A dark, disturbing psycholgical crime novel which will bother you whilst you read it.

10 year old Laurel and her 6 year old sister Rosie go to the park to play, whilst there they see a toddler playing, what happens next is the stuff of nightmares and every parents worst dream. The girls take the toddler and are then accused of her murder, however Rosie is only 6 and in the eyes of the law can't stand trial however Laurel must face the consequences of their actions.

Move forward 20 years and one of The Flower Girls finds herself at a hotel where a child goes missing. Having spent 20 years hiding under a new name she now finds herself thrust into the limelight.

This psychological crime novel looks at the justice system, how a violent crime impacts upon the family left behind, the taboo subject of children committing murder, the greed and lack of principals which many journalists operate under - just to get a story. It has a plot which has plenty of pace, the only downside was I worked out part of the ending.

Thanks to Bloomsbury UK and NetGalley for the advance reading copy

About halfway through reading this book I thought I had it all figured out. How very wrong I was.

This is a very dark, chilling novel that is sure to leave you feeling unsettled at its conclusion. The story is about the “Flower Girls” Laurel and Rosie, who were involved in the murder of a young girl whilst small children. The novel follows a series of characters including the Flower Girls who are now adults, a policewoman, a writer, a lawyer and a victim’s rights advocate. There are a lot of surprises unveiled during the course of the novel and some things are not quite as they seem.

The story makes reference to, and has parallels with, notorious murder cases of modern times, including Jamie Bulger and the Moors Murderers. With that in mind, it can make for rather gruelling and intense reading at times. Some of the themes explored raise questions about the efficacy of indefinite detention of young offenders, what can drive children to commit terrible crimes, is evil a result of nature or nurture and what rights should the victims of crime have to determine or prolong the punishment of offenders.

Some of the dialogue and actions of the characters sometimes didn’t quite read true to life for me, particular the writer’s story arc, which disrupted my immersion in the narrative at certain points. However, the author takes some risks with expected tropes of the genre which helped elevate it above a standard thriller. The book left me feeling genuinely unnerved and made me reflect personally on some of the knee-jerk reactions I have to similar crimes that happen in reality. This book could be useful basis for discussion with those working in the fields of rehabilitation or the criminal justice system and some of the themes could be used when exploring these issues in a classroom situation.

Another good read, New Year's Eve and people are gathering to welcome the new year in, but a little girl goes missing. Turns out there are people with dark backgrounds as guests and employees. Kept me interested the whole way through the book, who did it, what happened really. The ending was unexpected too.

This was a scary and unpredictable book.The characters were well fleshed out and there were surprises and twists galore.What seemed like a disquieting and horrific story had even more layers to it.No spoilers although I wish I could say some thing but I don't want to spoil the book for other readers, I was reading like a woman possessed towards the end to see how all the loose ends were going to be tied up, that is if they were.All I can say is wow, I think I need a cup of tea and a lie down now.What a cracking book not for those of a nervous disposition maybe ,but really well plotted and the pace was good.Thanks to the Publishers and netgalley for an ARC.

Having a fascination (if that’s the right word!) with child killers this book was definitely something I knew I would like. I found it hard to put down and impossible to forget. About a taboo subject with shocking events I still cared about what would happen to the characters.

It was one of those books where you dread finishing and I don’t quite know what to do with myself now. I won’t forget this book in a hurry,a truly exceptional read. Grateful thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley.

Once you have committed such an heinous crime your past will always catch you up. Two sisters murder a child little more than a baby, one is too young to be prosecuted but the other sister is sent to prison. Nineteen years later a child goes missing in similar circumstances. Is there a connection ? It is quite a harrowing read but a compelling read.

I was excited to read this book as it sounded right up my street.

I found it a bit slow to start but it really picked up the pace and I thought the ending really good.

I liked the way it mentioned real life similar cases as all along I’d been thinking ‘this sounds just like...’

Would recommend this book.

Oh this book was so spine tingling that I loved it. I was desperate to know what happened with the flower girls and could not put it down. I really rate this book. #NetGalley #TheFlowerGirls

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.
Well-written, the opening to this story would have made a horror-writer proud. Two sisters, Primrose(Rosie) and Laurel, aged 6 and 10 respectively, are playing in the park away from the gathered mothers. They decide they want to 'play' with 2yr-old Kirstie and guide her away from the playground to the girls' pretend fairy-dell at the edge of the park, not far from their short-cut walk to their home.
Eighteen years later: Laurel is still in prison, having had numerous parole requests denied, in the main because of a concerted public campaign orchestrated by Kirstie's Aunt. Laurel's family have never visited and she has only the support of her Uncle Toby, solicitor. They have been given leave to challenge the Parole Board's decisions not to release her.
The family were given new identities and moved away. Rosie became Hazel. She now has a boyfriend, who in turn has a teenage daughter, and are taking a New Year hotel break in Devon where the weather is atrocious. A 5yr-old girl goes missing from the hotel. Hazel's new world begins to disintegrate amidst the fear of her real identity - one of the 'Flower Girls' - being discovered, and the automatic blame which could attach to her.
DC Lorna Hillier doesn't like loose-ends, but has no evidence. She is so sure Hazel is connected to the child's disappearance.
I don't want to write 'spoilers' so that's as far as I go with the background, except.......
I cannot in all honesty say that I 'enjoyed' this book - more, intrigued by it. Sorry, but little Jamie Bulger will always come to mind.
There are some 'twists' in the story, but the biggest of all is at the end where it turns into a sinister psychological thriller.
This is a story of familial protectionism; misplaced loyalties, psychological damage, and greed. It throws up all kinds of emotions from love to hate to abandonment.

The Flower Girls, so named as the main characters names are Laurel and Rosie. As children aged 10 and 6 in 1997 they committed a dreadful crime for which Laurel ends up imprisoned while Rosie and her parents are given new identities. Many years later, as an adult and now known as Hazel, Rosie is spending New Year with her partner and his teenage daughter at a hotel in Devon when a young girl goes missing. When Rosie is recognised her life begins to unravel.

One question this book tries to answer is what drives a child to murder another child. Is that child born evil? There seems to be no answer and the book may be a disturbing subject for some parents to read. Just turning away for seconds and the worst happens to your child. The relationship between the two sisters was interesting - was it guilt Laurel ended up in prison that prevented Hazel from contacting her for nineteen years? None of the characters, main or otherwise, are likeable but that isn't an issue for me as a reader. It was wondering who was the real criminal in this scenario that kept me reading until the very end.

Although an interesting novel I found some flaws that spoilt it for me: The writer who befriends Hazel seems a caricature and his exit rather unbelievable. There seemed to be a loose end as far as the detective was concerned. I felt it gratuitous to refer to well-known child murder and abduction cases. I was confused by the ending. However, The Flower Girls will appeal to readers who enjoyed Gone Girl and others of that genre. A good book club read as there are many discussion points. Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury/Raven Press for the opportunity to read and review The Flower Girls.

I really enjoyed this book. Laurel and Rosie were only children when they tortured and killed a 2 year old baby. 10 year old Laurel was charged with the murder, while 6 year old Rosie was too young to stand trial and was given a new identity. Years later, Laurel is still in prison and Rosie, now known as Hazel, is on holiday with her partner when a young child goes missing. Hazel is recognised, and a whole can of worms is opened. A real page turner which will keep you on the edge of your seat! Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

The premise for this book is a chilling question that has yet to be answered- what drives a child to kill another child? But as excited as I was to dive into such a fascinating subject, I can only rate the book itself as an average one. The plot points, including some half hearted but obligatory twists, come as no real surprise. The characters are also for the most part thinly written. The coldly calculating manipulator when they are revealed reads as more of a daytime soap opera villain. I also grew weary of the constant references to famous child murder and abuse cases. Rather than root the story in the real world, it just seemed a little cheap and gratuitous.
Oddly enough the parts of the book that I found most realistic and engaging centred on secondary characters. The aunt, with no purpose to her life outside of the twenty year battle for justice. Her partner, in his realisation that no one ever wins that battle, and more lives are lost besides the innocent life of a child. An uncle who despite everything still sees the face of his young niece buried in the harsh lines of a lifelong convict and tirelessly fights for her rights outside of trial by the public. And finally two mothers, bearing the guilt that comes from taking your eyes away from your child at the wrong moment. Is is these passages that elevated an otherwise pedestrian narrative to something almost touching at times.

I loved this book from start to finish, and felt such confidence in the writer and her master of storytelling that I just let myself sink into the plot and didn't question anything about the writing until I closed the final page.

At times there were a few too many point of view characters, which led to a lack of resolution in one or two of the strands. But the core story was so strong that it didn't matter so much.

A highly recommended read

I requested this from NetGalley without really knowing much about the novel at all. Basically I requested it because I thought the cover was very striking, knew it was creating a buzz and that the publisher was Raven Books, so would be a well-written, interesting read (have loved everything else they have published so far).

Well, that will teach me not to find out more about a book before reading it!! I don’t think this book will leave me for some time. For sheer unlikeable characters and challenging storylines you would be hard pressed to find something to beat The Flower Girls. It triggered similar reactions in me that The Lovely Bones and We Need to Talk About Kevin did.

The ‘Flower Girls’ of the title are Laurel and Primrose (Rosie), arrested when only ten and six for murdering a toddler, Kirstie. It’s now 19 years later; Laurel is still in prison and Rosie has a new identity (along with her parents) and is called Hazel.

Hazel is in Devon, celebrating the new year at a hotel with her boyfriend (who knows her real identity) and all seems well. But then another little girl goes missing. And a journalist recognises Hazel/Rosie…

Can a person ever really change? Are people born evil? With obvious parallels to a well-known real-life case, this is a horrifying study of what people are really capable of.

Heart-stopping story of the consequences of murder.

The Flower Girls , an innocent-sounding name for children who are the exact opposite. Notorious child-killers, their crime is on a par with that of the Bulger murderers, Thompson and Venables. Their story flashes between 1997, when the crime was committed, and the present day. Rosie, only six at the time, was deemed too young to blame for the murder. Her older sister, Laurel, was imprisoned and is still incarcerated, cut off from her family and bitter about it.

Rosie has now become Hazel, her true identity protected. She has found love and is about to celebrate her 25th birthday in Devon with Jonny and his daughter Evie. Then another child disappears. Hazel fears she will be implicated. Should she reveal her identity?

As the story develops, you feel revulsion and sympathy in turn for the plight of feisty Laurel and timid Hazel. You admire DC Lorna Hillier's persistence in trying to ferret out the truth. Characters such as strident lawyer Joanna and self-seeking author Max add substance to a powerful novel you will find it hard to put down.

A strong book with descriptive writing and characters who have depth. This is a story of the aftermath of a horrific crime and the devastation that constant publicity brings to victims and perpetrators alike. One for lovers of crime dramas from Agatha Christie to Tana French and psychological thrillers such as Gone Girl. This book will haunt you.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishers for the opportunity to preview this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was somewhat reticent to read this book, based on the subject matter, however, it’s really well written and although it’s the first book I’ve read by this author, it won’t be the last.

It’s the summer of 1997 and 2 sisters are arrested for the murder of another little girl, but, only 1 sister is imprisoned. The book moves from that time to present day, where one of the sisters (with a new name) is staying in a hotel with her partner (who knows her past) and his teenage daughter. A young girl goes missing.....

The book then follows the characters within the hotel, all of whom are under suspicion. It also deals with the difficult moral dilemma of rehabilitation of childhood killers and one cannot read this book without thinking about the horrendous Jamie Bulger case. It also covers the ripple effect of a murder within a family and all is dealt with sensitively.

The author is a human rights lawyer and this comes through in her explanation of the legal aspects, all described clearly and without jargon.
The ending was slightly over the top, but, well wrapped up and overall a good read.

An engrossing story which held my attention to the twist at the end. Quite hard to read at times but a great storyline.. would definitely recommend and look forward to her next novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

The Flower Girls - a gripping roller-coaster of emotions..A tragic all too familiar tale of childhood innocence tarnished by wickedness. The story grabs you from the beginning as the horror of a missing child is an all too familiar scenario for one particular lady - aka as one of "The Flower Girls". Their story will horrify you, make you angry, sympathetic, sad and totally unable to comprehend. I read this book in a few hours and was not disappointed with the brilliant twist at the end that I was hoping for. I have no hesitation in giving this book the 5 stars that it deserves. I look forward to more gems from Alice Clark-Platts.👍👍👍

A very engrossing read with a twist in the story line at the end. Two sisters - 10 and 6 - a horrible crime and the fallout from that crime.

Laurel and Rosie have been dubbed the Flower Girls due to their beautiful names. But there isn't any beauty in the murder they were involved in. After taking a toddler from the play park, 10 year old Lauren and 6 year old Rosie are arrested on suspicion of Kirstie's murder. Child murder is abhorrent enough, but when the murderers are themselves just children you can't help but wonder whether true evil really exists. 19 years on, Laurel is still serving her life sentence, still going through the motions of appealing to the parole board and Rosie, well she is now living with a new identity, Hazel, It's on Hazel's birthday at a remote Devon hotel that another child goes missing and the Flower Girls find themselves front and centre of news again. The book is full of twists and turns as the reader is lead past a line-up of suspects, but prepare yourself for some real twists. The ending is rather epic - I didn't see it coming and it will stay with you long after you've finished reading. A highly recommended thriller, this will leave you with questions about the nature of evil, blame, and whether our justice system is about rehabilitation or punishment.