The Caretakers

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.