Scan barcode
natalies7's review against another edition
5.0
This book was really hard to read in places but it kept me wanting to read more. I couldn’t put it down in the end and thought the ending was perfect! Could see this being made into a film and will definitely be recommending it to others.
nickymaund's review against another edition
5.0
Nearly 19 years ago, sisters Laurel and Rosie went off to play with another little girl, but only the sisters came home. A horrible crime that tears their family apart as Laurel is sent to prison and then abandoned by the rest of her family who are given a new identity for their protection. Neither sister has seen or spoken to each other since. With a cruel twist of coincidental fate another little girl goes missing and Rosie is thrust into the media spotlight once more as she is staying at the same hotel. Her story and new identity is brought to the attention of the world. And whilst the police are investigating, Laurel is applying for parole - questions surrounding her crime resurface resulting in the sisters finally meeting after all this time. I really enjoyed this - it’s a hard read given the subject matter and there’s comparisons with real life murderers in the mix. And Clark-Platts does a really good job of making the reader sympathise with all the characters involved in this story; the convicted killer Laurel and her only contact with the outside and family, her solicitor/uncle, Rosie in her new identity and the family she’s starting to build and those fighting for justice following the murder of that little girl 19 years ago. There are some twists in this story - really big ones that are quite shocking.
madgulbin's review against another edition
3.0
this was ok. not enough myster for me and too much filler. I also did not understand the psychology of the sister in jail and I studied psychology so it just seemed a little off to me. nice pallet cleanser tho
charlie_allin's review against another edition
5.0
Brilliant book, easy read, love the multiple POV and the ending, well I wasn’t expecting it!!
squirrelsonbookshelves's review against another edition
4.0
Read this through Pigeonhole and was frustrated waiting for each stave!
jessorella's review against another edition
5.0
THE FLOWER GIRLS by Alice Clark-Platts is a sharp and well-paced thriller built upon the chilling incident of a child murder: a murder not just OF a child, but one committed BY a child. Two sisters were there when the baby died; neither of them ever described what happened, and one went to prison while the other gained a new identity and a life marred by horror. So what happened next, and why has another child disappeared?
The start of this book is beautifully atmospheric, set at a hotel on a snowy clifftop in the midst of a New Year celebration. During these first few chapters - swirled with high emotion and drama - I couldn't help thinking that this was what I would be reading if Daphne du Maurier had written a novel based on the Cluedo board game. It honestly kept me up at night, I was enjoying it so much.
The book moves on past the inciting incident at the clifftop hotel and into the murky developments of the weeks and months to follow. What really happened? Who was to blame? These answers are dangled until the very last, with many characters' motives and actions remaining suspicious throughout. Interspersed with the developments are small, delicate flashbacks to the original child murder - chillingly brutal and unnerving and making you rethink your theories right up to the last page.
This was a great book, nicely paced and with a stunning sense of atmosphere and creepiness. The author has a really lovely turn of phrase - there were many instances where I thought to myself, "Wow - THAT line..." and breathed a blissful sigh.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this exciting book. I'm looking forward to reading more of Alice Clark-Platts' work!
The start of this book is beautifully atmospheric, set at a hotel on a snowy clifftop in the midst of a New Year celebration. During these first few chapters - swirled with high emotion and drama - I couldn't help thinking that this was what I would be reading if Daphne du Maurier had written a novel based on the Cluedo board game. It honestly kept me up at night, I was enjoying it so much.
The book moves on past the inciting incident at the clifftop hotel and into the murky developments of the weeks and months to follow. What really happened? Who was to blame? These answers are dangled until the very last, with many characters' motives and actions remaining suspicious throughout. Interspersed with the developments are small, delicate flashbacks to the original child murder - chillingly brutal and unnerving and making you rethink your theories right up to the last page.
This was a great book, nicely paced and with a stunning sense of atmosphere and creepiness. The author has a really lovely turn of phrase - there were many instances where I thought to myself, "Wow - THAT line..." and breathed a blissful sigh.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this exciting book. I'm looking forward to reading more of Alice Clark-Platts' work!
btpbookclub's review against another edition
5.0
I have been wanting to read this for ages and finally got some time to read it! Hurray. This story is brilliantly written, fast paced.
The Flower Girls is a story about two young sisters at the time and a murder, but what actually happened that day? Were they too young to be held responsible? Innocent? Guilty? This story flicks from the past incident in 1997 to the present but is clearly stated so the reader is not confused.
Chapter one alone is bound to drag the reader in and get their attention, well it did for me. I actually learnt a lot about the law and judicial system for what happens if a child is accused of a crime. Shocking. This book is one that will be hard to forget.
Your feelings towards the characters will change throughout especially towards the flower girl sisters. A brilliantly, well thought out, clever and twisted story especially towards the end. I would highly recommend this story and have awarded a well deserved five stars. I enjoyed reading this one, devoured it.
The Flower Girls is a story about two young sisters at the time and a murder, but what actually happened that day? Were they too young to be held responsible? Innocent? Guilty? This story flicks from the past incident in 1997 to the present but is clearly stated so the reader is not confused.
Chapter one alone is bound to drag the reader in and get their attention, well it did for me. I actually learnt a lot about the law and judicial system for what happens if a child is accused of a crime. Shocking. This book is one that will be hard to forget.
Your feelings towards the characters will change throughout especially towards the flower girl sisters. A brilliantly, well thought out, clever and twisted story especially towards the end. I would highly recommend this story and have awarded a well deserved five stars. I enjoyed reading this one, devoured it.
windy_witch's review against another edition
4.0
The Flower Girls were infamous for the horrific murder of young Kirstie Swann in the 1990’s. Laurel was 10 years old and Primrose was only 6 when they committed this crime and Laurel was imprisoned for this act of violence. Primrose was given a new identity with her parents following Laurels conviction as she was too young to be tried.
Now twenty years later Laurel is trying to appeal her conviction again, pleading that the death of the toddler was an accident. It appears though that someone does not want Laurel to be released from prison and will go at lengths to ensure she remains where she is.
This was quite a dark tale about an innocent child being murdered in cold blood and really reminded me of the awful real life story of young James Bulger that took place when I was a young child. There was some awful revelations in the book that the author drew out and did a really good job of, I did feel however the ending was a little blunt and could have been developed a bit better.
Now twenty years later Laurel is trying to appeal her conviction again, pleading that the death of the toddler was an accident. It appears though that someone does not want Laurel to be released from prison and will go at lengths to ensure she remains where she is.
This was quite a dark tale about an innocent child being murdered in cold blood and really reminded me of the awful real life story of young James Bulger that took place when I was a young child. There was some awful revelations in the book that the author drew out and did a really good job of, I did feel however the ending was a little blunt and could have been developed a bit better.