The Godchild was a first read from this author, and it was also a very quick one. It was an easy, fast-paced read that I mostly read in one sitting.
The premise was thrilling, and I rather enjoyed the pace and mystery of the story.
However, I couldn't bring myself to particularly like any of the characters. The more I read, the more infuriating they became. And while I liked the first half of this book, the ending kinda lost me. I found the reveal honestly rather ridiculous and extreme.
It was a book that certainly had potential, but unfortunately, the ending ruined it for me.
It's still worth a read, but it's not my favourite.
I will also still be checking out this author's other books.

Thank you, Netgalley, for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Godchild by Miranda Rijks is a chilling psychological thriller that explores the dark side of family secrets and trust. The story follows Lydia, a woman who is deeply invested in the life of her godchild, but when things begin to unravel, she starts to question whether the people around her are hiding dangerous truths. As Lydia gets closer to the truth, she finds herself entangled in a web of lies, manipulation, and deception. With suspenseful twists and a tense atmosphere, Rijks crafts a compelling narrative that keeps readers on edge, perfect for fans of psychological suspense and dark thrillers.

The Godchild by Miranda Rijks is a tense, psychological thriller that delves deep into the complexities of family dynamics, trust, and hidden secrets. The story centers on seventeen-year-old Alicia, who, after her mother's mysterious disappearance, turns to her godmother Carina for refuge. Carina is eager to help the smart, driven Alicia and sees her as the daughter she never had. However, her family, particularly her husband Don and children Tegan and Arthur, begin to grow suspicious of Alicia, sensing something isn’t quite right about her.

When a shocking crime involves Carina’s daughter Tegan, the family’s once peaceful life unravels, and Alicia’s presence becomes increasingly suspect. As Carina attempts to protect her family, she is forced to confront painful secrets from her past, making this a gripping tale of betrayal, deceit, and the destructive power of hidden truths.

Rijks expertly builds suspense with each twist, keeping readers on edge as they try to untangle the complex web of relationships. With its dark atmosphere, well-developed characters, and unexpected revelations, The Godchild is a captivating psychological thriller that explores how the past can haunt the present and how one person’s hidden agenda can tear a family apart. A must-read for fans of twisty, suspense-filled domestic dramas.

The Godchild by Miranda Rijks is a thrilling and emotional psychological drama that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The story centers around a woman whose life is turned upside down when she is asked to be the guardian of her best friend’s child, only to discover unsettling secrets that challenge everything she thought she knew. Rijks expertly weaves suspense, tension, and unexpected twists, creating a gripping narrative that is both heart-pounding and deeply human.

The characters are well-developed, and the sense of dread grows steadily throughout the book, making it a page-turner. Rijks’ writing is engaging and sharp, and the plot twists are sure to surprise and satisfy fans of psychological thrillers.

The Godchild is a compelling and addictive read, offering a perfect blend of mystery, suspense, and emotional depth. It’s a must-read for those who enjoy gripping stories with complex characters and unexpected turns. I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Fast-paced, intense, and full of surprises, this thriller had me hooked from page one. Miranda skilfully layers suspense, keeping you on edge throughout.

I really enjoyed this book. I did not see this as a very scary psychological thriller as I was expecting, I did enjoy this one. Is a psychological thriller that is domestic so if you like this then this is your type of read .

This book had my mind reeling like seriously reeling. I can’t really even put words on how I feel about this book just that my heart was racing. I needed to know more and I needed to know more now it was phenomenal.

Miranda Rijks does it again writing another exciting page turner that I couldn’t put down. ‘ “The Godchild” is a well written psychological thriller that tells of an ordinary family dealing with the arrival of an unexpected guest. Seventeen-year-old Alicia arrives on the doorstep of her godmother Carina’s following the mysterious disappearance of her own mother.

Carina who yearns for a daughter is excited to welcome Alicia into her home and Alicia quickly becomes the focus of Carina’s maternal affection. Carina’s husband Don and their children, Tegan and Arthur however are wary of Alicia’s too good to be true appearance.

The family life changes and sixteen year old Tegan is accuse of a , a sixteen-year-old, finds herself accused of a horrible crime and the family life descends into mayhem. Carina starts to question Alicia’s true intentions and if she is Alicia genuinely is the wonderful person she appears to be or is there something sinister afoot. All these goings on force Carina to confront her own troubled past and its unsettling truths.

“The Godchild,” is a very entertaining read and a must read for readers of psychological thrillers.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Inkubator Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Anyone who reads my reviews regularly will know that Miranda Rijks is one of my favourite authors. Her thrillers always have me on the edge of my seat and I have had many a late night when I simply can't put down her books!

This one is no exception. A shocking psychological thriller that had me hooked from the very beginning!

The characters were great and all were well developed. Carina is a headteacher who is juggling work, a house-husband and three children, two of whom have their own issues going on. Then a teenage girl turns up on the doorstep claiming to be her god-daughter. But is she really? And can she trust her after not seeing her, or her mum, in years?

There were some parts of the story I predicted, but there were also so many twists and turns that kept me guessing throughout. The story developed well and was fast-paced, just like some of the other books I have read by Rijks.

The ending was fantastic and superbly shocking. If you love a fast-paced, un-put-downable, physiological thriller with relatable characters who have relatable issues we all face - pick this up for sure!

A Dark and Twisting Masterpiece!

"The Godchild" is a shocking psychological thriller that captivated me from the first page. The story of Alicia, who arrives at her godmother Carina's doorstep, sets off a chain of events that plunges an ordinary family into chaos and suspicion. The author, renowned for "The Visitors" and "Make Her Pay," has truly outdone themselves with this gripping tale.

The characters are richly developed, and the tension is palpable throughout. Alicia's arrival brings an eerie sense of unease, and as the family's lives unravel, the suspense keeps you on the edge of your seat. Carina's internal struggle with her past and the turmoil in her present is portrayed with such depth and nuance that I felt every moment of her fear and confusion.

The plot is full of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. Just when I thought I had figured it out, the story took another unexpected direction. The blend of family drama, hidden secrets, and psychological manipulation makes for an incredibly compelling read.

"The Godchild" is an absolute must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. It's a dark, twisting masterpiece that will leave you thinking about it long after you've turned the last page. Five stars for this brilliant and haunting story! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book was a page turner, I never want to be a Godmother after reading this story! I did guess the ending but it was still a great read!

This was a very interesting type of revenge story, although I guessed the ending way before it was revealed. What would you do if a stranger showed up at your door, saying she was your Godchild and could she stay with you for awhile? A Godchild that you had not seen for about 20 years, and you had lost all contact with her mom. Would you believe her automatically? Carina did, and then ignored all the little warning signals that something was not quite right...until it was too late. I have read other books by Miranda Rijks and have to say that this one is up to par with the others. I will continue to read books written by her. Thanks, Inkubator Books and NetGalley for the chance to read it.

I ended up getting this on my own and it was so good! This was so fast paced for me and just kept pulling me in over and over again. It definitely had some semi-predictable elements, but overall it was enjoyable and I'd recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Inkubator Books, and Miranda Rijks for an ARC of The Godchild.

The Godchild starts quickly and stays at an attention-keeping pace throughout the book. It has several unpredictable twists, and even though the concept is not a new one, Rijks does an excellent job of building on the thriller notion of "you're not who I thought you were...".

Wonderful character/story building, quickly paced, and an enjoyable read! I recommend it.

Alicia turns up on her Godmothers doorstep, begging for help and shelter.. Carina, though she has not seen Alicia or her mother in many years, feels obliged to help her. Soon strange things are happening to Carina's family. Her daughter is in trouble in school. Her son is acting strangely. Her husband is worried and wants Alicia gone. But Alicia seems so lost and she helps around the house and with taking care of the baby. Carina is torn between her family and her Goddaughter.......and then all hell breaks loose and Carina has to race against time to prevent permanent damage being done to her family. A very well written book, playing on the guilt women feel to help others, even to our own detriment at times.

Thank you so much for this book.
As always, Miranda does it again - another unputdownable book.
The ending will blow you away - you must read.

Once again Miranda Rijks gives her readers a story you can’t and don’t want to put down.

This is a fantastic story about a family who takes in a stray so to speak. A stray person that is.
What a crazy turn of events. Even knowing who the killer was the ending will surely blow you away.

I think Miranda Rijks is really good at writing books that keep the reader interested. I always have a hard time putting her books down, and this was no different. I do think some of the plot was a little unbelievable and the characters were a little out there, but overall I enjoyed this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a pretty good thriller. I certainly didn’t want to put it down and it was well written. It did feel fairly predictable to me in the end.

A good read for lovers of thriller books. Twists and turns keeping me hooked throughout the novel, and making me want to read more from this author!