When we first meet Sarah Goldman, she has just moved to Toronto with husband Daniel and six-year-old son Jacob. Their new home is less to her liking than their former home in Vancouver, but we learn that their move not only was based on a new job of Daniel’s but a desperate effort to stay far away from Holly, their former babysitter. Sarah is a fierce defender of her family and believes Holly is the source of almost destroying it.
When the story flashes back to the summertime, we meet Holly Monroe. Holly is in med school and her father, owner of a pharmaceutical firm, has targeted Daniel as a potential investor. When the opportunity arises, Holly jumps at the chance to be Jacob’s summer babysitter to escape her family. Her father is focused only on his business and Holly, who has a bad relationship with her cold stepmother, is sorely in need of a mother figure. She sees that in Sarah. As the summer progresses, Holly is wonderful with Jacob and develops a closeness with Sarah. Until Holly starts to get a bit too attached to the family. And Sarah becomes increasingly suspicious of Holly.
In the present, thinking she has left her troubles behind in Vancouver, Sarah starts to receive anonymous texts and other signs that the family is being watched. Author Samantha M. Bailey's riveting story shifts back and forth from the past to the present with each chapter, keeping things on edge. Bailey has written a satisfying tale of obsession which gets dark and a bit creepy. While Sarah is an over-the-top, nervous parent bordering on paranoid, Watch Out for Her taps into every mother’s fear that her child may be in danger. While it does require some suspension of disbelief as the plot thickens, I couldn’t put it down and recommend it.
Many thanks to Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this enjoyable thriller in advance of its release.
Rated 4.25 out of 5 stars.
Psychological Thriller.
Publication Date: April 26, 2022.
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