Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is a creepy read about a documentary being made a murder wrapped up with an urban legend about the tall man. This spans the family and their connections to The Tall Man. Unfortunately for me I just didn’t get this at all. I see so many great reviews but I’m stuck on the fence about it.

The Tall Man is a book told in three interwoven parts. It follows the life of Sadie and her daughter Amber from Saide's childhood through to Amber's life in the aftermath of something terrible. At the centre of this is the legend of the Tall Man, a creature invoked by children (ala Bloody Mary, etc.) that makes children 'special'. It is said that he takes daughters.

The author Phoebe Locke has a definite skill for description. She sets the scenes very well and makes the reader feel they're really there. Detailed information about how a character feels or what they smell, etc. really brings the scenes alive. I really enjoyed that part of it.

The story, itself, was interesting and it led to a somewhat satisfying conclusion. But this is where my problem with the book lies, and why I didn't rate it any higher. There is an awful lot of what I would consider to be filler here. A lot of themes are repeated over and over. When one character frets about something, you'll read about the fretting over and over again. There are thematic detours that, while really good for character development, don't do much of anything to further the plot. There's a lot of meandering in here, and I think the book would have been a lot better if it were around a third shorter.

In conclusion, I think this Phoebe Locke has a lot of promise if she can get a bit more help in the editing to tighten up her stories.

A film crew is shadowing troubled teen Amber Banner following her acquittal in a murder trial. Over the course of the book, and over three timelines, we learn about her family, and their connection to the Tall Man (an urban legend in the mould of the Slender Man). Amber’s motives and actions become clearer as the story and her dysfunctional family history develop, but the constant jumping around is wearing.

At times the writing is repetitive, and the actions of some of the characters are ludicrous. This novel is Phoebe Locke’s debut, so perhaps it would have been a better had in been in the hands of a writer with more experience.

I really wanted to love this thriller (it’s not a horror, by any means) - the idea is sound, most of the characters are well-rounded and relatable, and it’s written well enough to pull the reader in. My main issue is with the timeline-hopping, which works seamlessly sometimes, and is totally jarring at others.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Tall Man is a dark tale clearly inspired by the urban legend of the Slender Man.

In 2018, Greta is working on a documentary focused on eighteen-year-old Amber Banner, who was involved in a recent notorious murder case - although precisely what Amber has done, why, and to whom, remains opaque until near the end.

Two years earlier, Sadie Banner - who walked out on her husband and baby sixteen years before - has returned to be a family again with Miles and Amber. But have the fears that have haunted Sadie for most of her life really been vanquished?

And years earlier still, a group of young girls frighten and fascinate themselves and each other with tales of the Tall Man, who takes girls (but sometimes he needs help), and can make you special.

The Tall Man is a haunting read with a very dark story at its core. It’s a slow burn in which the reader is kept wondering, never quite knowing what’s real and what’s been created by vulnerable young minds. The Tall Man himself lurks in shadowed corners throughout, never clearly seen.

An engrossing and disturbing read. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

I loved this. For a change you know early on who the killer is , as you follow the documentary team after the trial . It’s who is the victim and why that you have to figure out. This is a slow paced book but towards the end I couldn’t put it down . Great characters who are all flawed and each have their own secrets

This is a complex and gripping thriller that manages to straddle three timelines, keep a load of secrets from the reader and throw a few twists in at the end. Sadie Banner abandoned her baby daughter, Amber, and partner Miles suddenly and without warning. Sixteen years later she returns and tries to fit back into their lives and make amends. Jump forward and Amber is being tailed by a documentary film crew, having recently been acquitted of murder. The reader is left wondering who Amber killed and why.

No doubt taking inspiration from the recent Slender Man case, this is an interesting look into how a urban myth grows and grows until it becomes real in the minds of those who hear it. Sadie is terrified of the Tall Man and is utterly convinced he’ll steal her daughter. Her absence has a life changing effect on Amber who becomes controlling, almost ruthless and refuses to let herself cry or show emotion. Amber is probably the most interesting character in the book. The documentary crew are never quite sure what makes her tick and her motives remain unclear right up until the end of the book. The only thing I felt the book was really missing was more of the Tall Man. The legend is that he takes daughters but I felt more could have been made of his origin and a few more stories about him could have made his shadow loom even larger over the characters.

Overall this is a rollercoaster read. It’s one of those great thrillers which leaves you guessing right up until the end. Books of this genre should having you racing towards the end in expectation and this one is no exception. A great read which makes Phoebe Locke a name I’ll certainly look for in the future.

I received a ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair review.

The Tall Man by Phoebe Locke is a very creepy thriller about several members of the Banner family. Sadie believes she is being haunted by the Tall Man and that he is going to harm her daughter. This book was scary and creepy in parts and I found it rather confusing because it jumped about in time too much for me.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Headline for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book presents as an article being written for publication in 2019 following the making of a film about a murder trial of Amber Banner in 2016 of someone (we know not who) who is subsequently found not guilty,
This book could be a supernatural tale or it could be about a young woman who has mental health problems which are exacerbated when she gives birth to her daughter (Amber).
The story moves backwards and forwards from 1999 to the present day and in between, is well written and absorbing leaving the reader to make up their own mind as to what is happening.
There are many twists in the tale keeping the reader guessing and changing their belief as to what was happening. Myths and legends can lead to auto-suggestion and it is very easy to scare yourself into believing things are there that are not - or are they?
With that and the thread running through the book of the morality of Federica Sosa signing Amber up for her story and then not sticking to the agreement as to what and what was not acceptable to include in the series of articles there is a lot to think about. Federica sends her employee (Greta) to shadow Amber and keep an eye on her. Greta feels sympathy for Amber and becomes uncomfortable with what she is expected to do.
Thought provoking and definitely worth reading.
Many thanks to Wildfire/Netgalley for sending me a digital copy of this novel in return for posting a review of my personal opinion.

I stuggled to read this book - just too frightening. I read a bit at a time - the equivalent of hiding behind the settee or watching a movie with your hands sort of over your face. If you like the wierd and suspensful then this is one for you

This book was described as difficult to put down. I found that this was true for the last 20% but not so much until then. I found it a bit 'messy' at the beginning with 3 time zones to flip between. This resolves and the 2 main times take over and it becomes easier to follow. I enjoyed the book, particularly the last 20% as the mystery unravels. It is an unusual story within the genre of psychological thriller as I, as the reader, really cannot like or sympathise with the main character. You do not discover the victims until late in the story which keeps you reading. I do recommend this book although I find I still have questions having finished.

Phoebe Locke’s, The Tall Man, highlights the gullibility and unpredictability of the adolescent mind amid the spread of supernatural tales. An horrendous sacrificial rite committed by a group of pre-adolescent girls is subject to revenge by a member of the victim’s family years later. A tense and gripping psychological thriller!

I hovered over the stars for this book, dithering between a 4 and a 5. What does it really matter? I wonder. The difference of 1 star. But it does. Ultimately, I chose 5, because this book blew me away, even if it did leave me with questions. So many questions.

The Tall Man is not your usual horror story. It's not a slasher, not full of cheap scares, relying on making the reader jump. No, this is full of a delicious kind of horror, that creeping feeling that something is there, in the mirror, sitting on the backseat, waiting for you in the darkest corner of the room. Or is it? Is it in your mind, a trick of the imagination, a ghost that only you can see? This is the beauty of The Tall Man.

I'm not going to give you a run-down of the plot. If you've gotten this far, you know what it's about. The storytelling is clever, jumping from the present, to a couple of years before, to back again to the 90s, when Sadie Banner gave birth to her daughter, Amber, and subsequently abandoned her. The female characters are the strongest ones - while Miles, Amber's father, seems to be an all-round good guy, he has a darker side too. But it is Sadie who is the star of the show.

Many thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars - a brilliant book with well constructed characters and a plot line that kept me on my toes throughout. Phoebe Locke has created a story where you are never 100% sure what is going on until the very end, and even then there is a slight doubt over whether it is super natural or if it is down to human intervention. The creepiness factor was built up over time and was established early on, with the flashbacks cleverly written into the narrative. I loved the ending and the surprise twist that, although I had thought it early on in the story, I dismissed as the narrative was written in such a way that made me think I was wrong. In terms of the story, however, I do feel that the ending was a tad rushed once all of it was revealed, but that may be down to personal taste more than anything.

In terms of characters and their development, I felt that all of the main and central characters were well written and were well established. I loved the relationship between Miles and Sadie, and felt that the main villain of the piece (no spoilers) was suitably evil. I wish we could have seen more of the relationship between Leanna and Billie, as they were left to the side a little but other than that it was great to read about a diverse range of characters.

In terms of how the book was written, it may be better if seen in paper form, as on the Kindle there were a couple of times when you can't really tell where one chapter ends and another begins, other than that it was a book with good flow and held my interested for the vast majority of the story. All in all an author I shall be keeping an eye out for as this was thoroughly enjoyable and a great story.

Like other reviewers I couldn’t put this down. It isn’t a particularly pleasant read but I just had to find out what happened. I didn’t find it at all creepy but definitely unsettling.
The action moves from years ago, the recent past and the present. It’s hard to empathise with the characters and most of them I didn’t like.
However it’s very compelling and definitely worth reading.

The tall man is loosely based on the legend of the Slenderman, a story that came known firstly to gamers. And the horror came alive in 2014 with a near fatal stabbing committed by girls trying to please the him.

The story itself jumps around a lot, different times, different characters and narrating style and it did take some getting used to. Twists come throughout the story and the reader is literally waiting for the last few chapters to know the whole story.

I enjoyed this thriller despite not actually liking any of the women in the story and I would recommend to other readers.

I loved this book! To begin with the format and non-linear timeline was irritating but as I got deeper in I enjoyed the emails, the flashbacks to the past and back to present.
The characters (other than Greta) were unlikeable but this added to the story. I also enjoyed that Ambers victim wasn't revealed until the last couple of chapters.
Overall the best book I've read this year and will be recommending to everyone I know!

Just wow! Please, please buy this. It’s captivating and original. It’s well written. It’s scary. It’s got everything you want from an thriller. Best book I’ve read this year. Against stiff competition!

Just finished reading this atmospheric and chilling book. Wow, wow, wow!
It’s hard to condense the story into a brief review without giving anything away, but I’ll give it a try.
Told in third-close person narrative there’s two main timelines: 2018 and 2016, with occasional flashbacks to Sadie’s childhood. In 2018 we follow Greta, part of a documentary crew who are making a film on Amber Banner. Amber, now 18 years old, has been found innocent of a murder charge, but there’s still interest in her story. In 2016 we go back to when Amber was 16-years old, and her mother, Sadie, who abandoned her as a baby has returned. We learn that Sadie is haunted by the urban legend, The Tall Man, and left to protect her daughter from him. It’s with nail-biting tension the two timelines come together in a creepy climax.
This was a gripping read. I did not want to put my kindle down. It’s a chilling psychological thriller with a touch of the supernatural that Locke blends seamlessly. It’s innovative and fresh with twists and turns that I did not see coming.

Oh, this got under my skin and picked away at my imagination, The ever-present menace of the Tall Man stayed with me even when I wasn't reading the book. It literally gave me nightmares, and when I woke from those nightmares, I looked to the dark corners of the room and strained my ears to check I couldn't hear whispering - because the Tall Man takes daughters. I can't put my finger on exactly what is so thoroughly unsettling about this book... but I loved it! If you are a fan of quiet horror then this is a must for your next read. I know it will stay with me for a long time and I'm recommending it everywhere..