The Burning Girls by C.J Tudor

Synopsis
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 to Chapel Croft.

For Rev 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 a 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 Croft’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 . . .

Review
Ever since exploding on the thriller scene with The Chalk Man a couple of years ago, C.J Tudor has gone from strength to strength, and is now of the best thriller writers in the United Kingdom. The Burning Girls is her latest book and I have no doubt that it is going to be another best seller. Rev Jack Brooks has to move from her diocese in Nottingham after the death of a young girl, and moves to the quiet town of Chapel Croft with her fifteen year old daughter Flo. But on arrival she seems to have gone from one trouble parish to another, and a village where outsiders are treated with suspicion. With a history dating back to the sixteen century when six residents were burnt at the stake under the reign of Queen Mary, something commemorated each year with residents leaving corn dolls at the memorial. Why does Flo start to see the burning girls, why did the previous vicar commit suicide and what happened to two young girls who disappeared thirty years ago? With more questions than answers, and a gothic feel this thriller will keep you up at night with its compelling and sinister plot.

The Burning Girls is mainly narrated from Rev Jack’s point of view but there are also chapters from Flo’s point of view, an unknown male and chapters that go back thirty years to the events leading up to the disppearance of two teenagers, Joy and Merry. This mix of the different voices disjoints the book in a good way, in that it is like a jigsaw where you are looking for that one piece that will give you the complete picture, and see all the loose ends knit together. There is a sinister feel running through this book, but I found it most prevelant in the chapters telling the story of Joy and Merry, ironic names for two troubled girls that ultimately just disappeared. They are an unlikely pair and are total opposites; one blonde, on dark, one from a comfortable home, the other living in poverty. The one thing that they do have in common is the church, religion and the bible classes. There is an inevitablity to their story as we know they went missing, presummed runaway, and I found myself with my heart racing as their shocking stories were played out. The religious theme is very much at the centre of this book, not only with the main character being a vicar, but also within the community, their reverance to the church, their pride at having religious martyrs in their history and their continued religious superstitons around the burning girls, said to haunt the church. There is also the mystery of why the previous vicar committed suicide in the church, why no one wants to talk about it, and why there are some that really don’t want Jack and her daughter in Chapel Croft.

I found the main character of Rev Jack Brooks really interesting and was fascinated seeing the events through her point of view. I will admit that when I read the name Rev Jack, I automatically thought of a male character, a prejudice on my part, and one I don’t know why I had. Being a female vicar does bring prejudices from the characters in the book as well, especially in a small town who are conservative in their opinions; there is an instance where a young couple don’t want a female vicar to officiate at their wedding as it won’t look right in the photos. As a person Jack has a troubled past, her husband murdered and an insinuated troubled youth before finding the church, where she can help others. She left her previous church after a tragedy with one of the families in her congregation, but she doesn’t seem to be able to leave the troubles behind her. Her big heart and sense of duty sees her become invested in the lives of her parishioners, and if she senses something is wrong she can’t let go, she has to follow her instincts at any cost. Jack and Flo have a close relationship, Jack’s sense of right from wrong, and helping those who need it have been passed down to Flo. I did like the irony though of Flo trying to get her mum to stop smoking, and Jack hiding her tobacco and sneaking outside for a quick smoke. Seeing Jack as a singe mother, struggling financially, gave her a more relatable persona facing the everyday trials many of us face. There is a memorable cast of supporting characters that all seem to have secrets to hide, so you never know who to trust, adding to the sense of unease in this book.

The Burning Girls is a dark and chilling thriller with a gothic feel. The sense of unease runs through the centre of the plot, you never know which characters to trust and which to be wary of. C.J Tudor captures the menallity of a small town, where generations of the same family lived for hundreds of years, where their history gives them power and privilege and everyone knows everyone else business. C.J Tudor draws you in, grabbing your attention from the first page, and then takes you on a nail biting and unforgettable journey that has twists and turns aplenty. Tense and sinister, there is no doubt that this will be another bestseller and one I highly recommend.