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La babysitter perfetta
Non esistono braccia più sicure delle proprie per proteggere i figli. Ma non si può stare con loro tutto il tempo. A volte è necessario affidarli a qualcuno di cui ci si possa fidare ciecamente. Trovare la persona giusta non è facile: lo sanno bene Melissa e suo marito che cercano una babysitter per le loro due meravigliose bambine. Nessuna sembra all'altezza. Nessuna è abbastanza in gamba, dolce e rassicurante. Fino a quando non incontrano Jade, che è semplicemente perfetta. Le loro figlie la adorano, vogliono sempre stare con lei, e Jade le ama come se fossero sue. Melissa non potrebbe essere più felice di così e le affida la gestione della famiglia, tornando a occuparsi del lavoro. Ma all'improvviso in casa cominciano a succedere cose strane: le bambine non sembrano più così al sicuro e Melissa ha sensazioni che non riesce a spiegarsi. Si tratta solo di piccoli dettagli, non ha alcuna prova ma sente che qualcosa non va. Decide allora di parlarne con il marito, che però non le crede: forse è solo la stanchezza per i troppi impegni, o lo spettro della depressione. Jade è l'unica che le sta vicino, l'unica che la ascolta e, giorno dopo giorno, Melissa si convince sempre di più che Jade sia stata una scelta fortunata. È davvero perfetta. Forse anche troppo. Eppure Melissa sta per scoprire che ogni perfezione nasconde una macchia, un neo, una sbavatura. Che ogni persona, anche la più gentile e altruista, ha un passato alle spalle, una cicatrice, un brutto ricordo. Che si possono proteggere le persone amate, ma non per sempre. Anche se sono i propri figli.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 8, 2018
2010 people are currently reading
3796 people want to read
About the author
Sheryl Browne
38 books884 followersHi, I’m Sheryl Browne writing psychological thriller. My latest psychological thriller MY LOVING HUSBAND is published by fabulous BOOKOUTURE. A member of the Crime Writers’ Association and the Romantic Novelists’ Association, I have several books published and two short stories in Birmingham City University anthologies, where I completed my MA in Creative Writing. I live in Worcestershire with my partner and a variety of disabled dogs. According to readers of my thrillers, I also apparently make an excellent psychopath. ;) Follow my @Bookouture Mailing List and grab a FREE short: https://t.co/bIigwwALCs
𝘼 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚. 𝘼 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙚. 𝘼 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡…
MY LOVING HUSBAND – Can I really trust the man I married?
Do I Really Know You? – She's the friend you trust with your life. But can she trust you with hers?
The Invite – Kaitlin has been looking forward to her engagement party for weeks, but as the champagne corks pop, her dream party soon becomes her worst nightmare…
The Liar's Child – I’ll do anything to protect my daughter…
My Husband's Girlfriend – She told my little boy a secret and now he’s gone…
The Second Wife – SHE MADE HER BED. YOU'LL LIE IN IT.
The Affair – You trusted her. You shouldn't have.
The Babysitter – She's perfect. Too Perfect.
After She's Gone – He's killed your child and kidnapped your wife. What would YOU do?
Sins of the Father - What if you’d been accused of one of the worst crimes imaginable?
Deadly Intent - Tormented to the edge of sanity …
The Rest of My Life - “You can’t run away from commitment forever … “ Two damaged hearts, a sizzling sexual connection. Can love find a way to bring Adam and Sienna together?
Learning to Love – Sometimes help comes from the most unlikely places …
Somebody to Love – Sigh with contentment, scream with frustration. At times you will weep.
Warrant for Love - Blackmail, lies, adultery, heartache. Three love stories wrapped up in one sexiliciously hilarious package.
A Little Bit of Madness – White Knight in Blue rescues The Harbour Rest Home.
𝘼 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚. 𝘼 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙚. 𝘼 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡…
MY LOVING HUSBAND – Can I really trust the man I married?
Do I Really Know You? – She's the friend you trust with your life. But can she trust you with hers?
The Invite – Kaitlin has been looking forward to her engagement party for weeks, but as the champagne corks pop, her dream party soon becomes her worst nightmare…
The Liar's Child – I’ll do anything to protect my daughter…
My Husband's Girlfriend – She told my little boy a secret and now he’s gone…
The Second Wife – SHE MADE HER BED. YOU'LL LIE IN IT.
The Affair – You trusted her. You shouldn't have.
The Babysitter – She's perfect. Too Perfect.
After She's Gone – He's killed your child and kidnapped your wife. What would YOU do?
Sins of the Father - What if you’d been accused of one of the worst crimes imaginable?
Deadly Intent - Tormented to the edge of sanity …
The Rest of My Life - “You can’t run away from commitment forever … “ Two damaged hearts, a sizzling sexual connection. Can love find a way to bring Adam and Sienna together?
Learning to Love – Sometimes help comes from the most unlikely places …
Somebody to Love – Sigh with contentment, scream with frustration. At times you will weep.
Warrant for Love - Blackmail, lies, adultery, heartache. Three love stories wrapped up in one sexiliciously hilarious package.
A Little Bit of Madness – White Knight in Blue rescues The Harbour Rest Home.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 505 reviews
March 10, 2018
3.75 shiny stars🌟🌟🌟.75
The hand that rocks the cradle.... is the hand that rules the world.....
This book reminded me of the 1992 movie” The Hand That Rocks the cradle”...On a personal note I happened to name my daughter after the antagonist in that movie... and Lucky for me my daughter hasn’t turned into a crazy nanny... well not yet at least....
Jade is the perfect babysitter coming into Mark and Melissa‘s life just when she is needed the most.... but the reader finds out real quick that Jade is absolutely not what she seems to be.... she is not the perfect babysitter, she is the perfect nightmare.... this book is told from multiple points of view including Mark, Melissa, and Jade, so we know right away who the antagonist is..... what we don’t know is exactly what her motivation is,what we do know is her end game and that she is quite resourceful and delusional....
Now for me this book would have been a lot better if Jade were better developed.... we got the idea that she was crazy, but I like to like the crazy people in my books...... maybe this makes me a little crazy, but Jade really had no likable qualities and was a little flat..... then we have Mark and Mellisa who have fought super hard to have kids and they’re willing to have Jade become a live-in babysitter without any background check.... not to mention the fact that things start going completely sideways after she enters their life, and Mark a police officer doesn’t clue in..... I know we were privy to Jade’s actions, but still I found that a little hard to believe....
The absolute brightest part of this book was seven-year-old Poppy she was so adorable.... Poppy also was very well-developed, I just had such a smile on my face anytime she engaged in dialogue..... if every character in this book was as well developed as Poppy this would have been a five star read....
Although we knew straightaway who the antagonist was and what her end game was.... there was a bit of a twist that I didn’t see coming at the end and to be completely honest the very end of this book I am still not sure about, that very last paragraph?
This book was good, but in a market saturated with psychological thrillers, it’s somewhere in the middle....
*** thank you so much to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this book ***
The hand that rocks the cradle.... is the hand that rules the world.....
This book reminded me of the 1992 movie” The Hand That Rocks the cradle”...On a personal note I happened to name my daughter after the antagonist in that movie... and Lucky for me my daughter hasn’t turned into a crazy nanny... well not yet at least....
Jade is the perfect babysitter coming into Mark and Melissa‘s life just when she is needed the most.... but the reader finds out real quick that Jade is absolutely not what she seems to be.... she is not the perfect babysitter, she is the perfect nightmare.... this book is told from multiple points of view including Mark, Melissa, and Jade, so we know right away who the antagonist is..... what we don’t know is exactly what her motivation is,what we do know is her end game and that she is quite resourceful and delusional....
Now for me this book would have been a lot better if Jade were better developed.... we got the idea that she was crazy, but I like to like the crazy people in my books...... maybe this makes me a little crazy, but Jade really had no likable qualities and was a little flat..... then we have Mark and Mellisa who have fought super hard to have kids and they’re willing to have Jade become a live-in babysitter without any background check.... not to mention the fact that things start going completely sideways after she enters their life, and Mark a police officer doesn’t clue in..... I know we were privy to Jade’s actions, but still I found that a little hard to believe....
The absolute brightest part of this book was seven-year-old Poppy she was so adorable.... Poppy also was very well-developed, I just had such a smile on my face anytime she engaged in dialogue..... if every character in this book was as well developed as Poppy this would have been a five star read....
Although we knew straightaway who the antagonist was and what her end game was.... there was a bit of a twist that I didn’t see coming at the end and to be completely honest the very end of this book I am still not sure about, that very last paragraph?
This book was good, but in a market saturated with psychological thrillers, it’s somewhere in the middle....
*** thank you so much to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this book ***
March 9, 2018
5☆ Wow!!!
The Babysitter is a fantastic read. It's creepy, kept me guessing, cleverly written, suspenseful.
The Babysitter is written in short sharp chapters consisting of the Mark (The Father & DI), Mel (The mother) and Jade the babysitter.
I really can't go into detail incase I give too much away.
But what I will say is Jade is a force to be reckoned with.
She's Minipulative, Evil creepy, underhanded, secretive and she wants Mel out if the way!
I read a Review that mentions it's like the hand that rocks the cradel. I can honestly say that after reading it I have to agree.
I think this book might even be better.
Definetly think it would make a fantastic film.
There are a few stories that are running alongside the main story. But they are all so cleverly weaved together I didn't suspect a thing.
I've read a few stories involving children lately but this is bar far the most creepiest and could quiet easily be real.
It's full of intrigue, a perfect psychological thriller that once you pick up you won't be able to put down!
Highly recommend this suspenseful Thriller! Enjoy!
Thank you to Bookouture for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
For more info and to see more of my reviews visit my Blog:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
The Babysitter is a fantastic read. It's creepy, kept me guessing, cleverly written, suspenseful.
The Babysitter is written in short sharp chapters consisting of the Mark (The Father & DI), Mel (The mother) and Jade the babysitter.
I really can't go into detail incase I give too much away.
But what I will say is Jade is a force to be reckoned with.
She's Minipulative, Evil creepy, underhanded, secretive and she wants Mel out if the way!
I read a Review that mentions it's like the hand that rocks the cradel. I can honestly say that after reading it I have to agree.
I think this book might even be better.
Definetly think it would make a fantastic film.
There are a few stories that are running alongside the main story. But they are all so cleverly weaved together I didn't suspect a thing.
I've read a few stories involving children lately but this is bar far the most creepiest and could quiet easily be real.
It's full of intrigue, a perfect psychological thriller that once you pick up you won't be able to put down!
Highly recommend this suspenseful Thriller! Enjoy!
Thank you to Bookouture for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
For more info and to see more of my reviews visit my Blog:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
March 8, 2018
The Babysitter by Sheryl Browne is a psychological thriller but what I think readers need to know going into this one is that it isn’t the type to shock and awe but more to entertain. The story to me was one that was fairly straightforward instead of full of shocking twists and turns but that in no way meant that I didn’t enjoy reading it.
As the book begins we meet the players in here that alternate the point of view in the book. Mark is a police officer who is married to Melissa with whom they have two small children and a happy marriage when we meet them. Jade is a young woman who had just moved into the neighborhood that the couple had really only seen in passing until now.
One night Mark spots that Jade’s house is on fire and being a police officer he feels the pull to help. While Jade and Melissa and the girls watch the first responders fight the fire Mark runs off to save Jade’s cat. When it’s all said and done Jade needs somewhere to go so Melissa invites her inside beginning the psychological warfare that awaits the readers.
With the point of view changing between the trio of key players in the book it immediately becomes obvious that Jade has a dark side and would be the one to watch in the story. Being fairly straightforward what one finds here is just the anticipation of how far the games will go and to what extreme.
To make a sports analogy out of this one I’d say it’s like going to the hockey game and waiting for the inevitable fight to break out, or an auto race and waiting for the big crash. You just know the story is building to an explosion and it’s a matter of getting to that point in the book. Will this be for every reader? Probably not. But for myself I found this one an entertaining trip to the dark side.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
As the book begins we meet the players in here that alternate the point of view in the book. Mark is a police officer who is married to Melissa with whom they have two small children and a happy marriage when we meet them. Jade is a young woman who had just moved into the neighborhood that the couple had really only seen in passing until now.
One night Mark spots that Jade’s house is on fire and being a police officer he feels the pull to help. While Jade and Melissa and the girls watch the first responders fight the fire Mark runs off to save Jade’s cat. When it’s all said and done Jade needs somewhere to go so Melissa invites her inside beginning the psychological warfare that awaits the readers.
With the point of view changing between the trio of key players in the book it immediately becomes obvious that Jade has a dark side and would be the one to watch in the story. Being fairly straightforward what one finds here is just the anticipation of how far the games will go and to what extreme.
To make a sports analogy out of this one I’d say it’s like going to the hockey game and waiting for the inevitable fight to break out, or an auto race and waiting for the big crash. You just know the story is building to an explosion and it’s a matter of getting to that point in the book. Will this be for every reader? Probably not. But for myself I found this one an entertaining trip to the dark side.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
February 7, 2018
DNF about a 1/4 of the way through. ☹️
I knew who the antagonist was in the 2nd chapter, and everything after that was straight out of a Lifetime movie. I couldn't take it. Just too predictable. I did jump to the last few chapters to see if I called it right, and I did. Right down to the 'not really an ending' ending.
I think I need to take a break from Bookoutore for awhile. I have always loved what they published, but lately they seem to be pumping out luke warm versions of them. Even their book covers have been the same. You've seen it before: the lone woman standing with her back turned under a dark, gloomy sky. Most times with a coat on that changed colors from book to book. I think that's why I went for this one-the cover was different.
I've had a good run lately, so I was due for a 💣. On to the next one...
ARC provided by NetGalley
I knew who the antagonist was in the 2nd chapter, and everything after that was straight out of a Lifetime movie. I couldn't take it. Just too predictable. I did jump to the last few chapters to see if I called it right, and I did. Right down to the 'not really an ending' ending.
I think I need to take a break from Bookoutore for awhile. I have always loved what they published, but lately they seem to be pumping out luke warm versions of them. Even their book covers have been the same. You've seen it before: the lone woman standing with her back turned under a dark, gloomy sky. Most times with a coat on that changed colors from book to book. I think that's why I went for this one-the cover was different.
I've had a good run lately, so I was due for a 💣. On to the next one...
ARC provided by NetGalley
February 27, 2018
Mark and Melissa Cain are thrilled to have found Jade, a babysitter who is brilliant with their young children. Jade's house has burnt down so Jade. Needs them as much as they need her. Mark works long hours as a police officer and Melissa struggles with running her own business. But are things as perfect as they seem?
My only criticism of this book is that I found it hard to believe that Mark is a police officer and could not see what was going on in his own home. He is busy with his current case, trying to find a missing child. We know who the antagonist is right from the beginning. This book covers mental health issues in two women, and how it can effect the other members of the family. The story is told from alternating points of view from Mark, Melissa Jade and Lisa.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Sheryl Browne for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My only criticism of this book is that I found it hard to believe that Mark is a police officer and could not see what was going on in his own home. He is busy with his current case, trying to find a missing child. We know who the antagonist is right from the beginning. This book covers mental health issues in two women, and how it can effect the other members of the family. The story is told from alternating points of view from Mark, Melissa Jade and Lisa.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Sheryl Browne for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2023
terrifying to learn how
the mere presence of an
agent provocateur would
suffice to explain mayhem,
if only one had eyes to see. ♡
the mere presence of an
agent provocateur would
suffice to explain mayhem,
if only one had eyes to see. ♡
March 13, 2018
EXCERPT:'We want her gone, don't we, my precious?' she whispered. 'Out of our lives forever and ever.'
ABOUT THIS BOOK: You trust her with your family. Would you trust her with your life?
Mark and Melissa Cain are thrilled to have found Jade, a babysitter who is brilliant with their young children. Having seen her own house burn to the ground, Jade needs them as much as they need her. Moving Jade into the family home can only be a good thing, can’t it?
As Mark works long hours as a police officer and Melissa struggles with running a business, the family become ever more reliant on their babysitter, who is only too happy to help. And as Melissa begins to slip into depression, it’s Jade who is left picking up the pieces.
But Mark soon notices things aren’t quite as they seem. Things at home feel wrong, and as Mark begins to investigate their seemingly perfect sitter, what he discovers shocks him to his core. He’s met Jade before. And now he suspects he might know what she wants …
Mark is in a race against time to protect his family. But what will he find as he goes back to his family home?
MY THOUGHTS: Well. . . it's good, but not great.
The story rocks along at a good pace, but I kept having to suspend belief. Belief that everyone, especially Mark the DI in residence, failed to notice what was going on. Belief that Mel's GP wouldn't have ordered blood tests to check that she was (a) taking her medication, or (b) not overdosing herself on her medication. The results would have been most interesting.
I would have liked a great deal more suspense. I know that is not easy when you know who the protagonist is, but it has been done successfully by other authors, and it could have been done here.
None of the characters were particularly well fleshed out. Surely Mel must have had some friends of her own, other mothers, neighbours, pre-baby friends. Poppy must have had friends, other children she went on play dates with. . . Other than the couple they went to dinner with, they seemed to exist in social isolation.
And I found the ending to be a little bit too convenient. If you read this book you will see what I mean, or not. As I said at the start, this is a good read, but not a great one. Would I read more from this author? Yes. There were a couple of times the author took me by surprise, but overall this just didn’t gel for me.
I love the cover. Very relevant.
Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Babysitter for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT THIS BOOK: You trust her with your family. Would you trust her with your life?
Mark and Melissa Cain are thrilled to have found Jade, a babysitter who is brilliant with their young children. Having seen her own house burn to the ground, Jade needs them as much as they need her. Moving Jade into the family home can only be a good thing, can’t it?
As Mark works long hours as a police officer and Melissa struggles with running a business, the family become ever more reliant on their babysitter, who is only too happy to help. And as Melissa begins to slip into depression, it’s Jade who is left picking up the pieces.
But Mark soon notices things aren’t quite as they seem. Things at home feel wrong, and as Mark begins to investigate their seemingly perfect sitter, what he discovers shocks him to his core. He’s met Jade before. And now he suspects he might know what she wants …
Mark is in a race against time to protect his family. But what will he find as he goes back to his family home?
MY THOUGHTS: Well. . . it's good, but not great.
The story rocks along at a good pace, but I kept having to suspend belief. Belief that everyone, especially Mark the DI in residence, failed to notice what was going on. Belief that Mel's GP wouldn't have ordered blood tests to check that she was (a) taking her medication, or (b) not overdosing herself on her medication. The results would have been most interesting.
I would have liked a great deal more suspense. I know that is not easy when you know who the protagonist is, but it has been done successfully by other authors, and it could have been done here.
None of the characters were particularly well fleshed out. Surely Mel must have had some friends of her own, other mothers, neighbours, pre-baby friends. Poppy must have had friends, other children she went on play dates with. . . Other than the couple they went to dinner with, they seemed to exist in social isolation.
And I found the ending to be a little bit too convenient. If you read this book you will see what I mean, or not. As I said at the start, this is a good read, but not a great one. Would I read more from this author? Yes. There were a couple of times the author took me by surprise, but overall this just didn’t gel for me.
I love the cover. Very relevant.
Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Babysitter for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
February 17, 2019
I’ve recently discovered audio books and find them so handy. I can do things like chores around the home, drive and still listen/read. The best of both worlds.
This creepy novel was off to a great start, meeting the couple Mark and Melissa. They have two children. Mark works long hours as a Police Officer.
Jades becomes their Babysitter.
All seems fine for a while.
I found Jade manipulative and creepy, obsession at its best.
The way the Melissa speaks portrayed by the narrator really annoyed me. I think I’d have read her differently. Although she has had depression before I thought the narrative voice brought her over as pathetic and a soft touch. I’m not sure if it was meant to come over as such but it did. It annoyed me.
Melissa has had post natal depression before and so when things start to happen which question her sanity and Marks concern for her, no one thinks the worse.
It’s not a unique storyline but it’s a good one.
Not sure if this was meant to spook, it didn’t.
Not sure if the reader was meant to anticipate the ending, I didn’t.
I loved it for its own right. I loved it for the way it flowed and especially Jades part in this.
Boy was she creepy. She used everything and every wile wicked creepy way unnoticed and always hid with chirpiness, helpful obliging ways. She was well warped.
So yes, all in all I loved this book.
Narrator not so much.
March 23, 2018
I really don't like doing this but oh dear, what a woeful book. Melodramatic - much. I really didn't want to finish it but made myself skim read and keep going in the hope that there might be a surprise at the end that would somewhat redeem it - but no, it was painfully predictable all the way through. I felt as if I'd read this before only with different characters, so very derivative. Maybe I've just read too many similar books lately.
I'm sure you can work out what the book is about, the title gives a big clue. What the blurb doesn't tell you is that there are no surprises and no suspense at all. You know what is going to happen very early on and, so it does. The only 'surprise' was how dumb these cardboard characters appeared to be. I thought the babysitter's behaviour was so over-the-top obvious, there was no subtlety. I couldn't believe Mel and Mark didn't twig much earlier. I know some of my Goodreads friends really enjoyed this book and my review is only my opinion, so obviously it must have something. I would encourage everyone who wants to read it to make up their own minds.
I'm sure you can work out what the book is about, the title gives a big clue. What the blurb doesn't tell you is that there are no surprises and no suspense at all. You know what is going to happen very early on and, so it does. The only 'surprise' was how dumb these cardboard characters appeared to be. I thought the babysitter's behaviour was so over-the-top obvious, there was no subtlety. I couldn't believe Mel and Mark didn't twig much earlier. I know some of my Goodreads friends really enjoyed this book and my review is only my opinion, so obviously it must have something. I would encourage everyone who wants to read it to make up their own minds.
March 2, 2018
When something seems too good to be true, it usually is!
Jade has been a godsend to the Cain family! After they take Jade in after an unfortunate fire destroys Jade's cottage, she becomes indispensable in her new position as babysitter to seven year old Poppy ( such a sweet character) and baby Evie. How would they cope without her, especially when the children's mother, Melissa, starts losing the plot, constantly tired, agitated, depressed and becoming increasingly incapable of looking after her own children. Coincidence?
The reader discovers early on, that Jade has an agenda of her own and is not who she portrays herself to be. It made for riveting reading as I was shaking my head in disbelief at the sordid lengths this cunning babysitter would go to to get what she wanted...and just when you thought she had done her worst, she would stoop lower still, shocking me at how far she was willing to go. This is one twisted individual for sure!!!
Starting off slowly, building tension until it's grabbing your attention at full speed to its racy conclusion, I just had to find out how this one turned out. Though I could have done without that last paragraph, it left me feeling somewhat confused...Maybe I'm missing something?
What's disturbing to think of is how easy it can be to manipulate and mess with people's lives once you've got them eating out of your hand and they trust you implicitly. Note to self: ALWAYS DO BACKGROUND CHECKS when letting people into your home!
A twisted, thrilling, disturbing read, filled with suspense, tension and anticipation, I was thoroughly entertained.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion of this book. The pleasure was all mine!
Jade has been a godsend to the Cain family! After they take Jade in after an unfortunate fire destroys Jade's cottage, she becomes indispensable in her new position as babysitter to seven year old Poppy ( such a sweet character) and baby Evie. How would they cope without her, especially when the children's mother, Melissa, starts losing the plot, constantly tired, agitated, depressed and becoming increasingly incapable of looking after her own children. Coincidence?
The reader discovers early on, that Jade has an agenda of her own and is not who she portrays herself to be. It made for riveting reading as I was shaking my head in disbelief at the sordid lengths this cunning babysitter would go to to get what she wanted...and just when you thought she had done her worst, she would stoop lower still, shocking me at how far she was willing to go. This is one twisted individual for sure!!!
Starting off slowly, building tension until it's grabbing your attention at full speed to its racy conclusion, I just had to find out how this one turned out. Though I could have done without that last paragraph, it left me feeling somewhat confused...Maybe I'm missing something?
What's disturbing to think of is how easy it can be to manipulate and mess with people's lives once you've got them eating out of your hand and they trust you implicitly. Note to self: ALWAYS DO BACKGROUND CHECKS when letting people into your home!
A twisted, thrilling, disturbing read, filled with suspense, tension and anticipation, I was thoroughly entertained.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion of this book. The pleasure was all mine!
March 1, 2018
Thank You !!#
Yes Thanks Net Galley, the publishers and the author.
What can I say... WOW.... Stunning
Sheryl Browne writes the most wonderful gripping, tense and suspenseful psychological thriller. There aren’t many thriller authors who can grip the reader so powerfully, heart in mouth and pulse racing realistic thriller.
You trust her with your family. Would you trust her with your life?
Mark and Melissa Cain are thrilled to have found Jade, a babysitter who is brilliant with their young children. Having seen her own house burn to the ground, Jade needs them as much as they need her. Moving Jade into the family home can only be a good thing, can’t it?
As Mark works long hours as a police officer and Melissa struggles with running a business, the family become ever more reliant on their babysitter, who is only too happy to help. And as Melissa begins to slip into depression, it’s Jade who is left picking up the pieces.
But Mark soon notices things aren’t quite as they seem. Things at home feel wrong, and as Mark begins to investigate their seemingly perfect sitter, what he discovers shocks him to his core. He’s met Jade before. And now he suspects he might know what she wants …
Mark is in a race against time to protect his family. But what will he find as he goes back to his family home?
Okay, you know from the start who the villain in this book, that is not a surprise, the story is what hits you, who really cannot believe what happens next.
I just want to tell you more, But I cannot, all I can say is READ this book as soon as you can I loved it.
A clear five stars
Yes Thanks Net Galley, the publishers and the author.
What can I say... WOW.... Stunning
Sheryl Browne writes the most wonderful gripping, tense and suspenseful psychological thriller. There aren’t many thriller authors who can grip the reader so powerfully, heart in mouth and pulse racing realistic thriller.
You trust her with your family. Would you trust her with your life?
Mark and Melissa Cain are thrilled to have found Jade, a babysitter who is brilliant with their young children. Having seen her own house burn to the ground, Jade needs them as much as they need her. Moving Jade into the family home can only be a good thing, can’t it?
As Mark works long hours as a police officer and Melissa struggles with running a business, the family become ever more reliant on their babysitter, who is only too happy to help. And as Melissa begins to slip into depression, it’s Jade who is left picking up the pieces.
But Mark soon notices things aren’t quite as they seem. Things at home feel wrong, and as Mark begins to investigate their seemingly perfect sitter, what he discovers shocks him to his core. He’s met Jade before. And now he suspects he might know what she wants …
Mark is in a race against time to protect his family. But what will he find as he goes back to his family home?
Okay, you know from the start who the villain in this book, that is not a surprise, the story is what hits you, who really cannot believe what happens next.
I just want to tell you more, But I cannot, all I can say is READ this book as soon as you can I loved it.
A clear five stars
February 2, 2018
I have spent the past few hours consumed by the story here in The Babysitter. I was at 60% and was about to turn off my Kindle and go to bed, but I couldn’t and just had to get it finished. It was such an addictive read that I couldn’t wait to see how it was going to end.
Now, whilst it was obvious who The Babysitter really was and why she suddenly appeared in the lives of Mark and Melissa, I feel like it was supposed to be that obvious? So I don’t think I cleverly worked out some kind of major twist, however if it is meant to be a surprise then a better job could have been done of it. That said Jade, the babysitter, is such an intriguing character and probably one of the most damaged that I have read about in a long time. She is a psychologist’s wet dream she’s got that many issues and it made her such an interesting and gripping character to read about because I couldn’t wait to see what she would do next.
The last few books that I’ve read I have read the blurb beforehand and then when I’ve read the book they have given almost 50% of the book away in the blurb. So, I won’t mention the plot too much except to say that Jade appears in the lives of Mark and Melissa and comes to their rescue as their live-in babysitter. All is not as it seems however and Jade has a plan, a sickeningly twisted plan that she will do absolutely anything to read.
What scared me the most about this story was how it could potentially happen in real life. I’m not married however I feel that if I was me and my partner would be able to recognise when the other was telling the truth and also be able to tell if somebody was trying to come between us. That said Jade is such a fantastic character and the way she messes with these two characters is so subtly done that whilst on the one hand I wondered whether Mark and Melissa were just being too gullible, on the other hand I was thinking that there probably are couples out there that could be destroyed by people interfering in their marriage. The Babysitter takes some dark twists and turns as we head towards a thrilling and unforgettable finish and honestly, it’s brilliant. There’s some uncomfortable scenes throughout, but yet I found myself unable to look away.
There’s a lot I could say about this book but it’s one of those where the best thing I can say is, read it... (Also, I want to wrap things up and get some sleep!) It’s such an addictive read that I advise keeping the day you choose to read it free because you will want to get it finished in just a few sittings. It made me think about how I would react in this situation and it also makes you think about how decisions or promises you make in the past, have the potential to come back and haunt you in the future should you not keep those promises. Definitely one of the better psychological thrillers I have read this year (and if you’ve been keeping track of my reads then you’ll know I’ve had quite a few disappointing reads so far this year) and I highly recommend that you pick it up.
Now, whilst it was obvious who The Babysitter really was and why she suddenly appeared in the lives of Mark and Melissa, I feel like it was supposed to be that obvious? So I don’t think I cleverly worked out some kind of major twist, however if it is meant to be a surprise then a better job could have been done of it. That said Jade, the babysitter, is such an intriguing character and probably one of the most damaged that I have read about in a long time. She is a psychologist’s wet dream she’s got that many issues and it made her such an interesting and gripping character to read about because I couldn’t wait to see what she would do next.
The last few books that I’ve read I have read the blurb beforehand and then when I’ve read the book they have given almost 50% of the book away in the blurb. So, I won’t mention the plot too much except to say that Jade appears in the lives of Mark and Melissa and comes to their rescue as their live-in babysitter. All is not as it seems however and Jade has a plan, a sickeningly twisted plan that she will do absolutely anything to read.
What scared me the most about this story was how it could potentially happen in real life. I’m not married however I feel that if I was me and my partner would be able to recognise when the other was telling the truth and also be able to tell if somebody was trying to come between us. That said Jade is such a fantastic character and the way she messes with these two characters is so subtly done that whilst on the one hand I wondered whether Mark and Melissa were just being too gullible, on the other hand I was thinking that there probably are couples out there that could be destroyed by people interfering in their marriage. The Babysitter takes some dark twists and turns as we head towards a thrilling and unforgettable finish and honestly, it’s brilliant. There’s some uncomfortable scenes throughout, but yet I found myself unable to look away.
There’s a lot I could say about this book but it’s one of those where the best thing I can say is, read it... (Also, I want to wrap things up and get some sleep!) It’s such an addictive read that I advise keeping the day you choose to read it free because you will want to get it finished in just a few sittings. It made me think about how I would react in this situation and it also makes you think about how decisions or promises you make in the past, have the potential to come back and haunt you in the future should you not keep those promises. Definitely one of the better psychological thrillers I have read this year (and if you’ve been keeping track of my reads then you’ll know I’ve had quite a few disappointing reads so far this year) and I highly recommend that you pick it up.
February 10, 2018
The Babysitter by Sheryl Browne is a psychological thriller that I enjoyed. Mark and Melissa who have two young children take in a neighbour Jade who has been left homeless after a fire at her cottage. Melissa is finding it hard to cope and employs Jade to look after the children. It's obvious from the beginning that Jade is there for reasons of her own and that is to get rid of Mark's wife and take her place at any cost. This is a dark and disturbing story that I read in a day. I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 21, 2018
I can honestly say it wasn’t my type of book , I was not having much luck but I wanted to give it a chance I found it very predictable I did nearly put it in the did not finish pile it could be seen as trigger warning but the story is still a good read if you are into her style of writing as I know not everyone will agree with me
March 22, 2025
Oh dear. This was poor. Really poor. Review will be short.
Mark and Melissa Cain are happily married with two children. They decide to employ a live in babysitter, who happens to be their new neighbour who they didn’t know and who’s house has managed to burn down.
We know from very early on that the baby sister is a psychopath and what she is up to so we are left with the vast majority of the book for it to play out and it doesn’t read well.
A cast of characters that all seem as dim as each other, a tool used to keep the story moving is just ludicrous. There’s no surprises here (beyond everyone’s ignorance and stupidity) only a pronlonged turning of pages waiting for it to reach its inevitable conclusion. I kept going only out of a need to read the whole thing to give an honest review rather than actually wanting to continue.
“I don’t know what we would do without you Jade” has to be the most annoying and awkward phrase used throughout the book.
I honestly can’t think of anything positive to say about this book and it gives me no pleasure to say so. An utterly predicatbale story that takes forever to play out with a cast of characters that don’t seem to have a brian cell between them. It was ludicrous.
Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Sheryl Browne for the ARC
Mark and Melissa Cain are happily married with two children. They decide to employ a live in babysitter, who happens to be their new neighbour who they didn’t know and who’s house has managed to burn down.
We know from very early on that the baby sister is a psychopath and what she is up to so we are left with the vast majority of the book for it to play out and it doesn’t read well.
A cast of characters that all seem as dim as each other, a tool used to keep the story moving is just ludicrous. There’s no surprises here (beyond everyone’s ignorance and stupidity) only a pronlonged turning of pages waiting for it to reach its inevitable conclusion. I kept going only out of a need to read the whole thing to give an honest review rather than actually wanting to continue.
“I don’t know what we would do without you Jade” has to be the most annoying and awkward phrase used throughout the book.
I honestly can’t think of anything positive to say about this book and it gives me no pleasure to say so. An utterly predicatbale story that takes forever to play out with a cast of characters that don’t seem to have a brian cell between them. It was ludicrous.
Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Sheryl Browne for the ARC
May 10, 2018
Mark, a detective, and his wife, Melissa, are happily married with 2 young children. They are both busy .. he with the homicides he investigates she with her sculpting business. Of course, it's usually Melissa that winds up changing her plans .... murder doesn't wait.
A new neighbor watches one night as her house burns down. Mark saves the cat, but Jade is left with nothing more than what she's wearing. They take her into their home and she winds up being the babysitter... something that Mark and Melissa have discussed before.
Things start changing .. Melissa starts slipping into depression. She is sleeping way too much..leaving her husband and children at Jade's mercy.
Mark begins to realize that something isn't quite right with the babysitter.... and when he investigates, he discovers something that he never considered.
Mark is in a race against time to protect his family. But what will he find as he goes back to his family home?
This was a nice easy read ... suspenseful, yet more character driven. The reader knows from the beginning who the babysitter really is and why she does the things she does. The reader knows what the end game is. But it's the uncertainty of how she manipulates this family.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
February 24, 2020
I'm really surprised this book has a 3.8 rating. The word "blah" comes to mind.
The writing was mediocre, at best, and it felt like the story was missing chunks of explanation. It was almost like the book was too long, so someone took a machete to it and just cut stuff that shouldn't have been cut. Yet, somehow it was still over 300 pages.
Definitely do not recommend. 2 stars is on the generous side.
The writing was mediocre, at best, and it felt like the story was missing chunks of explanation. It was almost like the book was too long, so someone took a machete to it and just cut stuff that shouldn't have been cut. Yet, somehow it was still over 300 pages.
Definitely do not recommend. 2 stars is on the generous side.
March 8, 2018
I absolutely love the premise for this one, the idea that a couple has let someone into their home to work with their children that has less than honorable intentions, it’s terrifying! Jade seems like the perfect babysitter for Mark and Mel’s children, but she’s too perfect and you know what they say about if something seems too good to be true…
This was an extremely fast paced and exciting read, I read it in just two sittings and only then had to stop to deal with real life otherwise it would’ve been a one sitting read. It had super short chapters which is always a favorite of mine and Jade was the type of character you just love to hate. She was manipulative and deplorable and you know right away she’s up to no good but what intrigued me was wondering what her motivations were and also what her master plan was, what was her end game? I thought I had it all worked out by Browne threw me for a loop with some surprises that were unexpected. I really loved how things all came together in the end and the final chapter was particularly special, clever lady!
The Babysitter in three words: Sinister, Engaging and Sly
This was an extremely fast paced and exciting read, I read it in just two sittings and only then had to stop to deal with real life otherwise it would’ve been a one sitting read. It had super short chapters which is always a favorite of mine and Jade was the type of character you just love to hate. She was manipulative and deplorable and you know right away she’s up to no good but what intrigued me was wondering what her motivations were and also what her master plan was, what was her end game? I thought I had it all worked out by Browne threw me for a loop with some surprises that were unexpected. I really loved how things all came together in the end and the final chapter was particularly special, clever lady!
The Babysitter in three words: Sinister, Engaging and Sly
February 18, 2018
Jade is the perfect babysitter... or is she too good to be true? When she move in with Mel and Mark o help look afte baby Evie and 7 year old Poppy the family soon begin to fall apart... accidents happening and Mel slowly becoming more and more depressed.
We hear this story from multiple point of views, including Jades so there is no hiding the fact that she is doing this to the family.
A very quick paced story, where you will not want to put it down. Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest opinions
We hear this story from multiple point of views, including Jades so there is no hiding the fact that she is doing this to the family.
A very quick paced story, where you will not want to put it down. Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest opinions
February 5, 2018
1.5 stars. I would not recommend this, when there are many better psychological thrillers out there. I'm not even sure why I finished, but I ended up skimming for the last two thirds or so. There wasn't much that was mysterious or thrilling about this, as the babysitter's motives and intentions were revealed pretty much right off the bat, so there was really nothing that was surprising or suspenseful, in my opinion, though it did veer into rather over-the-top territory as things ramped up at the end. And I found the characters all rather flat. Jade wasn't an interesting or compelling villain, and Mark and Melissa were boring. There are better thrillers out there than this one, so I'd steer clear!
*I received a free pre-release copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*I received a free pre-release copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 9, 2018
The Babysitter seems such an innocent title for a book but don’t be fooled, this is definitely not a “Mary Poppins a spoonful of sugar type read” but never the less what a highly compelling read this turned out to be. A word of warning If you were thinking of hiring a babysitter anytime soon you may want to think again after reading The Babysitter or at least make sure they come with impeccable credentials as long as your arm! Jade miraculously arrives into the life’s of Melissa and her husband Mark, they decide to welcome Jade into their home and give her a live in babysitter job to their two children. As Jade quickly ingratiates herself into their lives, the family begin to fall apart in the most spectacular fashion.
The Babysitter does touch on some subjects that some might find difficult to deal with loss and mental health issues around bereavement in particularly, although it never feels gratuitous, and in fact is pivotal to the plot. I do so love a character for one reason or another who can evoke strong emotions in me, and Jade certainly managed that! Highly unlikeable I find myself inwardly screaming at Mark and Melissa to “get her out” of their home and their life’s . A master manipulator with a face of an angel you just know Jade is going to cause havoc and heartbreak for the Cain family. Although you don’t have to be a genius to work out who Jade is pretty much from the off the “how and the why” Behind her motives are slowly revealed to the reader, as the tension mounts and Jades manipulative behaviour escalates the sense of foreboding sent shivers down my spine. I did have one small niggle considering Mark was a policeman I would have thought he would have done some background checks on Jade, but I’m splitting hairs here! and this is a fictional read after all.
Although The Babysitter isn’t highly original plot wise Sheryl Browne has made the story her own with her own unique style of writing. It was interesting to see how a perfectly normal family could be torn apart by one persons manipulative behaviour, and even more scary is the fact it felt perfectly credible. As the reader is privy to Jade’s manipulation and the effects it has on the poor suffering Cain family, you can only watch in horror from the sidelines as the relationship between Mark and Melissa fractures in the most horrifying fashion. Sheryl Browne has written a tense psychological thriller with a chilling antagonist taking central stage, The Babysitter turned out to be a highly addictive read and one I would highly recommend.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
The Babysitter does touch on some subjects that some might find difficult to deal with loss and mental health issues around bereavement in particularly, although it never feels gratuitous, and in fact is pivotal to the plot. I do so love a character for one reason or another who can evoke strong emotions in me, and Jade certainly managed that! Highly unlikeable I find myself inwardly screaming at Mark and Melissa to “get her out” of their home and their life’s . A master manipulator with a face of an angel you just know Jade is going to cause havoc and heartbreak for the Cain family. Although you don’t have to be a genius to work out who Jade is pretty much from the off the “how and the why” Behind her motives are slowly revealed to the reader, as the tension mounts and Jades manipulative behaviour escalates the sense of foreboding sent shivers down my spine. I did have one small niggle considering Mark was a policeman I would have thought he would have done some background checks on Jade, but I’m splitting hairs here! and this is a fictional read after all.
Although The Babysitter isn’t highly original plot wise Sheryl Browne has made the story her own with her own unique style of writing. It was interesting to see how a perfectly normal family could be torn apart by one persons manipulative behaviour, and even more scary is the fact it felt perfectly credible. As the reader is privy to Jade’s manipulation and the effects it has on the poor suffering Cain family, you can only watch in horror from the sidelines as the relationship between Mark and Melissa fractures in the most horrifying fashion. Sheryl Browne has written a tense psychological thriller with a chilling antagonist taking central stage, The Babysitter turned out to be a highly addictive read and one I would highly recommend.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
March 15, 2018
A babysitter from hell is all I can say to describe this character. Every time I felt that she couldn't go lower than the previous act, she showed me that there was still another layer of gruesomeness about her.
Melissa and Mark's neighbor Jade's house goes up in flames, and as a kind act they invite the neighbor into their home and make her their babysitter. But acts of kindness never go unpunished, thus starts the wicked ways of the babysitter. She wants Mark to herself for reasons known only to her and which is revealed at the end.
She does everything to poison the married life of Melissa and Mark, careers are destroyed, children are slowly weaned away from the mother. The poison apple is always rotten to the core and soon spreads its vile stuff. We are told, in the second chapter itself that the babysitter wants Mark, the acts start from the beginning, go on till the end where the finale reveals the reasons.
My first book by Sheryl Browne, and the story starts with a bang, with nary a pause. The acts pile up on one another. The husband and wife fight, yet do not take a step back to think about the reasons of this drastic change. Oh yes, I forgot to tell you guys, the husband Mark is a Police Detective. Ahem ahem.... Yet he couldn't see the clues. This couple allowed a stranger to take care of their daughters without a background check or asking for references.
The wife Melissa, is tired all the time, fatigued and in a foggy state; she does go to the doctor. A diagnosis of depression and mental illness is made based on past history, no blood tests are done. Isn't that the first thing the docs order to rule out over-medication? But here Melissa is given more medicines... Wellll!!
The babysitter is a quick read to read, if you like reading about how low and how obsessed people can get. It is fast paced and written to shock the readers, pets are also harmed, till the husband Mark gets it. The blurb does say the husband suspects, he does... only at the end when 3/4th of the book is done.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Bookouture, and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Melissa and Mark's neighbor Jade's house goes up in flames, and as a kind act they invite the neighbor into their home and make her their babysitter. But acts of kindness never go unpunished, thus starts the wicked ways of the babysitter. She wants Mark to herself for reasons known only to her and which is revealed at the end.
She does everything to poison the married life of Melissa and Mark, careers are destroyed, children are slowly weaned away from the mother. The poison apple is always rotten to the core and soon spreads its vile stuff. We are told, in the second chapter itself that the babysitter wants Mark, the acts start from the beginning, go on till the end where the finale reveals the reasons.
My first book by Sheryl Browne, and the story starts with a bang, with nary a pause. The acts pile up on one another. The husband and wife fight, yet do not take a step back to think about the reasons of this drastic change. Oh yes, I forgot to tell you guys, the husband Mark is a Police Detective. Ahem ahem.... Yet he couldn't see the clues. This couple allowed a stranger to take care of their daughters without a background check or asking for references.
The wife Melissa, is tired all the time, fatigued and in a foggy state; she does go to the doctor. A diagnosis of depression and mental illness is made based on past history, no blood tests are done. Isn't that the first thing the docs order to rule out over-medication? But here Melissa is given more medicines... Wellll!!
The babysitter is a quick read to read, if you like reading about how low and how obsessed people can get. It is fast paced and written to shock the readers, pets are also harmed, till the husband Mark gets it. The blurb does say the husband suspects, he does... only at the end when 3/4th of the book is done.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Bookouture, and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
March 12, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.
Obviously going by the large number of high ratings for this one I am in a very small minority.
The book starts with a house fire and the one surviving member of the fire Grace and the introduction of three police officers. One Detective Inspector and two DS.
Fast forward eight years and the three officers are all still at exactly the same rank. Are there no promotions? The three officers and their superior have not advanced their careers in any way shape or form??????
Jade's house is burnt down and she is offered a place to stay by her neighbours. Mark the Police Inspector and Melissa his wife and mother of his two children.
Suddenly bad things begin to happen to the family and not one person makes the connection to the houseguest and now babysitter Jade. A policeman and his wife are so clueless they don't check references or look into this stranger's background. No they just let her move in and hand over their much loved children. Melissa is suddenly sleeping like the dead through the night and not hearing her new baby is wailing for a feed.
The story was just too implausible to me. A happily married settled supposedly intelligent couple do not see their problems immediately start with the timing of Jade's arrival.
Obviously going by the large number of high ratings for this one I am in a very small minority.
The book starts with a house fire and the one surviving member of the fire Grace and the introduction of three police officers. One Detective Inspector and two DS.
Fast forward eight years and the three officers are all still at exactly the same rank. Are there no promotions? The three officers and their superior have not advanced their careers in any way shape or form??????
Jade's house is burnt down and she is offered a place to stay by her neighbours. Mark the Police Inspector and Melissa his wife and mother of his two children.
Suddenly bad things begin to happen to the family and not one person makes the connection to the houseguest and now babysitter Jade. A policeman and his wife are so clueless they don't check references or look into this stranger's background. No they just let her move in and hand over their much loved children. Melissa is suddenly sleeping like the dead through the night and not hearing her new baby is wailing for a feed.
The story was just too implausible to me. A happily married settled supposedly intelligent couple do not see their problems immediately start with the timing of Jade's arrival.
November 9, 2018
Do your eyes need a good rolling? Try this!
Prologues can be a great tool to set the mood for the rest of the story. Or, as it happened in The Babysitter, can ruin all the fun. I said time and time again, I don’t need hundreds of plot twists to enjoy a story, but when it comes to psychological thrillers, I do expect a few surprises down the line. The only surprise I got from this one was the fact that I actually managed to get to the end of it.
To begin with, I just couldn’t get over how much I didn’t like the writing style. When it comes to descriptions, I’m a sucker for them. Not so much however when they are so utilitarian. People answered each other ‘acerbically‘, looked at one another ‘interestedly‘ on at least five occasions, while their hair splayed ‘sexily‘ around. Oh hell, no!
*Norrie rolled her eyes exasperatedly and put down the book annoyedly*
You know what I’m sayin’?
If you ask me, Mark is possibly the worst detective on the face of the planet. He clearly can’t read people, doesn’t see what’s right in front of him and despite of being supposedly such a great guy, treats his wife like crap when the poor woman is clearly going through some tough shit, that coincidentally started five minutes after the amazing babysitter with the giant tits moved in with them.
Jade was dodgy as fuck, of course, but kind of like a cartoon villain. You know, the ones who walk around constantly cackling (or should I say laughing maniacally?) and having the crazy eye.
You are probably wondering why I plodded through this one, when it’s clear I didn’t think much of it. Well, my curiosity you see, is an annoying little bastard, and most inconvenient. I kept thinking there must be something else at play here, and surely there will be something at the end that will make me slap my forehead with its shocking revelation. Want to know a secret? There wasn’t one.
Prologues can be a great tool to set the mood for the rest of the story. Or, as it happened in The Babysitter, can ruin all the fun. I said time and time again, I don’t need hundreds of plot twists to enjoy a story, but when it comes to psychological thrillers, I do expect a few surprises down the line. The only surprise I got from this one was the fact that I actually managed to get to the end of it.
To begin with, I just couldn’t get over how much I didn’t like the writing style. When it comes to descriptions, I’m a sucker for them. Not so much however when they are so utilitarian. People answered each other ‘acerbically‘, looked at one another ‘interestedly‘ on at least five occasions, while their hair splayed ‘sexily‘ around. Oh hell, no!
*Norrie rolled her eyes exasperatedly and put down the book annoyedly*
You know what I’m sayin’?
If you ask me, Mark is possibly the worst detective on the face of the planet. He clearly can’t read people, doesn’t see what’s right in front of him and despite of being supposedly such a great guy, treats his wife like crap when the poor woman is clearly going through some tough shit, that coincidentally started five minutes after the amazing babysitter with the giant tits moved in with them.
Jade was dodgy as fuck, of course, but kind of like a cartoon villain. You know, the ones who walk around constantly cackling (or should I say laughing maniacally?) and having the crazy eye.
You are probably wondering why I plodded through this one, when it’s clear I didn’t think much of it. Well, my curiosity you see, is an annoying little bastard, and most inconvenient. I kept thinking there must be something else at play here, and surely there will be something at the end that will make me slap my forehead with its shocking revelation. Want to know a secret? There wasn’t one.
April 10, 2024
I wasn’t going to review this book as it wasn’t my favourite read, it was too predictable and at times I was annoyed by the stupidity of the characters not seeing what was going on under their roof!!
May 23, 2018
*3.5 stars*
When new neighbor Jade’s house burns down, Melissa and Mark don’t think twice about welcoming her into their house and making her their new babysitter. But Jade isn’t who she seems, and the entire family is in danger...
So I have mixed feelings about this psychological thriller. On one hand, it kept my attention with its excellent pacing and impending sense of danger. I was really worried about the kids and the pet dog for most of the book.
But, I couldn’t believe that a seasoned detective would welcome a stranger into his home, caring for his kids, without looking closer into her background or even calling her references. The same goes for Melissa. Where is the parental instinct? Jade escalates, and for too long the couple turns a blind eye to her, instead thanking their lucky stars that she’s there to help out. What??? I understand that they’re going through a rough time, but I didn’t believe that they would be so gullible.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc.
When new neighbor Jade’s house burns down, Melissa and Mark don’t think twice about welcoming her into their house and making her their new babysitter. But Jade isn’t who she seems, and the entire family is in danger...
So I have mixed feelings about this psychological thriller. On one hand, it kept my attention with its excellent pacing and impending sense of danger. I was really worried about the kids and the pet dog for most of the book.
But, I couldn’t believe that a seasoned detective would welcome a stranger into his home, caring for his kids, without looking closer into her background or even calling her references. The same goes for Melissa. Where is the parental instinct? Jade escalates, and for too long the couple turns a blind eye to her, instead thanking their lucky stars that she’s there to help out. What??? I understand that they’re going through a rough time, but I didn’t believe that they would be so gullible.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc.
June 25, 2018
Is she too good to be true?
There's a house on fire in the neighborhood, and as the hero Mark is, he rescues Jade's cat. Since she has no place to go, and Mark and Melissa sees that she is good with kids, they hire her as a babysitter. Jade stays with them for so long, to look after their seven year old daughter and their newborn. Jade is too good to be true, 'cause she always shows up when something happens. She always seem to read other people's mind, and she makes everything easier for Mark and Melissa.Things are flowing now that Jade is with them. She is so amazing that they forget to make a background check and check her references. Something they probably should have done? Things go from perfect to catastrophic when Melissa gets depressed and she has been suffering from depression before. She blames Mark for everything that happens, and the dynamics of the family change slowly, but surely to the worse.
It was because of the blurb of the book I wanted to read it because I wanted something easy to read. It was a very easy-to-read thriller, almost too easy-to-read, because it hardly has any action at all, and the person gallery was a really tame and exhausted bunch of characters. The chapters are very short with just a few pages and it changes perspectives between Mark, Jade, Melissa, as well as some other few characters. This book made me think of the movie The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, which was produced in 1992. The story itself was not so similar to the movie, but the characteristics of some of the characters were, especially the babysitter who had bad intentions. I like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle a lot because it was very cunning, evil and very exciting. While this, The Babysitter seemed like a weak copy. The writing style was not particularly impressive either. There are many repetitions in the story when things are going slow. Not much happens. There's no flow, at least no natural flow.
It's a bit ironic that Mark, who's a detective inspector (DI), is unable to see or understand what is happening in his own home. So he's not the brightest character. Okay, so the wife doesn't bother doing a background check on Jade, but Mark, who has such a job, also doesn't bother doing it either, is a little weird. What kind of parents are they? Yes, they are good and loving parents and all that, but living with a complete stranger for an indefinite period and to work as a babysitter is daring. It's not enough that a person is nice and charming and just claims she had a course about children at college. Really? That's bad judgment of both of them, especially Mark, who is in the investigation business. It's too stupid.
The writing style is not much to brag about. Okay, the chapters are short because it's typical in most psychological thrillers, but it's not enterily credible that Mark and Melissa are equally in love with each other after so many years. Just read this;
But then, Mark had been quite into her shirt last night. Melissa smiled quietly, recalling the wicked glint in this chocolate-brown eyes as he told her that imagining her naked beneath it was a serious turn-on, how he'd pinned her to the bed, with not much protestion from her, and worked excruciatingly slowly through each button, finally asking her to keep it on while he made deliciously slow love to her.
Please. Stop. She'd be dragging him upstairs for a repeat performance as soon as he walked through the door at this rate.
No thanks. I'm not against reading these kind of books, romance stuff even though this is not a romance. I do read them once in a while, but this is stamped as a "serious" psychological thriller, but for my part, it became anything but that. It seemed more like a parody of the whole genre. It's an easy read for sure, but "quickly" forgotten and too weak of a psychological thriller. Stay far away from this one.
March 8, 2018
OMG this has to be my favourite Sheryl Browne book....
I am a massive fan of Sheryl Browne's DI Matthews series and I couldn't wait to get stuck into The Baby Sitter which is a standalone psychological thriller the author brings us something totally different with this unputdownable story which is fan-flipping-tastic.
In this story we meet mother of Poppy, Melissa. Her husband and police officer Mark, who are struggling to juggle their work load around the upbringing and looking after their daughter. Until Jade the Babysitter comes along and is more than happy to help with Poppy and day to day tasks.
The reader is fully aware that Mark has meet Jade before so there I am thinking yeah, yeah I know where this story is going! But I was that gripped and intrigued I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen...Then BOOM the story takes a twist I wasn't expecting...How wrong was I !!!
The story is told with alternating chapters between the characters with each chapter leaving you wanting more. The tension build up is out of this world with plenty of OMG moments which will have your pulse racing.
Jade is one bitter and twisted person she made me so angry I just wanted to punch her. I love it when a character gets under your skin!
Fans of psychological thrillers are seriously going to love this book. I know I did and it ticked all the boxes for me. Which I cannot recommend enough giving it 5 massive stars.
Well done Sheryl you have totally nailed it!
Thank you to Kim Nash for inviting me to take part in this fab blitz
I am a massive fan of Sheryl Browne's DI Matthews series and I couldn't wait to get stuck into The Baby Sitter which is a standalone psychological thriller the author brings us something totally different with this unputdownable story which is fan-flipping-tastic.
In this story we meet mother of Poppy, Melissa. Her husband and police officer Mark, who are struggling to juggle their work load around the upbringing and looking after their daughter. Until Jade the Babysitter comes along and is more than happy to help with Poppy and day to day tasks.
The reader is fully aware that Mark has meet Jade before so there I am thinking yeah, yeah I know where this story is going! But I was that gripped and intrigued I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen...Then BOOM the story takes a twist I wasn't expecting...How wrong was I !!!
The story is told with alternating chapters between the characters with each chapter leaving you wanting more. The tension build up is out of this world with plenty of OMG moments which will have your pulse racing.
Jade is one bitter and twisted person she made me so angry I just wanted to punch her. I love it when a character gets under your skin!
Fans of psychological thrillers are seriously going to love this book. I know I did and it ticked all the boxes for me. Which I cannot recommend enough giving it 5 massive stars.
Well done Sheryl you have totally nailed it!
Thank you to Kim Nash for inviting me to take part in this fab blitz
March 23, 2018
Mark and Melissa take their neighbor Jade in whose house is burnt down in an accidental fire.They have a baby and a seven year old and Jade seems like a perfect person to take care of their kids as nanny till she gets back on her feet. But was Jade really godsend or did she have another agenda in mind ?
The Babysitter is a great psychological thriller without much of twists or turns as we know who the suspect is from start but that does not take away from the story .The author does a great job building up tension and keeping the audience entertained .A solid 3 ½ stars
I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
The Babysitter is a great psychological thriller without much of twists or turns as we know who the suspect is from start but that does not take away from the story .The author does a great job building up tension and keeping the audience entertained .A solid 3 ½ stars
I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
February 7, 2018
Detective Inspector Mark Cain is married to Melissa and they have two wonderful children Poppy and Evie. Mark is haunted by a house fire that occurred sometime in the distant past, a vision of a child overcome by smoke inhalation never leaves him. The family become acquainted with a neighbour Jade when her property is destroyed by fire (there seems to be a theme developing here!) Mark and Mel are very impressed by the kindness and warmth that radiates from Jade who in turn develops a strong bond with the two children Poppy and Evie. They are delighted not only to offer Jade a safe home to live in but also employ her services as a babysitter for the two young girls. The parents compliment themselves to what on the surface seems an excellent decision as it allows Mark the time to concentrate on finding a missing child, Daisy Evans, and Melissa freedom to indulge her passion of sculpturing.
It is at this point in the story that the fortunes of the Cain family disintegrate alarmingly. and in particular the mental health of Mel gives great reason for concern. There are questions over her ability to remain as a respected and caring mother. Thank goodness that the ever smiling, helpful Jade is able to step into the role as a surrogate mum. However is this supposedly wonderful young lady as helpful as the personality she projects? Is she linked in any way to the disappearance of Daisy? What is the reason behind her fascination with Mark? Is there any connection between her arrival and the rapid mental deterioration of Melissa Cain?
What an enjoyable fun read with a beautiful manipulative villain. The author and the reader have a bond, they know who is responsible for the misfortune within the Cain family, yet both are powerless and unable to help. They can only stand in the sidelines and watch in horror as Mark Cain stumbles from one crisis to another. Will the responsible and caring father be successful using his cunning and detective skills to win back his family, save the lost Daisy and by so doing find the perpetrator before it is too late? Significantly The Babysitter also explores themes of loss (baby Jacob, Mark and Melissa's first child, died at only 6 months old) the power of the family unit, sexual abuse and how the fallout from such abuse can affect many people. Many thanks to netgalley and the publisher bookouture for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.
It is at this point in the story that the fortunes of the Cain family disintegrate alarmingly. and in particular the mental health of Mel gives great reason for concern. There are questions over her ability to remain as a respected and caring mother. Thank goodness that the ever smiling, helpful Jade is able to step into the role as a surrogate mum. However is this supposedly wonderful young lady as helpful as the personality she projects? Is she linked in any way to the disappearance of Daisy? What is the reason behind her fascination with Mark? Is there any connection between her arrival and the rapid mental deterioration of Melissa Cain?
What an enjoyable fun read with a beautiful manipulative villain. The author and the reader have a bond, they know who is responsible for the misfortune within the Cain family, yet both are powerless and unable to help. They can only stand in the sidelines and watch in horror as Mark Cain stumbles from one crisis to another. Will the responsible and caring father be successful using his cunning and detective skills to win back his family, save the lost Daisy and by so doing find the perpetrator before it is too late? Significantly The Babysitter also explores themes of loss (baby Jacob, Mark and Melissa's first child, died at only 6 months old) the power of the family unit, sexual abuse and how the fallout from such abuse can affect many people. Many thanks to netgalley and the publisher bookouture for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.
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