The Burning Girls

The Burning Girls follows Reverend Jack Brooks and her teenage daughter Flo as they relocate to Chapel Croft, a small Sussex village with a dark history. Their new home holds centuries-old secrets about the burning of Protestant martyrs and the more recent disappearance of two teenage girls. Strange events begin to occur after their arrival - Jack receives threatening messages while Flo experiences unsettling visions. The village's past intertwines with present-day mysteries as Jack investigates both historical and contemporary deaths connected to the chapel. The novel combines elements of psychological suspense, supernatural horror, and murder mystery while exploring themes of faith, death, and buried truths. Tudor's portrayal of a complex mother-daughter relationship anchors this story of small-town secrets and religious persecution's long shadow.

Readers call this an atmospheric and unsettling mystery that blends supernatural elements with a murder investigation. Many highlight Tudor's skill at creating a creepy small-town setting and building tension throughout the story. Readers appreciated: - Multiple timelines that connect in unexpected ways - The historical elements involving martyrs - Complex female characters, especially Jack and Flo - The balance of crime fiction and ghost story elements Common criticisms: - Too many subplots that slow the pacing - Predictable twists that seasoned mystery readers saw coming - Some found the ending rushed and unsatisfying Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (41,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (9,800+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4/5 "The atmosphere is spot on but the resolution fell flat," noted one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads user wrote, "The creepy village and its secrets kept me reading, even though I guessed most of the reveals."

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🔥 C.J. Tudor wrote this novel while working as a dog walker, fitting in writing sessions between her daily walks with clients' pets. 🏺 The book draws inspiration from real historical events, specifically the Lewes Martyrs—17 Protestant men and women who were burned at the stake in Sussex during the 16th century. ⛪ The author extensively researched small village churches and their histories across England to create the authentic atmosphere of Chapel Croft, the novel's fictional setting. 👻 The twig dolls featured in the book are based on actual folk traditions from various parts of Britain, where such dolls were used both as protection charms and to ward off evil spirits. 🖋️ Though C.J. Tudor is her pen name, the author's real first name is Caroline, and she chose to use initials because she felt thriller readers might take a female author more seriously with a gender-neutral name.