Tara and Beth are sisters who grow up on their parents' large family property. The sisters have been estranged for years and then Beth dies in a fire at their parents' home which she inherited after they both died. Beth's sixteen-year-old daughter, Hannah flees from the fire and Tara learns that she is to continue bringing up Hannah as her legal guardian in accordance with Beth's wishes. Tara and her daughter, Cassie, a 12-year-old, welcome Hannah even though Tara hasn't laid her eyes on Hannah since she was three years old, and Cassie is thrilled to have a cousin living with them.

A twisted tale of deception, betrayal, rage and suspicion, I found the start a little slow but The Niece is still a great family drama. The characterisation was good and I could feel their emotions through the author's expressive writing. An all-around good read with a fabulous ending.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Niece' by Georgina Cross

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Georgina Cross.

Publication date 2nd September 2022.

This book was previously titled 'The Girl In Your House'.

This is the third book that I have read by this author. I have also read 'The Stepdaughter' and 'Nanny Needed' which I would highly recommend!!

I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and intriguing title and synopsis. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of The Wife Between Us, The Woman in the Window and Gone Girl'. I am a huge fan of 'Gone Girl' so am looking forward to seeing if it lives up to this claim. I am also a huge fan of Georgina and if this book is half as good as 'The Stepdaughter' and 'Nanny Needed' it is bound to be a page turner!! I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue and 34 chapters which are short to medium in length so perfect to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Alabama, USA 🇺🇸.

This book is written in first person perspective with the main protagonist being Tara Jenkins. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. The way it was written made me feel like I was right next to Tara throughout.

Wow!! WTAF?!? JUST WOW!!!! Where do I even begin? What an absolutely gripping, intense psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, flying through the pages and full of suspense!! Filled with twists, turns, red herrings, lies, family, secrets,shocks and explosive twists you won't see coming!!! I have read hundreds of books and this has been the one that has shocked me the most this year and it has definitely hit my top 3 biggest twists of all time!!! I WAS absolutely hooked from beginning to end and just could not put it down. I started it in the morning and couldn't put it down until 2am. I loved the fact that it had a suspense packed atmosphere throughout and OMG did the hairs on the end of my arms raise!! My heart was absolutely pounding throughout and I was on the edge of my seat. When the big reveal came my mind was absolutely blown away and this is definitely one of the few books that will stay with me for a very long time. Unbelievably explosive!! It was also heartbreaking and tragic so get the tissues ready as I shed several unexpected tears at the reveal. It really does show how one event can change so many lifes!! This book was previously titled 'The Girl In Your House' and retitled 'The Niece' which I think is a much more appropriate and suitable title.

I read approximately half of this book on kindle and listened to approximately half on audio book. I must also give a huge congratulations to the narrator Lauryn Allman who not only brought the storyline to life by really portraying the emotions through his voice but by doing absolutely fantastic impressions of males and females so a HUGE congratulations Lauryn!! I cannot imagine that this was anywhere near an easy feat!!! I am looking forward to discovering more books read by yourself as you definitely have a fantastic "book" voice!! I sometimes struggle to absorb the storyline through an audio book but if you are the same as me I can promise you will not have that problem with this amazing narrator!!

Do not even attempt to start this until you have cleared yiur schedules as you will not be able to put it down!!!

The characters were strong and realistic and I was completely invested in them from beginning to end. I need to be careful here that I don't say too much and give anything away so I'll keep it quite short. I really clicked with Tara and my heart went out to her and Cassie when their new family unit comes under threat. It was also heartbreaking how quickly Tara was shunned from her family after a potentially innocent event. They are a sweet just trying to make ends meet and when Tara is asked to take on her dead sisters niece then how can they say no?? My heart absolutely broke at a certain point in this book. Tara and Cassie are such likeable and friendly characters which definitely helped me become completely absorbed in the storyline. Cassie and Hannah formed such a beautiful bond with Hannah taking Cassie under her wing. Unfortunately I am not going to give any if my thoughts on the rest of the characters, I've been thinking and thinking but there doesn't seem to be a way for me to give my honest opinion of them without giving too much away. However, if you have read this, and you'll be mad not too, feel free to pop me a message and let me know what you thought of the characters and the storyline!!

Congratulations Georgina on an absolutely explosive page turner!!! Also a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS on writing a book that has shocked me the most this year!!! I read about 30 plus books a month so this is no easy feat but you managed it!!! This is exactly why you are one of my favourite authors!!! Here's to your next success!!! 🥂

Overall a mind blowing, suspense filled psychological page turning thriller with an explosive ending you WILL NEVER SEE COMING!!!

Genres covered include Suspense, Mystery, Psychological Fiction, Thriller and Psychological Thriller.

I would recommend this book to fans of any of the above as well as fans of 'The Nanny' , 'The Couple Next Door', 'The Wife Between Us', 'The Woman in the Window' and 'Gone Girl'. and 'The Family Upstairs' and for fans of page turning books that leave you shocked.

282 pages/9 hours 26 minutes

This book is £1.99 to purchase on kindle, £7.99 on paperback and £18.29 on Audible or £7.99 on Audible if you are an Audible member via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I loved it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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When Tara gets a phone call saying her sister was dead and that she left custody of her daughter Hannah to her she is shocked and surprised because she hadn’t spoke to her in years and because of secrets they promised to keep they both kept their distance but when Hannah arrives and tell Sarah that her mom Beth blamed her for the deaths of their parents she is a maze by yes. Despite all of that she is happy to have Hannah in her home and her and Casey her daughter get along so well but when strange things start happening and Hannah herself starts acting strangely Tara doesn’t know what to think. Ken Detective Gillespie in Louisville figure out who the killer is and who is sending strange cards and making anonymous phone calls to her and Hannah before it’s too late. Before it’s all said and done though the family secrets will be on bearing along with a few more. This was a great thrilling ride of a book. The way this book is written you really have no clue who did what why they did it and who’s doing strange things now until you do I mean this really is a great book I don’t want to get anything away because I didn’t know until I knew and that’s the best way to read this book it is so good! Talk about family secrets… I love this book and highly recommend it this is a truly thrilling book! I received this book from NetGalleyShelf and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Well written with a twist I didn’t see coming. I was not a fan of the main character, Tara; she comes off as a paranoid idiot and it was torturous listening to the story from her point of view. Because of this, the beginning dragged but it definitely picked up at the end and overall, I enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for a free copy of this book in exchange for my review. The beginning was promising but I was expecting more unfortunately. I think the problem was, I was able to guess part of what was happening from the beginning so I was not surprised enough. I liked the narration style and in general, this was an enjoyable story.

The Niece by Georgina Cross.
I love my family. But can I trust them?
Really good read. Great plot. Twisty. 4*.

Tara Jenkins has just received a call that her estranged sister, Beth, was killed in an arson related house fire, leaving her 16-year-old daughter, Hannah, with no family.

Years ago, something happened that made Tara’s parents send her away and left everything to Beth. Now, Tara is Hannah’s only relative and she will be coming to live with Tara and her 12-year-old daughter, Cassie. Some of Beth’s monies will be used to support her and some will be held in trust for her.

Tara and Cassie are doing all they can to welcome Hannah into their home and get her settled in school. While Hannah cries now and then, she seems to be happy there.

Detective Gillespie from Beth’s town is investigating the fire trying to find out who set it. In the meantime, he has told Tara to be very careful on her end.

This book is about revenge and the extent people will go to achieve it. It’s is twisty, scary, and surprising. Well done, Georgina Cross!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Niece in a few words: Long-held family secrets… and so much fire! 🔥

Tara, after having been estranged with her sister for years, suddenly receives a call that her sister has recently passed in a (you guessed it).. house fire. This unexpectedly leaves Tara as the sole guardian of her niece, Hannah, who was fortunate enough to have survived the tragic fire. Hannah moves in with Tara and her daughter, and shortly after, Tara starts getting caught up in the fear that whoever did this to her sister might likewise track her and her family down. There was a reason why Tara moved so far away from her hometown and hasn’t looked back since, but despite her efforts to start over, the secrets of her family’s past will always find a way to haunt her.

The novel was rich in family secrets, and the twists near the end were explosive! I had some assumptions about the main reveal, but I was sorely mistaken; it was actually much twistier than I expected! 🥨 The suspenseful present-day events, coupled with a dramatic and intriguing family backdrop, made this an unputdownable read.

5 STARS! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me access to an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.

Single 1st person POV ~ timeline in the present with a few flashbacks.

Tara has been estranged from her sister, Beth, for 13 years when she perishes in a house fire. Now, she has custody of her 16 year old niece that she hasn't seen since she was 3. Even though she has a 12 year old daughter of her own it still takes some getting used to having this virtual stranger in her house. As the fire investigation goes on Tara has a feeling that her past has caught up to her and someone will be after her next.

Family drama mama with some shocking twists, some predictability and plenty of secrets. A wonderful fast paced day read that had me engaged throughout.

CW ~ references to an extramarital affair, death of loved ones

★★★★ 4.5 stars

This is only the second book by Georgina Cross I've read and I have to say that I am impressed. The previous one I undertook "Nanny Needed" was thrilling and I didn't think it could get much better but THE NIECE is so addictive and absorbing from start to finish, and entertaining to boot! Why have I not discovered her sooner?

Tara and Beth are sisters who have been estranged for some thirteen years. The reason for their estrangement will gradually become clear as the story unfolds. So Tara is shocked to learn that not only has her sister died in a house fire but that according to her wishes, her sixteen year old daughter Hannah will be sent to live with Tara until she reaches eighteen and comes into her inheritance. Tara hasn't seen Hannah since she was a three year old toddler...when her world fell apart and her family disowned her.

Now Tara is faced with telling her own daughter Cassie that not only did she have an aunt but also a cousin she knew nothing about...and who is now coming to live with them. But it seems she needn't have worried because Cassie is super excited to have a cousin and it would be like having a big sister. From the moment she arrives, Hannah and Cassie bond immediately.

With Cassie thrilled at having a cousin and Hannah settling into life with them, Tara starts to hope that maybe things will work out after all. Hannah is enrolled at high school and begins within a few days, with high hopes for her education having excelled in the homeschooling program she undertook with her mother. But when she sees the school registrar waiting with Hannah when she arrives to collect her one afternoon, Tara realises that things may not be going as well as she first thought.

However, the past never stays buried...no matter how deep you dig. And if you've left a troubled past behind, chances are it will catch up with you. And Tara has a secret. One that she made with her sister Beth all those years ago. She kept her side of the bargain...but did Beth keep hers? From what Hannah appears to be alluding to, it seems Beth has told her different. Did she break their promise to each other? Did Beth lie to Hannah about what really happened? What did she tell her? It seems that Hannah knows something but just what it is, Tara isn't sure. And as her niece is still grieving the loss of her mother in such tragic circumstances, she won't pressure her. But Tara has to wonder...had Beth been honest with her daughter or has Hannah been manipulated?

Another thing that seems strange is the fact that Beth had become something of a recluse in recent years, never leaving the house. What is with that? That certainly didn't sound like the Beth she knew...so what has changed? Being the older of the sisters, Beth was always one to take charge...so what happened to make her take to her home and never leave?

Tara is in constant contact with the detective investigating the circumstances surrounding Beth's death in the fire and despite following a lead Hannah had given him, Tara had to wonder if it wasn't the past coming to catch them up. The secret she vowed to take to her grave...is it coming back to haunt her? After receiving threatening notes and silent phone calls, Tara believes that whoever killed Beth is now coming after her.

Filled with secrets, lies and deception, THE NIECE is an addictive fast-paced read from beginning to end. It is high energy, high octane and highly entertaining. Just when you think you know in which direction it's going, you won't. The twist, when it came, I had suspected due to one tinsy tiny tidbit that was dropped and grabbed with both hands and went with it. The fact that it was mentioned, even in passing, had to mean something. And so I wasn't surprised by the twist but I was by the outcome.

Although the entire read was thrilling and exciting, the ending did kind of peter out into nothing much and in comparison to the rest of the story, I did find it to be a little lack lustre. BUT...that is only a small part because the rest of the story was a thrill-ride you didn't want to get off. I enjoyed every minute of it and finished this book within a day. Plenty of drama, suspense and oh so many secrets that we had to unravel to get to the truth. And the tension was palpable.

A delicious story that I couldn't put down, THE NIECE is a thriller packed full of family secrets that just makes it all the more enticing. So far, I have enjoyed two thrillers by this author and I look forward to more! I shall be adding her already published ones to my ever-growing TBR list and will keep an eye out for more.

I would like to thank #GeorginaCross, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheNiece in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

The twist in this book was so good. I suspected something was up but was nowhere near the whole truth.

I was really looking forward to getting stuck into this one as the blurb really sparked my interest. It started off well but just never really got going. I kept waiting for the fast pace and the twists but it just didn’t get there. There was a lot of alluding to the past but without any explanation so it didn’t hit the same. If anything I just felt I was missing a huge part of the story. I found it repetitive almost to the point of rambling and I just lost interest. The outcome fell short for me and just didn’t come together well. Its a such a pity but this read wasn’t for me this time.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to listen to #TheNiece

The Niece by Georgina Cross

Published: September 2, 2022
Bookouture
Pages: 299
Genre: Psychological Thriller
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Georgina Cross has been writing since she was a child. Notebooks & printed pages filled with stories: adventures growing up in New Orleans and tales from Malaysia & England, where her family lives. After graduating from Louisiana State University, she enjoyed a career in marketing & communications and founded Susie's Wish non-profit, which sends patients with life-threatening illnesses to the beach. She spends time with her husband and their combined family of four sons watching scary movies and basketball tournaments and is thrilled to be a full-time author.

“Mark my words.”

Tara lives a quiet life with her daughter, Cassie. When Tara gets a phone call that her sister has been murdered, she is still reeling when she is also told she is now her niece's guardian. The niece Tara hasn’t seen in 13 years is coming to live with her. Suddenly, the last comes crashing down around Tara and mixing with her present.

Holy smokes. The ending of this book is a free fall off a cliff! I was blindsided, shocked, and deliciously entertained.

The pacing of this novel is done so well. It plays on the reader's emotions, and boy, does that get in your head! The build-up is so subtle that you don’t notice the shift at first until the floor is ripped away, and you plummet to the ground without a safety net.

The characters were excellent, and their development was strong. I liked how this story was told and how the past was unfolded and sprinkled throughout the present storytelling.

The twist left me with my jaw on the floor. I did not see it coming. The plot was curated so beautifully that just when you think you have figured it out and know what’s going to happen- you discover you were wrong about everything.

With excellent writing, strong characters, and well-placed emotions, this is a worthy thriller!

I loved this author’s previous book NANNY NEEDED, and I jumped on the opportunity to read and review THE NIECE.

This psychological thriller is jammed packed with family drama, and I was here for all of it! I loved reading about the sisters Hannah and Beth’s relationship growing up and what lead to their estrangement. The book is filled with many secrets, and you really do not know who to trust and what to believe. I was left guessing until the very end. I really like this author’s writing style and I look forward to reading more from her. I have no problem recommending this twisty thriller to anyone!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my e-ARC.

Twisty, twisty mystery!! Loved this one! Fast paced and captivating from beginning to end. This will be an author that I watch for so I can read more books by her.

Tara and her 12y daughter Cassie must make life arrangement because their long lost niece will live with them after lost her mom. Their family have hidding dark past, family issues and they worries it will give bad impact to their life. The niece, Hannah acted like stranger and treat them with hot cold attitudes. Actually I can't guess who responsible for all the conflict because everyone in this book seem suspicious.

The writing style is okay but the pace is slower than my normally fave. Early chapters feel repetitive and make me struggles to get my early ground. But after dive deeper I can enjoyed the plot better with all twist and turn. I enjoyed the slow burn tension too. The ending is surprising and totally worth the journey.
This book suitable for readers who need light psychology suspense, enjoyable and could be done in one sitting reading.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for provided this copy. I am grateful and my thoughts are my own.

Enjoy the book keeps you hooked from the start 31/2 stars.
Tara and Beth are astranged sisters and havent spoken in over 13 .years until Tara gets a call from a solicitor informing her that Beth died in a house fire and she was appointed guardian to her 16 year old daughter Hannah. Soon Tara starts receiving threats is her past coming back to haunt her or is her neice who she says she is?

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of this fantastic book. I read it within a few days due to how the author worded each page phenomenally. I was turning pages just to find out what would happen next! The ending was jaw-dropping. What a great book Georgina Cross! This book is different from most; go grab a copy and find out why!

Tragedy and secrets dog Tara. Her niece has to live with her and her daughter, after the tragic death of Tara’s sister, Beth.
But hey we’re the sisters estranged? Why was Tara banished from their parents’ home?
My mind swirled with these questions as I dove in. Each chapter led me deeper into the abyss of secrets. When the secrets finally uncovered, it illustrates the author intricately woven plot anc characters. Lots of surprises were In store for me.
It’s a spine tingling read.

So so good. Picked it up and finished it in the same day. Unexpected twists and turns, some chilling moments that gave me shivers, and an overall well-written book. Definitely recommend!