The Au Pair

By: Emma Rous

Narrated by: Elizabeth Sastre, Nicola Barber

Length: 11 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

If V. C. Andrews and Kate Morton had a literary love child, Emma Rous' USA Today best seller The Au Pair would be it.

One of the most anticipated books of 2019 from Pop Sugar, Bustle, Cosmo, Parade, and Goodreads!

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 smiling serenely and holding just one baby. Who is the child, and what really happened that day?

©2019 Emma Rous (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

An Indie Next and Library Reads Pick!

“This is one hell of a ride.” (New York Post)

“This will keep you turning those pages. The characters are still playing on my mind.” (Jane Corry, USA Today best-selling author of My Husband's Wife)

“Entrancing and compelling, The Au Pair seamlessly alternates between two riveting narrators. Atmospheric and reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier's work, it's a beautiful read that delivers a shocking and satisfying ending.” (Liv Constantine, USA Today and Wall Street Journal best-selling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish)

WOW

Wow. This book started off very slowly for me. But the author gives you just enough to keep reading. And then, I could not stop listening. My toddler got way too much screen time so I could finish!

You think your family has secrets

Great listen enjoyed it thoroughly wonderful tale of what family secrets can do to a family

LOVED the narration! Ending was disappointing.

This story had me captivated the entire time! I was even thinking about it while I wasn’t reading it. The narrator did an excellent job with novel, so pleasant to listen to. However the ending was a huge disappointment. Ended on an unrealistic note with far fetched circumstances. Also ended with unanswered questions and bizarre reasons.

Good for many listens

This story enchanted me from beginning to end. I loved the fairy tale component playing on superstitions and misdeeds. It also has great twists I didn't see coming. I've listened to this book at least three times because I always forget the details of how it cleverly unfolds. It also has a great narrator.

Without spoiling anything huge, my only gripe is that it's frustrating constantly seeing women struggling with mental illness at the heart of a mystery.

The Unfolding is Just Right

Rarely do I listen to mystery. I use audible books to help with insomnia. If it is too fast and has violent sequences, it won’t help me to sleep. The Au Pair is paced well. I really enjoyed the story and the narrator was excellent. The suspense is compelling while not being overwhelming. I look forward to more books by the author.

Very glad to have found this story

Wow. Very good story. I was especially enthralled by the narrator who really drew you in to the emotion the character was feeling. I will definitely look for her in the future. But the story itself was so much more than I expected. I just thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you to the author and narrator.

Great story

Lots of twists and turns. Kept me guessing until then end then it ended very nicely.

Great story, bad ending

I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending. The story had great twists and turns.

A Satisfying and Refreshing Thriller

Good characters, an extremely unique plot and excellent narration. A true psychological thriller with a plot that winds around itself, without being too obvious and ends with a total surprise.

Robin the Reviewer

Couldn’t put it down!

The Au Pair increasingly kept my attention with each chapter. I loved how each chapter went back and forth between two characters 25 years apart. By the end, I couldn’t WAIT to find out what happened both 25 years ago and in the present. Full of unexpected twists!