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River Glen #1
The Babysitter
The whispers may scare you . . . In River Glen, Oregon, rumors are spreading about the Babysitter Stalker. One victim was fatally stabbed. A second fell--or was pushed--from a rooftop deck. High school sophomore Jamie Whelan, scheduled to watch the Ryerson twins tonight, isn't worried. She's more interested in the party she'll go to later, as soon as her sister Emma arrives to take over babysitting duties. But nothing goes according to plan . . . But the truth . . . Twenty years after that night's vicious attack, Emma remains scarred in body and mind. Jamie, back in River Glen after their mother's death, still feels guilty over trading places that fateful evening. Then suddenly another young babysitter is attacked. Jamie, with a teenage daughter of her own, fears something much more twisted than coincidence. Is even more terrifying . . . Is this new nightmare connected with those long-ago crimes? Emma's fractured memories may contain the answer. But the deeper Jamie digs, the darker the secrets waiting to be uncovered--and avenged . . .
421 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2020
714 people are currently reading
3017 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Bush
87 books1,101 followersNancy Bush is a New York Times bestselling author of over forty novels, including the River Glen Series, Nowhere Series, and numerous stand alone novels. She also is the co-author of Last Breath, Last Girl Standing, and the Wicked Series, written with her sister and bestselling author Lisa Jackson, as well as the collaborative novels Sinister and Ominous, written with Lisa Jackson and Rosalind Noonan.
Nancy has called Oregon her home all of her life. She grew up in a small logging community and after graduating from high school, attended Oregon State University where she met her husband, Ken and graduated with a degree in nutrition. They married a few years after graduation and together they have one daughter. After working in banking and the travel business, with her daughter still in diapers, Nancy read an article in Time Magazine about young mothers who, once the last diaper was changed and the final bottle was washed, pulled out their typewriters and wrote romance novels for the then expanding market. Nancy convinced her sister, Lisa Jackson, that they should try their hand at writing.
After writing several successful romance novels such as Lady Sundown, Miracle Jones, Jesse’s Renegade and Scandal’s Darling and a stint writing for one of ABC’s top-rated daytime shows: All My Children, she turned her attention to writing thrillers for Kensington Publishing. Today, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
In her free time Nancy enjoys walking, working on jigsaw and crossword puzzles and hanging out with family and friends. When she and Ken aren’t visiting their daughter and grandchildren in Southern California, Nancy is busy working on her next book!
Visit https://www.NancyBush.net where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.
Nancy has called Oregon her home all of her life. She grew up in a small logging community and after graduating from high school, attended Oregon State University where she met her husband, Ken and graduated with a degree in nutrition. They married a few years after graduation and together they have one daughter. After working in banking and the travel business, with her daughter still in diapers, Nancy read an article in Time Magazine about young mothers who, once the last diaper was changed and the final bottle was washed, pulled out their typewriters and wrote romance novels for the then expanding market. Nancy convinced her sister, Lisa Jackson, that they should try their hand at writing.
After writing several successful romance novels such as Lady Sundown, Miracle Jones, Jesse’s Renegade and Scandal’s Darling and a stint writing for one of ABC’s top-rated daytime shows: All My Children, she turned her attention to writing thrillers for Kensington Publishing. Today, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
In her free time Nancy enjoys walking, working on jigsaw and crossword puzzles and hanging out with family and friends. When she and Ken aren’t visiting their daughter and grandchildren in Southern California, Nancy is busy working on her next book!
Visit https://www.NancyBush.net where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 333 reviews
June 25, 2020
I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher in return for an honest review. The release date for this book is 30 June 2020
Holy crap this was a page turner. This book is definitely an edge of your seat thriller that kept you guessing until the end. I absolutely could not put this book down. The plot was complexed and riveting. The characters jumped off the page and you could feel the tension of the story in your bones. I very rarely give five stars In my reviews but this novel could rate no less. A must read for all those that love thrillers.
Holy crap this was a page turner. This book is definitely an edge of your seat thriller that kept you guessing until the end. I absolutely could not put this book down. The plot was complexed and riveting. The characters jumped off the page and you could feel the tension of the story in your bones. I very rarely give five stars In my reviews but this novel could rate no less. A must read for all those that love thrillers.
July 5, 2023
Who is Stalking The Babysitters?
Twenty years ago rumors of the babysitter stalker were going around and one night Jaime who was fifteen at the time wanted to go a party where the boy that she had a huge crush on invited her to go but she had to babysit the Ryerson seven year old twins that same night so she begged and bribed her older sister Emma who was eighteen to switch places with her. The party ended up being a complete letdown because the boy never showed up and when she got home she found out that Emma had been attacked and almost died but still their lives were ultimately destroyed that night.
Twenty years later there is another babysitter attack in the same town, in the same house where Emma babysat and now other women are also being attacked. Could it be the same stalker from years ago? But why? What do they want? The more questions Jaime has brings the killer closer to her home because Jaime now has a fifteen daughter of her own and she feels that someone is now watching their every move and has no idea who this predator could be.
This was a wonderful domestic thriller with great characterization and storytelling. I really enjoyed this story and would love to read more along this line. The characters were very well-written with enjoyable personalities whether you liked them or not and I was completely engrossed with what would happen to each one of them. I just loved Emma (terrific character), she was so believable and my heart ached for her. I was also stumped by the identity of the stalker until close to the end of the book and that is my kind of suspenseful mystery(What fun). I truly hope that the author Nancy Bush will create a series around this family because I would like to see where life would take them in the future. I am looking forward to reading more books by this writer. I
I want to thank the publisher "Kensington Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific book and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I highly recommend this thrilling story and have given a rating of 4 Sinister 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
Twenty years ago rumors of the babysitter stalker were going around and one night Jaime who was fifteen at the time wanted to go a party where the boy that she had a huge crush on invited her to go but she had to babysit the Ryerson seven year old twins that same night so she begged and bribed her older sister Emma who was eighteen to switch places with her. The party ended up being a complete letdown because the boy never showed up and when she got home she found out that Emma had been attacked and almost died but still their lives were ultimately destroyed that night.
Twenty years later there is another babysitter attack in the same town, in the same house where Emma babysat and now other women are also being attacked. Could it be the same stalker from years ago? But why? What do they want? The more questions Jaime has brings the killer closer to her home because Jaime now has a fifteen daughter of her own and she feels that someone is now watching their every move and has no idea who this predator could be.
This was a wonderful domestic thriller with great characterization and storytelling. I really enjoyed this story and would love to read more along this line. The characters were very well-written with enjoyable personalities whether you liked them or not and I was completely engrossed with what would happen to each one of them. I just loved Emma (terrific character), she was so believable and my heart ached for her. I was also stumped by the identity of the stalker until close to the end of the book and that is my kind of suspenseful mystery(What fun). I truly hope that the author Nancy Bush will create a series around this family because I would like to see where life would take them in the future. I am looking forward to reading more books by this writer. I
I want to thank the publisher "Kensington Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific book and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I highly recommend this thrilling story and have given a rating of 4 Sinister 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
July 14, 2020
Who is Stalking The Babysitters?
Twenty years ago rumors of the babysitter stalker were going around and one night Jaime who was fifteen at the time wanted to go a party where the boy that she had a huge crush on invited her to go but she had to babysit the Ryerson seven year old twins that same night so she begged and bribed her older sister Emma who was eighteen to switch places with her. The party ended up being a complete letdown because the boy never showed up and when she got home she found out that Emma had been attacked and almost died but still their lives were ultimately destroyed that night.
Twenty years later there is another babysitter attack in the same town, in the same house where Emma babysat and now other women are also being attacked. Could it be the same stalker from years ago? But why? What do they want? The more questions Jaime has brings the killer closer to her home because Jaime now has a fifteen daughter of her own and she feels that someone is now watching their every move and has no idea who this predator could be.
This was a wonderful domestic thriller with great characterization and storytelling. I really enjoyed this story and would love to read more along this line. The characters were very well-written with enjoyable personalities whether you liked them or not and I was completely engrossed with what would happen to each one of them. I just loved Emma (terrific character), she was so believable and my heart ached for her. I was also stumped by the identity of the stalker until close to the end of the book and that is my kind of suspenseful mystery(What fun). I truly hope that the author Nancy Bush will create a series around this family because I would like to see where life would take them in the future. I am looking forward to reading more books by this writer. I
I want to thank the publisher "Kensington Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific book and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I highly recommend this thrilling story and have given a rating of 4 Sinister 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
Twenty years ago rumors of the babysitter stalker were going around and one night Jaime who was fifteen at the time wanted to go a party where the boy that she had a huge crush on invited her to go but she had to babysit the Ryerson seven year old twins that same night so she begged and bribed her older sister Emma who was eighteen to switch places with her. The party ended up being a complete letdown because the boy never showed up and when she got home she found out that Emma had been attacked and almost died but still their lives were ultimately destroyed that night.
Twenty years later there is another babysitter attack in the same town, in the same house where Emma babysat and now other women are also being attacked. Could it be the same stalker from years ago? But why? What do they want? The more questions Jaime has brings the killer closer to her home because Jaime now has a fifteen daughter of her own and she feels that someone is now watching their every move and has no idea who this predator could be.
This was a wonderful domestic thriller with great characterization and storytelling. I really enjoyed this story and would love to read more along this line. The characters were very well-written with enjoyable personalities whether you liked them or not and I was completely engrossed with what would happen to each one of them. I just loved Emma (terrific character), she was so believable and my heart ached for her. I was also stumped by the identity of the stalker until close to the end of the book and that is my kind of suspenseful mystery(What fun). I truly hope that the author Nancy Bush will create a series around this family because I would like to see where life would take them in the future. I am looking forward to reading more books by this writer. I
I want to thank the publisher "Kensington Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific book and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I highly recommend this thrilling story and have given a rating of 4 Sinister 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
January 31, 2021
Twenty years ago, Jamie convinced her sister, Emma, to take over her babysitting gig so that she can go to a senior party. Not a big deal until Emma is viciously attacked and left for dead. Emma survived but was left with cognitive issues, and Jamie, who never got over the guilt of switching places with her sister, left her small town after graduation. Now she's back to take care of Emma after her mother's death, and so is the killer ...
A well-written, well-plotted thriller that kept me hooked until the end. Great tension build-up and I loved the 90s vibe - it remained me a lot of R. L. Stine's Babysitter series. The setting really adds to the story as well. It's that typical small town with plenty of gossip and secrets among the residents. Some who know a lot more Emma than they're letting on.
The identity of Emma's attacker came as a surprise to me and there is a nice little twist at the end.
All in all, this is a solid thriller and I do recommend it. I would like to point out that this is a very slow burn thriller, so keep that in mind if you're looking for something more fast-paced.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A well-written, well-plotted thriller that kept me hooked until the end. Great tension build-up and I loved the 90s vibe - it remained me a lot of R. L. Stine's Babysitter series. The setting really adds to the story as well. It's that typical small town with plenty of gossip and secrets among the residents. Some who know a lot more Emma than they're letting on.
The identity of Emma's attacker came as a surprise to me and there is a nice little twist at the end.
All in all, this is a solid thriller and I do recommend it. I would like to point out that this is a very slow burn thriller, so keep that in mind if you're looking for something more fast-paced.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2020
Nancy Bush once again doesn't disappoint delivering on a well-crafted, twisty thrill ride!
Emma and her sister Jamie switch places babysitting the Ryerson twins so Jamie could sneak off to a senior party ... an event she was looking forward to seeing a certain guy there. Emma is attacked by a serial killer, stabbed and then ultimately left for dead. Emma never completely recovers from the brutal attack and Jamie's fear doesn't recover either. Their mom blames Jamie for Emma being attacked.
Eighteen years later the killer strikes again and seems to be connected? Who is on the loose stabbing babysitters? The story bounces back and forth between the attack and current time where Jamie is now a mother. Jamie now is drawn in wanting to find answers of who and why.
Fans of tight suspense, thrillers and mystery will enjoy the book. This definitely has a feel of an old 80s type horror/slash film that rockets all the way toward the end.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for a great ARC read!
Emma and her sister Jamie switch places babysitting the Ryerson twins so Jamie could sneak off to a senior party ... an event she was looking forward to seeing a certain guy there. Emma is attacked by a serial killer, stabbed and then ultimately left for dead. Emma never completely recovers from the brutal attack and Jamie's fear doesn't recover either. Their mom blames Jamie for Emma being attacked.
Eighteen years later the killer strikes again and seems to be connected? Who is on the loose stabbing babysitters? The story bounces back and forth between the attack and current time where Jamie is now a mother. Jamie now is drawn in wanting to find answers of who and why.
Fans of tight suspense, thrillers and mystery will enjoy the book. This definitely has a feel of an old 80s type horror/slash film that rockets all the way toward the end.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for a great ARC read!
May 31, 2020
I'm actually surprised that this is rated as high as it is.
I'll first suggest that perhaps most of the problem is with how it's advertised. This is not a thriller. This is a contemporary that happens to involve a twenty-year-old attempted murder. There is nothing thrilling about the book and the mystery plot sits on the backburner for most of the story while we're forced to unpack the lives of the characters. I would say that about thirty pages of the entire book is thriller quality (if low thriller quality...). The rest is kind of boring.
And it drags on forever. This book isn't even 400 pages, and it took me twice as long to read as it should have.
I knew pretty early on that this book and I weren't going to get along. The writing is fine and all, but, again, it's just dull. We start off in a fairly exciting flashback to the past, but then when the actual story starts, we're discussing school and money and lives, and nothing that seems to have anything to do with murder (or attempted murder, as I guess this case is.)
Unfortunately, things get worse before they ever get better. By 20-30%, Jamie and Harley have moved, so we have to have pages upon pages of repetitive, boring dialogue between them and old high school friends. Honestly, did an editor not even go through this? Do we need to have a detailed recording of every dialogue with Jamie's friends? How many times do we have to hear about how handsome Cooper still is?
That was the most annoying part of the book for me. How many unnecessary scenes there are. The whole time, we're following the events of Jamie, Cooper, and Harley, and while some of their experiences play into the mystery, most of it is just filler. Like...
"He saw that Darla was no longer on the job. He knew that shifts changed at seven. Employees at the hospital worked twelve-hour shifts, seven to seven, which made their forty-hour weeks about three and a half days. They worked long hours when they were on the job, but it made for a good amount of time off."
Why does that paragraph exist?! He, a cop, is at the hospital to interview an injured man involved in the case of attempted murder on a teenage babysitter. Why are we getting a detailed run down of the hospital staff's shift length?
And as if the unnecessary length of mundane information unrelated to the story wasn't enough to bore you, the complete lack of urgency the book has will push you over the edge. Even though there are two more attempted murders and one successful murder spaced throughout the book, there is still no driving force bringing us to the final climax. Even up to the 96% mark, when Jamie is finally confronting our villain, there's no real motivation or weight to the scene.
I didn't guess who did it, mostly because it's kind of random. And for a book that was mostly build-up, the ending was over and wrapped up within a few pages.
I'm giving it two stars because I didn't hate it. It was just boring. A whole lot more would have to go into it to make this into a thriller. The story itself might not be terrible, as long as people have low expectations and high blood pressure. But as a normal person who's read a decent amount of thrillers, this one just doesn't cut it.
I'll first suggest that perhaps most of the problem is with how it's advertised. This is not a thriller. This is a contemporary that happens to involve a twenty-year-old attempted murder. There is nothing thrilling about the book and the mystery plot sits on the backburner for most of the story while we're forced to unpack the lives of the characters. I would say that about thirty pages of the entire book is thriller quality (if low thriller quality...). The rest is kind of boring.
And it drags on forever. This book isn't even 400 pages, and it took me twice as long to read as it should have.
I knew pretty early on that this book and I weren't going to get along. The writing is fine and all, but, again, it's just dull. We start off in a fairly exciting flashback to the past, but then when the actual story starts, we're discussing school and money and lives, and nothing that seems to have anything to do with murder (or attempted murder, as I guess this case is.)
Unfortunately, things get worse before they ever get better. By 20-30%, Jamie and Harley have moved, so we have to have pages upon pages of repetitive, boring dialogue between them and old high school friends. Honestly, did an editor not even go through this? Do we need to have a detailed recording of every dialogue with Jamie's friends? How many times do we have to hear about how handsome Cooper still is?
That was the most annoying part of the book for me. How many unnecessary scenes there are. The whole time, we're following the events of Jamie, Cooper, and Harley, and while some of their experiences play into the mystery, most of it is just filler. Like...
"He saw that Darla was no longer on the job. He knew that shifts changed at seven. Employees at the hospital worked twelve-hour shifts, seven to seven, which made their forty-hour weeks about three and a half days. They worked long hours when they were on the job, but it made for a good amount of time off."
Why does that paragraph exist?! He, a cop, is at the hospital to interview an injured man involved in the case of attempted murder on a teenage babysitter. Why are we getting a detailed run down of the hospital staff's shift length?
And as if the unnecessary length of mundane information unrelated to the story wasn't enough to bore you, the complete lack of urgency the book has will push you over the edge. Even though there are two more attempted murders and one successful murder spaced throughout the book, there is still no driving force bringing us to the final climax. Even up to the 96% mark, when Jamie is finally confronting our villain, there's no real motivation or weight to the scene.
I didn't guess who did it, mostly because it's kind of random. And for a book that was mostly build-up, the ending was over and wrapped up within a few pages.
I'm giving it two stars because I didn't hate it. It was just boring. A whole lot more would have to go into it to make this into a thriller. The story itself might not be terrible, as long as people have low expectations and high blood pressure. But as a normal person who's read a decent amount of thrillers, this one just doesn't cut it.
June 30, 2020
Twenty years ago, Jamie was scheduled to babysit for the Ryersons. At the last minute, she begged her sister, Emma, to fill in for her so she could go to a party. But not all went well.
Someone attacked Emily, leaving her with stabbing scars, and a head injury that would go to affect her the rest of her life.
This wasn't the only crime committed by the Babysitter Stalker. One was fatally stabbed.. another was shoved off a rooftop deck. The attacker was never caught.
Jamie is back in her hometown, following the death of her mother. She's there to either take care of Emily, as she can not live alone, or finding someone else who can take care of her. Jamie, now with a teenage daughter of her own, fears the Babysitter Stalker is back, after another teenage babysitter is attacked.
Coincidence? Is this new nightmare connected with those long-ago crimes? What does Emily remember of the night she was attacked? With her sister back in town, is someone afraid that dark secrets will be revealed ... and someone will kill to stop that from happening.
With a tightly woven plot and skillfully drawn characters, this is a real nail biter. Lots of suspects, both old and new, keep your eyes riveted to the action-backed pages.
Many thanks to the author / Kensington Books - Zebra / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
June 27, 2020
Hold on to your britches! A suspenseful "whodunnit" that will keep you guessing until the end.
It begins with a simple babysitting gig in which Jaime begged her sister Emma to swap places. Not a big deal until Emma is savagely stabbed and psychologically ruined. Who could have done such a horrible act? The lead suspects were initially a group of senior high school boys that pranked Emma. Those boys were later exonerated and the case went cold.
Twenty years later, psychologically damaged Emma still has psychotic episodes from the past trauma. Some of those episodes may give clues as to who the perpetrator may be -- especially since now another attack has occurred in the same house in which it originally took place twenty years ago.
A masterful "whodunnit" mystery with an unexpected and surprising ending. 4.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books/Zebra for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
It begins with a simple babysitting gig in which Jaime begged her sister Emma to swap places. Not a big deal until Emma is savagely stabbed and psychologically ruined. Who could have done such a horrible act? The lead suspects were initially a group of senior high school boys that pranked Emma. Those boys were later exonerated and the case went cold.
Twenty years later, psychologically damaged Emma still has psychotic episodes from the past trauma. Some of those episodes may give clues as to who the perpetrator may be -- especially since now another attack has occurred in the same house in which it originally took place twenty years ago.
A masterful "whodunnit" mystery with an unexpected and surprising ending. 4.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books/Zebra for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 7, 2020
At the last minute Emma and her sister Jamie switched places babysitting at the Ryerson's so that Jamie could sneak off to a senior party. Her sister Emma is attacked by a serial killer , stabbed and left for dead the same night . Emma never completely recovers from the attack and neither really does Jamie.Twenty years later Jamie is back after their mother dies, and so is the serial killer …
The Babysitter by Nancy Bush is a well written, tightly plotted, intense thriller with lots of suspects that kept me hooked to the end.
I would like to thank Kensington Books & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
The Babysitter by Nancy Bush is a well written, tightly plotted, intense thriller with lots of suspects that kept me hooked to the end.
I would like to thank Kensington Books & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
May 29, 2020
Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Babysitter is a slow burn thriller, but to me it was a little too slow. I really enjoyed the ending and was quite shocked at who the babysitter killer was, but throughout this book I would get bored. It started out very creepy and had me intrigued to find out more!
At the beginning of this story we follow Jamie and Emma who are sisters. Jamie is babysitting, but really wants to go to a party so she begs her sister to take over for her. Emma does take over, but she gets attacked by a stranger and almost dies. Now, I am a sucker for creepy babysitter storylines. They are just so spine-chilling because I couldn’t imagine being attacked while babysitting, or getting eerie phone calls all alone. Flash forward to 20 years later and Jamie has to come back home and watch over her sister because their mom passes. Jamie and her teenage daughter move back to care for Emma, but soon strange things start happening that resemble what happened on that fateful night 20 years ago.
We get to see multiple perspectives throughout this book and I think that made it super compelling to continue reading. They never did figure out who was behind attacking Emma, and when new attacks start happening, the police dig back into the case from 20 years ago. I liked how we were learning more about the past in bits and pieces, as well as, all the creepy stuff going on in the present.
My only complaint as I stated above was how I think it was a little too long. I want to be on the edge of my seat the whole time, even during a slow burn. The Babysitter definitely had it’s shocking, goosebumps moments, but it didn’t engage me to continue reading as fast as I could. This was my first book of the author’s and I can’t wait to read more.
The Babysitter is a slow burn thriller, but to me it was a little too slow. I really enjoyed the ending and was quite shocked at who the babysitter killer was, but throughout this book I would get bored. It started out very creepy and had me intrigued to find out more!
At the beginning of this story we follow Jamie and Emma who are sisters. Jamie is babysitting, but really wants to go to a party so she begs her sister to take over for her. Emma does take over, but she gets attacked by a stranger and almost dies. Now, I am a sucker for creepy babysitter storylines. They are just so spine-chilling because I couldn’t imagine being attacked while babysitting, or getting eerie phone calls all alone. Flash forward to 20 years later and Jamie has to come back home and watch over her sister because their mom passes. Jamie and her teenage daughter move back to care for Emma, but soon strange things start happening that resemble what happened on that fateful night 20 years ago.
We get to see multiple perspectives throughout this book and I think that made it super compelling to continue reading. They never did figure out who was behind attacking Emma, and when new attacks start happening, the police dig back into the case from 20 years ago. I liked how we were learning more about the past in bits and pieces, as well as, all the creepy stuff going on in the present.
My only complaint as I stated above was how I think it was a little too long. I want to be on the edge of my seat the whole time, even during a slow burn. The Babysitter definitely had it’s shocking, goosebumps moments, but it didn’t engage me to continue reading as fast as I could. This was my first book of the author’s and I can’t wait to read more.
June 10, 2020
Review coming soon.
June 7, 2020
This book was too long with just too much going on. It took me forever to finish it because it couldn’t hold my interest. There were so many parts that felt drawn out and unnecessary. The premise is good-someone is attacking babysitters now and twenty years ago. Could it be the same person? It is advertised as a thriller but I found nothing very exciting or thrilling about it. Thanks to Zebra and NetGalley for providing me with this arc.
May 23, 2020
Twenty years ago, teenager Jamie is babysitting twins. Her sister, Emma, takes over for her so that she can go to a party. Emma is viciously attacked and left for dead, but survives with cognitive issues.
Now in the present, Jamie and her teenaged daughter, Harley, move back home to take care of Emma after their mother dies. After a babysitter is attacked, Jamie is on high alert and decides to find out who injured her sister twenty years ago, and if the same person is doing it again.
This is a great read that kept me hooked. The writing is excellent, and I really loved the relationship between Jamie and her daughter Harley...and in fact loved Jamie’s relationships and interactions with everyone. She is a very well-written character, and helped to keep me engaged in the story. With that said, I want to point out that this is a slow burn. The action in this novel is spread out, and I wasn’t expecting that. I also felt like it was a long read. It took me about an hour to finish once I was at 88%. This did not bother me at all, as I enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery, but others might not enjoy this about the book.
A lot of people have commented on getting a 70’s or 80’s slasher movie vibe. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the same feeling, but would have loved to since I absolutely love those movies! Maybe it’s just me who feels that way. Either way, I really did enjoy the story and was impressed with the writing style and character development that leads to a nice twist. 3.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to author Nancy Bush, Zebra and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Now in the present, Jamie and her teenaged daughter, Harley, move back home to take care of Emma after their mother dies. After a babysitter is attacked, Jamie is on high alert and decides to find out who injured her sister twenty years ago, and if the same person is doing it again.
This is a great read that kept me hooked. The writing is excellent, and I really loved the relationship between Jamie and her daughter Harley...and in fact loved Jamie’s relationships and interactions with everyone. She is a very well-written character, and helped to keep me engaged in the story. With that said, I want to point out that this is a slow burn. The action in this novel is spread out, and I wasn’t expecting that. I also felt like it was a long read. It took me about an hour to finish once I was at 88%. This did not bother me at all, as I enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery, but others might not enjoy this about the book.
A lot of people have commented on getting a 70’s or 80’s slasher movie vibe. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the same feeling, but would have loved to since I absolutely love those movies! Maybe it’s just me who feels that way. Either way, I really did enjoy the story and was impressed with the writing style and character development that leads to a nice twist. 3.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to author Nancy Bush, Zebra and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 17, 2020
I had a really tough time getting through this book. I didn’t like the characters and the story just bored me to tears. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 20, 2022
Ok
3.5 rounded to 4 for me. Some parts seemed to drag out for me. But I liked the story and the twists.
3.5 rounded to 4 for me. Some parts seemed to drag out for me. But I liked the story and the twists.
July 27, 2020
Three words: oh my goodness! This book had me at the end of my seat many times. There were so many well-thought out plot points that I didn’t know who perpetrated the crimes until it was revealed at the end!! This was my fist book by this author and it will definitely not be my last.
July 1, 2022
This book was so needlessly long with so many irrelevant characters (who mostly seemed identical to me - all wrapped up in the same incidents with little or no distinction in personality yet they kept showing up). By 60% I didn’t CARE who tried to kill Emma because they’d rehashed the same points so many times. I don’t consider the vast majority of books to be pointless, but this is a rare exception for me.
June 29, 2020
Emma had switched places with her sister Jamie and was babysitting for the Ryerson family when she was brutally attacked. Emma’s life was never the same since she ended up with brain damage. When their mom who has been Emma’s caregiver for over twenty years passes away, Jamie packs up her car and her teen daughter Harley and moves back home again. The action is fast-paced from the very beginning and extremely intense and scary at parts. The attacker(s) had never been caught, but Connor, a former beau of Emma’s and now a member of the River Glen law enforcement team, has not given up on finding the perpetrator. Unfortunately, another teen is attacked and Jamie is determined to protect Harley as well as Emma. What a twisted ride, with all kinds of false clues and switchbacks! There are so many secrets that are revealed slowly and teasingly that kept me reading long into the night. Fans of mystery/suspense/thriller will enjoy this book, but make sure you leave the lights on as you burrow under the covers.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookish First. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookish First. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
June 20, 2020
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
Wow what a ride this book was!! I'll be honest, at the start of the book I wasn't too sure if I would continue reading it but then when Jamie and her daughter go back to her home town I really got pulled in to the story!
This book reminded me so much of the slasher films I used to watch in my teen years and it was absolutely fantastic!
Wow what a ride this book was!! I'll be honest, at the start of the book I wasn't too sure if I would continue reading it but then when Jamie and her daughter go back to her home town I really got pulled in to the story!
This book reminded me so much of the slasher films I used to watch in my teen years and it was absolutely fantastic!
May 27, 2020
The Babysitter by Nancy Bush is a twisty and suspenseful read although, for me, it did seem to drag somewhat unnecessarily which detracted from the overall atmosphere of tension. Nonetheless, a solid read that will hit the spot for devotees of the genre.
Twenty years ago, Jamie and her sister Emma argue over a babysitting gig. Jamie is desperate to attend a high school party, and begs her older sister to take her place on the job. Emma gives in, and it will be a decision that will continue to haunt the sisters two decades later. Emma falls victim to a local stalker that night, and is viciously attacked to an extent that her cognitive abilities become forever impaired. Twenty years on, Emma's caretaker, the girls' mother has died, and Jamie must return to her hometown with her own daughter to care for Emma. When another babysitter is attacked, the night of Emma's assault is once again brought to the fore, and a desperate bid to solve these vicious crimes is initiated once again.
This is a compelling read and one that certainly kept me reading, although certain storylines, such as a romantic subplot in the midst of fear and uncertainty seemed out of place. I would be interested to read more from this author in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.
Twenty years ago, Jamie and her sister Emma argue over a babysitting gig. Jamie is desperate to attend a high school party, and begs her older sister to take her place on the job. Emma gives in, and it will be a decision that will continue to haunt the sisters two decades later. Emma falls victim to a local stalker that night, and is viciously attacked to an extent that her cognitive abilities become forever impaired. Twenty years on, Emma's caretaker, the girls' mother has died, and Jamie must return to her hometown with her own daughter to care for Emma. When another babysitter is attacked, the night of Emma's assault is once again brought to the fore, and a desperate bid to solve these vicious crimes is initiated once again.
This is a compelling read and one that certainly kept me reading, although certain storylines, such as a romantic subplot in the midst of fear and uncertainty seemed out of place. I would be interested to read more from this author in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.
August 21, 2020
*thank you to Netgalley, Nancy Bush and Kensington Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
2 stars.
Unfortunately this just didn't connect with me. I felt that it was too slow and too much of it bored me. The idea of the story was a good one though. Overall i would pass this along as it was more so about not big right for me than being badly written, which it was not.
2 stars.
Unfortunately this just didn't connect with me. I felt that it was too slow and too much of it bored me. The idea of the story was a good one though. Overall i would pass this along as it was more so about not big right for me than being badly written, which it was not.
July 26, 2020
I stopped at the 45%mark and jumped to the end to find out who did it.
It just wasn't what I expected, I was sold a ferrari and what I got was a mini van.
This definitely isn't much of a thriller, it was quite boring (don't mean to be rude). The idea for the plot was good but it never really got going, so much inane information no one really needed to know.
Not my cup of tea.
It just wasn't what I expected, I was sold a ferrari and what I got was a mini van.
This definitely isn't much of a thriller, it was quite boring (don't mean to be rude). The idea for the plot was good but it never really got going, so much inane information no one really needed to know.
Not my cup of tea.
May 20, 2020
This book moved a bit too slowly for my tastes and I found it difficult to stay engaged. Yet, the killer’s reveal was an unexpected ending.
May 26, 2020
So there are about 800 bajillion books and movies about THE ATTACK OF THE BABYSITTER. Yes, this is another one.
But, hey, it’s a fun one!
I won’t go into the basic plot because it’s almost every single babysitter plot ever.
I’ll just let you know that it’s suspenseful, engaging, and a whole lot of fun.
The best character – the one who really keeps you reading – is Emma. We only get a glimpse of who she was before the attack, but I simply loved her character throughout the book. There’s also a bit of very sweet romance and just enough trashiness to get you occasionally shaking your head.
Seriously fun book!
*ARC via Net Galley
But, hey, it’s a fun one!
I won’t go into the basic plot because it’s almost every single babysitter plot ever.
I’ll just let you know that it’s suspenseful, engaging, and a whole lot of fun.
The best character – the one who really keeps you reading – is Emma. We only get a glimpse of who she was before the attack, but I simply loved her character throughout the book. There’s also a bit of very sweet romance and just enough trashiness to get you occasionally shaking your head.
Seriously fun book!
*ARC via Net Galley
December 29, 2020
Excellent mystery
This one had me in suspense until the last page. Wow!
I really enjoyed the characters journey to finding justice. There were a lot of characters to keep up with, but all seemed important to the whole picture of what happened.
This one had me in suspense until the last page. Wow!
I really enjoyed the characters journey to finding justice. There were a lot of characters to keep up with, but all seemed important to the whole picture of what happened.
July 10, 2020
Twenty years ago, a teenager is attacked in the house where she is babysitting 7-year-old twins. With the resultant diminished mental capacity, Emma doesn't recall anything about that night so she's unable to help the police find the person who did it. Emma was the most popular senior at River Glen High School and for a long time it was thought that the vicious deed was committed by one or more of the boys from school. No arrests. Unable to go to college as planned, Emma lives with her mother in town and works at a thrift shop.
When mom dies, her younger sister, Jamie, returns with her 15-year-old daughter, Harley, to live there with Emma and help care for her. Not too long later, Harley's new friend, Marissa, is babysitting in the same house when she is also attacked. In addition, there are other things going on in the town. A couple deaths. And it's quite convenient that the boy that Jamie had a crush on in high school happens to be a police detective there now. NO SPOILERS
I struggled throughout this book because I don't feel that it was quite what was advertised from the synopsis etc. It was not suspenseful, it was not a thriller, and it seemed super long -- so much so that I read it in starts and stops. There were way too many characters and so much going on that made the narrative so convoluted as to be underwhelming -- but it might have been saved had all that detail been really interesting. I didn't really like any of the characters and the whole story seemed very contrived with the coincidences and really hideous people. It's like nobody ever left the town and never grew up. And, it was easy to see where this was all going despite all the effort made to disguise the reveals with lots of description. I was quite disappointed and feel misled by so many positive reviews.
Two stars here on Goodreads = it was OK. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this e-book ARC to read and review.
When mom dies, her younger sister, Jamie, returns with her 15-year-old daughter, Harley, to live there with Emma and help care for her. Not too long later, Harley's new friend, Marissa, is babysitting in the same house when she is also attacked. In addition, there are other things going on in the town. A couple deaths. And it's quite convenient that the boy that Jamie had a crush on in high school happens to be a police detective there now. NO SPOILERS
I struggled throughout this book because I don't feel that it was quite what was advertised from the synopsis etc. It was not suspenseful, it was not a thriller, and it seemed super long -- so much so that I read it in starts and stops. There were way too many characters and so much going on that made the narrative so convoluted as to be underwhelming -- but it might have been saved had all that detail been really interesting. I didn't really like any of the characters and the whole story seemed very contrived with the coincidences and really hideous people. It's like nobody ever left the town and never grew up. And, it was easy to see where this was all going despite all the effort made to disguise the reveals with lots of description. I was quite disappointed and feel misled by so many positive reviews.
Two stars here on Goodreads = it was OK. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this e-book ARC to read and review.
July 22, 2020
Don't waste your time.
This entire novel could have been about 250 pages less since most of it is filled with useless filler, pointless tail chasing, discussions of numerous old cases that might be linked but, ultimately, have no relation to the cases at the heart of the book.
There is a lot of wine that is drunk, a lot of gossip that is spewed, a lot of analyzing the numerous, tangled, banal relationships of the towns folk at large that, once again, ultimately have nothing to do with the cases at the heart of the novel.
The culprits that are being sought are not revealed until the last 60 pages of the book and when they are, their are so stupid and such a let down that you're furious that you spent 400 pages waiting for them.
"Page turning, un-put-downable suspense thriller," my ass.
This entire novel could have been about 250 pages less since most of it is filled with useless filler, pointless tail chasing, discussions of numerous old cases that might be linked but, ultimately, have no relation to the cases at the heart of the book.
There is a lot of wine that is drunk, a lot of gossip that is spewed, a lot of analyzing the numerous, tangled, banal relationships of the towns folk at large that, once again, ultimately have nothing to do with the cases at the heart of the novel.
The culprits that are being sought are not revealed until the last 60 pages of the book and when they are, their are so stupid and such a let down that you're furious that you spent 400 pages waiting for them.
"Page turning, un-put-downable suspense thriller," my ass.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2020
I didn’t find this book to be a thriller at all, and ended up quite bored by 20% in. Its drags on and on and Is mostly just characters revisiting their lives and unloading. I had to skim through the rest of the book to see the twist, but even then, it fell flat for me.
Thanks NetGalley!
Thanks NetGalley!
August 21, 2020
My days of babysitting were never like that! There was a "Babysitter Stalker" rumor for years. One girl was stabbed to death, another landed after a fall from rooftop deck. Even so, Jamie Whelon is excited to babysit a set of twins, especially since she was able to talk her sister Emma into doing it, so she could sneak off to a party. Well, twenty years later proves to the fact that Emma was indeed a victim of the stalker, and her scars, both inside and out, still plague her.
Jamie had left their hometown, but she is back and still has guilt after having Emma trade with her that fateful night. Their mother has recently died, so the sisters have to deal with that trauma. But, Jamie and her teenage daughter do step in to assist Emma since their mother is now gone. However, for some odd reason, the stalker strikes yet again and another girl is attacked. Why two decades apart? Are the event of the past and the present connected?
Jamie might have been a selfish teen who only wanted to party, but she is far from that now. She is now a responsible mother and a loving sister, and now determined to connect the dots between the past and the present.
What a thrilling story! Creepy for certain, with enough twists and turns to definitely keep me turning pages. I loved the way the book was written, from the drama, to the family issues, to the incredible tension that saturated the pages.
Many thanks to Zebra and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Jamie had left their hometown, but she is back and still has guilt after having Emma trade with her that fateful night. Their mother has recently died, so the sisters have to deal with that trauma. But, Jamie and her teenage daughter do step in to assist Emma since their mother is now gone. However, for some odd reason, the stalker strikes yet again and another girl is attacked. Why two decades apart? Are the event of the past and the present connected?
Jamie might have been a selfish teen who only wanted to party, but she is far from that now. She is now a responsible mother and a loving sister, and now determined to connect the dots between the past and the present.
What a thrilling story! Creepy for certain, with enough twists and turns to definitely keep me turning pages. I loved the way the book was written, from the drama, to the family issues, to the incredible tension that saturated the pages.
Many thanks to Zebra and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
June 29, 2020
In this exciting new read by Nancy Bush we meet Jamie Whelon, a young girl in her sophomore year of high school. Jamie has been asked by a boy she has a crush on if she will be showing up at a party one Friday night. Excited at the prospect of spending time with said crush Jamie asks her older sister to takeover the babysitting job she has that night. Her sister Emma agrees and even though she shows up late Jamie is still excited for what is to come. Things don't end up like she planned though, she never sees her crush that night and her sister ends up being attacked and left for dead. Jamie soon learns that not only is Emma physically scarred but mentally as well, she'll need someone to care for her for the rest of her life. This prospect is to much for Jamie and she leaves home as soon as it's possible, not wanting the responsibility off Emma thrust upon her from her mom. Now it's twenty years later and Jamie has a teenage daughter of her own. She soon learns of her mother's passing and packs them up heading home to care for her sister. When a girl is attacked in a similar fashion to her sister Jamie wonders if it could be connected to what happened all those years ago. She worries about her own daughter especially since she is friends with the girl who was attacked and was actually suppose to be there that night along with her. Meanwhile her sister Emma starts talking about the night she was attacked, the problem is making sense of what she is saying. Jamie knows she must dig into the past to see if it is relevant to what is happening now. Can she put the puzzle pieces together before someone else ends up hurt or even dead? This was such an exciting read that will definitely take you back to the eighties when horror films with teens were must see. I loved the nostalgia it brought out in me, I've always gotten a kick out of horror books and movies and this book left me wanting more, in a good way!
I received an ARC of this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I received an ARC of this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
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