The Flower Girls

by Alice Clark-Platts, Bloomsbury

Baby killer Laurel was a child herself, 10, when found guilty of the murder of Kirstie, two, in a gully in Yorkshire, England. Her sister, Primrose, “Rosie”, was, at six, under the legal age for criminal responsibility, even though they both were “playing” mums and dads with the stolen tot before the crying babe was silenced. She died from blunt trauma to the head. Half of her ear lobe was bitten off and her arm broken. “The Flower Girls”, as headlines called them, made as big news in 1997 as Princess Diana’s death. Laurel was recommended to be at least 18 years old before parole consideration. She is now nearing 30. Rosie and her parents were given new identities, such was the public hatred. But when Hazel is recognised as one of the flower girls, at the scene of the disappearance of Georgie, five, the heinous crime is about to make front pages again.

It is New Year 2017 and Hazel is celebrating her 25th birthday at the same hotel Georgie and her mum and dad are staying. Prepare for a monstrous twist and shock ending from human rights lawyer Clark-Platts, who writes about “trial by media” and a “criminal” who shows no culpability.

But why?