‘The Cursed Girls’ by Caro Ramsay is a stand-alone psychological thriller and one that had me at the cover never mind the synopsis.
Megan Melvick is going back home to visit her extremely ill sister, who is at death’s door. Megan had not been home or seen Melissa for three years. This is her first time back and the memories begin to flood her mind as she arrives. As Melissa is dying she says something to Megan she can’t fully understand but it was an apology. Megan is confused as to what she is sorry for. During her time at her childhood home, the memories become stronger and more frequent. She begins to think that her past is returning to haunt her.
Five years previously Melissa got married and it was a dark day in the Italian House as it is known. A bridesmaid died and their mother Beth disappeared. There were rumours she ran away with another man but nothing concrete. Megan’s dad is now seeing another woman too. The death was recorded as an accident by the police but the case has been reopened and Megan begins to fall apart. She is having memory loss and even blackouts, her dad’s doctor has prescribed medication but they don’t make a difference to her health. Does Megan remember correctly as she faces up to her past?
A dark and sinister story of a toxic house that holds so many deep secrets that are guaranteed to keep you wanting more and a family whose ancestry has mental illness running through it as much as it has class prejudice too.
Caro Ramsay has skillfully created a tightly woven plot that has echoes of Agatha Christie stories from back in the day. Her characters are so clearly defined and such an eerie atmosphere that you almost feel as confused as Megan as you read along. A book that is overflowing with secrets, sadness, twists and turns that I was unwilling to put down for any length of time.
Thanks go to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours and BlackThorn books for my copy of this haunting tale.
sharonbeyondthebooks.uk 