I've read many good to great books on the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby but this is the first one I have ever come across told from the nanny's POV. It adds so much more to a story that I would have thought had no more to be added.

There are many books that give us the details of how the parents felt in the days after their baby was kidnapped but I can't imagine the horror that was felt by the nanny. The person trusted with the safety and security of the baby. She underwent questioning by law enforcement but the harshest judgements came from those closest to her. She loved the child too but was not allowed to grieve, the suspicions and comments made her fear for herself as real as her fear for the child.

Mariah Fredericks obviously found this well publicized event as fascinating as many readers did. Her research shows in the depth of the character's real feelings and the very real pictures she wove of the event and it's aftermath. A great read that I didn't know I needed until I read it.

This book is historical fiction mixed with a bit of mystery, which is probably obvious from the subject matter. I frankly didn’t know much about the Lindbergh case other than it made kidnapping across state lines a federal crime in the 1930s. This book does cover a great deal of the movements of staff and family and gives some background on motivation. Betty is a great heroine, but I felt the beginning of the story dragged a bit in the lead up. If you have any interest in the Lindbergh case, check this out. (Obviously the later work and beliefs of Charles Lindbergh are not discussed other than in the author’s note to condemn them.)

When the most famous toddler in America, Charles Lindbergh, Jr., is kidnapped from his family home in New Jersey in 1932, the case makes international headlines. Already celebrated for his flight across the Atlantic, his father, Charles, Sr., is the country’s golden boy, with his wealthy, lovely wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, by his side. Betty Gow, a formerly obscure young woman, now known around the world by another name: the Lindbergh Nanny, soon becomes a target of the investigation. Even though her name is soon cleared, she becomes infamous. She moves back home to Scotland, but hate mail continues to follow her there, and she is unable to get a job in any profession. Betty is determined to find answers to what really happened that night and clear her name, and find justice for her sweet little Charlie.
This book was really interesting. I had only read a little about the case, so I found the deep dive into the story fascinating. I felt so much compassion for Betty. She was treated horribly by the public at large for a crime she didn't commit. There are still so many things we will never know about what happened, but this account was written with as many facts as were available. If you are a fan of historical fiction, then you should check this out.

Having long been fascinated and curious about the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby I was really looking forward to this read. Betty, the young nanny hired by the family to care for a very young Charlie had a very interesting back story that is slowly revealed. Almost the entire staff for the Lindberghs were from other countries which I found very interesting. It did amaze me that the Lindbergh’s seemed totally comfortable leaving Charlie with a new nanny for extended periods of time. Mr. Lindbergh’s rules seemed very harsh, especially the way he expected young Charlie to be treated. The fact that they never even considered leaving bigger clothes or money to purchase bigger clothes shocked me.
Once I reached the actual kidnapping I did not want to put the book down. Coincidence or devious plot I wondered time after time, where anyone and everyone seemed to be connected to the kidnapping. I cannot imagine what it felt like to be an employee, especially Betty, in that household where the police and public sentiment decided you were guilty. I found it odd that they continued to employ Betty after they found Charlie.
Such a heartbreaking story that captured the interest of the entire nation. After finishing the book I find myself wanting to know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth but unfortunately that can never be. Thank you to Mariah Fredericks, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this book, published today, and giving me something to ponder and something to further research to sate my curiosity. Job well done.

2.5 stars

This is one of the reasons why I love historical fiction, reading history through the eyes of a witness, though one not really publicised much. I knew about the Lindbergh kidnapping but not in great details.

It is evident that the author did her research and knew about the era. Betty Gow is or was the nanny for Charles Lindbergh Jr, and had been in her care for over a year before he went missing. I was immersed in the story for the first half , I got to know Betty, experience the way of life for this family, as they navigated through their notoriety. How the fans stalked their homes just to get a glimpse into this family’s life.

But the last half things really slowed down for me and I struggled to stay connected. The story is told only from the point of view of Betty, it would have been nice to to hear from other people. Much of the last half revolves around the case and suspicion falls on the household staff (for a number of reasons), at times repetitive and slow.

The author notes at the end were interesting, which verified her research and passion for the story, however, for me, it was a miss, but please take that with a grain of salt as their are so many four and five star ratings for this book.

My thanks to Minotaur Books for a digital arc via NetGalleyShelf in exchange for an honest review.

Because this one is based on real events, I am not going to hold back on “spoilers.” The basics of the case, for those who are not familiar:

Charles Lindbergh and his wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, were super famous. They tried to mostly keep their first-born, Charles Jr., out of the public eye. When Charles Jr. was 20 months old, he was kidnapped from his crib while all the adults of the house were home. A broken ladder was found nearby, which was assumed to be how the kidnapper got into his second floor bedroom. There was a ransom note left. The Lindberghs paid the ransom, but the baby was not returned at that time. His body was later found in the woods near the house. The police kept trying to find out who did it, even after the body was found, by tracking the bills that had been used to pay the ransom. Eventually, they arrested and tried a German immigrant who had no known ties to the family.

In this retelling, the kidnapping takes place around 40% into the book, and the baby’s body is found at around 60%. Which brings me to my only struggle here: there is a lot of backstory presented before the “big event.” But really, while it felt like a lot while getting through the first 4o% – during the investigation, every little detail comes back up to be questioned. So, in reality, that immense background is necessary.

While this story is told from the nanny’s perspective, it really shines a light on the lives of all the “help” that work for both the Lindberghs and the Morrows. (As in, Charles Lindbergh’s in-laws.)

The house where the kidnapping took place was actually still being built, so the family was often staying at the Morrow’s estate instead. The Morrow property had a gate and a guard out front, so it made sense to target the other house. But, who knew when the Lindberghs would be there? This becomes a central question. While the man eventually arrested for the kidnapping had no known connections to the family, the idea is that someone on the inside had to have leaked the whereabouts/schedule of the baby – intentionally or by just being careless.

So everyone inside the house becomes a suspect. As does any romantic partners they have, people they may have been out drinking with that night, etc. And, if a character was drunk that night… what are the odds they’ll remember everything accurately, anyway? This spreads suspicion on so many characters. One, Violet Sharpe, even commits suicide. Was she hiding something, or just overwhelmed by the pressures put on the staff by the police?

We do eventually get all the way through the trial, in which our main character, Betty Gow, is ultimately exonerated. But even she continues to question those around her.

The writer presents the story with the assumption that the man accused really was the kidnapper, but he had an unwitting accomplice on the inside. I don’t think we’ll ever really know the details on that, as most of the real people are now deceased (and some were already deceased by the time of the trial). But it makes for a compelling read, nonetheless – especially for fans of true crime.

This was a gripping and devastating story that kept me glued to its pages. Set in the 1930’s, it follows Betty Gow, an immigrant from Scotland, who is hired to be the nanny to the Lindbergh family. Most of us has heard of the Lindbergh kidnapping, about Little Charlie’s fate, but this story is told in the POV of Charlie’s nanny, Betty, whom the 20 month old was under care on that horrific night. This not only shows a deep insight into Betty who was a suspect, but the Lindbergh’s strange relationship, especially Charles odd belief’s about Hitler and the cruel rules they had Betty follow in caring for the baby. This book turned out to be quite interesting by painting the Lindbergh’s in another light! Recommend. 4.5 stars — Pub. 11/15/22

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Before reading this book, I knew the basics of the kidnapping of infant Charlie Lindbergh. Reading about the case in the form of a novel brought so much clarity to the young child’s surroundings and family life. I definitely found myself fact checking and reading up on the archived news articles online. I enjoyed reading about Betty and the role she played in Charlie’s life. It’s a heart wrenching case and it’s a shame how it was handled.

Although this is an interesting topic, I had a hard time connecting to the story, which made it hard to get through this book.

The Lindbergh Nanny by Mariah Fredericks is a moving, relatively accurate account of before, during, and after the Lindbergh kidnapping. There have been many theories about what happened, many wondering if the correct man was captured and accused. This is primarily the story of the nanny, Betty Gow, who had come from Scotland, mostly at the behest of her boyfriend, whom she had joined in Detroit. That had not worked out when she discovered she was not special; that he had many women. She interviewed for and was hired by the Lindberghs to care of their son, Charlie. Col. Lindbergh had many strange ideas about how to treat a toddler and Betty tried to follow his rules, even when common sense told her better. She loved this little boy and respected the Lindberghs. Then tragedy struck. For a while they had hope, even paid a ransom. Then everything fell apart as a body was found, not far from the house. Betty was the first to identify the him, hoping to lessen the Lindbergh’s pain, especially if it was not Charlie. The second part of the book was the investigation, how it focused on the employees, and the misery it caused. Betty’s Norwegian boyfriend was deported, although not involved with the kidnapping, caught up in the investigation. It was a time of misery with the police berating them, individually and as a group. The focus turned to what one of them might have said to someone by accident, not knowing what would happen.

This was a well-written, well-researched piece of Americana. The personalities of each of the players was written in to the story so well, it was almost like reading non-fiction, except it was more readable. The striking difference in the lifestyles of the Lindbergh/Morrow servants, regular people, and the Lindberghs was striking. Such a class system in a country that had struggled to eliminate class. Nearly all of the servants were immigrants, and white. Another amazing fact. The police made no effort to be kind or even fair, most of them. They were rude and accusatory and never forgot who their clients were. It was in interesting historical piece. I enjoyed every moment of it. And I learned so much.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Lindbergh Nanny by St Martin’s Press, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #MariahFredericks #TheLindberghNanny

This histfic tale on the nanny in the legendary kidnapping case of Charles Lindbergh's son captivated me from page one. I've read much about the infamous story, but focusing on the nanny's character gave deeper insight into the shattering impact on all involved. A tragedy given new life by this compelling retelling, highly recommended for those intrigued by the "trial of the century."

The mystery surrounding the kidnapping and death of the 20-month old baby, Charles, Jr., the child of Colonel Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh has haunted the public for close to a hundred years. This book centers around the Nanny, Betty Gow, as she became a suspect in the kidnapping from the beginning. Her life before applying for the position is carefully analyzed by the author, Mariah Fredericks. The staff for the Lindberghs and many from the Morrow household is examined as to their actions before and after the kidnapping. This book also reflects on Charles and Anne’s relationship to the child who seem to not have him as the most important priority in their lives often leaving him for months to enjoy their life in the skies of travel. While they were afraid of the public attention to the child, they live in a remote location with little regard to security. This book with its notes on the research of the subjects involved makes this appealing to history buffs and those interested in crime thrillers and historical fiction. This story will stay with you; yet the mystery continues—so sad. Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an ARC of this book; this is my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! Truly fascinating! @mariahfredericks definitely did her research. I really enjoyed reading this historical fiction thriller based on a true story from the Nanny’s POV. I went in to this book blind because I really didn’t know anything about the Lindbergh kidnapping. It was a treat how Mariah Fredericks added some information at the end of the book about the real Betty Gow. I also had to do some research of my own and looked up some articles on the case. Highly recommend if you enjoy historical fiction or would like to learn more about the Lindbergh kidnapping from a different perspective.

What a well researched, thought out book! The story highlights the Lindbergh Nanny and her relationship and emotions during the famous kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh Jr in the 30s. Emotions are high in this story - and Fredericks does an incredible job of showing the destruction and heartbreak, as well as the love, between the family and those closest to them. A wonderfully well written book. A must read for anyone interested in history and historical fiction.
Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy

As in all historical novels The Lindbergh Nanny is born from fact and interspersed with fiction, Mariah Fredericks gives the reader a well known story about a famous kidnapping while focusing on the nanny and the rest of the hired help. It is well told and engaging.

I decided this would be the first book I read for nonfiction November. I would venture to say most people my age knows the story of the Lindbergh baby. In 1932, Charles Lindbergh Jr was kidnapped from his bedroom in his home in New Jersey, while his mother and nanny and some other servants were downstairs. The story immediately made international headlines. This book is from the viewpoint of Betty Gow, known as the Lindbergh Nurse, and what she endured because of it. The aftermath of his kidnapping and subsequent death affected all those who surrounded him. Betty herself was questioned and considered a suspect as well as several of the other servants on staff.

It is clearly obvious that the author of this book did extensive research into this topic and is able to blend fact and fiction in a way that is believable but not over the top. The story takes us on a journey into the lives of not only the help but also the rich and famous. Betty loved Charles Jr and was just as distraught as his family was but was not able to express it openly. Even though this is a famous story, and we all know how it ends, I felt the author was able to keep me engaged throughout the story and the telling from Betty's point of view made it personal and intimate.

I rather liked the ending of the book where the author gave information about the real Betty Gow, how her story came about and was told, how she lived and died. She also goes into detail about the fiction parts she put into the story and why. I always enjoy a good true crime novel, and this was no exception. A fascinating story with so many moving parts and of course the topic of many theories as to what really happened that fateful night. I received this book free from NetGalley for an honest review.

Dear The Lindbergh Nanny,
You are one of the reasons I love historical fiction. I didn't really know much about the kidnapping of Charlie Lindbergh. I didn't know that his body was found, that his death was deemed accidental, or that his killer was even caught. All I knew was that Lindberg was famous, and that his baby was kidnapped. You taught me so much about the infamous case, and how muddied all of it was for those closest to the Lindbergh family. I loved getting to know Betty Gaow and her struggles with responsibility and guilt related to the crime. I was angered, but sadly not surprised, at the treatment of both Betty and Violet by the police and the media, villanizing them both because of lifestyle choices. I have stayed away from historical fiction for a while, but you got me over my slump and I am looking forward to diving back into the genre

I received an ARC of The Lindbergh Nanny in exchange for an honest review. This is a historical fiction about the Lindbergh baby kidnapping. While based on a real event, the book reads like a you expect a fiction book to read. The investigation of the case is covered, as well as who possible suspects were. The nanny, Betty Gow, is considered one of the suspects early, even though the Lindbergh's never suspected her. This is a very good retelling of the Lindbergh kidnapping.

Fascinating story of one of the most publicized kidnappings in history. It is historical fiction and the author does a wonderful job explaining at the end of the book what is real vs fiction and how it was determined. I loved this because after enjoying a beautifully written story, I could understand the history.

The story spans the entire kidnapping beginning from when the nanny was hired through the trial. The nanny is the main character and I liked her. She is strong minded and loves the child. I recommend this book if you want to learn about the kidnapping or read historical fiction from 1930’s.

I’ve read various accounts of the kidnapping and death of the Lindbergh baby, but never considered the servants angle of the story. I knew nothing nothing about Betty Gow I’d her story, until now.
Telling much of the story from the hired help’s perspective adds a compelling dimension. I felt sorry for Betty who had to bear intense scrutiny and accusations while she lived with the immense guilt for the rest of her life.
I appreciated the author’s notes at the end.
There have always been facets to the Lindbergh crime that have just never added up for me, but this book was not meant to “solve” the crime anew.