The Nanny

Unlike most creatures in horror fiction, the British nanny in Greenburg's (How to Be a Jewish Mother) superficial but involving suspense novel is a ghoul who loves too much. Loveperfect, pure and unconditionalis mother's milk to Nanny; she feeds on it as vampires do on blood. For over 100 years, it has kept her young, gorgeous and ofttimes lethal, since she is prepared to kill if thwarted. The latest recipients of her affection are Phil and Julie Pressman, a young couple who have recently moved to New York so that Phil can pursue a career in advertising. Needful of help with a colicky newborn, they hire nurse Luci Redman who, not content with mere child care, cooks, cleans and seduces his parents in her spare time. In short order, in fact, Nanny sets about establishing her dominion over the Pressman menage. At length, Phil grows suspicious and decides to check Luci's references. Two prior survivors of Nanny's ministrations alert Phil to the fact that he and his family are in great danger. They flee; Nanny follows; there's a grisly denouement; Nanny rises again. Just like the movies, for which this story has already been sold. First serial to Cosmopolitan; movie rights to Universal. (November)