Published by Michael Joseph on February 9, 2021
Format: eARC
Source: Net Galley
Pages: 304
Amazon UK
Goodreads
Also by this author: The Taking of Annie Thorne, The Other People, The Chalk Man
Welcome to Chapel Croft.
Five hundred years ago, eight protestant martyrs were burned at the stake here. Thirty years ago, two teenage girls disappeared without a trace. And two months ago, the vicar of the local parish killed himself.
Reverend Jack Brooks, a single parent with a fourteen-year-old daughter and a heavy conscience, arrives in the village hoping to make a fresh start and find some peace. Instead, Jack finds a town mired in secrecy and a strange welcome package: an old exorcism kit and a note quoting scripture.
"But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed and hidden that will not be known."
The more Jack and daughter Flo get acquainted with the town and its strange denizens, the deeper they are drawn into their rifts, mysteries, and suspicions. And when Flo is troubled by strange sightings in the old chapel, it becomes apparent that there are ghosts here that refuse to be laid to rest.
But uncovering the truth can be deadly in a village where everyone has something to protect, everyone has links with the village's bloody past, and no one trusts an outsider.
Well, wasn’t this a delightful twisty tale? I went into this book blind, CJ Tudor is an automatic go-to author. I don’t read the blurb, I just read. This was jammed packed with surprises and ghostly goings-on.
With every tale by Tudor, the supernatural filters in and I love this element. It’s not the whole story, but it adds a little thrill to the story as you try and figure out what the frick is going on!
Short answer, I had no idea!! It was fantastic. Following the story of Jack and her daughter, Flo, you are whisked away to Chapel Croft. Where things are hidden away in this small insulated village, a heck of a lot of secrets. Secrets that aren’t always exposed until that final sting, and boy they were humdingers.
I was fascinated by The Burning Girls, a story about the church, suspected exorcisms, death, murder, ghosts, Burning girls, missing girls. I mean its enough to make your head spin, let alone the various storylines to whet your appetite and to keep you hooked as you try to connect the dots. My advice, don’t. Just go with the flow. It is an adventure worth taking.
You suspect everything and everyone. You have not a scooby what is going on and I loved that we didn’t know much. We were in the dark. The characters here were very tricksy! I held suspicions and some were the right ones to have. I just didn’t hold enough.
Not sure its the right thing to say, but I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Chapel Croft. It’s cold, dark and ominous. It the perfect setting especially the derelict house. I mean I would want to go in there but at the same time, I don’t want to go in there. The place is unsettling and it does enough to keep you on edge throughout the book, it does not let you relax at any point.
At first, when I finished the book, I thought oh but this wasn’t answered, or this thread is still hanging loose. But upon reflection, I am remembering things and it has all slotted in perfectly. I don’t have any unanswered questions, ok maybe one, but overall, everything made sense. It is a book that when you finish it, you think yeah that is a fantastic book, but then I sat back and thought about it more when writing this review. You know what this is actually a phenomenal book. The way the book has been plotted, the twists and turns, the secrets, the writing, everything clicks and fits and it blew my mind. One thing for sure is that you will want to keep reading and to find those Burning girls.
Until next time xxx
Thanks to Gaby at Penguin for the tour invite and the author for a copy of the book in return for my honest and unbiased review
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
Shalini says
YOu went into this blind? Wow!!!! I too enjoyed the book. Reading the first few pages made me realize that I would like this book to be read out to me in a surround system way so got the audiobook. Hahaha What all we do for the love of a gripping story!!
Zoé says
Oh wow !! I didn’t know the audiobook was out! How much fun was this book! I thought it was epic x
nickimags @ Secret Library Book Blog says
Fab review lovely! xx
Zoé says
Thank you lovely! Such a fab book! xx
yvonnembee says
I love this photo! Great review xx
Zoé says
Ah thank you lovely!! to both comments. Hope you are ok <3 xxx
Jacob Collins - Hooked From Page One says
Great review Zoe! I never look at the blurbs for C.J. Tudor’s books either, I just dive straight in. I’m glad that you enjoyed it!
Zoé says
Thank you! No she is an author that I never read the blurb for, just jump straight in! Best way to go with her! LOL
Zoé says
Thank you so much Nicki xx