Tall Bones by Anna Bailey is exactly the sort of book you want. It hooks you in, and you'd like nothing more than to sit down and just keep reading. Sadly, this wasn't an option for me, but I did gallop through, carving out chunks of time so I could unfurl the mystery of what had happened to Abi when she disappeared into the woods never to be seen again. It's a book of secrets. Everyone has a secret and could have been involved in Abi's disappearance for one reason, or another plus Abi has her own secrets too, ones that she kept even from her best friend Emma who is determined to find out what really happened. The story is set in a small town with small-town views and prejudices. If for some reason you don't fit in with what the church and town expect, life is going to be tough. Very tough indeed. This is a challenging read at times, due to the level of prejudice, but it does bring you closer to those characters on the receiving end of such narrow-minded judgement. I wanted those characters to come out on top. I was really rooting for them. As well as a strong plot and story, there is some wonderful writing in this book. I found myself stopping on many occasions to reread a sentence or paragraph when a character, place or emotion had been described in a way I'd not seen before. It's a definite five stars from me.

A town ruled by zealots. Abigail Blake (aged 17) disappears after a party held near the Tall Bones – a series of stones near the small town of Whistling Wood. Her disappearance is going to show not just the cracks in her family but most of the residents of the town. This is a harrowing story following the party where Abigail disappeared. There’s Emma her best friend who sinks into a state of depression and drinking because she left Abi at the party. Abi’s mother Dolly who receives beatings regularly from her husband. Noah, Abi’s eldest brother who is gay but shunned by his father and the church, led by a fanatic. Jude, Abi’s younger brother, broken in body and soul by events that led up to the night of her disappearance. And then there’s Rat, a Romanian, who seems to be the only friend to most of the town’s teenagers. Anna Bailey’s writing is beautiful and even though there are some scenes of absolute horror, I had to follow the story until I knew if there would be any justice not just Abi, but Noah, Jude, Dolly and Abi’s friend, Emma. Rony Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book to review.

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.

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.

Sometimes you meet characters in a book & you just know you want to place the read in everybody's hand. Tall Bones starts as the story of a missing girl, Abigail Blake. Her best friend Emma, was the last one to see her that night at the party in the woods. She can remember every detail. As the days draw out, something creeps beneath the surface of this small Colorado town. From the narrative of other characters, snapshots of Abi's small town life come to light, so cleverly done by the author I couldn't believe this was a debut. Now I read this during lockdown as a buddy read, there is huge amount to discuss. What are the red herrings, who do you hate the most, who knows more, small clues, even the most beautiful of sentences that lays bare a young child's life. What happened to Abi remains the main question, but as the townsfolk boil in the summer heat, secrets are uncovered and a scapegoat must be found. Can anybody stand up to those in charge who would cover things up? Does anyone care anymore? As Emma uncovers secrets about what really happened in the Blake household over the years, can she uncover one in her own past? Tall Bones was hard to read at times, I find bigotry hard to tolerate, but in discussion found that where we have a freedom to think over in the UK this small town snap shot of America is the reason they cannot move forward, stuck in their ways believing those in power have their best interests at heart, they seem happy not to question their lot. We did discuss when this might be set. Could this generation unshackle themselves from a history of repetition & escape? When making the break for freedom what would the cost be? There were whole pages I held my breath in anticipation of what was happening. Every 5 chapters we read had to be discussed as new information came to light meaning it couldn't be who we thought. I found this read very provocative, emotionally it made me angry and sad, worried and hopeful. I can't wait to talk about this, find out what others think happened at the Tall Bones. Thank you Vicky for my gifted proof copy during lockdown. So many moments I wanted to quote. Can't wait to be back to hand sell this.