The Burning Girls is a spooky claustrophobic thriller by the author of The Chalk Man.

Are you ready for some gothic horror? A female Church of England reverend is forced into becoming the interim vicar in the rural and superstitious town called Chapel Croft.

The town’s history includes eight Protestant martyrs burned for their religious beliefs long ago. On the anniversary of the purge, the villagers burn twig dolls called The Burning Girls to ward away the ghosts of those who died.

Just thirty years ago, two fifteen-year-old girls disappeared a week apart. Did they simply run away? Or did something worse happen to them?

Everyone in the town seems to be hiding something. Reverend Jack has some secrets of her own. She and her teenage daughter Flo see ghosts on their first day in the village. Jack receives an exorcism kit including dried blood on the knife on her front porch.

As you can tell by summary above, The Burning Girls is packed with subplots and backstories. There are so many characters that I occasionally had to check my Kindle notes to remember where I had met a character before. Still, it was a compelling and challenging mystery. Plus the drastic twist near the end was a great reveal that I didn’t see coming. 4 stars!

Thanks to Ballantine Books, Random House and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Burning Girls was a suspenseful and intense book about Vicar Jack Brooks and her daughter Flo. I loved how the story unfolded and you slowly learned about Jack's past and her transgressions. A true thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the creepy setting and the bizarre circumstances that Jack and Flo found themselves in. The Author took great detail in the words to convey to the reader just how creepy and scary the envirnoment was without making it too wordy. A great story. Thank you to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for my advanced copy. Highly recommend.

I really enjoyed this book! I have had pretty good luck with C.J. Tudor's books so I was really excited to read her newest offering. I went into this book rather blindly which I think might be the best way to experience this wonderful novel. This book was one of those books that I found hard to put down and appreciated each and every surprise during the reading journey.

Reverend Jack Brooks has been reassigned to the small town of Chapel Croft. Jack's 14-year-old daughter Flo isn't any more thrilled by the more than Jack is but they are going to try to make the most of it. The church that Jack has been assigned to has a lot of history being the site where martyrs were burned at the stake. Residents still leave burning dolls to honor them. Jack was sent to Chapel Croft to replace a vicar who suddenly committed suicide a couple of months earlier and the town also holds the mystery of a pair of teen girls who disappeared years ago without a trace.

Jack and Flo try to fit in but some things just feel off. They both are starting to make friends and trying to connect to the community but they can't stop themselves from digging a little deeper into the mysteries surrounding the events that have occurred in the town. I loved the way that this book was able to keep me guessing until the very end. I really liked both Jack and Flo and found myself rather worried about both of them at several points in the story. This story was really intense and I felt like it straddled the line between mystery and horror which is something that I really appreciated.

I would highly recommend this book to others. I think that this was a fantastic novel that had me glued to the pages and invested in the welfare of the characters. I will definitely be reading C.J. Tudor's work in the future.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books via NetGalley.

The Burning Girls by C.J. Tudor shows once again that she is a master at intertwining various threads that keep you guessing until the end… and then she drops one more little twist… and then another one… and maybe, one more.

While none of the twists were jaw-dropping, if you were paying attention, they still kept the story moving quickly and I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish. I was confused for a moment at the beginning (and this is just my middle-aged white lady making an appearance), but I thought Jack was a man. It was after the third time-ish that Flo said “Mum!”, that I was like…. Ummmm.

The other thing that had me a bit flummoxed was I was looking forward to more supernatural elements, especially since the synopsis talks about specters and an exorcism kit. There was some of it, but not as much as I was expecting. The Burning Girls was still excellent, it just went in a different direction than I thought it would.

If you like twisty thrillers with twisted people, you Need to Read, The Burning Girls.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book for a fair review !

The Burning Girls
by C. J. Tudor


Modern/Gothic horror-mystery.
Fantastic book ! I have read all of this author's books and loved each one but this is my all time favorite. It is a layered mystery with not one page of filler or non-important information. This is by far is my favorite book in the past year and I read at least 2 books a week. Initially I was not super excited by the books description but once I started reading it, it became clear that this is one great novel. Mysterious, Historical, Drama, Fiction, Ghosts and more all rolled into an extremely well written novel by the horror genre's latest super hero.
I can mostly.(and I mean always), figure out the plot ending by mid-book. Not so much here. This super twisted layer cake of mystery had me guessing up to the last few chapters and I was stunned by the ending. You must get this book. You will not be disappointed .

I thought this book was well done. However, with the bullying and lack of character development, I had to stop short. I prefer to review it here solely instead of on my Instagram, because this was a good book from what I read. It certainly is something that will strike other people. It just wasn't for me.

A vicar and her daughter move to a village in the English countryside hoping for a fresh start. But this village obviously has some secrets and an ominous past. Things get pretty creepy as the book progresses. It gave me Blair witch vibes at times!
Even though I would categorize this one as a slow burn, I was completely gripped by the story. She just has a way of writing that just sucks you in. It was creepy and atmospheric, with a pretty mind blowing twist at the end. I really did say Oh My God at that one lol. I did struggle a little with remembering some of the characters. There’s a lot and I could of used a diagram but that didn’t stop me from enjoying this one.

I chose to read this book because I had read "The Chalkman" by C.J. Tudor and enjoyed the author's writing as well as the story. The Burning Girls title evokes fear to start with, just for the images it conjures in my mind. It made me think of the stories I had read about witches being burned. This is not a witch story though.

Vicar Jack Brooks, and her daughter, Flo move to the village of Chapel Croft in Sussex after being reassigned from her post in Nottingham. The previous vicar had killed himself. Chapel Croft is well-known for its history of the burning of martyrs in the 16th century. There is also a mystery about two girls who went missing about 30 years ago. Jack and Flo find the town has some strange characters and some suspicious events happening. As they try to fit into this small community they become increasingly unsettled as disturbing events take place.

Creepy and very disturbing! This kept my attention throughout as I kept flipping pages. Some of the events are horrible and you'll need a strong stomach for this one. There are definitely some major twists and turns, and there's no way I could have imagined the ending. Quite a ride!

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through Netgalley for an advance copy.

C.J. Tudor has quickly become an auto-read author for me and The Burning Girls did not disappoint!

After essentially being forced out of her Nottingham church after a scandal, Jack and her daughter move to the country where Jack has been selected to be the new vicar (girl power!!). Once in Chapel Croft, Jack and Flo are disheartened to find the church in disrepair and their lodgings in no better state. Worse is the judgmental and backward thinking of many of the residents about newcomers and a female vicar.

Once settled, Jack begins learning of the eerie history of Chapel Croft, the unexpected suicide of the previous vicar, and the supposed hauntings by the burning girls - two girls who were burned as martyrs for the town ages ago and allegedly still haunt the church grounds. When Flo and Jack start seeing the burning girls in the chapel and at the graveyard, they worry that the premonition that seeing the burning girls means that they are in trouble may be more than a town legend. Fearing for their safety and curious about Chapel Croft, Jack goes against her better judgment and starts researching the history of the town and church.

This was a twisty and fun mystery with horror elements scattered throughout, though not overdone. Tudor does a great job of setting the scene and building the suspense with the decrepit chapel, abandoned and vandalized home, the creepy cemetery, and the overall off-putting vibe of the Chapel Croft residents. My spidey sense was going off the whole book and I was eager to find out who I could trust, what secrets people were keeping, and what mysteries lay beneath it all.

I liked that the book wove together various histories of the town and Jack's past to paint a more detailed picture of the characters and the setting. Tudor expertly tied everything together with some really great wow moments, some of which may surprise even the most experienced thriller reader.

If you enjoy a great mystery with a bit of horror, religion, and an ominous setting, I absolutely recommend The Burning Girls!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for a copy of this novel.

**Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine Books for providing an E-arc for review!**

Reverend Jack Brooks and her daughter are relocated to a small troubled town after an incident at her previous church leaves the town scandalized.  As Reverend Brooks and her daughter settle into the town of Chapel Croft they find that the town is even more troubled and entwined with it's past than they imagined. 

While most of this book revolves around religion, I did not find that off-putting and it added to the horror-eque atmosphere of the village. 

The Burning Girls is filled with twists and turns that I didn't see coming. They made the book "unputdownable" for me and I found myself picking the book up during every free minute I had. The historical elements, mixed with a bit of "paranormal" added a unique twist to this thriller that set it apart from other thrillers for me. I'm also a sucker for the "small town" setting and found that it complimented the story line well.
 
This is the third book by CJ Tudor that I've picked up and read, and it definitely solidified my love for her writing. She's officially become an autobuy author for me and I can't wait to see what she has coming in the future!

The Burning Girls was selected as one of the top thriller books of 2021 on GoodReads. It was one of my most anticipated and it was a huge let down for me.

Missing Girls, Murder, a village with a dark past, and community secrets, Welcome to Chapel Cross. If your looking for creepy chapels, shady congregation members, and a spooky graveyard cottage, pick this book up.

The Burning Girls was a creepy thriller that was mixed with some mystery and a little paranormal. It ties in a unconventional main character, the church, and the secrets that are harbored within it.

During the period of Mary Queen of Scott’s, Protestants were burned at the stake, including Two teenage girls. It’s rumored that the burning girls show themselves to those in danger.

This book wasn’t exactly what I thought it was going to be. I thought there would be more burning girl ghosts, and village history. Instead it’s more small town secrets, and drama.

I figured out the main twist about mid book and I was kind of bored by the end. The writing is fantastic, but the story fell flat.

📚 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 / 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝗪 📚⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
Title: #TheBurningGirls
Author: @cjtudorauthor
Publisher: #BallantineBooks
Pub Date: 1/9/21⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
Type: #eBook (thanks @netgalley)⁣
Genre: #Mystery #Thriller
Must Read Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⁣⭐

My thoughts:

Well friends, this book was one hell of a twisty, creepy and chilling ride. I've not read anything by this author before, but the highly atmospheric setting, mixed with horror and a touch of supernatural makes this a novel that you'll need to read with the lights on!

I don't normally reach for books that are shrouded in religion, specifically Paganism, but this one fascinated me. The history behind the Burning Girls and the creepy dolls that the townsfolk use to commemorate the incident where 8 martyrs burned to death was unsettling to say the least. And can we talk about where this story takes place? The Sussex Hamlet of Chapel Croft is certainly full of secrets, lies, deception and lots of mystery.

I was a big fan of both Jack (the female vicar which was a super cool twist) and her daughter, Flo. That is were my obsession with the characters ended, in the best way possible. I honestly felt everyone else was dangerous and hiding a lot about the town's past, which proved to be true!

As the chapters flew by, the intensity and level of craziness grew. The ending was high stress / high impact and though I figured out the "bad guy" pretty early on, there were still a lot of twists and turns I did not expect which keep me fully invested. I told myself "one more chapter" so many times.

This was a great read, but it definitely wont be for everyone. It's very gory and graphic in certain parts, but that is what I really appreciated about it. Fantastic work, CJ! I am a new fan!

I have to admit that it took me fully half of The Burning Girls before I stopped making comparisons to Phil Rickman's Merrily Watkins mystery series which is set in Herefordshire near the Welsh border and also features a single mother/Anglican priest and her teenage daughter. Did the similarities detract from my enjoyment of C.J. Tudor's suspenseful novel? Not one bit, although I do suggest that if you enjoy The Burning Girls, you might want to give Rickman's series a try.

I was swiftly drawn into this story because of two voices: Jack's and her daughter Flo's. It doesn't take readers long to discover that there's a lot more to Jack than meets the eye, and a good deal of the suspense of the novel hinges on just what's going on with this unconventional vicar who stands up to anyone who tries to intimidate her. The relationship between Jack and Flo is close and realistic, with just the right amount of teen angst. (In other words, you won't be in any danger of rolling your eyes and having them get stuck in the back of your head.) It's Flo's ability to roam around the village with her old camera that brings mother and daughter in touch with several of the villagers.

The setting is marvelously atmospheric, with "trees... creeping up when no one is looking." If I'd been the one to drive to Chapel Cross, I think I would've taken one look and driven right on through without stopping. Jack is made of sterner stuff, and that made for a wonderful tale.

The Burning Girls took hold of me like a creeping vine. You don't notice it's been growing until its tendrils have taken hold of your arms and legs and you can't move. I was so engrossed that I forgot all about trying to deduce the who's, the why's, and the how's. I simply let those tendrils wrap around me tighter so I could immerse myself in the atmosphere and in the story. What a fun ride-- and what a fun introduction to an author I'd never read before!

The Burning Girls wasn't really much about the Burning Girls. I mean, they were there and I think that they were meant to add a creep factor, but they really didn't seem integral to the story. That is not to say that I didn't enjoy it. The characters were interesting, though I found the main character to be annoying at times. The mystery/thriller parts kept me reading, and the twists and turns were entertaining.

What a terrific book by Tudor! This was my third book from this author and she never fails to amaze me. From the beginning pages, the story had my curiosity as Jack and her teenage daughter are relocated by Bishop Durkin. I didn’t know what to think as the reverend and her daughter were transferred to the small community of Chapel Croft. As the Bishop talks to Jack about this move and he mentions that Jack will be leaving behind the police observations, the crime scene and her angry congregation, whatever Jack did, it sounds pretty serious. The Bishop felt that this would-be Jack’s best option yet, as I read the book, this was supposed to a good option? I guess I wouldn’t want to know, what the Bishop thought were bad options.

When the mother and daughter arrived at their new community, it’s not all that promising. What happened that first day, should have told them something but I guess the reverend is used to drama. The pair was met by a pair of Burning Girls at their gate, Jack later find a gift that was left for her. Upon opening this gift, Jack finds she was gifted an exorcism kit and later, as their first visitor approached them, they realized that she was covered in blood. Welcome to Chapel Croft.

I liked how the book unraveled itself. I was interested in Jack’s past yet as the book progressed, there were other more intense issues at hand now. It felt as if Jack was trying to separate herself from her past and start anew, as she wasn’t saying much about what happened. As they arrived into Chapel Croft, they were pulled inside Chapel Croft and the events that surrounded this small community. Jack had seen the small church and she thought that it needed to be revived but she didn’t really know the church’s history nor the people who resided in the town. Jack was trying to distance herself from one horrible scene in her past and then, she ends up walking right into another one. As Jack tries to make sense of what has just been uncovered, she realizes that her past is never really gone. There were plenty of twists inside this book, and they were amazing as the stories unfolded.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine in exchange for an honest opinion. Thank you for my copy.

The Burning Girls is a well-crafted story about how the past is never too far behind you.

In the beginning, we are introduced to Jack and her daughter Flo. Jack is a vicar who has been reassigned to a church in Chapel Croft due to the suicide of the previous vicar. Chapel Croft is a small town deeply haunted by its history. Eight martyrs have burned at the stake 500 years ago, two girls disappeared more or less into thin air, and there are reports of seeing two burning girls as a portent of future troubles. Will digging into the secrets of the past provide resolution or are Jack and Flo biting off more than they can chew?

I loooooved this book! This was my first foray into C.J. Tudor and I can honestly say that it won't be my last. This is a novel that will pull you in and won't let go until the last word. Definitely a 5 star read for me!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this eARC.

"Who says the devil has to be a man?"

I have no idea where to even start with my review on this book. I loved this book so much! I simply COULD NOT put it down. The only other CJ Tudor book I have read is The Chalk Man and I also gave that book five stars! I highly recommend reading this book. The twists and turns had me captivated until the very end.

This book follows Reverend Jack Brooks and her daughter, Flo who move to a run-down town following a scandal. The town and all of it's inhabitants seem a little off-kilter. The legend of The Burning Girls, lays the groundwork for the town and all of its religious proceedings. However, something way more sinister may be afoot.

Happy #PubDay to The Burning Girls by @cjtudorauthor! This creepy, spine-tingling, thriller is sure to make you sleep with one eye open!

When the story opens, our protagonist is moved to a remote part of England to work at a church in a town that seems to be plagued by unnatural things for the past 500 years. Ever since eight protestant martyrs were burned at the stake. In more recent history, (30 years ago to be exact) two teenage girls disappeared without a trace. Upon arriving, our protagonist receives an unsettling welcome package complete with an exorcism kit. Suddenly, she starts seeing spooky things and becomes more and more on edge and suspicious of everything and everyone around her.

Overall, we thought Tudor did a great job of writing this book in a way that really leaves the reader unsettled. It pulls you in quickly but then becomes a somewhat slow burn for the rest of the story so you do have a little time to try to piece together the mystery yourself. If you like to read creepy things and appreciate a good thriller, we definitely think you should pick this book up!

I have been hit and miss with this author since day one. Her first two books left me cold and I thought we would be parting ways. But no so fast.....

I took a chance with her last book The other People since the reviews were amazing and I finally saw what all the fuss was about. It was amazing.

So with this latest release by C.J. Tudor’s I went in with a slight case of nerves. Not knowing which side I would fall on. And.... I loved it! I think it’s safe to say I am now on the C.J. Tudor bandwagon. Please move over everyone and make room for me to join you all!

Vicar Jack Brooks has a new assignment. She is leaving Nottingham in a bit of well one could say a scandal. She is moved to a quiet village where the church hopes she can stay out of trouble. Ha! Apparently they don’t know this Jack Brooks very well.

I loved Vicar Brooks she was presented in such a way that I had to remind myself she was a woman of the church. Quite the character!

The atmosphere of the book is dark and eerie at times but never scary. So have no fear my fellow scared cats you can read this one with ease!

I am now anxiously awaiting C. J. Tudor’s next release.... this time with NO hesitation! I’m all in!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine.

C.J. Tudor is a scary, scary brilliant lady!

I read this book in two days. (Real life intruded, forcing me to put it down or I would have finished it in one sitting 🤦‍♀️)

There is something strange about the little rural town of Chapel Croft, known for its macabre historical deaths by fire and weird stick dolls, as well as reports of missing people and suicides.

The new Reverend should have known something wasn't right when a mysterious and creepy present is left on the doorstep. Between being an outsider and all the secrets everyone is trying to keep hidden, it is no wonder that things turn deadly.

There are so many, many secrets- all the best twists and turns usually are. 😉 And the connections that come to light are completely mind blowing! This was my first read from this author (Thank you Netgalley and Publishers) but it will not be my last. This book is everything you want in mystery, thriller, and scare the tar out of you-that someone who loves the genre will appreciate.

*Also reviewed on Amazon.