The blurb of this book sounded great and I was really looking forward to read it. Unfortunately though I struggled through it and found it didn’t get going until well into the second half of the book for me. This was a slow burner of a read for me. I realise many readers like a book that slowly gathers pace but I prefer a fast paced book from the beginning..

I saw a lot of hype about this book on Twitter and requested an early review copy from NetGalley and I am so glad I did! What a debut. I finished it last night just before publication day today. It is a slow burn but once you get into it and get to know the extremely deep and well developed characters it is totally absorbing.

The story revolves around the disappearance of 17 year old Abigail one night after a party at the Tall Bones which is a group of tall white stones in the forest. Abi tells her friend Emma she is meeting someone in the woods and reluctantly Emma leaves her. She will regret that decision. Abi is not seen again after that night.

Emma turns to alcohol to help her cope and decides to try and uncover what happened to Abi that night with the help of Rat, a Romanian boy living in the trailer park and Maddox, a friend of Abi’s and Noah, one of Abi’s brothers.

Secrets start being uncovered and the town are looking for someone to blame. The teenagers are going through their own issues and have nowhere to turn for help. Parents are either abusive or just don’t care, and the pastor puts the blame for their thoughts and worries back on them, telling them they are broken. The same pastor who blames Abi’s mother for her own abuse by her crazy husband Samuel, a Vietnam war vet who clearly has PTSD and drives his wife to the verge of insanity where she stops functioning.

As we get to know the people who live in this small town of Whistling Ridge we find a horrible cruel lot of weak minded people, who have the local church at the centre of their lives, and are brainwashed by the pastor. They are homophobes, racists, wife beaters, child abusers. They use the bible as the excuse for their behaviour, confused by the bible’s message by the preacher of hatred. No wonder the teenagers can’t wait to get away from the town.

Things come to a head one night after a particularly savage church meeting which ends with the setting fire to a property.

At least one person knows what happened to Abi that night.

Thanks very much to NetGalley and Transworld Penguin Random House for the chance to read an ARC of this book.

This book is very well written but a little darker than I thought it was going to be from the synopsis. I didn’t like a lot of the characters, but that’s to be expected and doesn’t detract from the book, or my need to find out how the story will play out. I enjoyed the writing style so will be looking out for more from this author. Thank you #netgalley.

My thanks to Random House U.K./Transworld Publishing for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Tall Bones’ by Anna Bailey in exchange for an honest review.

I also took part in a Pigeonhole group read, allowing for discussion about its plot and characters.

Whistling Ridge, Colorado is the kind of insular small town where long held grudges and resentments simmer beneath the surface. When seventeen-year-old Emma leaves her best friend Abigail at a party in the nearby woods, she has every confidence that her friend will be just fine. However, Emma will never see Abi again.

As time passes Abi's disappearance has repercussions throughout the community. The townspeople, including Abi’s parents, are being strongly influenced by the local preacher whose fire and brimstone rhetoric proves very persuasive. His particular target is Rat, a young Romanian, whose mere presence in town ignites a tinderbox of prejudice and rage.

Divided into sections titled ‘Now’ and ‘Then’, I found ‘Tall Bones’ to be a well written character driven drama with elements of suspense linked to the question of what really happened that night at the Tall Bones.

I cannot deny that many of the novel’s characters were deeply unpleasant. I did feel empathy for the younger residents, who clearly were trapped by circumstances and struggling to carve out their own identities. Whistling Ridge may be beautiful due to its Rocky Mountain location but the degree of violence, xenophobia, homophobia, and the like in its townspeople made it ugly.

Overall, the nature of the plot and various unpleasant characters made it a difficult read at times. Still, while this wasn’t quite my cup of tea I could appreciate that addressing these issues in fiction has the potential to raise awareness and initiate dialogue. I suspect that this was Anna Bailey’s intention for her thought-provoking debut.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

When seventeen year old Abigail Blake goes missing after a party in the woods the small US town of Whistling Creek becomes the focus of scrutiny as old grudges and long time resentments come to the forefront. This is a town with secrets not just between the townspeople and Abi’s friends but also between the dysfunctional members of Abi’s own family who all seem to carry simmering burdens of resentment and none more so than Abi's father, Samuel Blake, a Vietnam veteran, who is fighting his own demons.

Multiple points of view and a flipping forward and back in time make this a story you have to concentrate on. However, the author does a great job of keeping just the right amount of tension, which on occasion feels a little slow, but I think this is all a deliberate ploy to keep alive the placidity of life in Whistling Creek, and as the story continues it becomes impossible not to suspect absolutely everyone of being involved in Abi’s mysterious disappearance. Tall Bones moves with languid ease, there’s nothing rushed about Whistling Creek, no real sense of urgency in tracking down what happened to Abi but there is lots of gossip and sly innuendo which is in itself a dangerous motive for those who could be guilty of a crime.

This psychological drama takes a close look at the oppressive nature of small town America where hidden in dark corners festering resentment and the dark prejudices of evil are allowed to flourish. Tall Bones is this author’s debut novel and it certainly gets her writing career off to an exciting start.

What an absorbing, well written title this was! The characters are well rounded and fully described. This is a small town full of bigotry, secrets and bullying. The disappearance of Abigail sets off a chain of events which will affect everyone in the town to some degree. This is not a comfortable read, but a compelling one.
Three and a half stars for me and I look forward to more by this author.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Anna Bailey/Random House UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

I loved this book. It is one of those stories once you pick it up you couldn’t put it down. I would highly recommend the author and will be looking out for books of hers in the future!

Abi has gone missing, presumed dead. Her best friend is devastated and wants answers but no one seems willing to help her. Abi's family are hiding many secrets of their own but could they really have murdered her and what about Rat the young man who rolled up in his trailer before she died. The truth will out but what will it cost the residents.

This was an interesting mystery. The missing girl does get a bit lost in all the drama of other stories that are going alongside this one. I must admit I found myself most interested in Noah's story. This focuses on small town religious beliefs which was hard hitting but interesting to read. The plot is quite slow as it jumps around by who is telling the story. The final reveal and the ending is well done, though I had guessed the identity of the person behind it all. A dark thriller.

This novel explores the deep secrets and subtle relationships that simultaneously hold together and tear apart the small community of Whistling Ridge, Colorado. Reviewers might easily describe the town as claustrophobic but oppressive would be more accurate; the young are oppressed by their parents, the women by their men, the men by the only real employer – the mill owner, the town by the fire and brimstone Pastor. The term “Redneck” is never used in the book but would be an accurate description.
Some might call this a murder-mystery, the mystery being that we don’t know for sure that there has been a murder. Equally it could be called a psychological thriller but it isn’t really a thriller. It is a meticulous, almost forensic, analysis of the neuroses of the main characters. At first it appears to be all about the disappearance of Abigail Blake and the effect this has on her friends but, as it explores the family background of each of these, it unearths guilty connections and a deep seated history of coercion and violence, which has caused profound psychological damage to everyone of them.
This is a debut novel but there is no evidence of this in the plotting or language. The writing is powerful and the characters are all well drawn and act in a believable way, consistent with their roles. Anna Bailey has set herself an extremely high standard and I look forward to reading her next novel.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

I chose to read a free eARC of Tall Bones but that has in no way influenced my review.

Gosh, I loved this book. I'm currently suffering a bit of a book hangover and I can't stop thinking about it. I was instantly drawn to the stunning cover and the promise of small town secrets. It delivered ten-fold. You've got to read it!

Seventeen year old Abi Blake waves goodbye to her best friend, Emma Alvarez, and assures her she'll be able to get home safely. Emma, fearful for her friend's safety, reluctantly leaves. The following morning there's no sign of Abi. Everyone in the small town of Whistling Ridge has a secret. Everyone has their own version of events from the night Abi disappeared but no one is willing to talk. What happened to Abi Blake that fateful night out at the Tall Bones...?

Absolutely gorgeous and utterly glorious. From the opening chapters this book had a hold over me and I savoured every moment I spent with it. It's such a beautifully written piece of fiction which managed to completely entrance me. I loved it and I can easily see this book featuring in my top reads of the year, if not my absolute top pick for 2021.

My heart broke for Emma who is consumed with guilt after leaving Abi at the Tall Bones. She turns to drink to try and numb the hurt and the humiliation but no matter how much she drinks, it doesn't stop the pain. And that's how she meets Rat Lăcustă who she helplessly falls in love with. Rat is young, spirited and exotic. And not the slightest bit interested romantically in Emma which only brings her more heartache. In Emma, the author has created a young woman at her most vulnerable, and she touched my heart.

But Emma and Rat are only the beginning of a cast of characters who all stand tall from the page. The Blake family made me feel such a strong mix of emotions. I adored Jude, Abi's younger brother, broken by those who should love him the most but still loyal to a fault. Abi's mother, Dolly, made me furious in one breath for not acknowledging or stopping what was going on right in front of her eyes. In the next breath I couldn't help but feel for her. Stuck in a loveless marriage and feeling completely trapped. Yes, her actions were unforgiveable but I wouldn't wish her life on anyone. Noah, Abi's older brother, was beautifully drawn. As he begins to realise who he is and what is important to him, he is shunned by the small town community he calls home and gossiped about at every opportunity. His blossoming relationship with Rat was both tentative and intense and I thoroughly enjoyed how the author wrote their interactions. A true love story. And finally we have Samuel Blake, Abi's father. A cruel and aggressive man who made my blood boil with his  hatred and discrimination. He uses the bible and the church's teachings to justify his atrocious treatment of his wife and sons without remorse. 

The plot pulls the reader into the story to the point where it's hard to put the book down for any length of time. When I wasn't reading Tall Bones, I was thinking about it. It consumed me totally and I'm so glad it did. When I say 'I will remember this book for some time to come' that feels like a massive understatement. This is one of those books which has left its permanent mark on me.

Would I recommend this book? I most definitely would, yes. Tall Bones is a haunting, beautiful but ultimately dark read that I devoured with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. Its themes can be quite unsettling and upsetting at times, particularly later in the book, but it's an astonishing debut. I'm so happy I took a chance on this one but I also feel bereft that it's over. I miss Whistling Ridge (although once you've read the book you'll wonder why). I'm a sucker for a small town American crime novel and this is an absolutely superb one. Shame, secrets, love and lies as the tagline says. What more could you want? Highly recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of Tall Bones. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

4.5 stars rounded up.
This is small town drama at its best - or worst! We start with the disappearance of a young woman, Abi, after a party in the woods. An even that will touch every resident of the town of Whistling Ridge. It's like when you drop a stone in the water and the ripples expand to fill the whole surface of the pond. Emma feels bad for abandoning her friend - if only she'd insisted, things wouldn't have turned out as they did. What happened to Abi, who was she last with, where did she go? Why hasn't she come back? Has the very worst happened?
With everyone involved, all surrounded by secrets, lies and sometimes duplicitous behaviour, there is a lot of chaff to get through to find the wheat - the truth - underneath.
Abi's two siblings -Noah and Samuel - both have reasons for fighting with her. Her father isn't a kind man either. And then there's her friend Rat - well, he's a character in his own right - larger than life and, well, maybe a bit shady. But is his heart in the right place?
This book had me spinning around, chasing my tail at every page turn. I tried to follow what was going on but I was left reeling too many times to count so eventually I just sat back, cracked on and let the book lead me rather than trying to second guess. And what a journey we went on. What secrets we uncovered... All with an underlying feeling of hopelessness. Sad, very sad. But balanced out by Emma's determination to get justice for her friend. Even when things start to get a bit dicey.
No one is above suspicion. Small town mentality at its very best. Prejudice at every turn. A really emotional read in places. Tough too. But these attitude and judgements are not uncommon in places such as this. Still... Sigh.
And a debut to boot too - well, blow me down. Really feels like it's been written by a well established author but I can't see any more books by her. Might be wrong but, if not, well... Apart from being a bit on the bleak side, my hat is well and truly off. Wonder what she will have in store for next time. I'm definitely looking out for that book. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

When a teenage girl goes missing, her friend sets about trying to discover what has happened.

So many of the characters in this story have secrets, that few are able to be true to themselves. As we slowly unwind the story through the book we can start to understand what led to the sadness and shame of the people who live in this small town.

I have to say that although I didn’t like many of the characters, I loved this book. It was twisty and clever and kept me reading until the end.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advance reader copy. A thrilling read!

I read this book in 3 sittings spread out over a number of days and between sittings I could not stop thinking of this town and these characters.

Anna Bailey evokes such a clear image of setting and characters and weaves several heartbreaking storylines in and around the story of a missing 17 year old girl. I imagine this is what small towns can be like with 'outsiders' and people who are different being viewed with violence and suspicion.

There are some tough subjects and extreme violence explored in this book but it is done with such sensitivity to each character and their reasoning is explored to a large extent.

I felt so sorry for the Blake family for so many reasons and their story, misunderstandings and ultimate changes will stay with me for a long time.

I absolutely loved this and I was captivated completely by these characters and this small town which was full with secrets!

Whilst this is essentially a mystery as we try to find out what happened to Abigail it is so much more than that. It’s a coming of age tale, it explores those who are deeply religious, domestic abuse, assault and discrimination against those who look or love ‘differently’ to others.

The way the author describes Whistling Ridge is fantastic! I was right there in Whistling Ridge with everyone, like a fly on the wall, as I watched everything take place – it was so wonderfully detailed and atmospheric.

The story is told from a number of different characters point of view which suddenly change during a chapter which sometimes confused me a little. There are also chapters from ‘Then’ before Abigail went missing and events leading up to that day. All of these were tough to read about, especially when it came to Noah and Rat. I adored them both and the hardship that they faced was at times tough to read about but the way the author handled it was spot on and I just loved them both!

Despite the situations that arise during the story which are unpleasant, I absolutely adored this book. It had me gripped from the very first page, slowly building the tension and unpicking each secret layer by layer.

Overall this was such a brilliant book filled with dark secrets, a brilliant setting and complex characters that you will become emotionally attached to. Highly recommend – a must read!

This is a brutal yet bittersweet story about a small town that breaks outsiders and anyone who go against the grain.

Seventeen year old Abigail is last seen in the woods at a party by her best friend Emma. Both girls lives in front of them, hanging to leave the small town that is slowly killing them. Sadly Emma will never see her best friend ever again!

Abi’s disappearance is like a thread being pulled and the small towns secrets start to come to light. Abi’s family is far from perfect. The town knows that her father has a temper, her brothers and mother often have poorly cover bruises all over them. Yet no one says a thing.

Religion runs deep in this backwards town and if you’re not apart of it you may as well leave because if the town wants you gone they will do anything in their power ensure you leave. Lies, betrays, secret relationships, murder and violence plagued the town and once the secrets out of who killed Abi, the whole town comes crashing down with it.

🚨 Trigger Warning, domestic violence, racism, murder and homophobia.

I loved ths book. A small hick town in the USA so well described with its prejudices, inward thinking and the God fearing community ruled by an almost demonic Pastor. I was expecting quite a bit when I started to read this book but I was not really prepared for the full explosive novel. I admire Anna Bailey for bringing in all the taboo subjects that carried this hick town through. The people were, as expected, on the whole very narrow minded, the scenery surroundng the town was well described and the emotions of the people were first rate.
I can see why some readers found the rawness a little too explicit but I considered that it added to the reality. At times the pace was slow but this help define the characters a little more and certainly added twists galore. I did guess what had happened to Abigail by the midde of the book but until the ending I could not certain that I was correct as there was so many more twists which detracted from the solution beautifully.
Highly recommend this book and I look forwards to reading more by this very talented author.

An absolutely brilliant story about long-buried small-town secrets. This book will keep you guessing and has so many twists and turns. Brilliant. Highly recommended.

I’d like to thank Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Tall Bones’ by Anna Bailey in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Seventeen-year-olds Emma and Abi go to a party in the shadows of the Tall Bones. After separating to go home, Abi meets up with a boy and while Emma gets home safely Abi doesn’t. The deeply religious residents of Whistling Ridge have their own opinions on what happened to Abi, but what’s the truth?

After reading other readers’ reviews I was looking forward to losing myself in ‘Tall Bones’ but I’m afraid I struggled to get into the story. The characterisations were good but I didn’t like the small-mindedness of the townsfolk and couldn’t warm to any of them. The story was hard work, slow and dragging in places, and parts were uncomfortable to read. I so wanted to enjoy this debut novel but I’m afraid I didn’t, for which I’m sorry.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I couldn't stop reading this, the plot was so compelling. The characters are well-drawn and engaging, and Bailey gives just enough hints for the ending to make sense while still preserving the mystery at the heart of the plot. It was a brilliant depiction of small town life and the prejudices and violence that can lie beneath the charming veneer. I can't wait to read Bailey's next book.

Tall Bones (a suitably sinister title) is a very impressive debut from Anna Bailey. While the basic premise - a teenage girl (Abigail Blake) goes into the woods one night and never comes out - doesn’t sound especially original, Bailey has woven a tense, atmospheric and often very disturbing story.

The bigotry of the small town of Whistling Ridge - the rampant racism, misogyny and homophobia, with Old Testament-style religion used as a justification for hatred and violence - is forensically laid out here by the author, and it’s compellingly horrible to see, with some truly shocking moments. It’s certainly one of the most toxic small-town environments I’ve read about.

The drunk and violent Samuel Blake, a Vietnam veteran, is the most obviously dangerous of the inhabitants - not that anyone ever does anything about it, certainly not the pastor to whom his wife appeals for help - but other characters, though more outwardly respectable, contain equal darkness.

Not all the characters are awful. Abi’s best friend, half-Mexican Emma Alvarez, has experienced racist bullying throughout her seventeen years, and is not coping well with her friend’s disappearance. Abi’s brothers Noah and Jude, and mother Dolly, helpless to protect her children from the rages of a damaged father, struggle with daily survival. Rat, a young Romanian immigrant, becomes a focal point for the town’s anger in the wake of Abi’s disappearance.

As the truth about what happened to Abi gradually emerges, the simmering tensions in Whistling Ridge threaten to boil over.

An excellent read.