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kitza2000's review
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
it was going to be 3.5 but honestly i loved the ending, so it’s a 4
lousnewchapter's review against another edition
4.0
A haunting psychological thriller that will have you fully immersed. After reading the synopsis I must admit it reminded me of Pretty Little Liars which was the main reason it intrigued me but it felt different. There wasn't so many twists and turns although the way it was all wrapped up at the end did leave me shocked.
But this book was so much more than that, it was atmospheric. Set in a small town riddled with secrets and prejudices and where everyone knew everyone and the church seemed to dominate all. Bailey perfectly captured the feeling of being in an oppressive town where many are stuck in their views and there's some who just want to escape. None of the characters were really likeable and some had me internally screaming at my kindle but I think that's what I liked most, they were all so well developed and the dynamics between them all. It felt real.
A brilliant debut book, I'd definitely reccomend for fans of Girl on the Train and if you're looking for a well written atmospheric psychological thriller.
Thankyou so much @netgalley for the arc #TallBones #NetGalley
But this book was so much more than that, it was atmospheric. Set in a small town riddled with secrets and prejudices and where everyone knew everyone and the church seemed to dominate all. Bailey perfectly captured the feeling of being in an oppressive town where many are stuck in their views and there's some who just want to escape. None of the characters were really likeable and some had me internally screaming at my kindle but I think that's what I liked most, they were all so well developed and the dynamics between them all. It felt real.
A brilliant debut book, I'd definitely reccomend for fans of Girl on the Train and if you're looking for a well written atmospheric psychological thriller.
Thankyou so much @netgalley for the arc #TallBones #NetGalley
anida123's review against another edition
3.0
It was a bit difficult getting into this book initially because there are so many characters and all of them have some sort of dark secret and it was hard in the first 100 pages to get used to not only that but the 'then' and 'now' parts in the book.
After those initial 100-120 pages it got way better and I ended up really enjoying the story.
I did not think the culprit was who it ended up being so it kept me on my toes until the very end.
Also an extra note from an acutual Romanian. The words that they used in the book for the romanian boy are not used very accurately. We don't say ' drăgută' to a boy, we would say ' drăguțule'. Also it bugged me that they did not put the ț in drăguță, as it should be. Other than that that specific character was average and cliché.
After those initial 100-120 pages it got way better and I ended up really enjoying the story.
I did not think the culprit was who it ended up being so it kept me on my toes until the very end.
Also an extra note from an acutual Romanian. The words that they used in the book for the romanian boy are not used very accurately. We don't say ' drăgută' to a boy, we would say ' drăguțule'. Also it bugged me that they did not put the ț in drăguță, as it should be. Other than that that specific character was average and cliché.
the_empty_bookself's review against another edition
5.0
Initially I found that the book jumped from character to character in the middle of chapters and I found this disorientating. However, once I had got to grips with all the different characters the story flowed really well.
Abigail goes missing at the Tall Bones. Her best friend Emma needs to know what has happened to her and does a better job than the sheriff.
Abigail’s family is not a happy family, her father strongly influenced by the church uses violence as punishment, her mother lives in fear and does not protect her children, her older brother is fighting with his sexuality and her younger brother is disabled from where the father pushed him down the stairs. But what is Abigail’s secret?
Slowly Emma unfurls clues from friends and foe to reveal the truth not only about Abigail’s disappearance, but her own past too.
Trigger warnings: racism, sexual abuse, extreme religious influence, discrimination, alcoholism, bullying, violence. All of the above are not vividly described but feature.
Abigail goes missing at the Tall Bones. Her best friend Emma needs to know what has happened to her and does a better job than the sheriff.
Abigail’s family is not a happy family, her father strongly influenced by the church uses violence as punishment, her mother lives in fear and does not protect her children, her older brother is fighting with his sexuality and her younger brother is disabled from where the father pushed him down the stairs. But what is Abigail’s secret?
Slowly Emma unfurls clues from friends and foe to reveal the truth not only about Abigail’s disappearance, but her own past too.
Trigger warnings: racism, sexual abuse, extreme religious influence, discrimination, alcoholism, bullying, violence. All of the above are not vividly described but feature.
lizzyqd's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
vanessabuergi's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
zukythebookbum's review against another edition
ugh I wanted to love this - I’m defo in a bad reading mood this month - but it was just okay.
I think my problem was that it’s SO full of ultra-religious small town cliches, which to start with I didn’t mind, but it soon got a little tedious. & don’t get me wrong, I like these type of cliches usually but there was A LOT going on in this story. it played on the themes of racism, homophobia & misogyny (amongst other things) very heavily but I don’t feel like it particularly said anything or made any commentary about them?
I didn’t guess the reveal of the mystery but by the time I got there, I was kind of over the whole thing.
wanted this to give me NOTES ON AN EXECUTION lit-crime vibes but felt more like a regular (but very bleak) thriller.
not bad but not really for me.
I think my problem was that it’s SO full of ultra-religious small town cliches, which to start with I didn’t mind, but it soon got a little tedious. & don’t get me wrong, I like these type of cliches usually but there was A LOT going on in this story. it played on the themes of racism, homophobia & misogyny (amongst other things) very heavily but I don’t feel like it particularly said anything or made any commentary about them?
I didn’t guess the reveal of the mystery but by the time I got there, I was kind of over the whole thing.
wanted this to give me NOTES ON AN EXECUTION lit-crime vibes but felt more like a regular (but very bleak) thriller.
not bad but not really for me.
lidiadf's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0