Tall Oaks
By Chris Whitaker

- Release Date: 2019-03-20
- Genre: Mysteries & Thrillers
Description
"It's rare that a novel can be both brilliantly comic and tragic, and balance the two so effortlessly." — Sun
Nothing is as it seems in Tall Oaks, a small California town where everyone knows each other and violent crime is unheard of. The community's idyllic façade is shattered when a kidnapper in a clown costume snatches three-year-old Harry Monroe from his own home. Despite sensational media coverage and dogged police investigations, the abduction remains a mystery. Three months later, Harry is still missing and most people have moved on, except for Jessica, Harry's distraught mother, and Jim, the local sheriff. Anyone in Tall Oaks could be a suspect: Jerry, the loner with a secret that only his mother knows; Jared, the roving lothario; teenage Manny, an aspiring gangster; and even Jessica's Aunt Henrietta and Uncle Roger, who are clearly hiding something.
Chris Whitaker's debut novel, with its striking blend of tragedy and offbeat humor, was awarded the U.K. Crime Writers' Association New Blood Dagger Award. The Guardian praised this beguiling novel as "a pleasingly unusual mixture of a psychological thriller and screwball comedy," noting that "the combination of verve, humor, and pathos make it well worth a read."
"A gripping debut." — Mail on Sunday
"A brilliant, beautiful, sad, funny book … It made me laugh, but also made me cry more than any other book I've read this year." — Emma Flint, author of Little Deaths
"Completely blew me away." — Lisa Hall, author of Between You and Me and The Party
"Chris Whitaker builds an entire town in the reader's head and masterfully inhabits it comic, poignant, gripping life. Tall Oaks becomes a part of you." — David Whitehouse, author of Mobile Library and Bed
Reviews
Weird book
2By girlgutsHad some pointless story lines tied sloppily together the last sentence of the book. It was almost like reading two separate books. Desperate Housewives type vibes/humor. I guess if you read this as more of a quirky story about small town characters being wacky it isn’t a terrible novel. If you’re looking for a good mystery, move on.Awesome
5By bloodrashLoved it! Great whodunit. Well written and also funny at points. The only downfall was that it was a little confusing, the narrator switched characters a lot without a chapter changing, so until you learn the characters names your a little confused when he switches.Serious Page Turner
5By Chasemax1Once again I am amazed at the twists and turns this story took.I never saw the end until I was literally reading it. Nothing as expected and so good.Tall Oaks
3By The Eyes of MarchI read Tall Oaks to the end. It was not my favorite. The author jumps around characters too much. I found myself having to re-read to figure out. I thought the ending was unfortunate and abrupt. I wanted to hear more about Manny but was peripheral to this story and wasn’t a good tie in. Maybe should have made this 2 different books. Not a fan.Strange Story
2By Babybehr1991Not the best of Chris Whitaker. I would say bizarre at best!Excellent
5By Marakt11MovingGreat story! Funny, poignant with a mystery to boot!
5By prescottjewelsRead this & read “We begin at the end” too, love the writing!!