Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Blog Tour Review: The Au Pair by Emma Rous

I'm so excited to be sharing this book with you today. It totally took me by surprise and I honestly loved every minute of it! 

If you are looking for a good mystery with a touch of that thrilling element that will make your heart pound and your blood pulse in your ears, this is a must. 




Title: The Au Pair
Author: Emma Rous
Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Published By: Berkley Books (January 8, 2019)
Source: ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review


Book Description:
A grand estate, terrible secrets, and a young woman who bears witness to it all. If V. C. Andrews and Kate Morton had a literary love child, Emma Rous’ The Au Pair would be it.

Seraphine Mayes and her twin brother Danny were born in the middle of summer at their family’s estate on the Norfolk coast. Within hours of their birth, their mother threw herself from the cliffs, the au pair fled, and the village thrilled with whispers of dark cloaks, changelings, and the aloof couple who drew a young nanny into their inner circle.

Now an adult, Seraphine mourns the recent death of her father. While going through his belongings, she uncovers a family photograph that raises dangerous questions. It was taken on the day the twins were born, and in the photo, their mother, surrounded by her husband and her young son, is beautifully dressed, smiling serenely, and holding just one baby.

Who is the child and what really happened that day?

One person knows the truth, if only Seraphine can find her.





About the Author:



Emma Rous grew up in England, Indonesia, Kuwait, Portugal and Fiji, and from a young age she had two ambitions: to write stories, and to look after animals. She studied veterinary medicine and zoology at the University of Cambridge, and worked as a veterinary surgeon for eighteen years before starting to write fiction. Emma lives in Cambridgeshire, England, with her husband and three sons.

The Au Pair is her first novel. It will be published in ten countries, in nine languages. She is currently writing her second book.






I'm not ashamed to admit it's been awhile since I've been this excited to try not only a new author, but to start a mystery that sounded so compelling.

I was right to be excited about both. 

I. Could. Not. Put. This. Down. 

Every bit the page turner that the synopsis promised to be, it was tantalizing, intriguing, thought provoking and irresistible. I needed to know all the details of both the past and the present. In Short, I just needed it all.

The Au Pair was well written and flowed seamlessly through both the past and the present and each was just as entertaining and intriguing as the last. 
As the chapters went on and more and more of the mystery unfolded, I found that I was constantly guessing what was about to happen next and wondering if I was right about who exactly the twins were and in some instances, hoping I was wrong. 

With twists and turns that kept me on my toes and on constantly on edge, this truly has been one of my favorite mystery reads of 2019 and one I won't be forgetting soon.










41 comments:

  1. I'm so glad this was good- I can't wait to read it!!

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  2. Ooh I keep seeing this around and it sounds so good.love a good page turner!!

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    1. Me too and I think you would like this too Grace!

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  3. Five stars! Nice! I do love a good mystery, so I think I need to add this one to my list.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  4. Oh this sounds wonderful, Ali! It sounds like a great twisty mystery. I need to add it to my pile.

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    1. It definitely was and the twisty ones are always my favs. ;)

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  5. It's so great to have a book like that and I didn't even know about this one

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  6. Oh wow I WANT this. Thanks Kindlemom for your fantastic thoughts

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  7. I dont tend to read mystery novels but this one has me intrigued after reading your review.

    Megan @ reading away the days

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    1. I love mysteries! They use to be my most favorite genre but I've found so many others since blogging that I really don't have a favorite anymore, it's so hard to choose one now. ;)

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  8. There is nothing better than to kick off the new year than with a 5 star book. I'll have to see if I can get this book from the library. I like twisty mysteries!

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  9. I can't imagine finding a family photo and trying to figure out family secrets. That sounds so good.

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    1. I know right? It was a fun mystery, very suspenseful.

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  10. OOOOH this sounds like my kind of book. Twists and turns are signs of a good mystery.

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  11. oohh, I didn't know this was a mystery/thriller. Will keep my eyes out for this!

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  12. This has me more than curious now. A five star rating and so early in the year. I am all about a good mystery/ thriller, I am going to see if I can get it from my library.

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    1. Hope you like it too Heidi! To be fair, I did read it last year though. :P

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  13. Oooo...where's the other baby? Me wants to know. :-)
    sherry @ fundinmental

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  14. Oh wow, this does sound good! Glad to hear it was one of those books you could't put down. I love that! I'm going to see where I can get it. Wonderful review. :)

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  15. Sounds really good. Adding to TBR. Thanks for sharing. Great review.

    Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart

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  16. This sounds so good! Its always great when a book you are looking forward to delivers! Great review!

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  17. I've been wondering about this book and now, thanks to your review, I know I have to read it! I'm a sucker for these types of mysteries. Great review!

    Simply Angela

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  18. I was on the fence with this one, but you've convinced me! I'll definitely be picking this one up in the future. Lovely review!

    Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬

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  19. Just the synopsis is making my mind whirl, definitely going to have to try this one!

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  20. Oh that's awesome. I've been enjoying a lot of mysteries lately. Will have to look this one up :)

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    Replies
    1. Mysteries really are the best. I love them all year round. ;)

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  21. I really love mysteries but I'm leery of most as of late. This sounds pretty darn good though because I like the overall intrigue of this one.

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    1. Some of them are bad I will admit but I really did enjoy this one and how different it was.

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