The Perfect Nanny

Description

When Myriam, a French-Moroccan lawyer, decides to return to work after having children, she and her husband look for the perfect nanny for their two young children. They never dreamed they would find Louise: a quiet, polite, devoted woman who sings to the children, cleans the family’s chic apartment in Paris’s upscale tenth arrondissement, stays late without complaint, and hosts enviable kiddie parties. But as the couple and the nanny become more dependent on one another, jealousy, resentment, and suspicions mount, shattering the idyllic tableau. Building tension with every page, The Perfect Nanny is a compulsive, riveting, bravely observed exploration of power, class, race, domesticity, and motherhood—and the American debut of an immensely talented writer.

Right off the bat, it’s worth discussing the comparison that is already being drawn between this book and the (now infamous) GONE GIRL. To keep things short and sweet: this comparison is totally inaccurate. Don’t misunderstand – this is not a negative to be held against THE PERFECT NANNY. But if you’re in the market for a psychological thriller with the pacing and action of GONE GIRL, you will be sorely disappointed here. THE PERFECT NANNY thrills not with plot twists and blood, but with understated suggestions of violence that’s to come, but violence which is very limited on the page. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a subtle suspense novel, but I would hesitate to recommend this book to readers looking for the next GONE GIRL.

That being said, THE PERFECT NANNY more than stands on its own merits. First – and perhaps most significantly – Slimani is an outstanding writer. THE PERFECT NANNY is smooth and sophisticated, belying the author’s confidence and skill. Readers will find themselves swept along in a story that is as sparse as it is technically beautiful. Woven into this compelling story are sharp and poignant instances of commentary on race, motherhood, and class – a compelling blend that provokes thought beyond the page. My experience with French crime fiction is relatively limited, but I have been thoroughly impressed with the quality of storytelling in the translated French crime fiction I have read. Slimani’s novel is no exception – this compulsively readable little book is a knockout, from its keen insight to its disturbing central character.