The Lindbergh Nanny
an addictive historical mystery, based on a true story
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4.3 • 3 Ratings
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- £2.99
Publisher Description
'Gripping and elegant... brings readers into the interior of the twentieth century's most infamous crime' Nina de Gramont, author of The Christie Affair
'The kind of book that shows the difference between a psychological thriller and any old thriller... a terrific read from a seriously thoughtful writer' Daily Mail
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SHE WAS THE LAST PERSON TO SEE THE BABY...
You may not know Betty Gow's name - but 'the Lindbergh nanny' is infamous.
In 1932, all eyes are on Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh, the most glamorous and intriguing couple in America. But who was paying attention when, one evening in early March, their baby son was stolen from the family home?
The Lindbergh nanny is the first person to discover Charlie missing... and the last to see him that night.
With the world watching on, Betty must discover the truth about what really happened to young Charlie, to clear her own name - and to find justice for the little boy she loves.
A propulsive re-imagining of America's most notorious crime of the twentieth century, told through the eyes of the young woman who found herself at the heart of the case.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Betty Gow, a 26-year-old Scottish immigrant and Lindbergh family nanny, narrates this poignant crime novel from Fredericks (the Jane Prescott series), which fictionalizes the 1932 kidnapping of 20-month-old Charles Lindbergh Jr. from the family's New Jersey home. Though many idolize Betty's employer, aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh, she's unimpressed by the odd, arrogant man. Still, she likes his wife, heiress Anne Morrow Lindbergh, and adores the couple's son, Charlie. When Charlie disappears from his nursery after Betty leaves a window open, she hopes Mr. Lindbergh is pranking her; he has, after all, jokingly hidden the baby before. A ransom note confirms otherwise, however, making Betty a person of interest. Desperate to recover Charlie and exonerate herself, Betty begins scrutinizing everyone she knows, from the staff at the Morrow estate to her new boyfriend. The pacing is uneven, with an overlong setup and a rushed denouement, but Fredericks creates suspense for even those familiar with the case by suggesting the real-life culprit had accomplices, thus rendering everyone a suspect. Betty's distress and distrust are palpable, heightening anxiety. Historical mystery fans and true crime aficionados will be well pleased.
