I loved everything about this one - one of my favorite tropes in a thriller! highly recommend this spooky season

The Nanny is the 5th book I've read by Ruth Heald and I think you can unerringly say that I enjoy her books! Hayley Taylor is a happily married woman with a little girl named Alice but Haley has a disturbing past. Alice keeps Haley busy and Hayley also works at a university as well as caring for her ailing mother, who has dementia and has moved in with her. Hayley and Lars, her husband are struggling with money so they take in a lodger - Johanna. Delivered in a dual, present and past timeline format, between events in 1999 and now, The Nanny held my complete attention from beginning to end. The suspense and tension are high and the ending is something of a surprise. Very impressive.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

There are two distinct timelines in this Ruth Heald novel, and I found both of them equally interesting!

1990s: Hayley Taylor is living a happy, carefree backpacker life in Bangkok, Thailand… up until her purse got stolen. Hayley had nobody to rely on financially so she knew that the only way forward was for her to find a job in Bangkok. Hayley ended up working as a live-in nanny for British expats David and Julie McFarlane, taking care of their newborn, Chloe, as well as Chloe’s two stepsisters. When Hayley first took this job, she had no idea that her life will soon turn into a living hell. Chloe would go missing and Hayley would consequently be branded as a “killer nanny” by the media.

20 years after: Hayley is now back in the UK, and she is blessed with a family of her own - Lars, her husband & Alice, her daughter. Unable to live with the horrors of her past, she tries her best to hide what happened in Thailand from her loved ones. However, things from Hayley’s past life started to surface when Johanna comes in as a lodger. Hayley seems to recognise Johanna... Is she somebody from Hayley’s past, or is Hayley just imagining things?

I found the working-in-a-foreign-country theme enticing because I, myself, have experienced working in countries other than my own, and it really isn’t easy. There are times when the situation isn’t ideal (i.e., being away from family and friends) but there’s that eternal need to hustle and survive. I strongly felt this when I dove into Hayley’s chapters in Thailand. Mystery-wise, I absolutely loved the surprises that Ruth Heald had in store for us! 😍 The twists in the past and in the present were completely unexpected.

Giving this one 4.5 stars, rounded to 5! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me access to an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.

Just finished The Nanny by Ruth Heald. What a fast paced thriller with twists.

The story sways between 2 timelines and places. I loved the fact that the plot had an equal part set in Bangkok, where I have lived for a few years.
Hayley, her husband Lars and daughter Alice are living a normal life in the UK. Amidst a financial set back, they decided to take in a lodger. While all seems good on the surface, Hayley's time in Bangkok, which ended on an unpleasant note is being bought up. Hayley has kept a few secrets from her family and it's precisely that what puts her family in danger.
Loved the flow and twists in the tale.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC

I had a very hard time putting this book down. Told in dual timelines, Haley is a mother with a past. The timelines are the present and 1999, when Haley was a nanny overseas during her gap year. I absolutely loved this book. It was suspenseful, interesting, and kept me wondering until the end. This is my first book by this author and I loved her writing style. I could picture the scenes happening. I thought I knew where the book was going but I was only partially right. I will definitely be reading more by this author!

The Nanny by Ruth Heald

Published: September 8, 2022
Bookouture
Pages: 364
Genre: Psychological Fiction
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Ruth Heald studied Economics at Oxford University and then worked in an eclectic mix of sectors, from nuclear decommissioning to management consulting. She worked at the BBC for nine years before leaving to write full time. Ruth is fascinated by psychology and discovering what drives people to violence, destruction, and revenge. She’s married with two children, and her novels explore our greatest fears in otherwise ordinary, domestic lives.

“It had all been her imagination.”

Hayley took a gap year and went to explore Thailand. As a young adult, she wanted to get experience. When her circumstance changes, and she needs a job to help support her journey, she starts working as a live-in nanny for a wealthy couple. When the youngest child disappears, everyone is convinced Hayley has something to do with it. Hayley is a suspect briefly, and as soon as she can, she gets herself out. But her past isn’t going to stay a secret.

The twists in this novel. Holy.

The character development was fantastic throughout this novel. We become adults with Hayley. The characters were so well formed, adding so much to the plot.

The storyline was wild. Scary and realistic. I enjoyed how this story was told, alternating timelines between the past and the present. The timelines were coordinated exceptionally well.

Specific points were predictable, but I think it was done intentionally to make the reader feel they knew what would happen.

Several twists left me utterly speechless. I loved how fast-paced and intense this novel was. I was engaged from the first page. This story will keep you invested and on the edge of your seat.

I was intrigued at the premise of the story and I was so excited that Bookouture approved my Netgalley request to read and review the eARC. From the get-go I was hooked. This story is told from the main character, Hayley's, point of view but moves in duel timelines- past and present.

Present day Hayley and her husband, Lars, are struggling to make ends meet and decide to take on a lodger, Johanna. Johanna looks eerily similar to an age progression of a missing child that Hayley nannied for in Thailand 20 years ago. Suddenly everyone in Hayley's life is interested in this decades old case that Hayley has tried to keep secret, even from her husband.

Not a single character, other than Hayley, is likeable in either the past or the present timeline. It was weirdly frustrating to read because no one acted like what I would consider to be a rational human in any of the situations presented. It was also a really long book with 72 chapters that seemed quite repetitive. Most of the dialog seemed unnecessary and just a filler. One quarter of book could have been omitted and not changed the thriller aspect.

Overall I did like this book as it kept me reading to figure out where it was all going. There were several plot twists, none of which I was expecting. The last few chapters seemed rushed though and it was too neatly tied up for my liking.

Once again, thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read an advanced digital copy to read and give my honest review. It was a 4 star read for me.

"The Nanny" is set to be released here in the U.S. on Sept. 8, 2022 so preorder now so you can start reading in the morning!

Happy reading!

Young English girl in Thailand out of money. A family needs a nanny. Except it’s more like an indentured servant position. Hayley is responsible for all the kids all the time. Then the baby goes missing. Hayley knows more than what she is admitting. Can she ever escape the past?
The narrative is split between nine and 1999. It was easy to keep everything straight and My sleuthing tolls were very acute early on necasie I picked ip on a major part of the plot.
Julie and David were just vile and Hayley was very passive. I felt sorriest for the kids.
There was a major twist that broadsided me so I was surprised.
It was a good read.

The Nanny is an addictive story that kept me hooked until the very end. I always enjoy books were the past and present storylines are told intertwined and everything comes together in the end; the twists and turns in this story had me guessing throughout the whole book. The story was well thought out and incredibly tragic making me feel a whole spectrum of emotions.

In this thrilling book by Ruth Heald, Haley Taylor's disturbing past is about to upset the balance of her rather normal life. She is a happily married woman with little girl named Alice. Not only does Alice keep Haley busy, she also cares for her ailing mother, who has moved in with Haley's small family.

Due to the fact that finances are tight in the family, Haley and her husband decide to rent out a room. By so doing they meet Johanna. Haley cannot stop thinking that Johanna looks like someone from her past. This is rather upsetting to Haley, as her past is one that she'd rather forget. More than just the familiarity she feels around Johanna, her new lodger shares a revelation. This revelation could upset everything about Haley‘s life thus making her past and present collide.

As this thrilling story is delivered in dual timeline fashion, Haley‘s past as a nanny and the tragedy that she experienced during that time comes into play. That bad experience has created a huge measure of guilt that Haley has lived with for nearly two decades.

With excellent pacing, a compelling story, an intriguing setting and strong characters, The Nanny captured my attention from beginning to end. As fabulous as this story was, the ending was a great surprise, thus making this book one that I highly recommend.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy my YouTube video review as well - https://youtu.be/sbziZAxbujA

A twisty thriller with a past and present timeline that will keep you guessing. Haley lived a previous life as a nanny in Thailand, but years later, the case of a missing child comes back to haunt her. Always love Heald's books, and this one definitely doesn't disappoint.

This book centres around events in Thailand years ago. Haley was working as a nanny when her charge, a baby goes missing. Haley is arrested and we change timeline to her living normally now.
But is this person contacting her actually the missing baby.

Great premise, written by a pro made this unputdownable for me.

I love Heald’s work and this was no exception.

What a book, loved it from the first page to the last.

Baby Chloe is missing, what happened or where is that baby?

Hayley is on a gap year in Thailand when she sees an advert for a live in nanny position, after living in hostels, the job is inviting and she moves in, but all is not well in the household. She’s now back in Ealing and has a husband and a daughter, but she still has a secret that she never told anyone.

This is my first read by Ruth Heald and I can’t wait to read her others. This is a page-turner and I didn’t want to put it down. It’s fast paced, edge of your seat suspense with amazing characters. I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy for an honest review.

The Nanny
by Ruth Heald

Gap Year Trek Turns Notorious

Backpacking through Thailand before college, Haley is down to her last hundred pounds. She is ecstatic when posh ex-Pat British couple, Julie and David McFarlane, living in Bangkok, hire her as the nanny for their new baby daughter, Chloe, and his two daughters, in Ruth Heald’s latest suspenseful psychological thriller, “The Nanny.”

Tensions in the home are turbulent at best and chaotic at worst. Chloe won’t bond with Julie, whose cold and strict temperament scares David’s little girls and makes her baby cry and scream incessantly. When Chloe disappears one night, the whole world soon knows, and the nanny, Haley, is the number one suspect, although she’s ultimately cleared.

Twenty years later, Haley lives in England, along with her husband, daughter, and mother—keeping the nightmarish memories of Bangkok tucked snuggly in the past—or so she thought.

When a male colleague from work begins asking questions about a woman with Haley’s maiden name connected to a missing baby in Thailand, her past and present begin to collide. Then a knock at the front door sends her reeling. Is this the grown-up child who disappeared long ago?

Are these incidents related? Are the man and woman working together? Who is this young woman at the door? Is she Chloe? If it is Chloe, where has she been for 20 years? What happened to Chloe in Bangkok? “The Nanny” is a twisty tale treading through murky waters to find the truth. It’s a great swim.

========================///=======================
Title: “The Nanny”
Author: Ruth Heald
Genre: Mysteries & Thrillers | Fiction (Ad)
Publication Date: 07 September 2022
Publisher: Bookouture

My sincere thanks and appreciation goes to NetGalley, Author Ruth Heald, and Publisher Bookouture for this Advance Reader’s Copy (ARC) for review.

STAR RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Nanny' by Ruth Heald.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Ruth Heald, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 8th September 2022.

This is the second book I have read by this author. I have also read 'The New Girl' which I would also highly recommend.

I was originally drawn to this book by its interesting cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. I am a huge fan of Ruth and if this book is half as good as 'The New Girl' it is guaranteed to be a great read! The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, T.M. Logan and Shalini Boland.' I am a huge fan of Lisa Jewell and Shalini Boland so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of 2 prologues and 72 chapters. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Bangkok, Thailand 🇹🇭 and London, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have visited London recently so I'm looking forward to seeing if I recognise any places named.

This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Hayley. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.


'The Nanny' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Ruth discusses/includes harm of a child.


WOW!!! What an absolutely page turning domestic and psychological thriller!!! This is the first book I've read by Ruth but it most definitely won't be the last!!!


I started this in the morning and I couldn't put it down until I finished at 2am!!! Clear your schedules before you pick this up!!

This book is fantastically written with in depth and vivid descriptions that leave you hearing the noises of Thailand and your heart pounding. The cover and synopsis suit the book perfectly.

The storyline is scarily realistic and extremely believable. The fact that Ruth has done her research definitely shines through so a huge congratulations!! There is nothing worse than reading a book which is filled with errors but I didn't find a single one here. The plot exposes the reality of the vulnerability of Nannies and Au Pairs around the world. Regardless of their age they are responsible for somebody else's child and if anything happens sometimes the only witness is a child who may not be old enough to talk or may not understand. There is also the vulnerability from their employers as there is a huge power difference and again, if something was to happen and many depending on the carers age or the parents and carers social and work status there is the added burden and stress of who would be believed. This book really does bring up some thought provoking topics that are weaved into a fascinating and page turning storyline.



The plot is absolutely filled with suspense, twists, shocks, tension, romance, lies, friendship, deceit, family and so much more, everything you could want in a domestic drama and psychological thriller. It was very fast paced with so much going on to keep the reader turning the pages. I didn't know who to trust and at one point I think I had suspected all the characters of doing one thing or another!! I was completely absorbed throughout and it really felt like I was in Thailand and London with Hayley thanks to Ruth's fantastic descriptions. I loved how the book was wrapped up and although I would have loved to see more done to certain people Ruth kept the ending realistic to what the outcome would actually be. Throughout the book my heart was pounding and I was filled with a range of emotions from sorrow to anger, disgust to shocked. I was absolutely blown away by the twists and was definitely not expecting them so another HUGE congratulations to Ruth. I have read so many books now it does get harder and harder to surprise me but you definitely managed it. I thought I had it all worked out until BOOM!!! ABSOLUTE BOMB SHELL!! It goes to show how one moment in your life can have such a large ripple effect and affect so many people and lead to changes of so many lives I am looking forward to reading the rest of your books and if they are half as good as this one they are bound to be amazing!!

It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.

THIS IS A BOOK THAT SHOULD BE READ, SHARED AND TALKED ABOUT BY EVERYONE!!!


The characters were all strong and well developed. I really connected With Hayley from start to finish. During the present chapters my heart completely went out to her and as a mum myself my heart was pounding along with hers in some of the situations!! It is always great seeing strong female leads in books especially those who have not had a perfect life and represent reality. I enjoyed watching her personality develop and change from beginning to end and how she went from a young girl who had the responsibility of another person's children on her shoulders to a mum with her own child while still having the burden of thoughts of other people's children. I could not stand Julie and how she treated Eva and Emily made feel sick and my blood boil. The fact that they were not her blood should make no difference but the fact that they were David's meant I could not stand him either. I really don't understand how someone would reproduce with another who treats their own child/ren in that way!!! I was cursing at her through my kindle, well at them both, so many times and I got several odd looks from my partner so thanks for thar Ruth!! I won't say anything about more about Hayley. Julie. David or any of the other characters as I do not want to give anything away. However, there was a mix of personalities which all worked perfectly for the storyline.


CONGRATULATIONS RUTH ON YET ANOTHER ABSOLUTE SUCCESS!! This has got to be one of the most realistic fiction novels I have ever read and I can't wait to see what topic your next book will feature!! This is exactly why you are on my top author club and here is to your next success 🥂



Overall an absolutely page turning psychological thriller that will suck you in, keep you turning the pages hooked until you have finished and will blow your mind.


Genres covered in this book include Women's Psychological Fiction, Women's Crime Fiction, Women's Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Mystery, Suspense and Psychological Thriller amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of 'The Girl on the Train','Gone Girl','You', KL Slater, Shalini Boland Lisa Jewell, T.M. Logan and anyone looking for a heart racing page turner.


364 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle or £9.43 on paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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The Nanny by Ruth Heald was an absolutely great read. This story gripped me from the very first page to the very last page.
The Nanny is a story about Haley and her time during her gap year while she was nannying for a family. This was a duel time novel that takes place in the present and the time in which Haley was the nanny. Haley was involved in a scandal while she was the nanny and now this scandal could be resurfacing.
This book had me saying what so many times. It keep my guessing throughout the story and I didn’t want to stop reading it.
Love this story.

Ruth Heald is a new-to-me author that I'll definitely be checking out again. The Nanny is a great suspenseful novel told in two timelines. Sometimes flipping between present day and the past doesn't work out as well, but The Nanny used the two timelines to build tension and doubts seamlessly. I was left questioning who each of the characters truly were up until the actual reveal. I read a good bit of suspense and often find myself feeling like the final reveals or twists are predictable -- and while there were pieces of this novel that *were* predictable, all of the lies and secrecy kept me questioning my predictions and incredibly engaged with the storyline. I appreciated that the characters were all given depth and mystery and felt like this kind of attention to the balance of storyline + character really added to the suspense of the novel in general: being able to see someone as a suspect while also empathizing with them is such an experience.

I felt like the book was fast-paced and engaging from start to finish and am thrilled to know and get a hold of more of Ruth Heald's writing soon!

thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for a free copy of this book in exchange for my review. Fantastic story. It never got boring. I looked forward to go back to this story until I finished it. I enjoyed this thriller from beginning to end. Will keep reading from this author for sure.

I am a big fan of Lisa Jewell’s brand of domestic suspense and, on the evidence of this novel, Ruth Heald shares many of her strengths. For instance, there’s the masterly way the novel’s dual timeline is handled as the events of 20 years ago when Hayley was a gap year nanny to a dysfunctional family in Thailand gradually explain what’s happening to Hayley’s family in the present day. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way which added to the enjoyment, although I did feel the novel’s dramatic conclusion stretched my credulity a little too far.
Like Jewell, Ruth Heald is strong on characterisation and the reader is able to identify with and really get into the head of Hayley so I was totally enthralled by her predicament and desperate to read on to discover the outcome. I will definitely read more of Ruth’s novels and would strongly recommend ‘The Nanny’.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Twenty years ago, a little girl disappeared. You thought it was your fault. Until now,,,,

To the outside world, I'm just like any other mother. I juggle my job with the school run and taking care of my mum, and I wouldn't have it any other way. My family is everything and I want to keep them safe. But when a young woman arrives on my doorstep. a past secret that I've spent years running from comes hurtling into my present. In an instant, I'm taken back to a dream trip tp Thailand and a job as a nanny that changed my life forever.

Filled with secrets and lies, this steady paced read will have you hooked from beginning to end. The story has a dual timeline that's told in the past - When Haley was a nanny in Thailand, the present day. The chapters alternate between the before and after format. There's plenty of twists to keep you guessing, It's also a tense and captivating read. The story is told from Haley's point of view. Life was perfect, until it isn't. Secrets are revealed throughout as Haley's past is slowly revealed.

I would like to thank #Netgalley #Bookouture and the author #ruthHeald for my ARC of #TheNanny in exchange for an honest review.