There was a lot about this book that made me want to request it and read it. I did not get to it as early as I had hoped and ended up reading it with one of my reading groups here on GoodReads. It was popular but there were a lot of mixed reviews. I happen to be in the unpopular opinion group and I wish it were not so.

I did like the main character and her daughter. Interesting plot but I was annoyed by too many things that would be classified as a spoiler so I will leave that out. Great discussion for this read. I am glad I participated. So many people on my GR's friends list liked this. It was just not for me.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital copy to read for review.

The Burning Girls is a book full of surprises. You know, when your reading material of choice consists mainly of thrillers, murder mysteries and speculative horror fiction, there isn’t a whole lot that can surprise you. You yawn your way through most of the mediocre and lazily plotted “twisty” thrillers, because by chapter 3 your overstimulated brain has the murderer pinned down and the mystery solved. It’s truly a dull life sometimes.. *shakes head sadly*.
That’s not the case here, though, no sir and no ma’am. C.J. Tudor knows how to write a suspense-drenched page-turner with a gorgeously creepy atmosphere, toe-curling setting and a cast of fully fleshed out, complex characters.

The tiny rural village of Chapel Croft is a phenomenal setting to begin with. The small, creepy American Gothic-style chapel and the history of Sussex Martyrs (Queen Mary’s purge of protestants) - that alone was enough to make this story extremely compelling. Then we have the two young girls who were betrayed and burned at the stake, and - more recently - two girls who went missing and were never found. Add to that a female vicar, Jack, with a dark past of her own and a skeleton-filled closet, and you have the perfect recipe for an unputdownable thriller.

This book is captivating, gripping, thrilling, unsettling and often times funny (Jack’s dark sense of humour really made this story for me). The characters are damaged, the tension is palpable, the final twists are shocking and really, completely unexpected.

I freaking loved it. I’ll be reading more from C.J for sure.

This book was chilling and thrilling and I LOVED it! The twists were fantastic and I want to read more from this author!

This book started off strong for me then I just seemed to lose interest. I am not a huge fan of supernatural and it has an element of that along with a few too many side stories for my taste. I am sure that most people will thoroughly enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my digital copy.

The Burning Girls was an exceptional read! I really loved the aspect of it being a religious thriller and it’s the first book like that, that I have personally read. I have to say I think it made it even more interesting to follow.⁣
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I loved how the story unfolded and I loved the dark alluring twisted turns that this book took. This is definitely one of those books that are truly binge worthy.⁣
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The plot and the character development was really great and I loved getting to see inside both of the main characters point of view. ⁣
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This was my first novel by C.J. Tudor and I will definitely be reading more books of hers. Overall if you haven’t read this yet definitely put it on you’re TBR!

I really enjoyed the ride that The Burning Girls took me on. I was very intrigued by the characters and story.

This was a solid read, some spooky elements that will appeal to readers. I loved the history of the town, which made it especially interesting. Mystery and thriller readers will definitely enjoy it.

I gave this a 5 stars I really loved this. It's my favorite book by C.J. Tudor. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next. I like how the mom in this was interested in what the daughter was up to.

I hate that it took me so long to actually sit down and read this, although I started it ages ago. It turned out to be quite a fast read and quite good. Interesting setting and characters, very twisty. Did not disappoint!

Vacillating between 4-5 stars, but was confused at times trying to keep track of all the characters, and felt inclusion of supernatural phenomenon was a convenient diversion. This would probably make a better movie given the twists and turns at the end. Speaking of which, I did like the ending, which is usually the weakest part of a novel.
Full review on YouTube

A twisty and enthralling murder mystery that spans decades in a small Sussex town. What happens when a small town's religious secrets threaten nearly every villager?

I enjoyed all the little twists and turns Tudor stuck into this religious crime thriller. While I figured out the big reveal relatively early on, I didn't guess at all the other little twists peppered into the conclusion. Overall this was an exciting and intense thriller with likable characters. I just felt that some aspects of the overall mystery were a little rushed/glossed over. I would appreciated more peeks into the past/the points of view of other valuable characters.

The burning girls follows a vicar and their daughter, Flo, as they move to a new village. But there’s something dark and unusual going on here. The village is stuck in the past and has many secrets it is trying to protect. Are Jack and Flo safe here?

Wow, what a whirlwind of a book this one is! So much happened I’m still trying to unpick it all. It’s almost like reading multiple stories that have all been mashed together. I do like how they were all connected but it is hard for my brain to accept that it is all the same story. I loved the fast pace and short chapters. My main criticism is that I was able to guess some of the twists. This happens a lot to me, as an avid thriller reader, but luckily I was still surprised by some of the twists that happened! I also feel that the epilogue didn’t quite give the punchy finish I was craving.

That being said, I absolutely adored the atmosphere in this book. It reminded me of a wicker man/high school bully mash up! I almost felt like I was in a horror film that also involved a teenage high school. This book does touch on some very dark issues so please be cautious of possible triggers if you want to pick it up. I was almost left wanting more, I want to return to some of the characters and explore their lives and relationships more. The first thing I did when I put this book down was try to get my hands on all of CJ Tudor books!

I would recommend this book to any thriller fans! But please be cautious of possible triggers.

Way to bury the lead and the big mystery.
I was surprised with the ending, but I did feel some of it came out of left field. Lots of characters and plot points.
Overall an enjoyable read.

Not to sound all "Annie Wilkes" but I am C.J. Tudor's "number one fan". I have read every single one of her books and have loved each. I love that she references Stephen King in most, if not all, of her books. The Burning Girls does not disappoint. What if your town were haunted by a tragic act that happened 500 years ago? This is what happens in Chapel Croft.

C.J. Tudor's The Burning Girls is one of the best books I've read in 2022. Fast-paced, thrilling, and twisty, it's perfect for fans of suspense with a gothic twist. Set in the remote English countryside, expect an atmospheric, eerie, and haunting read. I highly recommend this one!

I've enjoyed C.J. Tudor's other books, but this may be the best. A very creepy read, and a gripping whodunnit. Tudor is reminiscent of early-career Stephen King.

Amazing book! Recommended to my book club for our October Monthly Selection. Perfect spooky mystery! Cannot wait to discuss this creepy read!

What a wild ride!

The Burning Girls is a story of a small town, secrets, and murder. What more could you want?

I think fans of The Village and other slow burn horror will like this one.

C.J. Tudor does it again! The Burning Girls is a twisty thriller that keeps you guessing the whole way with twists that I never saw coming.

This book is about Jack, an unconventional Vicar who moves to a small, country town with her daughter after being reassigned to a new parish. The small church has a creepy history that quickly envelopes the two. Dark secrets hidden by prominent figures come to light and of course let’s not forget the creepy spirits!

This book gave me all the chills and kept me guessing the whole time. Nothing is as it seems. At first I thought this book would be all about religion and the burning girl haunting a but it isn’t. The characters history catches up with them and secrets start to unfold. Definitely kept me guessing on where the story was headed and it did not disappoint.

this one was okay. i was expecting more as i have heard great things about cj tudor. still going to read more but this one kinda missed the mark for me