THE BURNING GIRLS: REVIEW

Even if you are not a reader of thrillers, with a little horror added in (I am not a fan of horror – books or films), “The Burning Girls” is well-written, clever and a good bit creepy. I enjoyed it, maybe a small conversion has taken place… (Review by Christine E Hann)

The Burning Girls is written by C J Tudor (born in 1972) who lives in Nottingham, England with her family. Over the years she has worked as a copy writer, television presenter, voice-over artist, dog walker, and is now a full-time writer. She is a fan of the macabre, and her novels reflect this accordingly. The Burning Girls is C J Tudor’s 4th novel.

 The Burning Girls is set in the Village of Chapel Croft.

500 years ago: eight martyrs were burnt to death

30 years ago: two teenagers vanished without trace

Two months ago: the vicar committed suicide.   Welcome to Chapel Croft.

 

And so, the scene is set for the village newcomers Jack and daughter Flo, when they arrive at the village to make a fresh start, away from a difficult past. But, as we all know from experience, it is not always easy to leave your past behind. Jack is the Village’s new vicar, taking over after the untimely death of the previous incumbent. Jack and Flo do their best to settle into the small, tight-knit community, who are both proud and haunted by their town’s history.

Flo keeps seeing visions of burning girls, are they threatening, or do they have a message of warning for Jack and Flo? Who is behind all of this? Why did the previous vicar commit suicide? Why were they not told this before they arrived? So many questions, sinister happenings, twig dollies on their doorstep, left on the graves, in the graveyard next to the chapel, and then a collapsed floor in the chapel - that reveals some dark truths to Jack and Flo, and to some of the villagers as well.

A clever and sinister tale all in all, a little rushed towards the end, with some twists that I was not expecting. C.J Tudor writes an enthralling story. Even if you are not a reader of thrillers, with a little horror added in (I am not a fan of horror – books or films), The Burning Girls is well-written, clever and a good bit creepy. I enjoyed it, maybe a small conversion has taken place…

The Burning Girls is published by Penguin Random House UK – 2021 – Christine E Hann

Some of the other books by the same author: The Chalk Man, The Taking of Annie Thorne, The Other People