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revisorium's review
5.0
i'm no good at writing reviews, but i just had to tell anyone who would listen to read this book. It's that kind of story and talent at writing that makes me want to write.
debtat2's review
5.0
This atmospheric novel had me completely captivated, it is so intense and utterly enthralling. I throughly recommend this read.
afreebird's review
2.0
I found this book really hard to get into. There were a lot of different characters and a lot going on in general. I found the story a little disjointed and confusing at times; I would get lost and have to reread sections.
lauraxbakker's review against another edition
3.0
Op een dag verdwijnt Summer. Ze is het zevende meisje in Grace dat niet meer thuiskomt. Na deze nieuwe tragedie heeft de politie moeite de onrust in het stadje te beteugelen. De sheriff gaat ervan uit dat Summer is weggelopen, maar Raine laat het er niet bij zitten en gaat zelf op onderzoek uit.
Al een hele lange tijd had ik geen thriller meer gelezen dus besloot ik 'Alle slechte meisjes' te lezen. Ik had hier nog niet veel over gehoord, maar was benieuwd geraakt door de flaptekst. Het verhaal zelf vond ik goed in elkaar zitten, toch vond ik hem wat langdradig. De dikte van het boek laat het niet merken, maar hij is 400 bladzijdes. Met thematiek als de kerk, de duivel en rednecks wordt de omgeving van Alabama, 1995 op een in mijn ogen sterke manier neergezet.
Al een hele lange tijd had ik geen thriller meer gelezen dus besloot ik 'Alle slechte meisjes' te lezen. Ik had hier nog niet veel over gehoord, maar was benieuwd geraakt door de flaptekst. Het verhaal zelf vond ik goed in elkaar zitten, toch vond ik hem wat langdradig. De dikte van het boek laat het niet merken, maar hij is 400 bladzijdes. Met thematiek als de kerk, de duivel en rednecks wordt de omgeving van Alabama, 1995 op een in mijn ogen sterke manier neergezet.
kcfromaustcrime's review
5.0
Chris Whitaker's debut novel TALL OAKS garnered a lot of positive publicity and a CWA John Creasey New Blood Dagger award. Haven't had a chance to read the first novel yet, but when ALL THE WICKED GIRLS arrived it bounced to the top of the pile based on reputation and expectation alone.
Whitaker is an Englishman, but ALL THE WICKED GIRLS is set in the Alabama of many movies and American mythology. A depressed place, populated by struggling families, dirt poor but tight, close, loving and caring. Deeply religious, these are the sorts of people you feel would be wheeled out when you want to explain "salt of the earth".
When fifteen-year-old Summer Ryan packs a bag, leaves a note saying "I'm sorry", and disappears, the biggest surprise seems to be that it's the "good girl" who has gone. Her twin Raine is the one most likely to get into trouble. Not Summer, the music prodigy, the model student, the golden girl (obviously there's deliberation in the choice of names for these characters). Raine, fortunately, is exactly the sort of person that isn't going to let something like Summer's disappearance roll into yet another mystery. She's the one who is prepared to ask the question their parents, the town and the local Police Chief are trying to avoid - is "the Bird" back? This unknown perpetrator was assumed responsible for the abduction of five young girls in a neighbouring county, but everybody had hoped he was dead or gone. Everybody also assumes the girls are dead - although no sign of them has ever been found.
Symbolism is writ large in ALL THE WICKED GIRLS. From the Summer and Raine names of the twins, through to a town called Grace, which is anything but, and the massive storm that is brewing - meteorological and psychological. Combined with references to good and evil, and the twins aligned with the different sides, God, the Devil and the Church, and the darkness of the atmospherics matches the overwhelming message being delivered. The narrative is supported by the sense of a very odd place, populated by some very odd people, including the morally ambiguous, looming presence of the local Pastor. The idea that Raine's obsession with her sister's disappearance, supported by some of the classic outsiders in the community like this, eventually putting pressure on a dispirited, almost lackadaisical Police Chief does make sense, as does the stirring of the twin's father and his redneck mates.
The narrative switches viewpoint between Summer's voice in the lead up to her disappearance, and the third person telling of the story of Raine and her fellow seekers - Noah (hero cop's son), Purv (son of a local construction worker, victim of shocking violence from his father) and Police Chief Black as he finds his cop's instinct and drive again. Grace, is, it turns out, a town steeped in religious fervour, and not short of possible suspects in Summer's disappearance, and that of the five earlier possible victims.
The sense of this place, the culture and the society in which the action takes place is palpable, uncomfortable and overwhelming. The characters all turn out to have hidden depths and secrets, and it often feels like the whole place is operating on lies. It's deep, dark and beautifully written, with not a hint of an outsider author. The message is, like the atmospherics, on the heavy side - part noir / part morality play, and because of that there's no way you could call this entertaining reading. ALL THE WICKED GIRLS is, however, extremely involving reading, requiring commitment on the part of the reader to empathise and eventually understand that not everything here is what it seems.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-all-wicked-girls-chris-whitaker
Whitaker is an Englishman, but ALL THE WICKED GIRLS is set in the Alabama of many movies and American mythology. A depressed place, populated by struggling families, dirt poor but tight, close, loving and caring. Deeply religious, these are the sorts of people you feel would be wheeled out when you want to explain "salt of the earth".
When fifteen-year-old Summer Ryan packs a bag, leaves a note saying "I'm sorry", and disappears, the biggest surprise seems to be that it's the "good girl" who has gone. Her twin Raine is the one most likely to get into trouble. Not Summer, the music prodigy, the model student, the golden girl (obviously there's deliberation in the choice of names for these characters). Raine, fortunately, is exactly the sort of person that isn't going to let something like Summer's disappearance roll into yet another mystery. She's the one who is prepared to ask the question their parents, the town and the local Police Chief are trying to avoid - is "the Bird" back? This unknown perpetrator was assumed responsible for the abduction of five young girls in a neighbouring county, but everybody had hoped he was dead or gone. Everybody also assumes the girls are dead - although no sign of them has ever been found.
Symbolism is writ large in ALL THE WICKED GIRLS. From the Summer and Raine names of the twins, through to a town called Grace, which is anything but, and the massive storm that is brewing - meteorological and psychological. Combined with references to good and evil, and the twins aligned with the different sides, God, the Devil and the Church, and the darkness of the atmospherics matches the overwhelming message being delivered. The narrative is supported by the sense of a very odd place, populated by some very odd people, including the morally ambiguous, looming presence of the local Pastor. The idea that Raine's obsession with her sister's disappearance, supported by some of the classic outsiders in the community like this, eventually putting pressure on a dispirited, almost lackadaisical Police Chief does make sense, as does the stirring of the twin's father and his redneck mates.
The narrative switches viewpoint between Summer's voice in the lead up to her disappearance, and the third person telling of the story of Raine and her fellow seekers - Noah (hero cop's son), Purv (son of a local construction worker, victim of shocking violence from his father) and Police Chief Black as he finds his cop's instinct and drive again. Grace, is, it turns out, a town steeped in religious fervour, and not short of possible suspects in Summer's disappearance, and that of the five earlier possible victims.
The sense of this place, the culture and the society in which the action takes place is palpable, uncomfortable and overwhelming. The characters all turn out to have hidden depths and secrets, and it often feels like the whole place is operating on lies. It's deep, dark and beautifully written, with not a hint of an outsider author. The message is, like the atmospherics, on the heavy side - part noir / part morality play, and because of that there's no way you could call this entertaining reading. ALL THE WICKED GIRLS is, however, extremely involving reading, requiring commitment on the part of the reader to empathise and eventually understand that not everything here is what it seems.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-all-wicked-girls-chris-whitaker
madeleinekl's review
3.0
3.5 A grim, biblically dark, fantastical crime story set in a depressingly realistic working-class South. Another well-written book almost ruined by the author's obsession with how sexy and mature 15 year old girls are!
rachhenderson's review
3.0
Five church-going teenage girls have been abducted in Alabama. When Summer Ryan packs a bag and leaves a note, her twin sister, Raine, is sure that Summer isn't just a runaway but the next victim of the Bird, so called because the one time he was sighted, he looked to be dressed like a giant bird.
Raine sets out to find her sister with her two local boys, Noah and Purv. Summer's dad is also on the hunt, with a large group of friends who aren't the most law-abiding people. Drug taking Chief Black is already feeling guilty about the other missing girls, and is at a loss for how to find Summer and keep everyone else safe.
Meanwhile the town is covered by an oppressive cloud...
The story is written in a dialect that is difficult to get into but, surprisingly, by the end, I didn't notice any more. I did come to enjoy it but, with so many books out there, it's not one I'm going to highly recommend.
Raine sets out to find her sister with her two local boys, Noah and Purv. Summer's dad is also on the hunt, with a large group of friends who aren't the most law-abiding people. Drug taking Chief Black is already feeling guilty about the other missing girls, and is at a loss for how to find Summer and keep everyone else safe.
Meanwhile the town is covered by an oppressive cloud...
The story is written in a dialect that is difficult to get into but, surprisingly, by the end, I didn't notice any more. I did come to enjoy it but, with so many books out there, it's not one I'm going to highly recommend.
jadechurch1983's review
4.0
This book really drew me in. The ending was great as well, although aspects of it felt a little disconnected and confusing. Not sure if I missed something.
I really enjoyed how the story was told in 2 different times with the missing girl's story also being told while the main story is the search for her.
I really enjoyed how the story was told in 2 different times with the missing girl's story also being told while the main story is the search for her.
dazingwitch's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Gun violence
Moderate: Child abuse and Child death