Could not put this book down!! I have already started recommending this one to my fellow readers

This is a tricky book to review because i don'y want to give away too much but wow, this was a creepy read. I'm not usually affected by things like that but i was very unsettled reading this. Stories about twins are common but this sounded different so i thought i'd read and i'm very glad i did.

Thank you to Netgalley the publishing house and most of all, the author, for the opportunity to read this book in return for my honest opinion.

This was a good book. A young girl goes missing, in a small town, and when the town-folk hear it is one of the Ryan girls, no one is at first surprised, until they discover it is not Raine, the headstrong troublemaker, but her sister, Summer, the good one. This is a small town that had a series of bad events in the past, in a neighbouring area, and people start to get worried that Summer didn't run away, that something sinister happened to her.

Raine, goes looking for her sister, with some assistance from Noah and his friend, Purv, two unlikely friends in a small town. Summer and Raine's father is an ex-con with a reputation, and even though the people in this town may not like their neighbours, they all lend a hand and try to help find Summer. But is all in the town as it seems?

I liked the way this book read and the characters kept me reading late into the night. I enjoyed the story as it was told, by each sister, Raine's chapters in the present search for Summer and Summer's chapters, the events that led to her disappearance.

It was a great book with lots of twists and plot turns. The characters were relatable and likeable (the ones that were meant to be). I will definitely be checking out this author again.

The story explores a lot of themes that others might find heavy and dark, disturbing even. I had a really slow start with this book, it didn’t grab my attention immediately as I hoped it would. The writing style took me a while to get used to. Once I get the hang of it, I get sucked into the mystery within the town of Grace up to the very end.It is a well-crafted, intense and truly compelling story that will induce a lot of emotions on its readers. The puzzle that is Summer’s disappearance will keep you guessing. It is sad, unsettling and heartbreaking but a satisfying read nonetheless.

All the Wicked Girls is a dark, unsettling and complex read that started off a bit rocky for me. So many characters here with this one and introduced too quickly. This really had me confused with keeping them straight and it required too much work and focus to so that. It became too easy to miss clues and developments and this result in me not being unable to connect with the story and characters.

It really was too bad this one didn’t hook me in from the start as I really did enjoy the ending and it was worth the struggle to get to. Even though I missed a bit and it did leave me a bit confused with some things, the ending was still very satisfying.

Another wonderful traveling sister read with Brenda!

A dark, disturbing novel that at first was a grind getting into. Taking place in the town of Grace, deep in the South, it’s told in a dialect that at times was difficult to both read and comprehend.

Summer Ryan goes missing and her twin sister Raine is worried sick. She knows for certain her sister would never just up and leave. The local Sheriffs’ Dept. is searching for her, but Raine isn’t buying they’re doing everything possible to bring Summer home. After all...she isn’t the first girl to go missing in this area. Recently a group of girls have disappeared from neighboring towns and now dubbed the Briar Girls. Raine’s greatest fear is that Summer will end up as another one of The Missing Briar Girls - or worse.

There were so many characters that at times it seemed nearly unmanageable keeping everyone straight. I was only a page or two away from needing to keep a scorecard! This book did not grab me right away as I struggled through a good part of it with thoughts once again of the dreaded DNF. I persevered, and was glad I did. As the dark clouds finally broke over the town of Grace, so too did this novel see daylight as well. The final 20-30% took off at an incredible speed that made the book a worthwhile read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bonnier Zaffre and Chris Whitaker for a copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

I have read some fabulous reviews for this book but unfortunately I really struggled with the writing style I'm hoping to post a review soon

There was a lot of sadness in this book. The character development was excellent. I saw them as real people and felt many emotions for them.

A story that takes place in a very small town where pretty much everyone knows each other or have heard of each other through the gossip that runs rampant in many small towns. And, like many small towns, the local police force usually has a police chief that has seen enough and should be retired, but in this book, the chief just keeps hanging on. Drinking the days away, hating his job, and his self.

When a couple of young girls start disappearing, the police chief figures that they are just runaways itching to get out of a small town and onto the big city. However, when several more young girls start disappearing the chief knows there is a big problem.

When Summer Ryan disappears, she takes a bag and leaves a note. Her sister, Raine, is determined to find her sister and bring her home. She is a different kind of girl, so unlike her sister. She is quiet and reads a lot and does not really hang with anyone. Although she does go to church. Raine is the total opposite. Raine is promiscuous, wild, carries a knife and knows how to shoot a gun.

Raine is determined that her sister did not run away and she is hellbent to find her. She enlists the help of Noah and Purv. Noah and Purv have their own difficulties and definitely elicited much empathy from me.

I think, for me, overall this book was pretty good. However, I sometimes glazed over during the talk of the "cloud" over Grace and the "wall" that bordered it. That led me to skipping a few pages here and there which did not hold my attention.

Thanks to Bonnier Zaffre and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

I did enjoy this book although it took me a while to get into it at first which is why I didn’t give it a higher rating

I'm torn. I really WANTED to like this, I did. I gave it a red hot go. But unfortunately this complex, dark and bleak novel just didn't do it for me. I think it had a lot to do with the writing style the way the characters would speak - that redneck American speak. Maybe it's because i'm Australian and don't speak that way that I found it hard to read at times? Maybe not. I don't know. This book has been getting rave reviews though, so maybe i'm 1 out of 100 that just didn't click with it! Judge for yourself :)

This book was not for me--I did not finish. I could not get into the story line and I did. It enjoy the characters.

Dark. Mind-blowing. Disturbing.

In the small town of Grace, nothing out of the ordinary happens. But there was that one year five church girls from Briar went missing. Six months later, Summer's is nowhere to be found. A note left suggests she ran off. But Raine, her twin sister, knows it the Bird monster's work. She sets on her own to find her sister and to solve the mystery that has bewildered the town police. And Raine learns there is more than meets the eye with Summer.

The novel, alternating between the voice of Raine in the present and Summer in the past is darkly atmospheric and ominous. The setting is a small town, deeply religious, and decompensating after the Mill shut down. The children are on their own; the law neglected by the police and its inhabitants. This statement by Raine's friend Noah summarizes the town- "Grace. It's a funny kinda town. People go to church every Sunday, reeking of booze and the sins of the weekend. They pray it away then do it again, same each and every." The town of Grace has created its own rules to survive the desolation.

The characters are rich, layered and full of history. There are many characters to keep track of, but each has a story to be told.
Raine is a rebel, drinking, smoking and always in trouble. She has met the hook a few times. Summer is a child prodigy, with musical skills and a passion for books. The fifteen-year-old twins could not be any more different. And yet they have a love that is unbreakable. "They held hands, Even now, if they were sad or mad or happy, they held hands." As the chapters unfold, we discover the events leading up to Summer's fate. Raine's relentless hunt to find her sister is tense and heartbreaking.

The language of the small town is challenging takes a couple of chapters to understand, but it adds depth to character and setting. The southern drawl is deep south, and broken and creates realism. The storyline is well plotted and played and will leave you feeling unsettled. Not necessarily for the crime story, but for the love and tragedy between two sisters.

All the Wicked Girls, is a dark and disturbing novel and not for the faint heart. The writing is phenomenal! It is confusing at the start, but continue reading, as you will be drawn into the darkest elements of Briar County.

Thank you, NetGalley, Bonnier Zaffre, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I only need 3 words to sum up this solid mystery:
Dark, haunting, atmospheric.

Well I decided to leave this review as it stands now that some time has passed....I don't think I can add anymore to it that will spark more interest! ;)

ARC provided by NetGalley

DNF @ 51%

I’m really sorry, I seriously tried. But this has been on my currently-reading shelf for almost a month now and I tried reading it again today and read 20ish pages that I found infuriating.
Between the writing style that I really didn’t like (things like “he don’t”) or how cliché the characters were (one “good” twin and a “bad” one, really?) or again the pedophilia seen through the eyes of a 15 years old who “wants” it, it was too much for me...

(I usually don't rate the books I don't finish but NetGalley is making me add a rating...)

A well written book about small town America and some of its deep, dark secrets. A little too bleak, for me.

All the Wicked Girls is a piece of dark, atmospheric crime fiction. It is the story of a pair of twin sisters. When one goes missing, the other sets out to find her. With alternating POVs also going between past and present, the suspense never lets up. The writing is excellent - putting Chris Whitaker immediately on our "authors to watch" radar. Highly recommend readers on crime fiction check this one out.

I didn't like the book at first. Wasn't sure if I'd even finish it but, I'm glad I did. It's probably the biggest surprising read of 2017 for me. Very good job.

A fast paced story which kept me gripped the whole way through. When Summer goes missing her sister Raine tries to find her. Other girls have disappeared before Summer. This story is very well written. You can imagine the town and the people in it and their beliefs. The atmosphere is set and it is so easy to get lost in this book. Raine discovers so many secrets when looking for Summer. This town and their beliefs will haunt me for a while.

Fantastic thriller, Cannot recommend enough.

Well I thought I wasn't going to like this one but after a clunky start I started to get into the flow of it and then was transfixed for the rest of the read.

All The Wicked Girls tells the story of two sisters, Summer and Raine Ryan in the small town of Grace Alabama. Coming from a very poor background and troublesome family, Summer seems the squeaky clean one, quite and polite, a model student and musical prodigy. Raine is the opposite. Always in trouble, be it with the law or sleeping with older boys. Although seemingly opposites the two are incredibly close.
When Summer goes missing an already tense town of Grace gets even more tense. A serial killer has been on the loose and killing young girls and the locals are afraid he may have striked again. While tensions rise and law enforcement struggle to keep the peace between the different factions, the Ryan family and friends and religious factions who think the killings are the work of the devil, Raine decides it's up to her to find out what happened to her sister. She forms an unlikely bond with two local younger boys and the three set out to uncover what happened to Summer and the simmering secrets that the town holds.

It's hard to describe this book. Although it sounds like a straight forward thriller it's far from it. Summer being missing and being searched for is not really the central theme of this excellent and unique book. It's so hard to describe. It's more the study and description of a down on its luck small town, consumed by strong religious beliefs and full of shady characters that are all struggling with their financial and mental health. It's a nearly hypnotic read once you get into it. Full of metaphors and imagery and fantastic character studies, it's an all consuming, depressing but totally enjoyable read. So many vivid passages and character studies, the town of Grace and it's inhabitants have an almost other worldly feel to them. A constant sense of foreboding and secrets, the presence of the huge cloud and impending storm hanging over the town for the duration is a great metaphor and Stephen Kingesque in its feel.

The only reason I haven't given this 5 stars is I found this initially quite hard to get in to. We are bombarded with characters at the start and I found myself reading back a couple of times to remember who was who. The narrative changes and jumps from one character to another very quickly, numerous times within individual chapters, which I found a little disorientating at the start but once I got used to it, it was fine and part of the charm of this unique book.
One more slight criticism I would have is that the story is told, no matter from who's perspective it is being told, be it a character or just the general narrative, with a heavy Southern drawl with loads of double negatives that are many as a single negative etc and I found that all a bit of hard work to read in the first few chapters until again I got used to it.

These overall minor criticisms of this book though should in no way take away from the sheer brilliance and individuality of it. It really is that good and unique. It's a bleak read with plenty of uplifting moments along the way and it's nearly imposssible to describe in a synopsis.

I'd highly recommended this book. If you find it hard work initially, stick with it. The pay off more than makes up for it. I guarantee once you find your feet with this one and get into the rhythm of the novel, you will be totally transfixed.

4.5 stars from me. One of my favourite reads of the reads so far and most certainly the most memorable.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bonnier Zaffre and Chris Whitaker for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.