Ok this author has a way with words and she creates a fantastic creepy atmosphere like no other. Similar to Simone St. James as there’s a hint of supernatural to go along with an engaging mystery.

This was creepy and unique. I think the less you know going in, the better. I was pretty sure I knew "the thing" but I only got a little of it; I was definitely surprised.

This is the first I've read by this author and I want to immediately go read the backlist.

This was such a good and scary book!

Reverend Jack Brooks and her daughter Flo have moved to the small English town of Chapel Croft. Classic story of outsiders moving to a small town with secrets. And these are particularly creepy, wooden dolls, martyrs and exorcisms.

This one has a lot of twists and turns and ultimately goes very surprising places. Trigger warnings for some gore.

I would recommend this, it was creepy and well written and surprised me, which doesn’t happen often.

WOW what a book!! I couldn't put this one down, and all the twists and turns, and shocking revelations, blew my mind! This book tells the story of a vicar and her teenage daughter, who are forced to move to a small, tight-knit town after a tragedy at her former church. In this new town there are secrets and tragedy too, and scary things start happening to both the vicar and her daughter, causing them both to start digging. Highly highly recommend this book!!!

Once again, Tudor delivers! If you've read any of her work before, you'll know to expect a cast of fully realized characters, a unique and fleshed out setting, and plenty of twists and turns. The Burning Girls is no exception. Tudor keeps readers engaged with the vicars' present dilemma in the quaint village of Chapel Croft while slowly unfolding the towns dark secrets, as well as those of our protagonist.

An interesting and compelling read, even if there are a few too many characters to keep track of. The twists caught me off guard and I didn't see them coming. The one major issue I found was that the two "mysteries" or crimes that are a part of the story are quite disconnected from each other, though both had compelling resolutions. Decent and fun read, especially in the second half. 3.5/5 rounded up to 4.

This was such a such a dark and twisty book. The old church/cemetery setting made for a very creepy feel. There were lots of twists and turns along the way - Some I saw coming, and some I didn't. I wouldn't have quite called this horror, but it definitely was a darker thriller. It was a little slow to start, but by the mid-point I was invested and couldn't put it down.

Overall I've really enjoyed C.J. Tudor's books. This one was no different. Reverend Jack Brooks moves to a new town after the Reverend of that church is found dead. She moves with her daughter. They soon discover there is a lot of secrets that don't want to stay hidden. I found this story to be really surprising for me. I did not see anything that happened in this book coming at all. I feel at the same time I didn't really make any guesses but I know I wouldn't have guessed them anyway.

Tudor brings the grit and the darkness with her latest thriller. This book, like those before it, pulls me down the rabbit hole with the characters. THE BURNING GIRLS just proves to me that CJ Tudor is a force in the mystery and thriller genre. Not to mention that otherworldly element that always manages to creep in and up the scare factor as well as the tension. Simply stated...chilling, addictive, and twisty. Loved it!

What a amazing book! I feel in love with this one. The story is spectacular, all the characters are super vivid. I recommend with my heart.

Tudor is one of my favorite thriller writers, and this book was no exception. I loved the religious element on top of the thrills this author always delivers. Definitely recommend!

The Burning Girls

A Novel

By: C. J. Tudor

Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine

Ballantine Books

Mystery & Thrillers

Publish Date 9 February 2021

#TheBurningGirls#NetGalley

100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

I would like to thank both NetGalley and Random House Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book. Sorry it has taken me so long to do so.

Good Reads Synopsis:

A dark history lingers in Chapel Croft. Five hundred years ago, Protestant martyrs were betrayed — then burned. Thirty years ago, two teenage girls disappeared without a trace. And a few weeks ago, the vicar of the local parish hanged himself in the nave of the church.

Reverend Jack Brooks, a single parent with a 14-year-old daughter and a heavy conscience, arrives in the village hoping for a fresh start. Instead, Jack finds a town rife with conspiracies and secrets, and is greeted with a strange welcome package: an exorcism kit and a note that warns, “But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed and hidden that will not be known.”

The more Jack and daughter, Flo, explore the town and get to know its strange denizens, the deeper they are drawn into the age-old rifts, mysteries, and suspicions. And when Flo begins to see specters of girls ablaze, it becomes apparent there are ghosts here that refuse to be laid to rest.

Uncovering the truth can be deadly in a village with a bloody past, where everyone has something to hide, and no one trusts an outsider.

Review:

I gave this book 3 stars. I haven’t had any luck with reading her books. This book is actually my favorite of all of them.

This is book has a lot of religionists undertones in it. This came as a surprise for me. Not that I didn’t like it just really wasn’t expecting it. This is a dual timeline story. The bad part is that the chapter headings don’t tell you which timeline you are in, which made it a little hard to get into.

There is mystery present and past which you are trying to solve and wonder if they are connect in any way. The current paster is a single mom who has a fourteen-year-old daughter. As this daughter goes explorer the new to her town, she is seeing girls that are burning. She doesn’t understand this, and it is scaring her. Unbeknownst to the two new to the town people there is a history behind this, and it isn’t good. What is the meaning of the burning girls? What is the town’s history? You will have to read the book and find out.

I love C.J. Tudor and this book is no exception. Every chapter builds the suspense and tension perfectly and the characters all ring true. Can't wait to read their next novel!

CJ Tudor is one of my favorite authors and I think I loved her latest book, The Burning Girls even more than the rest. I like the way she weaves her stories and I love her prose.

Jack (short for Jacqueline, she claims) is a vicar. She is also a widow and has a 15-year-old daughter, Flo. When a tragedy draws unwanted attention to Jack in her Nottingham parish, she is sent off to a small village parish to temporarily fill in for the previous vicar who committed suicide. The village some creepy history – actually, a LOT of creepy history: Exorcism, martyred girls burned at the stake in the 1600’s, girls who mysteriously disappeared thirty years ago, a vicar who disappeared, a vicar who committed suicide, apparitions, lots of gore, and more galore. Jack also appears to have some secrets, an unhappy childhood, running away, and news of her husband’s murderer being released from prison. This book is jam packed with small but intricate scenarios and steeped in mystery. There is a crazy murderer on the loose (getting inside his head was mind-blowing) and there are some crazy, evil teens who get their kicks tormenting others.

I admit that I suspected early on where the story was going but I’m happy to say that I did not guess all the secrets and I missed the biggest twist of all (I should have seen it coming since this is the second book I read this year with a similar twist). Although, I generally do not mind loose ends, CJ Tudor ties everything up neatly and leaves no question unanswered (even those that I didn’t know to ask).

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for an ARC of this book – one of the best books I read this year!

This was a basic run of the mill thriller book. It was engaging to read and enjoyable, but nothing too crazy or twisty-turny.

THE BURNING GIRLS is a unique thriller with supernatural elements and C.J. Tudor pulls off this work of creative art in her latest release. Driving this complex story and plot are its two protagonists, Jack and Flo. These characters are complex and dynamic, and they are the kinds of characters readers will find to linger and grab you from the first page. The village in the story is drenched in atmosphere, suspense, and a well crafted plot that makes for a haunting thriller that readers won’t be able to put down!! Needs to be on your reading TBR pile !

Great book. Highly recommend and will most defiantly read more by this author and suggest to others!

This book just wasn’t for me. I ended up DNF’ing it and went and looked at other people’s reviews to see if it was just me. In fact, issues I had early on with race, depictions of disability, and mental illness apparently just get worse and not better. I did not like Jack and she and the bishop just did not seem like real people. There was such a disconnect from her work and maybe that gets better. Most reviews felt happy that the book wasn’t “preachy,” but it just felt off to me. It felt too self-congratulatory that Jack is not a "normal" vicar like when older books went to such great length to say so-so was not normal girl. Anyway, giving it a three and not reviewing on GRs as I did not finish it. Also, I really need to avoid exorcism books. They all get on my nerves. Live and learn.

THE BURNING GIRLS
by C.J. Tudor – Standalone
Ballentine Books, February 2021, 352 pp.
RATING: A

First Sentence: "It's an unfortunate situation."
Reverend Jack Brooks and 14-year-old daughter Flo have been transferred to Chapel Croft in Sussex. A community with a very dark past including the burning of martyrs, disappearance of two girls, and the suicide of a priest. With no one being who they seem and not knowing who to trust, can Jack and Flo survive while exposing closely-guarded secrets?
The best books grab you from page one and don't let go. This book does just that. One thing to know; there are a lot of bodies; new, old, spectral, and real. The story is more suspense than mystery, and never boring.
Tudor has a compelling voice. It's engaging and conversational in both outward dialogue and internal thoughts. Jack and daughter Flo hold one's attention and curiosity to know more. It's nice that Flo acts appropriately for her age. However, both occasionally suffer from going into danger alone, yet both are also smart, brave and interesting.
Beyond the elements of voice and character, there are a plethora of memorable passages: another indication of a great author. Tudor makes one stop and think—"We all have our hiding places. Not just physical ones. Places deep inside where we put away the things we don't want other to see."
Rather than having an unreliable narrator, this is the case of "trust no one" in the best possible way. No one is who they seem and everyone has secrets.
There are an abundance of very effective plot twists and revelations from beginning to end. Some of them scare, some cause one to gasp, all of them surprise.
The only problems were a couple of silly, editing issues. Ignore them.
THE BURNING GIRLS is a great, escapist read, especially for those who like a bit of dark, eepy-creepy. There is a supernatural element but doesn't stop an enjoying an engrossing, page-turning book that keeps one reading way too late into the night, but one may want to leave the light on. The story holds one's attention from the first page to last and makes one happy Tudor has more books to read.

I'm not sure what took me so long to start this book, but it was so good to read! I do think the ending was farfetched and gave me pause, but the reading was in general pleasing.

Reverend Jack Brooks is a mother of a teenager and that's one of her bigger worries when she has to temporarily move to a small town after getting involved in a scandal in the place she'd been formerly stationed. The town comes with their own myths, the burning girls who'll appear to whom is about to get in trouble. Are they associated to the mysterious suicide of Jack's predecessor? And what is the connection with the two missing girls of years before? Above all, will it pose a danger to her daughter?

As I mentioned, I didn't like the conclusion. I do think it was a good idea, but the execution was weird and made me frown, because I'm not sure if the story validates it entirely. Maybe when I re-read it I can come back here and tell you, but for now, I can affirm that even it really fits, it was a weird fit that didn't satisfy me.

At the same time, I'm not one to care that much about endings (unless they're really bad, which is not the case), so this was a book I liked. It still made me feel I've read this story somewhere else, which is a recurring problem with Tudor's works, but this time I didn't figure out where and that's already something. In other words, we can say it's not super original but the plot twists worked better without an exact reference of the book it's inspired on.

I wish the burning girls myth had been explored a little more, though. It's not only the title, but it's actually a good mystery that ends up in the far sidelines. I also think there were more elements that maybe the author included to confuse us but that as a reader I felt disappointed that didn't come to more. Unfortunately, I can't think of how to be more precise here without giving out spoilers. Nonetheless, that added to my dissatisfaction with the conclusion.

It's still a book with great twists, really, really good ones. It's not a marvelous read but will keep you reading and guessing for most of it. This hasn't been a good year for me bookwise, so it's not saying much, but this was one of the best thrillers I read in 2021 and at least my second favorite by Tudor, save for her debut.


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.