All the Wicked girls, it has a very appealing name and the book cover looks amazing. This is what caught my attention first. Then the Author...I read Tall Oaks last year and it was a great read. Since then Chris Whitaker has been on my radar. I quickly applied for this book on NetGalley and thankfully was accepted.

This story grabs you and keeps you engaged until the end. I literally couldnt put it down and read from cover to cover in one sitting.

I am a big lover of crime thrillers that will keep you guessing all the way through and this book certainly did not fail, and exceeded my expectations.

So once again Chris Whitaker, I applaud you at writing such a spectacular novel. I will certainly be on the look out for any future releases.

This is a dark, bleak and atmospheric novel in the southern gothic tradition located within the bible belt of Alabama. Set in the small town of Grace, of which their is precious little, it is a place populated by rednecks, hell, fire and brimstone preachers crushing in their judgements, and palpably short on hope and in its ability to offer a future to its young people. The terminal economical decline is painted in the lives of its inhabitants, barely scraping by, making do with occasional sporadic employment and with the prevalence of addictions to drink and drugs. Its people are no strangers to pain and suffering, magnified by the devastating sense of loss felt by the entire community for the missing Summer Ryan, the 15 year old twin sister of Raine. A dark cloud with its omen of a violent storm hangs over Grace, both literally and metaphorically, as a community is torn apart by fear and their burning need to find Summer. In the midst of this, precarious lives burdened by grief, loss, guilt, poor health, violence, secrets and more are slowly revealed in the compulsive and melancholic narrative of the novel.

Joe and Ada Ryan call on their close connections in the community in their hunt for Summer, plagued by frightening thoughts that their daughter has been taken by the almost mythic Bird, a man that has taken 5 Briar church going girls, whose bodies have never been found. The repercussions on a wounded community in the wake of this horror are plain to see, in the guilt and helplessness felt by Chief Black, parents terrified for their daughters and the advice for girls to quit going to church. Raine is the wild and unpredictable twin, getting into trouble and negotiating the world by knowingly flaunting her sexuality. Her closeness to Summer though is never in doubt as her pain drives her to conduct her own search for her sister, looking into the backgrounds of the girls that went missing, an abortion facility, and any suspects associated with the Briar girls. She is aided by Noah Wild, with his strong feelings for Raine, and his close friend, Purv, with his volatile and violent father. Chief Black is teetering on the brink of his own personal and emotional hell, struggling to be taken seriously, amidst an intense media focus. The seething mass of feelings unleashed by the Ryan family and the religious fervour fanned by Pastor Lumen grow to alarming proportions. Summer's feelings and life reveal there is much more to her than might at first be surmised, given her musical and academic gifts.

This is a hauntingly harrowing read of a novel that is so vital and vibrant in its sense of place and narrative. The characters come alive with their traumas, feelings and relationships. Grace is a town where everyone knows everyone, littered with broken lives and despair, and where it would not take much to trigger violence. I was so caught by the fact that for so many, getting involved with looking for Summer provides a sense of identity and a source of pride, not surprising, given how challenging their lives are. It is no wonder that religion thrives here, although not much peddles hope, when it is so sorely needed. Pastor Bobby, a gentler person than Pastor Lumen, is far too consumed by the loss of his son, and his own personal secrets, to be a greater force in the local community. I particularly adored both Noah and Purv, along with Raine, and her determination to find her sister, no matter what. Thankfully, the book ends with some grace and redemption in the town. Chris Whitaker has written a novel that I loved with a passion, despite its dark themes. I would really like him to return with these characters, but I am guessing that is not going to happen. Cannot recommend this highly enough! Many thanks to Bonnier Zaffre for an ARC.

Brilliant book that I can't recommend highly enough. Secrets are slowly revealed in this atmospheric novel that could very easily become a classic. The quality of the writing is fantastic and the characters well drawn and interesting. An outstanding 5 stars.

Full review to follow closer to publication date.

This was an easy to read book, although lacked that extra something that Tall Oaks had.

The writing however was good, atmospheric and gave a real sense of the the characters and the places.

First things first. A bit of blog-housekeeping. Happy publication day to Chris Whitaker as today marks the book birthday of his second novel, All The Wicked Girls.

Just how excited was I to read this book then? Well as Chris Whitaker’s debut novel Tall Oaks was my book of the year for 2016, and his brilliant creation Manny one of my favourite characters of all time, I’d say very. Super, very, muchly in fact. No pressure there then … The question is, did Mr Whitaker manage to capture my imagination in quite the same way with book two.

Okay. So before I begin, there is just something I have to say: Love it, love it , love it, love it, love it.

Right with that out of the way, now onto the serious task of writing the review. I could, in all honestly, sum this book up, or at least my feelings towards it, in just two words. Absolutely brilliant. But after all this build up I should probably go into a little more detail and at least tell you why.

I am not going to go into too much detail about the plot, the blurb really does say everything you need to know. A young girl, Summer Ryan, has gone missing, and the whole community of the small town of Grace is out searching for her. The area has already been rocked by scandal in recent times and as a result the search for Summer has an almost frantic edge, especially for her sister, Raine. Raine is the wild child, the girl who should have been caught up in the mystery, the one who would have been most expected to run away, and yet it is the angelic Summer who has gone. But as to why … Well you will have to read the book yourselves to find out.

What I love most about Chris Whitaker’s writing is the way in which he is able to capture and evoke such a sense of the small town community. The tight knit family circles. The suspicion. The fear. The overwhelming reliance upon faith to guide them, especially in times of trouble. He managed this so skilfully in Tall Oaks and though it hardly seems possible, I think he’s taken it up another notch in this book. Many of the characters bow to an expected stereotype and yet none seem forced or caricatures of themselves. They feel real, their emotions and actions believable, and the small town of Grace really does feel as though it lives and breathes through every page.

We have a wide cast of characters in the book, all so beautifully crafted, eliciting all manner of emotions, from revulsion to fear to pity, as we are introduced to them and their true nature is uncovered. From the police investigating Summer’s disappearance, to the family and friends she interacted with on a regular basis, there really are some who stand out above and beyond all of the rest.

First up we have Noah and his best friend Purv. Although not memorable on a Manny level, there was just something about Noah I couldn’t help but like. He is like Manny’s more innocent little cousin. Engaging without cockiness, his life has not been without trials. Gaining work experience at the police station over the summer break, he dreams of joining up, just like his old man and is determined to help in the search for Summer, despite everything he has going on in his own life. His friendship with Purv is really touching. Taking strength from each other, theirs is a bond like brotherhood, both jovial and serious at once and at times really tugs at the heart strings. There is one scene near the end which could make even the hardest heart break … So moving.

Next we have Raine. So hard and determined to find Summer, the other, better half of her. She is feisty and gutsy, more like her father and uncle in her persona than her studious and talented sister, Summer. You get a true sense of the closeness of the two girls as the story progresses, but also in how they have drifted in two different directions, becoming two completely separate halves of something which was once whole. Raine has her secrets, her reason for feeling guilt over Summer’s disappearance and for needing to find her sister, but as to what this is, you have to wait to find out.

And finally we have Summer. Although the story is about her disappearance, interspersed amongst the main narrative, are chapters which are told from Summer’s point of view. The more we read, the more we learn about her character. She is young and gifted; a talented musician and devoted to the church and her faith in ways her sister Raine had never been. Like all teenagers she falls victim to the typical complexities of life, and she struggles in the same way as many others have before her. She and Raine are more alike than they realise but her innocence is clear which makes the conclusion to her story perhaps all the more shocking.

There are serious themes touched upon within the story, none in a graphic or sensationlised 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, creating yet another stunning story which is simply impossible to put down.

Did I mention I loved it? Just checking.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bonnier Zaffre for an advance copy of All The Wicked Girls, a stand alone novel set in the small rural town of Grace, Alabama.

When 15 year old Summer Ryan disappears her family is sure something bad has happened to her but Chief Black isn't so sure as she packed a bag and left a note. This, however, happens against the background of 5 teenage church going girls who have disappeared, never to be heard of again, over the past couple of years and none of them packed a bag. It is believed that someone or something called "The Bird" took them after a potential eye witness statement. The police have had no luck tracing "The Bird". The novel basically covers Summer's twin sister Raine's efforts to find her.

All The Wicked Girls is a tour de force in terms of the ground it covers and its accurate portrayal of character and location but that means it loses something in readability and takes a fair amount of concentration to keep up. It is a novel that I feel I would get much more from with a re-read as I think I lost some of the subtler nuances trying to keep track of the main points.

In terms of composition the novel has three main points of view, a first person narrative from the missing Summer and third person from Chief Black and Raine and her friends Noah and Purv. The majority of the novel is dialogue, some of it fairly elliptical, so it takes careful reading to get the sense of it.

The main plot, the hunt for Summer, is well thought out but often takes a back seat to the characters, their motivations, life and interactions. I'm not sure what to think of 3 teenagers getting further than both the County and State police forces.

The atmosphere is terrific from the physicality of a strange black cloud hanging over Grace and nowhere else to the hopelessness of life. Grace, as a town, is dying as all the local employers slowly close. Poverty, unemployment, low level crime and drug and alcohol use are now the norm, rather than the exception. No one has any expectations although Noah and Purv's groundless optimism shines a welcome light in the pervasive darkness. Add to this Bible Belt religion in the form of former preacher Lumus and his hellfire and damnation brand of ministry and you get superstition and fear. It's a potent mix.

The characterisation is the real strength of the novel. They all have a story to tell which casts a shadow over their actions. I liked the slow unfurling of Summer's story and secrets and I loved Raine, Noah and Purv's interactions. The three of them are so different, full of bravado in their own ways and their humour seems very natural. There are too many vignettes to list all the characters but they are all very realistic and more than just stereotypes.

There is just too much in All The Wicked Girls to do it justice in a review. It is a detailed, compelling novel which I have no hesitation in recommending as a good read.

First things first, if you love crime fiction and well-plotted mysteries and you haven't read Chris Whitaker yet...what are you waiting for?? I first discovered his wonderful writing when my friend Annie at The Misstery introduced me to his debut novel Tall Oaks last year. Months later, I still think about Manny, one of my favorite fictional characters ever! Needless to say, I was so excited to get a copy of All the Wicked Girls...could Chris Whitaker create more memorable characters and another mystery that would fool me? Often we readers go into highly anticipated second novels with high expectations to love it as much as we loved the first...sometimes it works out and sometimes not so much. So, read on to find out if All the Wicked Girls lived up to my high expectations.

In Grace, Alabama , a small southern town brimming with secrets, poverty, domestic violence, substance abuse and grief, five of their own"Briar" girls have gone missing over the recent years. All are church going girls who seemed to have vanished without a trace and except for a possibly suspect they call the "Bird" there's been no leads. The latest girl to go missing is Summer Ryan, the question is.. did she run or was she taken? It seems Summer left a note and packed a bag and well, we soon learn Summer had some BIG secrets she was keeping from her parents and her closest friend and twin sister Raine. Raine enlists the help of two teenage boys in town, Noah and Purv, and the three of them conduct their own investigation into what happened to Summer. Now, I'll admit, that sounds like a fairy simple and straightforward plot but I'm here to say it's anything but and if you're like me, you'll quickly fall under the spell of these tragic, yet endearing, quick-witted characters. I loved Noah and Purv, both had stories that will break your heart and along with Raine I was fully invested in the lives and outcomes of these characters.

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.

Oh my goodness, this is a dark story and very atmospheric. For most of the book there is a dark cloud over the town of Grace, Alabama and like the residents I was praying for the cloud to lift and let some light in. It is set in 1995 but in my head the whole thing played out in sepia tones and felt like it could be 1930s. There's a great set of characters here and there's not one with an easy life. The standouts for me are Noah and Purv who added a bit humour with their bromance.
This is definitely a story that will stay with the reader long after they close the book and marks out Chris Whitaker as a very talented author.

So I’ve spent a couple of days rolling this around in my head. It’s one of those books where you could write 2 very different reviews depending on whether you based it on more technical aspects or just pure enjoyment factor.

From the blurb, we know 15 year old Summer Ryan has gone missing from the small (and ironically named) town of Grace. She did leave a note but the area has a grim history. Over the course of a year, 5 young church-going girls went missing from various spots around Briar County. So the question is: did she run or was she taken? Either way, it’s her sister Raine who would have been voted most likely to disappear. She’s the dark, troubled flip side of her sunny, accomplished sister.

As with many small towns, you may not like your neighbour but that doesn’t stop you lending a hand in a crisis. The whole area is galvanized & soon there are 3 groups searching for Summer. Joe Ryan is an intimidating ex-con who puts together his own posse of family & friends to look for his daughter. Chief Black is a good ol’ boy still haunted by the failure to find any of the 5 church girls. That Summer could be #6 is almost too much for him to bear. He’s also trying to keep an eye on Joe in an effort to make sure he doesn’t shoot first & ask questions later. Raine is not relying on either of the search parties. She mounts her own investigation, dragging along friends Noah & Purv to help.

The majority of the story is told by the 2 girls in alternating chapters. We follow Raine in the present & through Summer, we learn about events leading up to her disappearance.

This is a tough read. I can’t think of a single character who is not dealing with poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence or a combination of the three. Grace is a town that is on its last legs since the loss of a mill that provided jobs. The author does an amazing job of creating an atmosphere of desperation & decay that feels almost gothic at times. The result is one of the most unrelentingly depressing books I’ve ever read. So while I’m truly in awe of his ability to pull you into the story, I don’t know if I can say I enjoyed it.

Oddly enough, it wasn’t the main characters I found most interesting. I was much more invested in the lives of Noah & Purv, 2 teenage boys who rely on each other to survive. They’re frequently at Raine’s disposal but it was the scenes with just the 2 boys that I found most affecting. Their friendship is literally the only good thing in their sad lives & the mutual support they share is both touching & heartbreaking. Somehow they manage to cling to something rarely seen in these parts…..hope. I almost resented leaving their chapters to return to those narrated by the girls.

There were several times throughout the story where I felt like I missed a significant point. A scene would end & I’d be left with the feeling I’d skated by something of import, that I should be taking away more than I did from a comment or a look. So while many of the story lines are tied up by the end, I have a few lingering questions but it’s quite possible the answers are there & I just didn’t pick them up.

So is this a well written book? Absolutely. The author immerses you in this bleak little corner of the world & preys on your emotions. He even allows a literal ray of light at the end. I found myself thinking about some of the characters for several days after finishing & that’s always a good sign.

In the end, I split the difference between 4 stars for writing & 3 for enjoyment. And I just might need to select something a bit more upbeat as my next read.

This book deserves to be read by as many people as possible. Set in Alabama where I have never been but after reading this book now feel like I have is about disappearing teenage girls and how a community packed full of fascinating and loveable characters deal with this. Whilst reading I thought about where Summer was before I went to sleep and when I woke and couldn't relax until I knew!
Highly recommended.

Oh this is a bleak book, whilst I am giving it 4 stars I don't really think I can say that I enjoyed it. If you enjoyed the first series of True Detective you will like this book.

Despite the book being set in the close and humid burning heat of Summer, the book had me feeling chilled. So many secrets lie at the heart of the small town of Grace, and as girls go missing at the hands of the unknown abductor known as "the Bird" these secrets are revealed and the dark heart of a poor rural town comes to light.

The wicked girls of the title are anything but, they are just typical teenagers with a life that is more complex than the God fearing, church going exterior that the public see. The people with the loose morals and conflicted ethics are the older people, the people who should behave better. The preachers, the business men, the law enforcement officials. It is a hard read; cruelty and neglect are recurrent themes and I struggled to find any hope in the story.

Much more than a crime novel, the actual reveal of who the Bird is will keep you guessing up to the last page. For me I found it more disturbing that anyone of the characters could have been identified as the killer and it wouldn't have shocked me.

Thanks go to the publishers Bonnier Zaffre and net galley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

The story of two sisters and the efforts Raine goes to find her missing sister Summer. This crime thriller to keep you guessing until the end.
I would like to thank NetGalley for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

All the wickedness in one book! The ending was amazing!

Great book! Looking forward to reading more by this author! Highly recommend!

I wasn't a fan of this book. I found it very hard to immerse myself and engage with the characters - they bored me - but judging by the reviews of it on Goodreads (which are superb) I'm not sure if this just wasn't a "me" book and it was my own mindset a the time of reading. I'll give it 3 stars for now but will try to give it another go in the future. I suppose I can't love every book I read which is a disappointment in itself for me but I will buy his first book, Tall Oaks, as he gets such good reviews from other readers.

Excellent book. Great storyline and characters. A real page turner. I would recommend this book.

I shall never quite forget that opening chapter. I might even have snorted lemonade such was the effect it had on me. Bl**dy funny Mr Whit - taker. Apt name I see.

Chris Whittaker is a very talented author indeed. He has a very unique way of writing which creates characters as vivid as they come with speech patterns, body mannerisms that make them stand out even before they’ve walked onto the page. This is one screwed up place he’s put them in - Grace, Alabama, and the result is electrifying. There’s few words I can really use to give this book the justice it deserves but like a car now abandoned on one of Grace’s dust tracks, it skids and slams into your consciousness without an apology or a care,picks itself up and leaves you reeling not quite knowing what just hit you.


Satanic panic, religious fervor and a god fearing mystery that’s what. All wrapped up with a Whittaker bow. He’s like a magical word wizard so when you’re reading all kinds of craziness Raines from the sky (sorry) and then BAM the storm comes in for the kill..This is Summer but not as you know it ;)


Purv, Sheriff Black.....never a better nor mismatched cast could you ever hope to see in a novel.


What a tangled web we weave..

My Review: Having only recently discovered Chris Whitaker and raved about Tall Oaks I was rather excited (jumped up and down several times) to receive an advanced copy of his 2nd novel All the Wicked Girls from his publishers. I was told it was nothing like Tall Oaks and quite dark. Dark? Dark doesn’t even begin to describe this book – how about a complete black-out? I found myself reading this book so slowly as I was savouring each page/chapter and character instead of my usual rapid read and that is 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. Once again he created two wonderful characters in Noah and Purv and whilst their stories were heartbreaking, tragic and sad, their friendship and humour made me smile throughout.

A beautifully written story of love, friendship, beliefs, fear, passion and I’m not embarrassed to say I cried at the end.

FANTASTIC!!!!! Some books just grab you from the beginning and dare you to put them down, knowing you won't be able to. I have read some great ones this year and this one will go in my top 3 or 4. I loved the story, the pacing, the dialogue and especially the main character. 5 stars!!