The Au Pair
The Au Pair
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2018
Book Brief
Beta384
Novel • Fiction
•
Mystery & Crime Fiction•
Modern Classic FictionNorfolk coast, England, 1991–1992 and 2017.
2018
Berkley
Paperback • 2019
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
After her father’s death, Seraphine Mayes sorts through his belongings at her family’s Norfolk estate and discovers a photograph taken on the day she and her twin brother were born. Their mother, who died hours later, is pictured holding only one baby. Troubled by what the image might reveal about her identity, Seraphine begins investigating her family’s long-hidden secrets and searching for the vanished au pair.
Unnerving
Suspenseful
Mysterious
Exciting
Fantastical
Reviews & Readership
34,946 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Reviewers largely praise The Au Pair as an atmospheric, absorbing gothic mystery. They highlight its vivid setting, well-drawn characters, intertwined timelines, controlled pacing, and steady stream of revelations. The main reservations concern the plotting: some find the story muddled by too many implausible turns, while others argue that the dramatic ending demands excessive suspension of disbelief. Overall, the critical consensus favors its suspense and storytelling momentum, even when the crowded twists strain credibility.
Who Should Read The Au Pair?
Readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries, domestic suspense, and atmospheric gothic settings should pick up The Au Pair. It is especially suited to anyone who likes slow-burn tension, dark family secrets, and stories that move between past and present. The dual narration steadily supplies clues while encouraging readers to question what they know. Those who want an eerie country estate, complex female protagonists, plentiful twists, and a mystery compelling enough to become a page-turner are likely to find plenty here.
34,946 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Edwin’s young former au pair and the novel’s second viewpoint character, whose past experiences at Summerbourne may illuminate Seraphine’s questions.
Seraphine’s twin brother and one of the three Mayes siblings, born with her at the family’s Norfolk estate, Summerbourne.
Seraphine and Danny’s older brother, whom Laura was hired to care for as a young child at the Summerbourne estate.
Seraphine, Danny, and Edwin’s mother, whose death shortly after the twins’ birth is central to Seraphine’s opening questions.
The father of Seraphine, Danny, and Edwin; his recent accidental death prompts Seraphine to sort through his belongings at Summerbourne.
Ruth’s formidable mother and the family matriarch, who owns both Summerbourne and Winterbourne and helps interview Laura for the au pair position.
Ruth and Dominic’s former neighbor and close friend, present during Laura’s summer at Summerbourne and later approached by Seraphine.
384
Novel • Fiction
•
Mystery & Crime Fiction•
Modern Classic FictionNorfolk coast, England, 1991–1992 and 2017.
2018
Berkley
Paperback • 2019
Adult
18+ years
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