The Flower Girls

by Alice Clark-Platts

[zooloo1983]

Well! This buddy read was a rollercoaster and a half. This book I think I can safely say knocked us for six! And when people say you need to go into a story in the dark you truly do!!

Between us, we had guessed one of the storylines but then we all began to doubt ourselves..could it be..really? And then the rug was pulled so hard out from under my feet I got a bump on my head! I sat there with my jaw dropped for ages! I mean I went straight into our chat and said two. Words Holy F#*k and the response was all the same hell yes!

The Flower Girls, the (not so) innocent girls, Laurel and Primrose aka Rosie, made famous due to the murder of Kristie Swann. Remembrance of the James Bulger horror was felt when reading this, two older children leading away a younger one who didn’t have the logic to understand. It leaves you feeling cold and shocked, it is so harrowing that you can’t believe you are reading it, but you don’t know the whole truth yet. Move forward, Laurel is in prison and Rosie under a new identity with her partner and his daughter are away for her birthday. Then lightning strikes again and a little girl goes missing. We learn the past over a series of chapters throughout the book, while the present day is the main focus.

The tempo in this book is high. With Rosie adjusting to life, being in the limelight. Max, the author, wanting to write her story. Laurel, trying to get by every day in prison. Uncle Toby who is the lawyer representing Laurel, her beacon of hope. Joanna Swann, the aunt to Kristie wanting justice. Finally, Hillier, the cop investigating the missing girl case.

The book wove all the threads of the storylines intrinsically and it leaves you questioning the motives and actions of every single character. It led me down a few different garden paths for sure.

Although I can not tell you the ending, all I will say, it is one of the most chilling endings I have read ever since Do No Harm by LV Hay. It shocked me and it has given me a book hangover. I’ve already started recommending this to everyone. It is the sort of the book that will suck you in and take everything from you until it’s done and will spit you out. Leaving you questioning what the hell just happened!

As a mother, it makes for an uncomfortable read especially when I’m wondering if my little lady can go to the park by herself with friends. It’s only out my back garden but now I’m reconsidering!!

I love a book that can surprise me and keep me on the edge of my seat, desperate to find out what lurks in the dark, and the Flower girls achieve this with bells on!