Darling Girls

I've been a fan of Australian author Sally Hepworth for many years. Darling Girls, the ninth book I've read by her, has a different feel than some of her previous books. 

While not a suspense read per se, I'd label this book as contemporary fiction with emotional (possibly triggering) issues and a bit of mystery when bones are found on the property of a former foster home. 

The story is told using past and present plot lines. Through her three main characters, foster sisters Jessica, Alicia and Norah, Hepworth takes readers back to their childhood and their experiences at the mercy and mercurial emotions of their abusive foster mother. In present day, readers are privy to sessions between a (not overly professional or competent?) psychiatrist and an unknown female patient which add to the mystery.

I'll be honest, this was a hard and emotional read for me because much of the book focuses on the abuse and manipulation of children and the resulting trauma, giving the story a very dark, uncomfortable feel. The ending was over-the-top and not quite satisfying, but my big takeaway will be the unbreakable bond between the three sisters. 

While this was a good story, it was not a darling of a read for me. That said, I remain a fan of Sally Hepworth and strongly recommend her work which balances tension, social issues and interesting characters. 

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to St Martin's Press for the advanced digital copy of this book which was given in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Author: Sally Hepworth

Genre: Suspense

Type and Source: ebook from publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: St Martin's Press

First Published: April 23, 2024

Book Description from GoodReads: 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?