The Lindbergh Nanny by Mariah Frederick ~ Book Review

Charles Lindbergh has risen to hero status in the eyes of the American public due to his much revered flight across the Atlantic.  His wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, and he are building a home in a secluded area of the New Jersey countryside in efforts to keep their privacy.  When Ann gets pregnant they hire a nurse (nanny) originally from England to help in the day to day care of their son, Charles Jr.  Betty Gouw, finds herself buiding a strong bond with the child but at times questions Charles Lindbergh's child rearing methods and Anne's willingness to go along with them.  But she does her best to abide by the rules. When in 1932, Charles Jr is kidnapped from his bedroom while he was sleeping, Betty becomes suspect of aiding the kidnapper.  Her whole life is thrown into the spotlight and she is all of a sudden the questionable one.  Betty takes it upon herself to try to find the truth about that night and who really might be the co-conspirator so that Charles Jr. can be safely found.  But when the baby turns up dead,  Betty just wants to find justice for the little one she loved.  

This story is a look at the internationally known kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh Jr as seen through the eyes of the person who spent the most time with him, and loved him as her own, his live in nurse (nanny), Betty Gouw.  The author weaves the historical facts of the case with fiction filling in the missing spaces.  Betty Gouw really was the child's nanny and her whole life was turned upside down with the crime, being accused of helping the kidnapping and then testifying in court against the man finally charged.  She went from obscurity to sudden fame and noteriety all while trying to deal with the kidnapping and death of an innocent child she loved.  While the whole story itself is captivating I found the beginning of the novel to be quite choppy and the introduction of new characters a bit confusing and therefore didn't pay a whole lot of attention to them as they seemed so secondary.  Turns out I should have payed more attention.  The pacing didn't get it's feet under itself, so to speak, until the baby gets kidnapped and that is when the book actually took off for me.   Once it does happen it is suspenseful and gripping. My heart really is taken with Betty who was just trying to get over a failed love affair and try and make her way in a new country.  The author's notes helped to discern between what was actual fact about Betty, the Lindbergh's, the kidnapping, the investigation and the subsequent court case.  It turned into an interesting and emotional read though I was frustrated at the end not remembering exactly who some characters were that were introduced in the beginning.

I rated this a 9/10

2023 Reading Challenge Goal Met:  One book a month from my Library Want To Read Shelf