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qkat's review against another edition
1.0
I haven't given a one star in a long time. This book was just awful. The characters are horrible and unlikeable. The writer must have a hatred of small towns and Christian families, because her portrayal of them is just despicable. I don't consider myself religious, but using Christianity to display characters the way she did is a bit offensive. I love a good thriller /mystery, but this one is a miss for me. It's sad, but I was actually looking forward to reading this. Huge disappointment.
lynguy1's review
4.0
Anna Bailey’s debut novel Where the Truth Lies brings readers a dark, disturbing, emotional, and atmospheric crime novel set in small town Whistling Ridge, Colorado. A teenaged girl, Abigail Blake, disappears after leaving a party and going into the woods. She had come to the party with her friend Emma Alvarez who feels guilty for not waiting on her friend and commits to finding out what really happened to Emma. Did she meet someone; and if so, who? Most, including the police, believe she ran away from home. But is that what really happened?
Many characters in this novel are nasty, spiteful, obnoxious, malicious, and mean-spirited, and that is describing them mildly. They seemed very real and it is daunting to imagine a town that contains this many vile characters. However, there are a few characters that stand out positively from the rest. One is Abigail’s younger brother, Jude. Another is Emma. Despite her problems, she is trying to do the right thing. The third was Rat, a Romanian living in an RV. While he had some problems, he basically wants to help Emma.
The plot is quite dark and contains several twists that are interwoven well. The author does a great job of world-building. I was able to easily visualize the setting. The small town atmosphere came through, but not the positive atmosphere often seen in novels. This one is full of secrets, alcoholism, racism, and a charismatic pastor that advocates violence and intolerance. Add to this drugs, rage, domestic violence, child abuse, self-blame, cruelty, narrow-mindedness, inexcusably bad parenting, gossip, lies, maliciousness, bullying, and much more. What do you get? A suspenseful and emotional novel that pulls a reader in and keeps one looking for something hopeful in Whistling Ridge. My one quibble was with the frequent shift of perspective from character to character and back and forth in time which broke up the natural flow of the novel.
Overall, this book was a study of many characters and group dynamics that was intense, compelling, thought-provoking, and impactful. What will Emma find out as she digs into Abigail’s disappearance and learns that Abi had her own secrets? Will she solve the puzzle of her friend’s disappearance? I will not forget this book or its characters for a long time, if ever. It is not an easy book to read, but it is important to understand that attitudes and behaviors such as those shown in this story line exist.
Atria Books and Anna Bailey provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for August 3, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Many characters in this novel are nasty, spiteful, obnoxious, malicious, and mean-spirited, and that is describing them mildly. They seemed very real and it is daunting to imagine a town that contains this many vile characters. However, there are a few characters that stand out positively from the rest. One is Abigail’s younger brother, Jude. Another is Emma. Despite her problems, she is trying to do the right thing. The third was Rat, a Romanian living in an RV. While he had some problems, he basically wants to help Emma.
The plot is quite dark and contains several twists that are interwoven well. The author does a great job of world-building. I was able to easily visualize the setting. The small town atmosphere came through, but not the positive atmosphere often seen in novels. This one is full of secrets, alcoholism, racism, and a charismatic pastor that advocates violence and intolerance. Add to this drugs, rage, domestic violence, child abuse, self-blame, cruelty, narrow-mindedness, inexcusably bad parenting, gossip, lies, maliciousness, bullying, and much more. What do you get? A suspenseful and emotional novel that pulls a reader in and keeps one looking for something hopeful in Whistling Ridge. My one quibble was with the frequent shift of perspective from character to character and back and forth in time which broke up the natural flow of the novel.
Overall, this book was a study of many characters and group dynamics that was intense, compelling, thought-provoking, and impactful. What will Emma find out as she digs into Abigail’s disappearance and learns that Abi had her own secrets? Will she solve the puzzle of her friend’s disappearance? I will not forget this book or its characters for a long time, if ever. It is not an easy book to read, but it is important to understand that attitudes and behaviors such as those shown in this story line exist.
Atria Books and Anna Bailey provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for August 3, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
melmac79's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review
2.0
I was very excited to receive an invitation from Atria Books to review this novel. Thank you.
This book was called "Tall Bones" in Britain, which is a much more evocative title for it than "Where the Truth Lies." The Tall Bones are a local landmark of white rocks in the tiny town of Whistling Ridge Colorado, where teens go to party. After one of these parties, Abi does not come home. The novel explores her family in this tight know community, as well as the families of others who may be involved.
The story bristles with stereotypes. A Baptist church centers the town, and we're talking homophobic, racist, bigoted, misogynistic, ignorant, lying, false hearted creeps. The women are abused and the men are jock A-holes. No redeeming features, no real sense of community.
I was un-wowed by this novel, but I think that Anna Bailey has promise. She's managed to develop a wide cast of characters and give a sense of place to Whistling Ridge. As a Brit, I felt she painted small town American life with the broadest brush possible, but I would be interested in reading a book set in a place with which she is more familiar and she can see more facets in her characters.
This book was called "Tall Bones" in Britain, which is a much more evocative title for it than "Where the Truth Lies." The Tall Bones are a local landmark of white rocks in the tiny town of Whistling Ridge Colorado, where teens go to party. After one of these parties, Abi does not come home. The novel explores her family in this tight know community, as well as the families of others who may be involved.
The story bristles with stereotypes. A Baptist church centers the town, and we're talking homophobic, racist, bigoted, misogynistic, ignorant, lying, false hearted creeps. The women are abused and the men are jock A-holes. No redeeming features, no real sense of community.
I was un-wowed by this novel, but I think that Anna Bailey has promise. She's managed to develop a wide cast of characters and give a sense of place to Whistling Ridge. As a Brit, I felt she painted small town American life with the broadest brush possible, but I would be interested in reading a book set in a place with which she is more familiar and she can see more facets in her characters.
crystaldragonst's review
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
booklovinalicia's review
5.0
This novel is a heavy, dark, phycological thriller. It is filled with characters who have substance abuse issues, who are racist, homophobic, and religious nuts. It is full of alcohol and drug abuse and it has scenes of physical abuse, which some may find hard to read. I love that it alternates perspectives, which seemed to keep the reader on their toes by breaking up the story's flow. There are many twists and turns and the ending was truly a surprise to me. This is a book about secrets and the consequences of not telling the truth.
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria books for allowing me an advanced e-copy to read and give my honest review. Read my complete review of this and other books on my blog at www.booklovinalicia.blogspot.com
Happy Reading!
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria books for allowing me an advanced e-copy to read and give my honest review. Read my complete review of this and other books on my blog at www.booklovinalicia.blogspot.com
Happy Reading!