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The Gap
From Ninie Hammon, sorceress of psychological suspense, comes The Gap , a thrilling new intergenerational tale of dark secrets and hidden tragedies that will keep you turning pages late into the night.
In the sprawling Harrington House on the Texas prairie, the family of 100-year-old Olivia Harrington has gathered for the funeral of her daughter-in-law, Hannah. All the generations, from The Greatest Generation to Gen Alpha, are represented among the three dozen people who spend the weekend together. But this family reunion is far from peaceful.
Olivia's son, Cyrus, couldn't let his wife, Hannah, build a koi pond in the backyard because he knows what's buried under the cherry tree. Did he kill her to keep the secret?
Cyrus's sister Alex is dying, and she believes she's the one who killed Hannah. Is she wrong?
When four-year-old Chapman steals the shiny ring off his dead grandmother's body, it creates chaos among the cousins, who've been promised millions of dollars worth of Hannah's jewelry. But when the ring is found, a shocking secret is revealed.
Olivia's great-granddaughter, Avery, hates her father, Spencer, for running down a kid on a bicycle. But an old picture in the attic might prove he spent eight years in prison for a crime he didn't commit- unless the man who's really guilty gets his hands on the picture ... or kills Spencer first.
After Olivia makes an explosive announcement on the day of the funeral, a stranger shows up with a gun, demanding to know who her mother is.
Then a storm strikes, the lights go out, and the house catches fire. All members of the family struggle to survive. They don't all make it out alive. And in a final, astonishing twist, they discover a cold-blooded killer has been among them all along.
Full of twists and turns, The Gap is a gripping thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the end.
In the sprawling Harrington House on the Texas prairie, the family of 100-year-old Olivia Harrington has gathered for the funeral of her daughter-in-law, Hannah. All the generations, from The Greatest Generation to Gen Alpha, are represented among the three dozen people who spend the weekend together. But this family reunion is far from peaceful.
Olivia's son, Cyrus, couldn't let his wife, Hannah, build a koi pond in the backyard because he knows what's buried under the cherry tree. Did he kill her to keep the secret?
Cyrus's sister Alex is dying, and she believes she's the one who killed Hannah. Is she wrong?
When four-year-old Chapman steals the shiny ring off his dead grandmother's body, it creates chaos among the cousins, who've been promised millions of dollars worth of Hannah's jewelry. But when the ring is found, a shocking secret is revealed.
Olivia's great-granddaughter, Avery, hates her father, Spencer, for running down a kid on a bicycle. But an old picture in the attic might prove he spent eight years in prison for a crime he didn't commit- unless the man who's really guilty gets his hands on the picture ... or kills Spencer first.
After Olivia makes an explosive announcement on the day of the funeral, a stranger shows up with a gun, demanding to know who her mother is.
Then a storm strikes, the lights go out, and the house catches fire. All members of the family struggle to survive. They don't all make it out alive. And in a final, astonishing twist, they discover a cold-blooded killer has been among them all along.
Full of twists and turns, The Gap is a gripping thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the end.
438 pages, Paperback
First published June 8, 2023
785 people are currently reading
1423 people want to read
About the author
Ninie Hammon
48 books240 followersI was born in Socorro, New Mexico, sometime shortly after the earth cooled off. It’s clear that from the outset my parents never intended for me to amount to anything. How could I? With a name like “Ninie?” Please.
Fame and fortune do not come to people named Ninie Bovell (My maiden name.) Gabriella Bovary? You could work with that. Even something as pedestrian as Madeline Bovell or Rebecca Bovell or (though you’d lose points here for lack of originality) Elizabeth Bovell. But Ninie? I never had a chance.
If I sound a mite hostile, bear in mind that in one decisive stroke my parents sentenced their precious newborn daughter to a lifetime of explanations that began my first day at Muleshoe Elementary School. (Yeah, Muleshoe. The hits just keep on coming.) After a painful week, I had a rap down that I still use today:
“No, it’s not Ninnie like skinny and penny. It’s Ninie—rhymes with tiny and shiny. 9e…get it? And no, it doesn’t mean anything, it isn’t short for anything, long for anything, or a substitute for anything. It just is. (Pause here for the inevitable ‘Why?’) You got me, pal, I couldn’t tell you.”
I grew up in Texas, got a BA in English and theatre from Texas Tech University and snagged a job as a newspaper reporter. Didn't know a thing about journalism, but my editor said if I could write he could teach me the rest of it and if I couldn't write the rest of it didn't matter. I hung in there for a 25-year career as a journalist. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, but as soon as I figured out that making up the facts was a whole lot more fun than reporting them, I never looked back.
Now, I write suspense--every flavor except pistachio: psychological suspense, inspirational suspense, suspense thrillers, paranormal suspense, suspense mysteries.
In every book I write I try to keep this promise to Loyal Reader: I will tell you a story in a distinctive voice you'll always recognize, about people as ordinary as you are--people who have been slammed by something they didn’t sign on for, and now they must fight for their lives. Then smack in the middle of their everyday worlds, those people encounter the unexplainable--and it's always the game-changer."
Fame and fortune do not come to people named Ninie Bovell (My maiden name.) Gabriella Bovary? You could work with that. Even something as pedestrian as Madeline Bovell or Rebecca Bovell or (though you’d lose points here for lack of originality) Elizabeth Bovell. But Ninie? I never had a chance.
If I sound a mite hostile, bear in mind that in one decisive stroke my parents sentenced their precious newborn daughter to a lifetime of explanations that began my first day at Muleshoe Elementary School. (Yeah, Muleshoe. The hits just keep on coming.) After a painful week, I had a rap down that I still use today:
“No, it’s not Ninnie like skinny and penny. It’s Ninie—rhymes with tiny and shiny. 9e…get it? And no, it doesn’t mean anything, it isn’t short for anything, long for anything, or a substitute for anything. It just is. (Pause here for the inevitable ‘Why?’) You got me, pal, I couldn’t tell you.”
I grew up in Texas, got a BA in English and theatre from Texas Tech University and snagged a job as a newspaper reporter. Didn't know a thing about journalism, but my editor said if I could write he could teach me the rest of it and if I couldn't write the rest of it didn't matter. I hung in there for a 25-year career as a journalist. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, but as soon as I figured out that making up the facts was a whole lot more fun than reporting them, I never looked back.
Now, I write suspense--every flavor except pistachio: psychological suspense, inspirational suspense, suspense thrillers, paranormal suspense, suspense mysteries.
In every book I write I try to keep this promise to Loyal Reader: I will tell you a story in a distinctive voice you'll always recognize, about people as ordinary as you are--people who have been slammed by something they didn’t sign on for, and now they must fight for their lives. Then smack in the middle of their everyday worlds, those people encounter the unexplainable--and it's always the game-changer."
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July 5, 2023DNF 20%. Not thrilling.
March 11, 2024
This book was all over the place and so difficult to follow. Who is related to who? The ending felt rushed and was an odd but suspenseful ending. I’m not one to give up on a book so I finished but definitely was close to DNF.
2.5/5 stars
2.5/5 stars
January 6, 2026
This book had an interesting premise, but it didn’t fully work for me. The story felt quite long and dragging, and I found myself waiting for something big to finally happen. There were moments of intrigue, but overall it didn’t keep me as engaged as I hoped. Not a bad read, just not one that really stuck with me.
February 28, 2025
this book could’ve been fantastic, but it had major flaws. the concept is fun and captivating, but the multiple editing errors and the very biased political aspects ruin it
November 18, 2024
Suspenseful, but could use improvement
In The Gap by Ninie Hammon, readers are plunged into a gripping psychological thriller that intricately examines the murky waters of human behavior and moral dilemmas. The story kicks off with an alarming scream, instantly immersing us in a world filled with suspense and tension.
Set against the backdrop of a family gathering at the sprawling Harrington House, the narrative unfolds during the funeral of matriarch Olivia Harrington's daughter-in-law, Hannah. This event brings together a diverse cast of characters from multiple generations, each harboring their own secrets and motives. While this rich tapestry of personalities adds depth to the plot, it can also be overwhelming. The frequent shifts in perspective might leave some readers feeling a bit lost, but for those who relish complex narratives, this feature enhances the intrigue.
One of the novel's standout elements is its portrayal of morally ambiguous characters. Many individuals in The Gap are neither wholly good nor entirely evil, which injects a sense of unpredictability into the storyline. Although the identity of the “killer” is revealed early on (I won’t go too much into this to keep this review spoiler-free) , the true suspense lies in watching how characters scramble to hide their secrets and protect their reputations. As the climax approaches, readers may find themselves questioning everyone’s innocence.
However, this book does not shy away from tackling serious themes, including mental health issues, character deaths, and instances of transphobia. These elements are interwoven into the narrative, contributing to its dark atmosphere but potentially unsettling some readers.
Pacing is another aspect worth noting. The story builds gradually for the most part,, with significant action occurring primarily in the final third. This sudden rush can feel jarring, especially as pivotal events like a storm and subsequent fire unfold rapidly toward the end. While the epilogue offers some closure, the revelation of the killer's identity feels somewhat detached from earlier plot developments, leaving certain threads unresolved.
In The Gap by Ninie Hammon, readers are plunged into a gripping psychological thriller that intricately examines the murky waters of human behavior and moral dilemmas. The story kicks off with an alarming scream, instantly immersing us in a world filled with suspense and tension.
Set against the backdrop of a family gathering at the sprawling Harrington House, the narrative unfolds during the funeral of matriarch Olivia Harrington's daughter-in-law, Hannah. This event brings together a diverse cast of characters from multiple generations, each harboring their own secrets and motives. While this rich tapestry of personalities adds depth to the plot, it can also be overwhelming. The frequent shifts in perspective might leave some readers feeling a bit lost, but for those who relish complex narratives, this feature enhances the intrigue.
One of the novel's standout elements is its portrayal of morally ambiguous characters. Many individuals in The Gap are neither wholly good nor entirely evil, which injects a sense of unpredictability into the storyline. Although the identity of the “killer” is revealed early on (I won’t go too much into this to keep this review spoiler-free) , the true suspense lies in watching how characters scramble to hide their secrets and protect their reputations. As the climax approaches, readers may find themselves questioning everyone’s innocence.
However, this book does not shy away from tackling serious themes, including mental health issues, character deaths, and instances of transphobia. These elements are interwoven into the narrative, contributing to its dark atmosphere but potentially unsettling some readers.
Pacing is another aspect worth noting. The story builds gradually for the most part,, with significant action occurring primarily in the final third. This sudden rush can feel jarring, especially as pivotal events like a storm and subsequent fire unfold rapidly toward the end. While the epilogue offers some closure, the revelation of the killer's identity feels somewhat detached from earlier plot developments, leaving certain threads unresolved.
July 19, 2023
A Dizzy, Busy Ride
Too many characters, too many subplots…and, yet, I stayed the course. The story was just this side of cheesy and almost too much but not just right. I found it diff to keep track of the characters and all the relationships and plots. A few editing mistakes but that’s to be expected nowadays.
Too many characters, too many subplots…and, yet, I stayed the course. The story was just this side of cheesy and almost too much but not just right. I found it diff to keep track of the characters and all the relationships and plots. A few editing mistakes but that’s to be expected nowadays.
August 18, 2023
There were A LOT of characters and for most of the book I couldn’t keep them straight. I like dual perspectives but have never read a book with as many perspectives as this one. The book also didn’t need to be this long. Some descriptions of random things were unnecessary.
December 9, 2023
all over the place
Too many storylines for one book, in my opinion. you couldn’t really connect with any of the characters because it hopped around too much. I liked some of the ideas for the plot, but not all for one book.
Too many storylines for one book, in my opinion. you couldn’t really connect with any of the characters because it hopped around too much. I liked some of the ideas for the plot, but not all for one book.
September 21, 2024
1.12/5
Bad. Just bad. I don’t even feel like writing a review because I just want to forget about this book. This will just be a list rather than an essay because I’m so over this.
WARNING: Light spoilers ahead.
Positives:
- Interesting plot: having a multi-generational family (from the Greatest Generation to Gen Α) all come to one place.
- Names were interesting (I’m a name nerd).
Negatives:
- Heavily relies on generational stereotypes. Olivia (matriarch of family) has never seen video games before, for example. Maddie (Gen Z) is a blue-haired SJW. None of the characters broke stereotype (except for Avery at the very end, but I’ll mention that later). Each POV used very predictable speaking style.
- No fluidity. Lots of plot holes. For half the book, Avery and Maddie were speculating the manner of Aunt Hannah’s death, and then just stopped out of nowhere. Alex selling Hannah’s jewelry was never brought up again (huge plot point bc that’s where the inheritance is at). Conversations between characters sounded very NPC.
- Lots of telling, no showing at all. Reads as AI.
- Author feels the need to over explain everything. Repeats facts over and over again. “Oh, Avery must still be in the house because her car is still there!” *goes upstairs and doesn’t hear anyone* “I don’t hear her, but I know she’s still there because her car is outside!” Yeah, I know, you just said that.
- Very unrealistic. I don’t mind looking over some unrealistic scenarios (eg: I love “Legally Blonde” even though no way would Harvard have accepted Elle’s video essay). But there was just TOO many, and it was just PAINFULLY unrealistic. Rowan’s mom got killed instantly because she fell on the stem of a broken wine glass. Avery just accepts her father after years of resenting him because she found out he actually wasn’t the cause of an accidental death (which I don’t mean she should hate him, but naturally when you grow up hating your dad, and find out the reason why you hated him ended up being a lie, you don’t just start hugging and called him daddy. You’d feel a complex of emotions). Gabe suddenly managed to dissected his memories of being attacked by a monster in under a minute, even though he had nightmares about it for 50+ years. Jude is schizophrenic and calls the voice “the Other”, which does not typically happen with people with schizophrenia. That’s just a quick google search. If you’re gonna talk about a highly stigmatized mental illness, at least do your due diligence, ESPECIALLY SINCE (big spoiler) HE WANTED TO KILL SPENCER.
- 80% of the book was the beginning, giving context to everything. The rest was rushed.
Speculations:
- I think the author is transphobic. Alex was being transphobic, and you can argue that this is the character, not the author. However, at the end of the book, Avery said she thinks a lot of people in her family agree with her, implying it’s good she said the things she says. This is out of character for Avery, and NONE of these characters EVER break character. Also her saying that was not even relevant at all.
- I feel like this book was written by AI. However, if I’m wrong, it was definitely rushed. Book is 500+ pages, published in 2023. Book takes place after COVID-pandemic and when all restrictions have been long lifted. Also referenced Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter, which happened in 2022. So she wrote a 500+ pages in a year? Books usually take AT LEAST two years to write, and I would imagine even longer if it’s 500+ pages.
Bottom line:
I don’t want to think about this book again. It was such a chore to read, I was forcing myself to finish it. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
Messages I sent to friends when talking about this book:
- “I’d rather slam my head against the wall than read that book again.”
- “the wack book in my Books app”
Apologies for any mistakes in grammar and spelling. I’m exhausted.
Bad. Just bad. I don’t even feel like writing a review because I just want to forget about this book. This will just be a list rather than an essay because I’m so over this.
WARNING: Light spoilers ahead.
Positives:
- Interesting plot: having a multi-generational family (from the Greatest Generation to Gen Α) all come to one place.
- Names were interesting (I’m a name nerd).
Negatives:
- Heavily relies on generational stereotypes. Olivia (matriarch of family) has never seen video games before, for example. Maddie (Gen Z) is a blue-haired SJW. None of the characters broke stereotype (except for Avery at the very end, but I’ll mention that later). Each POV used very predictable speaking style.
- No fluidity. Lots of plot holes. For half the book, Avery and Maddie were speculating the manner of Aunt Hannah’s death, and then just stopped out of nowhere. Alex selling Hannah’s jewelry was never brought up again (huge plot point bc that’s where the inheritance is at). Conversations between characters sounded very NPC.
- Lots of telling, no showing at all. Reads as AI.
- Author feels the need to over explain everything. Repeats facts over and over again. “Oh, Avery must still be in the house because her car is still there!” *goes upstairs and doesn’t hear anyone* “I don’t hear her, but I know she’s still there because her car is outside!” Yeah, I know, you just said that.
- Very unrealistic. I don’t mind looking over some unrealistic scenarios (eg: I love “Legally Blonde” even though no way would Harvard have accepted Elle’s video essay). But there was just TOO many, and it was just PAINFULLY unrealistic. Rowan’s mom got killed instantly because she fell on the stem of a broken wine glass. Avery just accepts her father after years of resenting him because she found out he actually wasn’t the cause of an accidental death (which I don’t mean she should hate him, but naturally when you grow up hating your dad, and find out the reason why you hated him ended up being a lie, you don’t just start hugging and called him daddy. You’d feel a complex of emotions). Gabe suddenly managed to dissected his memories of being attacked by a monster in under a minute, even though he had nightmares about it for 50+ years. Jude is schizophrenic and calls the voice “the Other”, which does not typically happen with people with schizophrenia. That’s just a quick google search. If you’re gonna talk about a highly stigmatized mental illness, at least do your due diligence, ESPECIALLY SINCE (big spoiler) HE WANTED TO KILL SPENCER.
- 80% of the book was the beginning, giving context to everything. The rest was rushed.
Speculations:
- I think the author is transphobic. Alex was being transphobic, and you can argue that this is the character, not the author. However, at the end of the book, Avery said she thinks a lot of people in her family agree with her, implying it’s good she said the things she says. This is out of character for Avery, and NONE of these characters EVER break character. Also her saying that was not even relevant at all.
- I feel like this book was written by AI. However, if I’m wrong, it was definitely rushed. Book is 500+ pages, published in 2023. Book takes place after COVID-pandemic and when all restrictions have been long lifted. Also referenced Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter, which happened in 2022. So she wrote a 500+ pages in a year? Books usually take AT LEAST two years to write, and I would imagine even longer if it’s 500+ pages.
Bottom line:
I don’t want to think about this book again. It was such a chore to read, I was forcing myself to finish it. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
Messages I sent to friends when talking about this book:
- “I’d rather slam my head against the wall than read that book again.”
- “the wack book in my Books app”
Apologies for any mistakes in grammar and spelling. I’m exhausted.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2023
3.5 Stars rounded up.
When "Grandma Hannah" dies, the whole family gathers at family matriarch. 100-year-old, Olivia Harrington's home to bury her daughter-in-law, presumed died of an insulin overdose. But in this family, nothing is simple As the many, many there are, family members and multiple generations assemble and their stories unfold, it becomes apparent that nothing is what it seems, because the more people there are, the more secrets there are. For example, Hannah's sister-in-law is hiding what happened one rainy night many years ago from her son, Gabe who continues to have PTSD from the flashbacks he's convinced himself are just nightmares that seem so, so real. And Avery is disgusted to see her convict father at the funeral, but then a photo appears that could change everything...... Everyone is hiding something, and it's up to everyone to try and stay alive.
The book is told from various family members' POVs.
With a book with this many characters, at first it can be difficult to keep everyone straight, but I think the author does a good job of distinguishing everyone, and a couple chapters in, you really get a flow for the main players in the drama that we are going to watch unfold over the course of the book And what a saga it is! This family has as much drama as a Dynasty-style soap opera, perfect for their oil-money Texas status. There isn't a big "central mystery" per se, it's more about all these little conflicts that we're party to throughout the book - though Olivia does have a "big secret" that she's going to drop on the family (though it's not hard to guess what it is).
But the little conflicts are exciting enough to keep you guessing until the end. They're actually pretty high stakes and I wanted to find out what was going to happen. They were pretty exciting! I just didn't like how things sort of just....ended. I wish there was more of a full resolution to some of these stories we became so invested in.
But we did get most of the answers that we wanted in the end, maybe not a full-on ending with most of the characters. But that happens with some books, and this ending was at least an ending, unlike I've sen in some other stories.
So I do recommend this book for fans of family dramas. It was a good story with lots of juicy drama and plenty of wild characters. However, I could have gone for a better ending. So just be warned on that part.
When "Grandma Hannah" dies, the whole family gathers at family matriarch. 100-year-old, Olivia Harrington's home to bury her daughter-in-law, presumed died of an insulin overdose. But in this family, nothing is simple As the many, many there are, family members and multiple generations assemble and their stories unfold, it becomes apparent that nothing is what it seems, because the more people there are, the more secrets there are. For example, Hannah's sister-in-law is hiding what happened one rainy night many years ago from her son, Gabe who continues to have PTSD from the flashbacks he's convinced himself are just nightmares that seem so, so real. And Avery is disgusted to see her convict father at the funeral, but then a photo appears that could change everything...... Everyone is hiding something, and it's up to everyone to try and stay alive.
The book is told from various family members' POVs.
With a book with this many characters, at first it can be difficult to keep everyone straight, but I think the author does a good job of distinguishing everyone, and a couple chapters in, you really get a flow for the main players in the drama that we are going to watch unfold over the course of the book And what a saga it is! This family has as much drama as a Dynasty-style soap opera, perfect for their oil-money Texas status. There isn't a big "central mystery" per se, it's more about all these little conflicts that we're party to throughout the book - though Olivia does have a "big secret" that she's going to drop on the family (though it's not hard to guess what it is).
But the little conflicts are exciting enough to keep you guessing until the end. They're actually pretty high stakes and I wanted to find out what was going to happen. They were pretty exciting! I just didn't like how things sort of just....ended. I wish there was more of a full resolution to some of these stories we became so invested in.
But we did get most of the answers that we wanted in the end, maybe not a full-on ending with most of the characters. But that happens with some books, and this ending was at least an ending, unlike I've sen in some other stories.
So I do recommend this book for fans of family dramas. It was a good story with lots of juicy drama and plenty of wild characters. However, I could have gone for a better ending. So just be warned on that part.
August 2, 2023
What I liked: Interesting concept to have the story being told from the POV of 5 different generations and themes of family secrets which can be fun/mysterious stories to explore. Some of the plot points could have been really great to dive into more because they were interesting, potentially emotional, and would resonate with a lot of people (thinking particularly of Avery's relationship with her dad). I also had fun trying to imagine the house the book is set in, an old
multi-generational house in rural Texas that has been added on to and expanded many times over the years, and placing myself amongst the chaos of a family home with dozens of family members there.
However, this book is way, way too long. Between drawn out descriptions of every little thing and so many repeated dialogues and thoughts because it quickly alternates between character's POVs and often times, the same or similar descriptions would be repeated for multiple characters I'm assuming to show that they each had similar thoughts or something. Part of the length of the book is also due to the sheer volume of characters included. I can count at least 7 characters alone that we get a POV chapter for, but there are upwards of 3 dozen characters staying in this house. So much of the word count has to be dedicated to constantly trying to explain and remind the reader of the family tree and even then, it's still impossible to keep track of all the characters.
Other reviews mention typos and I myself found quite a few typos. Plus Grandma Olivia suddenly had a heavy southern accent in they very last chapter. After I finished reading I had to go back to the beginning of the book to that character's first chapter to see if I had somehow missed this accent from the beginning but nope.
The biggest miss of all though in my opinion is the lack of satisfying ending. There are multiple plot points and conflicts introduce throughout the book and most are "solved" or addressed by the end except for the biggest plot point and the whole reason the entire family is gathered at the house. Then we have the "twist" in the epilogue which was silly and random. The character literally has to remind you of some random piece of information from 400 pages ago to try to make it make sense.
multi-generational house in rural Texas that has been added on to and expanded many times over the years, and placing myself amongst the chaos of a family home with dozens of family members there.
However, this book is way, way too long. Between drawn out descriptions of every little thing and so many repeated dialogues and thoughts because it quickly alternates between character's POVs and often times, the same or similar descriptions would be repeated for multiple characters I'm assuming to show that they each had similar thoughts or something. Part of the length of the book is also due to the sheer volume of characters included. I can count at least 7 characters alone that we get a POV chapter for, but there are upwards of 3 dozen characters staying in this house. So much of the word count has to be dedicated to constantly trying to explain and remind the reader of the family tree and even then, it's still impossible to keep track of all the characters.
Other reviews mention typos and I myself found quite a few typos. Plus Grandma Olivia suddenly had a heavy southern accent in they very last chapter. After I finished reading I had to go back to the beginning of the book to that character's first chapter to see if I had somehow missed this accent from the beginning but nope.
The biggest miss of all though in my opinion is the lack of satisfying ending. There are multiple plot points and conflicts introduce throughout the book and most are "solved" or addressed by the end except for the biggest plot point and the whole reason the entire family is gathered at the house. Then we have the "twist" in the epilogue which was silly and random. The character literally has to remind you of some random piece of information from 400 pages ago to try to make it make sense.
July 29, 2023
The Gap is a psychological thriller and a lot like Knives Out without the comedy.
All the family have gathered at Harrington House. A huge family and a huge house. One that seems to have been added onto and taken from indiscriminately with arbitrary passages and rooms that make no sense.
Olivia Harrington is turning 100 years old and the family is at her house for the funeral of her daughter-in-law, Hannah. They also hope that Olivia will divulge the terms of her will, but Olivia has a secret she wants to spring on them.
However, as with all family gatherings and one with such a large number, other secrets are bound to be revealed. Why would Cyrus not allow Hannah to dig up their fish pond? Is Avery right to blame her father Spencer for killing the boy on his bicycle when a photo might prove it was not him? Did Alex kill Hannah? What happened to the ring on Hannah’s finger that was there at the beginning of the viewing? Who is the mysterious stranger connected to the items in the attic who arrives with a loaded gun?
When a storm hits and the power goes out, the tension comes to a head. And when a deliberately set fire breaks out, it could mean that not everyone makes it out of the house alive…
The novel is quite long and does seem slow in places, but considering the list of characters and the stories that must be covered for each, it does make sense. Usually I’d want things to come together a bit quicker but in this case I actually enjoyed coming back each time to read some more. It felt like it added to the slow simmer under the surface where you knew it was all going to explode. The author takes you on a journey of personalities and you can feel the greed, the hatred, the angst, the surprise, and the forgiveness. There are so many little things that join together and it’s like an avalanche once the thread is pulled.
I thoroughly enjoyed both the story and the writer’s style, as it was just what the story needed. Once I’d finished the book, I felt glad to get away from that family!
All the family have gathered at Harrington House. A huge family and a huge house. One that seems to have been added onto and taken from indiscriminately with arbitrary passages and rooms that make no sense.
Olivia Harrington is turning 100 years old and the family is at her house for the funeral of her daughter-in-law, Hannah. They also hope that Olivia will divulge the terms of her will, but Olivia has a secret she wants to spring on them.
However, as with all family gatherings and one with such a large number, other secrets are bound to be revealed. Why would Cyrus not allow Hannah to dig up their fish pond? Is Avery right to blame her father Spencer for killing the boy on his bicycle when a photo might prove it was not him? Did Alex kill Hannah? What happened to the ring on Hannah’s finger that was there at the beginning of the viewing? Who is the mysterious stranger connected to the items in the attic who arrives with a loaded gun?
When a storm hits and the power goes out, the tension comes to a head. And when a deliberately set fire breaks out, it could mean that not everyone makes it out of the house alive…
The novel is quite long and does seem slow in places, but considering the list of characters and the stories that must be covered for each, it does make sense. Usually I’d want things to come together a bit quicker but in this case I actually enjoyed coming back each time to read some more. It felt like it added to the slow simmer under the surface where you knew it was all going to explode. The author takes you on a journey of personalities and you can feel the greed, the hatred, the angst, the surprise, and the forgiveness. There are so many little things that join together and it’s like an avalanche once the thread is pulled.
I thoroughly enjoyed both the story and the writer’s style, as it was just what the story needed. Once I’d finished the book, I felt glad to get away from that family!
July 15, 2024
What WAS that epilogue? Like, really... -1,000,000 stars for that epilogue. No. Don't read it.
(Hopefully the epilogue was omitted from the final published copy?)
5⭐ for the book, erasing the epilogue
•Multi 3rd person POV
•Single timeline with many flashbacks
Setting ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Suspense ⭐⭐⭐
Whodunit -1,000 ⭐
Ending (before epilogue) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (extra star added for making me care and feel)
~
Setting
Spooky, old mansion with little light and consistent blackouts 🖤
Characters
There are A LOT.. which is the point. There are 5(?) generations and even 1 MC talks about the ridiculousness of how many people there are. However, there's only a handful who get page time so it's relatively easy to keep them all straight.
Cyrus' Alzheimer's 💔 My damn heart
Favourite Character: Alex; she's a real hoot!
She has a tumor called Persephone
"Alex had definitely picked the perfect moment in time to grow a gender-confused brain tumor — when the whole world was losing its collective shit about biological realities that'd been accepted by every person who had ever lived throughout the entire course of human history until about fifteen minutes ago."
Also Alex, "So, here's the TL;DR"
And that dining table scene... Surely she wasn't the only one at the table who had those opinions.
😂
Least favourite character: Maddie 🙄 Why is she even there? They aren't even friends! Nothing makes sense!... At least make them friends so it makes sense! I absolutely hated her.
Favourite side story: Spencer & Jude
Whodunnit:
I really liked the ending (before the epilogue). It was tense and emotional AND I CARED WHO LIVED! I CARED! YESSSS ⭐
*e-ARC received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
(Hopefully the epilogue was omitted from the final published copy?)
5⭐ for the book, erasing the epilogue
•Multi 3rd person POV
•Single timeline with many flashbacks
Setting ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Suspense ⭐⭐⭐
Whodunit -1,000 ⭐
Ending (before epilogue) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (extra star added for making me care and feel)
~
Setting
Spooky, old mansion with little light and consistent blackouts 🖤
Characters
There are A LOT.. which is the point. There are 5(?) generations and even 1 MC talks about the ridiculousness of how many people there are. However, there's only a handful who get page time so it's relatively easy to keep them all straight.
Cyrus' Alzheimer's 💔 My damn heart
Favourite Character: Alex; she's a real hoot!
She has a tumor called Persephone
"Alex had definitely picked the perfect moment in time to grow a gender-confused brain tumor — when the whole world was losing its collective shit about biological realities that'd been accepted by every person who had ever lived throughout the entire course of human history until about fifteen minutes ago."
Also Alex, "So, here's the TL;DR"
And that dining table scene... Surely she wasn't the only one at the table who had those opinions.
😂
Least favourite character: Maddie 🙄 Why is she even there? They aren't even friends! Nothing makes sense!... At least make them friends so it makes sense! I absolutely hated her.
Favourite side story: Spencer & Jude
Whodunnit:
I really liked the ending (before the epilogue). It was tense and emotional AND I CARED WHO LIVED! I CARED! YESSSS ⭐
*e-ARC received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
May 9, 2025
I definitely have mixed feelings about this book. At first, it seems very confusing as there is a huge amount of family members mentioned. The author gives you the feeling that all of them are important and you need to keep track of them and their familial ties to everyone else, that only proves true for about 8 characters.
For me, the story dragged for a good portion of the book. It didn't really start to take off until about the 70% mark. At that point, I was definitely hooked! The betrayals, the hidden family secrets that are revealed, and the brow-raising chapter cliffhangers had me finishing the last portion of the book in about an hour and a half.
My one biggest gripe with this book is that you can definitely tell where the author stands politically. At a point, I thought to myself, "I get it... you don't like blue-haired people or trans people." If she would have toned down on inserting her political beliefs into the story, I probably would've given this another star.
Overall, it was a good book. I'm not sure if I would recommend it to anyone or read it again anytime soon, but it was a nice break from my typical genre of books.
For me, the story dragged for a good portion of the book. It didn't really start to take off until about the 70% mark. At that point, I was definitely hooked! The betrayals, the hidden family secrets that are revealed, and the brow-raising chapter cliffhangers had me finishing the last portion of the book in about an hour and a half.
My one biggest gripe with this book is that you can definitely tell where the author stands politically. At a point, I thought to myself, "I get it... you don't like blue-haired people or trans people." If she would have toned down on inserting her political beliefs into the story, I probably would've given this another star.
Overall, it was a good book. I'm not sure if I would recommend it to anyone or read it again anytime soon, but it was a nice break from my typical genre of books.
October 18, 2025
I'm just not a fan of books that jump from one character's past to another character's present, to yet another character's viewpoint that could be the past but it makes more sense if it's the present, but no, it's the past because of something yet another character points out, so unless that character is from the future.... This book jumbles timelines and character perspectives to the point where the reader can't tell what's happening now, what happened before, who did what when to whom and why... It's more disjointed and rambling than the first two sentences of my review. Add a present day child's perspective into the mix as well as at least two psychotic people, a drug addict, a narcissist or three, and a mishmash of muddled unlikeable personalities, so that pretty much everyone is an entitled jerkwad. Sprinkle the top with political arguments and religious confusion, extramarital affairs and a bunch of domestic violence, and you've made quite the excrement omelet. The book drags along forever, then suddenly, surprise! The power goes out and psychotic people act psychotic! Gee whiz, no one saw that coming.
June 20, 2023
There’s a good reason that Ninie Hammon is one of my favorite authors. I know when I pick up one of her books that it will become a wonderful reading experience. When I first started reading her latest book, I found myself overwhelmed by the large list of characters and it was difficult for me to remember how they were related. So, I wrote out a little “cheat sheet” putting it together like a family tree. That helped, and by the fourth chapter, I didn’t need it anymore. I knew that if I could get to this point, the rest of the story would flow. And it did.
By the time I got to the halfway point, I was in the “zone” where I got totally lost in the story and time flew by as I read. The last 10% of the book will stand out in my memory as one of the best conclusions to a novel that I have ever read. All the pieces came together in a perfect storm, literally. Of course, there were twists and turns and surprises. The ending was exactly what it needed to be. Perfect. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. You will not be disappointed.
By the time I got to the halfway point, I was in the “zone” where I got totally lost in the story and time flew by as I read. The last 10% of the book will stand out in my memory as one of the best conclusions to a novel that I have ever read. All the pieces came together in a perfect storm, literally. Of course, there were twists and turns and surprises. The ending was exactly what it needed to be. Perfect. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. You will not be disappointed.
August 9, 2023
DNF… I really tried to give the book the benefit of the doubt but with each page turned I battled with wanting skip to the last chapter or quit reading all together.
I got about 100 pages in and was so confused on what the story was exactly about. I thought this book would be murder mystery written in similar fashion to The Guest List and boy was I wrong. It definitely chooses a handful of main characters and tells the story through their perspectives. However, there are so many additional family members mentioned along with their connections relationship that I wanted to get out a paper and make their family tree as I went. Sure it doesn’t seem like too big of an issue, I figured I’d get over it.
Each chapter is written through the voice/mind of the family member it’s about. So much so that not only is the dialogue, the rest of the chapter is to which is why I believe there is so many grammar mistakes.
Finally I felt like there were way to many off topic thoughts and feelings coming from the main characters (especially Alex). It never added anything to the story but pages to read.
I got about 100 pages in and was so confused on what the story was exactly about. I thought this book would be murder mystery written in similar fashion to The Guest List and boy was I wrong. It definitely chooses a handful of main characters and tells the story through their perspectives. However, there are so many additional family members mentioned along with their connections relationship that I wanted to get out a paper and make their family tree as I went. Sure it doesn’t seem like too big of an issue, I figured I’d get over it.
Each chapter is written through the voice/mind of the family member it’s about. So much so that not only is the dialogue, the rest of the chapter is to which is why I believe there is so many grammar mistakes.
Finally I felt like there were way to many off topic thoughts and feelings coming from the main characters (especially Alex). It never added anything to the story but pages to read.
August 9, 2023
edit: I fear I am being too harsh!!! this book is just made for a very specific book lover it reads like a days of our lives episode and if you love that you will actually love this book :)
with all the love and light in the world… this is the worst book i’ve read this year and top 7 worst ever. There’s not much of a plot, the entire first half of the book is spent introducing new characters. The last 20% is the climax and it’s like seven storylines with “plot twists” that just don’t really click the way I think they were intended to. You don’t really get attached enough to any of the characters because there are so many. Things come out of left field that don’t really make sense in the end that feel like they were added for shock factor but just fall flat. I wanted to DNF like 5 times but pushed through bc I hate to DNF, then for abt 5 mins I was almost into the ending and then we added another storyline and the very last paragraph was suuuch a wild choice for where to end the book. Good basic plot line but development is bad ❤️
with all the love and light in the world… this is the worst book i’ve read this year and top 7 worst ever. There’s not much of a plot, the entire first half of the book is spent introducing new characters. The last 20% is the climax and it’s like seven storylines with “plot twists” that just don’t really click the way I think they were intended to. You don’t really get attached enough to any of the characters because there are so many. Things come out of left field that don’t really make sense in the end that feel like they were added for shock factor but just fall flat. I wanted to DNF like 5 times but pushed through bc I hate to DNF, then for abt 5 mins I was almost into the ending and then we added another storyline and the very last paragraph was suuuch a wild choice for where to end the book. Good basic plot line but development is bad ❤️
May 24, 2023
Prolific author Ninie Hammon’s latest novel The Gap is a suspense thriller mystery. Centurion Olivia Harrington has gathered all the generations of the family for a funeral. With over thirty family members of various ages gathered together for the weekend, the numerous agendas mean things deteriorate quickly. The matriarch’s announcement sets off bedlam. Then a storm shuts off the electricity and the house is engulfed in flames. The tedium of the narrative was only matched by the unendearing characters and the utter banalities of their lives. An overly long book that lacked any real tension or enjoyment and so it’s a very average two and a half stars read rating. With thanks to Sterling & Stone and the author for an uncorrected proof copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.
August 5, 2023
DNF at 40%.
There were too many characters and little to no information on how they were all related. It made the story hard to follow and understand.
On top of that, the grammar and spelling had a *lot* of errors that the editors should’ve caught.
It also bothered me that even in a post covid time, the characters were plain and openly racist and xenophobic, i get that they were 100 yrs old some of them but still, some of it was just unnecessary and gave nothing to the story (i.e. “the pantry was so big it could feed a Haitian family”) there was no need to give a nationality at all, it could’ve easily been “the pantry was so big it could feed a small family”. That’s were i drew the line and could not keep reading after that.
I’m sure this author has great books and people enjoy them, personally i would not recommend this book at all
There were too many characters and little to no information on how they were all related. It made the story hard to follow and understand.
On top of that, the grammar and spelling had a *lot* of errors that the editors should’ve caught.
It also bothered me that even in a post covid time, the characters were plain and openly racist and xenophobic, i get that they were 100 yrs old some of them but still, some of it was just unnecessary and gave nothing to the story (i.e. “the pantry was so big it could feed a Haitian family”) there was no need to give a nationality at all, it could’ve easily been “the pantry was so big it could feed a small family”. That’s were i drew the line and could not keep reading after that.
I’m sure this author has great books and people enjoy them, personally i would not recommend this book at all
January 21, 2024
This book has its flaws but it had me hooked!
The bad- there are an insane amount of characters to keep up with. I think there were like 36 family members, and then a few non family members as well. Needlessly added confusion. And the main characters, I thought, were very well developed so I see no need for all the randos.
There were some typos. There was also some southern dialect that I think others might have seen as the author having poor grammar, but it was done purposely.
I do feel like there were two somewhat loose ends at the end of the story.
The good- I had no clue what direction this story was going to take. It had all the twists and turns. There was family drama, dark secrets, buried trauma, and so much more. It really had everything to make a great story with characters you actually are interested in.
The bad- there are an insane amount of characters to keep up with. I think there were like 36 family members, and then a few non family members as well. Needlessly added confusion. And the main characters, I thought, were very well developed so I see no need for all the randos.
There were some typos. There was also some southern dialect that I think others might have seen as the author having poor grammar, but it was done purposely.
I do feel like there were two somewhat loose ends at the end of the story.
The good- I had no clue what direction this story was going to take. It had all the twists and turns. There was family drama, dark secrets, buried trauma, and so much more. It really had everything to make a great story with characters you actually are interested in.
September 6, 2024
I always liked Ninies book because the words she used were very descriptive and strong. This story is about an old family that one of the oldest grandmother died. The family was very well to do. At her funeral so many relatives came that half of them didn't even know each other. Some argued about what they were supposed to inherit. Some were to get some money ever so many years. Someone tried to steal a ruby ring off the deceased lady only they were in for a surprise. One recently found out that the wrong man went to jail for killing a young boy on his bicycle. So many secrets . One was born years ago and she decided to find her mother there and find out the what and why of her family and her birth. One had a reason to "Hide" her from the family. House on fire then a total about 3 or 4 deaths or more thru out the whole story.
February 15, 2025
i genuinely think the story of this book was wonderful. the premise was enthralling, and i can give Hammon that. my biggest issues with this book is that it’s filled with uninformed right wing beliefs, and often drones on about it despite adding nothing to the story. There are bits of the book that are unneeded, and while i enjoyed the rowan storyline i don’t think it was necessary. There were also quite a few typos, and Hammon clearly doesn’t know anything about marijuana (eating a whole bag of edibles and they wear off in less than an hour ??); this didn’t bother me too much i just thought it was silly. Overall it was a good story and premise, and i can say i did enjoy the book.
Crossposted on Storygraph
Crossposted on Storygraph
June 16, 2023
"The Gap" is a suspense thriller written by Ninie Hammon. In it, the author introduces us to an unusual family, the Harringtons. At Olivia's mother-in-law's funeral, the entire family gathers, spending the entire weekend together at the sprawling Harrington House in Texas.
Right from the beginning, the plot of the book is captivating, the twists and turns make the reader unable to put the book aside. The characters presented in the book are super well described and the metamorphosis that some undergo is excellent.
Without a doubt, I recommend it to all those readers who like thrillers and suspense genres, that is why I give it 5 stars!
Right from the beginning, the plot of the book is captivating, the twists and turns make the reader unable to put the book aside. The characters presented in the book are super well described and the metamorphosis that some undergo is excellent.
Without a doubt, I recommend it to all those readers who like thrillers and suspense genres, that is why I give it 5 stars!
April 22, 2024
What a Crazy Story
I almost did not read this book because there are so many people and it was so confusing. I thought I will give it one more try and muster through it. I am so glad I did that I read it in a day.
It starts out as generations of family gather at the home of Olivia, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother, for her daughter-n-laws funeral.
Turns out this family has more secrets than a box of tic tacs. But the ending is out of this world.
When you begin to read this please don't give up on it because as you get deeper into the story of will start to make sense.
I almost did not read this book because there are so many people and it was so confusing. I thought I will give it one more try and muster through it. I am so glad I did that I read it in a day.
It starts out as generations of family gather at the home of Olivia, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother, for her daughter-n-laws funeral.
Turns out this family has more secrets than a box of tic tacs. But the ending is out of this world.
When you begin to read this please don't give up on it because as you get deeper into the story of will start to make sense.
June 27, 2024
Firstly, I had to make a chart to follow all the characters. It took 175 pages to figure out 80% of them, then more were thrown in.
Sometimes people would be married to the same person, sometimes not. Sometimes, a person's name was incorrect or spelled differently.
This book is like 12 stories were thought up and crammed together into one book. It could have been like 4 different books.
Like, wtf was the deal with Maddie? With everything else, why throw that in there?
Also, in the end, a lot of the stories felt incomplete. I just. I mean, it was entertaining, which is why I gave it two stars, but damn...
Sometimes people would be married to the same person, sometimes not. Sometimes, a person's name was incorrect or spelled differently.
This book is like 12 stories were thought up and crammed together into one book. It could have been like 4 different books.
Like, wtf was the deal with Maddie? With everything else, why throw that in there?
Also, in the end, a lot of the stories felt incomplete. I just. I mean, it was entertaining, which is why I gave it two stars, but damn...
June 23, 2023
Nostalgia
A multi-generation rich white family in Texas gathers together for the matriarch’s 100 years birthday and her daughter-in-law’s funeral. The family has so much, oil wells, real estate, live stocks, ranches… There are so many people in the family… Many of them are not model citizens. Among family members, there are murder, drug user and dealer, gambler, father of a black daughter, social thug… Once the matriarch declares that all her offerings will disinherit her money, all break loose. The author is a very good story teller, making the reading such fun.
A multi-generation rich white family in Texas gathers together for the matriarch’s 100 years birthday and her daughter-in-law’s funeral. The family has so much, oil wells, real estate, live stocks, ranches… There are so many people in the family… Many of them are not model citizens. Among family members, there are murder, drug user and dealer, gambler, father of a black daughter, social thug… Once the matriarch declares that all her offerings will disinherit her money, all break loose. The author is a very good story teller, making the reading such fun.
June 26, 2023
“The Gap” by Ninie Hammon is a psychological suspense story that was very well written. I liked that the author uses many descriptions to set the scene and that the dialogues are quite realistic. The book is a bit long, so I took some time to finish reading it and I advise you to read it with time because there are important details which shouldn’t be missed in the plot.
This thriller story has a bit of everything, but what I liked the most were the twists and turns I didn’t see coming. Once I started reading, I was completely hooked until the very end. I totally recommend reading The Gap.
This thriller story has a bit of everything, but what I liked the most were the twists and turns I didn’t see coming. Once I started reading, I was completely hooked until the very end. I totally recommend reading The Gap.
June 27, 2023
Perhaps her best yet.
Ms. Hammon is my favorite author, by far. She has an almost magical way with words. It is readily apparent she has done extensive research for each of her stories. In addition, the characters' personalities, idiosyncrasies, and language are so relatable. And the idioms ... Spot on! In spite of the mystery and family drama, I found myself chuckling out loud at some of the regional and generational dialogue and thoughts of the various characters. Thank you Ms. Hammon for another winner!!!
Ms. Hammon is my favorite author, by far. She has an almost magical way with words. It is readily apparent she has done extensive research for each of her stories. In addition, the characters' personalities, idiosyncrasies, and language are so relatable. And the idioms ... Spot on! In spite of the mystery and family drama, I found myself chuckling out loud at some of the regional and generational dialogue and thoughts of the various characters. Thank you Ms. Hammon for another winner!!!
June 24, 2023
An enthralling read
An unusual family, or more like a dynasty, the Harringtons, gather to celebrate Olivia's 100th birthday. Unfortunately, there was also a funeral, Aunt Harriet, having just died. There were so many characters, and they were skilfully crafted in order to provide the interactions which unfolded during the story. This book had almost everything you could dream of. It had drama, humour, deception, secrets, PTSD and murder, as well as much more.
An unusual family, or more like a dynasty, the Harringtons, gather to celebrate Olivia's 100th birthday. Unfortunately, there was also a funeral, Aunt Harriet, having just died. There were so many characters, and they were skilfully crafted in order to provide the interactions which unfolded during the story. This book had almost everything you could dream of. It had drama, humour, deception, secrets, PTSD and murder, as well as much more.
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