Sally Hepworth

Fern and Rose are twin sisters. Fern is likely on the autism spectrum, as she is awkward in social situations. She works at the local library. Her sister Rose looks out for her. Rose protected her after an event when they were young, which resulted in the death of a young boy. Now, Rose tells Fern that she is unable to have a child, so Fern decides to have a baby for Rose. Fern has met Wally (Rocco Ryan) who is living in his van. Wally is also awkward, but is a genius software developer, having created and sold a program he wrote for lots of money. Fern and Wally fall in love, but Rose interferes. Rose and her mother have a fraught relationship, and when odd things happen, Fern begins to wonder if she should trust Rose.
Intriguing look at psychopath!… (altro)

What a phone call to receive.

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia all received a call from a detective asking that they meet at their childhood home to discuss a discovery of bones under it.

Their childhood home was a foster home they lived in under the "loving" care of Miss Fairchild. In actuality, she wasn't loving. She was a task master and abusive.

We found out from each character in alternating chapters what went on at that house, and we then move to present day.

Miss Hepworth keeps you intrigued with the intense happenings from their childhood under the care of Miss Fairchild.

Present day was intense too as you will try as I did to figure out whose bones they were and what Miss Fairchild was planning to do them now when she showed up for questioning by the police about the finding.

Will you figure out whose bones they are?

Surprise after surprise - twist after twist - with the ending one being the best.

You won’t want to put the book down even though the chapters about their time in foster care are unsettling and upsetting.

This is Ms. Hepworth's best yet. 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.… (altro)

It has been twenty-five years since Jessica, Norah, and Alicia left Port Agatha and Wild Meadows. the farming estate that had been their home where they lived under the care of their cruel and manipulative foster mother, Miss Fairchild. Their memories of those years are far from happy ones and though they are no longer the scared teenagers they were when they reported Miss Fairchild to the authorities all those years ago, their experiences have left an indelible imprint on their lives. But they had each other and together, they endured and survived their ordeal. Though not related by blood, they consider themselves sisters, and their love and unwavering support for one another has only grown stronger over the years. When a body is discovered under the farmhouse, the ensuing investigation draws the sisters back to Port Agatha, where they are forced to revisit their past and the memories that have haunted them.

I thoroughly enjoyed Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth. The narrative is shared from the perspectives of the three main characters with segments from sessions between a character, whose identity is revealed later on in the story, and a psychiatrist interspersed throughout the narrative. The author does a commendable job of depicting the flaws of the foster care system and the long-lasting effects of childhood trauma. I really liked how the author defines the three main characters and their distinctive personalities – strong women who have survived, complex and flawed yet vulnerable, each battling their own demons. The author deftly weaves between past and present timelines into a consistently paced ( a tad on the slower side), suspenseful narrative with convincing characters (even the unlikable ones) and enough twists and turns that keep you turning the pages till you reach the final revelation, which did surprise me ( I always love that!).

I paired my reading with the audiobook and I have to say that I loved Jessica Clarke’s narration and thought she did a remarkable job of breathing life into this story and the characters.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for the digital review copy via NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ALC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.… (altro)

Jessica, Norah and Alicia have been raised in a foster home by Miss Fairchild. On the outside, it looks like they are so lucky. They live in a nice home on a farming estate. But, all is not as tranquil as it seems!

These three sisters have grown up now and have their own lives. They have stayed very close. So, when the cops find a dead body on their foster home estate, these three circle the wagons and become very tight lipped and protective.

All three of these young women have issues from their time in foster care. And it all goes back to Miss Fairchild and her unpredictability and her insane behavior.

I have only read a couple of books by this author and they have been 3-4 star reads for me. BUT YALL! This book is so good! I could not stop listening to it. You just knew something creepy and evil went on, you just couldn’t quite put your finger on what. You think you know…but do you???

The narrator, Jessica Clarke, nailed it! I love a narrator that is strong and steady!

Need a good thriller which will have you guessing till the end…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.… (altro)