Genre: Psychological Thriller
Published by Willliam Morrow
Publication Date: June 18, 2019
ISBN-10: 006286792X
ISBN-13: 978-0062867926
Pages: 384
Review Copy From: Publisher
Edition: ARC TPB
My Rating: 4
Synopsis (via GR)
The young nanny for a prominent political family gets drawn into a web of deadly lies—including her own—in this stunning debut thriller with the menacing twists of Megan Abbott and the exquisite suspense of Laura Lippman.
“An exciting, intoxicating debut, it will hold you until its startling final pages.”
—Megan Abbott, bestselling author of Dare Me and Give Me Your Hand
They are Phoenix’s First Family: handsome Philip Martin, son of the sitting Senator, an ex-football player who carries himself with an easy grace and appears destined to step into his father’s seat when the time is right; his wife Marina, the stylish and elegant director of Phoenix’s fine arts museum; and their four-year-old daughter Amabel, beautiful and precocious and beloved.
Finn Hunt is working a dull office job to pay off her college debt when she meets Philip and charms Amabel. She eagerly agrees to nanny, thinking she’s lucked into the job of a lifetime. Though the glamour of the Martins’ lifestyle undeniably dazzles Finn, her real pleasure comes from being part of the family: sharing quick jokes with Philip in the kitchen before he leaves for work; staying late when Marina needs a last-minute sitter; and spending long days with Amabel, who is often treated more like a photo op than a child.
But behind every façade lurks a less attractive truth. When a young woman approaches Finn, claiming a connection with Philip and asking Finn to pass on a message, Finn becomes caught up in a web of deceit with the senate seat at its center. And Finn isn’t exactly innocent herself: she too has a background she has kept hidden, and under the hot Phoenix sun, everything is about to be laid bare. . . .
My Thoughts
This debut novel had me turning pages as fast as I could read!! A thrilling three hundred and eighty-four pages of entertainment!
After graduating from college Finn, as she likes to be called, leaves Illinois and her secrets behind and doesn’t look back in her rearview mirror as she drives on to Arizona. She is the new Finn, mature, reserved and artistic.
As fate has it, she meets Philip Martin, son of Senator James Martin. As their relationship grows, Philip hires her to be a nanny to his and his wife’s, Marina, daughter Amabel. She falls in love with the little girl.
Then one day her perfect life is interrupted when a stranger, Iris, tells her that she is pregnant with Philip’s child and needs Finn’s help.
Then the absolute tragedy happens. Finn feels responsible and will not let up trying to find out the answers.
Every character has dark and disturbing secrets that lie beneath the superficial facades.
The author supplies the reader with tiny tidbits of the characters, like bread crumbs, that keeps the suspense at a fast paced speed. And those bread crumbs will have you reading long into the night to find the answers.
It all comes together in the last few pages. Even though I was surprised at the ending, I felt that I needed more, which is why I gave it 4 stars.
If you are a psychological thriller junkie like me, then pick this book up. I am putting Ms. Dimberg on my “authors to read” list and hope her next book is in the works.
Purchase Links: Amazon 🔗 | Barnes & Noble 🔗 | Goodreads 🔗
Wow….terrific review, Cheryl.
I enjoyed this debut too.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Cuz:
Thank you!
You find the best thrillers to read! This sounds like another winner.
Kathy:
This year I seem to be reading all PsychThrillers and enjoying them all.