Audiobook, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth @SallyHepworth @MacmillanAudio

Jonetta | Blue Mood Café


the setup…
Jessica’s mother dies when she’s very young and is traumatized by that loss until she’s taken in as a foster child by Miss Fairchild, a lovely looking single woman in Port Agatha, a town about two hours from Melbourne. She’s loved and doted on…until she wasn’t. Soon Norah (with an “h”) is taken in, about a year younger but with a history of “violent” behavior. Lastly, there’s Alicia who was only supposed to be there temporarily until her grandmother recovered from a fall but it ends up being permanent. Each girl soon learns that the sweet and loving public veneer isn’t the woman they live with behind closed doors. But, the experience bonds them as sisters for life. Move forward about twenty years and they’re all contacted by authorities when remains are discovered under Wild Meadows, Miss Fairchild’s home…their house of mental horrors.

the heart of the story…
Honestly, what these women experienced as pre-teens at the hands of Miss Fairchild angered me as child abuse, be it emotional or otherwise, is one of my hot buttons. But! These three girls bonded as a result of it and declared themselves sisters for life. They’re the true heart of the story with three distinct personalities who would never even been friends under different circumstances. Their resilience and cleverness were admirable, all given rich characterization and considerable depth. I was invested in all of them and didn’t want law enforcement suspicion directed their way after all they’d experienced. But who was that buried under that house?

the narration…
I loved this narrator who eliminated the need for multiple performers (felt like there were several!). She was that good and quite the storyteller. Clarke is now on my favorites list.

the bottom line…
As tough as the subject matter was in this story the pain was eclipsed by these three sisters of the heart. I loved their loyalty and commitment to each other, no matter what. I had no clue as to the identity of the buried body and enjoyed the back and forth transitions between “before” and “now,” which were timed with precision. There are several twists throughout, some of high magnitude, others more subtle, which made this delicious. I’m so glad I opted for audio, too.

Book Info

  • Release Date: April 23, 2024
  • Narrator: Jessica Clarke
  • Audio Length: 9 hours, 6 minutes
  • Publisher: Macmillan Audio

 

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(Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)

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Published by Jonetta | Blue Mood Café

18 thoughts on “Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth @SallyHepworth @MacmillanAudio”

  1. Pingback: 2024 Audiobook Challenge @kimbacaffeinate @twimom227 #2024AudiobookChallenge – Blue Mood Café

  5. Sounds like a good one, even if the subject matter is tough to read about. I’ve seen this author a lot, but never tried any of her books. Great review, you made me want to read this. 🙂

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  7. Wonderful review, Jo. I am also not a fan of any kind of child abuse, but it sounds like it brought these girls, then women together. I was just approved for the audiobook and am looking forward to listening to it. Glad the narration is wonderful.

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