Thank you Libro.fm / Macmillan Audio for the ALC and St. Martin’s Press, #partner for the advanced copy of I’ll Watch Your Baby in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press / Macmillan Audio
Published: May 26, 2026
Summary:
A suffocating and sharp narrative horror novel for fans of Victor LaValle and The Reformatory, I’ll Watch Your Baby is a haunting reimagining of Linda Taylor -known as the original Welfare Queen – pursued, scrutinized, celebrated and vilified, and the impact her image has had for generations.
1974. Lottie Turner is already infamous. Running a wheel of schemes and scams, she’s willing to work for what she wants in…creative ways. But no business is more lucrative than desperate families looking to adopt a child—and there’s only one way to procure children quickly.
And the only way to take what’s owed you is to cross the line no one else is willing to cross.
1994. Bless has finally found the family she deserved. After suffocating slowly with lackluster parents and a non-starter past, she’s found the friends that means everything to her. That she’d live and die for. As they make their way across the country, one smash and grab at a time, Bless is used to acting fast and thinking on her feet.
But someone is playing a long game. Someone has unfinished business. Soon Bless is trapped in a web of horrors past and present, where the only escape hatch is a path only she can walk, if she finds the courage to take it.
My thoughts:
Historical horror has really become a favorite sub-genre of mine and this one was both fascinating and deeply unsettling. I admit I did not know anything about the real person this story was based on, the real welfare queen, Linda Taylor, so I definitely went down a few rabbit holes while reading, but that’s the fun of reading any historical book, right?
This is the type of book that I love – you don’t always love Lottie and Bess, but you cannot look away from them either. These characters are deeply flawed but you can’t help but sympathize with them at times. The generational trauma that we witness, wanting revenge for what was done to family in the past – it is heavy and hard-hitting, and the author does such a masterful job of taking on a controversial subject and making you want to read more. I was as equally captivated by what was happening and as I was deeply disturbed. What I especially loved was how creeped out I was while reading this. The author blends psychological horror, historical horror, manipulation, and paranoia that managed to not only keep me completely engaged and immersed in the story but also places twists in places that caught me completely off guard. This one gets darker and darker and while I loved it, I was not expecting it! And the flies…I still haven’t recovered from those!
If horror books that give you a visceral reaction are your type of reads, then definitely pick this one up!
Audio thoughts:
This was fantastic on audio, with Chante McCormick and Keylor Leigh doing an amazing job bringing the story to life. Each infused just the right amount of tension, stress, and energy for their character.
Purchasing from the link below supports independent bookstores and my blog!
