Book Review
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
Thriller | Mystery | Suspense
As young girls, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were raised by foster mother, Miss Fairchild, on an idyllic farming estate. But their childhood wasn’t the fairy tale everyone thinks it was. When a body is discovered under the home they grew up in, the foster sisters find themselves thrust into the spotlight as key witnesses. Or are they prime suspects?
Reader’s Thoughts:
If you’re looking for a quick and snappy thriller, Darling Girls from Hepworth does not disappoint! Told from the perspective of the three foster sisters, the book flashes forward and backward in time to uncover the truth behind the body in the basement. While the book sheds light on much heavier subjects — such as the complexities of the foster care system and mental health awareness — there is also a strong humor throughout to balance the darker tone.
The characters in this book are well-rounded and tell the story from equally compelling perspectives. The three sisters are each in a different stage of processing and dealing with the trauma of their childhood, and I thought this clear connection between their past and present storylines was well done. Found family is a favorite trope of mine, and I thought the bond between Jessica, Norah, and Alicia was beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed their interactions and sisterly dynamics, as well as their loyalty and fierce protectiveness of each other.
The story has a strong psychological-thriller vibe, which means it doesn’t have the fast, plot-driven feel of some thrillers — and yet, I couldn’t put it down. The mystery is intriguing and left me constantly guessing “whodunnit” and what exactly was going on!
As with all thrillers, we have to have a twist at some point, and this book provided some great surprises. While I think the story would have still felt complete without one of the chapters, (no spoilers here!) I’m always in for a good twist (even if it’s unnecessary) and this one was solid!
Fans of Sally Hepworth and thriller lovers are in for a treat with Darling Girls! This was a highly compulsive read with dark themes, fantastic characters, and a suspenseful plot!
Recommended for:
Fans of slower, dark thrillers and suspense
This post contains affiliate links; as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Advance copy of the book provided courtesy of the publisher, St Martin’s Press. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the book:
(From the publisher): For as long as they can remember, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia have been told how lucky they are. As young girls they were rescued from family tragedies and raised by a loving foster mother, Miss Fairchild, on an idyllic farming estate and given an elusive second chance at a happy family life.
But their childhood wasn’t the fairy tale everyone thinks it was. Miss Fairchild had rules. Miss Fairchild could be unpredictable. And Miss Fairchild was never, ever to be crossed. In a moment of desperation, the three broke away from Miss Fairchild and thought they were free. Even though they never saw her again, she was always somewhere in the shadows of their minds. When a body is discovered under the home they grew up in, the foster sisters find themselves thrust into the spotlight as key witnesses. Or are they prime suspects?
A thrilling page-turner of sisterhood, secrets, love, and murder by New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth.