Review: The Caretakers by Amanda Bestor-Siegal (audio)

Publisher: Harper Audio

Published: April 12, 2022

Source: Netgalley

Summary:

Set in a wealthy Parisian suburb, an emotionally riveting debut told from the point of view of six women, and centered around a group of au pairs, one of whom is arrested after a sudden and suspicious tragedy strikes her host family—a dramatic exploration of identity, class, and caregiving from a profoundly talented new writer.

Paris, 2015. A crowd gathers outside the Chauvet home in the affluent suburban community of Maisons-Larue, watching as the family’s American au pair is led away in handcuffs after the sudden death of her young charge. The grieving mother believes the caretaker is to blame, and the neighborhood is thrown into chaos, unsure who is at fault—the enigmatic, young foreigner or the mother herself, who has never seemed an active participant in the lives of her children.

The truth lies with six women: Géraldine, a heartbroken French teacher struggling to support her vulnerable young students; Lou, an incompetent au pair who was recently fired by the family next door; Charlotte, a chilly socialite and reluctant mother; Nathalie, an isolated French teenager desperate for her mother’s attention; Holly, a socially anxious au pair yearning to belong in her adopted country; and finally, Alena, the one accused of the crime, who has gone to great lengths to avoid emotional connection, and now finds herself caught in the turbulent power dynamics of her host family’s household.

Set during the weeks leading up to the event, The Caretakers is a poignant and suspenseful drama featuring complicated women. It’s a sensitive exploration of the weight of secrets, the pressures of country, community, and family—and miscommunications and misunderstandings that can have fatal consequences.

My thoughts:

As someone who grew up caring for other children for many years, I was drawn to the premise of this book…and I’m so glad I read it. It was an anticipated read for this month and it definitely did not disappoint and I’m beyond surprised that it is a debut novel…the writing is just amazing!

This is a slow-burn, character study into the lives of six different women and I loved how each one was so vividly portrayed. I was riveted by this story and loved that hint of mystery throughout – what really happened to cause the death of the young child. The story starts with the aftermath of the death and then moves back in time to set the scene, if you will, allowing us to get to know all the players involved and I found myself so completely swept up in all the drama that ensues. The author really delves into just how toxic the relationships are amongst the adults of these families as well as how these au pairs are really treated. It was eye-opening to say the least.

I loved that this is all set against the backdrop of the Parisian terrorist attacks. That just seemed to add an extra layer of tension to an already fraught situation. The author clearly did her homework in highlighting the distinction of class while also exploring how caregiving is handled in Paris, quite different from my own experiences as a caregiver here in the states.

I really enjoyed this one and cannot wait to see what this author writes next!

Audio thoughts:

Saskia Maarleveld narrated this one and she did an amazing job bringing this story to life. She gave each character their own unique and personality and her pacing and intonation was spot on. I really enjoyed listening to this story.