Good book overall. I love historical fiction and felt that this book did a good a job balancing the mystery and story with the historical aspect.

I’ve always heard about the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby, but never knew too much about it. My interest was peaked when I saw this book. All in all I really enjoyed it, it gave a lot of history that I didn’t know and I liked reading from the nanny’s point of view. I was inspired to dig deeper and research players from the story.

The kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby is one of those incidents that permeates the American consciousness to some degree no matter when you were born. As an 80's baby, I was familiar with the broad strokes - that Lindbergh was a Rockstar for his time based on his solo flight across the Atlantic, that the kidnapping shocked the nation, that there was much confusion and intrigue about who might have been to blame etc... but the rest was fuzzy around the edges for me. What I adored about this book is that it really centered the story through the eyes of Betty Gow, the Nanny for the Lindberghs at the time of the kidnapping. Through her reflection we learn about the character of the Lindbergh family and the Morrows (the in-laws who held great political sway as well). I also valued that the author spent time building out Mrs. Lindbergh as a full and rich character - emphasizing her accomplishments as a pilot as well. What the book is most successful at, in my opinion, is bringing context to how the level of media circus and intense scrutiny impacted the lives of everyone involved, especially for those who were implicated either in the court of public opinion like Betty Gow was, or in the genuine course of investigation. The narrative helped me feel rooted in the period, through her nods to social and moral standards and expectations, the references to technology and the depiction of the workings of the press and media. While this is a novelization and not served up as a true crime investigation, I finished the book feeling like I had a fairly nuanced understanding of the investigation, the various people accused at different points and who played various roles in the investigation (interesting to see Stormin' Norman's father led the case, for example!). If you're into historical fiction, true crime, or mystery - this is a compelling read. Despite the verdict being widely known, the storytelling is woven in a way that leaves you on the edge of your seat as far as what will happen to the characters you've gotten to know intimately.

3.5/5
This book covers the true events of the kidnapping of the Lindberg baby. I always enjoy historical fiction in this way because I feel that I get to learn about something that I had no idea happened! I'm sure this was a very big deal at the time, but I had never heard of it before picking up this book.

It took me a little bit to get into the book. Once the Nanny started taking care of the child and was fully involved in the family, I was interested. However, the book lost my attention shortly after the child was kidnapped. I felt that there were so many characters involved as well as possible theories, that it was just too much for me to take in. I didn't really gravitate towards one theory or the other. Personally, I think I would have enjoyed the book more if more time would have been spent on the relationships between the Lindbergs and the nanny.

However, I know that some people will truly enjoy this book, especially if they are familiar with the case. Historical fiction isn't usually my preferred genre because I feel like the language can feel old. I did not feel that was the case in this book. The story was easily read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a very well-written historical novel. It kept me engaged from the very beginning. Also appreciated the info at the end regarding the author’s use of fact vs, fiction.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for ARC, in exchange for honest review*

Mysterious. Engaging. Memorable.

Despite being a famous case, I hadn’t heard anything about the Lindbergh kidnapping before reading the book. The title caught my attention first, followed by the summary of the book. The Lindbergh Nanny is one of those books that will have your attention from the start until the end. Even as I turned the last page, I wondered what had happened after. Every page and chapter had me wondering what would happen next. Would they find out who kidnapped Charlie? I wasn’t there, but all the emotions that Betty felt in the book before the kidnapping and afterward felt so real. That was one of my favorites about this book; it felt realistic. While reading, it was as if I was there besides Betty, going through everything she was going through. Like Betty, I fell in love with Charlie. I can’t even begin to imagine the horror the family felt when he was taken from them, and my heart broke for them.

I loved the connection that Betty had with Charlie before the kidnapping. It didn’t take him long to get attached to Betty, and I could tell she loved him. I could tell that after some time, Mrs. Lindbergh became jealous of the bond that Betty and her son had developed. When Charlie was kidnapped, I thought of so many suspects, but the actual suspect was the last person I thought would have anything to do with the case. I learned a lot about the case in the book. The book had me curious, so once I finished the book, I went back and researched the real-life case. I enjoyed that at the end of the book, the author talked about the facts and the fictional that she added, making the book even more realistic.

All the characters were so well developed in the book, especially Betty, who changed the most of all the characters. As I said before, I love historical fiction mixed with mystery. The Lindbergh Nanny was one of the best books I have read this year. I was on the edge of my seat from the start to the end. I would highly recommend that to any historical fiction and mystery fans. I’m happy that I got a chance to read this book, and I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for us next.

Being a fan of historical fiction I was very happy to be approved for the ARC copy of this book. Mariah Fredericks writes a high explosive story of the most famous kidnapping the world has ever encountered. Yet I learned so much about the family, the people involved with the Lindbergs and Betty Gow the young girl who becomes the nanny to the famous Lingbergh baby.

This book takes you from the beginning of how Betty gets to America to take care of this precious child. Little did she know that months later her private life will be plastered all over the world, and how she gets involved with the multitude of suspects in this horrible crime..

With this case I myself only knew what was printed in history books and papers. Mariah Fredricks brings to life the characters and wrote them so well since this is historical fiction. I didn't know that so many people were involved with little Charlie's kidnapping. The information both fictional and true had me turning the pages so I could finish this book. I couldn't put it down.. Betty Gow was a nobody to me and when I finished this book she became my champion. The love she had for this little boy, the pain of being a suspect in his murder really made me want to know more about her. So having the authors notes at the end giving us the details of Betty once she returned home gave me closure to this whole ordeal.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the approval. Thank you Mariah Fredericks for such a wonderful written book, that gave me a better insight to this horrible tragedy.

This is a very well written historical fiction novel. It was very intriguing and kept my interest from beginning to end. There were a lot of characters so I had a hard time keeping up with who was who at times. This story centers around Betty Gow, who was the nanny/nurse for Charlie Lindbergh. Charlie gets kidnapped in the early 1930’s and this book takes place from Betty’s point of view. I like how at the end the author described what was factual and what she added to various parts of the book. This was a job well done. Thanks NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.

The Lindbergh Nanny
By Mariah Fredericks
Series: None
Publisher: St. Martian’s Press
Rated: 2
Obtain:
Back of the Book: “When the most famous toddler in America, Charles Lindbergh, Jr., is kidnapped from his family home in New Jersey in 1932, the case makes international headlines. Already celebrated for his flight across the Atlantic, his father, Charles, Sr., is the country’s golden boy, with his wealthy, lovely wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, by his side. But there’s someone else in their household—Betty Gow, a formerly obscure young woman, now known around the world by another name: the Lindbergh Nanny.
A Scottish immigrant deciphering the rules of her new homeland and its East Coast elite, Betty finds Colonel Lindbergh eccentric and often odd, Mrs. Lindbergh kind yet nervous, and Charlie simply a darling. Far from home and bruised from a love affair gone horribly wrong, Betty finds comfort in caring for the child, and warms to the attentions of handsome sailor Henrik, sometimes known as Red. Then, Charlie disappears.
Suddenly a suspect in the eyes of both the media and the public, Betty must find the truth about what really happened that night, in order to clear her own name—and to find justice for the child she loves.

Impressions: I started this book but the text was choppy. It lacked the grace and flow to be enticing and easy to read. I did not finish this book.

I received an ARC of this book via the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here. For more book reviews go to: https://simplyannehere.wordpress.com

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Mariah Fredericks' The Lindbergh Nanny. I would love to read more like this from the author. Five stars.

This book is about the famous abduction of the infant son of Colonel Charles Lindbergh and his wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The case received international attention in 1932, due to the popularity of the young American couple and their accomplishments in aviation. This particular novel is from the perspective of baby Charlie's Scottish nanny, Betty Gow, who was initially a suspect in the case. The timeline begins with her appointment as nanny, and takes us through the trial in early 1935.

I found this story to be a bit slow at first, but I enjoyed the character development and the details about the Lindberghs' lifestyle. The pace picks up significantly when Charlie is kidnapped from his bedroom, and I flew through the rest of the book. Betty's perspective was new for me, and I think it paints an intimate portrait of the horrific events, given how close she was to the baby.

I much appreciate when historical fiction authors take the time to discuss their research and separate fact from fiction in their narratives in an author's note, which Mariah Fredericks does here. A sad but fascinating story, told well from a new perspective!

Thank you to Mariah Fredericks, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book is historical fiction and follows the events leading up to and after the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby. It is from the nanny - Betty Gow's perspective.

I found it to be a bit disappointing. The dialog was choppy and hard to follow at times. I suspect it was meant to be stream of consciousness thoughts from Betty, but it detracted from my enjoyment of the book. Overall, it was a slow-moving book, and I was just glad to be finished with it.

I have always had a fascination with the case of the Lindbergh baby, but I didn't know many details. This was a new angle for me, as told from the viewpoint of the servants, notably, the nanny. I appreciated that the author used the real names for the characters and made them all well-rounded, admittedly adding details that most likely are untrue, but make for a more complex story. For a premise that is so well-known in the true crime community, the author did a great job imparting some twists and turns, many of which depend on the characterization. Overall, this was an interesting read, and I especially loved the author's notes at the end discussing the liberties she took, and what actually happened.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
I LOVED this book. Really great mixing in fiction along with facts and historical account.
Author did very good researching and also provided a lot of great sources at the end of the book as well.
Very well written and enjoyable read. Definitely recommend checking this one out.

Mariah Fredericks did a great job of writing about Betty Gow, the nanny for the Lindberghs, and the other servants. I have read a lot about the Lindberghs and the kidnapping, so I wasn’t really excited about the story. But for anyone who isn’t real familiar with the Lindberghs, this is probably a great read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This book is everything I love about historical fiction.
As the author states, it is not investigative in nature but Mariah Fredericks puts you at the scene of the Lindbergh kidnapping through the eyes of Betty Gow, the baby's nurse, or nanny. Betty was there at every pivotal moment of this story so it is natural that this perspective be considered.
I loved Betty; the more I got to know her through the story, the more I liked and admired her. Her love for little Charlie and her genuine affection was perhaps the best part of his short life.
It is impossible not to empathize with Betty and her friendships and relationships with the other household staff just makes her more real to us.
Loved this book, and highly recommend.

Book Title: The Lindbergh Nanny
Author: Mariah Fredericks
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books
Genre: Historical Fiction ~ Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: November 11, 2022
My Rating: 4 stars

At twenty=six, Scottish Betty Gow’s dream comes true when she is hired by the Lindbergh’s as a nursemaid for baby Charles Jr. When toddler Charles Lindbergh Jr. is kidnapped from his parents' weekend home in Hopewell, New Jersey in 1932, his parents are frantic.
Betty Gow, the Lindbergh nanny was named a suspect.

Story is non- fiction but author, Mariah Fredericks did a lot of research and this novel is based on biographies and a wide range of sources. In fact, she devotes many pages as the end of this novel on a section entitled “The Lindbergh Nanny: Fact vs. Fiction”. This section is a story in itself.
Another section is entitles “The Real Betty Gow” which was totally interesting.

Want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press ~ Minotaur Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for November 11, 2022

I was really looking forward to this one and while I liked it, I felt it was so confusing and hard time to follow at times. I’ve seen mostly rave reviews and while I see why people love it, I expected much more.

The Lindbergh Nanny by Mariah Fredericks is an historical fiction account of the kidnapping and murder of little Charlie Lindbergh. Everyone has heard about this heartbreaking event so you basically know what happens and how it ends, but Fredericks fills in all the details and introduces us to all the people involved in young Charlie’s short life.

The story is presented from the view point go Betty Gow, Charlie’s nanny. You really get an understanding for the atmosphere, characters and events leading up to the tragic day. You can sense the panic and tension when it is discovered that the baby is missing. And finally, you can fell the utter despair and heartbreak after the body is found.

One of the things I enjoy most about historical fiction, is all the details that are presented concerning an event you already know about. Time and time again as I was reading The Lindbergh Nanny, I stopped to further research one topic or another. This thought provoking presentations of one of America’s great tragedies is one you will not want to miss.

Blending fact and fiction, the author introduces us to the Nanny. The nanny of the most famous kidnapped child in America at the time Charles Lindbergh was shining bright and everyone wanted to see the famous baby.

Ready to move house and have some privacy, the Lindberghs hire Betty Gow. Betty is still trying to get used to America. Hailing from Scotland, she is determined to do well and succeed in this strange country. She is a bit naive and that will get her into a lot of trouble.

Betty finds the Lindbergh household odd, to say the least. Some of the rules Mr. Lindbergh had were bordering on cruelty. As well as his views on Hitler. They are not what she expected at all. Dodging photographers hiding in the bushes trying to get a picture of the baby. People are really nuts about this.

And when the baby disappears it’s the nanny who becomes infamous. Blamed and shunned, she returns to her home in Scotland until the day a man is charged and she must testify in court.

There really was a Betty Gow and a lot of this comes from her as well as impeccable research! I have always thought that the Lindberghs were sympathetic people. I don’t think that now. He was rather an ogre and bigot. She was jumpy and afraid of him. I don’t think either of them actually wanted a baby.

I loved this book. A different look at the story we’ve all been led to believe.

NetGalley/November 15, 2022, St. Martin’s Press