Compelling page turner but but strangely empty for me

• Published: 2023
• Completed: 03/02/2025
• Pages: 346

Sally Hepworth’s novel “Darling Girls” is an extremely easy-to-read thriller, that investigates the discovery of human remains at the childhood foster home of three adult women.

The book’s blurb has a quote from the New York Times that perfectly describes the book:

“A blueprint for how and when to mete out information in a thriller”

Every chapter of Hepworth’s novel ends on a mini cliff hanger. This combined with the generally short chapters, helped me finish the book in just two days. It was compelling, but I felt strangely empty by the end of it. This made me realise that I enjoy novels that focus more on the original expression of every day feelings. Darling Girls is the opposite, dealing more with the functional expression of extraordinary circumstances. It’s a great book, just not my preferred genre.

Typography

Unobtrusive and functional. Appreciated the colophon making explicit reference to the use of Bembo typeface.

Restaurant

Victoria Hotel (Because the book was based in Victoria, Australia)