The Lindbergh Nanny, a gripping novel by Mariah Fredericks, delves into America’s most notorious kidnapping.

Charles Lindbergh was a national hero after setting a record in 1927 by flying 33 hours straight from New York to Paris, alone aboard his plane,The Spirit of Saint Louis. The custom-built, single-engine, single-seat, high-wing monoplane carried nothing aboard but the pilot, sandwiches and a compass. Now, in 1931, Charles and his lovely wife, wealthy Anne Morrow Lindbergh, sought care for their infant son, Charlie, so that they could occasionally travel.

Betty Gow, a Scottish immigrant, was hired as Charlie’s nanny. Betty loved the little boy’s sweet nature, and admired how quickly he learned new skills. She found Charlie’s father eccentric. He had many rules concerning his son. The little boy was not to be coddled. No one was to rush to him when he cried, that it was best to let him “work it out.” When put to bed at 7:00 he was to be left alone, only to be checked on at 10:00 p.m. Mrs. Lindbergh was friendly and kind, but nervous. But the Lindberghs had confidence in Betty and seemed pleased with her care of Charlie.

On the evening of March 1, 1932, at 10:00, Betty went to check on Charlie, now 20 months old. He’d had a cold and she wanted to make sure he was properly covered. But his bed was empty. He was gone! Betty was shocked and heartbroken. But as the investigation dragged on, she was questioned at length and felt herself under suspicion in the eyes of the media and the public. Betty fought to clear her own name and to find justice for the child she loved.

The Lindbergh Nanny is an elegant novel. I’d heard of the kidnapping, but had never known the details. Although the novel is based on both fact and fiction, it is quite accurate as to the main details of the grisly event. I found it interesting, too, to learn how the very wealthy lived during that time. It was a world of nannies, parlormaids, footmen, gardeners, private secretaries, laundresses, drivers, cooks, and kitchen maids. I found the author’s comments at the end of the novel interesting and admire her ability to combine fact and fiction to create this intriguing story.