The Wicked Girls

By: Alex Marwood

Narrated by: Anna Bentinck

Length: 14 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Edgar Award Winner, Best Paperback Original, 2014

On a fateful summer morning in 1986, two 11-year-old girls meet for the first time. By the end of the day, they will both be charged with murder. Twenty-five years later, journalist Kirsty Lindsay is reporting on a series of sickening attacks on young female tourists in a seaside vacation town when her investigation leads her to interview carnival cleaner Amber Gordon.

For Kirsty and Amber, it's the first time they've seen each other since that dark day so many years ago. Now with new, vastly different lives - and unknowing families to protect - will they really be able to keep their wicked secret hidden? Gripping and fast-paced, with an ending that will stay with you long after you've listened to it, The Wicked Girls will appeal to fans of the Academy Award–nominated film Heavenly Creatures and the novels of Rosamund Lupton and Chevy Stevens.

©2012 Alex Marwood (P)2013 Tantor

Highly Engrossing

The two main characters killed a child when they were 11 years old and have not seen each other since being convicted and put in the juvenile system. They are reunited many years later in the course of a series of murders taking place where one work and the other comes to as a reporter.

Throughout the story you learn a lot about both women, and despite their terrible, although truly accidental act, as children you really find yourself pulling for them.

I liked the way the story is told both in the present and via memories. I really wanted things to turn out well for both of them. I admit, I was not sure how the author was going to pull the story together and end it, but it was done well.

I would recommend this story to other readers.

Tugs at your heart in unexpected ways

In the beginning it's unclear how the pieces will fit. But it's good, really good.

Loved it

Kept me reading with a compelling plot and painting a picture through words with expertise.

Satisfying Popcorn Thriller

3 out of 5 Stars
The Wicked Girls is a perfectly readable popcorn thriller, nothing terribly groundbreaking or unique but it will definitely satisfy your crime thriller cravings. The most exciting part of the book is the setting; Alex Marwood paints a gloriously gritty portrait of Whitmouth. I felt transported listening and thoroughly enjoyed all the seedy details, particularly when it came to the amusement park.

Other than the general lack of innovation (not a complaint, I don’t think every book needs to be some evolution) the overall problem with The Wicked Girls is the unevenness of the plot. The word that immediately comes to mind is patchy. There is a lot of focus given and details added to a few sections of the story and very little to others. That in itself is completely normal but the most important plot points to the overall story were frequently those getting less attention, specifically what happened between the girls committing the crime and them ending up in the places they are when the story begins. I am tempted to think that is was supposed to be a device to throw the listener off but it was more likely just poor writing.

The one thing about this book that I just could not abide was the gratuitous, graphic dog killings. They served no point to the plot and was clearly just for shock value. Having such a pointless scene of animal violence was very upsetting to me and did cause me to knock half a star from my score.

Surprise Ending

Would you listen to The Wicked Girls again? Why?

No - i'm a listen once kind of girl. Too many good books to do the same one twice.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Amber - she was so wounded but truly wanted to be good.

Which scene was your favorite?

the end - did not see it coming. And I pride myself on being able to figure the story out.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It was too long to listen to in one sitting but I did look forward to when I would have a moment to listen again.

Most OUTSTANDING Narrator

The story was good, and held my attention in spite of not having any real surprises, but the narrator was phenomenal. I definitely enjoyed the listen.

Captivating!

Another excellent thriller by Marwood! Not quite as good as The Killer Next Door but not far behind either! Both books held my interest throughout. I'd say this one was more plot driven while the other was more character driven. I'd recommend them both.

Deliciously Twisted

Wonderful use of flashbacks and the author knows how to keep the reader engaged. The characters were all so flawed and human it was hard to like them and I love that in a book. Lots of secrets throughout that become revealed, many little twists. The narration was fantastic.

Loved it so I meet the author!

I'm kinda stuck on the same authors but when this book was on sale and it got good reviews I decided to give it a try. So glad I did. Based on a true crime story, it shows that what you think about a person isn't always true. The narrator was wonderful. The author was in town for a new book signing right after I finished this book so I decided to go meet her. She gave a wonderful talk about her life, how she started to write and on her latest book. She's a delightful person. Can't wait for her next book!

Buy it! One of the best listens this year.

Such great writing and imagery. Could not stop listening. So so good. Twists and turns abound.