The Burning Girls

I had high hopes for The Burning Girls by CJ Tudor. Did this book live up-to my expectations? it’s a huge “hell yes, and then some” I loved this book, it’s brilliant, it’s unbelievable and unquestionably one of my top reads this year. The author’s latest offering is an atmospheric psychological thriller interwoven with elements of horror and the supernatural. It’s creepy, chilling, and deliciously dark, but what a fabulous and exciting read it made for. A word of warning to those of a nervous disposition: you may want to read this one during daylight hours. 

The author tells the story of Jack single parent to teenage daughter Flo, Jack left her last parish under a cloud of shame. She is banished to Chapel Cross a small remote village with a tight-knit community and some very strange traditions. This history of the village is a dark and troubling one, firstly it’s the site where eight Protestant martyrs including two young girls were burnt at the stake, on the anniversary of the purge small twig like dolls called the burning girls are set alight to commemorate those who died. Add to the mix the unsolved mystery of two girls going missing 30 years previously, and the questionable suicide of the local priest, and Jack soon realises that it’s a village whose foundations are built on secret and lies and ancient superstitions. 

This is a really atmospheric read, the author sure knows how to tell a story, building on the tension at each turn of the page, deftly unravelling the layers of the story, keeping the reader in her clutches as the tale becomes creepier and far more chilling. As I read on and lost myself in the pages it filled me with fear, suspicion and dread. In my opinion it’s a rare breed of author who evokes such feelings in a reader. The plot is clever, well crafted and impeccably executed, a compulsive and intense novel, and one I would happily recommend to those who enjoy a thriller that veers to the darker side. One final note: I have a feeling The Burning Girls will be a HUGE hit on its release in 2021.

I have read other books by this author and they have all been good. This one was terrific, really a different story and one which definitely had you reading like mad to find out what was going on.
Brilliant, well written story with loads of different and interesting characters.
The feeling of menace that pervaded was quite something.
At the start I was not sure I wanted to read about little twiggy things left in a graveyard, but boy the story swept me along. Wonderful, thank you.

I have read all of this author’s previous novels so had high expectations from this and it did not disappoint. For me, this is the best and blew my mind with the dark, disturbing deviances going on in the small village of Chapel Cross.

Most of the story is told from the viewpoint of Jack, a single parent with a teenage daughter Flo. Jack has been moved to Chapel Cross as the new priest after the previous one committed suicide. Jack left the previous parish under a cloud and didn’t want to move and neither did Flo, who as a teenager is soon fed up in the country with little to do.

The village has a chilling past as it is the site where eight Protestant Martyrs, including two young girls, were burnt at the stake. On the anniversary the locals make small, twig-like dolls and set these alight to commemorate the event. There are secrets, lies and other mysteries which become apparent as the story progresses.

This is exceptionally well plotted from start to finish with an amazing ending which blew me away.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Michael Joseph and C J Tudor for my ARC in return for my honest review.

This is a must read if you want to be chilled and surprised right to the end. Highly recommended.