I am a huge fan of this author and have read all of her previous books. As usual she did not disappoint and I was gripped by this! I think this is my favourite of hers so far. I love the way this author always manages to create a great thriller, whilst weaving a sense of creepiness and unease into the plot which leaves you completely intrigued and not able to turn the pages quickly enough.

Reverend Jack Brooks and her teenage daughter move to a new village which has a disturbing and haunting past. Throw in some ancient superstitions and a mistrust of new people, the previous vicar commuting suicide and some hidden secrets and we have the perfect combination for a great psychological thriller! As the secrets start to be revealed, the past starts catching up with the village and Jack’s past starts catching up with her….

I am a huge lover of unforeseen twists and this had plenty! Not only were there twists but there was so much mystery and intrigue I just couldn’t put this down.

The sense of unease built up and up and as Jack was a believable and likeable character I could feel myself rooting for her. This also has multiple time frames which I am also a lover of as this is a great technique to reveal details of the background to the current issues and the change between them was seamless. As with Tudor’s previous books, this has something unique about it and the storytelling is on another level. Highly recommend this and also her back catalogue for anyone who hasn’t read them yet!

Wow! This is honestly one of the best, most creepy books I have ever read! I woke up at 4am, driven to finish it. Fast paced, dark and scary, just brilliant!

Single parent and female vicar and teenage duaghter move to the countryside to take over a parish. Sounds idyllic and peaceful. Indeed it should be, but this is no ordinary country parish.
Historical deaths of villagers centuries ago are linked to the church and kept alive by the stories of sacrifices and dark rituals.
Rev Brooks and her daughter are dragged into it and targetted...but who by ?
Is everyone, including the clergy who they appear to be ?
A cracking story unfolds as the truth is slowly revealed.

I thank NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for providing me an ARC copy of this book, which I freely chose to review.
I discovered C. J. Tudor with her first novel, The Chalk Man, a pretty impressive debut, and have read the two novels she has published since, The Taking of Annie Thorne and The Other People. As you can guess from that, I enjoy her writing and her penchant for creating stories that are never boring, with characters that keep us guessing until the end (or near enough). It is true, as well, that the topics she covers and her plots are not totally unique —if such a thing even exists—, especially for people who read plenty of thrillers, horror novels, mysteries, and watch films and TV series in those genres. But she knows how to pick up some elements that might feel familiar at first (after all, that is one of the reasons why many readers enjoy reading certain genres, because they know what to expect) and create something that manages to meet the expectations while keeping readers on their toes. And sometimes, scaring them a fair bit in the process.
That is true as well for this novel, which for me had a few things that made it particularly attractive. One would be the setting. The novel is set in the UK, in Sussex, an area where I lived for a few years and that I know fairly well. Although the village where the novel is set doesn’t exist, and neither does the actual tradition that gives it its name (and I won’t elaborate on that to avoid spoiling the story, although there is a fake Wikipedia entry at the very beginning that explains it all), I’ve read in an interview that the author felt inspired by the area and by the town of Lewes and its history, and I am not surprised that is the case. It is a very atmospheric place. I’ve read comments calling it “Gothic”, and it isn’t a bad name, but there is something more ancient and primordial at play as well (The Wicker Man comes to mind).
Another thing I found interesting is how self-referential the novel feels. The author has been compared to Stephen King (and she acknowledges how much she loves his books) on many occasions, as you can see reflected by the editorial comments, and his novels appear repeatedly in the book, as do references to popular movies and TV (The Lost Boys, The Usual Suspects, Heathers...) that might (or might not) be connected to the story and the plot. By openly acknowledging those in her pages, the author seems to be giving us clues and adding layers of meaning, although perhaps it is a fairly tongue-in chick ploy, and it is all part of the misdirection, twists and turns, and red herrings that are spread around the novel. Because another thing (and author) I kept thinking about when reading this novel was Agatha Christie and her works, in particular her Miss Marple novels, with their small villages with dark goings on, where everybody is hiding something and outsiders have a hard time trying to find somebody trustworthy and to discover the truth. And there is also an elderly lady, Joan, who would fit perfectly into one of Christie’s novels, (and she is one of my favourite characters as well).
As I said, I won’t be discussing the plot in detail, to avoid spoilers, but I’ll mention some of the things readers can find in this novel: exorcisms gone wrong, crypts hiding dark secrets, goolish ghosts, disappeared girls, religious martyrs, child abuse and death, bullying and manipulation, abandoned creepy houses, unrequited love and jealousy, hidden motives and fake identities... This is not a mild or cozy novel, and there are some pretty gruesome and violent episodes, so I wouldn’t recommend it to readers looking for a light-hearted read.
That doesn’t mean the novel is all doom and gloom, as there are several characters with quite a sense of humour, and the protagonist, Jack, and Jack’s daughter, Flo, are both pretty witty and often funny. The protagonist narrates a lot of the story in the first person: Jack’s self-comments and observations appear sharp, clever, and they made me chuckle many times. Some also made me nod in agreement, and although I won’t say I agree with everything Jack does in the novel, I definitely understand the protagonist’s reasons. Apart from Jack’s first-person narration, there are fragments narrated in third person, some from Flo’s point of view, and others from the perspective of a different character who we soon realise is trying to find Jack. Who he is and why he is after them... well, you’ll need to read the book to learn that. There are also brief fragments in italics that help create a fuller picture in our minds of what might have happened, even if we don’t know exactly whose memories we are accessing when we read them (but we are likely to have our suspicions). Does that mean the story is confusing? I didn’t find it so, and although this might depend on how familiar readers are with the genre, the different personalities of the characters come through in the writing, so I don’t think most people will have much problem telling whose points of view they are reading. Nonetheless, I recommend readers to be attentive and keep a close eye on everything, because, as is the case with more traditional mysteries, all the details are important, and the clues are there for a reason. If you blink, you might miss a piece of the puzzle that becomes important later on.
As is to be expected from these kinds of books, there is a false ending, and a big twist. The author drops hints and clues along the way, and I am sure most people will suspect at least some of the information that is revealed, although perhaps not everything. Because, let me tell you that if you love unreliable narrators, you shouldn’t miss this one. Some reviewers felt disappointed by the ending, because... Well, I can’t tell you, of course. But, as I’ve said, there are hints dropped, and there is a bit of a soliloquy (not a soliloquy, but I could imagine it would become one if this were a play) where we get an explanation/justification of some important plot points. I’m not sure it was necessary, to be honest, but I can see why the author did that. Oh, and I did enjoy the ending, by the way.
Other reviewers also took issue with some depictions of characters and events that they feel reinforce negative stereotypes and prejudicial media representations of certain groups. Although this could be argued in one or two instances, and it is always a matter of interpretation, much of that view might result from a partial or perhaps too literal reading of the book with might have missed some of the nuances of the story.
This is a novel that, beyond the gripping plot and the mysteries it contains, deals in identity, in how we can reinvent ourselves and get a second chance, and also in what an important role prejudices and labels can play in the way we are seen and perceived by others. While some people struggle to fight against assigned roles and expectations, others can use them to hide behind them and protect their true selves, or even manipulate them to their advantage. It also revisits the debate about evil. Do we believe some people are born evil, or are we all born innocent and other people and our circumstances can turn us into monsters? Can there be some valid justifications, no matter how subjective they might be, for actions that would be considered evil by most people? Or there is no grey area when it comes to good an evil, and a person’s point of view doesn’t come into it? We might or might not agree with how things work out in the story, but I am sure we will all have formed an opinion by the end of the novel, perhaps even one that surprises us.
I recommend this book to fans of mysteries with some supernatural and horror elements, also to readers looking for a page turner with plenty of atmosphere and a gripping storyline. I am sure most followers of C. J. Tudor won’t be disappointed, and, personally, I am looking forward to her next novel already.

My favourite CJ Tudor so far and She is now an auto buy author. The twists in this book I was NOT expecting at all! I couldn’t put this down and stayed up late into the night finishing it with NO REGRETS! If you haven’t picked up a CJ Tudor before I highly encourage you do so!

I was drawn to this book as I absolutely love C J Tudor’s books. And yet again this one did not disappoint. I can usually spot a twist coming but these ones came out of nowhere. Definitely a must read!

Trigger warnings: child abuse, pedophilia, sexual assault, religious fanaticism.

Sophie’s first book this month was The Burning Girls by C. J. Tudor, a tightly-woven thriller set in the small English village of Chapel Croft.

Jack is the village’s new vicar, transplanted from Nottingham with teenage daughter Flo following the sudden suicide of the previous vicar and a tragic situation at Jack’s inner-city church. Chapel Croft, however, isn’t as tranquil as its picture-perfect looks might suggest. 500 years ago, eight Protestant martyrs—including a pair of young girls—were burned to death outside Jack’s new church, and 30 years ago, two teenage girls disappeared without a trace. Additionally, local legend tells that the vengeful spirits of the two young girls murdered for their beliefs appear to those in trouble.

Within minutes of their arrival, Jack and Flo begin to see the dark heart of Chapel Croft. Soon, Flo has begun seeing visions of the burning girls, Jack is deep into an investigation of what really happened to the previous vicar, and someone starts sending them threatening messages. Can Jack uncover the secrets of Chapel Croft before they claim them both?

The Burning Girls was a powerful book that kept Sophie’s heart thumping most of the way through and kept her up late to finish it—something she later regretted as this was one of the very few books to ever give her nightmares. The story gripped her right from page one, while Jack and Flo are engaging characters with real growth. The village is populated with other interesting people, all with a secret, and rarely did they feel two-dimensional or contrived.

While Sophie did see one of the book’s big plot twists coming very early on, she didn’t feel it detracted from the overall story and she would recommend The Burning Girls to all thriller lovers with a strong stomach.

I love this author's thrillers and this was no exception. Loved the pace, the plot and how it was written.
Definitely recommend.

Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

A creepy, suspenseful and atmospheric mystery-thriller, The Burning Girls keeps one hooked into the story till the very last page. Though the story began at a slow pace, it gradually pulled me in in an unsuspecting manner, and had me tearing through the pages to untangle the mystery. With elements of supernatural, mystery and psychological thriller all wrapped in one delicious cocktail, this book was a captivating book from start till end!

The story unfolds slowly, which had me a bit impatient at the beginning but thoroughly engrossed gradually. The storytelling is done marvelously, with no mysteries revealed till the very end but dropping hints along the way to keep the reader interested all along. I especially loved the atmosphere of a creepy, delipidated, old chapel in the middle of nowhere which serves as the background for the whole story. While I am not a big fan of supernatural based storylines, this mish-mash of horror with mystery was right up my alley.

The plot draws upon the dark religious history of the small village in Sussex where the events are based, and brings out how religion has repeatedly been used to bog down women. Against this grim background, it is interesting to read how Jack navigates as a female vicar in a uncomfortably close knit society which takes its past and traditions way too seriously.

Overall, this was a thrilling and atmospheric read with a numerous twists and turns and a satisfying ending.

Another amazing book from CJ Tudor who is now one of my go to authors, You can guarantee a good does of thrills and chills with her books. I loved the pop culture references scattered throughout and it's obvious this is where the author finds influence. I was reminded of The Shrine by James Herbert and think that The Burning Girls is just as scary!

Ooo a small town full of secrets. Will they be able to crack this mystery that seems to have plagued the town for years.
I absolutely enjoyed this book. I really couldn’t put it down I read it in a day.

This book started slowly for me, and I found myself wondering what all the hype was about, but as I kept reading, I quickly realized what all the hype was about. This book will slowly creep up on you, tap you on the shoulder, and grab your attention and give you the creeps all at the same time. So, what I am saying is, if this book begins slowly for you, hang in there because the proverbial you-know-what is about to hit the fan.

To get away from a scandal in the parish in Nottingham, Rev. Jack and daughter Florence are sent to the small village of Capel Croft. The previous Rev. died but Jack is not given any information about how. It is not until they arrive that we find out Jack’s name and the context for the death which starts off a mystery which Jack is drawn to investigate.

Jack has a troubled childhood which has some bearing on the new situation. Also, there are breadcrumb clues left behind by others and the former Rev, leading to Jack asking if he really killed himself? Who is the ‘man’ in the first chapter? What happened in 1990 to the two missing teenagers, Merry Lane and Joy Harris and why did it have such a profound impact on the village? Why does the Author start the novel off by sharing an article on their disappearance in the second chapter? Are Jack and Florence really seeing apparitions of the Chapel Croft martyrs? The villages say that seeing them is a bad omen. Helpfully the author includes an explanation for the martyrs and their context.

People in a village are often set up as being a bit odd and Chapel Croft seems to have the oddest bunch but is that just because the author has a very good style for creating characters but leaving out enough to stop you from guessing? I am very good at guessing but I really struggled till almost the end to realise the truth. I will not spoil the reveals by describing any of them.

You will need to read to find out if Jack and Florence find out the truth before they end up in mortal peril. Moral of the tale - you don’t need to go looking for trouble as it will happily find you. If you need a change from all of the Detective stories, then I recommend this one.

Wow, what a spine-chilling read this was! There are some seriously nasty characters in this novel and one unexpectedly good one. The main character and her daughter tell the story and both are quirky, resilient and have a great sense of humour this gets them through the unpleasant experiences they have to endure in this novel though it has to be said that their curiosity, empathy and desire to keep others safe do lead them into all sorts of trouble too.

I love CJ's books, and once again I wasn't disappointed. This book had me gripped from the beginning until the end, and I can't wait for the next one. Highly recommended.
TB

When Rev Jack Brooks and her teenage daughter Flo relocate to the sleepy village of Chapel Croft, neither of them is overjoyed but the church vacancy must be filled, and Jack has a job to do.

The pair soon discover that the village isn’t quite the idyllic setting it first appears. Firstly, there’s the history of protestant martyrs being burnt at the stake, then the disappearance of two local teenagers thirty years ago, and most recently the local vicar killed himself. When Jack begins to be haunted by strange dreams and Flo sees visions of the martyrs burning the pace of the writing steps up a gear of dramatic twists and turns.

I found myself quickly engrossed in this book, desperate to see where the story went next. If you enjoy a fast-paced thriller, I can highly recommend this book.

Many thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph UK and NetGalley for the review copy.

Wow! How is it possible that a book can be so exceptional! I absolutely loved this one!

I just can’t form the words to write this review. I think out of all her books and bearing in mind The Chalk Man blew me away this is by far her best one!

With a slow start but one that was full of intrigue I was pulled into a world of religion and the story of mother and daughter who join the church in a small village having moved from Nottingham. They soon find that village life is very different to what they were used to in the city. The village of Chapel Croft that’s bestowed with family history, ancient rituals and a theme of superstition and there are many skeletons in the closet to be revealed in this novel!

It’s storyline haunted me but with so many twists, surprises and shocks I’m just overwhelmed trying to piece it all together. It’s one of those books that once you’ve read it you want to read it again with the new knowledge you know!

Another outstanding novel by this author and really sad I don’t have more to read until the next is out.

Though not a genre I usually lean towards, I was intrigued by the hype surrounding The Burning Girls and WOW was I shocked, and pleasantly so. A psychological thriller, it sneaks up on you and captures your attention; one of those unique titles that you actually can't step away from because at times you are so invested you actually forget you're reading a book!
Jack and Flo are well developed characters that I rooted for (especially as they relocated from my hometown!), Chapel Town had the perfect small town trauma, intrigue and bodies, and I was scared just enough. Brilliant!

Absolutely loved this book. A refreshing change, flowed nicely and amazing plot. I would highly recommend this book.

Loved this book. I read it in just two sittings, it made me want to just keep going. Easy to read and flowed very well.