Darling Girls: A Novel

8.5⭐️ - rounded down for Bookclubs I was thoroughly surprised by this one. Not necessarily by the outcome but by how much I enjoyed it. It took a few chapters to get into things but the set up of the perspectives and the characters was very well done. I wouldn’t say the girls are completely likable as adults but the “before” chapters were gripping and had me feeling so much more for Jessica, Norah and Alicia. There’s a lot of references to some dark themes but there’s nothing too detailed on the page which made it suspenseful but not overly scary or creepy; I liked that. The one thing that bothered me wasn’t the story’s fault but rather on the editing. I’m not sure if it was just my copy or because Sally is an Australian author but there were several grammar errors. Normally I’m fine with it and just skim over letting my brain get the picture, but there were enough to make me slow down and that was fairly frustrating. All in all though, highly recommend for thriller lovers!

Another hard to put down book that is both thought and emotion evoking. As with her other books, Darling Girls is well written, well thought out, gripping, twist filled, moving and shocking. You won’t be able to put this down.

Three girls, Norah, Alicia and Jessica are placed in the foster home of Miss Fairchild. All seems fine to the outside world, but behind closed doors it is a nightmare. They suffered together under the highly unpredictable, extremely strict, and often cruel and abusive Miss Fairchild. When small infants were placed in Miss Fairchild’s care, the girls would take care of them and try and keep Miss Fairchild happy so they were not abused. The three girls figured that they needed to stick together to get through this. They formed an unbreakable bond. Now as adults they’ve kept that bond alive, always vigilant for one another. They still wondered what happened to the infants that they had to leave behind once they “aged out” of foster care.

The women, Norah, Jessica and Alicia are contacted by police when bones are found buried under Miss Fairchild's former home. Miss Fairchild and the sisters return as requested by the police. Maybe they’ll find some answers of their own. Could this be one of the foster children that was there before them? After all they did find clothes and toys with “Amy” on them in the basement.

Sally Hepworth wrote such a gripping and suspenseful story with this one, that it will keep you guessing until the end. THE END!! Oh boy, it got me. I could have never guessed.

This was an emotionally gripping read that delves into the complex lives of three foster sisters—Jessica, Norah, and Alicia—who bonded during their time at Wild Meadows, a seemingly idyllic farmhouse run by Miss Fairchild. The chapters alternate between their traumatic past and their present struggles, revealing the deep scars left by their childhood. As adults, they are summoned back to Wild Meadows when human remains are discovered, forcing them to confront their painful memories and the lingering effects of their shared trauma. The narrative is a slow burn, filled with suspense and emotional depth, as it explores themes of sisterhood, resilience, and the long-lasting impact of childhood experiences. The characters are well-developed, each grappling with their own demons, and the plot is tight, exposing the flaws in the foster care system and the strength of their bond as they seek closure and healing.

Good mystery! I liked the sisters and the ending wow!!!

Three girls, Jessica, Norah and Alicia, are raised together for a time in a foster home called Wild Meadows with Ms. Fairchild. Their painful years at Wild Meadows draws them together and they become sisters. Decades later, bones are found buried at the home and they are called upon by the police to help with the investigation.

This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I enjoyed the mystery. The time jumping could be a little disorienting, but generally speaking the author made it pretty easy to follow. The characters are some that you can feel something for to varying degrees. I was a bit put off with the way the young girls often spoke like they were in their mid-teens when they were more like 10-12 years old. The first half felt somewhat predictable, but then the twists started about halfway through and it got more interesting. Overall, I liked the story, but I fear it is one of those that I will soon forget. It's worth a read for anyone particularly fond of mysteries, although it could be potentially triggering for some with moments of psychological child abuse.

See my full review on Cerebral Girl in a Redneck World