The Lindbergh Nanny

By: Mariah Fredericks

Narrated by: Penelope Rawlins

Length: 12 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

When the most famous toddler in America, Charles Lindbergh, Jr., is kidnapped from his family home in New Jersey in 1932, the case makes international headlines. Already celebrated for his flight across the Atlantic, his father, Charles, Sr., is the country’s golden boy, with his wealthy, lovely wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, by his side. But there’s someone else in their household—Betty Gow, a formerly obscure young woman, now known around the world by another name: the Lindbergh Nanny.

A Scottish immigrant deciphering the rules of her new homeland and its East Coast elite, Betty finds Colonel Lindbergh eccentric and often odd, Mrs. Lindbergh kind yet nervous, and Charlie simply a darling. Far from home and bruised from a love affair gone horribly wrong, Betty finds comfort in caring for the child and warms to the attentions of handsome sailor Henrik, sometimes known as Red. Then, Charlie disappears.

Suddenly a suspect in the eyes of both the media and the public, Betty must find the truth about what really happened that night in order to clear her own name—and to find justice for the child she loves.

©2022 Mariah Fredericks (P)2022 Dreamscape Media

A Well-crafted Novel

This historical fiction had a fascinating point of view, and I loved most of the voices. Occasionally, I had a hard time with a heavy accent, but overall it was delightful.

Slow and uninteresting

I usually love historical fiction, especially a true story that I didn’t know much about before. The beginning of the book was very slow, excruciating waiting for the baby to be kidnapped. Then it was a very slow investigation. Not much plot or excitement. You need to pay attention to all the staff at the house in the first half to understand the second. It was a tough read for me. I would not have finished it except for a book club.

Well written but disappointing reading

Scottish language was very difficult for me to understand and thus distracted from an interesting story.

excellent story

excellent story with beautiful narration. I especially enjoyed the last chapter that discussed fact vs fiction

Great story

Scottish narration was hard for me to understand. Usually I get used to it but on this one i struggled the whole time. Loved hearing about kidnapping from the house staff.

Absolutely brilliant book

Riveting and beautifully written. With true emotion and painstaking detail. This novel is one of the best I’ve read in a long while.

Sooo good!

First person voice is wonderful story telling. The story unfolds inevitably through such ordinary days through its terrible climax and trial. We’ll told.

Enjoyable and addictive read

Excellent story. The narrator was brilliant and brought the story to life with her reading.

Truly excellent

I have a penchant for "factional" historical drama so this novel was right up my street - and didn't disappoint. Although I knew a rough outline of what had happened to little Charlie Lindbergh Jnr before embarking on this story, it inspired me to check out the film starring Anthony Hopkins (as Hauptman) as well as various documentaries available for free on YouTube. As the author states in her Afterword, it is truly remarkable that no one - before now - thought of addressing the case from the perspective of the Lindbergh nanny/nurse, Betty Gow.

In addition to the historical events themselves, I found it interesting (and appalling) to note the misogyny rampant at the time, as young single women who happened to "walk out" with young men, or join them for drinks at a "roadhouse" were considered nothing short of fallen women. Obvious, too, (at least to me, as a Scot who lived in the US for many years), the barely masked bigotry voiced by those who disliked how the "nobility" of the New York/New Jersey set preferred to draw many of their house maids, housekeepers, and nannies from "over the pond."

Even if you think you know everything there is to know about the Lindbergh kidnapping, Ms. Fredericks is likely to surprise you with some otherwise hidden or untold facts about members of the Morrow and Lindbergh households who could - whether through malice, ignorance, or otherwise - have tipped off Hauptman and his likely accomplice(s) who've never been found.

As for those reviewers who didn't seem to care for Penelope Rawlins' narration, I can only say that as a Brit I found her Scottish, Birmingham, and London accents to be spot on.

A wonderful listen!

Suspenseful until the very end

I loved this book! The story is amazing, and the narration is truly fantastic. So much tension and suspense-- even when I know (of course) what was going to happen. The writing is just so good. Fredericks keeps the suspense up until the very end.

This book is also incredibly well researched. I was also delighted that at the end of the novel the author provides a note about what is fact, and what is fiction.

This is a must-read (or must listen) for mystery fans, fans of historical fiction--and really anyone.