I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Darling Girls by Sally HepworthNarrator: Jessica Clarke
Published by Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press on April 23, 2024
Genres: Fiction / Thrillers / Domestic
Length: 9 hours 5 minutes
Pages: 368
Format: ARC, Audiobook
Source: Publisher
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SISTERS, SECRETS, LOVE, AND MURDER... Sally Hepworth’s new novel has it all.
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.
“Sally Hepworth writes characters you love.” —LIANE MORIARTY, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF APPLES NEVER FALL
I had a great time with this book! I thought that the mystery was solid and loved that the story kept me guessing until the very end. This story is about 3 girls, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, who grew up together in foster care with Miss Fairchild. We meet these girls in the present day after a body is found at their old home and get to know their pasts, both in foster care and the time leading up to placement. I found this book almost impossible to put down once I started reading.
I liked Jessica, Norah, and Alicia but I wasn’t entirely sure if I should trust them. All 3 women were obviously still dealing with the events from their past. They consider themselves to be sisters and have remained very close in the years after leaving Miss Fairchild’s care. Miss Fairchild seemed loving at first but as the story progressed, it became obvious just how difficult she would be to please.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Jessica Clarke did a fabulous job with the narration. I love the way that she was able to bring this story to life through the character’s voices which seemed to contain just the right amount of emotion. I found her voice to be very pleasant and had no issues listening to this book for hours at a time. I am certain that her performance added to my overall enjoyment of this story.
I would recommend this book to others. I was quickly hooked by this mystery and couldn’t wait to see how things would work out. I grew to care about the 3 women who grew up under Miss Fairchild’s rule and wanted to see good thing happen for them. I will definitely be reading more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press.
I haven’t tried this author yet.
I just listened to a Sally Hepworth book and really liked it so I’ve had my eye on this one. I’m glad to see how much you enjoyed it. I definitely need to add this one to my TBR!
Impossible to put down is the best!
Glad you enjoyed the audiobook narration. It’s on my TBR. I always find Hepworth’s books unputdownable too.