Library Journal - Audio
06/01/2022
Au pairs have a unique job. They live with host families, and take care of the children, but they are employees who spend more time with the children than their parents do. In this debut, Bestor-Siegal explores this dynamic through the perspectives of six women—au pairs, mothers, a French teacher—when a child dies and an American nanny is accused of murder. Maarleveld narrates the novel with its multiple points of view as each young au pair, their French teacher, and the grieving mother tell how they ended up in Maison La Rue during that fated time period. Each of them has their own background and Maarleveld ably captures each character's personality that lends to their differences. As the story unrolls slowly, Maarleveld's narration will keep listeners hooked, eager to find out who did what to whom and what happens to each of the women introduced. VERDICT A blend of literary fiction with a hint of a mystery, give this title to listeners that want to be swept away to France.—Stephanie Charlefour
JANUARY 2022 - AudioFile
Narrator Saskia Maarleveld gives a magnificent performance of this assured debut concerning the suspicious death of 9-year-old Julien in his family’s home in a Parisian suburb. Maarleveld is simply outstanding as she seamlessly shifts accents, tones, and pace to create a stunning depiction of the tensions underlying this seemingly ordinary neighborhood. Subtle social commentary is interwoven throughout the intricately structured plot. Maarleveld flawlessly portrays six women, some of whom may have played a role in Julien's death. They are Charlotte, Julien's chilly mother; Natalie, Julien's insecure half-sister; Lou, Holly, and Alena, three American au pairs; and Geraldine, a compassionate teacher. Overall, Maarleveld creates an enthralling listening experience for fans of character-driven stories, as well as mysteries. M.J. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
04/04/2022
Bestor-Siegal explores the isolating world of au pairs in her introspective debut set in Maisons-Larue, France. The quiet, predominantly white town is rattled by the arrest of Alena, an American au pair charged with the murder of Julian Chauvet, an eight-year-old boy she had in her care. The mystery of what happened to Julien unravels through the perspectives of a neglected daughter and a number of caretakers‚ from au pairs to the mothers who sometimes feel inadequate, and their shame is only heightened by the community’s class-based judgment (Bestor-Siegal sums up the collective attitude among the working mothers: “This is what happens when you don’t raise your own children”). The whodunit plotline, though, is entirely eclipsed by a series of powerful narratives from Alena as well as fellow au pairs Holly and Lou, all of whom deal with homesickness and struggle to adapt in France; and from their host families who keep disrespecting their boundaries. While it takes a while to understand how each story and character connects to Julien’s murder due to the slow progression of the plot, Bestor-Siegal excels at character development. Once the author gets going, she cracks open an intriguing world. Agent: Suzanne Gluck, WME. (Apr.)
From the Publisher
Bestor-Siegal switches perspective among a group of characters—the au pairs, the families and Madame Géraldine, a local French teacher who has inserted herself into their lives—with tenderness and intimacy. . . . The writing is smooth as honey. As a study into the complex psychology of a bunch of damaged people, it’s utterly absorbing.” — New York Times Book Review
"An American au pair is arrested in Paris after the unexpected death of a child—but whose fault is it really? The mystery unfolds through the perspectives of six women, exploring the inner worlds of caretakers." — USA Today
"I could not stop reading this book . . Bestor-Siegal’s writing is addictive but never cheap, vivid but not obvious. I stayed up late into the night scrambling through this book, craving the answer to the murder mystery and the sinister lives behind the beautifully kept window treatments in Maisons-Larue." — Jenny Singer, Glamour, The Best New Books This Month Offer Something for Every Reader
“Amanda Bestor-Siegal’s emotionally riveting debut novel focuses on several dynamic women in a wealthy suburb of Paris and a tragic event that changes their lives. Bestor-Siegal had me at Paris and she never let go. The Caretakers is extraordinary.” — Laura Dave, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told Me
“A well-paced narrative that moves through time and multiple perspectives with deft precision, this is a heart-wrenching exploration of who counts as family and how dangerous it can be to let someone in. A novel about the ‘people who aren’t completely part of the family’ and the true cost of belonging.” — Kirkus (starred review)
"How rare this is, a book—a first book—that has it all. The Caretakers is thrilling and deeply moving, gorgeously written and intricately plotted, morally complex and surprising and sweeping and intimate, with some of the most indelible and heart-breaking characters I have ever encountered in a novel. It's a bold and brilliant book." — Elizabeth McCracken, author of Bowlaway and The Souvenir Museum
“The Caretakers is a deep, enthralling pleasure, as wise as it is lovely. I read it voraciously, desperate to discover the fates of its unforgettable characters—but also with a deep regret that each page was bringing me closer to the end. I could have happily luxuriated in its words and world forever. It defies belief that this is a debut novel: It is magnificent.” — Robin Wasserman, author of Girls on Fire and Mother Daughter Widow Wife
"Tender, brutal, frightening, captivating, The Caretakers is a novel about child care and abandonment that is as beautifully complicated as parenting itself. Amanda Bestor-Siegal opens for us the bloody heart of the contemporary family and exposes its darkest chambers—the loneliness, the longing, the love—to the light." — Julia Phillips, National Book Award finalist and bestselling author of Disappearing Earth
"This is going to be one of the big book club books of 2022. I cannot stress enough how bewitching I found this brilliantly plotted novel about au pairs in Paris. If you enjoyed Big Little Lies, you will doubly love this novel! . . . It is an intricate tale of six women searching for happiness and love, and working hard for their families and to achieve their dreams. Some are running from their past, some are trying to find their way, and some are stuck in the present. We hear from three au pairs, as well as the mother of the child who died, his older sister, and the woman who teaches French to the au pairs. It’s an absolutely stunning debut novel about class and identity, and so expertly executed. It’s devastating and captivating." — Liberty Hardy, Book Riot
"Lyrically written and contemplative, pulling the reader into a complex web of vivid characters. Bestor-Siegal brings an authentic perspective from her own experiences living in France. A perfect book-group title, especially for Francophiles." — Booklist
"Narrator Saskia Maarleveld gives a magnificent performance of this assured debut . . . Maarleveld is simply outstanding as she seamlessly shifts accents, tones, and pace to create a stunning depiction of the tensions underlying this seemingly ordinary neighborhood. Subtle social commentary is interwoven throughout the intricately structured plot. Maarleveld flawlessly portrays six women . . . Overall, Maarleveld creates an enthralling listening experience for fans of character-driven stories, as well as mysteries." — AudioFile Magazine (Earphones Award winner)
“Like other recent works such as Such a Fun Age and The Perfect Nanny, The Caretakers grounds its plot in the complexities of class, gender, and race when it comes to caregiving, and examines the behind-the-scenes work needed to uphold the illusion of the nuclear family.” — CrimeReads, The Most Anticipated Crime Fiction of 2022
“An enthralling debut.” — Popsugar, Must-Read Thrillers and Mystery Books to Keep You Chasing Clues in 2022
“Those looking for a drama packed with suspense will want to pick this one up.” — Bookish, 24 Highly-Anticipated Books Hitting Shelves in 2022
Booklist
"Lyrically written and contemplative, pulling the reader into a complex web of vivid characters. Bestor-Siegal brings an authentic perspective from her own experiences living in France. A perfect book-group title, especially for Francophiles."
Laura Dave
Amanda Bestor-Siegal’s emotionally riveting debut novel focuses on several dynamic women in a wealthy suburb of Paris and a tragic event that changes their lives. Bestor-Siegal had me at Paris and she never let go. The Caretakers is extraordinary.
Julia Phillips
"Tender, brutal, frightening, captivating, The Caretakers is a novel about child care and abandonment that is as beautifully complicated as parenting itself. Amanda Bestor-Siegal opens for us the bloody heart of the contemporary family and exposes its darkest chambers—the loneliness, the longing, the love—to the light."
USA Today
"An American au pair is arrested in Paris after the unexpected death of a child—but whose fault is it really? The mystery unfolds through the perspectives of six women, exploring the inner worlds of caretakers."
Elizabeth McCracken
"How rare this is, a book—a first book—that has it all. The Caretakers is thrilling and deeply moving, gorgeously written and intricately plotted, morally complex and surprising and sweeping and intimate, with some of the most indelible and heart-breaking characters I have ever encountered in a novel. It's a bold and brilliant book."
Liberty Hardy
"This is going to be one of the big book club books of 2022. I cannot stress enough how bewitching I found this brilliantly plotted novel about au pairs in Paris. If you enjoyed Big Little Lies, you will doubly love this novel! . . . It is an intricate tale of six women searching for happiness and love, and working hard for their families and to achieve their dreams. Some are running from their past, some are trying to find their way, and some are stuck in the present. We hear from three au pairs, as well as the mother of the child who died, his older sister, and the woman who teaches French to the au pairs. It’s an absolutely stunning debut novel about class and identity, and so expertly executed. It’s devastating and captivating."
Robin Wasserman
The Caretakers is a deep, enthralling pleasure, as wise as it is lovely. I read it voraciously, desperate to discover the fates of its unforgettable characters—but also with a deep regret that each page was bringing me closer to the end. I could have happily luxuriated in its words and world forever. It defies belief that this is a debut novel: It is magnificent.
Jenny Singer
"I could not stop reading this book . . Bestor-Siegal’s writing is addictive but never cheap, vivid but not obvious. I stayed up late into the night scrambling through this book, craving the answer to the murder mystery and the sinister lives behind the beautifully kept window treatments in Maisons-Larue."
Laura Dave
Amanda Bestor-Siegal’s emotionally riveting debut novel focuses on several dynamic women in a wealthy suburb of Paris and a tragic event that changes their lives. Bestor-Siegal had me at Paris and she never let go. The Caretakers is extraordinary.
AudioFile Magazine (Earphones Award winner)
"Narrator Saskia Maarleveld gives a magnificent performance of this assured debut . . . Maarleveld is simply outstanding as she seamlessly shifts accents, tones, and pace to create a stunning depiction of the tensions underlying this seemingly ordinary neighborhood. Subtle social commentary is interwoven throughout the intricately structured plot. Maarleveld flawlessly portrays six women . . . Overall, Maarleveld creates an enthralling listening experience for fans of character-driven stories, as well as mysteries."
USA Today
"An American au pair is arrested in Paris after the unexpected death of a child—but whose fault is it really? The mystery unfolds through the perspectives of six women, exploring the inner worlds of caretakers."
Booklist
"Lyrically written and contemplative, pulling the reader into a complex web of vivid characters. Bestor-Siegal brings an authentic perspective from her own experiences living in France. A perfect book-group title, especially for Francophiles."
Must-Read Thrillers and Mystery Books to Keep You Popsugar
An enthralling debut.
The Most Anticipated Crime Fiction of 2022 CrimeReads
Like other recent works such as Such a Fun Age and The Perfect Nanny, The Caretakers grounds its plot in the complexities of class, gender, and race when it comes to caregiving, and examines the behind-the-scenes work needed to uphold the illusion of the nuclear family.
Library Journal
11/01/2021
In the upscale Parisian suburb of Maisons-Larue, reserved American au pair Alena is accused of killing her charge, and the neighbors divide their blame between Alena and the victim's icily uninvolved mother. Those contributing to the conversation include au pairs Lou and Holly; teenage Nathalie, hungry for a mother's love; and Geraldine, worried about how her students are handling their friend's death. From an MFA candidate at the Michener Center for Writers; with a 100,000-copy first printing.
JANUARY 2022 - AudioFile
Narrator Saskia Maarleveld gives a magnificent performance of this assured debut concerning the suspicious death of 9-year-old Julien in his family’s home in a Parisian suburb. Maarleveld is simply outstanding as she seamlessly shifts accents, tones, and pace to create a stunning depiction of the tensions underlying this seemingly ordinary neighborhood. Subtle social commentary is interwoven throughout the intricately structured plot. Maarleveld flawlessly portrays six women, some of whom may have played a role in Julien's death. They are Charlotte, Julien's chilly mother; Natalie, Julien's insecure half-sister; Lou, Holly, and Alena, three American au pairs; and Geraldine, a compassionate teacher. Overall, Maarleveld creates an enthralling listening experience for fans of character-driven stories, as well as mysteries. M.J. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2022-01-26
The mysterious death of a French child is blamed on an American au pair—but there's more to the story.
This debut novel unfolds in Maisons-Larue, a wealthy suburb of Paris, where au pairs sneak out every night to the cafes and clubs of the city center and wealthy, frustrated mothers compete for attention from their absent husbands, all in the immediate aftermath of the 2016 terrorist attacks on Paris. Alena and Lou, the au pairs at the center of the story, are flawed, full of contradictions, and seem fated to disappoint those who dare to love them. The women's voices we hear in the novel—including the beloved French teacher Géraldine, forever mistaken for a foreigner in her own country because of her darker skin tone; Charlotte, the dead child's mother, who has been desperate to hide her own less-than-pedigreed upbringing; Nathalie, Charlotte's teenage daughter, who feels like an outsider in her mother’s second marriage; the au pairs who are trying to disappear from their past lives or find truer versions of themselves in France—all seem focused, in one way or another, on a shared desire for love and belonging. But it is the cold, quiet, could-be murderous Alena, with her silence throughout much of the novel and refusal to be known, that keeps the reader wanting more. When we finally hear her perspective, Alena offers a darker, more ominous solution to the problem facing the women in this world: “She tries not to want, and most of the time, she thinks she’s successful.” A well-paced narrative that moves through time and multiple perspectives with deft precision, this is a heart-wrenching exploration of who counts as family and how dangerous it can be to let someone in.
A novel about the “people who aren’t completely part of the family” and the true cost of belonging.
