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The July Girls
'EXTRAORDINARY. SHOCKING, YET SUBTLE, THE MENACE DRIPS OFF EVERY PAGE . . . AN ALMOST UNBEARABLY GOOD READ' Caz Frear, Sunday Times -bestselling author of SWEET LITTLE LIES Every year, on the same night in July, a woman is taken from the streets of London; snatched by a killer who moves through the city like a ghost.
Addie has a secret. On the morning of her tenth birthday, four bombs were detonated across the capital. That night her dad came home covered in blood. She thought he was hurt in the attacks - but then her sister Jessie found a missing woman's purse hidden in his room. Jessie says they mustn't tell. She says there's nothing to worry about. But when she takes a job looking after the woman's baby daughter, Addie starts to realise that her big sister doesn't always tell her the whole story. And that the secrets they're keeping may start costing lives . . . MORE PRAISE FOR THE JULY GIRLS :
'I loved Phoebe Locke's last book, but this one is even better. Stunningly original with a protagonist you'll love' Jane Fallon, Sunday Times -bestselling author of FAKING FRIENDS
'Phoebe Locke has knocked it out of the park once again with THE JULY GIRLS . Atmospheric and beautifully written, it really is stunningly good' Cass Green, Sunday Times -bestselling author of IN A COTTAGE IN A WOOD 'Chilling, gripping and unputdownable, with a wonderful protagonist - a must-read this summer' Karen Hamilton, Sunday Times- bestselling author of THE PERFECT GIRLFRIEND
Addie has a secret. On the morning of her tenth birthday, four bombs were detonated across the capital. That night her dad came home covered in blood. She thought he was hurt in the attacks - but then her sister Jessie found a missing woman's purse hidden in his room. Jessie says they mustn't tell. She says there's nothing to worry about. But when she takes a job looking after the woman's baby daughter, Addie starts to realise that her big sister doesn't always tell her the whole story. And that the secrets they're keeping may start costing lives . . . MORE PRAISE FOR THE JULY GIRLS :
'I loved Phoebe Locke's last book, but this one is even better. Stunningly original with a protagonist you'll love' Jane Fallon, Sunday Times -bestselling author of FAKING FRIENDS
'Phoebe Locke has knocked it out of the park once again with THE JULY GIRLS . Atmospheric and beautifully written, it really is stunningly good' Cass Green, Sunday Times -bestselling author of IN A COTTAGE IN A WOOD 'Chilling, gripping and unputdownable, with a wonderful protagonist - a must-read this summer' Karen Hamilton, Sunday Times- bestselling author of THE PERFECT GIRLFRIEND
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 27, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
July 5, 2019
Phoebe Locke writes a brilliant psychological thriller and coming of age story set in Brixton, London, where the multiple timelines gives us the background of London's recent history that include the 7/7 London bombings, the death of Mark Duggan and the spreading riots and the devastating and deadly Grenfell fire. Addison 'Addie' Knight has been cared for by her older sister, Jessie, with their single dad, Paul, a man with a dodgy reputation, barred from pubs, out all hours of the day and night, trying but failing to earn enough for the family. Jessie has been working at a struggling wig shop since she was 15 years old, run by Laine. Born on the 7th July, it is Addie's 10th birthday which turns out to be unsettling and worrying day for her, her beloved dependable Jessie fails to pick her up from school, and does not return home that night, it is the day of the London bombings, and her world is shot to pieces when her dad returns home with his clothes covered in blood. Initially thinking her dad was hurt in the bombings, events take a more sinister turn when Jessie finds the purse of a woman in his bedroom.
Jessie tells Addie there is nothing to worry about but the girls turn up at the Pimlico home of the Emerson family, despite Addie's misgivings. The narrative is delivered from Addie's perspective, interspersed with sections from a book written by Laurie K Cooper on a serial killer nicknamed Magpie, who kills a woman every year on the 7th July, the July Girls, taking jewellery and trinkets from them, and posting them to the distraught families of the victims. The body of the first victim, 23 year old Jennifer Howell was recovered from the river, but the bodies of all the other women have never been found. DS Leyton Jones is the first police officer to begin to make the connections between the disappearing women, haunted but determined to find the killer, in an investigation that is eventually led by DCI Mina Barton. We follow Addie through the years, burdened by the darkest fears, a girl who loves her dad and adores Jessie, whose world is to be rocked by family secrets and lies, living under the kind of pressures no child should have to endure.
This is hugely atmospheric and chilling storytelling, so emotionally engaging as the reader is immersed into Addie's world with her dysfunctional family. Just when you think you can see where the novel is heading, Locke deftly shifts it into other more surprising twisted directions. For me, what made this read stand out was the stellar characterisation, young Addie growing up on a Brixton estate, part of an impoverished London family whose mother left early on, raised by Jessie, with a father who is barely there. Her relationships, such as that with Jessie's boyfriend, Dellar, who truly connects with her, her love of books, Harry Potter and what is going on in her life is portrayed with a real tenderness. This is a wonderfully gripping and compulsive read which I just devoured. Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.
Jessie tells Addie there is nothing to worry about but the girls turn up at the Pimlico home of the Emerson family, despite Addie's misgivings. The narrative is delivered from Addie's perspective, interspersed with sections from a book written by Laurie K Cooper on a serial killer nicknamed Magpie, who kills a woman every year on the 7th July, the July Girls, taking jewellery and trinkets from them, and posting them to the distraught families of the victims. The body of the first victim, 23 year old Jennifer Howell was recovered from the river, but the bodies of all the other women have never been found. DS Leyton Jones is the first police officer to begin to make the connections between the disappearing women, haunted but determined to find the killer, in an investigation that is eventually led by DCI Mina Barton. We follow Addie through the years, burdened by the darkest fears, a girl who loves her dad and adores Jessie, whose world is to be rocked by family secrets and lies, living under the kind of pressures no child should have to endure.
This is hugely atmospheric and chilling storytelling, so emotionally engaging as the reader is immersed into Addie's world with her dysfunctional family. Just when you think you can see where the novel is heading, Locke deftly shifts it into other more surprising twisted directions. For me, what made this read stand out was the stellar characterisation, young Addie growing up on a Brixton estate, part of an impoverished London family whose mother left early on, raised by Jessie, with a father who is barely there. Her relationships, such as that with Jessie's boyfriend, Dellar, who truly connects with her, her love of books, Harry Potter and what is going on in her life is portrayed with a real tenderness. This is a wonderfully gripping and compulsive read which I just devoured. Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.
June 27, 2019
This book is so aptly titled.
Every July around the same day, same time a girl disappears.
All that the perpetrator leaves is a piece of jewellery belonging to that girl.
Hence, he’s known as “Magpie”.
The two young girls are Addison and Jessica. Jessica being the eldest of the two.
Because of family circumstances Jessica becomes “mom” to her little sister and little Addison looks up to her elder sister.
But one night, on the night of Addisons 10th birthday she witnesses something terrible.
Someone goes missing, her dads covered in blood and things in the book go off with a bang.
Without giving anything away, you are in for a treat.
Some latter part seemed a bit overstretched here and there but I forgave that because the author has done a beautiful job in keeping my attention.
Every July around the same day, same time a girl disappears.
All that the perpetrator leaves is a piece of jewellery belonging to that girl.
Hence, he’s known as “Magpie”.
The two young girls are Addison and Jessica. Jessica being the eldest of the two.
Because of family circumstances Jessica becomes “mom” to her little sister and little Addison looks up to her elder sister.
But one night, on the night of Addisons 10th birthday she witnesses something terrible.
Someone goes missing, her dads covered in blood and things in the book go off with a bang.
Without giving anything away, you are in for a treat.
Some latter part seemed a bit overstretched here and there but I forgave that because the author has done a beautiful job in keeping my attention.
July 4, 2021
This was a brilliant story about a serial killer that kills every year on July 7th. Phoebe Locke did an amazing job of delivering this story. It had likeable characters and a very twisted plot. The ending was the best! I did not see that one coming! I would recommend this to anyone who likes psychological thrillers!
April 30, 2020
I received a copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was drawn to this book because of the premise on the cover: Every year, on the same night in July, a woman is taken from the streets of London. I was immediately intrigued to know why this happened, why the date was significant and how many missing girls it would take before the perpetrator was caught.
The story starts off gently, about the lives of siblings Addie and Jessie who live with their Dad, and you don’t even realise how it’s pulling you in. As events started to unfold, I found it really difficult to put this book down for any length of time. The story is told from Addie’s perspective, she is nine at the start. I really liked how the whole story is given from her POV and told over a straight linear timeline, it was really fresh and original compared with the format of multiple POVs and timepoints which many thrillers follow. The story covers a long time-period so towards the end, Addie’s point of view is that of a teenager, with the greater understanding that a teenager has.
What I liked best was the way the story progressed (never dull despite spanning many years), that true London events occurred (making the story feel more real), the character development (especially the sweet friendship between Addie and Jessie’s boyfriend). What I liked less was the solely positive interaction between the sisters (not one argument, not one time that Jessie lost patience) and the fact that new information was introduced late in the story (made the ending feel slightly rushed after 'years' of build up, and the reader slightly cheated as it wasn’t a revelation which could be anticipated). Overall though, a good thrilling read with an original plotline and some really chilling moments.
The story starts off gently, about the lives of siblings Addie and Jessie who live with their Dad, and you don’t even realise how it’s pulling you in. As events started to unfold, I found it really difficult to put this book down for any length of time. The story is told from Addie’s perspective, she is nine at the start. I really liked how the whole story is given from her POV and told over a straight linear timeline, it was really fresh and original compared with the format of multiple POVs and timepoints which many thrillers follow. The story covers a long time-period so towards the end, Addie’s point of view is that of a teenager, with the greater understanding that a teenager has.
What I liked best was the way the story progressed (never dull despite spanning many years), that true London events occurred (making the story feel more real), the character development (especially the sweet friendship between Addie and Jessie’s boyfriend). What I liked less was the solely positive interaction between the sisters (not one argument, not one time that Jessie lost patience) and the fact that new information was introduced late in the story (made the ending feel slightly rushed after 'years' of build up, and the reader slightly cheated as it wasn’t a revelation which could be anticipated). Overall though, a good thrilling read with an original plotline and some really chilling moments.
August 6, 2019
I’m not going to beat about the bush here, I absolutely loved The July Girls by Phoebe Locke, this is the first book I’ve read by the author, although I have since bought her debut novel The Tall Man. If from the book description you thought this was a run of the mill ‘serial killer thriller’ you couldn’t be more wrong. This book has so much more to offer the crime thriller lover, it’s a book that’s superbly written, an extraordinary and highly original tale, told through the eyes of a brilliantly drawn character, ten-year-old Addie.
Set in London, The July Girls tells the story of two sisters, Jessie and Addie, whose lives become unintentionally entangled with a serial killer. Every year, on the 7th of July, a young girl is snatched from the streets of London by the killer, leaving behind no clues or forensic evidence. The story begins with The devastating event of 07/07 terrorist attacks, for many, lives will never be the same, and unfortunately for Jessica and Addie so begins their worse nightmare, as on the same night their dad comes home covered in blood and when they find items in their home belonging to a missing woman believed to one of the victims of the ‘Magpie’ killer. Addie’s sense of confusion, distress and loss are palatable throughout The July Girls, making for a disquieting read.
The reason I enjoyed this book is very much down to the innocent narrative of Addie, which compliments the sinister undertone that runs through the book’s pages. The relationship between the two sisters is superbly depicted, by the author it’s impossible not to become involved in the lives of her characters. Jessica is thrown into the position of surrogate mother, she adores Addie and will do anything to protect her, even if that means lying to hide the shocking truths hidden beneath the surface of their dysfunctional family. You can’t help but admire Addie from a young age through to her teens she retains Addies her integrity, her sense of ‘right from wrong’ even though this will cause her stress and upset. Addie is a troubled ten-year-old, there are things she has seen that she can’t forget, they keep her awake at night, they are things that niggle at her conscious and force her to question the very person who she should be able to trust, her own father. Is everything at it seems? or does Addie have a over active imagination like many a ten-year-old? I’m not saying as you really need to read the book to find out!
Phoebe Locke shows that you don’t need to write graphic crime scenes to capture the reader’s imagination, it’s a disturbing story but subtle, leaving the reader to summon up their own vivid scenarios! Although I wouldn’t consider this to be a fast paced read, the beauty of The July Girls is the author’s incredible ability to build on the tension and suspense, whilst giving the reader an incredible insight into the life of her characters. The author takes familiar subjects such as family dynamics, relationships and turns them into a compelling, extraordinary read, and one that’s impossible to put down even for a few minutes. I’m still not sure I have conveyed just how good this book is, but it’s definitely one of my top read this summer. So on that note if you only buy one book this summer, you should definitely consider The July Girls, it’s a book I will be happily recommending to anyone and everyone.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
Set in London, The July Girls tells the story of two sisters, Jessie and Addie, whose lives become unintentionally entangled with a serial killer. Every year, on the 7th of July, a young girl is snatched from the streets of London by the killer, leaving behind no clues or forensic evidence. The story begins with The devastating event of 07/07 terrorist attacks, for many, lives will never be the same, and unfortunately for Jessica and Addie so begins their worse nightmare, as on the same night their dad comes home covered in blood and when they find items in their home belonging to a missing woman believed to one of the victims of the ‘Magpie’ killer. Addie’s sense of confusion, distress and loss are palatable throughout The July Girls, making for a disquieting read.
The reason I enjoyed this book is very much down to the innocent narrative of Addie, which compliments the sinister undertone that runs through the book’s pages. The relationship between the two sisters is superbly depicted, by the author it’s impossible not to become involved in the lives of her characters. Jessica is thrown into the position of surrogate mother, she adores Addie and will do anything to protect her, even if that means lying to hide the shocking truths hidden beneath the surface of their dysfunctional family. You can’t help but admire Addie from a young age through to her teens she retains Addies her integrity, her sense of ‘right from wrong’ even though this will cause her stress and upset. Addie is a troubled ten-year-old, there are things she has seen that she can’t forget, they keep her awake at night, they are things that niggle at her conscious and force her to question the very person who she should be able to trust, her own father. Is everything at it seems? or does Addie have a over active imagination like many a ten-year-old? I’m not saying as you really need to read the book to find out!
Phoebe Locke shows that you don’t need to write graphic crime scenes to capture the reader’s imagination, it’s a disturbing story but subtle, leaving the reader to summon up their own vivid scenarios! Although I wouldn’t consider this to be a fast paced read, the beauty of The July Girls is the author’s incredible ability to build on the tension and suspense, whilst giving the reader an incredible insight into the life of her characters. The author takes familiar subjects such as family dynamics, relationships and turns them into a compelling, extraordinary read, and one that’s impossible to put down even for a few minutes. I’m still not sure I have conveyed just how good this book is, but it’s definitely one of my top read this summer. So on that note if you only buy one book this summer, you should definitely consider The July Girls, it’s a book I will be happily recommending to anyone and everyone.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
August 2, 2019
You are going to hear A LOT about this book within the next few weeks from across the blogosphere! It’s such an addictive read that once I picked it up I was physically unable to put it down! Phoebe Locke has a writing style that is just so beautifully spellbinding, I know it will sprinkle its magic over everyone who reads it just like it did with me! This is one book you are going to want to read believe me!
July 7th is a date that most of us will be aware of, when the terror attacks in London claimed the lives of many innocent victims. In The July Girls, it is also Addies birthday and the day that every year a girl goes missing. When Addies dad returns home the day of her 10th birthday covered in blood, her first thought is that he has been caught up in the bombings but then she makes a shocking discovery.
I really had no idea where The July Girls was heading and I loved the fact that it kept its secrets from me until the very end. It’s an addictive read, driven by its interesting and intriguing characters with a narrative that flows from page to page, pulling us deeper into the story with a compelling grip. It was a brilliant twist to have this young girl looking into what was happening especially as she was twinned to the disappearances by that fateful day. There were things she didn’t click due to her immaturity so it was fascinating to watch her take on the disappearance of Liv. When Jessie, her sister, decides to make contact with the family of the missing woman, we are able to read between the lines unlike the socially inexperienced Addie. To see the truth unraveling through her eyes provided a thought provoking aspect to the case that wouldn’t have been there otherwise and added plenty of layers to be peeled back, slowly revealing the family’s history.
Phoebe Locke has written an incredibly intense and involving thriller that draws the reader in and envelopes them in the mystery of the missing July Girls. I absolutely loved it and happily recommend it to all!
July 7th is a date that most of us will be aware of, when the terror attacks in London claimed the lives of many innocent victims. In The July Girls, it is also Addies birthday and the day that every year a girl goes missing. When Addies dad returns home the day of her 10th birthday covered in blood, her first thought is that he has been caught up in the bombings but then she makes a shocking discovery.
I really had no idea where The July Girls was heading and I loved the fact that it kept its secrets from me until the very end. It’s an addictive read, driven by its interesting and intriguing characters with a narrative that flows from page to page, pulling us deeper into the story with a compelling grip. It was a brilliant twist to have this young girl looking into what was happening especially as she was twinned to the disappearances by that fateful day. There were things she didn’t click due to her immaturity so it was fascinating to watch her take on the disappearance of Liv. When Jessie, her sister, decides to make contact with the family of the missing woman, we are able to read between the lines unlike the socially inexperienced Addie. To see the truth unraveling through her eyes provided a thought provoking aspect to the case that wouldn’t have been there otherwise and added plenty of layers to be peeled back, slowly revealing the family’s history.
Phoebe Locke has written an incredibly intense and involving thriller that draws the reader in and envelopes them in the mystery of the missing July Girls. I absolutely loved it and happily recommend it to all!
June 4, 2019
I've been looking forward to reading this and it didn't disappoint. I really enjoyed the way in which the character of Addie is developed throughout the novel as the load on her shoulders continues to build. A good story very well told. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
June 28, 2022
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July 29, 2019
4.5* --> 5*
When I read The Tall Man a while ago, I immediately somehow felt Phoebe Locke would be my kind of writer. So when I heard The July Girls was coming, I signed up for this blog tour without even knowing what the book was about, confident that I would like whatever Phoebe Locke came up with this time around. And I was right. (I usually am, OH hates it 😉)
Every year, on the same day, a woman disappears without a trace from the streets of London. That day, July 7th, is Addie’s birthday. Coincidence or not? On her tenth birthday, her father arrives home with his clothes covered in blood. It’s July 7th, 2005. Addie thinks maybe her dad was hurt in the bombings that rocked London that day. Until her sister, Jessie, finds a purse belonging to a missing woman hidden in their dad’s bedroom. Is Addie’s dad a killer?
This story is told through the eyes of Addie, whom the reader follows throughout her teenage years as she struggles to deal with all the secrets she carries and the burden on her shoulders seems to grow with each year. I really enjoyed watching Addie develop throughout the story, how her voice changed as she grew up, how the things she just accepted as a ten year old suddenly didn’t seem to fit as she got older and matured.
You may think having a story told through a ten year old would come across as childish but you’d be awfully wrong. It was actually quite refreshing to see the world through innocent eyes, that little dash of naivety Addie still has, amidst the darkness in the world and then to sadly see that innocence shattered as she gets older.
The July Girls is immensely absorbing and extremely suspenseful. It’s one of those books that draws you in from the very beginning and just won’t let go. Now, I am awfully suspicious by nature so apart from Addie, I found it hard to trust anyone in this story as the characters were highly intriguing and constantly seemed to have something to hide. And yes, there is a mystery or a few murders to solve, one I couldn’t figure out at all. But that’s not the be all and end all of The July Girls. This is a story about relationships, family dynamics and secrets with a sense of impending doom hanging above it. That feeling you get when you know something is coming but you can’t figure out what that is.
I fear my review isn’t doing this book any justice. Sometimes words are just so hard to find. It isn’t just the storyline that had me hooked throughout but Phoebe Locke’s writing is really something else. Incredibly immersive and beautiful, it adds an extra layer to this story and all I can really say is : I’m a fan and I look forward immensely to whatever Phoebe Locke comes up with next!
When I read The Tall Man a while ago, I immediately somehow felt Phoebe Locke would be my kind of writer. So when I heard The July Girls was coming, I signed up for this blog tour without even knowing what the book was about, confident that I would like whatever Phoebe Locke came up with this time around. And I was right. (I usually am, OH hates it 😉)
Every year, on the same day, a woman disappears without a trace from the streets of London. That day, July 7th, is Addie’s birthday. Coincidence or not? On her tenth birthday, her father arrives home with his clothes covered in blood. It’s July 7th, 2005. Addie thinks maybe her dad was hurt in the bombings that rocked London that day. Until her sister, Jessie, finds a purse belonging to a missing woman hidden in their dad’s bedroom. Is Addie’s dad a killer?
This story is told through the eyes of Addie, whom the reader follows throughout her teenage years as she struggles to deal with all the secrets she carries and the burden on her shoulders seems to grow with each year. I really enjoyed watching Addie develop throughout the story, how her voice changed as she grew up, how the things she just accepted as a ten year old suddenly didn’t seem to fit as she got older and matured.
You may think having a story told through a ten year old would come across as childish but you’d be awfully wrong. It was actually quite refreshing to see the world through innocent eyes, that little dash of naivety Addie still has, amidst the darkness in the world and then to sadly see that innocence shattered as she gets older.
The July Girls is immensely absorbing and extremely suspenseful. It’s one of those books that draws you in from the very beginning and just won’t let go. Now, I am awfully suspicious by nature so apart from Addie, I found it hard to trust anyone in this story as the characters were highly intriguing and constantly seemed to have something to hide. And yes, there is a mystery or a few murders to solve, one I couldn’t figure out at all. But that’s not the be all and end all of The July Girls. This is a story about relationships, family dynamics and secrets with a sense of impending doom hanging above it. That feeling you get when you know something is coming but you can’t figure out what that is.
I fear my review isn’t doing this book any justice. Sometimes words are just so hard to find. It isn’t just the storyline that had me hooked throughout but Phoebe Locke’s writing is really something else. Incredibly immersive and beautiful, it adds an extra layer to this story and all I can really say is : I’m a fan and I look forward immensely to whatever Phoebe Locke comes up with next!
October 9, 2020
The story beings in 2005 with 9 year old Addie living in Brixton with her father and older sister, Jessie. Told mainly from Addie’s perspective, the story properly begins on 7 July. The day Addie turns 10. It’s also the day of the London bombings, a day that I remember well as I was working in London. Later that night Addie sees her father come home, his clothes bloodied, he tells her he was involved in a fight. It’s soon discovered that a woman has gone missing. But Addie knows that Jessie has found a woman’s purse hidden in his bedroom.
This sets the pattern for the next few years. Each 7th July a woman is murdered. The killer becomes known as ‘the Magpie’ – because he takes an item belonging to the victim. We briefly meet some of the victims in the book, discover their story in the lead up to their disappearance.
Jessie is a few years older than Addie and is almost a mother figure to her as their father is usually out, he is a mini cab driver, and they are left to look after theirselves. Addie trusts Jessie implicitly in her young innocent way and its only as she gets older and finds herself involved in the Magpie’s warped games that she begins to question events and what she has been told.
This was very much a slow burner but this pace suited the story perfectly. It’s almost a coming of age for Addie as you watch her maturing into a teenager and unravelling events to piece together everything she knows. I felt that the author had captured Addie’s voice so well, even as a young child she had a clear voice even if she didn’t always understand what she was seeing. The girl’s father was not really of a caring disposition, and Addie’s early years were softened somewhat by Jessie’s boyfriend Dellar, who looked out for them both.
There was one character whose behaviour later on made me feel uncomfortable and for a good part of the story I wasn’t actually sure who knew what and who was protecting who. Combined with Addie’s narration are the occasional thoughts of the killer, and extracts from a book written about the Magpie.
The July Girls is a multi-layered suspenseful tale that took me completely by surprise. The tension and pace increased as the story, and the murders continued. I really enjoyed it and am kicking myself for leaving on my shelf for so long.
This sets the pattern for the next few years. Each 7th July a woman is murdered. The killer becomes known as ‘the Magpie’ – because he takes an item belonging to the victim. We briefly meet some of the victims in the book, discover their story in the lead up to their disappearance.
Jessie is a few years older than Addie and is almost a mother figure to her as their father is usually out, he is a mini cab driver, and they are left to look after theirselves. Addie trusts Jessie implicitly in her young innocent way and its only as she gets older and finds herself involved in the Magpie’s warped games that she begins to question events and what she has been told.
This was very much a slow burner but this pace suited the story perfectly. It’s almost a coming of age for Addie as you watch her maturing into a teenager and unravelling events to piece together everything she knows. I felt that the author had captured Addie’s voice so well, even as a young child she had a clear voice even if she didn’t always understand what she was seeing. The girl’s father was not really of a caring disposition, and Addie’s early years were softened somewhat by Jessie’s boyfriend Dellar, who looked out for them both.
There was one character whose behaviour later on made me feel uncomfortable and for a good part of the story I wasn’t actually sure who knew what and who was protecting who. Combined with Addie’s narration are the occasional thoughts of the killer, and extracts from a book written about the Magpie.
The July Girls is a multi-layered suspenseful tale that took me completely by surprise. The tension and pace increased as the story, and the murders continued. I really enjoyed it and am kicking myself for leaving on my shelf for so long.
August 12, 2019
Gosh, what a fantastic book! This coming of age story drew me in from the very beginning and kept my interest throughout.
Addie lives with her father and sister Jessie and she is the narrative voice in this novel. The story begins when Addie is ten years old and spans the next decade. Set in Brixton, London, it tells the story of the two sisters, raising themselves more or less alone and their lives become unwittingly entangled with that of a seemingly untouchable serial killer. Every year, on the same day in July, the killer, dubbed the ‘Magpie’, takes another girl’s life and then sends back an item of her jewellery to taunt the detectives trying to catch the said killer.
For most novels, this would be plenty to be getting on with. Yet here, this is merely the backdrop against which a far more moving and engaging story also unfolds. With multiple timelines, this was a very well constructed story with brilliant characterisation. I think the fact that Addie was narrating the story made it more believable. The book maintained a high suspense level throughout and there were twists and turns towards the end that I didn't envisage. The plot itself was intricate and kept me ineffectively guessing.
'The July Girls' is exactly what I yearn for in a crime novel. A fast-paced story that’s so immersive and finely crafted I forget I’m reading and end up feeling as though I’ve just lived through it.
Phoebe Locke is a new-to-me author and I fully intend to read 'The Tall Man'.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Headline via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion
Addie lives with her father and sister Jessie and she is the narrative voice in this novel. The story begins when Addie is ten years old and spans the next decade. Set in Brixton, London, it tells the story of the two sisters, raising themselves more or less alone and their lives become unwittingly entangled with that of a seemingly untouchable serial killer. Every year, on the same day in July, the killer, dubbed the ‘Magpie’, takes another girl’s life and then sends back an item of her jewellery to taunt the detectives trying to catch the said killer.
For most novels, this would be plenty to be getting on with. Yet here, this is merely the backdrop against which a far more moving and engaging story also unfolds. With multiple timelines, this was a very well constructed story with brilliant characterisation. I think the fact that Addie was narrating the story made it more believable. The book maintained a high suspense level throughout and there were twists and turns towards the end that I didn't envisage. The plot itself was intricate and kept me ineffectively guessing.
'The July Girls' is exactly what I yearn for in a crime novel. A fast-paced story that’s so immersive and finely crafted I forget I’m reading and end up feeling as though I’ve just lived through it.
Phoebe Locke is a new-to-me author and I fully intend to read 'The Tall Man'.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Headline via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion
August 2, 2022
This book had me gripped from the beginning.
It's Addie's story as the girls always go missing on her birthday. Her Dad goes on the run as he's accused of being 'Magpie'. I didn't see a lot of the twists coming and was really shocked at the end.
It's Addie's story as the girls always go missing on her birthday. Her Dad goes on the run as he's accused of being 'Magpie'. I didn't see a lot of the twists coming and was really shocked at the end.
June 18, 2019
THE JULY GIRLS is exactly what I crave in a crime novel. A fast-paced story that’s so immersive and finely crafted I forget I’m reading and end up feeling I’ve just lived through it.
Set in London, it’s the story of two sisters, raising themselves more or less alone in Brixton, whose lives become unwittingly entangled with that of a seemingly uncatchable serial killer. Every year, on the same in July, he takes another girl’s life and then sends back an item of her jewellery to taunt the detectives trying to catch him. It’s for this reason the tabloids have dubbed him ‘Magpie’.
For most novels, this would be plenty to be getting on with. But here, this is merely the backdrop against which a far more moving and engaging story also unfolds. The coming of age story of the two sisters who end up inextricably linked to the Magpie case. Jessica, is just seventeen when the story begins, and Addison, is ten. Although their father lives at the same address and occasionally provides for them, Jessica has been running the household since their mother left the picture five years earlier.
My heart went out to these two (beautifully drawn) girls and the bond between them. Jessica loves Addison like a daughter; Addison adores her mother-figure big sister. But their story is just one of several Ms Locke uses to take love in all its forms and stretch it to snapping point. Why? Because where there is love, there are stakes. By showing us people who love, what she is really showing us people who have everything to lose - and who, as the sisters will learn, can be pushed to unexpected lengths to protect it.
I loathe spoilers, so am deliberately avoiding commenting on the plot itself, other than it is intricate and kept me guessing (unsuccessfully!!). But such were the nuances of observation and atmosphere of the piece it felt like reading an episode from one of the later seasons of THE WIRE. What better way of commenting on the growing cycle of children in poverty and/or, children raising other children, trying to stay under the radar of social services, than by showing us how they cope with the 7/7 bombings, the London riots of 2011 or, indeed, coming to the attention of Magpie?
This is the second novel I have read by Phoebe Locke and, as with THE TALL MAN, (which I also thoroughly enjoyed) she has a lot of very interesting things to say here about the intersection about the explosion in true crime investigative podcasts or the book-of-the-murder genre. In THE JULY GIRLS there are excerpts from a book about the Magpie case in a couple of places. When the author of this book is asked about what prompted his interest in the so-called Magpie killer, he is momentarily surprised. In his view, his book isn’t about the killer, but rather the victims. It’s an important distinction and it made me think about Ms Locke’s perspective more globally (albeit, based on just two books). For while there is plenty of heart stopping tension in both novels, there is no gratuitous violence in either. Instead of wallowing in serial killer torture-porn, the focus is on evoking empathy for those stuck with the aftermath of terrible crimes. Line by line, page by page and now, book after book, displays deep understanding not only of what it is to have loved and lost, but then to have dragged yourself back up to try and love again.
In short, Phoebe Locke knows what makes stories, and readers, tick.
With many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me the chance of reading an advance copy of The July Girls.
Set in London, it’s the story of two sisters, raising themselves more or less alone in Brixton, whose lives become unwittingly entangled with that of a seemingly uncatchable serial killer. Every year, on the same in July, he takes another girl’s life and then sends back an item of her jewellery to taunt the detectives trying to catch him. It’s for this reason the tabloids have dubbed him ‘Magpie’.
For most novels, this would be plenty to be getting on with. But here, this is merely the backdrop against which a far more moving and engaging story also unfolds. The coming of age story of the two sisters who end up inextricably linked to the Magpie case. Jessica, is just seventeen when the story begins, and Addison, is ten. Although their father lives at the same address and occasionally provides for them, Jessica has been running the household since their mother left the picture five years earlier.
My heart went out to these two (beautifully drawn) girls and the bond between them. Jessica loves Addison like a daughter; Addison adores her mother-figure big sister. But their story is just one of several Ms Locke uses to take love in all its forms and stretch it to snapping point. Why? Because where there is love, there are stakes. By showing us people who love, what she is really showing us people who have everything to lose - and who, as the sisters will learn, can be pushed to unexpected lengths to protect it.
I loathe spoilers, so am deliberately avoiding commenting on the plot itself, other than it is intricate and kept me guessing (unsuccessfully!!). But such were the nuances of observation and atmosphere of the piece it felt like reading an episode from one of the later seasons of THE WIRE. What better way of commenting on the growing cycle of children in poverty and/or, children raising other children, trying to stay under the radar of social services, than by showing us how they cope with the 7/7 bombings, the London riots of 2011 or, indeed, coming to the attention of Magpie?
This is the second novel I have read by Phoebe Locke and, as with THE TALL MAN, (which I also thoroughly enjoyed) she has a lot of very interesting things to say here about the intersection about the explosion in true crime investigative podcasts or the book-of-the-murder genre. In THE JULY GIRLS there are excerpts from a book about the Magpie case in a couple of places. When the author of this book is asked about what prompted his interest in the so-called Magpie killer, he is momentarily surprised. In his view, his book isn’t about the killer, but rather the victims. It’s an important distinction and it made me think about Ms Locke’s perspective more globally (albeit, based on just two books). For while there is plenty of heart stopping tension in both novels, there is no gratuitous violence in either. Instead of wallowing in serial killer torture-porn, the focus is on evoking empathy for those stuck with the aftermath of terrible crimes. Line by line, page by page and now, book after book, displays deep understanding not only of what it is to have loved and lost, but then to have dragged yourself back up to try and love again.
In short, Phoebe Locke knows what makes stories, and readers, tick.
With many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me the chance of reading an advance copy of The July Girls.
June 27, 2020
"There is a moment with each of them. A look in their eyes when they know it's over. He likes to watch that realisation finally dawn, see them accept that there is no escape. The feeling of it is electric."
"Soon he begins to look forward to the day when he can take the next."
Every year, on the same night in July, a killer takes a woman from the streets of London. He is invisible, moving through the city in the shadows. On the same night one year, Addie’s father comes home covered in blood. At first she assumes the blood is from being caught up in the bombs that exploded in the city that morning, but when she and her older sister find a missing woman’s purse hidden behind his bed, she begins to wonder what really happened.
Mysterious and compelling, this had me hooked from beginning to end. The story is told from the perspective of Addie, following her and older sister Jessie over the course of twelve years as they navigate life under the shadow of their father’s suspected involvement in a series of murders.
I loved how this book was written. From the start there was an unsettling feeling and throughout the book I got a sense of something else lurking beneath the surface, something with the potential to shatter everything we thought we knew. These feelings were only heightened as the story went on and I read with baited breath, wondering if my suspicions would be proved right or it was a clever ploy by the author to throw me off track. The best part of the writing for me was the author’s inclusion of real events that shook London, such as the 7/7 bombings and the shooting of Mark Duggan, along with the extracts from a book about the case, that gave the novel a true crime feel that was so authentic I often forgot I was reading a work of fiction. I also loved the menacing voice of the killer that is included in short, sporadic chapters. Each time we would hear from his perspective the hairs on the back of my neck would stand on end and I would get chills; exactly what you want when you read the voice of evil.
Addie was a compelling and sympathetic protagonist. As the life of her dysfunctional family became increasingly shrouded in secrets and lies, we see her barely holding on by a thread. As she desperately tries to uncover the truth, becoming increasingly haunted and anxious, even developing OCD tendencies. Her relationship with Jessie, which should be her solace, is also riddled with secrets and lies, leaving her feeling unmoored and lost. The author made me feel like I was right there beside her every step of the way and as eager as she was to learn the truth about her family and the murders.
Tense, twisty and engaging, this had me on the edge of my seat and guessing right until the final pages. The July Girls is a fantastic thriller that will leave you breathless.
"Soon he begins to look forward to the day when he can take the next."
Every year, on the same night in July, a killer takes a woman from the streets of London. He is invisible, moving through the city in the shadows. On the same night one year, Addie’s father comes home covered in blood. At first she assumes the blood is from being caught up in the bombs that exploded in the city that morning, but when she and her older sister find a missing woman’s purse hidden behind his bed, she begins to wonder what really happened.
Mysterious and compelling, this had me hooked from beginning to end. The story is told from the perspective of Addie, following her and older sister Jessie over the course of twelve years as they navigate life under the shadow of their father’s suspected involvement in a series of murders.
I loved how this book was written. From the start there was an unsettling feeling and throughout the book I got a sense of something else lurking beneath the surface, something with the potential to shatter everything we thought we knew. These feelings were only heightened as the story went on and I read with baited breath, wondering if my suspicions would be proved right or it was a clever ploy by the author to throw me off track. The best part of the writing for me was the author’s inclusion of real events that shook London, such as the 7/7 bombings and the shooting of Mark Duggan, along with the extracts from a book about the case, that gave the novel a true crime feel that was so authentic I often forgot I was reading a work of fiction. I also loved the menacing voice of the killer that is included in short, sporadic chapters. Each time we would hear from his perspective the hairs on the back of my neck would stand on end and I would get chills; exactly what you want when you read the voice of evil.
Addie was a compelling and sympathetic protagonist. As the life of her dysfunctional family became increasingly shrouded in secrets and lies, we see her barely holding on by a thread. As she desperately tries to uncover the truth, becoming increasingly haunted and anxious, even developing OCD tendencies. Her relationship with Jessie, which should be her solace, is also riddled with secrets and lies, leaving her feeling unmoored and lost. The author made me feel like I was right there beside her every step of the way and as eager as she was to learn the truth about her family and the murders.
Tense, twisty and engaging, this had me on the edge of my seat and guessing right until the final pages. The July Girls is a fantastic thriller that will leave you breathless.
August 13, 2019
This story is set in London, where two sisters, Jessie and Addie, live. Every year, on the 7th of July, a young girl is snatched from the streets by a serial killer nicknamed, the Magpie. And every year, around the 7th of July, Addie receives a “special” gift - a piece of jewelry which the killer has uplifted from his victims. But why? Well the thing is, the 7th of July also happens to be Addie’s birthday. Before long, the lives of Addie and her sister and intertwined with that of a killer. And when Addie’s father arrives home one evening, on the night of her birthday, covered in blood, the plot thickens and Addie’s life becomes far more complicated than she ever could have imagined.
To put it succinctly, I really loved this book. But let me tell you this: if you read the description of this book and you are expecting a run of the mill crime or serial killer novel then be warned, as you couldn’t be more wrong. This novel is ultimately told through the eyes of ten year old Addie, and not through the eyes of the killer or the detectives trying to catch him. The book focuses on the lives of Addie (and her sister), on how she deals with her suspicions about their father, about how the girls rely on each other in the most difficult of circumstances and about how each of them deals with the moral dilemma that they are ultimately faced with.
This is a well written novel, devoid of gruesome scenes and mutilations, devoid of terror and screaming. But yet it’s a crime novel all the same, just one that’s done very differently. It’s not specifically fast paced, but the tension does build at a good pace, even though the novel is very much focused on the characters and their feelings, rather than on old fashioned police work. This is a great read and I definitely recommend it.
To put it succinctly, I really loved this book. But let me tell you this: if you read the description of this book and you are expecting a run of the mill crime or serial killer novel then be warned, as you couldn’t be more wrong. This novel is ultimately told through the eyes of ten year old Addie, and not through the eyes of the killer or the detectives trying to catch him. The book focuses on the lives of Addie (and her sister), on how she deals with her suspicions about their father, about how the girls rely on each other in the most difficult of circumstances and about how each of them deals with the moral dilemma that they are ultimately faced with.
This is a well written novel, devoid of gruesome scenes and mutilations, devoid of terror and screaming. But yet it’s a crime novel all the same, just one that’s done very differently. It’s not specifically fast paced, but the tension does build at a good pace, even though the novel is very much focused on the characters and their feelings, rather than on old fashioned police work. This is a great read and I definitely recommend it.
August 24, 2019
The title for this book “The July Girls” sounds like such a nice title for a book. Then you read what the book is about and you realise that “nice” is not what this story is about! It is a chilling thriller about murder, a murder every July. But the story is not about the murders or the investigation, it is about Addie her sister Jessie and their father.
The story is told from the perspective of Addie. The date is July 7th 2005 and it’s Addies 10th birthday. It’s also the day her father comes home covered in blood. It’s also the day of the London bombing. It’s the day that Addie finds something that doesn’t belong to their family.
Starting in 2005, the story follows Addie and Jessica’s lives. Addie stells of growing up in Brixton, of her friend and also Jessica’s boyfriend. Homelife is hard and Jessica is the one who looks after Addies as their father works long hours. Addie shares her thoughts and feelings about her doubts and insecurities as she struggles to understand things going on around her.
Using the voice of a 10-year-old gives a very basic yet quite addictive start to a story. You could almost say it’s a simplistic start but it then gathers momentum as Addie gets older. It leapfrogs through the years, stopping when important things and revelations happen. It is a way to fill the reader in on developments and all the times adds more intrigue and mystery to the story. This made it very compelling for me and also adds a good pace to the story.
This is a very clever and also very creepy and chilling thriller that differs from a lot of the murder/ crime books I read. It is one that is intriguing and has a tension to it that gradually builds.
It’s one I would definitely recommend.
The story is told from the perspective of Addie. The date is July 7th 2005 and it’s Addies 10th birthday. It’s also the day her father comes home covered in blood. It’s also the day of the London bombing. It’s the day that Addie finds something that doesn’t belong to their family.
Starting in 2005, the story follows Addie and Jessica’s lives. Addie stells of growing up in Brixton, of her friend and also Jessica’s boyfriend. Homelife is hard and Jessica is the one who looks after Addies as their father works long hours. Addie shares her thoughts and feelings about her doubts and insecurities as she struggles to understand things going on around her.
Using the voice of a 10-year-old gives a very basic yet quite addictive start to a story. You could almost say it’s a simplistic start but it then gathers momentum as Addie gets older. It leapfrogs through the years, stopping when important things and revelations happen. It is a way to fill the reader in on developments and all the times adds more intrigue and mystery to the story. This made it very compelling for me and also adds a good pace to the story.
This is a very clever and also very creepy and chilling thriller that differs from a lot of the murder/ crime books I read. It is one that is intriguing and has a tension to it that gradually builds.
It’s one I would definitely recommend.
August 5, 2019
This is my first and certainly not my last read by this author. This was a brilliant read. The author sucked me in from start to finish.
This is one of those stories that I’m home find hard to review. I just don’t have the words to give the story the review it deserves.
On Addies tenth birthday her life is about to change. Growing up with a single dad it’s her older sister who tries to protect her.
Addie tells us her story in this gripping well told story.
This is one of those stories that I’m home find hard to review. I just don’t have the words to give the story the review it deserves.
On Addies tenth birthday her life is about to change. Growing up with a single dad it’s her older sister who tries to protect her.
Addie tells us her story in this gripping well told story.
July 26, 2020
I LOVED this book.
Read it in 24 hours. Kept me captivated from the first to the last word.
Likeable characters and a few twists and turns along the way. A great weekend read!
Read it in 24 hours. Kept me captivated from the first to the last word.
Likeable characters and a few twists and turns along the way. A great weekend read!
July 2, 2020
Every now and again I come across a book that it so extraordinary that it stays with me for years. It’s as if the writer has written the book for you alone and you feel so privileged to be reading it. This is one of those books.
Addie and her sister Jessie live with their Dad in Brixton but their home life leaves a lot to be desired. Addie’s Dad works long hours as a taxi driver whilst Jessie works in her friends’ hairdressers but there still isn’t a lot of money coming in. Jessie makes sure that ten year old Addie gets fed, makes sure that her towel is warm for after her bath and walks her to school. In short, Jessie is the one who looks after and loves Addie as her Dad isn’t always around to be a parent. This is no different when it comes to every July 7th. Addie’s birthday.
July 7th is a date that London dreads. On that date every year, a young woman is taken from London’s streets and no trace of her is ever found. No forensic evidence, no witnesses, no bodies. One year on July 7th, Addie’s Dad returns home very late and covered in blood. The following day both sisters discover things in their flat belonging to a woman who went missing the previous night. The girls are beyond scared and Jessie decides that they will not to go to the police as they don’t know for definite what their Dad has done. But what has he done? And can the girls live with their decision?
I found Phoebe Locke’s writing to be exquisite throughout this book and I genuinely felt that I was not just reading the story but that I was witnessing it unfold. The character of Addie is sublimely portrayed and it was interesting to see what became of her as she grew up and whether the shocking event of her childhood still haunted her. The other players in the story are portrayed as brilliantly as Addie is and I think the writer has a real flair for writing about people, their thoughts and feelings. In short, this is a very brilliant novel.
Huge thanks to Headline and NetGalley for allowing me to read The July Girls in exchange for my thoughts.
Addie and her sister Jessie live with their Dad in Brixton but their home life leaves a lot to be desired. Addie’s Dad works long hours as a taxi driver whilst Jessie works in her friends’ hairdressers but there still isn’t a lot of money coming in. Jessie makes sure that ten year old Addie gets fed, makes sure that her towel is warm for after her bath and walks her to school. In short, Jessie is the one who looks after and loves Addie as her Dad isn’t always around to be a parent. This is no different when it comes to every July 7th. Addie’s birthday.
July 7th is a date that London dreads. On that date every year, a young woman is taken from London’s streets and no trace of her is ever found. No forensic evidence, no witnesses, no bodies. One year on July 7th, Addie’s Dad returns home very late and covered in blood. The following day both sisters discover things in their flat belonging to a woman who went missing the previous night. The girls are beyond scared and Jessie decides that they will not to go to the police as they don’t know for definite what their Dad has done. But what has he done? And can the girls live with their decision?
I found Phoebe Locke’s writing to be exquisite throughout this book and I genuinely felt that I was not just reading the story but that I was witnessing it unfold. The character of Addie is sublimely portrayed and it was interesting to see what became of her as she grew up and whether the shocking event of her childhood still haunted her. The other players in the story are portrayed as brilliantly as Addie is and I think the writer has a real flair for writing about people, their thoughts and feelings. In short, this is a very brilliant novel.
Huge thanks to Headline and NetGalley for allowing me to read The July Girls in exchange for my thoughts.
April 2, 2022
3.3 stars
well, this was very interesting. this book is about life of a girl named addie whose life changes completely after a summer evening because she begins to suspect that her father is a serial killer ... in short. I really like the whole concept of the book, especially the way it is written. it is very interesting to follow her life through the years that pass and relationships with people who are crucial to the story. in short, I'm not too fascinated, but I'm also not angry that Ive read this.
well, this was very interesting. this book is about life of a girl named addie whose life changes completely after a summer evening because she begins to suspect that her father is a serial killer ... in short. I really like the whole concept of the book, especially the way it is written. it is very interesting to follow her life through the years that pass and relationships with people who are crucial to the story. in short, I'm not too fascinated, but I'm also not angry that Ive read this.
June 30, 2019
This is a decent thriller about a single parent family, with 2 girls Addison and Jessica. Addison is effectively a 'mum' to her younger sister and the book deals well with the pressures of young, vulnerable girls and their relationships.
The father is erratic and unstable and the story weaves the family dynamics, along with topical news items and then, girls who go missing.
It definitely maintains suspense and is difficult to predict, which I liked. For me, it did meander at times, but, overall this is a good read.
Thanks to Headline and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview.
The father is erratic and unstable and the story weaves the family dynamics, along with topical news items and then, girls who go missing.
It definitely maintains suspense and is difficult to predict, which I liked. For me, it did meander at times, but, overall this is a good read.
Thanks to Headline and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview.
July 20, 2019
I’ve heard lots of good things about Phoebe Locke and after reading this I can’t wait to get stuck into her first thriller The Tall Man.
It is difficult to do The July Girls justice in my review but I’ll try my best!
We follow Addie starting around her tenth birthday, getting to know her sister Jessie and her dad who always seems to be working leaving Jessie to look after her little sister. On the night of Addie’s birthday, 7th July 2005, terrorists attack the city of London. Her father comes home covered in blood.
Unable to leave it alone Addison digs and finding out that women have been disappearing every year on the 7th July. Could her dad be the serial killer they nicknamed Magpie?
The novel is told through Addison’s point of view, with snippets from a ‘true crime’ book and interspersed with little insights into the killers mind.
The July Girls starts off as quite a slow burn novel but it was Addison’s narration that kept me absorbed from the start. She was such a compelling character, her voice really comes off the pages making her feel almost real.
Also using the events going on in 2005 and the subsequent years it really adds to the novels authenticity and atmosphere.
I will say this is probably leaning towards domestic drama rather than psychological thriller but it is still a great read and my goodness it was one of the best endings I’ve read in a while.
The July Girls is a complex and emotional tale with realistic characters and settings that will keep you enthralled until the end.
It is difficult to do The July Girls justice in my review but I’ll try my best!
We follow Addie starting around her tenth birthday, getting to know her sister Jessie and her dad who always seems to be working leaving Jessie to look after her little sister. On the night of Addie’s birthday, 7th July 2005, terrorists attack the city of London. Her father comes home covered in blood.
Unable to leave it alone Addison digs and finding out that women have been disappearing every year on the 7th July. Could her dad be the serial killer they nicknamed Magpie?
The novel is told through Addison’s point of view, with snippets from a ‘true crime’ book and interspersed with little insights into the killers mind.
The July Girls starts off as quite a slow burn novel but it was Addison’s narration that kept me absorbed from the start. She was such a compelling character, her voice really comes off the pages making her feel almost real.
Also using the events going on in 2005 and the subsequent years it really adds to the novels authenticity and atmosphere.
I will say this is probably leaning towards domestic drama rather than psychological thriller but it is still a great read and my goodness it was one of the best endings I’ve read in a while.
The July Girls is a complex and emotional tale with realistic characters and settings that will keep you enthralled until the end.
December 20, 2021
-Nije važno odakle potječeš, Addie. To te ne određuje. DNK nije nekakva nepremostiva kazna kao što ljudi obično misle. To su samo stanice. Ti si osoba za sebe, oduvijek si bila.
Nothing special, čak malo priglupo za moj ukus...
Nothing special, čak malo priglupo za moj ukus...
June 19, 2020
HUGE thanks are due to the lovely Antonia Whitton of Headline Books who kindly asked me to share my thoughts on 'The July Girls' which is out now in paperback as well as ebook formats, and the awesome Jenni Leech who kindly sent me my gifted review copy.
Reading this was a no brainer after the spine chilling 'The Tall Man', which I devoured overnight.
In contrast, this book really is a perfect summer read-again it looks at the fall from innocence that all teens go through when they become aware that the important people in their lives have feet of clay. And that urban myths are even scarier in the light of day when you realise that the monster you seek wears a human face....
This story is Addie's , her narration spans her early teens to grownup years, her perspective and first hand narration bringing the reader in close to the action. You see through her eyes the devastation of the London bombings, the doubt in her mind about her father being the Magpie killer (who abducts and kills one woman every July) and how she substitutes her mother figure needs onto her older sister, Jessie.
As their roles grow and change, Jessie is thrust into being responsible way before she is able to comprehend the consequences of her actions, and as such, Addie gets to be the child that Jessie was not. Her memories of her mother are only good ones, she constructs a fantasy about her missing parent that Jessie and her dad do not disabuse her of. As a result, Addie has the best childhood that a grieving father and older sister can give her.There are snatched moments of joy, such as left over ice cream from the parlour where Jessie works are threaded through the story like gold weaved through sackcloth.
And underlying it all,the heat of the season,escalating fear combined with the oppressive nature of city life, all of which are so well realised and are contributing factors to the claustrophobic nature of the story. Each July brings the weight of expectation that the Magpie will strike again-the fear and opportunity to catch him weighing heavy on the policeman who has dedicated himself to solving this case.
Underneath the traditional hunt for who the killer is, lays the theme of poverty, want, and theft . The poverty that this little family live in is contrasted with being in one of the richest cities in the world, Addie and Jessie's father driving people around, like a chauffeur to other people's biggr, better lives. Jessie and her stolen childhood, working and taking care of first her sister then the bereaved husband and daughter of one of the Magpie's victims. And then there is Addie-her life overshadowed by her missing mother, her suspicions about her father and the realisation that Jessie won't always be there to look after her.
'The July Girls' works on so many levels-it is the kind of book that you race through because you want that happy ending for these girls, you want them to escape this unscathed. And then, when you turn the last page, you kick yourself for not making it last longer.
The disposability and fragility of the life of young women is laid bare in the stories of the missing-they become synonymous with their killers moniker rather than existing in their own rights.The Magpie doesn't just steal their lives, he steals their identity and their family's peace of mind . He steals Jessie and Addie's childhoods by always being there, in the shadows. The contrast to the killer is policeman DS Jones who fulfils the parental role in watching out for the girls whilst also using them as bait to catch a killer.
Heartbreaking, suspense filled prose has never been so good.
This is the perfect summer read, I would recommend it to those who enjoy CJ Tudor and Alex North
Reading this was a no brainer after the spine chilling 'The Tall Man', which I devoured overnight.
In contrast, this book really is a perfect summer read-again it looks at the fall from innocence that all teens go through when they become aware that the important people in their lives have feet of clay. And that urban myths are even scarier in the light of day when you realise that the monster you seek wears a human face....
This story is Addie's , her narration spans her early teens to grownup years, her perspective and first hand narration bringing the reader in close to the action. You see through her eyes the devastation of the London bombings, the doubt in her mind about her father being the Magpie killer (who abducts and kills one woman every July) and how she substitutes her mother figure needs onto her older sister, Jessie.
As their roles grow and change, Jessie is thrust into being responsible way before she is able to comprehend the consequences of her actions, and as such, Addie gets to be the child that Jessie was not. Her memories of her mother are only good ones, she constructs a fantasy about her missing parent that Jessie and her dad do not disabuse her of. As a result, Addie has the best childhood that a grieving father and older sister can give her.There are snatched moments of joy, such as left over ice cream from the parlour where Jessie works are threaded through the story like gold weaved through sackcloth.
And underlying it all,the heat of the season,escalating fear combined with the oppressive nature of city life, all of which are so well realised and are contributing factors to the claustrophobic nature of the story. Each July brings the weight of expectation that the Magpie will strike again-the fear and opportunity to catch him weighing heavy on the policeman who has dedicated himself to solving this case.
Underneath the traditional hunt for who the killer is, lays the theme of poverty, want, and theft . The poverty that this little family live in is contrasted with being in one of the richest cities in the world, Addie and Jessie's father driving people around, like a chauffeur to other people's biggr, better lives. Jessie and her stolen childhood, working and taking care of first her sister then the bereaved husband and daughter of one of the Magpie's victims. And then there is Addie-her life overshadowed by her missing mother, her suspicions about her father and the realisation that Jessie won't always be there to look after her.
'The July Girls' works on so many levels-it is the kind of book that you race through because you want that happy ending for these girls, you want them to escape this unscathed. And then, when you turn the last page, you kick yourself for not making it last longer.
The disposability and fragility of the life of young women is laid bare in the stories of the missing-they become synonymous with their killers moniker rather than existing in their own rights.The Magpie doesn't just steal their lives, he steals their identity and their family's peace of mind . He steals Jessie and Addie's childhoods by always being there, in the shadows. The contrast to the killer is policeman DS Jones who fulfils the parental role in watching out for the girls whilst also using them as bait to catch a killer.
Heartbreaking, suspense filled prose has never been so good.
This is the perfect summer read, I would recommend it to those who enjoy CJ Tudor and Alex North
July 5, 2025
Brilliant
January 31, 2020
Original take on the serial killer genre with sympathetic narrator. Excellent writing.
July 29, 2020
This was a fantastic read! I was sucked in from the start and found it very hard to put down.
July 31, 2020
Finished this today on the last day of July and have to say what a brilliant read. Well written, great pace with so many unexpected twists and turns..... Brilliant
August 5, 2019
The July Girls is set in Brixton, London featuring real life events that have caused terror within the capital including the 7/7 bombings on the London Underground and the riots of 2011. These real-life events are effortlessly interwoven into the story of Addison ‘Addie’ Knight and her older sister, Jessie.
Every year, on the same night in July, a woman is taken from the streets of London. Despite the date, there are no other connections between the women so the police are unable to track down the kidnapper, to a point that they are almost waiting for another one to be taken, hoping that mistakes are made. I was immediately hooked by this brief description, intrigued by when and how the women were taken and by whom.
Addie literally worships the ground that Jessie walks on and trusts her implicitly, Jessie has raised Addie since their mother left when Addie was very young. They both live in a rundown flat with their father, Paul. Paul is a bit shifty and has a reputation that proceeds him at certain local pubs…however his girls love him, whilst he may not have been successful, he has tried his best with Jessie and Addie in the absence of their mother.
The 7/7 bombings not only change the lives of hundreds of people, Addie’s life and everything she believes in comes into question. The 7th July is Addie’s 10th birthday and she is looking forward to a celebratory treat with her sister however Jessie doesn’t arrive at school leaving Addie to walk home and be in the flat all alone for hours during the immediate aftermath of the bombings. When Jessie and Paul return home, something seems off and Addie is concerned that her father has blood on his clothes. However, he comes under the suspicion of something more sinister when a woman’s purse is found amongst his belongings…a woman who has not been seen since that fateful day.
The July Girls is told through Addie’s eyes so an unrealiable narrator who is only seeing one perspective of what’s happening…just fab! I loved how Addie’s ‘voice’ changed as she got older, it was very believable that the story started being told by a 9-year-old and I enjoyed the naivety that Addie brought to what is a chilling thriller. With the benefit of experience, the reader is able to read between the lines of some of Addie’s narrative which made it all the more tense!
In addition to the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the women, The July Girls is also an exploration into family dynamics and loyalty. Throughout the book, particularly with the young Addie, we see that she has doubts about what she is told but trusts her family implicitly because they are just that, family.
I found The July Girls a very engaging read, wondering where the narrative was going to take its reader. I really enjoyed the realism that the backdrop of real events gave the book, which were used incredibly well and complimented the fictional side of the book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book with its multiple layers, timelines and wonderful narrative from Addie. A fantastic read and one of my favourites for 2019!
Every year, on the same night in July, a woman is taken from the streets of London. Despite the date, there are no other connections between the women so the police are unable to track down the kidnapper, to a point that they are almost waiting for another one to be taken, hoping that mistakes are made. I was immediately hooked by this brief description, intrigued by when and how the women were taken and by whom.
Addie literally worships the ground that Jessie walks on and trusts her implicitly, Jessie has raised Addie since their mother left when Addie was very young. They both live in a rundown flat with their father, Paul. Paul is a bit shifty and has a reputation that proceeds him at certain local pubs…however his girls love him, whilst he may not have been successful, he has tried his best with Jessie and Addie in the absence of their mother.
The 7/7 bombings not only change the lives of hundreds of people, Addie’s life and everything she believes in comes into question. The 7th July is Addie’s 10th birthday and she is looking forward to a celebratory treat with her sister however Jessie doesn’t arrive at school leaving Addie to walk home and be in the flat all alone for hours during the immediate aftermath of the bombings. When Jessie and Paul return home, something seems off and Addie is concerned that her father has blood on his clothes. However, he comes under the suspicion of something more sinister when a woman’s purse is found amongst his belongings…a woman who has not been seen since that fateful day.
The July Girls is told through Addie’s eyes so an unrealiable narrator who is only seeing one perspective of what’s happening…just fab! I loved how Addie’s ‘voice’ changed as she got older, it was very believable that the story started being told by a 9-year-old and I enjoyed the naivety that Addie brought to what is a chilling thriller. With the benefit of experience, the reader is able to read between the lines of some of Addie’s narrative which made it all the more tense!
In addition to the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the women, The July Girls is also an exploration into family dynamics and loyalty. Throughout the book, particularly with the young Addie, we see that she has doubts about what she is told but trusts her family implicitly because they are just that, family.
I found The July Girls a very engaging read, wondering where the narrative was going to take its reader. I really enjoyed the realism that the backdrop of real events gave the book, which were used incredibly well and complimented the fictional side of the book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book with its multiple layers, timelines and wonderful narrative from Addie. A fantastic read and one of my favourites for 2019!
October 8, 2023
Sedmog srpnja svake godine u Londonu jedna žena nestane. Sedmog je srpnja, također, Addien rođendan. Na Addien deseti rođendan, Londonom odjeknu bombaški napadi, nakon čega se njen otac, inače vozač taksija, vrati kući prekriven krvlju. Addie se brine da je nastradao u napadima, no kada u njegovoj sobi pronađe skriven novčanik jedne od nestalih žena, u Addie se uvuče sumnja da živi upravo s ubojicom koji svake godine otima žene, a za kojim policija sve te godine bezuspješno traga.
Addiena sestra Jessie pokuša joj podvaliti neku laž o novčaniku, zbog čega Addie počne sumnjati da i ona zna puno više no što želi odati.
Prava je tajna, dakako, puno kompleksnija i opasnija nego što se da naslutiti.
Napet i zanimljivo koncipiran triler o zloglasnom serijskom ubojici ne slijedi uobičajene šprance trilera. Ne bavi se toliko samim zločinima, pa niti samim počiniteljem, već ljudima iz njegove neposredne okoline, posve nesvjesne da žive uz serijskog ubojicu.
Onako kako je postavljen, mislila sam da znam kamo ovaj roman smjera, ali on me u više navrata iznenadio. Ništa nije baš onako kako izgleda, a njegove tajne, kojih smo odmah svjesni, također su neočekivano dobro zatrpane i puno slojevitije no što se to na prvi pogled čini.
Atmosfera je pomalo prijeteća, na svakoj stranici očekujete da će se nešto dogoditi, ali kad se to dogodi, nema onog osjećaja ispunjenja nego ta neodrediva prijetnja još uvijek negdje tinja. Čak i kad se dođe do konačnog razrješenja, imate osjećaj da to još nije to. Još nešto tu čeka da nas iznenadi.
Radnja ide sporo, godinu za godinom, a dok pratimo Addien i Jessien svakodnevni život, njihove tajne i ostale stvari nam se otkrivaju na kapaljku. Cijelo vrijeme imate i taj osjećaj da tu negdje postoji poveznica koja svemu daje smisao, ali nikako ju ne možete jasno vidjeti.
Jako zanimljiv psihološki triler čiji fokus je na obiteljskom životu i neposrednoj opasnosti života uz ubojicu, a ubojica je toliko dobro sakriven da ga je jako teško otkriti - čak i kad ti je ravno ispred nosa.
Addiena sestra Jessie pokuša joj podvaliti neku laž o novčaniku, zbog čega Addie počne sumnjati da i ona zna puno više no što želi odati.
Prava je tajna, dakako, puno kompleksnija i opasnija nego što se da naslutiti.
Napet i zanimljivo koncipiran triler o zloglasnom serijskom ubojici ne slijedi uobičajene šprance trilera. Ne bavi se toliko samim zločinima, pa niti samim počiniteljem, već ljudima iz njegove neposredne okoline, posve nesvjesne da žive uz serijskog ubojicu.
Onako kako je postavljen, mislila sam da znam kamo ovaj roman smjera, ali on me u više navrata iznenadio. Ništa nije baš onako kako izgleda, a njegove tajne, kojih smo odmah svjesni, također su neočekivano dobro zatrpane i puno slojevitije no što se to na prvi pogled čini.
Atmosfera je pomalo prijeteća, na svakoj stranici očekujete da će se nešto dogoditi, ali kad se to dogodi, nema onog osjećaja ispunjenja nego ta neodrediva prijetnja još uvijek negdje tinja. Čak i kad se dođe do konačnog razrješenja, imate osjećaj da to još nije to. Još nešto tu čeka da nas iznenadi.
Radnja ide sporo, godinu za godinom, a dok pratimo Addien i Jessien svakodnevni život, njihove tajne i ostale stvari nam se otkrivaju na kapaljku. Cijelo vrijeme imate i taj osjećaj da tu negdje postoji poveznica koja svemu daje smisao, ali nikako ju ne možete jasno vidjeti.
Jako zanimljiv psihološki triler čiji fokus je na obiteljskom životu i neposrednoj opasnosti života uz ubojicu, a ubojica je toliko dobro sakriven da ga je jako teško otkriti - čak i kad ti je ravno ispred nosa.
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