A review by ajnel
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Three foster sisters, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, are forced to confront their traumatic past when a body is discovered beneath their former foster home. As the investigation unfolds, they must confront the dark secrets that have haunted them for years. A slightly overdeveloped psychological drama, which confronts physical and emotional abuse and the varying long-term impacts thereof on different survivors.  The murder mystery could have been a bit more engaging and less breadcrumbed , but the novel would likely have lost some of its gravitas, if the murder became the focus.