The Younger Girl: A Historical Thriller Based on a True Crime

by Georgia Jeffries

A DARK LABYRINTH OF FAMILY BETRAYALBased on a true crime, The Younger Girl, by trailblazing, award-winning writer Georgia Jeffries combines historical fiction and supernatural suspense to unravel a thrilling tale of family deception and long-denied redemption.

In 1933, Chicago tabloids trumpeted the death of twenty-year-old town belle Aldine Younger.

"HEIRESS SLAIN, MARRIED MAN HELD."

In the aftermath of Aldine Younger's tragic death, her grieving brother Owen suspects that their wealthy uncle orchestrated a sinister murder plot to cover up the theft of Aldine's inheritance. Fast forward to 1996, when an aging Owen, burdened by the weight of the past, is compelled to discover the truth before he dies. His daughter, Joanna, becomes the key to unraveling the family's twisted history.

Father and daughter journey back to Pontiac, Illinois, to claim Owen's rightful bequest. They find themselves caught in a labyrinth of lies born of family greed and treachery crossing three generations. Amidst violent storms and dramatic revelations, Owen's sanity teeters on the edge as he confuses Joanna with the sister he lost. Joanna, racing against time, unearths secrets that could shatter her world and discovers a psychic bridge linking past, present, and future. But at what cost? And who will survive the revelations?

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 22, 2024

About the author

Georgia Jeffries' debut Midwest noir, The Younger Girl, is based on the murder of her father's older sister when he was a child. It interweaves past and present, suspense and magical realism, in a quest for justice that crosses three generations.

"Eye-opening immersive historical fiction at it's best."- New York Times best-selling author, Rachel Howell Hall

Midwest Reviews raves, "A simply fascinating read from start to finish."

And more praise from Kirkus Reviews- "Chilling...gripping story of family dysfunction and murder...[told] with great poignancy."

"In this expertly told tale of buried truths and betrayal, Georgia Jeffries has burst onto the mystery scene at a very high level." - Anthony Award winning author, Matt Coyle

Georgia is also a writer of Emmy winning drama, honored with multiple Writers Guild Awards and a professor at USC's School of Cinematic Arts, where she created the first undergraduate screenwriting thesis class at an American university.

Born in the Illinois heartland, she came of age in California's Bay Area and the wilds of Los Angeles.

Reviews

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Younger Girl by Georgia Jeffries is a chilling, beautifully constructed historical thriller that merges the suspense of a true crime narrative with the emotional weight of generational trauma. Inspired by an actual 1933 murder, Jeffries weaves a dark and atmospheric tale of family secrets, inheritance, and the devastating consequences of greed.

Her mastery of pacing and mood allows the story to flow seamlessly between eras from Aldine Younger’s tragic death in Depression-era Illinois to her brother Owen’s desperate search for justice decades later. As Owen’s daughter Joanna steps into the role of truth-seeker, the novel transforms into a haunting exploration of memory, madness, and redemption.

Jeffries balances gothic suspense with psychological insight, crafting a story that’s both eerie and deeply human. The Younger Girl grips you with its mystery but stays with you because of its emotional truth a rare and memorable combination in historical thrillers.

[Dalyn Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Younger Girl: A Historical Thriller Based on a True Crime by Georgia Jeffries is a masterful blend of historical fiction, true crime, and supernatural suspense. Jeffries skillfully intertwines multi-generational family intrigue with vivid period detail, creating a labyrinthine narrative that keeps readers on edge from start to finish. The story’s emotional depth anchored in grief, betrayal, and the search for justice is complemented by her nuanced character development, particularly the complex dynamic between Owen and his daughter Joanna. Rich, suspenseful, and deeply engaging, this thriller demonstrates Jeffries’ ability to balance historical authenticity with gripping, page-turning tension.

[Friendly Face · Rating 5 out of 5]

Georgia Jeffries' book, The Younger Girl, is a compelling story that engrosses you to such a degree the pages seem to turn themselves. May sound over the top to you, but it's not. Jeffries writes characters that almost come off the page to sit with you and keep company as you read — from Joanna's irascible father who never recovered from his tragic loss as a child, to Aldine's former lawyer who still yearns for her after many decades, to teenage Aldine who we see mature into womanhood as we read the pages of her lost diary. All the voices are marvelously authentic. Read this book and you will not be disappointed!

[Birdie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Georgia Jeffries’ The Younger Girl is an entertaining page turner. The author expertly weaves together true crime and historical fiction that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The deep psychological insight Jeffries’ writes into this novel provides the reader with solid characters that stay with you long after you’ve finished reading the book. I really enjoyed it and look forward to more of what Jeffries brings us in the future.

[Cynthia Bemis Abrams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a big fiction reader, I admit I found this story intriguing and fast-paced. Emmy-winning TV writer Georgia Jeffries explains that it's a blend of real life facts, filled in with enough fiction to bring the facts to life. Isn't that we all do, to some degree, when we try to pass down family history? Jeffries' attention to detail is well-placed and her character development is testament that she's a distinguished storyteller. I look forward to interviewing her for my podcast, Advanced TV Herstory to discuss this fresh work!

[Alma · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was a bit confusing, going from past to present, with competing storylines. By the time I was done reading I was almost as confused as Owen. However the historical fiction aspect was interesting, as well as the fact it’s based on a true incident in the author’s family. Read more about it on my blog: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....

[Laurie Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautifully written “true-life” mystery

The prose of Georgia Jeffries transports the reader to other worlds- whether to a 1920’s speakeasy in a dream or to a weatherbeaten old family farmhouse in the 1990’s—you are completely immersed in the novel. Highly recommended!