"The Babysitter" by Gemma Rogers is a heart-pounding and suspenseful thriller that delves into the darkest fears of parenthood. Ali and Christopher Tolfrey's worst nightmare becomes a reality when their one-year-old daughter, Eden, is abducted while in the care of Ali's best friend. The novel unfolds with a gripping narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from the very beginning.

The pacing of the story is relentless, as Rogers skillfully builds tension with each passing chapter. The abduction of a child is a chilling premise that taps into the primal fears of every parent, creating an emotionally charged and nerve-wracking reading experience. The author explores the aftermath of such a traumatic event, examining the impact on the Tolfrey family and the relationships surrounding them.

The character of Brooke Simmons adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, as she regains consciousness to discover that Eden, her best friend's child, is missing. Rogers masterfully weaves a web of deceit, secrets, and lies that heighten the suspense. Brooke's internal struggle between protecting her secrets and helping find Eden adds complexity to her character, making her a compelling and conflicted protagonist.

The novel raises questions about trust, the consequences of deception, and the lengths people will go to protect their own interests. The psychological tension is palpable, and the twists and turns in the plot keep readers guessing until the very end. Rogers adeptly explores the theme of how secrets and lies can entangle individuals, creating a web that becomes increasingly difficult to escape.

"The Babysitter" is a gripping thriller that tackles the unimaginable fear of child abduction while delving into the intricate web of human relationships. Gemma Rogers keeps the reader engaged with her skillful storytelling, and the relentless pace of the narrative ensures that the tension never wavers. This heart-pounding thriller earns a solid four stars for its suspenseful plot, well-crafted characters, and the exploration of the psychological toll of deception and betrayal.

The story is told from multiple perspectives and it’s fast paced. All the characters are not unlikeable. It’s gritting and compelling. A great book

Really enjoyed reading this book. This author is becoming a favourite of mine. I was hooked right from the first page. It was exciting with lots of twists and turns to keep your interest. I literally couldn’t put this book down

I cannot imagine how it feels to have your child abducted. It really must be the worst nightmare not knowing where they are and if they are treated well and most importantly maybe will you ever be able to hold them in your arms...

You have trusted someone, your good friend Brooke, to take care of your daughter and now, on their watch, the child has gone. 

Is she involved or not? Does she know more or is she also a victim?

Of course I felt for the parents and what they were going through, but is it bad to feel for the abductor too? You might think am I crazy, but I believe that, when you read the book, you will understand what I mean.

Telling lies is never a good plan, but sometimes those little fibs as you see them, can create a mess like the explosion of a bomb. 

You can try to right the wrong, but some things can never be undone and you will have to deal with it. 

I enjoyed this story a lot. From time to time a plan can come together and sometimes is blows up in your face. 5 stars

Thank you

The Babysitter was an enjoyable read, it was rather slow paced and with no elements of mystery involved it was a nice easy read.

The characters were all well progressed throughout the story and I became quite complacent with them, feeling a very familiar feeling about them.

The main character Brooke, was my favourite – I may be the first one to say this but I felt sorry for her. I was actually hoping to find a happy ending for her somewhere. I wanted to help her, i definitely felt a deep connection to her more so than any of the others.

A parents worst nightmare. The babysitter was a superb read. Another book by this author that i really have enjoyed. A believable, gripping story, a stroy that would be your absolute worst nightmare as a parent.
A babysitter is knocked out and the child in her car is kidnapped. There is so much more to this story than you first think. It really does drag you along with it.
A great suspensful drama, a believable story that leaves you wanting to turn those pages. I look forward to reading more by this author.

An enjoyable read told from the POV of the 3 main characters. The storyline kept you guessing right to the end

3 characters, 3 days, and 1 missing child. A mother, a nanny, and a kidnapper. The entire premise was exciting.
Fast-paced with the story narrated via 3 POVs, the pages turned almost on their own.
Curiosity and a need to know the truth kept me on my toes till the end.
The concept was clean. It spoke of fallacies of human psyche and what desperation could lead them to do.
The author took a predictable tale and gave it her own twist. The ending was quite unexpected.
Predictable. I knew what lie the nanny had cultivated to lead the kidnapper on, right from the very beginning.
Everything was already told in the book, the identity of the kidnapper and the reasons for the heinous crime. I was not too fond of stories where I couldn't play the detective.

The book was still fun enough to read on a Saturday afternoon. It gave the comfort of a mini-thriller.

It wasn’t that long ago that I actually found this author and since then I have listened to a few her books. I just love them! Something that starts out innocent and turns into something sinister with everyday people with a web of deceit. Gemma’s story telling is so believable it makes you think that this could actually happen.

This story was easy to visualise that I think it would make an awesome movie! The feelings, relationships with the characters are so real. I dont want to say to much without giving anything away but I loved the bond with Eden. You will see what I mean when you read it yourself.

Be prepared for a roller coaster ride with plenty of twists and turns and OMG moments! Once I started listening to this I couldn’t stop it was so addictive. I also loved the narrator she certainly brought this story to life. This is with a doubt my kind of crime thriller.

The Babysitter full on WOWED me! it is utterly brilliant.

The baby sitter by Gemma Rogers was a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed
This was a brilliant read. I was completely gripped from the very start. I loved the characters and the story was excellent .

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A well-written faced paced drama with plenty of intrigues. Very suspenseful. Recommended.

When babysitter Brooke is attacked and the child she’s caring for abducted, the police are quick to respond. But as Brooke recovers from her injuries it seems she knows more about the abduction than she’s letting on. As questions are asked and interviews carried out, Brooke’s deceit spirals into a complex web that could easily drag her down and expose her lies. But maybe there’s a way she can put everything right and still have the life she’s dreamed of…

This is the first book I’ve read by Gemma Rogers and the fifth in her series of crime thrillers. The story is told from the point of view of three of the main characters. To begin with, I found it a little difficult to get into as the weighty slog of backstory (initially from Ali’s pov) really slows down the pace. However, as the tale progresses, and we hear from Brooke, Ali and Jimmy relating their roles in the mystery, I became engrossed. Though a little slow in places, the book is an easy read and I finished it in one sitting. The denouement goes on a little too long for my liking, but I was happy to see that, for the most part, all the characters get what they deserve.

An interesting crime thriller perceived through the eyes of three very different characters.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was a change of genre for me so I was weary going in, but wow, the story was brilliant!

I very much enjoyed reading from all of the different perspectives and every character was incredibly well written and each had their own voice so it never got confusing to read.

I would one hundred percent pick up another book from Gemma Rogers and she has already made it to my auto-buy list!

Yes! another superb book by one of my favourite authors......

So when The Babysitter by Gemma Rogers came out I had to put everything on Hold!!! No housecleaning, Netflix etc, Take away menu's ready for later etc. Find my favourite spot in my garden and hope it doesn't rain and open my kindle!!!

Wow and Gemma's latest book did not disappoint! This latest book The babysitter was Superb - I loved it!
It was full of twists and turns that will have you hooked from the start like it did me again......All Gemma's books have been an excellent read, especially as her books just get better and better.

I highly recommend this latest book by Gemma.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I am honestly at a loss on what to think of the end of this book. What Brooke did was extremely childish and I think everything spiraled out from there. It wasn't solely her fault but I can see why Ali would react like she did. I don't think its fair that a certain someone got off scott free. That's what really frustrated me in this book. I did like it though and it was a curveball of a read for sure. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for a review.

Wow, this has been another fabulous crime thriller from this author. You are not left waiting for the story to get going as it kick starts immediately. I love this in a book and even when the pace slows down a little further on in the book, it doesn’t matter as I was already hooked.

I love the fact that the story is told from 3 different characters’ viewpoints. This ensured good character development and it also throws up a lot of questions about people’s actions, motives and choices. I was unsure what to make of the characters for a lot of the story but that unsettled feeling is one I really enjoy in a crime thriller.

The story took me on an unexpected journey with plenty of twists and turns, which is part and parcel of Gemma’s typical brilliance.

This is an emotive, dramatic and thrilling story from a brilliant fresh voice in this genre. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

Really enjoyed The Babysitter by Gemma Rogers - Every mother's worst nightmare. The Babysitter is a gripping thriller about the abduction of a child told from the POV's of three main characters.

Ali's best friend, Brooke, is also a neighbor who occasionally watches Ali's year-old daughter, Eden, every once in a while.

While Brooke has Eden at the local park, she is hit from behind. When she comes to, Eden is gone.

Someone has taken Eden and Brooke knows who.

All it takes is one snap decision or bad judgment call to lead to severe consequences. This is one decision that Brooke doesn't dare share with Eden's mother .. or the police. But it seems that Brooke is not the only one with secrets.

It's well written, not suspenseful, as the reader knows the "who" almost from the beginning. There are twists and turns that lead to a surprising breathless conclusion. The characters are all solidly defined. The story is told by three voices ... the mother, the babysitter and the man who took Eden. This is a stand-alone novel and set in the Surrey and Sussex areas.

Many thanks to the author / Boldwood Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this page-turning thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

I really enjoyed this book from Gemma Rogers. It’s the first of hers that I have read but will definitely be reading more of them. It has a good plot which is believable and the pacing is just perfect.

The Babysitter by Gemma Rogers is a thriller about the kidnapping of little Eden. While at the park with her babysitter Brooke, Eden is kidnapped. Her parents, Ali and Christopher, are devastated. Brooke was knocked unconscious, so she doesn't know what happened. Or does she know more than she's letting on? This book was a little over-the-top, but it kept my attention and I enjoyed it. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.