A review by znvisser
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

emotional mysterious sad tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Earlier this year I happily discovered Hepworth so when I came across this one, it went on my TBR immediately. And once again, it didn’t take long before I just couldn’t put it down. Even though I did enjoy this, I didn't as much as I had hoped; I think Hepworths plot work is stronger than her character work and I generally care more for the latter. 

The women are shown as the embodiment of three different ways of handing childhood trauma as an adult, but especially Norah and Jessica were too close to becoming caricatures. I also found it a bit hard to believe that these three damaged women, who are so extremely different and “closer than family”, got along so swimmingly ALL the time. I would expect there to at least be some - sure, low-stakes - tensions and family drama when they are so on top of each other continuously, even though it might have distracted from the already quite full plot. You can love someone unconditionally while also being annoyed by some of their habits or traits and it would have felt more real were this reflected.

Despite her thorough research, my second Hepworth book left me once again with some doubts as to how certain issues are portrayed and how they can contribute to a certain image: crime is linked to mental illness again - this time the most evil character turned out a narcissist; there is obviously a risk-central perspective to the foster care system and
then there is the suggestion that an experienced forensic psychiatrist can be this easily tricked - including the assumption it was even his job to find out what happened, rather than to evaluate her as part of the judicial process.
Even though Hepworth works hard to handle these topics with care, she does tend to seek them out and that fact alone leaves me somewhat uncomfortable. 

But as long as I’m not taking it too serious, this was another speedy, interesting read, with great tension and seamlessly integrated plot twists.
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