Babysitter

Synopsis of Babysitter

Set in late 1970s Detroit, this novel by Joyce Carol Oates is a corrosive and brilliantly orchestrated thriller. The story follows Hannah Jarrett, a woman from the white elite who, while her family life falls apart, becomes entangled in a dangerous personal affair. Meanwhile, the city is terrorized by a serial killer known as 'Babysitter', whose crimes against children keep the population on edge. With incisive prose, Oates dissects the hypocrisy, misogyny, and corruption of a society isolated in its privilege. It is a dark and fascinating portrait that explores human vulnerability in the face of systemic violence and fear, making for a gripping read that leaves no one indifferent.