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?

This book contains scenes that depict child abuse.

Sally Hepworth has become a standout writer in her genre. Her pacing is fantastic and she always keeps the twists coming, but what makes her stories stand out for me is that she never shies away from examining tough topics. As a result, the stakes always feel high, and the characters are compelling and complex. Darling Girls is no exception.

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia met when they were all put under the care of their foster mother, Miss Fairchild. While their situation seemed perfect on the outside, things were not as idyllic as they appeared. Miss Fairchild was a cruel and unpredictable caregiver. All three girls left her care as soon as they had the chance. Though they never saw Miss Fairchild again, their foster mother was always lingering in the back of their minds. When a dead body is discovered under the house where they grew up, they are forced to revisit their past and become key witnesses in the investigation…except not everyone believes their innocence.

While Darling Girls has all the twists and turns you might expect, it is also a poignant story of three young women trying to survive the traumas of their pasts. If you’re a fan of Sally Hepworth, you won’t be disappointed. If this is your first time reading her work, you’re in for a treat.