Title: THE NANNY
Author: HEATHER BURNSIDE
ISBN: 9781807470074
Publisher: Pellerin Books
Pages: 448
Source: Review copy from the Publisher
Blog Tour Organised by Random Things Tours
Would you invite her into your home?
Amanda Fitzroy has everything she ever wanted: a successful husband, a beautiful home, and a precious young son. When the pressure of juggling work and motherhood becomes too much, hiring a nanny feels like the perfect solution. Katelyn is capable, attentive, and adored by Amanda’s little boy. Almost overnight, life becomes easier. But then things start to go wrong…
At first it’s small changes – appliances are turned off. The coffee is in the wrong place. Her son doesn’t come back from the playground on time. But when her husband starts to act strangely around the nanny, Amanda realises her carefully controlled world is beginning to spin out of control…
Can she regain the household she adores? Or is the danger already
inside her home?
Official Summary
29 June 2026
Thank you to Random Thing Tours for the invitation to participate in this blog tour.
I was excited about this book, and it did not disappoint. This was a gripping thriller that explores how easy it can be to allow the wrong person into your home and around your children; while also raising questions about how well we truly know the people closest to us.
Although I am new to this author, I was quickly drawn into the story and invested in the characters. The author paints a picture of the perfect family, encouraging readers to bond with them, before gradually sowing seeds of doubt. There were a few slower moments, but overall, the pacing was strong and kept me turning the pages.
Amanda hires a nanny who appears to be perfect, but before long things start to go wrong. At the same time, her husband, Alex, begins acting strangely around Katelyn. As events unfold, Amanda uncovers secrets she never expected to find.
One of my favourite aspects of the book was how difficult it was to determine where Alex’s loyalties truly lay. Every time I thought I had made up my mind about him, something happened that left me questioning my assumptions all over again.
Amanda was a strong protagonist. Alex and Katelyn repeatedly tried to make her seem unreasonable and overly critical, yet I suspect most mothers would sympathise with her concerns. I particularly enjoyed seeing her prove to be far stronger than she initially appeared. When the final truth was revealed, it genuinely surprised me. I certainly did not predict that ending.
I read this book in a single day, which says a great deal about how much I enjoyed it. However, while I am struggling to identify a specific criticism, there did seem to be something missing that prevented it from becoming a five-star read for me. Perhaps Amanda was a little too forgiving at times, or maybe she was slightly too passive to feel completely realistic. It could simply be a matter of personal preference, but I know I would have been much more vocal about some of the early warning signs.
Overall, this was an enjoyable thriller, and fans of family-centred suspense novels will find plenty to love here. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
REMEMBER TO VISIT THE OTHER TOUR STOPS
Also by Heather Burnside
BORN BAD – Manchester Trilogy #1
When your enemies get close, family loyalty is all you can trust. Brother and sister Peter and Adele Robinson never stood a chance. Dragged up by an alcoholic, violent father, and a weak, beaten mother, their childhood in Manchester only prepared them for a life of crime and struggle. But Adele is determined to break the mould. She studies hard at school and, inspired by her beloved grandmother Joyce, she finally makes a successful life for herself on her own. Peter is not so lucky. Getting more and more immersed in the murky world of crime and gangs, his close bonds with Adele gradually loosen until they look set to break altogether. But old habits die hard, and one devastating night, Adele is forced to confront her violent past. Dragged back into her worst nightmares, there’s only one person she can turn to when her life is on the line – her brother Peter. After all, blood is thicker than water…
About The Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Heather Burnside is a Manchester based author whose books are based in her home city. She has published fifteen gritty urban crime novels to date, most of which have become Amazon Category Bestsellers. Before writing novels, Heather had various articles published in well-known UK magazines. She started her career by attending a creative writing course, and has also run a writing services business.
Thank you for your support, it means the world to me. What is your favourite Heather Burnside book or series? Leave a comment below and I will add it to my TBR. Until next time…. Happy Reading.
