DNF @28%

I didn't care about the story or the characters, the writing was bland and the story was cliche. A lot of tropes in domestic thrillers are overdone.

This book was wild and had me guessing so many things about this weird little kid - all except the ending. It was a page turner that just left you speechless. The dad, the mom, the neighbor, the daughter, all had you guessing what the heck was going on.

A chilling psychological thriller about a mother's desperate quest to save her daughter from a terrifying transformation. Helena Echlin's unique voice weaves a tense narrative that explores motherhood, diagnosis, and the supernatural.

Charlotte's daughter Stella undergoes a shocking change after the sudden death of their babysitter, Blanka. As Charlotte becomes increasingly obsessed with saving her daughter, she must confront the possibility of supernatural possession and the skepticism of her husband.

# Positives:
- Chilling storyline that keeps you on the edge
- Thought-provoking themes that explore motherhood and diagnosis

# Negatives:
- Supernatural elements may unsettle some readers

*mRead If You Like:
- Psychological thrillers with supernatural elements
- Explorations of maternal instincts and fears
- Stories delving into the complexities of child behavior
- Narratives critiquing the caretaking industry
- Tense, character-driven mysteries

A former lifestyle blogger in London becomes alarmed when her brilliant yet disruptive eight-year-old daughter undergoes a drastic change following the sudden death of her babysitter. The child adopts the babysitter’s accent, mimics her behaviors, and develops cravings for foods she previously avoided.

As the mother, pregnant with her second child, becomes increasingly obsessed with these eerie developments, she faces skepticism from her husband and those around her, leading her to question her own sanity.

This tense and unsettling narrative blends elements of the supernatural with a nuanced critique of the caretaking industry, culminating in a pulse-pounding tale that will haunt readers long after its epic, surprising finale.

Thanks so much to Penguin for my gifted ARC!

Clever Little Thing by Helena Echlin

5⭐️

Though this was a slow burn, the burn was SIZZLING! It was a unique story I really enjoyed. Helena Echlin created a chilling, sinister atmosphere that worked perfectly for this story. I wouldn’t change a thing.

Thank you for the eARC. I throughly enjoyed this one

This was extremely boring. I did Not find myself scared or disturbed at all. I had A hard time finishing it. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

I went into Clever Little Things not knowing much about the story and I think that's the best approach. If I had to give a one sentence summary: Woman believes her 8-year-old child is possessed by the spirit of her dead babysitter. But that leaves out so much of what made this a great read.

I don't want to spoil all the surprises so I will discuss what worked and didn't work in the book, for me.

As other reviewers have stated, this is a bit of a slow burn. I was always intrigued. I thought the story premise was so original and fresh. Although there is an element of possession, this is never a horror genre type story. It's more about a mother's concern for her daughter. I thought the writing was good and the characters were interesting. For me, the writer was really able to bring Charlotte, the mother alive. I lived all her angst and concerns, as she becomes increasingly manic about the safety of her daughter. I felt the pain of exclusion as the other mothers in the neighborhood turn against her and her child, Stella. So, although I never wanted to quit the book, it took a bit of patience at the beginning to see where everything was going.

Then about one third of the way in, things really pick up and I was speed reading through the book. And the ending. WOW!. I've read so many mysteries lately that were fantastic, but when I got to the ending the storyline fizzled. Not here! Oh my gosh, I wanted to fist pump a big YES of excitement. One of the most satisfying endings to a book I've read in a long time!

Special mention to the character of Irina, the nanny's mother from Azerbaijan. I listened to an audio, which I highly recommend, so I got the stilted cadence of Irina's accent in her conversations with Charlotte. She is presented as a most unlikeable character, but as the story moves forward, I couldn't help but admire her and also laugh at some of her blunt statements. A masterclass in making a minor character walk off the pages and steal your heart. Well done.

I struggled with whether to give this four or five stars. Because of the slow build, I was going to go with four. But as I write the review, and again admire the authors deft telling of this unique story, I have to go with five. Sometimes as a reader I feel I can be impatient. I read so much, it's like "entertain me or I'm on to the next new thing." But a good storyteller knows how to build the set, build the suspense, cast doubts, throw breadcrumbs. The author did a fabulous job at this, so I'm settling with five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Helena Echlin, and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an enjoyable book, and I thought that the author did a great job as this was her debut thriller! Some parts were a little creepy, and there were some good twists. I don't feel that I can say too much without spoiling the plot, so it's best to go into this one blind.

If you are a fan of Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage and like some supernatural elements in books, then you will enjoy this one!

The only reason I didn't rate it a little higher was because I found some parts to be more of a slow burn, and I tend to like a faster paced thriller.

3.5 stars rounded

I was fairly confident going in that I'd enjoy this one, especially given The Push comps. The ending was satisfying, and I quite enjoyed how twisty and mind-bending it was. Definitely kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end!

After the death of her child’s nanny, a woman notices pronounced differences in her daughter. She thinks her child is trying to process her babysitter’s death but becomes convinced the nanny’s spirit has returned to pass on a desperate message. Author Helena Echlin’s debut includes all the markers of a psychological thriller with a dash of the paranormal in a book that veers all over the place in Clever Little Thing.

Charlotte is in her second pregnancy and battling morning sickness as well as her daughter, Stella, on a daily basis. Stella’s moods change with the wind. Sometimes she’s approachable but often lashes out at the most unexpected things. No one, other than Charlotte, knows quite how to manage her, not even Charlotte’s husband, Pete. Pete loves his daughter, but he’s always confused about the best approach to take with her.

That’s why when Charlotte meets Blanka, an Eastern European immigrant in need of a job, it seems like a gift. Although Stella throws her tantrums with Blanka as well, many times Blanka has a way with Stella that no one else can manage. Stella is incredibly bright, a far advanced reader for her age, and highly sensitive. Blanka takes all that in stride, and Charlotte is grateful for her every day.

It makes no sense, then, that one day Blanka just quits without explanation. A simple text to say she won’t return to take care of Stella. Charlotte is confused and hurt. Hadn’t she always paid Blanka well? Didn’t she always give Blanka freedoms that she wouldn’t have given a different babysitter?

Stella, too, seems deeply affected by Blanka’s death, and her personality starts changing. Before she would fight with Charlotte and Pete on the most random things; now she’s compliant and even sweet at times. The child who hated anyone brushing her hair or getting into a tub has no trouble whatsoever with letting her hair be braided or taking a bath.

At first, Charlotte is grateful for these changes in Stella, confusing as they are. Yet the longer Charlotte watches and listens to Stella, the more she realizes there’s something else going on. Stella is not only modeling a good child; she’s modeling Blanka in ways that are disturbing and sometimes downright frightening.

Charlotte reaches out to Irina, Blanka’s mother, as much to pay her condolences for Blanka’s death as to get some guidance on what to do with Stella. Because Charlotte is starting to suspect this is more than just Stella mimicking her nanny. It’s possible that somehow Blanka’s spirit never left; that she has a message she needs to share before moving on.

Author Helena Echlin leads readers to make certain assumptions about her characters. Charlotte, while well-meaning, comes across as clueless to the reality of her life. Stella is undoubtedly on the autism spectrum, yet even in present times both Charlotte and Pete resist the idea that Stella could be neurodivergent. Also, with so many resources available online, it’s hard to believe Charlotte wouldn’t have done some research based on her own observations. Echlin gives Charlotte an acquaintance whose son has been diagnosed with autism, yet even with that live example Charlotte chooses her blindfold of naivete.

The novel is split into chapters listed “Then” and “Now” to show where Charlotte is in story present and how she got there. Yet many of the “Now” chapters drag, feeling like filler, and are often repetitive. Despite the book’s insistence that Charlotte’s stay in the facility where the book starts is part of the plot, in reality it functions as an elaborate segue to the “Then” chapters that are really flashbacks.

Some of the twists are predictable and don’t feel fresh, and the characters themselves are inconsistent throughout. At times Charlotte is desperate for Irina’s help; at others, she despises Irina. Readers might interpret this as a mother’s indecision in who she can trust to care for her child, but ultimately it comes across as waffling as to who the character should actually be, like the narrative couldn’t decide what to do with her.

The leap from psychological thriller to a paranormal one actually makes sense in the book, but the execution is awkward and sometimes even clumsy. Those who love books like this may want to look elsewhere.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story moved slowly, but the pace led to a build up that made you wonder if Charlotte was losing her mind if there was something more sinister going on. Touches on the difficulties of motherhood, children on the spectrum, and relationship struggles. Also shows the judgment between parents and those living “perfect” social media lives. Things are not always as they seem.

3.5 rounded up

Helena Echlin’s *Clever Little Thing* is an eerie psychological thriller that dives into the messy feelings surrounding motherhood, mental health, and the supernatural. The story focuses on Charlotte, a worn-out, pregnant mom trying to deal with her socially awkward daughter, Stella. After the sudden death of Stella's beloved babysitter, Blanka, things take a weird turn—Stella starts mirroring Blanka's quirks and habits. What seems odd at first quickly becomes unsettling, leading Charlotte to question what's real and whether she's losing her grip on reality.

Echlin's writing creates a tense atmosphere, tackling themes like how society often ignores mothers' instincts and undervalues caregivers. The book keeps you guessing—are we dealing with something supernatural or just a mom's mind falling apart? The suspense builds to a shocking conclusion, making *Clever Little Thing* a highlight in psychological horror and a must-read for fans of *The Push* by Ashley Audrain and *Baby Teeth* by Zoje Stage.

Echlin isn't re-inventing the wheel here. We have seen unreliable narrators, bad seed/possession before. But her execution is above average and the addition of a neurodivergent components elevates the storyline in a thoughtful way. I wish the twist-dependent resolution was more original. But over all, a solid, entertaining debut.

This book was so brilliantly thought out and, dare I say, clever! It held my attention tight from beginning to end and had me speculating a dozen different theories. Although, I truly never knew what was going to happen on the next page. The author brings you between the ‘then’ and ‘now’ periods of the story, and does so in such a way that has them syncing up seamlessly towards the end. My big ‘OMG’ highlight-worthy moment came in chapter 37 and I audibly said ARE YOU JOKING ME?!? Even then, I still wasn’t sure how everything would pan out. Motherhood is the toughest hood there is, and there were lots of relatable moments in this story. I also loved the inclusion of paranormal forces- which I am a huge believer in. This book would be a great book club choice; lots to discuss!
Rating: 4.5 / 5

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this!
Clever Little Thing follows Charlotte, a mother during the middle of her second pregnancy as she comes to grips with how her once very peculiar daughter is now acting remarkably like her dead baby sitter. Told in alternating timelines, we see Charlotte in what is clearly a mental health facility, post second birth and trying to come to terms that maybe its all in her head, and dealing with the initial changes in her daughter Stella.
As a mom, so many things totally hit home for me in this story. The portrayal of Stella's 'uniqueness', and it's potential ties to autism, were informative while being really well executed emotionally. Charlotte's emotions, particularly how she handles friendship, motherhood, and post partum/ prenatal hormones, were almost like looking into a mirror. I also really enjoyed how, at least for most of the book, you were really unsure if this was in Charlotte's head or really a demonic possession story.
Theres a pretty substantial twist at the end I didn't see coming and overall, this really delivers.

I was able to get my hands on this book and it was a page turner. I enjoyed it very much and could definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a gripping popcorn thriller.

What makes a good mother? Is it enabling a child, overlooking red flags, forcing behaviors not natural to the child, or praising the good? Mix of all? The book starts out wondering if this is going to be the premise. Turns out, not so much. This was an interesting book, but I found it somewhat disjointed as it became more about mental health, generational traumas, and marriage issues with a dash of supernatural sprinkled in. I wanted to know how it all ended, but must admit I was bored.

Not much in life makes me happier than a good psychological thriller…. Except possibly the additional trope of a creepy child. This probably explains why I loved my most recent read, Clever Little Thing so much.

Stella is a brilliant, odd and hard to manage little girl. Possibly neurodivergent and prone to tantrums, she is a difficult child who is loved fiercely by her mother, Charlotte who is expecting her second child in a few months. But then Stella’s nanny dies and Charlotte watches her anti-social difficult daughter change. Suddenly, she becomes obedient, wants to hang out with friends, a completely different child seemingly overnight. Stella’s father loves the change in his daughter and attributes it to her growing up, but Charlotte isn’t so sure. What about the fact that Stella is adopting characteristics of the nanny? Her Armenian accent, a craving for meat stew after being raised a vegetarian and then there is the journal…..

I love it when a thriller plays with the idea of the supernatural, in this case possession. The author does an excellent job of making the possibility seem both real and absurd and I was hooked. I had no idea where this book was going and I was surprised by it multiple times. After I closed the book my first thought was, what a well constructed novel.. There were bread crumbs scattered throughout, but they were never too obvious. As they were slowly revealed it all made perfect sense and was surprising at the same time. And while the ending might annoy some, I thought it was perfection. This book was everything I didn’t know I wanted and I can’t wait to read more by this author.
Thank you to @netgalley and @pameladormanbooks for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Stella was a very bright child, displaying all of the characteristics of a genius, yet her behavior was that of a problem child. She refused to socialize with others, including her family and constantly displayed undisciplined and rowdy behavior. Shortly after the sudden death of her babysitter, Blanka, her mother, who was pregnant with her second child, began to see disturbing changes in Stella. She suddenly became quiet and insisted on socializing with her family and friends from school. When she started to take on Blanka’s foreign accent, her mother became worried. Even more puzzling was that Stella, who had always been a strict vegetarian, began to insist upon being served Armenian meat stew.
Charlotte's husband thinks Stella desperately misses Blanka, and her behavior indicates she is just trying to imitate her. But Charlotte fears that Stella has somehow become Blanka, and she has to help her before it is too late. This intense page-turner with a shocking ending will be a story you won’t soon forget.

Charlotte’s eight year old daughter, Stella, comes across to most people as “odd”. Stella has an aversion to random noises, like the sound of water, has trouble forming bonds with those her age, and can not stand to be touched. However, she also is extremely bright, with a huge love of reading and an interest in learning about almost anything.

Despite connections with people being hard for Stella, she bonds with her babysitter, Blanca, but when Blanca unexpectedly dies, Stella’s personality completely changes. Stella now is outgoing and friendly, sounds no longer bother her, and her school performance is just average.

Is Stella just reacting to the trauma of the loss, or is something much more sinister going on ?

While this book kept my attention, I wish there was more happening at first. The last 100 pages really made up for the slow drag of the beginning however.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Incidents Around The House, by Josh Malerman, or just generally enjoys slow burn horror novels.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.