A great “missing woman” thriller/mystery. Imperfect characters that you root for and some great twists! I’m glad to have discovered this author and would recommend this book to those who liked “Still Missing” and “The Quiet Tenant”

I really enjoyed this book. It's eerie. Suspenseful and kept me on the edge of my seat. I am definitely be recommending this to everyone!

This book is creepy, emotional, eerie, and thought provoking! I loved it. It toughed on mental health, autism awareness, etc.

When Stella, Charlotte’s daughter, starts to charge when her nanny passes away- weight gain, no interest in reading, her temperament shifts from at times freaking out to totally calm, Charlotte begins to wonder if nanny Blanka has possessed Stella.

Is she possessed? Is Charlotte experiencing psychosis? All I can say is I couldn’t put this book down. What a great debut novel. I give it 4.5 ⭐️

This is a psychological thriller / domestic suspense mashup that falls into the same category as Ashley Audrain’s “The Push,” forcing big questions about nature versus nurture and good versus evil. I believe that the book’s official synopsis borders on a spoiler, so I’d recommend going in blind. What I loved about this one is how real the tension and gaslighting felt to me as a reader. I didn’t know what to believe, and the tension kept me hooked until the very end.⁣
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I know a lot of readers (myself included 🙋🏼‍♀️) are always looking for books similar to “The Push.” “Clever Little Thing” shares that same haunting vibe, and I think any psychological thriller fan would really enjoy it.

All I can say is that this mystery is entwined with the spirit world, or is it all just someone's clever plan? A page turn with family secrets and lies that all come out in the end. Charlotte is a busy mom with an 8-year-old daughter who has some unique developmental abilities, or as her friend thinks, maybe she is autistic. After the babysitter leaves and is then announced to have committed suicide, Charlotte starts to notice subtle changes in Stella. She goes to Blanka's mom and tries to find out exactly what happened to her. Charlotte's husband begins to believe she is mentally unstable and has her taken to a facility after the birth of her second daughter. Although her husband's real motives, as every chapter leads to a new twist, all these secrets are revealed. With an ending that leaves one wondering how clever Stella was? A fun, quick read that had me excited to find out what was going to happen next. I would recommend Helena Echlin to anyone looking for a great mystery and family drama.

I went into this one blind and was pleasantly surprised. The creepy/unsettling vibes made for some late nights! However, this book felt like a slow burn that took too long.

I wanted to love this, and I really liked it, but something held me back from a five star review. The characters were deeply dislikable but the writing was spot on. Smart, insightful and well crafted. Will keep reading this author!

I really did not care much for this one. I feel like this whole pregnant and crazy trope has definitely overstayed it's welcome. I did not care for the character development in this book. There is supposed to be an autistic daughter, however her characterization fell flat. The only character I really ended up liking was Irina, however this was more because she was the only non-flat character in the bunch. The paranormal elements were contrived and did not fit. I would be interested in seeing what else this author can do. I think she had an interesting bunch. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I personally didn't enjoy this story as much as I expected. The pace was hard for me to keep up with but I feel like it has the potential to be a great story.

Charlotte is a young mother of 8 year old Stella. Stella is an unusual child. She is bright, reading books on her newest obsession of aviation. She likes to be alone. At times she will have fits to show her displeasure, such as the bath water being too hot or being touched. Sounds also cause her pain. For all her differences, Charlotte knows that Stella is a very special child. When the family needs a caregiver for Charlotte, the task seems impossible. It is only after Blanka enters their life that Stella seems to find comfort in someone. Blanka is unique in her own way. Saying little more than "oh, yes", she shares little about herself. One day Blanka simply texts to Charlotte that she quits. A week later Charlotte finds out that Blanka is dead. It is after this that Charlotte sees Stella slowly changing. She goes from shunning people to slowly accepting others into her world. Stella's father, Pete, is thrilled. Charlotte, however, sees something more sinister. Stella is slowly becoming Blanka. Charlotte, who is pregnant and desperately trying to avoid another miscarriage, struggles to convince others that Stella is not well. When Irina, Blanka's mother enters their lives Charlotte finally finds an ally. Can they solve the question of why Blanka is still here and save Stella or is Pete right? Charlotte has had an emotional breakdown and none of this is real? The twists and turns of this book will keep you guess right up until the end.

Although I’m not typically someone who enjoys books with paranormal or supernatural plot lines, I really enjoyed this book. I thought it had just the right amount of “make you second guess yourself” parts. I also liked that it wasn’t just your typical “creepy child” book.

Wow! This book had the creep factor all right! It was so eerie, chilling, creepy and it was engaging. I loved that the author had me second guessing everything I was guessing in such a way that I didn't know if I was coming or going. I was guessing all over the place. This is not the kind of book that the reader is likely to easily predict what's happening, so for that reason it might be considered confusing to some.

Charlotte is a pregnant woman who has a young daughter named Stella. Odd things happen to Stella or around her. Her babysitter, Blanka, dies and that totally changes who Stella is. She suddenly takes on characteristics of Blanka and she begins to crave different foods. Charlotte is alarmed by the changes in her daughter. Stella's changed behaviors had me wondering if she was possessed, and I hate stories or movies that involve something like demonic influences and/or possessions so it made it more difficult reading for me. At the same time, I love not knowing who the "crazy" one was: Charlotte or Stella.

I thought the book was well-written and organized. I just had a hard time dealing with possible demonic possession or not knowing if it was a mental health issue. That was what made the reading the most emotionally difficult for me.

Listen, I'm a mother and I'll be the first to say that kids are kind of creepy. Add in a possible supernatural element and you've got yourself a giant case of the heebie-jeebies. All mothers have probably at some point in time jokingly told their child, "who are you and what have you done with my kid," after they suddenly do something they normally wouldn't unless nagged to. Take that feeling and multiply it tenfold and you'll maybe start to understand Charlotte's unease throughout the book. So good, even with the creepy kid!

Alright, let's be real, "Clever Little Thing" by Helena Echlin almost lost me in the first few chapters. I was sitting there, turning pages, thinking, "Where are we going with this?" It felt like I was walking through thick fog, and I just couldn't quite see the path. I even considered putting it down and picking up something else, which I rarely do!
But something, maybe just stubborn curiosity, made me stick with it. And you know what? I'm so glad I did. It was like the fog finally lifted, and suddenly, I was caught in a whirlwind. The characters, who initially felt a bit distant, started to come alive, and the story started to grip me. I found myself actually caring about what happened to them.
Echlin has this way of building tension, slowly, almost sneakily. You don't realize how invested you are until you're completely hooked. And then, BAM! The ending. I mean, seriously, I did NOT see that coming. I was sitting there with my jaw on the floor. I even had to go back and reread a few parts just to make sure I hadn't missed something.
Look, I'm not going to lie, the beginning was a bit of a slog. But if you're willing to be patient, "Clever Little Thing" delivers a really satisfying payoff. It's the kind of book that makes you think, "Okay, I see what you did there!" And honestly, that's a pretty good feeling. So, three stars from me, with a strong recommendation to stick with it – you won't regret it.

Woof. This was just…. Not good. The pace was good and it kept me interested, because I wanted to know what happened. But then when everything came together it was so random and far fetched and just not steeped in reality at all. I wish I had DNFed just because now I’m annoyed that I spent time waiting to see what happened. AND I guessed all the reveals.

I devoured this in the best possible way. I was left with a reader hangover because I had no idea what was real and what was a fabrication of possession. I simple couldn’t put it down. This thriller will have you glued to your seat until you turn that last page to an ending you never saw coming. 📚

First special thank you to Penguin via Netgalley and PRH Audio for the copies. I usually go crazy about a psychological thriller with a creepy child. This is way too slow burn for me. I do not like how unreliable Charlotte is. The book is worth the read but not my favorite to date.

Thank you netgalley for the arc of clever little thing in exchange for my honest review. This book has a very solid start and I was very engaged and interested in the story. It certainly has a wild twist that I did not see coming. I went in not really knowing what the genre of the book was and im not really sure what the genre was by the end. I assume its intended to be a psychological thriller. Charlotte has a daughter named Stella with her husband Pete. Charlotte has trouble getting pregnant again but finally does, charlottes nanny Blanka abruptly quits and then mysteriously to Charlotte dies just days later. Charlotte notices a very big change in Stellas personality and behavior and she cant figure out what it is. Pete thinks that Charlotte is acting crazy and delusional. Is Charlotte crazy or is something supernatural occurring? Four stars. I really enjoyed the majority of the story.

Psychological thriller with some supernatural/horror elements. Great potential, but fell a bit flat for me. Perfect length read though, and I'd try this author again.

This book was a fantastic read, blending magic, mystery, psychological thrills, and family drama. A major theme revolves around mothers and daughters, capturing the complexities of their relationships. The writing is strong, the characters—main and supporting—are well-developed, and the fast-paced storytelling keeps you engaged from start to finish.