A Gripping Mystery with a Few Loose Ends: A Fascinating Thrill Ride
Hello there!
I stocked up on Wildberries books for the New Year's holidays, and one of the books that caught my attention was 'The Nanny' by Jeanette McMillan. I had initially looked for a different book, but the marketplace suggested this one, and after reading the annotation and checking out the reviews, I added it to my cart and soon ordered it.
The book arrived just before the holidays, promising me a pleasant evening spent reading it. To be honest, reading has become a luxury for me lately, but I've been thinking it's nice to unwind with a good book every now and then.
The book is in A5 format, which is a comfortable size for reading. It has 543 pages, which is a decent length for a thriller novel. The pages themselves are similar to newspaper pages, but they're denser and have a beige-gray color that's comfortable for my eyes.
The book has a distinct book smell, but it's not overpowering. The cover is soft, but it's glossy and sturdy – it's not easy to rip it. The cover image is captivating, hinting at the story to come – an old mansion and a lake that disappears into the dark depths.
The annotation had me looking forward to reading the book. I love stories about old houses, ancient families, and secrets. 'The Nanny' is exactly that. The book's beginning is inspiring, and the story takes place in the modern world, but with a nod to the past. There are cars, smartphones, and online chats, all expertly woven together with the past, making it a pleasure to read.
The story takes place in England, and the main characters in the book are:
Virginia - the owner of the house called Lake Hall. A woman in her years who knows her worth and never forgets that she's Lady Holt.Joslyn - Virginia's daughter. She lived in the US for a long time, but due to circumstances, she was forced to return to England, to her mother's home.Ruby - Joslyn's daughter, Virginia's granddaughter. She's 10 years old.Hannah - Joslyn's nanny. Hannah disappeared from the house when Joslyn was very young. Hannah and Joslyn were incredibly close while they lived in the house.I have to admit, the real mystery of the book unfolds in the middle. By that point, the reader already knows what happened to the nanny. So, it's quite surprising when she suddenly shows up in Lake Hall thirty years later.
As I was reading, I got the impression that the Hannah who turned up after all those years wasn't the real deal. It was like she was someone else pretending to be her. I devoured the pages, hoping to finally get to the part that would confirm my theory.
I won't give away the answer. Read the book and decide for yourself. Of course, there are supporting characters in the story: the housekeeper, the police, Josie's employer, the mothers of Ruby's classmates...
The writing style is accessible and free of convoluted sentence structures. The sentences are mostly short and snappy. It's easy to get through. The dialogue is short, natural, and engaging.
The story is mostly told in the present tense, which is unusual for most books. The narrative jumps between different characters' perspectives: Josie's, Virginia's, Hannah's, and even the detective's. The way the author describes the events, the setting, and the characters' daily lives all come together to create an engaging and suspenseful narrative that keeps you hooked.
Since the story is told from different characters' perspectives, I'd say the book is a collection of stories within a story. As you read, you see the story unfold from different people's viewpoints, and it's a realistic portrayal of how people often misjudge each other. Can you ever really trust someone who's supposed to be trustworthy? Maybe you should be wary of people you dismiss as insignificant.
I was also surprised by how Josie didn't believe her own child when they made serious claims. And it's a common phenomenon where adults dismiss children's statements as mere fantasy.
As I read through the book, I caught glimpses of everyday life: a child going to school, making friends, their mom searching for a job and facing rejection, and eventually finding employment. The characters drive cars, chat online, and visit cafes.
Unfortunately, there aren't many scenes that describe the old house, its corridors, rooms, and staircases. In fact, there are hardly any. When I did come across descriptions of the house, I enjoyed those passages immensely.
One of the things I loved about this book is how my perception of the characters changed throughout. At first, I felt sorry for one of them, thinking they were the victim. But then they started to get on my nerves. The character I initially thought was a positive hero soon turned out to be not so great, coming across as pathetic and clueless, too naive and oblivious to their surroundings. Meanwhile, the negative hero got closer to the end of the book and became more positive. At least, that's how it seemed to me as the reader.
The way the author describes nature is worth noting. It's simple and straightforward, yet it paints a vivid picture in your mind, making you feel like you're right there with the characters.
I'd say this book is a thriller, or rather a thriller novel. The plot twists are unexpected, like when I thought something would happen, but it went in a completely different direction. It's actually more interesting that way.
As I read on, I thought the ending would be a surprise, but as I got closer to the end, I realized how it would all play out. And I was right.
Overall, I got the feeling that the book wasn't finished. It was like the story ended in the middle of the road. Maybe the author did that on purpose, leaving me to think about the ending and make my own conclusions. It's clever, I'll give it that. I found myself thinking about the book almost the whole day after finishing it.
So, the overall impression is positive, but towards the end, it started to get a bit dull. The characters' actions were different, but they followed the same script. It even felt like the story was dragging on.
Now that I've reached the end, I'm surprised by how quickly it flew by. I've got a habit of re-reading favorite books, but I'm not sure I'll re-read 'The Nanny'. Still, I highly recommend it: the book is really interesting.
Thanks for reading!