Georgina Cross's The Niece is a good attempt at a twisted psychological thriller. The story centers on the Jenkins family which comprises of Beth, Tara and Beth's daughter Hannah. After the tragic death of her mother in a fire, Hannah is sent to live with her aunt Tara. However, Tara hadn't been in touch with her sister Beth for many years due to a traumatic event in which they were both involved. Now, because of the tragic death of her sister, she hopes to bridge the gap which had developed between her and her niece while making a new family of their own with herself, her niece and her daughter Cassie.

Hannah has always been taught by her mother not to trust her aunt and this makes it difficult for her to connect with her new family. She even suspects if her aunt has anything to do with the fire; and Tara suspects Hannah has brought trouble from back home.

After a slow start introducing and establishing all these characters, the story takes off after the first half of the book. The second half goes off into a twisted and complicated tale of betrayal and double-crossing which contains certain twists you will never guess.

The story was interesting and did offer an enjoyable reading experience. Georgina Cross has a good writing style with a clipped narrative style and crisp pacing. However, I had a few problems with the story too. All the characters were gray, which is alright; but I just didn't like any of them enough for me to root for them. I didn't much care about any of them almost till the end. There is also the very improbable twist at the end which took me out of the story for a bit.

Still, it is a decent attempt by the author and an entertaining one at that. If you are not much into too much logic and like twisted thrillers, you can definitely try this book.

Great thriller ! I did not see the twist coming near the end. Will definitely read more by this author.

A book to keep you on your toes. it tells the story of a young girl whose mother died in a house fire and went to live with her aunty and niece who she has never met. They welcome her with open arms but her aunty Tara has worries. Who wanted her sister dead and will they now come after her. Her sister Beth and her did a very bad thing when they were young and covered it up. Has there past now caught up with them.
This is a brilliant storyline and look forward to reading more from this author.

This one kept me guessing with its slow burn reveal of events. I knew something bad had to of happened in Tara’s past but we only got small pieces at a time. Once everything came together and you learn about her past it’s fast paced from there. While I wasn’t expecting the POV we got I think it worked out well. I liked the suspense and vibe of the whole book. The twists didn’t necessarily shock me but I thought they were well written and the ending wrapped up nicely.

Thank you @georginacrossauthor and @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy.

The Niece
By: Georgia Cross
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/4 stars

Holy smokes! 🔥🔥🔥 No pun intended... okay maybe a little 😏

Tara has not seen nor heard from her sister, Beth, in thirteen years. A tragic secret has bound them together but avoiding one another helps to keep the past where it belongs. An incident took place when they were both teenagers that only they know the truth about.

Unfortunately, Beth perishes in a home fire and her daughter, Hannah is able to make it to safety. Hannah is now coming to live with Tara and her daughter, Cassie, until she is 18 years old.

They do find out that the fire was intentional and that the past is coming back to haunt Tara. Now Tara is questioning exactly what Hannah knows and if she's a threat.

Huge twist towards the very end of the book! Whoa. Did not see that coming at all and I loved it!
This book is great for anyone that loves a truly psychological thriller!

Thank you @netgalley and @bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

Published on September 2, 2022

Tara, estranged from her older sister for thirteen years, is devastated when she learns of her sister’s death in a mysterious house fire. Furthermore, she also learns that she is now the guardian of her sixteen-year-old niece, Hannah. With such a complicated relationship with her sister and with a twelve-year-old daughter of her own, Tara knows this will change their lives. But, it will also give her an opportunity to get to know her niece and atone for the mistakes she’s made.

The Niece follows two timelines from Tara’s point of view. As the story unravels it is clear that there are many questions about her sister’s death as well as concerns for Hannah and how she is adapting to her new life with a new family.

Georgina Cross has developed an interesting plot that is entertaining, albeit somewhat farfetched. There seems to be more repetition than is necessary, while the twist at the end is somewhat unexpected. Consequently, Nanny Needed remains my favorite book by Ms Cross.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

This is one of those thrillers when you think you have things figured out, a new twist is thrown at you! 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 is a psychological thriller about a broken family with deep secrets.

Tara and Beth were sisters, estranged for many years. When Tara receives a phone call that Beth has died in a housefire, she is shocked but not surprised to learn that someone intentionally set the fire.

Tara gains custody of Beth’s daughter, Hannah, who made it out of the fire. Now Tara must explain to her own daughter that her cousin is coming to live with them, a cousin she didn’t even know existed.

The timeline jumps back and forth, which helps explain why the sisters became estranged. As time passes, you feel the tension and the fear as Tara knows someone is coming for her and the girls. You just never quite know who and why? As I mentioned, secrets kept being revealed, but I didn’t guess what happened in the end!

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @georginacrossauthor for a spot on tour and a gifted ebook.

I loved Georgina's books. Nanny Needed remains one of my favorite thrillers. I felt that this story was relatable. I could easily see having to take care of a family member who was left alone. But I guessed the twist.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-ARC!
Nanny Needed is my all-time favorite by Georgina Cross! When I saw she wrote a new book, I had to request it!
The Niece is perfectly paced, twisty, and I couldn’t put it down! I also enjoyed how most of the story takes place in Louisville, KY. I lived in Louisville for 5 years, so it was fun to read about it in this book.
This psychological thriller is filled with dark secrets, a delicious backstory of a broken bond between two sisters, and someone who is out for revenge…

Georgina Cross is such an amazing author! I loved all of her books and she ceases to amaze me every time 🙏🏻

The Niece is 100% one of the best books I’ve read this year. It kept me up at night and I finished it at 3:40 a.m. 🌚

The atmosphere was so creepy I couldn’t sleep afterward 🫣 But that’s what thrillers are about and why I love them!

The Niece is a great book and I highly recommend it!

After enjoying Nanny Needed last year, I was very excited to read Georgina Cross’ newest release, the Niece! This book is such a fast read, I had to know what happened!

Sisters Tara and Beth are estranged and haven’t spoken in over a decade. When Beth dies tragically, she leaves her 16 yr old daughter, Hannah to Tara. Tara has to explain to her own daughter that she has a cousin who is coming to live with them.

The book has two timelines that when they meet finally reveal what we have been waiting to find out! What happened to tear Tara and Beth apart! It’s clear that Beth’s death wasn’t an accident, so who would want to hurt Beth? Are they after Hannah too?

This was a perfect popcorn thriller to read in one afternoon. I thought the pacing was excellent and revealed enough each time to make you want more!

Thank you so much to @suzyapprovedbooktours, @bookouture, and @georginacrossauthor for my gifted ebook! This book is on sale now and is available through Kindle Unlimited!

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I have read by this author, but it won't be the last.

An exciting read, full of twists and turns, Lots of intrigue and suspicion.

Recommended.

Tara’s sister, Beth has tragically died in a house fire. Now Tara will take in Beth’s 16 year old daughter, Hannah. Beth hasn’t seen Hannah in many years, but she doesn’t hesitate to open her home to her niece. Hannah, and Tara’s daughter, Cassie, become fast friends, and everything falls into place.
However, the peaceful existence doesn’t last. Long buried secrets return to haunt Tara, and her world turns upside down.
This book grabbed me in from the first chapter! The big twist was so unexpected!
I enjoyed this fast paced, well written book, and give it 5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy!

This is the second of Georgina's books that I've read and it's another belter of a thriller. Completely gripping from the start and so many twists and turns but just enough so the story flowed really well and you weren't wondering what was going on.
There are really tense and creepy moments throughout that sent shivers down my spine.
Can't wait to read more from her!

THE NEICE was a domestic thriller and it had my stomach in knots as I read it with anticipation as the story unfolded.

There are secrets from thirteen years past that are revealed which integrate into the present plot of the book and I for sure did not see what was headed my way as a reader.

The book has characters that pulled at my heartstrings with the tragedies they endured while at the same time the characters kept me off-centered which made for an exceptional reading experience.

As with most thrillers, I don’t want to give much away so I’ll say that Tara and Beth are sisters but have not spoken for 13 years. Beth dies in a house fire and her 16 year old daughter, Hannah, comes to live with Tara and her daughter, Cassie.

While Tara is trying to welcome Hannah and comfort her after losing her mom, there are secrets Tara and Beth have that may have caused Beth’s death. And the person that wanted Beth dead may be after Tara and Hannah next.

Tara is shocked and griefstricken when her estranged sister dies in a house fire. Her niece Hannah comes to live with her but there is a tension between them as the past haunts them. But sinister phone calls and notes lead Tara to realise she is in danger and could face the same fate as her sister...
The Niece is a psychological thriller set in America.
The book begins with Beth's death which is quite tough to read. We then see the after effects as Tara is informed of the tragedy. She welcomes Hannah but it brings to the fore all of the emotions at being separated from her family for so long. Hannah is obviously devastated by Beth's death but has been raised with a negative opinion on her aunt.
Tara is afraid that the fire was not an accident but rather an act of revenge. This fear is reinforced when silent phone calls and sinister notes are received. Tension is established and well maintained so danger feels imminent. The fire motif used by the author creates a sense of dread as it plays to the readers' own fears.
There are plenty of clues about the event that divided the sisters, then halfway through the book we are transported back 13 years to Hannah's 3rd birthday party. I won't give any spoilers but there was a serious incident and this had my imagination in overdrive as I tried to guess who would be seeking revenge.
The Niece is a gripping psychological thriller with a strong emotional core.

𝘜𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘺!

This is one of those books that will keep you turning pages from start to finish. Fast paced, suspenseful, twisty, full of secrets, gripping and surprising. This was my first book from this author and it won’t be my last.

Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 by Georgina Cross, Author released September 2, 2022.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeemx/

I received an ARC of this book from Bookouture via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. This one definitely kept me entertained! I was eager to find out what was going to happen. This is at least the second book I have read recently where the synopsis is from the POV of a different character than the rest of the book - I find this strange and even a bit confusing. For this book, based on the synopsis, you would expect to read Hannah's story, when really the book is from Tara's POV. I also don't think the synopsis really conveyed what this book was about. I was almost getting frustrated for the big reveal of why Beth & Tara had their falling out. The revelation came just in time. I think I am in the minority that I did not anticipate the big twist. I was a little disappointed in the ending just because I would have preferred it differently. However, overall I found this a solid read and would happily read more by this author.

What would you do if your long-lost niece, who you haven't seen in years, needed you? A terribly tragic event has lead her to you....a house fire that killed your estranged sister. While you had not spoken to your sister in years, you still loved her, and will always be there for her daughter. You welcome your niece into your home with open arms, and watch as she forms a loving relationship with your own daughter. But something just doesn't seem right. The circumstances surrounding the fire seem suspicious, to say the least. Was someone trying to teach your sister and niece a lesson? If so, have they followed her to your home? If that is the case, is anyone safe?

"The Niece" was an enjoyable novel that builds on the premise of our pasts coming back to haunt us. While I enjoyed the book, I found a lot of the twists very predictable. Is this a must read? Not in my book. However, if you want to read a page-turner by Cross, check out "Nanny Needed." Unreal!

The Niece by Georgina Cross is a fast-paced suspense thriller that I enjoyed.

The story is written in the present with a few flashes to history in the past.

Tara and Beth are sisters who have been estranged for quite a long time. When Beth dies in a house fire, she is granted custody of her niece who is now 16 but hasn't seen her since she was 3 years old.

I really liked the family dynamics and drama. There was a lot of twists and some of which I NEVER saw coming. Was the fire really an accident? What is Tara hiding?

You will have to read to find out! Such a fun thriller!