Nancy Norman’s world collapses when a fire destroys everything she owns. The glamour-obsessed homecare nurse faces an impossible choice: retire with nothing-or take one last night shift that could change everything. She takes the job. Her assignment leads her to an eccentric billionaire’s remote estate, where eco-activism hides darker secrets. But her quiet shift erupts into chaos when thieves storm the mansion, hunting for a legendary sapphire collection. Suddenly, Nancy is fighting for her life against trained criminals, high-tech traps, and the mansion’s bizarre defenses. Caught between loyalty and desperation, Nancy discovers an unexpected talent for deception. As she matches wits with the charming mastermind Stephen Sinclair, she realizes the biggest heist of the night might be her own transformation. In a house where nothing is what it seems, Nancy must decide who she is-and what she’s willing to steal to survive. This glittering thriller delivers a night of crime, betrayal, and self-discovery where the real treasure might be finding yourself.

From my Goodreads review:

I opened The Night Nurse and the Jewel Thief at the most opportune time when I needed a palate cleanser in my reading pile. So fun!!! Bond and bedazzling. Cats and catastrophes. Ecological dupes. A friendly AI home operating system. Senior dating apps. Antique diving suits and fanny packs. Harpoon and glue guns. As divergent as these items may seem, author Marilee Dahlman pulls them together to create a delightful book to entertain readers. Central to the story, we meet Nancy Norman, a recently retired and divorced night nurse. Through a series of interwoven circumstances, she finds herself smack-dab in the middle of a house invasion gone wrong—or right? Who is the thief and who is the victim? More importantly, who comes out on top in the end?

The level of absurdity reminded me to reset my expectations for reading and dive into pages of pure hilarity and enjoyment. I loved it. The ending wrapped with enough smiles and kitty purrs to make me think, I hope that The Night Nurse and the Jewel Thief marks the start of a new life and series for Nancy “Domino”.

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“Dahlman’s novel makes a solid effort to pay homage to classic espionage thrillers, and the fact that the protagonist is a senior citizen is relatively uncommon in the genre and sets the stage for a truly engaging story” – Kirkus Reviews“Charming and lively, The Night Nurse and the Jewel Thief by Marilee Dahlman is a lighthearted and amusing tale of crime and deceit. Character development is exemplary and truly stands out. From the lovesick AI to the charming Sinclair and the rest of the small cast, each individual felt unique and hand-crafted. Overall, an excellent read for fans of sophisticated crime stories that do not rely on gore.” – Gaius Konstantine for Readers’ Favorite

“This is a fast-paced and gripping cat-and-mouse thriller filled with twists, betrayals and shifting alliances. But what makes it stand out is the over-the-top quirkiness of the personalities. From Nancy to the billionaire to each of the three thieves, and even the cat, each character has been assigned exceptional qualities that make them stand out from the crowd. Filled with humor, some of it dark, much of it slapstick, this novel both entertains and intrigues as the reader follows.” – Sublime Book Review

BEDAZZLING ACTIVITY – I first learned about a super fun bookish activity from a friend who included it for her daughter’s 14th birthday party. I loved that the group of girls loved to read! So fun! Just like Nancy Norman, pull out the glue guns and add a bedazzling activity to your book club meeting. Everyone brings their copy of the book, and the hostess supplies everything else with this complete Bedazzling Kit.

Don’t forget Dr. Golden-Paw. Serve up cupcakes complete with cat toppers. Or offer everyone their own cat ears headbands for a bit of frivolity for your discussion. (opens in new tab)

Book Club Discussion Starters

• What did you think of GHOST, the mansion’s AI, and how its personality evolved in response to Nancy? Do you think in the future, people will become emotionally attached to their home’s AI?
• If you lost everything, how would you cope? Would you downsize, start over—or resist change? If you were in a life-or-death situation, could you find humor in the experience as a coping mechanism? If not, how do you think you would respond?
• What does Nancy’s adoption of the name “Nancy Domino” represent? Can we reinvent ourselves at any age? If you could completely change your identity, what would you be?

Meet the Author: Marilee Dahlman

Marilee was raised in a small midwestern town, and now she writes about invisible outsiders searching for where they belong. She’s inspired by the women in her family: no-nonsense farmers and nurses who drive pickups, eat at McDonald’s and don’t get knocked over by a 40-mile hour wind or anything else that life hurls at them.

Her writing tends to be quirky with plenty of heart. Marilee’s short stories have been published in The Bitter Oleander, The Colored Lens, Cleaver, Molotov Cocktail, Mystery Weekly, Orca Literary Journal, and elsewhere.

Marilee lives in Washington, DC. She loves farmers’ markets and playing with her Persian cats.

Check out Marilee’s next book and meet Kylie Kaiser, another quirky character, in Mall Goddess(opens in new tab), available to pre-order now ahead of the August 6, 2026 release.