I really enjoyed this book. Although it was easy to figure out, the writing still kept you wanting to read at the end.. It also makes one think about how what we say to people, may be taken very literally. Grace/Jade was something else. Very good read and I do recommend. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publsher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

This entire novel focuses on how live-in babysitter Jade ingratiates and insinuates herself into the lives of Melissa and Mark Kane. She arrives at exactly the right time. Melissa has two young daughters; one a tiny baby. She has built up a home-based business and is juggling too many balls, trying to keep them all in the air, so she is absolutely delighted when Jade arrives with her ample qualifications and calm and supportive attitude. Mark is also busy trying to track down an evil child kidnapper or maybe by then a child murderer. Nobody knows. There are no clues left behind and no trace of the little girl. As a father himself he knows he must act quickly to retrieve the little girl who has been taken and return her to her family. Time is the key. He is hardworking and driven; a credit to the police force. He too is relieved Melissa has the support she so deserves and can have a little extra help with their young family while he is at work such long hours. She has orders to fulfil.
Each narrator tells their own story in this engrossing novel. It seems Jade has them all fooled as they all think she is a little gem, but worryingly, despite having Jade living in, everything deteriorates until everyone and everything becomes chaotic. Jade narrates her own story and she makes it abundantly clear what she hopes to achieve from the very start. In fact she wears her heart on her shoulder and is determined to emerge with what she wants. She plays her cards superbly well and waits to see what will happen.
Jade is very damaged although she is like a chameleon and hides her plans from everyone. She juggles all of the balls in her hand skilfully but with pure evil intent. Despite knowing everything there is to know about Jade, the twists and turns in this engrossing story are malicious and shocking to the core. She is like a master Poker player, holding her cards to her chest but willing to bluff, gamble and deceive. She must win. There is no other alternative.
Mark is my favourite character in this superbly crafted, skilfully engineered novel. He’s the typical heroic good guy, a great detective, a wonderfully caring father and a loving husband. But he is no match for what is happening in his home, where feelings are running out of control and are not nuanced at all. The lives of his family ultimately depend upon him, but he is fraught and vulnerable. Will he be man enough to protect them?
I would like to thank NetGalley and publisher Bookouture for my copy of this novel, sent to me in return for an honest review. Although the motives and facts of the story are laid bare by the characters in the novel, it is a terrific read; a real page turner. It’s a 4.5* review from me.

Hi Noelle/Kim. Cleaning up my shelf. Thanks. Louise x

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!