Review of The Au Pair by Jane Renshaw

The Au Pair by Jane Renshaw is a captivating psychological thriller that intricately weaves themes of mystery, identity, and family dynamics into a gripping narrative. From the very first page, Renshaw hooks readers with an intriguing premise: a young woman, struggling with her own past, becomes an au pair for a wealthy family, only to uncover dark secrets that threaten to unravel everything.

The story is set against the backdrop of a picturesque countryside estate, providing a stark contrast to the tension that builds throughout the novel. Renshaw excels in creating a vividly atmospheric setting that enhances the suspense. The opulent home of the family serves as both a sanctuary and a prison for the protagonist, who finds herself entangled in the complexities of her employers’ lives.

The characters are well-developed and multidimensional, particularly the protagonist. Her journey is both relatable and compelling as she grapples with her own insecurities while navigating the intricacies of her new role. The relationships she forms with the family members are layered and nuanced, adding depth to the narrative. Renshaw expertly explores the theme of trust and betrayal, leaving readers questioning the true motivations of each character.

One of the standout elements of the book is its pacing. Renshaw skillfully balances moments of quiet introspection with heart-pounding tension, making it difficult to put down. Just when you think you have the plot figured out, unexpected twists and revelations keep you on your toes, making for an exhilarating reading experience.

Additionally, Renshaw’s writing style is engaging and immersive. She masterfully blends descriptive prose with sharp dialogue, making the characters and their interactions feel authentic. The exploration of themes such as motherhood, loss, and the longing for belonging resonates deeply, elevating the story beyond a mere thriller.

While the novel has many strengths, some readers may find certain plot points predictable, especially for seasoned thriller enthusiasts. However, the emotional depth and character development more than compensate for this, creating a narrative that feels fresh and impactful.

Overall, The Au Pair is a beautifully crafted psychological thriller that will keep readers engrossed until the final page. Jane Renshaw has created a suspenseful and thought-provoking tale that lingers in your mind long after you finish reading. This book is perfect for fans of domestic thrillers and those who enjoy a rich blend of mystery and emotional complexity. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for an engaging read filled with twists and turns.

This was a well-written thriller that had so many twists and turns. I received this as an ARC and was happily surprised to enjoy the writing style and the plot. One of the biggest surprises was revealed quite early but the plot still flowed! All of the characters were really interesting and kept me on my toes.

Really enjoyed this read. There's a huge amount of tension as Alice's story unfolds plus the current day as Melanie investigates and is also caught up in the events. Looking forward to reading more from the author.

Families, secrets, a missing girl and strange happening's. This book has it all suspense, thrills, chills, drama. It will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Once you start reading you won't be able to stop as it is a well paced book with so much going on and so many thrills you just need to know what happens next. I had no trouble reading this one in a day.

Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book kept me intrigued from the first chapter. I found the characters to be relatable. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This was an eerie, suspenseful and tense thriller! I felt so anxious for Alice and Melanie! Many twists and turns kept this story moving along in a rapid pace.

Oh, oof, this was super creepy! You can't trust anyone these days. Not even the parents of the children you are supposed to watch!

This was a great read! The story was so suspenseful I finished it one day. The characters were well done and relatable. The plot kept me intrigued and guessing throughout. Highly recommend

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
What a great domestic thriller. Well written, great characters and I loved the setting.
Kept me interested and wondering. Well written.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

The Au Pair – the chilling psychological thriller from the best-selling author of The Stepson and The Child Who Never Was.

4.25 stars!!

Really enjoyed this one, read it in a day as it’s soooo easy to read and you won’t want to put it down!! The author fully succeeded in gaslighting me also so 💯💯💯 loves it

This book wasn’t for me I’m afraid, I didn’t enjoy the premise of the storyline. However iii is well written and if you enjoy mainstream crime you’ll likely like this

When Alice Snyder goes missing while working as an au pair in Scotland, Melanie is determined to find her. So determined that she becomes the new au pair for the same family. And it isn't long before she realizes she may be going down the same path as Alice.

Fun quick thriller. A little creepy, but of course, that's the idea.

Overall, a great weekend read!

Thankyou to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to read this book.
I really really enjoyed this title!
It has everything you want, suspense, intrigue, double crossing and betrayal.
This i my first title by this author and will read more from her in the future.
This book had it all!
I found myself obsessed with reading this book until I could finish it and discover what was happening!
Found myself getting whip lash with this book thinking I knew what was happening but boy I was wrong!
Highly recommended this book!
5/5

American student Alice Snyder was excited to be spending the summer in Scotland, working as an au pair for the Davidson family at their remote lodge. But one month after she arrived, Alice disappeared without trace. Now the new au pair, Melanie, has arrived - and soon notices that the Davidsons are a bit odd. There’s the strange comings and goings at night, the creepy paying guests, and sinister uncle Gray who makes her flesh crawl. And then there’s the worrying scratch marks on the floor of the au pair’s bedroom. Did Alice try to barricade herself in? What could she have been so afraid of? Are the Davidsons somehow linked to her disappearance? And is Melanie herself now in danger? As she desperately tries to find out what happened to Alice, Melanie begins to understand that this old house harbours a truly horrifying secret. Alice was its last victim, but she might be its next. Gripping thriller that kept me up reading all night! Highly recommend.

First book I read from this author.
I read this book quite fast during my commute and I really enjoyed it.
Alice, a young American girl, is very excited to spend a first summer in Scotland as an au pair. However, a month after her arrival in the family she disappears.
Melanie, the new au pair, investigates her disappearance in the hosting family that seems to be holding a lot of secrets.

I really enjoyed reading both Alice's and Melanie's stories in parallel, discovering both their impressions, feelings and takeaways regarding the situation and the family that both host them, discovering each characters secrets.

Thank you Netgalley

I really enjoyed this gripping thriller! I loved the way the story was told from two different view points and that eventually this merged into one. I enjoyed the alternating past and present context and found that really easy to follow. I hadn't read any of Jane Renshaw's books before but if this is a good representation of her writing then I can't wait to add more of her books to my bookshelf.

The Au Pair was masterfully paced, intriguing, and addicting down to the last page! While I thought this was a bit predictable at times, it wasn't in a bad way and helped take the edge off of how thrilling it was. Melanie and the Davidsons were so captivating to read about and I always felt like I knew exactly what was going on and was pleasantly surprised when these characters proved me wrong a couple of times!

Thank you to Inkubator Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC!

Gripping intense page turner. There were a fewer slow points but for the most part this book really kept my interest