I didn’t love the mystery of the plot. I felt like the characters normal lives were way more engaging plus I didn’t love the ending.

This suspenseful novel about sisters going back to face their abusive foster parent and home to try to solve a recent case that had come up had me on the edge of my seat or page actually. The twists in the story were very interesting had me hanging on until the very end. It is dark in some scenes for those who are sensitive to certain triggers like child abuse. I highly recommend.

Thank you Netgally for this ARC of Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth. Sally is quickly becoming of my favorite authors. This story was sad and mysterious and suspenseful all in one. I loved it!

Raised under the strict and unpredictable rules of their foster mother, Miss Fairchild, their escape from her grasp felt like liberation—but the shadows of their past are never far behind. When a body is uncovered beneath their former home, the sisters find themselves entangled in a web of suspicion, forcing them to confront the demons they thought they had left behind.

This gripping narrative expertly blends mystery and psychological tension, keeping readers guessing until the very end. With richly drawn characters and a plot that twists like a dark vine, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a deep dive into the complexities of family, trauma, and the haunting echoes of the past. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions as you unravel the chilling truths lurking in the shadows.

Thank you @stmartinspress @sallyhepworth for my gifted ebook. I finished my 6th #backlist2025 book! I’ve done 3 times as many as last year 😆 @lemonyreads and @bookswithnopictures.

When trying to do my 2024 top 10 books, I realize I didn’t read that many thrillers last year and they are one of my favorite genres. I couldn’t believe I missed Darling Girls last year, but I was pregnant and postpartum for it so it was probably best to wait on this book for the perfect time.

This book was much darker than I expected! Jessica, Norah and Alicia were three little girls who were often told they were lucky to be adopted by Miss Fairchild, but they were far from it. On the surface, she was a loving, doting caregiver, but in reality she was a mean, clean obsessed, overly frugal woman. The three girls quickly realized they had nothing, but together they had everything. They even called each other their sisters.

Flash forward a few years, and a body is found underneath their house of horrors. The girls reconvene for the first time since they were young to help the police solve the murder. But who was this child?

As a new mom, this was a little hard to read at times. But it was so well written and well done. It was very twisty. I loved it!

Sally Hepworth’s “Darling Girls” is a mystery that focuses on character development, but it could use a bit more speed. The story switches between the past and present, which lets us get to know the characters better and understand why they do what they do. This adds depth, but it doesn’t make the story any faster.

One of the hardest parts of reading this book was dealing with the dark themes of abuse and crimes in foster homes. Hepworth doesn’t hold back when it comes to showing these harsh realities, which can be tough to take in, but it makes the story feel more real.

Overall, “Darling Girls” is a good read. It might not be the most exciting mystery, but it’s worth checking out if you’re looking for a story that focuses on the characters and their emotions.

Another great Hepworth book! I really enjoyed getting every side of the story and what the girls went through as foster children. I loved all the characters and the ending was so good!

Thank you for the opportunity to preview Darling Girls.

This novel centers on two women who share a childhood past and are destined to be haunted by their time in foster care. Unfortunately the person in charge of them is quite evil or so it appears.
Many years later a discovery of a body provides the secrets to be revealed and trust and confidence is broken between the women.
Norah, and Alicia— who in childhood were inseparable now feel emotionally driven to revisit the past at the cost of their bonds

3.5 stars. Emotionally drained and painfully sad

Thank you to the book’s publisher and NetGalley for the ARC digital copy. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

Overall, this was an enjoyable mystery. Lots of unexpected twists and turns that kept me fooled. Ending was unexpected but fell a bit short for my liking although I can’t explain why. Believable characters!

4 out of 5 stars and my respect to the author. I will continue to grab anything Sally Hepworth writes!

How was the SallyAnn? I really enjoyed this one as it followed the topsy-turvy of a family of sisters and their tragedy they had to deal with. I would rate this four out of five stars.

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is a compelling psychological thriller that grips you from the first page. The story centers around three women—Jessica, Norah, and Alicia—who are bound together by their haunting past in foster care under the watchful eye of the mysterious Miss Fairchild. When a body is discovered beneath their former home, long-buried secrets rise to the surface, unraveling the fragile threads of trust between them.

It’s an unsettling yet satisfying read—dark without being gratuitous, emotional without being melodramatic. This book was hard to put down and I never saw the twists coming.

This was my first read by Sally Hepworth but won't be my last. The story was very unpredictable and twisty. The author is extremely gifted at writing characters that are multi-faceted and real as well as creating intrigue with the turn of every page. There were several moments when my jaw dropped to the floor. I flew through this one and didn't want to put it down. Highly recommended!

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is a fast-paced, twisty psychological thriller that kept me hooked from the start. The story skillfully unravels the dark secrets of three foster sisters bound by a traumatic past and a chilling murder investigation. Hepworth balances suspense with emotional depth, creating characters that are both compelling and flawed.

REVIEW: DARLING GIRLS BY SALLY HEPWORTH

RATING: 2/5

SYNOPSIS: 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?

the synopsis and idea of this book felt a lot better than the execution imo. something about it just wasn’t for me, and I can’t necessarily put my finger on what it was, but wasn’t excited to pick it up whenever I’d put it down.

This was the first book I’ve read by Sally Hepworth. It was entertaining and I’ll definitely read more of her books!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book by Sally Hepworth, It is the first book I have read from her. I enjoyed the multiple POV, and how you could tell it was the different characters. I love a good mystery that I cannot figure out until the end, which was what this book was. I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to picking up more books by this author.

The was an interesting psychological thriller/ crime story that follows three adult foster siblings-Jessica, Norah, and Alicia- who all suffered at the hands of their foster mother, Ms. Fairchild. They each get a phone call from a detective regarding bones being found in their childhood foster home that is being demolished and they are needed to come back for questioning. But going back to their foster home brings back secrets and memories they wished stay buried. This story is told in 4 POVs - each of the sisters and an unnamed person who is kept a mystery up until the end, and oscillates between the present and the past.

I actually loved the different viewpoints and timelines in this book! We really got to see each sister's personalities and understand their internal struggles as it relates to their upbringing. As a reader, it was troubling at times to hear about their childhood and what they went through, and what they kept from each other. But their circumstances really bonded them as sisters and it was endearing to witness. Just when I thought I figured everything out, a twist occurs at the very end that is wild!

Overall; 3.5⭐

Intriguing concept. It wasn't as intense of a read as I was hoping. I still will read other works by this author.

Wow! Talk about a slow burn with a BAM of an ending. The last few chapters are a wow. This is what I adore about this authors writing. Character based drama and full of mystery.

The audio was fantastic and great narration by the amazing Jessica Clarke.

I have to say, this book is full of point of views, like 4+ so if you are not a MPV reading, be warned. This is the only reason it didn't make a 5 for me. But that's my own personal issue. 😜 It was still worth the read/listen.

I loved this book! Twisty throughout and kept my attention. I will read everything this author releases. She has a certain writing style that is addictive!