“Our move here seems to have robbed us of all those small, relaxed moments where nobody asks anything of anybody, except that they know they’re loved.”
The Nanny is a dark and eerie 2019 mystery-thriller book by Gilly Macmillan. The New York Times bestselling author of What She Knew introduces readers to Jocelyn ‘Jo’ Holt who, after the disappearance of her babysitter, Hannah, has spent thirty years growing up bitter and resentful towards her family. She returns to her family home, Lake Hall, where her troubled relationship with her mother threatens to reignite again. But, the discovery of human remains in the estate’s lake and an unexpected visitor at the door soon lead to Jo reckoning with who her nanny was, why she left, and whether she can ever trust her mother again.
If you love Gilly Macmillan’s works, join us at What We Reading for the best books like The Nanny! These creepy thrillers all delve into the dark worlds of secrets, lies and deception and lift the lid on how far individuals are willing to go when pushed.
The Long Weekend – Gilly Macmillan
Where better place to start on a list of books like The Nanny than with another one of Gilly Macmillan’s best works? The Long Weekend follows three couples on a weekend getaway at Dark Fell Barn, a perfectly isolated retreat in the rural countryside. The three wives, all with their issues bubbling underneath the surface, have travelled up together, with their husbands chalked to join them in the morning.
Far removed from the rest of the world, the trio are immediately confronted with a shocking note claiming that one of their husbands has been murdered. The identity of which member of the group has been killed is left up in the air, and, with no means of contacting their spouses, the women’s weekend getaway soon spirals into a hellish nightmare. A nightmare that soon brings all of their secrets to light.
Check Out Our The Long Weekend Review
Good Bad Girl – Alice Feeney
Good Bad Girl is a 2023 mystery-thriller book by Alice Feeney. In it, readers follow Edith, an eighty-year-old resident who was tricked into living at a care home and is already devising her escape plan. She has struck up a bond with Patience, a kindred spirit working at the home who is lying to her about almost everything. Edith’s daughter doesn’t speak to her, and the arrival of someone unexpected at her door brings a fresh threat.
Good Bad Girl is a suspenseful story of the disappearance of a baby, the murder of a woman in a care home twenty years on and the unexpected links that connect them. With three suspects, two murders and one victim, it is one of the best books like The Nanny for anyone looking for their next drama-filled mystery read.
The Prisoner – B.A. Paris
From losing her parents in Paris to founding her new home in London, Amelie has always been a resilient survivor. As she builds a new life, she suddenly finds herself whisked into a life of wealth and glamour thanks to her marriage to Ned Hawthorne, a handsome billionaire. Then, Amelie suddenly wakes in a pitch-black room with no knowledge of where she is, who has taken her, why she has been taken and why she somehow feels safer imprisoned than she had begun to feel with her husband.
Similar to The Nanny, B.A. Paris’ The Prisoner is a gripping and twisted tale of love and a family full of ill intentions. The bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors and The Therapist once again delivers a suspenseful survival story that is sure to keep any fans of Gilly Macmillan hooked.
The Personal Assistant – Kimberly Belle
Alex had no idea how unscripted family hijinks and motivational messages would turn her into an online influence. Yet, seemingly overnight, she had amassed a huge following. Turning her hobby into a profession would have been impossible to manage without her trusty personal assistant, AC.
Then one controversial post suddenly turns her legions of fans against her. But, when Alex reaches out to AC for some form of damage control, the young woman goes dark on her. Having trusted her with all of her secrets, all of the pressure points of her family and marriage through her personal information, AC is missing and the police are looking to Alex and her husband for answers. And, when a woman is found murdered, Alex will finally unearth the truth behind AC’s identity, as well as how the true dangers had always been in her own home rather than online. Similar to The Nanny, Kimberly Belle’s The Personal Assistant is an addictive mystery-thriller book that ramps up the suspense and delivers some shocking familial betrayals.
It’s One Of Us – J.T. Ellison
Another book like The Nanny that delves into the lies we tell to keep a family together, and what happens when they unravel, comes from J.T. Ellison in her 2023 thriller, It’s One Of Us. Olivia Bender is a high-flying interior designer who is desperate to become a mother. IVF and fertility treatments have all failed so far. Just as she and her husband, Park, think they’ve hit their lowest point, the police then deliver the news that the prime suspect in a murder investigation is Park’s son.
Initially, Olivia is relieved. Despite their hopes, the couple have remained childless. Then Park confesses to having donated his sperm to a clinic, with no way of knowing how many times it was sold and how many children it helped raise. And, as the police investigation unearths more and more terrible truths, Olivia is forced to reckon with how much she is willing to accept whilst struggling to keep her dark secrets buried.
The Other Mothers – Katherine Faulkner
When a young nanny is discovered dead in mysterious circumstances, upcoming journalist and new mother Tash thinks she has stumbled upon her big break. Aside from a killer story, Tash has been searching for new connections to help her navigate the daunting world of new motherhood.
So when the mothers in the local community begin to embrace her, she rejoices in finally being able to put the surroundings of endless bills and cramped apartments behind her. Sleek and sophisticated in their tree-lined avenues and stunning houses, they are everything she wants to be. Then another young woman is found dead. As Tash continues to investigate the case, she begins to suspect there is so much more to this community than meets the eye. If you loved the suspense and decadence of The Nanny, Katherine Faulkner’s The Other Mothers is the thriller for you!
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
