Darling Girls: A Novel

SISTERS, SECRETS, LOVE, AND MURDER... Sally Hepworth's novel Darling Girls has it all.

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?

A thrilling page-turner of sisterhood, secrets, love, and murder by New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth.

“Sally Hepworth writes characters you love.” -LIANE MORIARTY, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF APPLES NEVER FALL

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press.

1143331039
Darling Girls: A Novel

SISTERS, SECRETS, LOVE, AND MURDER... Sally Hepworth's novel Darling Girls has it all.

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?

A thrilling page-turner of sisterhood, secrets, love, and murder by New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth.

“Sally Hepworth writes characters you love.” -LIANE MORIARTY, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF APPLES NEVER FALL

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press.

19.99 In Stock
Darling Girls: A Novel

Darling Girls: A Novel

by Sally Hepworth

Narrated by Jessica Clarke

Unabridged — 9 hours, 6 minutes

Darling Girls: A Novel

Darling Girls: A Novel

by Sally Hepworth

Narrated by Jessica Clarke

Unabridged — 9 hours, 6 minutes

Audiobook (Digital)

$17.99
FREE With a B&N Audiobooks Subscription | Cancel Anytime
$0.00

Free with a B&N Audiobooks Subscription | Cancel Anytime

$19.99 Save 10% Current price is $17.99, Original price is $19.99. You Save 10%.
START FREE TRIAL

Already Subscribed? 

Sign in to Your BN.com Account


Listen on the free Barnes & Noble NOOK app


Related collections and offers

FREE

with a B&N Audiobooks Subscription

Or Pay $17.99 $19.99

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

A domestic thriller that rewards readers who pay attention to the details, Darling Girls is the latest from Sally Hepworth and continues on her track of dynamic plots populated by deeply human characters. It's a propulsive read, with the kind of atmosphere that makes it impossible to put down.

SISTERS, SECRETS, LOVE, AND MURDER... Sally Hepworth's novel Darling Girls has it all.

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?

A thrilling page-turner of sisterhood, secrets, love, and murder by New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth.

“Sally Hepworth writes characters you love.” -LIANE MORIARTY, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF APPLES NEVER FALL

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press.


Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

02/05/2024

Australia’s broken foster care system comes into focus through the eyes of three women who’ve endured it in this bleak domestic thriller from bestseller Hepworth (The Soulmate). Jessica Lovat is a professional home organizer with obsessive tendencies; Norah Anderson takes other people’s employment competency tests for money and struggles with anger issues; and social worker Alicia Connelly’s low self-esteem keeps her locked away from the world. Though not blood-related, the trio call themselves “sisters” since living together at Wild Meadows Farm under the watch of their abusive foster mother, Holly Fairchild. Now, 25 years later, Wild Meadows has been sold, leading to the discovery of human remains buried under the farmhouse, and authorities bring Jessica, Norah, and Alicia from Melbourne to the crime scene in Port Agatha for questioning. Hepworth toggles viewpoints and timelines, revealing how each girl was placed at Wild Meadows and showcasing Holly’s erratic—possibly even murderous—behavior. While Hepworth’s vivid prose helps to maintain the plot’s momentum, the unrelenting descriptions of child abuse grow grim and tiresome, and the payoff to the core mystery is deflating. Hepworth has done much better in the past. Agent: Rob Weisbach, Rob Weisbach Creative. (Apr.)

From the Publisher

"This is the rare story that’s equally character and plot driven, with the “sisters” portrayed as distinct and lovable and the plot just packed with twists. Hating Miss Fairchild is the icing on the cake." —First Clue

"Sally Hepworth's Darling Girls is the kind of story that grabs you hard and doesn't let go. Easily one of the best books I've read all year. An absolute page-turner from first word to last... A superb and haunting mystery."New York Times bestselling author Jane Harper

"As in The Soulmate, compelling themes of trust, betrayal, and brittle façades circle the sisters’ relationships, raising the stakes of the investigation painfully high. Hepworth's fans will be primed for her newest unnerving thriller." —Booklist

JUNE 2024 - AudioFile

Jessica Clarke narrates this story told by three foster sisters. When a dead body is discovered under their childhood home, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia must confront their past. Each explores her memories of their makeshift family, which was led by the demanding Miss Fairchild. Clarke delivers this winding story as a masterful blend of suspense, drama, and emotional depth. Her dynamic narration conveys the distinct personality of each sister, making all feel real and relatable. She brings across the tension of the plot, keeping listeners glued to every twist and turn. In addition to adept character portrayals, Clarke's steady rhythm heightens the suspense, as the girls, now adult women, try to break free of their dark childhood. M.R. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID: 2940159945938
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication date: 04/23/2024
Edition description: Unabridged
Sales rank: 303,063
From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews