The Burning Girls Book Review

Title: The Burning Girls

Author: C.J. Tudor

ISBN: 9780241371312

Publisher: Penguin Random House

Pages: 384

Source: Private Copy

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, too Chapel Croft.

For Reverend Jack Brooks and teenage daughter Flo it’s supposed to be a fresh start. New job, new home. But, as Jack knows, the past isn’t easily forgotten.

And in a close-knit community where the residents seem as proud as they are haunted by Chapel Croft’s history, Jack must tread carefully. Ancient superstitions as well as mistrust of outsiders will be hard to overcome.

Yet right away Jack has more frightening concerns.

Why is Flo plagued by visions of burning girls? Who’s sending them sinister, threatening messages? And why did no one mention that the last vicar killed himself?

Chapel Crof’s secrets lie deep and dark as the tomb. Jack wouldn’t touch them if not for Flo – anything to protect Flo.

But the past is catching up with Chapel Croft – and with Jack. For old ghosts with scores to settle will never rest….

Book Blurb

First off, I must state that I am a huge C.J. Tudor fan. Ever since the release of The Chalk Man, I eagerly await the release of her next book. Bugging local bookstore endlessly until the new book arrives. Waiting for The Burning Girls had me climbing the walls driving everyone around me crazy.

I finally got my hands on a copy and it was worth the wait, even though I consumed the book in two days, I simply could not put this down. And now I have a year to wait for the next book.

The Burning Girls is another brilliant tale, delving into religion, superstitions, small-town living and how the past never manages to stay buried. A creative look at family, church, history and the present.

C.J. Tudor does not disappoint with her storytelling skills. She draws you in and keeps you hooked by revealing little bits and pieces all the way through, only tying everything together right at the end. In The Burning Girls, she brings the past and the present together masterfully. I love the way she tells her stories and will keep reading everything she has to offer.

When tragedy forces Reverend Jack Brooks from her parish in Nottingham she finds herself sent to a small country church. Not what she or her daughter had hoped for. The new community is welcoming, however, the news that the previous vicar killed himself leaves Jack unsettled – why did Bishop Durkin fail to mention that? When sinister, threatening messages start to appear, and Flo is haunted by visions of burning girls Jack starts to worry. Something is wrong, and Jack is determined to protect her daughter.

This book ended way too quickly for me. After waiting a year, I flew through the pages and found myself extremely sad to reach the end. As with all C.J. Tudor’s previous books I was deeply drawn into the world she created and simply could not force myself to put this book down. I loved every second I spent reading it.

The characters in The Burning Girls were creatively brought together. Reverend Jack Brooks carries a secret, you are aware of that early on, this makes the character intriguing and leaves you eager to find out what she is not telling. Flo – well what a brilliant fifteen-year-old. Having teenage daughters myself, I have to say the author was spot on with this character. But Joan stole my heart. This colourful old lady kept you guessing, she was a wonderful addition to the story.

No doubt, The Burning Girls has been added to my Loved list for 2021 and this book will remain in my top five for the year without any difficulty – not much can come close to the entertainment C.J. Tudor supplies.

If you have read any of C.J. Tudor’s previous books, then The Burning Girls will not disappoint. She has been compared to Stephen King; an honour well deserved. Psychological Thriller, Thriller and Mystery/Suspense fans will find this book well worth checking out!

There is no way I can recommend this book highly enough. I love this author and The Burning Girls is simply BRILLIANT! Do not miss out – get a copy – you will enjoy every minute!

About the Author

Author bio from GoodReads

C.J. Tudor was born in Salisbury and grew up in Nottingham, where she still lives with her partner and young daughter.

She left school at sixteen and has had a variety of jobs over the years, including trainee reporter, radio scriptwriter, shop assistant, ad agency copywriter and voiceover.

In the early nineties, she fell into a job as a television presenter for a show on Channel 4 called Moviewatch. Although a terrible presenter, she got to interview acting legends such as Sigourney Weaver, Michael Douglas, Emma Thompson and Robin Williams. She also annoyed Tim Robbins by asking a question about Susan Sarandon’s breasts and was extremely flattered when Robert Downey Junior showed her his chest.

While writing the Chalk Man she ran a dog-walking business, walking over twenty dogs a week as well as looking after her little girl.

She’s been writing since she was a child but only knuckled down to it properly in her thirties. Her English teacher once told her that if she ‘did not become Prime Minister or a best-selling author’ he would be ‘very disappointed.’

The Chalk Man was inspired by a tub of chalks a friend bought for her daughter’s second birthday. One afternoon they drew chalk figures all over the driveway. Later that night she opened the back door to be confronted by weird stick men everywhere. In the dark, they looked incredibly sinister. She called to her partner: ‘These chalk men look really creepy in the dark . . .’

She is never knowingly over-dressed. She has never owned a handbag and the last time she wore heels (twelve years ago) she broke a tooth.

She loves The Killers, Foo Fighters and Frank Turner. Her favourite venue is Rock City.

Her favourite films are Ghostbusters and The Lost Boys. Her favourite authors are Stephen King, Michael Marshall and Harlan Coben.

She is SO glad she was a teenager in the eighties.

She firmly believes that there are no finer meals than takeaway pizza and champagne, or chips with curry sauce after a night out.

Everyone calls her Caz.

I owe thanks to my eldest daughter – Tristan – who first introduced me to C.J. Tudor. I have loved every one of C.J. Tudor’s books so far and I cannot wait to see what she brings us next. The Burning Girls was well worth the wait. Thank you, C.J. Tudor, for an engrossing read – you managed to wow me yet again!

Thanks for stopping by. Have you read all C.J. Tudor’s books? Which is your favourite? Leave a comment below. If you haven’t got a copy of The Burning Girls yet – what are you waiting for? Until next time…….Happy Reading!