FROM THE AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF TALL OAKS COMES AN
OUTSTANDING NEW THRILLER.
EVEN SMALL TOWNS CAN HIDE BIG SECRETS . . .
Chris Whitaker's debut novel, Tall Oaks, was published in 2016. It
was a Guardian crime book of the month as well as featuring in
Crime Time's top 100 books of 2016 and BuzzFeed's incredible summer
reads. It won the CWA John Creasey New Blood Dagger Award, and was
shortlisted for the CrimeFest Last Laugh Award.
Chris lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and two young sons.
Chris Whitaker is leading the pack of hungry young crime writers by
a long mile. He writes like a dark angel, conjuring characters and
places so memorable you'll ache when it's over. A very real, very
rare talent
*Sarah Hilary*
A novel you swallow whole because you can't help yourself, and then
go back a second time to savour what you missed. Wonderful
*M. R. Carey, author of The Girl with All the Gifts*
Riveting read. A psychological thriller that stands out from the
mass - stylishly written, with a slick command of language and
location, and a great 'missing girl' mystery at its core. Great
stuff!
*Vaseem Khan*
This book blew me away. Extraordinarily good. Gripping and
heartbreaking
*Deborah O'Connor*
Phenomenal
*Jo Spain*
BOOK OF THE MONTH - Chris Whitaker's stunning debut Tall Oaks
featured a quirky mix of poignancy and humour that sticks hard in
my memory and his rapid follow-up offers much of the same, but with
the comedic elements gently muted: tortured souls, a police officer
who can't disentangle the personal from the professional, missing
persons, the oppressive background of small-town America and a
merciless journey through every stage of personal grief. Despite
the outward similarities, it's a major achievement. Following the
disappearance of her much-loved model sister Summer in the wake of
five other church-attending young women from the area similarly
gone missing, misfit Raine seeks out the truth and uncovers layers
of secrets and everyday evil in her Alabama town. Bleak, involving,
a delicately sketched portrait of bigotry and prejudice and human
emotions dancing the light fantastic, this renews a tired genre
with a dose of heart and empathy which appears to be becoming
Whitaker's forte
*Crimetime*
All the Wicked Girls is impossibly good. And beautiful. And
melancholy, utterly compelling and difficult to describe. I love
this book . . . All the Wicked Girls is in my top ten books I've
read ever let alone this year. And trust me that's a lot of
competition to overcome . . . Chris Whitaker is annoyingly
talented. I won't say highly recommended it seems inadequate. Pure
magic on the page
*Liz Loves Books*
I loved it SO much. Chris is so amazing. He just has this real
knack of creating characters that you're completely engaged with .
. . I was hooked by his beautiful prose and by the end I was
absolutely ruined by the heartbreaking storyline. If only he could
write ten books a year
*Lisa Hall*
Stunning
*Michelle Davies*
A remarkable book that made me blub
*Mike Thomas*
I was savouring each page/chapter and character . . . because each
page is a literal work of art. Chris Whitaker has the ability to
pick up the reader and transport them into the fictional small town
of Grace, swelter in the heat, feel the fear and tension amongst
the town folk and connect with the characters . . . A beautifully
written story of love, friendship, beliefs, fear, passion and I'm
not embarrassed to say I cried at the end
*Compulsive Readers*
This is a crime novel, a love story of sisters, a family torn
apart. The story is told by each of the sisters in turn . . . Once
started, it's a fast read. The characters are skilfully written, so
it's easy to get lost in their lives . . .
*Strong Book Reviews*
Those missing Manny will warm to wannabe teenage policeman Noah,
his sidekick Purv and Summer's sister Raine, who take the search
into their hands with black humour and laugh out loud moments as
well as real poignancy. There is a great bond which develops
between these three damaged outsiders. I marvel at how authentic
this British author's creation of small town America feels, in
terms of speech, the environment, their cultural references and
lives. The prejudices and obsessions of a small community are so
effectively conveyed. It's a great read. Tall Oaks showed the
potential but this is the Real Deal . . .
*New Books Magazine*
Incredibly intelligently plotted and amazingly descriptive and
atmospheric. These characters will stay with you for a long time as
the author really brings them to life. It's all incredibly
realistic and believable as the town residents try to cope with the
challenges life throws at them, with topics ranging from child
abuse to drug addiction to dealing with the loss of a child. And
yet somehow, the author manages to occasionally lighten the mood
with brilliantly witty one-liners
*Novel Delights*
The next Gone Girl . . . an emotional read: I felt fully immersed
in their lives
*Look Magazine*
On finishing All The Wicked Girls, I was left with that same sense
of being part of something very, very unique . . . There is a very
distinct style to Chris Whitaker's writing . . . All The Wicked
Girls is a novel that you will become one with. The characters'
emotions will become your emotions; Tragedy, grief, sorrow, regret,
yet also, hope, self-discovery and atonement . . . A brooding,
intense, incredible read!
*Swirl and Thread*
First things first, this novel is extremely dark, gritty and
chilling. That's dark with a capital D by the way. If you thought
you've read something dark before, think again . . . All the Wicked
Girls is also highly addictive. I was really surprised by just how
much it gripped me from start to finish. All I can say is that
Chris Whitaker is an incredibly talented writer, I don't know how
he traps you but it's some sort of magic
*The Bookbag*
Chris Whitaker writes superbly. As with Tall Oaks, I marvel at how
this British author captures the mood and sound of an American
small town . . . Just thinking about Noah, his courage, wisdom,
kindness and deep heart, makes me want to weep. This is a novel
that takes us into some very dark places. The melancholy of Grace
goes far deeper than the storm that hovers over it. It is
disturbing at times, there is no doubt of that, but it is also
filled with a humanity despite its subject and I was held
spellbound. There are so many reasons to read All the Wicked Girls
but if I had to give you just one - well, two reasons - it would be
to read it for Noah and Purv. I don't think I'll ever forget
them
*For Winter Nights*
A riveting, fast-paced story and I rushed through it in order to
find out what happened, finishing it in a single day. And whilst I
had several theories as to how it would end, none of them were
correct, something which pleased me greatly. This is another
fantastic novel from Whitaker, and I can't wait to see what he does
next
*Jo’s Book Blog*
If you like your crime novels bleak and raw with a side of small
town strife, this might be for you . . . I strongly feel that
anyone who's a fan of Stephen King's Under the Dome will like this
as well
*Read, Eat, Sleep, Repeat*
Tall Oaks was (and indeed is) astonishingly good. All The Wicked
Girls is even better, filled with fantastic characters in a
small-town America where Raine looks for her missing sister. Just
buy it, thank me later
*Espresso Coco*
I marvel at how authentic the author's creation of small town
America feels, in terms of speech, the environment, their cultural
references and lives. The prejudices and obsessions of a small
community is so effectively conveyed and I found the whole thing
totally involving
*Reviews Revues*
One of my new favorite authors, I love the writing, mystery, and
characters that inhabit the pages of Whitaker's books. And his
mysteries fool me every time. Just fantastic! 5 Stars
*It’s Book Talk*
Another brilliant book by Chris, All the Wicked Girls is a book I
predict will be huge. It's definitely one of those books that you
don't want to end. The only problem is now that I've finished is
that I have to wait for Chris's next book; I can't wait to see what
he does next
*Jacob reviews books*
Small town America has never been portrayed so brilliantly . . .
His writing is intense and his voice is wholly unique. His
characterization is flawless . . . He writes thrillers that make
you feel all of the feelings . . . He takes intricate plotting to a
new level
*Novel Gossip*
Chris Whitaker creates characters as real as your very own friends,
places as real are the town you live in and plots that make you
marvel at the sheer genius of the mind behind it all... Chris
Whitaker could write just about anything and I'd want to read it.
Intricately plotted and beautifully written, All the Wicked Girls
is spectacular. I can't recommend it highly enough. A wonderfully
dark, gripping, nuanced novel. I loved it!
*Ronnie Turner blog*
This new book is exquisitely written, with the darkest of hearts,
but so beautiful and human and moving that it has been reducing
people - me included - to tears. There is writing here that makes
your jaw drop, and fills you with joy, and makes you close your
eyes and wish that you had the ability to craft something as
achingly gorgeous....It is a study of marginalised folk, of broken
dreams, of haunted people just trying to get by. It is uplifting
and funny and sad. And it is about friendship and lust and grief
and the things we will do for our loved ones, no matter how dark
the path it takes us down. But in short, All the Wicked Girls is a
very special novel, from a very special writer
*Mike Thomas*
It's great writing, capturing the voices of the protagonists
perfectly and deftly revealing the central mystery - what actually
happened to Summer and the others? - only slowly, keeping the
reader hooked throughout. This book is magnificent and I'd strongly
recommend it. I'm off now to read Tall Oaks, Whitaker's first
book
*Blue Book Balloon*
All The Wicked Girls is possibly one of the most incredible novels
you will read this year. There is only one word that really sums it
up effectively - and that word is powerful. There are some
sentences that shock you with expletives and then there are some
sentences that shock you with their beauty. This book does not have
cliffhangers at the end of its chapters, it has something worse. It
has sentences that make your stomach lurch and leave you
breathless, blinking back tears as the poignancy, brutal honesty or
sadness hits you. I think this novel is ambitious and complex in
what it sets out to achieve....writing that is faultless
*Bibliomaniac*
It's hard these days to find a novel that is not derivative, but
this is one of those rare beasts. Read it, not just for the story,
but so that you devour the world Whitaker creates. A cracking
novel
*Frost Magazine*
There are many well-defined characters in this amusing, powerful
and compelling novel. The plot is well constructed and the writing
zings
*Crime Thriller Hound*
This is one of those harrowing books that succeeds in making us
care deeply about its thoroughly flawed, long-suffering
protagonists. When resolution comes, it feels as if we too have
been through the peril, the anguish, the storm and the shoot-out.
Whether you experience it as a challenging crime drama, a masterful
web of character studies or a dark and gritty movie running
compellingly in your mind, All The Wicked Girls will have you
gasping and wincing to the last page
*My Weekly*
All The Wicked Girls is a novel that you will become one with. The
characters' emotions will become your emotions; Tragedy, grief,
sorrow, regret, yet also, hope, self-discovery and atonement. A
brooding, intense, incredible read!
*Writing.ie*
An intelligent and emotionally affecting crime novel which defies
easy categorisation
*Crime Fiction Lover*
This is a novel that fulfils its purpose on every level; the
setting, the characters and the story are all uniquely woven to
form a masterful piece of work, and one which will live in my
memory for a long time... an incandescent novel
*The Book Club Cafe*
I was gripped from the very beginning... It took turns I wasn't
expecting and I just was so amazed at how brilliant this book was.
I was left speechless after reading
*The Reader's Corner*
A tale as dark as the storm cloud, with chinks of light provided by
the antics of Noah and Purv who, for me, steal the show. A highly
original crime thriller
*Daily Record*
This is a crime story with a difference, a beautifully plotted,
genuinely absorbing set of character studies, worked into a wider
story of missing girls and religious fervour
*Zainab's Blog*
Below the surface of Chris Whitaker's story there is unexpected
depth and richness. This is one of those harrowing books that
succeeds in making us care deeply about its thoroughly flawed,
long-suffering protagonists. It's hard to believe this book was
written by a former City of London financial trader who lives in
Hertfordshire, so complete is the immersion in another, utterly
different place. Whether you experience it as a challenging crime
drama, a masterful web of character studies or a dark and gritty
movie running compellingly in your mind, All The Wicked Girls will
have you gasping and wincing to the last page
*My Weekly*
All The Wicked Girls is a gripping thriller, but also a deeply
emotional story with a big heart and characters you'll cry over.
It's a thriller that explores the worst excesses of organised
religion, but also the positives aspects of faith. Highly highly
recommended!
*Back To The Books*
Chris Whitaker burst onto the literary scene last year with his
rare and remarkable debut, Tall Oaks, announcing the arrival of a
mercurial and exciting talent. From the first page, Whitaker
effortlessly draws the reader into the heart of this world and his
characters...his characterisation is unfaltering and hugely
impressive and for me is the real standout trait of his
fiction...Indeed, all of Whitaker's characters are engaging, flawed
and authentic... He has an uncanny ability to pull on the
heartstrings that again makes his books special. For me, Whitaker
is a master of a style and genre all of his own. An impressive
talent and an intuitive and distinctive writer, his first two
novels are signs of a new star with a very bright future still to
come
*Nudge Books*
very impressed by Whitaker's writing and Summer as a character in
particular
*Debbish.com*
Whitaker really does have a talent in creating atmosphere. I felt
fully absorbed and immersed in the dark world of Grace and what was
happening there. I also really enjoyed the writing and especially
Summer's chapters.
*The Books Are Everywhere*
At the heart of this story is an intricate mystery that put every
single detective skill I think I have to the test and guess
what?...I failed miserably. Chris Whitaker completely fooled me
(again) and I couldn't be happier. In the end, this is a story
filled with tragedy, heartbreak, redemption, and yes hope and I
highly recommend it to everyone who's a fan of mysteries and
memorable characters! So, yes it definitely lived up to my high
expectations
*It's Book Talk*
All the Wicked Girls is quite slow and incredibly dark but the
tension is palpable throughout. It's incredibly intelligently
plotted and amazingly descriptive. These characters will stay with
you for a long time as the author really brings them to life. It's
all incredibly realistic and believable as the town residents try
to cope with the challenges life throws at them, with topics
ranging from child abuse to drug addiction to dealing with the loss
of a child. And yet somehow, the author manages to occasionally
lighten the mood with brilliantly witty one-liners
*Novel Deelights*
The setting is fantastically well done
*Tamara Morning*
It's certainly a book to immerse yourself in and I was surprised
how moved I was by the whole dang thing. With his unique writing
style and quirky stories, Chris Whitaker is definitely an author to
watch out for
*The Book Magnet*
Dark, in every sense, evocative and the characters will break your
heart
*Tammy Cohen*
'For me it was what I call a one sit read and for most of it I was
completely hooked...Whitaker is an amazing storyteller...It's
totally amazing.'
*Tracey Shepherd book blog*
'I absolutely adored this book and can only describe it as a
chillingly addictive masterpiece...This is such a compulsive read,
with its brilliant characterisation, dark themes and strong setting
which really came to life for me.'
*Chillers, Killers and Thrillers*
'I'm sure everyone who loves reading about a town filled with
secrets will definitely enjoy this and be swept by Whitaker's
ability to create such a thing.'
*Breathing Through Pages*
'Whitaker has produced another top-notch small town American
mystery, this time set in Alabama. The mixture of high tension in
the town and the searing heat alongside the large cast of
characters plus Summer and Raine's trio made this thriller a real
page turner. Despite being British, Whitaker seems to have a real
feel for small town American life. I can easily see both his novels
on screen, large or small as he also has a strong visual element to
his writing. I'll be looking out for whatever he does next. One of
the best thrillers I've read this year..'
*Annabel’s House of Books*
'After reading All The Wicked Girls, I have fallen head over heels
with this authors style of writing and want to read everything he
has ever written! I was spellbound by this thriller with its all
consuming build up taking over my entire life.Heartbreakingly
perceptive, this deserves to be on everyone's "must reads" list
this year as it comes highly recommended by me! One of the best
books that I have featured on my blog since I started it and
definitely a contender for my book of the year! This book is
STUNNING, it's MAGNIFICENT and it broke my heart into a thousand
tiny pieces...BUY IT NOW!!'
*My Chestnut Reading Tree*
'This is a difficult one to review because it's just so good! Chris
Whitaker's creation of characters is astute and shrewd. The
inhabitants of Grace are alive in the page, and his sense of place
is extraordinary. This author handles the darkest and most serious
of issues, with sensitivity and with a dry wit that stops the novel
from becoming too heavy, too oppressive. All The Wicked Girls is
packed with dark, twisty danger. This is a riveting look at the
tangled lives of a small American town.'
*Random Things Through my Letterbox*
I defy anyone to read Chris Whitaker and not feel they have been
touched by genius to their very soul. All The Wicked Girls is
utterly, utterly wonderful and I don't have sufficient words to do
it justice
*Linda's Bookbag*
It's been awhile since I shed a tear reading a book, but Whitaker
pushed me close. The characters were that real and that haunting.
Guilt, secrets, love, loss, grief, awakening, maturity, friendship,
community, family - all resonate strongly throughout
*Col's Criminal Library*
All the Wicked Girls was an utterly absorbing read. Once I started
reading I didn't want to put it down, it's one of those books that
you don't want to end. Great characters, great plot and a great
setting, Chris Whitaker has become one of my favourite writers
*Damp Pebbles*
A psychological thriller that stands out from the mass - stylishly
written, with a slick command of language and location, and a great
'missing girl' mystery at its core
*Vaseem Khan*
'a crime writer with a unique voice and tone. We are in middle
America, confronted by a case of missing persons, and with
characters in turn quirky and possessed by demons. But where a
Coben or a Linwood Barclay stick to classic tropes and
well-engineered plotting, Whitaker prefers the detours and bizarros
to bring his book and characters alive. Gripping, bleak and
fascinating.'
*CrimeFest Newsletter*
'nobody writes like he does...All the Wicked Girls is quite simply
a stunning piece of literature. Read it, love it, you won't be able
to help it.'
*Liz Loves Books*
This is a tightly woven tale of small-town prejudices with a
fantastic cast and a skilfully constructed plot. You'll need to pay
close attention if you want to second-guess this writer and the
ending definitely had me turning the pages backwards looking for
all the hints that I'd missed. If you love a mystery that keeps you
guessing and a fantastic character-driven novel then look no
further. All the Wicked Girls is a wickedly good read and I'm
definitely addicted to Chris Whitaker - a British writer who's
beating the American thriller writers at their own game
*17 Degrees Magazine*
What a writer Chris Whitaker is. He can show such depth through
even the shortest of sentences so that I found myself on a complete
roller coaster of emotion. I laughed. I wept. My heart broke for so
many of those between its pages that I'm not sure I'll ever be the
same again. When I slept I dreamt of the characters as they had
pervaded my soul so deeply. The plot is fabulous. Small town
America lends itself to the claustrophobic feel so that the events
fit the setting perfectly. At times I almost couldn't bear what I
was reading. I can't explain more about the plot without spoiling
the read but rest assured it is gripping, absorbing and brilliant.
I defy anyone to read Chris Whitaker and not feel they have been
touched by genius to their very soul. All The Wicked Girls is
utterly, utterly wonderful and I don't have sufficient words to do
it justice.
*Linda's Book Blog*
...soon the darkness that's been hidden in Grace is visible to the
whole world. There's a lot of twists in this novel, and the
suspense will keep the reader gripping the pages to find out what's
really going on.
*Tomorrow is Another Day*
When I love a book, I normally race through it. Not this time. I
slowed down to savour it, to drink it all in. It's an extraordinary
book and therefore, my top read for 2018. Brave and fierce, Chris,
brave and fierce.
*Joy Kluver*
It's deep and complex, harrowing and heartbreaking, a story of a
young girl's hunt for her missing sister in a small southern bible
belt town. All The Wicked Girls sits firmly alongside Tall Oaks in
my books of the year. As I said earlier, don't make me choose - buy
both and settle down for some of the best storycrafting you're
likely to see for a long time.
*Espresso Coco*
The sense of this place, the culture and the society in which the
action takes place is palpable, uncomfortable and overwhelming. The
characters all turn out to have hidden depths and secrets, and it
often feels like the whole place is operating on lies. It's deep,
dark and beautifully written, with not a hint of an outsider
author. The message is, like the atmospherics, on the heavy side -
part noir / part morality play, and because of that there's no way
you could call this entertaining reading. ALL THE WICKED GIRLS is,
however, extremely involving reading, requiring commitment on the
part of the reader to empathise and eventually understand that not
everything here is what it seems.
*Aust Crime Fiction*
Chris Whitaker's All the Wicked Girls gripped me from start to
finish. A smouldering noir set in the suffocating heat of Grace,
Alabama, (in a town that runs along the Red River. Great minds...)
All the Wicked Girls is totally engrossing. Rich characters,
twisting plot and beautifully written. It stands out as my
favourite crime book published in 2017.
*Dead Good Books, Amy Lloyd author of The Innocent Wife picks All
the Wicked Girls as one of her books of the year*
All the Wicked Girls will slowly get under your skin, it will creep
up on you until you feel like you are in this town with these
people and once it does it won't let you go. It's such a
brilliantly, atmospheric thriller of a book and is one that I'm
sure will stay with me for a very long time to come. It will
definitely be on my top books of 2017 list and I honestly can't
recommend it highly enough. If you haven't already read it, go buy
a copy asap as you won't regret it!
*Rather Too Fond of Books*
Dealing with some difficult topics, there were a couple of times in
the book when I felt my heart break. As Whitaker carefully plots
the story with cleverly placed red herrings, I did not manage to
guess what had happened to Summer Ryan. Brilliantly constructed,
wonderfully written and yet heavily oppressive, All The Wicked
Girls is a book that weighed heavy on my mind and that I came to
appreciate more as I progressed through the book. A totally unique
take on 'the missing girl' scenario
*Bloomin Brilliant Books*
Awesome book. Superbly written. A real work of art and a league
above so much of the crime fiction out there
*Neil White*
Superb
*Isabel Ashdown, author of Little Sister*
Hauntingly beautiful, gripping, elegiac. Stunning writing. LOVED
IT
*Will Dean, author of Dark Pines*
Whitaker has a unique voice that sets him apart from the rest of
the pack of young crime writers, and I can't recall reading
anything that comes close except for the inimitable James Lee
Burke. As I read, I could hear the deep south voices and their
rhythms, coursing through my mind. Glorious. But the highest praise
I can give the author, is that he made me cry. And very few books
do that
*C.J. Carver, author of Spare Me The Truth*
A highly original crime thriller
*Daily Record*
Deep, dark and beautifully written
*AustCrime Fiction*
I absolutely adored this book and can only describe it as a
chillingly addictive masterpiece
*Chillers, Killers and Thrillers*
If you've read Tall Oaks, then you probably think you know what to
expect from Chris Whitaker. Tall Oaks was laced with dark humour.
But All The Wicked Girls is something else entirely. Without the
humour to fall back on, Chris Whitaker's writing is laid bare and
is not found wanting. Utterly beautiful. When I love a book, I
normally race through it. Not this time. I slowed down to savour
it, to drink it all in. It's an extraordinary book and therefore,
my top read for 2018.
*Joy Kluver*
This is a great crime book but it is also fabulous fiction written
with literary skill and finesse. It is raw, immersive, and powerful
and invokes such emotion that it is impossible not to be affected
by it. Incredibly well plotted it is both compelling and
devastating. I don't think I have read anything so powerful in this
genre all year. Chris Whitaker is simply an extraordinary
talent.
*Live and Deadly*
There are serious themes touched upon within the story, none in a
graphic or sensationalised way, and while you may think you know
just why certain passages are included, I would wager that you
really don't. Because, you see, Mr Whitaker has created a story
which is at its heart both simplistic and complex. He has once
again taken a series of individually haunting tales, or threads,
and woven them together like a beautifully crafted tapestry,
infusing it with dark, almost fragile humour, and creating yet
another stunning story which is simply impossible to put down. Did
I mention I loved it? Just checking.
*Jen Med Book Reviews*
A totally brilliant book... Beautiful writing and characters so
well drawn they stay with you long after the final page
*The Big Issue*
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