Many thanks to my friends @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the free #gifted copies of this book.  

 

Move over Miss Hannigan.  You’ve got nothing on Miss Fairchild!

 

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia share a tight knit bond of sisterhood after surviving years of abuse under foster mother, Miss Fairchild.  When skeletal remains are found below their childhood home, secrets and suspicion loom large.  

 

I’ve come to count on Hepworth’s remarkable ability to play with perception.  She has a knack for whip smart plots that are deftly written and easily entertain.  Her books are ones I count on.  

 

But Darling Girls...it pains me to say... just didn’t give me that same experience. 

 

While I appreciated the darker undertones and the well-depicted bond of sisterhood, little else clicked for me.  

 

These sisters were so neglected.  So abused.  And yet, I found myself... not caring like I normally would. 

 

Was it because I needed more depth and layering to the characterization?  Was it the inconsistent pacing in the storyline?  Maybe the gamut of holes in the plot or the meh present day timeline?  

 

Honestly, I’m not sure.  But whatever the reason, Darling Girls felt lackluster and underwhelming.  Still, I’ll be eagerly awaiting what Hepworth writes next!

 

My SH rankings:

The Younger Wife 5⭐️

The Good Sister 5⭐️

The Soulmate 4⭐️

Darling Girls 3⭐️

 

🎧 I am a sucker for a buoyant Aussie accent.  And narrator Jessica Clarke delivered.  Her voice transported me across continents and immersed me in the land down under.   She also navigated the multiple POV with skill and keep me engaged.