The Lindbergh Nanny
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Average rating3.4
Mariah Fredericks' emotionally charged and propulsive new novel, The Lindbergh Nanny, examines one of the most famous kidnapping cases in America from the lens of one of America's favorite suspects, putting Betty Gow at the center of her own story for the first time. Betty Gow is known by another name: the Lindbergh Nanny. When toddler Charles Lindbergh Jr. is kidnapped from his parents' weekend home in Hopewell, New Jersey in 1932, his parents are frantic, his grandmother devastated, and the media rabid. Betty, amid the maelstrom and named a suspect herself, is determined to find out who has taken him. Charles Lindbergh was already famous for his flight across the Atlantic--the golden boy of America, with his wealthy and lovely wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, beside him--when Betty joined the household to look after little Charlie. A Scottish immigrant deciphering the rules of her new homeland and its East Coast elite, Betty finds Col. Lindbergh eccentric and often odd, Mrs. Lindbergh kind yet nervous, and Charlie simply a darling. Far from home and bruised from a love affair gone horribly wrong, Betty finds comfort in caring for the child, and warms to the attentions of handsome sailor Henrik, sometimes known as Red. But when Charlie is taken from the family home, at a time when no one but a handful of Lindbergh servants could have known he was there, everything changes. A suspect in the eyes of both the media and public herself, Betty must find the truth in order to clear her own name--and to find justice for the child she loves.
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I just finished the Lindbergh Nanny by Mariah Fredericks and here are my musings
Betty Gow is desperate for a job so when an interview becomes available to nanny for the famous Lindberghs, it's too good an opportunity to pass up. Charles Sr, Americas golden boy with his lovely family makes headlines wherever he goes and his son, Charlie, is almost as famous as he is.
Becoming overly attached to young Charlie, Betty navigates the perils of being the nanny to the world's most famous baby and outsiders need to see him. After a love affair gone sour leaves her heartbroken, Betty finds solace in caring for Charlie and accepts the attention of Red, a sailor... Then one night, Charlie is just gone.
All eyes turn to betty. How can she clear her own name and find out what really happened to the child who stole her heart?
I found this book quite lovely. I actually didn't know much about the Lindbergh case so it was interesting to see how this book unfolded around such a massive historical event. It did send me down the google rabbit hole. I have questions that obviously cannot be answered but I am not satisfied with the official story.
I found the Lindberghs to be quite a weird couple and not just because they left their baby for months without providing money to cover new clothing but there was something very odd in their demeanors as well. I have to admit that I kind of wonder if Charles Senior didn't have something to do with the death of his son. I can't shake the feeling.
The author did a fantastic job of humanizing Betty but I am not going to lie, it was a little boring in places. Not enough that it made the book unenjoyable but enough that they could have probably taken those parts out.
Solid writing and I love the flow of the book and for the most part it was well paced but like I said, there were definitely things I would have removed personally.
4 stars! Calling historical fiction fans! This book is a must for you, especially if you like true events in your HF!
Thank you to #Netgalley and st martins press for my review copy!!
Historical Fiction is one of my favorite genres to read. It's such a great mix of history and fiction.
I think the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby is probably one of the most notorious, and debated crimes. The Lindbergh Nanny takes this on well and is such a well-written and fascinating read.
I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
