Jack is a vicar with a past. After an unfortunate event in the church, she is transferred to a remote village with a troubled past. As she settles in with her teenage daughter, they begin to realize the church she serves in and the surrounding village hold a dark secret. As Jack begins to uncover the mystery of a teenage girl’s disappearance, she encounters distrustful parishioners and unusual phenomena in the church. Are they supernatural entities at work or is the mystery something much more grounded in reality?
The Burning Girls is an engrossing story that really pulled me in from the start. Set in a small village in the English countryside, it explores local folk traditions in a way that is reminiscent of some of the best folk horror stories. The main character, Jack, is complex and interesting. The author holds a lot of information back in the beginning, hinting at Jack’s troubled past. Even though she has a shadow side, she is likable. The relationship between Jack and her daughter is believable. You can feel the tension in the relationship. Despite those tensions, it is obvious that they love each other very much.
The Burning Girls is a mystery at heart with some horror elements. Each chapter leaves you with questions that pull you into the next. I finished this book quickly over the weekend and when I got to the end I was absolutely shocked. That is the best reaction you can ask for from a book like this.
I definitely recommend The Burning Girls by CJ Tudor if you’re looking for an interesting, suspenseful read. Get the book here.