premise for a thriller but the characters didn’t make sense. Why was the “matriarch” so thoroughly evil and her son a complete puppet. The family seemed like a cheapened version of the Nazis. I was so disengaged that I missed something in the ending completely - evidently the woman she was escaping was the one who killed her husband for taping the nanny? Did I even get that right? And what happened to her mother? Just all confusing because my mind drifted

[Alyssa]

This book seemed to drag after a while, I couldn’t wait to finish it.

[Joellen Roder]

A suspense and thriller reader doesn't forget details that easily. We're pretty good at remembering the details and taking mental note of things that may become relevant as things unfold, so this was a little repetitive for my liking. Also left some pieces untied. I do like an ending where you see how the characters turn out. A little glimpse at the resolution after you've gotten to know them. With that being said, it was a page turner I did enjoy. I started the book in the evening, and finished it by the next morning. I only figured out the twist right before it became clear, so it got me!

[Michelle Dehne]

Ok the ending got me and I reread wondering if I actually understood it. Whaaat

[Nicole Johnson]

I originally gave this read 2 stars…not really fair since I actually could not put the book down. Just kept reading.
But with that said, I found the story, overall, meh…but intriguing? It seemed to drag on but kept me curious enough. It ended how I thought it would.

[Jennifer Sims]

Wowza I really wasn’t expecting that ending. I know it was written as a standalone BUT I’d love a sequel. I have some unanswered questions and I’d love to follow Andrea.

[Hannah Jackson]

I enjoyed the book but still confused about what to make of the “twist” at the end.

[Laura]

An interesting story that’s poorly written

This writing is a mess. Repetitive, grammatical errors, and god awful editing. I really wanted to like it, thus the two stars, but the author spent the whole book saying about the same 20 sentences.

[Alanna Phillips]

Good lord this was repetitive.. the nanny took the kids to school then picked them up then took them to school then picked them up lol. It felt like it never ended and took forever to get to an actual point..

[Janai Chatman]

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.5 STARS

First time reading this author, and I could possibly see myself picking up another book from them if it’s faster paced!

This one was definitely a SLOW BURN—and y’all know that’s not really my style 😂. BUT…that ending had me glad I stuck with it!

I LOVED the MFC and the kids. On the flip side, I HATED the grandmother and the father so much that I was ready to see them get EXACTLY what they deserved. 😩 God bless Mom…because whew. And OMG, the poor staff!

There were small twists sprinkled throughout, with a couple of “WAIT…WHAT?!” moments that kept me interested. It did drag in a few places where I felt it didn’t need to, but the cliffhangers were enough to keep me wondering—and reading.

The conclusion was satisfying, especially considering how much I disliked the grandmother and father, BUT…I still have QUESTIONS about that nanny! 👀

What’s in the storage unit?
Who is in there?
What crimes did she commit in her past?
And WHY do I feel like there’s a whole other story hiding there?!

Maybe the author is setting us up for a series? 👀 Because I wouldn’t be mad at that.

Overall, not my usual slow-burn vibe, but it kept me curious enough to finish. Also, I would’ve liked this in audio a bit better. Hopefully that’s in the works! 🎧

[Doreen Halick]

?! This was a good attempt at a first stand alone for AJ Rivers. The characters were well-developed, and the storyline had a lot of potential. I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into it! I totally enjoyed the first half, but the second was redundant. It repeated the issues over and over with no real progress. I actually skimmed over some of it, because I found myself thinking, "Come on! Nobody would put up with this over and over without doing anything about it!" Hoping for a great ending, I continued to read, and then there was the ending! What?! I really dislike reading a novel that leaves more questions than answers at the end. Unsure exactly what happened, or what the reader was supposed to make of some of it. The last 2 lines were clear in meaning but didn't really clarify the rest of the book. I don't know. Disappointing for me.

[Kelly Smelcer]

Hold on to your seats! This is not like any other AJ Rivers book you've ever read. Andrea is a nanny, and she's needing a job because the family she works for is moving to a different state, and she can't go. She's referred to the Grey family, which is a big name in the area. As Andrea is settling in, she starts to notice strange happenings in the house. She tries to focus on the children, but she soon realizes the imminent danger upon all of them. But how can she get out of this alive? You do NOT want to miss this one!

[Karen Wright]

Wow! I wasn't sure what to expect of this stand alone book after reading all of AJ Rivers' series, but I was blown away! You can't help but love the children that Andrea becomes a nanny to and loathe the grandmother and father. Lena is a whole other monster. It seems as if Lena is able to control every one and everything. I can't believe how much I enjoyed this. It was nice to see Andrea discovering just what exactly is going on and what she does to deal with it. It truly is a thriller!

[Cathy Pierson]

Hmmmm….A.J Rivers is a literary genius in her venue of some of the most macabre pieces I have read. She is graphic. Her characters are believable….even the most deranged. Half of them are pure evil, the balance of the other half is partly innocent with a few silent but sinister. The question is will you know who is who before that final few sentences! Cuddling up with a good book is one of my favorite pastimes and this one was truly evil to the Max! Good luck to Debbie!

[Kim Barksdale]

Hit another out of the park!

I love reading all of A.J. Rivers' books, especially her series. I would love for her to continue with this character! The twists and turns in the book made me anxious for the next page and chapter. While a bit darker in ways than some of her other books, The Nanny does not disappoint. If you like on the edge of your seat psychological thrillers, you will love the Nanny!

[Tone Pedersen]

This is getting raving reviews, but I felt like a lot wasn’t explained. Why was the mother evil? Why was the son evil? How could they get away with everything? And the ending: My interpretation is that the nanny didn’t run away from another person, she was running away from herself. Her other personality that came out when she killed her own mother and sister, and that had to come out when she needed to kill the two others. Might be wrong, though.

[Presley]

Wow!

What a great book! I loved The Nanny by A.J. Rivers! I’ve read her series, but this standalone was just as gripping. It hooked me from the first page and didn’t let go, full of twists and that “just one more chapter” feeling.

It gave me the same addictive vibe as a Freida McFadden book. Definitely a must-read for thriller fans!

[Migs Halpern]

I did second guess myself about the ending mid read!

I have read most of this author’s work and this stand alone is one of best! It took off a tad slowly, and it built up steam for a satisfying and thrilling ride! I don’t want to spoil the experience. I highly recommend having the experience yourself! Be calm and carry on!

[Linae]

Wow unexpected

This was A story about super rich people who are evil, thinking they are better than others not so fortunate. A fire takes care of business and the good people seem to flourish when a new opportunity comes along. Evil fights evil. Sounds simple but the story is not.

[Debbie Marti]

Interesting story - I wish it would have had more details about the family’s history. We get it, they’re rich, powerful, weird, sadistic and not nice people at all. But why?? And what was their “end game?” The ending was not surprising at all but felt rushed, not much of a build up. I would give 3.5 stars but gave it 4 since that wasn’t an option. Quick read and not bad.

[Danitra Roberts]

I wanted to love this book, I really did but it really just dragged on and on for me. There was never a real climax, never anything that kept me at the edge of my seat, just one really long run on story. This book had so much potential but definitely not for me, took way too long to get to the point.

[Amelia]

The writing isn't great, but the story kept me interested the whole way. Andrea was easy to root for, especially when it came to protecting the children, and I found myself wanting to know what was really going on with this family. Overall, it was a dark, suspenseful psychological thriller with plenty of secrets, disturbing characters, and an ending that I didn't see coming.

[Paula B]

Twisty!

There were twists upon twists in this book. Every character had a quirk, or two. The whole story is a puzzle and it's so satisfying when you get to the ending and see the whole picture. Excellent!

[Ray]

Nanny OH MY SO SO GOOD

Just finished Nanny.. I couldn't put it down. So many twists & turns. But the best part is the ending. The entire book was over the top exciting.. A.J. Rivers never disappoints.

[Courtney E]

Loved, loved, loved!!!!

I couldn't put this book down. This book was very hard to read at times. It hit so hard what those poor children had to go through. I couldn't stop reading. Can't wait to read what your amazing mind has coming.

[Barbara Kaake]

This was a great story about Andrea the nanny trying to help the kids and their mother for the unjustly things that have been done and punishing the ones that done them wrong with lots of suspense and drama. Thank you for this excellent story.

[Edward Brown Jr]

Slow in developing, but great thereafter

Although it was slow in deve!oping, once you really get I to it, you really can't put it down. Very indulging story. Keeps you going until the y.

[Marie Griffin]

Absolutely loved this book!!

I loved this book and would love to learn more about the nanny, I know it's supposed to be a standalone novel but this would be a great series or even just a second book to give now insight in her.
I loved it!!

[Lisa Caccamo]

Not terrible but not her best…..the plot was good, albeit a bit predictable. There were a few threads that were just left hanging and I felt the end was a bit rushed, whereas the middle dragged a bit. Some of the character connections just didn’t seem to have a purpose…..

[Barbara Williams]

Pure evil

This story was one of ownership by a sick matriarch. Trying to bend, twist, manipulate and manage everyone that she believed would stand in her way. Trouble is there is always someone stronger and smarter. So beware.