The Perfect Nanny

Chapter 16 introduces a new voice, that of Rose Grinberg, a neighbor of the Massés. In it, she describes a journey she had with Louise in the elevator of the apartment building where the Massés lived on the day that Louise killed the children. According to Rose, Louise was not her normal self: “Usually so smiling and friendly, she stood motionless in front of the glass door. Adam, sitting on a step, was screaming loudly and Mila was jumping, knocking into her brother. Louise did not move” (80). Later, Rose heard Myriam scream when she came home and discovered the murder scene.

Rose’s retelling of the incident is framed in the context of Louise’s court trial, with Louise’s defense lawyer asking Rose questions. The lawyer paints Louise as a victim of Myriam in particular, describing her as a career-obsessed, exploitative employer. Rose’s testimony hints that finances could have been a possible reason for Louise’s supposed mental break; a month prior to the murder, Louise “asked if Rose had some work she could do for her” to make her rent payment (82).