Miss Holly Fairchild's house in Port Arthur, called Wild Meadows, was supposed to be an ideal placement for foster children. In the Australian countryside, with fresh air and a school nearby....what could be bad?
What's bad is that Miss Fairchild, who had a nice appearance, was an obsessive control freak who kept her charges, always girls, under a VERY tight thumb.
Miss Fairchild had a mean disposition; provided barely enough food to sustain life; and made the girls clean the house for hours every day. Miss Fairchild also got drunk and railed against the children for imaginary infractions.
The story revolves around three women, now in their thirties, who lived at Wild Meadows more than 25 years ago. The ladies, who aren't related, call themselves 'sisters' and remain close friends.
The three foster sisters are Jessica, Norah, and Alicia.
👩🦰 Jessica, married to a man named Phil, is a well-to-do professional home organizer.
Jessica has anxiety issues and steals prescription medicine from the houses she organizes. Jessica got away with the thefts for a while, but her latest client, Debbie Montgomery-Squires is making a fuss and threatening Jessica's professional reputation.
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👩🦰 Norah, who has anger issues - and lashes out with her fists - makes money by taking employment competency tests for other people.
Norah goes out with men strictly to get free house repairs, and she recently punched out a bad date named Kevin. Now Kevin is threatening to go to the police, which could land Norah in jail. That's unfortunate, because Norah just met a man she actually likes.
👩🦰 Alicia is a social worker who helps children in difficult situations, and tries to get them fostered or adopted.
With the help of a close friend, Alicia is currently assisting a troubled boy, and is even thinking of adopting the child herself.
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As the story opens, Wild Meadows has been sold, and while it's being torn down, human remains are found under the house - bones that have been there for many years. Detective Patel, who's in charge of the investigation, phones Jessica, Norah, and Alicia and asks them to come to Port Arthur to answer some questions.
The foster sisters reluctantly agree to cooperate, and the story alternates back and forth between the present, where there's an ongoing police investigation, and several decades ago, when the women were wards at Wild Meadows.
When Jessica, Norah, and Alicia lived at Wild Meadows they were always hungry; always busy with chores; and always on edge, because Miss Fairchild could erupt at any moment.
In addition, the foster sisters sometimes had to take TOTAL CARE of babies briefly fostered by Miss Fairchild, apparently for the money. This meant the girls sometimes had to skip school to feed, diaper, bathe, and sooth the infants day and night.
In the present, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia are helping the police with their inquiries while also dealing with the issues in their personal lives. The tension ramps up when Miss Fairchild herself arrives in Port Arthur, and seems to be delusional, because she thinks the foster sisters will be happy to see her.
Hurtful past events are revealed as the story unfolds, some during sessions between an unidentified patient and a creepy psychiatrist.
The novel demonstrates that bad parental figures leave a permanent mark on children, but the bonds of friendship can mitigate the damage. Moreover, love can be found at any stage of life.
This is a engaging story and a riveting mystery. Recommended to fans of suspense novels.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Jessica Clarke, who does a fine job.
Thanks to Netgalley, Sally Hepworth, and Macmillan audio for a copy of the book.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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