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

Engrossing from beginning to end

Would you listen to The Wicked Girls again? Why?

Yes. I don't like listening to audiobooks twice but theses characters were given such realistic motivations and personalities that I'm sure a second listen would reveal a few more details.

What did you like best about this story?

To me, the book was about the nuances of what makes a person good and/or evil and the characterizations illustrated those very clearly. Narrator was top notch too. Each character had their own distinct way of speaking and she went from one to the other flawlessly which could have easily gone sideways given all the different vernaculars and intonations.

Which character – as performed by Anna Bentinck – was your favorite?

Jackie [I think that was her name]. I hated this character but from the performance, I got a clear picture of who she was and who she wanted to be but wasn't. This character used a lot of slang and again is one of the characters that could have been over done but Bentnick did it with restraint.

Who was the most memorable character of The Wicked Girls and why?

Amber. She's a better woman than I'd have been.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommended. I had to pace myself and not listen to it in one sitting. I saved it for time when I had to complete a painting which requires something to keep me in my seat.

Riveting

A dark and painful tale of misery and lives-gone-horribly-wrong, told exquisitely by an author in full control of his audience (and narrated by the perfect voice). I loved it!

The tragic events of a day long ago when the two protagonists were 11 years old are revealed chronologically, and interspersed with what's happening in the present day, when a dreadful coincidence brings the two women together as adults. It's hard to say what's more hypnotic: the dreadful events that are unfolding, or to see the paths their two lives took as a result of that one day in their childhood. I could not tear my eyes (ears?) away. And can't wait for more novels by this author.

Almost too heart/gut wrenching

As another reviewer said- "i didn't want to like these girls" -- I too started out that way. Kirsty and Amber, however, fell into a situation when they were young that was not something they were looking for- and certainly their young ages made them perfect "victims" as well.

Throughout the story there is a feeling of impending doom, which is slowly developed and very well written. The scenes going back and forth from the past to present day were well done-it was a completely riveting story. My heart ached for these two girls as their story was revealed, and I almost didn't want to hear the ending-fearing the worse.

While there were some "side stories" that I didn't think were necessary and didn't offer anything to increase the enjoyment- in fact were kind of a distraction - it was not bad enough to interfere overall.

I'm going to watch for future works by this author-they can only get better.

Psychological horror at its best

Reading this book was like watching a car accident in slow motion. You can see it coming and you was to look away but it's horribly engrossing. Such a sad story. And even the catharsis at the end was fraught with pain.

A wickedly good listen!

I was aware that The Wicked Girls had received critical acclaim but I knew nothing about it beyond the plot summary accompanying the book on Audible. I've been on a crime fiction kick lately and that was enough for me to take a chance on this one.

Frankly, I loved it. It's a bit of a slow burn. There's a lot of character development as the reader is slowly introduced to the main characters, Kirsty and Amber and the people in their lives. Gradually, we begin to understand the women as adults and, through flashbacks, the defining moment of their lives during childhood is slowly revealed.

The majority of the novel takes place in the present, as Kirsty reports on a series of murders occurring in the seaside town where Amber currently resides. Both women are haunted by their pasts and when their lives begin to intersect in the present, the novel really takes off, building to an absolutely riveting conclusion.

Alex Marwood's writing is excellent and Anna Bentinck's narration is superb.

My apologies for the review title.

Good book but frustrating

I'll start by giving this book 2 thumbs up on the written and narration portion. The story line was good and kept me interested but OMG I felt like pulling my hair out at times. One of the main characters, Amber, is so frustrating and naive that I honestly felt like crawling into the book just to slap her. She has no common sense and does the complete opposite of what someone should do. I found myself yelling out profanities at certain parts. I understand that there are people that actually think and act like that so I guess that's why this book is believable. But at the end it was a well put together book.

Intriguing story , Intolerable voice

What did you like best about The Wicked Girls? What did you like least?

It was an interesting story, exploring the personalities of two women as children and as haunted adults. BUT the narrator's attempt at male voices was so horrible that I nearly abandoned the book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Not a book that draws one in to find an endearing character!

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Bad accents, horrible male "voices", poor expressiveness

Was The Wicked Girls worth the listening time?

No - this one should be read.

I really enjoyed this!

I really enjoyed this audio book. the narration was superb and the story was very interesting, dark at times and suspenseful.

Made me cringe

Made me cringe. Could see this happening when the media twists things. Poor girls/ women.

Best performance for a thrilling story!

What did you love best about The Wicked Girls?

I really loved the narrator. She was fantastic. She has different voices for everyone and really tried to make it sound believable, adding accents appropriately, etc. Although I loved the story too, I am not sure I would have gone through it so quickly as I did with the audiobook. The narrator had me eager to turn on my iPhone at every free moment!

Have you listened to any of Anna Bentinck’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have never listened to one of her performances before. However, I will purposefully try to find other books narrated by her now. Yes, she was that good.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Without giving anything away, the flashbacks to the main characters' time as children was especially moving. The writer had a way of pointing out that not everything is as it seems without beating you over head about it.

Any additional comments?

This book is dark and exciting. It's also moving. Everyone is a bit wicked, but as said before, it's not always in the way you think. I think this was one of my favorite books to listen to ever. And, I only found it through the daily deal. Such a great find that I will try to encourage others to read/listen and enjoy as well!