Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth on April 23, 2024
Genres: Fiction / Thrillers / Domestic, Fiction / Women
Pages: 368
Format: eBook
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From the outside, Alicia, Jessica and Norah might seem like ordinary women you’d meet on the street any day of the week. Sure, Jessica has a little OCD and Norah has some anger issues. And Alicia has low self-esteem that manifests itself in surprising ways. But these three have a bond that no one can fully understand. It’s a bond that takes them back decades, to when they were girls, and they lived on a farm with a foster mother named Miss Fairchild. 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 they thought they were free. But the reach of someone with such power is long, and even though they never saw her again, she was always somewhere in the shadows of their minds. When bones are discovered buried under the farmhouse of their childhood, they are called in by the police to tell what they know. Against their will, they are brought back to the past, and to Miss Fairchild herself.
Hepworth’s writing is a true standout in this genre. Her ability to create characters that are both deeply flawed and entirely relatable is nothing short of remarkable. The story revolves around the relationship between three sisters, and as the layers of their shared history are peeled back, we are given a front-row seat to their joys, their struggles, and their darkest secrets. The characters’ struggles with identity, forgiveness, and the consequences of their actions resonate deeply, making this a story that lingers in your thoughts long after you’ve finished reading. The pacing is near perfect, with each revelation serving as a breadcrumb that leads to the next, and the tension building steadily as the mysteries unfold.
I gave this novel a four star rating. It was a compelling exploration of the intricacies of sisterhood, wrapped in a suspenseful narrative that keeps you hooked from the very first page. With complex characters and a storyline filled with unexpected twists and turns, this novel is a shining example of contemporary family drama. It’s a book that not only entertains but also prompts introspection.
A special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this suspenseful read in exchange for my honest thoughts.