The Caretakers

More about the book

Set in a wealthy Parisian suburb, this emotionally charged debut unfolds through the perspectives of six women, centered around a group of au pairs. The narrative begins in 2015 when a crowd gathers outside the Chauvet home, where the family's American au pair is arrested following the sudden death of her young charge. The grieving mother blames the caretaker, igniting chaos in the neighborhood as residents grapple with uncertainty over who is responsible—the enigmatic foreigner or the seemingly detached mother. The truth is revealed through the lives of six women: Geraldine, a heartbroken French teacher striving to support her vulnerable students; Lou, an inept au pair recently dismissed by the neighboring family; Charlotte, a cold socialite and reluctant mother; Nathalie, an isolated French teenager seeking her mother's attention; Holly, a socially anxious au pair longing for acceptance in her new country; and Alena, the accused, who has avoided emotional connections and now finds herself entangled in her host family's turbulent dynamics. Set in the weeks leading up to the tragedy, this poignant and suspenseful drama delves into the complexities of womanhood, the burden of secrets, and the miscommunications that can lead to devastating outcomes.