Darling Girls
by Sally Hepworth
Summary
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?
GoodReads Nominee for Favorite Mystery & Thriller 2024
My Review
This was my first book by this author, and I was eager to dive in after hearing so many good things about her domestic and psychological thrillers. However, it fell a bit short of my expectations, as I anticipated it to be more thrilling. Despite that, I still enjoyed the story, and it kept me guessing about the bones they found under the house.
The plot of this book primarily centers on the broken foster care system in our country, and I appreciated the author bringing attention to such a significant issue. It’s a dark and heavy story that can be difficult to read at times, especially with its descriptions of child abuse, so be sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in. Despite the tough subject matter, the writing was excellent and really drew me into the story. I became deeply invested in the characters and genuinely cared about their outcomes. I felt a strong connection to the three women and hoped they could heal from their traumatic childhoods and build better lives for themselves.
The book features both past and present timelines, along with multiple POVs. I enjoyed exploring the lives of the three women who became foster sisters during their childhood. The narrative reveals their past experiences and how these have shaped their present lives. At times, I found the past timeline more compelling than the present one. Despite the gut-wrenching and sad depiction of their childhood abuse and trauma, there are also hopeful and uplifting moments. My favorite part was watching the sisters develop a strong bond with each other, and I loved the dynamics of their sisterhood and the found family element.
The story includes some language but no explicit spicy scenes. However, it does feature a lesbian relationship with a few makeout scenes.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and appreciated getting to know the three sisters and their childhood experiences. Although it was heartbreaking at times, it kept me guessing throughout and had a surprising twist at the end. If you enjoy slower-paced mysteries that focus more on character development than on the plot and can handle dark subject matter, you might really like this book. I definitely recommend it and plan to explore more of this author’s backlist.