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The Darling Girls by Emma Burstall
The Darling Girls
written by Emma Burstall
find it here: Amazon, Goodreads
Why did I pick this book: I had originally participated in the blog tour hosted by CLP Blog Tours back in January. (I received a copy of this book for review purposes.)
Did I enjoy this book:
Would I recommend it:
Will I read it again:
About the book – from Goodreads: Three women in love with the same man meet for the first time at his funeral. Can they separate the truth from the lies – and learn to trust again?
When world famous music conductor Leo Bruck dies suddenly, he leaves behind three grieving women and a mass of unanswered questions.
Did the man who juggled these simultaneous relationships while thrilling audiences around the globe, direct The Darling Girls like an orchestra?
Victoria, his partner of twenty years and mother of two of his children, regards herself as his rightful widow and keeper of his legacy. However, a series of shocking discoveries – revolving around Leo’s boyhood flight on the Kindertransport from Nazi-occupied Austria – forces her to re-examine the man she thought she knew and query the very foundation of their relationship.
Maddy, mother of Leo’s daughter Phoebe, has a high-powered job and seems independent and sorted. But events take a sinister turn when Maddy becomes involved with Victoria’s troubled teenage son, and her safe world starts to go awry.
Finally there’s Cat who, at just 24, is Leo’s youngest lover. Coping with a sick mother and battling demons from her childhood, she is finding it increasingly hard to hold it together. Will grief, anger and bitterness blind her to the possibility of ever finding happiness, career fulfilment – and even, perhaps, new love?
The Darling Girls is a moving story of love, loss, and the prevailing power of female friendship. Can these three very different women, whose lives become inextricably bound, break free from the masterful control Leo exerts – even from the grave – once and for all?
About the author: Emma has written extensively for national newspapers and women’s magazines including the Guardian, Independent on Sunday, Red, Good Housekeeping, Woman & Home and Woman.
She read English at Cambridge University and began her career as a cub reporter on the Western Morning News in Plymouth, later becoming features editor of Woman and Family Circle.
She gets by in French and Spanish and works out – occasionally – at her local gym. After walking her youngest to school, you might also spot her jogging in Richmond Park with some friends. Slowly.
Emma lives in South West London with her husband, the political commentator Kevin Maguire, and their three children, aged 25, 20 and 10.
She’s currently working on her fourth novel.
Find Ms. Burstall here: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads
Please enjoy the following excerpt from The Darling Girls.
Cat slid to the ground and rested her back against the hard knobbly bark, burying her head in her arms. Her tears soaked right through to the skin and she didn’t care that the grass was cold and damp.
She was interrupted by a voice close by, which made her jump.
‘Are you all right?’ Someone touched her lightly on the shoulder.
Cat looked up and saw, through her tears, a middle-aged woman. She had big kind grey eyes that were rimmed with red, and hair that was thick and wiry with a few silvery streaks of grey. It was tied up but messy wiggly strands fell around her face. She was wearing silver dangly earrings and a black jacket.
Cat gave a start of recognition: Victoria. This was Leo’s ‘long-term partner’, the woman he’d been with for twenty years. She stood up quickly and nodded, her eyes fixed firmly on the ground, aware of being closely observed.
‘Fine,’ she mumbled, wiping away the tears with her sleeve. This was weird, freaky. She was way out of her comfort zone. She started to push past Victoria, who stopped her.
‘You’re Cat, aren’t you?’
Cat’s heart missed a beat.
‘It’s all right,’ Victoria said, sounding weary. ‘I know all about you. Leo told me. He told me everything.’
Cat’s head started to thump and she could feel the blood pounding in her temples. She was thinking fast.
‘Did he?’ She gave a tight little smile, not wanting to give anything away.
‘I’m sorry you’re upset.’ Victoria’s voice was so gentle that she sounded like a mother comforting her child.
Cat felt her defences weaken. She didn’t want to look at the other woman but couldn’t stop herself; it was obvious that Victoria was taking the mickey but Cat needed to check. Her eyes, though, were big pools of sugary compassion. Cat couldn’t handle this; it was worse than being mocked or screamed at.
‘I’m going,’ she said, intending to push past Victoria who still stood in the way. Cat realised for the first time how tall the other woman was. She must be getting on for six feet – and broad with it.
Cat stared at her defiantly, experiencing a surge of new-found energy. If Victoria wanted a slanging match or fisticuffs, so be it. Cat might be shorter but she was tough; she’d give as good as she got.
‘Excuse me,’ she said, straightening her shoulders.
Victoria didn’t seem to hear or even sense Cat’s hostility.
‘He was a great man,’ the older woman said quietly, seeming to stare at something in the distance. ‘We’re going to miss him so much.’
She paused while Cat, fists clenched, wondered what was coming next.
‘Would you like to come to the reception? I know he was fond of you. It’s right that you should-’
Cat felt her face go hot. ‘Fond? He wasn’t fond of me, he loved me.’
Victoria shook her head and there were tears in her eyes. ‘Did he tell you that? Poor girl. That wasn’t fair, he shouldn’t have said that.’
Happy reading wherever you are and whenever you get a free chance!!!
