The first half of the book had me interested. I found myself making theories to what could of happened with the skull.
I found it interesting how they connected Linda and Hannah. Giving Hannah a character that you couldn't fully trust the more you got to see the past POV.
The ending felt underwhelming. Everything seemed to work out perfectly for the family. No real closure. No repercussions for anyones actions.

Jocelyn (Jo) Holt is bought up in a privileged world of parties, hunting, portraits and extravagant wealth. The daughter of a Lord and Lady, she wants for nothing.

But Jocelyn has a closer relationship with her Nanny, Hannah than she does with her own Mother, Virginia. So when Hannah disappears from the family home one night, Jocelyn is distraught and blames her Mother,

Jocelyn's upbringing from thereon is miserable. She resents her Mother and her relationship with her Father also starts to deteriorate.

Grown up Jocelyn, becomes Jo and is living in the United States when her Father dies. But it isn't until the death of her own husband that Jo decides to return home. She returns to Lake Hall with her 10 year old daughter Ruby.

Her relationship with Virginia is still fraught, though both women are hoping that their recent bereavements will bring them closer together. When an unexpected visitor turns up unannounced at Lake Hall, it turns both women's lives upside down for very different reasons.

When Ruby and a friend make a gruesome discovery in the grounds of Lake Hall, it is clear that life for the Holt family will never, ever be the same again.

Without saying much more, The Nanny is a novel full of surprises, and the ending is just brilliant and I can't wait to see what Gilly Macmillan has up her sleeve next!

Jo as she likes to be known as (not Jocelyn) was a child of privilege, she is the daughter of Lord and Lady Holt. She isn’t close to her mother at all. She feels she was responsible for her much loved nanny, Hannah, leaving suddenly.

Over the years, Jo grows up, gets married and moves to America and has her own daughter.

Sadly, her husband dies and she decides to return home. As her mother is also recently widowed….will they be able to recover some sort of relationship…

But then a skull is found on the estate….and questions are asked…..just what secrets are being kept?

A very detailed, character driven story with a twisty edge…...very clever and engrossing.

I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review

We know that something wrong is happening: a body is being dumped in deep water. The rower pulls away and rows back to the boat house and then she walks back to Lake Hall. As you begin reading you suspect that you know who has been killed and who dumped the body, but be patient: all will be revealed before too long.

Back in 1987 Jocelyn loved her nanny more than she loved her own mother, so it was a great shock when she woke one morning and discovered that her nanny had left during the night. Apparently this had happened because Jocelyn was such a bad child - or so her mother told her. The Jocelyn problem would be solved by sending her away to boarding school: the devastated young girl grew into a distant woman. She left Lake Hall, married and went to live in California with her husband, Chris and hadn't seen her parents for a decade or more. She and Chris were happy and they had a daughter, Ruby, but fate had something else in mind. Chris was killed by a drunken driver and thirty years after her nanny left, Jo (as Jocelyn now calls herself) was forced to bring Ruby back to Lake Hall. They had nowhere else to live.

It's only as you try to describe the story that you realise quite how good, how clever, the plotting really is. Jo's mother, Lady Holt, had been widowed a couple of months before Chris's death and she has secrets of her own, which she cannot share with Jo. Then Jo and Ruby discover a skull in the lake and the police discover some more body parts. Lady Holt is sure that it's a very old body - there's been a house here for a thousand years - but the police are not convinced. And Jo begins to realise that her childhood memories might not be correct.

Oh, that was so difficult to write without giving away any spoilers! You really should have the pleasure of discovering what happens as the Holt family do. I had a free day yesterday and I was going to achieve wonderful things around the house. Instead I spent it listening to The Nanny, and when I couldn't listen, I read. It's a cracking good read which had me hooked from beginning to end. I finished in the day because I couldn't have put it down until I knew what happened.

Characterisation is excellent. I fell for Jo and Ruby straight away. They're both grieving, but in their own way. I expected that Lady Holt would find Ruby a rather strange child, with her American straightforwardness and a name which the grandmother didn't really like, but she comes around quickly and grandmother and child bond. It's not quite without its problems as Virginia Holt had little experience of childcare and even less awareness of danger. With a job in London which might be a stepping stone to something more permanent, Jo needs some more reliable childcare. Her choice might put the family in more danger.

I bought the audio download myself and I was glad that I did. The book was narrated by Clare Corbett, Patience Tomlinson and Ben Eliot. I'm always wary when an audiobook has multiple narrators as the result can be a little confusing, but this was well handled and the narration was a pleasure to listen to. I'd be happy to hear more from all three narrators.

I'd like to thank the publishers for sending the book to The Bookbag. It was a cracking read and I loved every minute of it.

The Nanny is a book surrounding lies and family drama. At first it seemed a little slow paced for my liking but then soon changed direction. A thriller in which was well written but a little predictable. The character's had a way of really annoying me at times, especially Jo, I could not get my head round how she would put her own child at risk for trusting others. Unfortunately this was just an average book for me, I wanted ti like it more but felt a little disappointed with the characters to enjoy the plot more.

Not the page turner I was expecting after reading the blurb for this book.
The plot was good but very predictable and in places the storyline was confusing and jumped about a lot. Not a gripping but an okay read. Just not for me.
I would like to thank the author, Random House UK and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

The Nanny by Gilly MacMillan was a slow burn of a story but absolutely worth sticking with. The details are very cleverly revealed through the alternating points of view and times. The characters in this book are not particularly likeable and some are just evil - and don't we love that! Once I got into this book I really did have a hard time putting it down. The writing creates a very vivid picture of Lake Hall and the village and you feel as if you are there when reading it. An ending that I didn't see coming also made for a very enjoyable read.

Jocelyn had a very privileged childhood at Lake Hall. She adored her nanny Hannah, who was certainly no Mary Poppins let me tell you! She was devastated when he packed up and disappear one night when she was around 7 years old. She never had a good relationship with her mother but 30 years later she is forced back to her childhood home from the USA when her husband dies. With her 10 year old daughter she is back in England and coming to terms with her loss. When a skull is found in the lake on the grounds of Lake Hall all the deep, dark secrets of the past start to emerge. That is about all I can say about the plot without giving much away.

Thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone Century and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

4.5 stars.
Growing up, Jocelyn loved her nanny Hannah and was devastated when she upped and left when Jocelyn was 7. He childhood thereafter wasn't all that and she left home as soon as she could, cutting ties with her family. But circumstances force her return some 30 years later, with her own daughter in tow. Forcing her to try and reconnect with her widowed mother. But then there's bones found in the lake and an unexpected visitor and Jocelyn, now known as Jo, is forced to go back to her past, to piece together the gaps, to figure out the present and exactly how much danger she's in.
I do love a good dysfunctional family and here you've got a doozy! But, like all families, there's secrets and lies aplenty and it takes a while to peel off the layers, cut through the noise, and find the truth therein. A truth that even shocks those who thought they knew what was what!
Being a book with dysfunctional characters I did the usual and flipped my opinion of the characters several times along the way. I learn one thing - I sympathise with X, turn a page and Y is in my heart. You get the picture! But it did mean that I was pretty much exhausted by the end; in a good way, I hasten to add. But it's not all just about mother, daughter and nanny. There's a whole load of other stuff going on that interconnects and meanders around the main story, offering reasons for previously unexplained behaviours.
We also have the usual twists and turns that go hand in hand with this genre. Some of which I guessed along the way, others that hit me like a truck and left me gobsmacked. A fair balance these days with the volume of this genre book I devour!
Pacing was a little off for me. At times things dragged a bit and others, especially in the final run up, it felt a little rushed. Not enough to spoil things but enough to cause mild discomfort.
Characterisation was great. As already mentioned, I flipped my emotions several times along the way as I learned more about them. Scratch the surface and see what comes out kind of thing. Jo annoyed me along the way a bit as I do remember doing a fair bit of shouting at her. Spoilers prevent me from explaining further but she was a bit dumb in places.
All in all, another winner from another author on my watch list. Looking out for her next one.

Enjoyed this dark novel, full of lies, deceit and mystery. Perhaps the ending was a little contrived and disappointing, as it certainly didn't feel quite 'right' as far as the main characters and the future were concerned, but it's definitely worth a read.

In 1987, Hannah Burgess worked as a nanny for Lord & Lady Holt looking after their seven year old daughter Jocelyn. One morning, Locelyn awakes to find Hannah has left with no reason. It's now thirty years later and Jocelyn and her daughter, Ruby have no choice but to move back in with her bitter estranged widowed mother after Jocelyn's husband died. Ruby and her grandmother quickly form a relationship. I don't want to say much more as I don't want to spoil it Dor you. The book does start as a bit of a family saga but it's not long until you'll find yourself questioning who you trust. This is a very well written novel with a plot that's been well thought out, and has a fabulous set of characters. I loved it.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and the author Gilly Macmillan for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The nanny in this novel is not quite the Mary Poppins figure that usually springs to mind when nannies are mentioned, but a more devious, scheming person looking out for number one. In 1987, Hannah Burgess worked as a nanny for Lord and Lady Holt, looking after their 7 year old Jocelyn until one morning Jocelyn wakes up to find Hannah gone with no explanation. Now 30 years later, Jocelyn (or Jo as she now calls herself) and her young daughter are forced back to live with her estranged and bitter widowed mother on the family estate after Jo's husband dies suddenly leaving her in a dire financial position. Jocelyn begins to question what happened to her nanny and what role her parents may have played in her disappearance.

This psychological thriller is a little slow to wind up, but it does eventually lay out a web of lies and deceptions meant to beguile Jo into trusting the nanny and suspecting her mother's motives. Neither Lady Holt nor the nanny are very likeable characters, although Jo does seem just a tad too naive and gullible to always side with the nanny, especially when her own daughter's safety is at risk.

There are lies, dark family secrets and jealousy in this novel. Jo discovers that her childhood wasn't as straightforward and honeyed as she'd thought when she returns home in 1987. Things don't seem right. The sour, disengaged interaction between mother and daughter is intriguing. Then suddenly the plot turns on its head and the ending hits you between the eyes - sheer genius. Thank you to NetGalley & Random House UK.

I’ve been reading this on and off from last night. I read the bulk of this book until dawn. I finished the rest over breakfast and lunch.
The book was glued to my hands, I really had a job putting it down.

I love a dysfunctional family, and we certainly have one in the story, I loved the “rich class higher archly “ in this too. “We have servants”.

The Nanny is a class pounding thriller that I loved. Plenty to get your teeth into.

Highly recommend

I was expecting ‘sonething’ from this book but in fact got a very different book to what I had imagined
The Holts are titled and noble folk and even though it is just Lady Holt now in the big manor house she keeps appearances and customs as they always have been, stiff upper lip, straight backed and aloof and still employs ‘staff’ ( I adored her in all her entitled luxury ).....’Jo’ her daughter has arrived after a tragedy and is now also penniless, with her is her daughter, she has lived in America for years and is now back as has nowhere to else to go, the tension between mother and daughter and their different ‘take on life’ is wonderful....but under all this is the secret and the mystery of ‘The Nanny’, Jo’s Nanny, who disappeared one night, never to be spoke of again, and nor could she be,afterall she is dead as Lady Holt knows......imagine then her surprise when she turns up at their home....
The story continues from there as secret upon secret within secrets make a really good and dark story, of
course with twists and turns and all manner of things you expect in a book like this but told in a complete and organised fashion
Polished! Thats what I would say, an experienced author telling a very interesting and scarily credible story
Very much enjoyed 9/10 5 Stars

Wow, was this book good. Told from the aspects of Virginia, Jo and Andy Wilton they tell the story from all angles. Very well told with lots to keep you hanging on. I did think that one part of the story was not concluded (painting). Apart from that I really enjoyed this.

What a fabulous read ! Jo and her daughter Ruby have to return to the UK to her childhood home and her Mother,Lady Holt whom she had never been close to .As a child she was brought up by her beloved Nanny in a magnificent mansion set in acres of land . Suddenly her Nanny disappears when she is seven and life changes for her . Now she is back as her husband has died and she is broke .A skull is found in the lake and suddenly the Police are investigating.There are plenty of twists and turns and dark secrets .to be uncovered ,this is one of those books that is compelling from the first chapter and is hard to put down .The story is told through all the main characters which I particularly like as I feel you get more detail this way .This book is very well written and I particularly liked the ending .Many thanks to the Publishers ,The Author and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review .

My thanks to Penguin Random House U.K./Century for an eARC via NetGalley of Gilly Macmillan’s ‘The Nanny’ in exchange for an honest review.

The tag line for this novel ‘Can you trust her with your child?’ sets the tone for this gripping psychological thriller.

Jocelyn (Jo) grew up as a child of privilege, daughter of Lord and Lady Holt. She has serious issues with her mother, Virginia, not least because she blames her for the sudden departure of Hannah, her beloved nanny, when Jo was seven. Jo eventually left home and moved to the USA, married and had a daughter of her own.

After the sudden death of her husband and shaky financial and residential situations, Jo returns with Ruby (aged 10) to Lake Hall. With her mother also being recently widowed both women are hoping to build bridges. However, when a skull is found in the lake on their property secrets of the past emerge.

Keeping with my policy of not saying too much about the plots of thrillers, I trust that this gives a taste of this intriguing novel. Trust me it has an intricate plot that takes many interesting twists and turns.

‘The Nanny’ is also quite character driven as the narrative viewpoint switches between Jo, Virginia, Hannah (!) and the detective in charge of the investigation. There are also flashbacks that along with the shifting perspectives means that the reader is privileged to information that is quite revealing about the secrets and motives held by the main players.

I found myself very caught up in the story and certainly will be recommending it to friends.

Gilly Macmillan is simply brilliant!! This was my first book by her, and I was completely entranced by her writing to the point I took my kindle everywhere with me. I loved her characters, each one was so different. Wickedness flowed in the veins of some, helplessness and blindness in others.

The emotions she evoked from me rushed through my being, simply twisting by insides in a knot of panic. I could see the insidious evil, yet I could do nothing to warn the daughter Jo about nanny Hannah who was looking after her daughter Ruby in her mother's home The Holt Hall.

The story started with Jo and Ruby coming back to her mum's place after the death of her husband. A human skull was found in the lake near The Holt Hall. That started the police investigation to dig into the past, which scared Jo's mum to the core. It was presumed to be of nanny Hannah, but suddenly Hannah showed up at the doorstep. And the story rolled on. Whose skull was it? Who was lying, who was telling the truth? Who was evil, who was good?

Evil often came wearing the skin of the good, and this book proved it. So many times, I was simply so overwhelmed with the thrill in the story that I had to put my kindle down to take deep breaths and calm my heart. I wanted to tap the main character Jo's shoulder to warn her. I wanted to shake her to make her see what was happening to her daughter Ruby.

There were layers of plots and complexities of human nature all embellished like the colors of an abstract painting, which appeared to be thrown at random, but had more rhythm and sequence to it than what could be seen by the human eye. Perceptions changed when the author wrote different chapters. Every word made me question, wonder what happened. I had a theory about the story, and I was so happy to be proved wrong.

This book was seriously bad for my heart as it kept my pulse soaring high.
I loved it!!

I loved the characters in this book- especially Virginia. The story was so easy to get invested in and had a really ominous feel to it - loved the ending too. Fantastic.

Thankyou to NetGalley, the publishers and the author, Gilly Macmillan, for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of The Nanny in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
I jumped at the chance to review this book as I have read this author in the past and have enjoyed her work. This book proved no exception.
The storyline was well thought out and written with intriguing characters. The plot provided a rollercoaster ride that does not let up until the very end.
Well worth a read