Darling Girls is a story of sisterhood and survival, constructed with Hepworth’s expert tension and pacing. Itt will hold you from start to finish and keep you guessing along the way.

The story is told through the eyes of three foster sisters: Jessica who is neurotic, organised and caring to a fault; Alicia who spends her life helping others but doesn’t believe she deserves the same in return; and Norah who wears her hard exterior like armour, but is soft and vulnerable on the inside. They’ve been close ever since they lived together at Wild Meadows. Twenty-five years later, local authorities have contacted them after the house at Wild Meadows was demolished and human remains were found in the ground beneath.

In true Hepworth fashion the story begins in the present and the reader is slowly filled in on the past. The focalisation through each sister is strong, and there’s a clear sense of who they are as individuals, and how well they can understand each other. They each have their own subplots. Woven throughout the story is the odd chapter set in a psychiatrist’s office and told in the first person. The identity of whom becomes easy to guess before the actual revelation.

Darling Girls deals with strong themes around emotional, physical and substance abuse – all handled deftly and with care. There are certain twists that force the reader to re-think everything they’ve previously read. This makes it a forceful and thought-provoking read that is utterly enjoyable.

Reviewed by Annika Tague

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sally Hepworth is the New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, most recently Darling Girls. Her novel, The Mother-In-Law (2019), has been optioned for a TV series by Hollywood actress and producer, Amy Poehler.

Drawing on the good, the bad and the downright odd of human behaviour, Sally writes incisively about family, relationships and identity. Her domestic thriller novels are laced with quirky humour, sass and a darkly charming tone.

Sally’s novels are available around the globe in English and have been translated into 20 languages. She has sold more than one million books worldwide.

Sally lives in Melbourne, Australia with her family.

Visit Sally Hepworth’s website