This was such a good thriller! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I kept trying to figure out who I trusted, who I didn't and what was actually happening. Lets just say I was wrong every time. Great, fast paced read. Ill be looking for more from this author!

𝑶𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆: 𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒋𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅. 𝑬𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒚 𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒔. 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒂𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆.

I went into this thinking it would be another creepy kid story, which I love, but it ended up being so much more. Charlotte's daughter Stella is different. Her hair is often matted and wild because the brush hurts, the bath water must be drawn with the bathroom door closed because the noise is too overwhelming--Charlotte has grown so accustomed to her daughter's endless list of accommodations that she thinks nothing of it until a well-meaning friend gently suggests that Stella may be on the spectrum and suggests testing. Charlotte has a visceral reaction that damages the friendship, but she's got more bad news waiting.

Their nanny Blanka abruptly quits, giving no real reason. Overwhelmed, frustrated, and pregnant once again, Charlotte and her husband are bewildered when Stella's personality totally changes soon after they find out that Blanka died. The little girl who once had meltdowns has become docile and timid, she's speaking with an accent, and she has a ferocious craving for Armenian meat stew despite being raised as a vegetarian. When Charlotte finds a diary Stella has been keeping, there is one phrase repeated over and over, and it's written in another language. Every instinct is screaming at her that something is wrong. Could Blanka be possessing Stella? Is Stella manipulating everyone? Could Charlotte's own troubled upbringing be causing her to imagine things that just aren't there?

This was a totally immersive, unsettling read that was downright creepy in some places. I did have a hunch early on that proved to be correct, but in no way did it alter my enjoyment of this book. The underlying message that spoke to me was this--there are so many roles that women play, and being a caretaker is one of great importance. Ironically, a woman playing this role seems to be diminished, relegated to the background to shrink until she becomes a ghost in her own life. The layers to each female character were meticulously crafted, and the author came them a dimension that life often robs them of.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Viking/Pamela Dorman Books for this stunning early read. At the time this review was written, this book was expected to publish January 14, 2025.

This is an engrossing psychological thriller, disturbing in some ways but also ultimately hopeful. It is a story about relationships , about how well do we know the people we are closest to, our spouse, our child. It is a story of a woman, who has to find out the truth when no one believes her, even sometimes us as the readers. And the story of an unusual girl, gifted, different and what is she capable of. 4.5

Sometimes the main character of this book felt very familiar to me as someone with anxiety. A quote I even highlighted was "It's like anxiety is your natural mode." because that is relatable. Clever Little Thing takes you on a bumpy ride with a mother who wants nothing more than to protect her daughter and ensure she can always be herself even if it means she may be a little different. This book touches on topics like post-partum mental health and the role it can play in raising a child, having a village to raise a child, and the lack of diverse learning options. While I caught myself changing my opinions on the mother multiple times during the book by the end I felt like this gave me a much better understanding of the lengths a mother will go to for their child. Make no assumptions in "Clever Little Thing" because you'll find out something new as you read.

What a great surprise this book was. I thought I knew where it was going, felt smug certain plot developments proved me right...and then the author pulled a nifty trick that left me delighted by its, well, cleverness. A real treat that begs for a movie adaptation...perhaps with Kate Winslet as Charlotte?

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC! The book comes out on January 14th, 2025.

This is a book that I will tell everyone about! A must read. Everyone will remember this book for a long time. The writing is superb. I enjoyed all the characters Echlin created. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A creepy story, and very much enjoyed. I read it in two days. Echlin is a talent and I look forward to get future work.

I loved this! Definitely for fans of psychological thrillers - reminded me a lot of Ashley Audrain books. Echlin did such a great job at convincing me that the outcome could go in so many ways, so I was truly surprised by the ending and the final twist. I never fully trusted any of the characters, but that made for an interesting story experience from start to finish. Would absolutely recommend!

This is a well written psychological thriller that I think some of my students will really. They are fond of disturbing reads, horror and supernatural. The subject matter, primarily the relationship between a mother and her young daughter might be of less interest to them.

This novel is hauntingly beautiful mom noir. As gentle caregivers, moms know that if allowed a safe space, we will all evolve and softly unfold like a new flower in spring. There are so many intense emotions that well up in a mother’s hormone-rich body . . . copious amounts of joy, love, guilt, fear . . . at times these emotions can come in waves large enough to knock us down at our weakest and leave us feeling helpless. Being a mom can also be frightening . . . am I doing this right? Is my child going to be okay or am I completely wrecking this perfect little human? Moms can become their own harshest critics, often placing unrealistic expectations on themselves . . . striving for perfection, and occasionally pushing their nerves and bodies to the absolute limits. Could those same powerful hormones meant to create new life and flood us with love and energy, that which bind us, also become rancid in the brain and conspire to drive us mad? These are the thoughts that begin to swirl around Charlotte as she navigates motherhood of a neurodiverse daughter, Stella, and fears that seem to be growing faster than the second child in her pregnant belly. Disturbed by the major personality changes witnessed in Stella . . . Is Charlotte acting from a deep-seated intuition or the paranoid obsession that her husband suggests?

I highly recommend this read for those who like complex human experiences and a touch of the supernatural. The first half may have you scratching your head in confusion, but the second half pulls it all together with crystal clarity.

I thank NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of Clever Little Thing for my unbiased evaluation.  5 stars

Clever Little Thing by Helena Echlin opens with Charlotte in what seems to be some sort of sparkly asylum after giving birth to her baby. It’s immediately obvious that she doesn’t want to be there, and you find yourself wondering why she’s even there in the first place. That’s when the real story starts. The following chapter is a flashback to a playdate with Charlotte, her daughter Stella and some friends, where Stella exhibits some strange behavior. The story continues highlighting Stella’s often challenging behavior and the changes that ensue after the death of her babysitter, Blanka. Charlotte starts to unravel as she watches her daughter change before her eyes, and there starts her quest to get to the bottom of what’s really going on, even if everyone else starts to think she’s crazy.

I don’t really read books in this genre, but I was intrigued by the premise and decided to try something new. I’m so glad I did! I thought this would be your typical take on “The Bad Seed” - a child acting out and doing disturbing things, but it was such a unique concept. All of the characters were developed so well and you start to feel like you’re part of the story (like a fly on the wall) after a while. As a mother myself, I really felt for Charlotte and wanted her to triumph so badly as everyone around her was starting to turn on her.

I also really enjoyed the supernatural aspect of this book! It really gave an eerie and sometimes unnerving vibe that had me wanting more and more. I really couldn’t put it down! I didn’t really see the twist coming at the end either. Normally, I can predict twists fairly easily, but this story kept me guessing up until the very end!

Thank you NetGalley and Pamela Dorman books for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review. It’s so fun to try new things sometimes and I’m happy I did. I highly recommend this book!

Perfectly creepy to start Fall thrillers! Possessed children and haunted secrets are just what I was looking for. While there was a bit of naivety and long drawn out conclusions, I did enjoy this read!

Thank you for the ARC !
This book was amazing ! I couldn’t put it down at all . I was definitely surprised at the ending and the different twists . The characters and story were easy to follow . Definitely 5 stars !

This is the best psychological thriller I’ve read this year! It kept me engaged, intrigued and I wasn’t able to guess what would happen next. 10/10

This was quite the psychological thriller!!! It kept me interested and I had no idea where this was going which I love when that happens!

If you love books like “The Push” and “Baby teeth” this one’s for you!! When Charlottes daughter changes drastically overnight after her longtime babysitter quits, Charlotte cannot accept that all these changes are for the good of her daughter. What has happened to Stella and is Charlotte going crazy?

This book was definitely a page turner for me. You never quite know what’s going on but it’s so intriguing that you keep relentlessly turning the pages. This book will make you question everything until the very last page!

If you loved the Push you'll love this one! I normally steer clear of paranormal but this strangely worked for me. Twisty and page turning throughout!

This is a slow paced psychological thriller. I enjoyed it once it picked up and got really strange. Has a unique premise that won’t be soon forgotten.

Helena Echlin’s Clever Little Thing delivers a taut, psychological thriller that deftly blends elements of "mom-noir" with supernatural suspense. The novel captures the creeping terror of a mother’s increasing paranoia as she watches her daughter’s sudden and disturbing transformation following a traumatic event. Clever Little Thing is a page-turner that plays on the anxieties of motherhood, making it both unsettling and thought-provoking.

The story centers on Charlotte, a mother already stretched thin by her challenging daughter, Stella, and a draining second pregnancy. After the unexpected death of Stella’s babysitter, Blanka, something terrifying begins to unfold. Once a rebellious, anti-social child, Stella inexplicably becomes calm and compliant—but there’s more to her new behavior than meets the eye. The disturbing shift in Stella’s personality doesn’t feel like a simple case of grief or trauma; instead, she begins to mimic Blanka, right down to her phrases, accent, and even Blanka’s cravings for meat stew—despite being raised vegetarian.

The novel’s slow-burn tension is masterfully handled by Echlin. Charlotte’s increasing obsession with the idea that her daughter has somehow been possessed by Blanka drives the plot forward, and the ambiguity of the situation keeps readers guessing. Is Charlotte imagining things? Is Stella truly being influenced by something otherworldly, or is there a rational explanation for the changes? These questions form the spine of the narrative, keeping readers engaged and creating an atmosphere of pervasive dread.

Charlotte’s perspective is the driving force of the novel, and Echlin does an excellent job of portraying her as a deeply flawed but sympathetic character. Charlotte’s maternal instincts scream that something is wrong with her daughter, but her exhaustion from pregnancy and the skepticism of her husband, Luke, make her question her own sanity. The tension between Charlotte and Luke adds another layer to the story, as his disbelief in her fears creates a sense of isolation for Charlotte, leaving her alone in her quest to "save" Stella.

Echlin’s writing shines in her ability to blur the lines between psychological thriller and supernatural horror. There’s an ever-present sense of ambiguity—has Stella been possessed by Blanka’s spirit, or is Charlotte’s fear of losing control over her child making her see things that aren’t there? This uncertainty adds to the novel’s haunting quality, and readers are left wondering what’s real and what’s imagined until the very end.

The novel also explores broader themes, particularly around motherhood and the caretaking industry. Charlotte’s role as a mother is scrutinized—she’s trying to protect Stella, but her methods, particularly in the eyes of her husband and the outside world, appear irrational. This theme of maternal instinct versus societal expectations is well-explored, making Charlotte’s character even more compelling. The critique of the caretaking industry, particularly the complex and often underappreciated role of nannies and babysitters, adds another dimension to the story, giving it more depth beyond its psychological thrills.

Where the novel stumbles slightly is in its pacing. While the slow buildup of tension is effective in the first half, the middle section drags a little as Charlotte’s obsession with Stella’s behavior begins to feel repetitive. Additionally, while the supernatural elements are unsettling, some readers may feel the resolution leaves too many questions unanswered. The ambiguity that works so well in building tension can feel frustrating by the end, especially for readers hoping for a more definitive explanation.

Final Thoughts:
Cleaver Little Thing is a chilling, suspenseful exploration of motherhood, obsession, and the fine line between rationality and paranoia. Helena Echlin expertly blends psychological tension with supernatural undertones, creating a story that will haunt readers long after they’ve turned the last page. While the pacing stumbles at times and the resolution may leave some readers craving more answers, the novel’s eerie atmosphere and well-drawn characters make it a gripping 4-star read for fans of psychological thrillers with a hint of the supernatural.

Charlotte spends all of her time trying to avoid meltdowns by her precocious daughter Stella. Her husband Pete works a lot, and Charlotte carries most of the child rearing responsibilities. When their nanny,Blanka quits with no notice, Stella seems to change overnight.
The changes well according to Charlotte, they are not good. Stella may be acting more her own age, but to Charlotte, she has lost what made her special. Is Charlotte the problem? She is pregnant and there is just too much stress weighing her down.
Pete is thrilled that Stella seems to be acting more ‘normal’. Which parent is seeing the truth? How could Charlotte believe that Blanka lives on Stella?
I figured some of this story out, but did not have a clue about what happened in the end. Kudos to the author for not only keeping me guessing, but also adding so many twists and turns that I was never quite sure if my guesses were correct. I will not say more and risk venturing into spoiler territory. I really enjoyed trying to figure out what was going on.