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Was auf das Ende folgt
Ein Kind verschwindet, eine Mutter verzweifelt – und eine ganze Stadt stürzt in die Krise
Tall Oaks ist eine perfekte kalifornische Kleinstadt. Jeder kennt jeden und das Böse ist hier fremd. Die idyllische Fassade bekommt Risse, als der dreijährige Harry Monroe eines Nachts spurlos verschwindet. Trotz des riesigen Medienrummels und der besessenen Polizeiarbeit bleibt sein Schicksal ein Rätsel. Harrys verzweifelte Mutter stürzt sich in eine Suche, die mit jedem Tag aussichtsloser erscheint, während sie ihre Trauer mit Alkohol und Männern zu betäuben versucht. In Tall Oaks ist nichts mehr, wie es war. Hinter ihrem Mitgefühl verbergen die Bewohner eigene Geheimnisse. Jeder in Tall Oaks wird zum Verdächtigen, und ungeheuerliche Dinge kommen ans Licht, die die Stadt für immer verändern …
Tall Oaks ist eine perfekte kalifornische Kleinstadt. Jeder kennt jeden und das Böse ist hier fremd. Die idyllische Fassade bekommt Risse, als der dreijährige Harry Monroe eines Nachts spurlos verschwindet. Trotz des riesigen Medienrummels und der besessenen Polizeiarbeit bleibt sein Schicksal ein Rätsel. Harrys verzweifelte Mutter stürzt sich in eine Suche, die mit jedem Tag aussichtsloser erscheint, während sie ihre Trauer mit Alkohol und Männern zu betäuben versucht. In Tall Oaks ist nichts mehr, wie es war. Hinter ihrem Mitgefühl verbergen die Bewohner eigene Geheimnisse. Jeder in Tall Oaks wird zum Verdächtigen, und ungeheuerliche Dinge kommen ans Licht, die die Stadt für immer verändern …
398 pages, Hardcover
First published April 7, 2016
2909 people are currently reading
12433 people want to read
About the author
Chris Whitaker
8 books8,101 followersChris Whitaker is the author of the New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling All The Colours Of The Dark. His other acclaimed and bestselling novels include We Begin At The End, Tall Oaks, and All The Wicked Girls.
Chris’s novels have been translated into thirty-one languages and have won the CWA Gold Dagger, the CWA John Creasey Dagger, the Theakston Crime Novel of the Year, the Ned Kelly International Award, and numerous awards around the world.
His books have also been selected for the Read With Jenna Book Club, Waterstones Thriller of the Month, Barnes & Noble Book Club, Good Morning America Book Club, and for BBC2’s Between The Covers.
All The Colours Of The Dark is currently in development with Universal Pictures.
Chris was born in London and lives in the UK.
Follow him on Instagram @chriswhitakerauthor
Chris’s novels have been translated into thirty-one languages and have won the CWA Gold Dagger, the CWA John Creasey Dagger, the Theakston Crime Novel of the Year, the Ned Kelly International Award, and numerous awards around the world.
His books have also been selected for the Read With Jenna Book Club, Waterstones Thriller of the Month, Barnes & Noble Book Club, Good Morning America Book Club, and for BBC2’s Between The Covers.
All The Colours Of The Dark is currently in development with Universal Pictures.
Chris was born in London and lives in the UK.
Follow him on Instagram @chriswhitakerauthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,005 reviews
April 2, 2018
Amazing debut novel, great read, out of the box! A story that combines humor with tragedy in a weirdly logical way. A colorful community of characters, all sort of connected one way or the other, set the stage for this weird and sad story and various sideline stories. Will return with more, but here's already a review from The Guardian in italic below, good description for me. And yes, yes, I loved Manny, he is so funny and sweet! A surprising twist in the end, did not see that one coming....
4.4 so far, may change going up... Recommended!
Tall Oaks, the first novel from Chris Whitaker, set in a fictitious American small town in California, is a pleasingly unusual mixture of psychological thriller and screwball comedy from a young writer who is clearly not afraid to take risks. When three-year-old Harry goes missing, everyone wants to help, but when he doesn’t turn up, mother Jess finds herself in a destructive spiral of booze and promiscuity, despite support from the local chief of police and the community. The supporting cast includes Manny, a podgy, potty-mouthed teenager who wants to be a gangster and who swelters in his woollen three-piece suit and too-tight fedora as he tries to extort money from local shopkeepers, and Jerry, the mountainous, slow-witted manager of a local photo store. They are an absolute delight. That this highly original mashup doesn’t entirely come off is, I think, mainly due to Whitaker’s lack of writing experience – subtler characterisation is required for the denouement to be entirely convincing – but the combination of verve, humour and pathos make it well worth a read.
4.4 so far, may change going up... Recommended!
Tall Oaks, the first novel from Chris Whitaker, set in a fictitious American small town in California, is a pleasingly unusual mixture of psychological thriller and screwball comedy from a young writer who is clearly not afraid to take risks. When three-year-old Harry goes missing, everyone wants to help, but when he doesn’t turn up, mother Jess finds herself in a destructive spiral of booze and promiscuity, despite support from the local chief of police and the community. The supporting cast includes Manny, a podgy, potty-mouthed teenager who wants to be a gangster and who swelters in his woollen three-piece suit and too-tight fedora as he tries to extort money from local shopkeepers, and Jerry, the mountainous, slow-witted manager of a local photo store. They are an absolute delight. That this highly original mashup doesn’t entirely come off is, I think, mainly due to Whitaker’s lack of writing experience – subtler characterisation is required for the denouement to be entirely convincing – but the combination of verve, humour and pathos make it well worth a read.
April 3, 2022
3.5⭐️
Three-year-old Harry Monroe was taken from his home by someone dressed as a clown as the recording from the baby monitor reveals. His disappearance shocks the small town of Tall Oaks. Jess, Harry’s mother frantically searches for her child and follows up with the police for information on the investigation by day while driven to self-destructive behavior with a series of one-night stands and drunken episodes by night. Jess is separated from her husband Michael who has never shown much interest in his child and has indulged in a string of extramarital affairs throughout his marriage to Jess. As the narrative progresses we meet an interesting cast of characters, all residents of Tall Oaks and known to Jess among whom are Jim, a law enforcement officer investigating Harry’s disappearance, Elena and her teenage son Manny who is a fan of Stallone’s Rocky movie series and fancies himself a “gangster” which leads to some genuinely hilarious moments and Elena’s daughter Thalia who was a friend of Harry, Jerry who works in a photography studio while caring for his terminally ill and controlling mother, Roger and his wife Henrietta who a lost their child shortly after his birth, Jared who is romantically involved with Elena and is a newcomer working in a car dealership and many more. Needless to say, most of the residents have their share of secrets and deceptions which slowly rise to the surface as the narrative progresses.
Tall Oaks by Chris Whitaker has a lot to offer. The author explores themes of love, family, marriage and fidelity, loss and grief, second chances, teenage love and angst and self-acceptance among the residents of a small town. Though the novel revolves around a missing child, the author injects a healthy dose of humor to offset the grim overtones of the novel. The ending was a shocker that I did not predict which is always a plus point for me. However, I felt that the multiple characters and their storylines were difficult to keep track of and distracted from the core mystery of the missing child. Though the multiple tracks were somewhat linked, most of the characters (and their issues) were of no consequence to the main plot and though all the sub-plots are wrapped up nicely in the end, I was left feeling as if I had just read a collection of interlinked short stories rather than a complete novel.
Overall, Tall Oaks is a well-written and engaging read but I did not find it quite as impressive as Chris Whitaker’s We Begin At The End which was among my favorite reads of 2021 .
Three-year-old Harry Monroe was taken from his home by someone dressed as a clown as the recording from the baby monitor reveals. His disappearance shocks the small town of Tall Oaks. Jess, Harry’s mother frantically searches for her child and follows up with the police for information on the investigation by day while driven to self-destructive behavior with a series of one-night stands and drunken episodes by night. Jess is separated from her husband Michael who has never shown much interest in his child and has indulged in a string of extramarital affairs throughout his marriage to Jess. As the narrative progresses we meet an interesting cast of characters, all residents of Tall Oaks and known to Jess among whom are Jim, a law enforcement officer investigating Harry’s disappearance, Elena and her teenage son Manny who is a fan of Stallone’s Rocky movie series and fancies himself a “gangster” which leads to some genuinely hilarious moments and Elena’s daughter Thalia who was a friend of Harry, Jerry who works in a photography studio while caring for his terminally ill and controlling mother, Roger and his wife Henrietta who a lost their child shortly after his birth, Jared who is romantically involved with Elena and is a newcomer working in a car dealership and many more. Needless to say, most of the residents have their share of secrets and deceptions which slowly rise to the surface as the narrative progresses.
Tall Oaks by Chris Whitaker has a lot to offer. The author explores themes of love, family, marriage and fidelity, loss and grief, second chances, teenage love and angst and self-acceptance among the residents of a small town. Though the novel revolves around a missing child, the author injects a healthy dose of humor to offset the grim overtones of the novel. The ending was a shocker that I did not predict which is always a plus point for me. However, I felt that the multiple characters and their storylines were difficult to keep track of and distracted from the core mystery of the missing child. Though the multiple tracks were somewhat linked, most of the characters (and their issues) were of no consequence to the main plot and though all the sub-plots are wrapped up nicely in the end, I was left feeling as if I had just read a collection of interlinked short stories rather than a complete novel.
Overall, Tall Oaks is a well-written and engaging read but I did not find it quite as impressive as Chris Whitaker’s We Begin At The End which was among my favorite reads of 2021 .
July 25, 2017
"Tall Oaks" - 'small town, big secrets' and wow are there some strange and deadly secrets in Tall Oaks!!
Three year old Harry has gone missing. His mother Jess refuses to give up hope and with the help of the dedicated local police chief can they help solve the biggest mystery to ever occur in Tall Oaks? Will another resident hold the key to his disappearance and what will they do with the information?
I really enjoyed this book, from the very start I was drawn into the story and literally couldn't put it down it was so compelling. The book starts off at a fast pace, hearing first hand from police tapes Jess' account of the circumstances surrounding Harry's disappearance. From then on there's twists and turns that you don't see coming and I have to say I NEVER predicted the ending! Disturbing but a brilliant and well thought out conclusion.
"Tall Oaks" written by Chris Whitaker is a very character driven novel that is exceedingly well written with some fantastic multi layered plot lines. Every character is so unique and has their own little story or secret that they are trying to hide which makes each individual person and their lives an addictive story in itself. I particularly liked Manny - even with his foul mouth - he's a great character that you can't help but take to, introducing humour into this quite at times upsetting storyline. I could easily imagine Manny having his own book and storyline to himself.
I'd happily recommend this book to crime readers young and old, it's an undoubtedly 5 star read for me!
I understand Chris Whitaker has a new book out soon "All The Wicked Girls" and I seriously look forward to reading that too, he's an excellent writer, knows how to keep a reader's attention and pens a terrific story.
Three year old Harry has gone missing. His mother Jess refuses to give up hope and with the help of the dedicated local police chief can they help solve the biggest mystery to ever occur in Tall Oaks? Will another resident hold the key to his disappearance and what will they do with the information?
I really enjoyed this book, from the very start I was drawn into the story and literally couldn't put it down it was so compelling. The book starts off at a fast pace, hearing first hand from police tapes Jess' account of the circumstances surrounding Harry's disappearance. From then on there's twists and turns that you don't see coming and I have to say I NEVER predicted the ending! Disturbing but a brilliant and well thought out conclusion.
"Tall Oaks" written by Chris Whitaker is a very character driven novel that is exceedingly well written with some fantastic multi layered plot lines. Every character is so unique and has their own little story or secret that they are trying to hide which makes each individual person and their lives an addictive story in itself. I particularly liked Manny - even with his foul mouth - he's a great character that you can't help but take to, introducing humour into this quite at times upsetting storyline. I could easily imagine Manny having his own book and storyline to himself.
I'd happily recommend this book to crime readers young and old, it's an undoubtedly 5 star read for me!
I understand Chris Whitaker has a new book out soon "All The Wicked Girls" and I seriously look forward to reading that too, he's an excellent writer, knows how to keep a reader's attention and pens a terrific story.
March 22, 2022
A round of applause to Chris Whitaker!!! 👏👏👏
Tall Oaks is the story of missing three year old Harry but it is also so much more than that. This is the story of the residents of Tall Oaks. Average people with baggage and regrets. We get to know them all on a personal level. We get to know what makes them tick and what makes them weep. Most importantly we grow to care about these individuals and their trials and tribulations.
Manny may be one of my most favorite fictional characters ever written and he's definitely my favorite gangster! He had me cracking up every time he was on the page and I may never get the Rocky theme song out of my head.
The ending for me was shocking. Never once in my wildest imagination would I have guessed this. I was stunned and heartbroken all at once.
I read and loved We Begin at the End last year so I was dying to get my hands on Whitakers debut and it did not disappoint. I also have to say how impressed I am that a British author can write American culture so well. I would have thought Mr. Whitaker was born and raised here if I didn't know any differently and I don't know any authors that have ever done this more successfully than Whitaker has.
That's two five star gems for Whitaker under my belt and I look forward to so many more!!! ALL THE STARS!!!
Thanks to Overdrive for my copy!
Tall Oaks is the story of missing three year old Harry but it is also so much more than that. This is the story of the residents of Tall Oaks. Average people with baggage and regrets. We get to know them all on a personal level. We get to know what makes them tick and what makes them weep. Most importantly we grow to care about these individuals and their trials and tribulations.
Manny may be one of my most favorite fictional characters ever written and he's definitely my favorite gangster! He had me cracking up every time he was on the page and I may never get the Rocky theme song out of my head.
The ending for me was shocking. Never once in my wildest imagination would I have guessed this. I was stunned and heartbroken all at once.
I read and loved We Begin at the End last year so I was dying to get my hands on Whitakers debut and it did not disappoint. I also have to say how impressed I am that a British author can write American culture so well. I would have thought Mr. Whitaker was born and raised here if I didn't know any differently and I don't know any authors that have ever done this more successfully than Whitaker has.
That's two five star gems for Whitaker under my belt and I look forward to so many more!!! ALL THE STARS!!!
Thanks to Overdrive for my copy!
February 6, 2017
My first 5-star-read this year! Yay! First of all, huge thanks to Amy. Her wonderful review made me pick this up.
Tall Oaks started off with a bang, a really frightening scene involving a clown and the abduction of a small child. It then required some patience as numerous inhabitants of Tall Oaks were introduced. The frequently changing perspectives, sometimes just a small paragraph without any indication that the point of view had changed, were confusing initially, but once all the characters were introduced and I had the hang of their respective relationships I didn't notice it so much anymore. By then I was sucked into the weird and compelling lives of these people. I thought I knew a lot of what was going on. Turned out, I failed miserably. There were a couple of revelations that completely floored me. I would happily rate the last 40% of this a 10-star read if I could. I often moan that characters and/or plots didn't make me feel enough. Well, in this case, I experienced the full range. Laughter, sadness, anger, frustration, swooning over a teenage romance - yeah, really - this was such a well thought-out mix of tragedy, comedy and mystery. Just brilliant. Manny was the most wonderful teenage character I've met in a novel in a long, long time and I read quite a few young adult novels. Some of the language used may not be for everyone, but I was in stitches every time Manny talked. He was such a fantastic dichotomy between wanting to appear rough gangster-like and being so caring and having his heart in the right place.
The child abduction starts off the mystery element of this novel and the reader gains a deep insight into its effect on this small community, how it affects the mother and the policeman obsessed with the case. But this is far more than another missing child procedural, as the author allows us to glimpse into the obscure lives and relationships of some other townsfolk, too. Several fascinating plot strands with plenty of drama and secrets. The characters were truly memorable.
This is a really impressive debut novel written by a British author who succeeded in creating a vivid small-town-America setting. I will definitely be following Mr Whitaker to find out what he will come up with next. I'm also hoping there'll be an audiobook in the future so I can revisit this and hear these characters.
I received an ARC via NetGalley and am immensely thankful.
Tall Oaks started off with a bang, a really frightening scene involving a clown and the abduction of a small child. It then required some patience as numerous inhabitants of Tall Oaks were introduced. The frequently changing perspectives, sometimes just a small paragraph without any indication that the point of view had changed, were confusing initially, but once all the characters were introduced and I had the hang of their respective relationships I didn't notice it so much anymore. By then I was sucked into the weird and compelling lives of these people. I thought I knew a lot of what was going on. Turned out, I failed miserably. There were a couple of revelations that completely floored me. I would happily rate the last 40% of this a 10-star read if I could. I often moan that characters and/or plots didn't make me feel enough. Well, in this case, I experienced the full range. Laughter, sadness, anger, frustration, swooning over a teenage romance - yeah, really - this was such a well thought-out mix of tragedy, comedy and mystery. Just brilliant. Manny was the most wonderful teenage character I've met in a novel in a long, long time and I read quite a few young adult novels. Some of the language used may not be for everyone, but I was in stitches every time Manny talked. He was such a fantastic dichotomy between wanting to appear rough gangster-like and being so caring and having his heart in the right place.
The child abduction starts off the mystery element of this novel and the reader gains a deep insight into its effect on this small community, how it affects the mother and the policeman obsessed with the case. But this is far more than another missing child procedural, as the author allows us to glimpse into the obscure lives and relationships of some other townsfolk, too. Several fascinating plot strands with plenty of drama and secrets. The characters were truly memorable.
This is a really impressive debut novel written by a British author who succeeded in creating a vivid small-town-America setting. I will definitely be following Mr Whitaker to find out what he will come up with next. I'm also hoping there'll be an audiobook in the future so I can revisit this and hear these characters.
I received an ARC via NetGalley and am immensely thankful.
March 17, 2021
“We’re all connected. We’re all people. You know what else? We’re all fucked-up, in one way or another.”
I noticed We Begin At the End making the rounds after its release date a couple of weeks ago and decided to take a peak over at the library site to see if Chris Whitaker had any other books. Then I downloaded this one and . . . .
The premise here is a somewhat familiar one . . . .
The jumping off point of the whole story is three year old Harry, who was seen on the video baby monitor taken from his room by someone in a clown mask one night. We then meet his mother Jess who has been dealing with her grief by drowning herself in alcohol along with random one-night stands; Jim, the local sheriff assigned to the task of finding little Harry; Jared, a car salesman with a history of not staying in one place for more than a few months; Jerry, an introvert who works at the local photomat in order to pay for his mother’s medicine; Roger, who in his mid-life crisis has become obsessed with workout gear; his wife Henrietta, who is definitely hiding something; and Manny, local gangster who just so happens to also be a teenager.
If an ensemble cast of characters with ever-changing points of view is not your idea of a good time, this probably won’t be the book for you. For me? I cannot believe this sucker was a debut novel. I got so caught up in the lives of all of these people I forgot about the whole mystery of the missing kid storyline. I also can’t believe how easily Chris Whitaker blended despair and hilarity. He definitely walks away with one of my favorite characters of the year award with young Manny. I won’t forget him soon and I’m giving this one allllllllllllllllll the Stars.
I noticed We Begin At the End making the rounds after its release date a couple of weeks ago and decided to take a peak over at the library site to see if Chris Whitaker had any other books. Then I downloaded this one and . . . .
The premise here is a somewhat familiar one . . . .
The jumping off point of the whole story is three year old Harry, who was seen on the video baby monitor taken from his room by someone in a clown mask one night. We then meet his mother Jess who has been dealing with her grief by drowning herself in alcohol along with random one-night stands; Jim, the local sheriff assigned to the task of finding little Harry; Jared, a car salesman with a history of not staying in one place for more than a few months; Jerry, an introvert who works at the local photomat in order to pay for his mother’s medicine; Roger, who in his mid-life crisis has become obsessed with workout gear; his wife Henrietta, who is definitely hiding something; and Manny, local gangster who just so happens to also be a teenager.
If an ensemble cast of characters with ever-changing points of view is not your idea of a good time, this probably won’t be the book for you. For me? I cannot believe this sucker was a debut novel. I got so caught up in the lives of all of these people I forgot about the whole mystery of the missing kid storyline. I also can’t believe how easily Chris Whitaker blended despair and hilarity. He definitely walks away with one of my favorite characters of the year award with young Manny. I won’t forget him soon and I’m giving this one allllllllllllllllll the Stars.
February 14, 2022
Wow! What a strange book. Good, but strange. I would say eclectic possibly. Eclectic and quirky. A young boy is missing. Harry. We are introduced to an ensemble of absolutely unique characters, each with their own unusual back story.
Jess, the grieving mother who is acting out in a clown like macabre way. Can that even be a thing?!
Teenagers masquerading as gangsters, falling in love. These parts were witty and comical, very well written in all areas.
A single mother falling in love with someone who isn't who he appears to be, a gentleman named Jared who seems perfect on the outside, but what are the demons this individual is facing? I think he was my favourite.
I don't even know what I would compare this to, it is too off beat. It is its own, and being a debut, I think this author wouldn't be looking for comparisons. I imagine he is comfortable with this being what it is.
The Police Chief with his own short comings, even though it's clear he's empathetic where he needs to be.
Poor Jerry, a young man under the grasp of a controlling deluded mother, who manages the local photography store, under the owner Max, who is not at all a nice guy.
So this hodgepogdge of characters are interlaced in a strange way, all the while tying to find their own way, and the boy who has disappeared. The story is not about Harry really, more so about the strange individuals that make up the town.
I chose this for its narrator. The very skilled Jeff Harding, of Reacher fame. Reacher this is not!
Jess, the grieving mother who is acting out in a clown like macabre way. Can that even be a thing?!
Teenagers masquerading as gangsters, falling in love. These parts were witty and comical, very well written in all areas.
A single mother falling in love with someone who isn't who he appears to be, a gentleman named Jared who seems perfect on the outside, but what are the demons this individual is facing? I think he was my favourite.
I don't even know what I would compare this to, it is too off beat. It is its own, and being a debut, I think this author wouldn't be looking for comparisons. I imagine he is comfortable with this being what it is.
The Police Chief with his own short comings, even though it's clear he's empathetic where he needs to be.
Poor Jerry, a young man under the grasp of a controlling deluded mother, who manages the local photography store, under the owner Max, who is not at all a nice guy.
So this hodgepogdge of characters are interlaced in a strange way, all the while tying to find their own way, and the boy who has disappeared. The story is not about Harry really, more so about the strange individuals that make up the town.
I chose this for its narrator. The very skilled Jeff Harding, of Reacher fame. Reacher this is not!
December 1, 2016
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
My last read was a massive disappointment so I decided to pick up Tall Oaks after it had come highly recommended from both Annie at The Misstery and Renee at It’s Book Talk. I am so glad that they brought this gem of a book to my attention as it has a firm spot in my top reads of the year!
I’m sure we’ve all seen and read plenty of books that claim that everyone has secrets, then you read it and are left wondering, that was the big secret? The opposite happens here, everyone really does have a secret and they are all mind blowing and surprising. Three year old Harry has been missing for months and many residents of Tall Oaks are affected by his disappearance. Things like this just don’t happen in the town, which by the way, the town is a character in itself. I’m not sure if small town America has ever been portrayed so brilliantly before.
The characters in this book make it stand out above others. They are all complex, well developed and they make you feel something. You may love them, hate them, feel unsettled and uncomfortable by them, but you won’t forget them easily. Jessica is Harry’s mom and she’s been in a downward spiral ever since her son vanished. Jim is the chief of police and this is the case that will always haunt him. Jerry works at the local photo shop and he stole a piece of my heart. Jared is a mysterious outsider and his secret is a huge one. Then, my favorite was Manny. This kid was one of the best characters I’ve come across in quite awhile (and I read a lot, 243 books so far this year). He’s politically incorrect, and unapologetic about it, he has the mouth of a sailor, he’s crude, and most of what comes out of his mouth is for the shock value alone. But underneath all the false bravado he’s sensitive and smart. He is so funny, he fancies himself an old school gangster and tries to shake down local businesses. I had tears from laughing so hard, I don’t think I’ve ever been so tickled while reading a thriller before!
As much as the mystery plays a central role here, this is so much more than your typical thriller. It’s one of those books that makes you feel every emotion imaginable. It has appeal to any reader, there’s even a sweet romance developing between Manny and Furat for the YA crowd.
I don’t often feel compelled to reread a book but I really want to here. This really needs to be a movie, these characters deserve to be brought to life. I’ll miss every single one of them and will think of them often. The ending and beginning of this book was utterly perfect, it had one of the best opening chapters I’ve ever read. And the twists were unexpected and totally unpredictable. I can’t recommend this one enough and I can’t wait to read what Whitaker comes up with next.
My last read was a massive disappointment so I decided to pick up Tall Oaks after it had come highly recommended from both Annie at The Misstery and Renee at It’s Book Talk. I am so glad that they brought this gem of a book to my attention as it has a firm spot in my top reads of the year!
I’m sure we’ve all seen and read plenty of books that claim that everyone has secrets, then you read it and are left wondering, that was the big secret? The opposite happens here, everyone really does have a secret and they are all mind blowing and surprising. Three year old Harry has been missing for months and many residents of Tall Oaks are affected by his disappearance. Things like this just don’t happen in the town, which by the way, the town is a character in itself. I’m not sure if small town America has ever been portrayed so brilliantly before.
The characters in this book make it stand out above others. They are all complex, well developed and they make you feel something. You may love them, hate them, feel unsettled and uncomfortable by them, but you won’t forget them easily. Jessica is Harry’s mom and she’s been in a downward spiral ever since her son vanished. Jim is the chief of police and this is the case that will always haunt him. Jerry works at the local photo shop and he stole a piece of my heart. Jared is a mysterious outsider and his secret is a huge one. Then, my favorite was Manny. This kid was one of the best characters I’ve come across in quite awhile (and I read a lot, 243 books so far this year). He’s politically incorrect, and unapologetic about it, he has the mouth of a sailor, he’s crude, and most of what comes out of his mouth is for the shock value alone. But underneath all the false bravado he’s sensitive and smart. He is so funny, he fancies himself an old school gangster and tries to shake down local businesses. I had tears from laughing so hard, I don’t think I’ve ever been so tickled while reading a thriller before!
As much as the mystery plays a central role here, this is so much more than your typical thriller. It’s one of those books that makes you feel every emotion imaginable. It has appeal to any reader, there’s even a sweet romance developing between Manny and Furat for the YA crowd.
I don’t often feel compelled to reread a book but I really want to here. This really needs to be a movie, these characters deserve to be brought to life. I’ll miss every single one of them and will think of them often. The ending and beginning of this book was utterly perfect, it had one of the best opening chapters I’ve ever read. And the twists were unexpected and totally unpredictable. I can’t recommend this one enough and I can’t wait to read what Whitaker comes up with next.
October 12, 2016
There's an evil clown in it.
April 14, 2018
What a curious book this was! Tall Oaks is a village full of quirky characters hiding secrets, and when the secrets become known, there is heartbreak. Yet parts of the story are heartwarming as well. If the characters are looked at closely, they could all be stereotypes. In this book, it doesn’t matter. They all feel human in the end. Not a thriller, and not even a mystery per se, but it was an enjoyable read.
April 11, 2016
Tall Oaks was an amazing read – talk about sucking you in and eating up a day, that is basically what this novel did to me this last weekend. Clever, atmospheric and with possibly the most diverse and divisive set of characters found together in one book, Tall Oaks is the story of one community, its rythym and rhyme and the people that live there.
The small town vibe is brilliantly described, holding it all together is the smart and psychological mystery element – just what DID happen to 3 year old Harry – the journey Chris Whitaker takes us on to find the answers is a deeply absorbing, character driven joy to read. Rather than focus solely on the investigative track, Tall Oaks is all about people and the secrets they keep – not all of those secrets relevent to anything external, what you are doing here is watching lives unfold and somewhere in there the answers will be found.
You’ll find yourself totally engaged with every little thing going on – I mean I worried about the wedding cake, briefly considered taking up bird watching and one scene involving a Pizza Hut, a “Gangster” and a whole load of paperwork had me crying with laughter. Chris Whitaker keeps a darkly humerous tone running through a lot of the narrative, whilst never losing sight of the fact that the heart of this story involves a missing child. It is at turns emotionally distressing and then hilarious – in truth life does go on, you cannot remain in limbo forever, no matter the tragedy, this is something that is captured so well.
All the characters are intensely well drawn, the setting is pitch perfect, the dialogue crackles most especially when Manny is involved – oh Manny how I will miss you. If ever there was a perfect character in fiction Manny is it. I defy you not to fall in love. Incredible. They all are but he deserves special mention.
From the haunting and really quite scary opening salvo to the utterly unexpected and totally killer ending, the goings on in the town of Tall Oaks will grip you entirely. The rich and descriptive writing style, the sometimes slow stroll sometimes fast run towards the ultimate resolution, the sheer ability the author has to distract you from the realities will keep you reading until BAM he hits you with the truth in real knockout fashion. Pure brilliance.
Highly Recommended. In my running for book of the year.
The small town vibe is brilliantly described, holding it all together is the smart and psychological mystery element – just what DID happen to 3 year old Harry – the journey Chris Whitaker takes us on to find the answers is a deeply absorbing, character driven joy to read. Rather than focus solely on the investigative track, Tall Oaks is all about people and the secrets they keep – not all of those secrets relevent to anything external, what you are doing here is watching lives unfold and somewhere in there the answers will be found.
You’ll find yourself totally engaged with every little thing going on – I mean I worried about the wedding cake, briefly considered taking up bird watching and one scene involving a Pizza Hut, a “Gangster” and a whole load of paperwork had me crying with laughter. Chris Whitaker keeps a darkly humerous tone running through a lot of the narrative, whilst never losing sight of the fact that the heart of this story involves a missing child. It is at turns emotionally distressing and then hilarious – in truth life does go on, you cannot remain in limbo forever, no matter the tragedy, this is something that is captured so well.
All the characters are intensely well drawn, the setting is pitch perfect, the dialogue crackles most especially when Manny is involved – oh Manny how I will miss you. If ever there was a perfect character in fiction Manny is it. I defy you not to fall in love. Incredible. They all are but he deserves special mention.
From the haunting and really quite scary opening salvo to the utterly unexpected and totally killer ending, the goings on in the town of Tall Oaks will grip you entirely. The rich and descriptive writing style, the sometimes slow stroll sometimes fast run towards the ultimate resolution, the sheer ability the author has to distract you from the realities will keep you reading until BAM he hits you with the truth in real knockout fashion. Pure brilliance.
Highly Recommended. In my running for book of the year.
July 1, 2017
This was a very entertaining read. A missing child case in a small town in America, a small town where almost everyone has secrets- far too many people with secrets really! but who cares?! It was well done and funny but also a genuine whodunnit. I didn't guess..the characters were varied and interesting. My favourites were Manny, the teenager and his friends and family. Chris Whitaker paints observant and kind portrayals of these people. The POV changes frequently so you need to pay attention.
Recommended for anyone who likes crime fiction and fancies something a bit different.
Recommended for anyone who likes crime fiction and fancies something a bit different.
December 20, 2016
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I was really looking forward to this book, based not only on the description, but the outstanding reviews; many of which came from trusted fellow bloggers and Goodreads friends. I'm always a little insecure when my opinion is so different but I suppose it's bound to happen now and then. After all, we can't be expected to agree on every book, right??
Tall Oakes started out well enough. A creepy clown and a missing child made for a gut wrenching and suspenseful beginning. Sadly, the feeling didn't last. At about the 25% mark, things started feeling a bit flat. I found many of the characters, but certainly not all, to be a bit cliché and one dimensional. The plot was well-paced and delivered the promised slew of suspects, but didn't deliver the twists and turns necessary to keep me on the edge of my seat. The ending was both far fetched and predictable which was very disappointing.
There were many elements of this book that, alone or in combination with a few other elements, would have worked nicely. However, the number of them all together in one book just made it implausible. Believability is important to me as a reader. I understand that it's not that important to every reader. In fairness to the book, perhaps my experience in reading it would have been different if I were simply looking to get lost in a unique story.
While some aspects of Tall Oaks didn't quite work for me, I thought it was a solid debut from a promising author. Chris Whitaker has an imagination most writers would love to have. This can be a bit of a Catch-22. I can only imagine that toning it down would just as difficult for someone like him as it would be for me to come up with this stuff.
Many thanks to Twenty7 via NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was really looking forward to this book, based not only on the description, but the outstanding reviews; many of which came from trusted fellow bloggers and Goodreads friends. I'm always a little insecure when my opinion is so different but I suppose it's bound to happen now and then. After all, we can't be expected to agree on every book, right??
Tall Oakes started out well enough. A creepy clown and a missing child made for a gut wrenching and suspenseful beginning. Sadly, the feeling didn't last. At about the 25% mark, things started feeling a bit flat. I found many of the characters, but certainly not all, to be a bit cliché and one dimensional. The plot was well-paced and delivered the promised slew of suspects, but didn't deliver the twists and turns necessary to keep me on the edge of my seat. The ending was both far fetched and predictable which was very disappointing.
There were many elements of this book that, alone or in combination with a few other elements, would have worked nicely. However, the number of them all together in one book just made it implausible. Believability is important to me as a reader. I understand that it's not that important to every reader. In fairness to the book, perhaps my experience in reading it would have been different if I were simply looking to get lost in a unique story.
While some aspects of Tall Oaks didn't quite work for me, I thought it was a solid debut from a promising author. Chris Whitaker has an imagination most writers would love to have. This can be a bit of a Catch-22. I can only imagine that toning it down would just as difficult for someone like him as it would be for me to come up with this stuff.
Many thanks to Twenty7 via NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2022
Hmmmmm....ich muss leider sagen, dass mich dieses Erstlingswerk doch sehr enttäuscht hat ...Nach " Von hier bis zum Anfang ", dass mich restlos begeistern konnte, hat dieser Roman für mich wirklich einige Schwächen....!
Harry verschwindet. Der Dreijährige lebt bei seiner Mutter, der Vater hat die Familie verlassen.
Die kanadische Kleinstadt, in der Harry mit seiner Mutter wohnt, ist beschaulich....doch ihre Bewohner/innen haben große Probleme...und Geheimnisse...!
Die Figuren dieses Erstlingswerks sind durchaus mit Tiefgang angelegt...psychologische Einblicke in das Seelenleben der Bewohner konnten jedoch nicht über die mangelnde sprachliche Sensibilität hinwegtäuschen....teilweise verwendet Whitaker ein für mich abstoßend fulgäres Sprachbild ...auch sind die Wendungen der Geschichte sehr vorhersehbar....
Ich hoffe, dass der nächste Roman von diesem Autor mich wieder begeistern kann!
Klarer Fall von: kann man lesen....muss man aber nicht....
Harry verschwindet. Der Dreijährige lebt bei seiner Mutter, der Vater hat die Familie verlassen.
Die kanadische Kleinstadt, in der Harry mit seiner Mutter wohnt, ist beschaulich....doch ihre Bewohner/innen haben große Probleme...und Geheimnisse...!
Die Figuren dieses Erstlingswerks sind durchaus mit Tiefgang angelegt...psychologische Einblicke in das Seelenleben der Bewohner konnten jedoch nicht über die mangelnde sprachliche Sensibilität hinwegtäuschen....teilweise verwendet Whitaker ein für mich abstoßend fulgäres Sprachbild ...auch sind die Wendungen der Geschichte sehr vorhersehbar....
Ich hoffe, dass der nächste Roman von diesem Autor mich wieder begeistern kann!
Klarer Fall von: kann man lesen....muss man aber nicht....
October 1, 2016
I absolutely loved this debut- Tall Oaks by Chris Whitaker– and from the rather humdrum synopsis on the back of the book, I have an awful feeling that the casual browser may miss out on a rare treat. Missing child from small American town, and seemingly cardboard cut out characters, did not really sell it to me from the jacket alone. But what a delight this was, revealing itself as a brilliant cross between Twin Peaks and Fargo, and with some beautifully paced reveals that definitely caught this reader on the hop. It made me smile wryly, laugh out loud and gasp in appreciation throughout, with a colourful cast of characters that Whitaker introduces and pivots between seamlessly, slowly drawing us into the connections between them. There are moments of genuine tension carefully interspersed with warmth and humour, as this band of misfits, for various reasons, go about their daily lives, with the overriding urge to make personal and emotional connections with friends, lovers and relatives. It’s wonderfully plotted, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Highly recommended.
February 4, 2017
I had such high hopes for this book. I purchased it after hearing so many great things about it that I knew I had to give it a read. Sadly it didn't take long for me to realise it just wasn't for me. There are to many characters as well as the story jumping around to them all that I just couldn't keep up and take in and connect to any of them. Since reading more reviews that have likened this book to Twin Peaks I think this could be where the issue lies. I never got the show and sadly didn't get this. Obviously a lot of people do get it so would urge people to read it and make their own minds up, just not for me.
February 1, 2025
Große Geschichten über kleine Leute. Nicht ganz so stark wie "Von hier bis zum Anfang", aber mit dem Ende hat Chris Whitaker mich "kalt erwischt", daher aufgerundet auf 5 Sterne. Humorvoll, tragisch und nahbar - eine Mischung die scheinbar gut für mich funktioniert. Zugegeben, bei den frauen-/ fettfeindlichen und rassistischen Äußerungen habe ich mich innerlich auch gesträubt, aber warum sollten Autorinnen und Autoren sich nicht die Freiheit herausnehmen dürfen, die Realität so abzubilden wie sie wirklich ist. Das macht das Buch ja gerade so nahbar und stärkt den moralischen Kompass, sofern man denn einen hat.
August 9, 2022
Tall Oaks ist eine idyllische Kleinstadt in Kalifornien. Alle kennen einander, alles scheint friedlich - doch dann verschwindet eines Nachts der dreijährige Harry. Seine verzweifelte Mutter versucht alles, um ihn wiederzufinden und auch die Polizei arbeitet verbissen an dem Fall. Wochen vergehen und die Spur erkaltet langsam - bis weitere Unglücke geschehen und den Bewohner*innen nach und nach klar wird, dass manche anders sind, als sie vorgeben zu sein...
"Was auf das Ende folgt" ist das Debüt von Chris Whitaker, übersetzt von Wolfgang Müller, und wie auch schon sein erstes auf Deutsch erschienenes Buch "Von hier bis zum Anfang" ein klassischer Spannungsroman. Whitaker rollt das Verschwinden des kleinen Harry vom Ende her auf, was perfekt zum Titel des Romans passt. Er konzentriert sich auf die kalifornische Kleinstadt und ihre Bewohner*innen, schafft vielschichtige Charaktere und erzeugt eine permanent düstere Stimmung.
Ich mochte in diesem Buch vor allem die Atmosphäre, aber auch die Geschichte in ihren Grundzügen sehr gerne, außerdem haben für mich die vielen verschiedenen Erzählstränge den Roman sehr abwechslungsreich gemacht. Der Autor baut immer wieder kleine Wendungen ein, die eine große Wirkung auf die Story haben und wartet auch mit einigen Überraschungen auf. Was mir aber leider gar nicht gefallen hat, waren die vielen Stereotype, mit denen der Autor in "Was auf das Ende folgt" arbeitet. Er stolpert von einem Charakter-Klischee ins nächste, klappert ein Vorurteil nach dem anderen ab, wirft mit diversen -Ismen um sich, ohne diese für meinen Geschmack ausreichend einzuordnen. Das mag bis zu einem gewissen Punkt funktionieren, mich haben diese Figuren voller Ressentiments aber extrem gestört.
In meinen Augen hat sich der Autor zwischen "Was auf das Ende folgt" und "Von hier bis zum Anfang" stark weiterentwickelt, weshalb ich es tatsächlich eher schwierig finde, sein Debüt nach seinem Bestseller zu lesen. Nichts desto trotz ist auch dieser Spannungsroman wieder ein Pageturner, den ich innerhalb kürzester Zeit durchgelesen habe - nur eben mit nicht wirklich viel Genuss und mit etlichen Augenverdreh-Momenten. Von mir gibt es daher bedauerlicherweise keine Empfehlung.
Hinweis: In der Übersetzung wird das I-Wort verwendet.
"Was auf das Ende folgt" ist das Debüt von Chris Whitaker, übersetzt von Wolfgang Müller, und wie auch schon sein erstes auf Deutsch erschienenes Buch "Von hier bis zum Anfang" ein klassischer Spannungsroman. Whitaker rollt das Verschwinden des kleinen Harry vom Ende her auf, was perfekt zum Titel des Romans passt. Er konzentriert sich auf die kalifornische Kleinstadt und ihre Bewohner*innen, schafft vielschichtige Charaktere und erzeugt eine permanent düstere Stimmung.
Ich mochte in diesem Buch vor allem die Atmosphäre, aber auch die Geschichte in ihren Grundzügen sehr gerne, außerdem haben für mich die vielen verschiedenen Erzählstränge den Roman sehr abwechslungsreich gemacht. Der Autor baut immer wieder kleine Wendungen ein, die eine große Wirkung auf die Story haben und wartet auch mit einigen Überraschungen auf. Was mir aber leider gar nicht gefallen hat, waren die vielen Stereotype, mit denen der Autor in "Was auf das Ende folgt" arbeitet. Er stolpert von einem Charakter-Klischee ins nächste, klappert ein Vorurteil nach dem anderen ab, wirft mit diversen -Ismen um sich, ohne diese für meinen Geschmack ausreichend einzuordnen. Das mag bis zu einem gewissen Punkt funktionieren, mich haben diese Figuren voller Ressentiments aber extrem gestört.
In meinen Augen hat sich der Autor zwischen "Was auf das Ende folgt" und "Von hier bis zum Anfang" stark weiterentwickelt, weshalb ich es tatsächlich eher schwierig finde, sein Debüt nach seinem Bestseller zu lesen. Nichts desto trotz ist auch dieser Spannungsroman wieder ein Pageturner, den ich innerhalb kürzester Zeit durchgelesen habe - nur eben mit nicht wirklich viel Genuss und mit etlichen Augenverdreh-Momenten. Von mir gibt es daher bedauerlicherweise keine Empfehlung.
Hinweis: In der Übersetzung wird das I-Wort verwendet.
May 4, 2020
Really enjoyed this tale of life in a small American town where life is generally good and nothing bad happens - except that is for the kidnapping of three-year-old Harry from his bed one night, a crime which remains unsolved several months later. While local sheriff Jim berates himself with being unable to solve the disappearance, Harry's mother Jess spirals out of control in her distress. Yet within this apparently settled and tightly-knit community, dark secrets lurk behind many doors - adultery, domestic abuse, alcoholism and, the ultimate betrayal, the kidnapping of Harry. The story is populated with great characters who really come to life - I especially liked teenage Manny and his attempts to be taken as a gangster: this and his conversations with his mum, best friend Abe and neighbour Farhat are hilarious and I can almost see the scenes as if they were a screenplay. Glad I read this one and looking forward to reading more by this author - 9/10.
January 11, 2026
Welcome to Tall Oaks! Almost everyone in this small town is quirky. Or they’re eccentric. Or they’re weird. Or they’re awkward. Or they’re a combination of any of any of these.
There’s Manny, a teenage boy who dresses like a 1930s gangster. He tries to persuade local businesses to pay him protection money. Even Pizza Hut. What a quirky guy! He also cusses up a storm non-stop. Hey, I’m not Mr. Clean Mouth by any means, but I was hoping his mother would deliver a finely-targeted backhand across his chops. Or, for you non-violent people out there, a stern word and a grounding 😂 Nothing happens because mom doesn’t think he’s disrespectful. He’s just “quirky.” Later on, he challenges the school bully to a fight in the parking lot, during which the theme from Rocky plays from his car. Yep.
There’s a kidnapping of a three year-old boy at the beginning of the book. The inept local sheriff is on the case! He’s one of the “normal” characters. The solution is under his nose the entire book.
The tone of this book shifts often. We get the sadness from the mother about the kidnapping. Then, it’ll be on to a “funny” character or one of the characters who do not matter to the story. Quite often that character is both.
There are a lot of characters in this book. In certain books that works. Here it doesn’t because most of them are just there. They serve little purpose. I’m not going to rant about any more of them. They don’t deserve any more attention.
This is one of those books where it seems like the author was thinking, “This passage is gonna look great on film! I hope this becomes a movie or miniseries!” This writer feels like a poor imitation of Richard Russo. Read Nobody’s Fool. That’s a great book about a small town and “quirky” characters.
There’s Manny, a teenage boy who dresses like a 1930s gangster. He tries to persuade local businesses to pay him protection money. Even Pizza Hut. What a quirky guy! He also cusses up a storm non-stop. Hey, I’m not Mr. Clean Mouth by any means, but I was hoping his mother would deliver a finely-targeted backhand across his chops. Or, for you non-violent people out there, a stern word and a grounding 😂 Nothing happens because mom doesn’t think he’s disrespectful. He’s just “quirky.” Later on, he challenges the school bully to a fight in the parking lot, during which the theme from Rocky plays from his car. Yep.
There’s a kidnapping of a three year-old boy at the beginning of the book. The inept local sheriff is on the case! He’s one of the “normal” characters. The solution is under his nose the entire book.
The tone of this book shifts often. We get the sadness from the mother about the kidnapping. Then, it’ll be on to a “funny” character or one of the characters who do not matter to the story. Quite often that character is both.
There are a lot of characters in this book. In certain books that works. Here it doesn’t because most of them are just there. They serve little purpose. I’m not going to rant about any more of them. They don’t deserve any more attention.
This is one of those books where it seems like the author was thinking, “This passage is gonna look great on film! I hope this becomes a movie or miniseries!” This writer feels like a poor imitation of Richard Russo. Read Nobody’s Fool. That’s a great book about a small town and “quirky” characters.
July 18, 2018
This is a book that had been on my shelves for ages, and for some reason, I kept pushing it further and further down my TBR pile. Finally, I picked it up and I’m so glad that I did! This was the perfect holiday read for me!
I got through this book in less than 24 hours purely because there was so much going on in the story. The story sped along, and the way the chapters were set out to focus on a different character each time made for an entertaining and continuously moving read. There was a set story for each character that played out alongside the mystery of Harry’s disappearance which made for something new with each turn of the page. This novel was filled to the brim with thing going on, but it never felt overcrowded or confusing, it was entertaining and fluent all the way through!
While the story for this novel was not a particularly unique storyline it was still interesting due to the different stories for each character! Unfortunately, I had sussed the “who” for Harry’s kidnapping, but not the “why” from quite early on in the novel, so that was a small let-down.
This was Whitaker’s debut novel, and my gosh can this man write his characters! There was such an incredible and diverse selection of characters in this novel. These were some of the most interesting people I’ve read about in a long time! They’ll make you laugh and they’ll make you cry. Not one of their journeys through the book bored me, which is quite a feat considering there is a reasonably large number of them! It’s worth noting that is definitely a character-driven novel, so if you’re someone who prefers plot-driven books, this definitely won’t be for you!
Although this book was laugh out loud funny at moments, it was also really dark and touched on some very serious topics. There were certain moments where I found the book quite depressing but weirdly that only added to my enjoyment of the book. How it could be hilarious one minute and completely sobering the next.
Overall a really great read and the perfect book for lounging around the pool! I totally recommend this novel for any mystery junkies out there. This is slow on the thriller uptake, but busy with character development throughout.
I got through this book in less than 24 hours purely because there was so much going on in the story. The story sped along, and the way the chapters were set out to focus on a different character each time made for an entertaining and continuously moving read. There was a set story for each character that played out alongside the mystery of Harry’s disappearance which made for something new with each turn of the page. This novel was filled to the brim with thing going on, but it never felt overcrowded or confusing, it was entertaining and fluent all the way through!
While the story for this novel was not a particularly unique storyline it was still interesting due to the different stories for each character! Unfortunately, I had sussed the “who” for Harry’s kidnapping, but not the “why” from quite early on in the novel, so that was a small let-down.
This was Whitaker’s debut novel, and my gosh can this man write his characters! There was such an incredible and diverse selection of characters in this novel. These were some of the most interesting people I’ve read about in a long time! They’ll make you laugh and they’ll make you cry. Not one of their journeys through the book bored me, which is quite a feat considering there is a reasonably large number of them! It’s worth noting that is definitely a character-driven novel, so if you’re someone who prefers plot-driven books, this definitely won’t be for you!
Although this book was laugh out loud funny at moments, it was also really dark and touched on some very serious topics. There were certain moments where I found the book quite depressing but weirdly that only added to my enjoyment of the book. How it could be hilarious one minute and completely sobering the next.
Overall a really great read and the perfect book for lounging around the pool! I totally recommend this novel for any mystery junkies out there. This is slow on the thriller uptake, but busy with character development throughout.
July 26, 2022
Tall Oaks ist eine verschlafene Kleinstadt in Kalifornien. Eine High School, eine Polizeidienststelle, eine Konditorei, ein Fotogeschäft. Die Leute hier kennen sich.
Umso größer der Wirbel, als der dreijährige Harry verschwindet – das Verbrechen, das auch eine größere Metropole aufgewühlt hätte, entwurzelt die Bewohner von Tall Oaks geradezu. Wir begleiten die Bürger in den Monaten nach Harrys mutmaßlicher Entführung. Und hier hat jeder Geheimnisse:
Die alleinerziehende Mutter Elena, die ihren Möchtgern-Gangster-Sohn Manny und die kleine Tocher Thalia versucht großzuziehen und dabei selbst noch einmal die große Liebe sucht. Neuankömmling Jared, der nirgendwo länger als ein paar Monate bleibt. Das reiche, entzweite Ehepaar Roger und Henrietta, der Angestellte Jerry, der von seinem Chef und seiner alten Mutter tyrannisiert wird und es doch einfach nicht schafft, sich von ihr zu lösen. Jess, Harrys trauernde Mutter, die ihren Kummer in Alkohol und Männergeschichten ertränkt, Michael, ihr Mann, der sie in der verzweifelten Lage hat sitzen lassen. Und Jim, der örtliche Polizeichef, dem bei der Suche nach Harry seine eigenen Gefühle in die Quere kommen…
Was ist mit Harry geschehen? Und welcher Bewohner von Tall Oaks kann den entscheidenden Hinweis liefern? Gemeinsam mit Jim macht sich der Leser auf die Suche nach der Lösung des Rätsels um Harrys Verschwinden.
___________________
Ehrlich gesagt hätte ich nicht gedacht, dass mir Tall Oaks letztendlich so gut gefällt. Der Start war nämlich etwas holprig: Wenn ich etwas ganz schwer lesen kann (weil unangenehm), ist es, wenn sich jemand für etwas hält, was er nicht ist. Diese ganze Gangster-Attitüde von Manny und Abe war schon sehr belastend. Und Jerrys ganze Storyline… uff. Was wahrscheinlich ulkig sein sollte, fand ich eher traurig.
Besonders schwer ist es mir gefallen, immer zuzuordnen, bei welcher Figur wir gerade sind. Da hat das Hörbuchformat wahrscheinlich auch nicht geholfen. Es war alles sehr sprunghaft und ja, ich war oft verwirrt. Die Zusammenhänge werden erst am Ende richtig klar.
Die zweite Hälfte des Buches hat mir dann aber besser gefallen. Je näher wir die Figuren kennenlernen, desto mehr Sympathie kann man ihnen gegenüber empfinden, man versteht dann auch immer, in welcher Situation bzw. bei welchem Charakter wir uns befinden.
Vermisstenfälle sind ja eh ein Thema, das ich sowohl in der Realität als auch in der Fiktion immer sehr spannend finde, sodass mich das eigentliche Mysterium des Buches auch echt interessiert hat. Es wurde einfach viel drumherumerzählt, es gibt endlos viele Nebenstorylines, deren Relevanz sich erst im Nachhinein erschließt.
Insgesamt war’s dann doch ganz gut, 3.75 🌟
Umso größer der Wirbel, als der dreijährige Harry verschwindet – das Verbrechen, das auch eine größere Metropole aufgewühlt hätte, entwurzelt die Bewohner von Tall Oaks geradezu. Wir begleiten die Bürger in den Monaten nach Harrys mutmaßlicher Entführung. Und hier hat jeder Geheimnisse:
Die alleinerziehende Mutter Elena, die ihren Möchtgern-Gangster-Sohn Manny und die kleine Tocher Thalia versucht großzuziehen und dabei selbst noch einmal die große Liebe sucht. Neuankömmling Jared, der nirgendwo länger als ein paar Monate bleibt. Das reiche, entzweite Ehepaar Roger und Henrietta, der Angestellte Jerry, der von seinem Chef und seiner alten Mutter tyrannisiert wird und es doch einfach nicht schafft, sich von ihr zu lösen. Jess, Harrys trauernde Mutter, die ihren Kummer in Alkohol und Männergeschichten ertränkt, Michael, ihr Mann, der sie in der verzweifelten Lage hat sitzen lassen. Und Jim, der örtliche Polizeichef, dem bei der Suche nach Harry seine eigenen Gefühle in die Quere kommen…
Was ist mit Harry geschehen? Und welcher Bewohner von Tall Oaks kann den entscheidenden Hinweis liefern? Gemeinsam mit Jim macht sich der Leser auf die Suche nach der Lösung des Rätsels um Harrys Verschwinden.
___________________
Ehrlich gesagt hätte ich nicht gedacht, dass mir Tall Oaks letztendlich so gut gefällt. Der Start war nämlich etwas holprig: Wenn ich etwas ganz schwer lesen kann (weil unangenehm), ist es, wenn sich jemand für etwas hält, was er nicht ist. Diese ganze Gangster-Attitüde von Manny und Abe war schon sehr belastend. Und Jerrys ganze Storyline… uff. Was wahrscheinlich ulkig sein sollte, fand ich eher traurig.
Besonders schwer ist es mir gefallen, immer zuzuordnen, bei welcher Figur wir gerade sind. Da hat das Hörbuchformat wahrscheinlich auch nicht geholfen. Es war alles sehr sprunghaft und ja, ich war oft verwirrt. Die Zusammenhänge werden erst am Ende richtig klar.
Die zweite Hälfte des Buches hat mir dann aber besser gefallen. Je näher wir die Figuren kennenlernen, desto mehr Sympathie kann man ihnen gegenüber empfinden, man versteht dann auch immer, in welcher Situation bzw. bei welchem Charakter wir uns befinden.
Vermisstenfälle sind ja eh ein Thema, das ich sowohl in der Realität als auch in der Fiktion immer sehr spannend finde, sodass mich das eigentliche Mysterium des Buches auch echt interessiert hat. Es wurde einfach viel drumherumerzählt, es gibt endlos viele Nebenstorylines, deren Relevanz sich erst im Nachhinein erschließt.
Insgesamt war’s dann doch ganz gut, 3.75 🌟
April 29, 2018
My Review: Tall Oaks is the debut novel by Chris Whitaker and having heard only wonderful things about this book I decided it was time to read it. OMG why had I not read this book before? Why is this book not recommended more and talked about more on book groups? There are very few books that I have read that I feel my review can do it justice and Tall Oaks is one of them. I apologise in advance if I am now waffling as I am so excited and delighted to recommend this book to you.
The book starts off with the abduction of 3 year old Harry and the devasting ripple effect his disappearance has on the residents of Tall Oaks. Quickly we are introduced to the residents (and boy are they odd), quirky, kooky, perculiar and some are just hysterical. I immediately fell in love with Manny, the wannabe “gangster”, Jerry, the helium voiced giant living with an awful mother and Jim, the dedicated but troubled policeman. Despite juggling a huge cast of characters, the author has managed to bring their own personal idiosyncrasies to life and almost instantly they became real people to me (in fact I want them as my friends in real life).
Whilst reading this brilliant, humourous and wonderful novel I was literally transported to Tall Oaks, I could actually feel the heat and tension the townfolk were experiencing, see the PhotoMax shop clearly and visit the car dealership. There were several moments I gasped out loud and several moments I laughed out loud. Tall Oaks is an incredible character driven story, the back story of each individual and the way the author blends them together is pure genius. This would make a brilliant TV series and definitely goes into my TOP TEN of 2017
The book starts off with the abduction of 3 year old Harry and the devasting ripple effect his disappearance has on the residents of Tall Oaks. Quickly we are introduced to the residents (and boy are they odd), quirky, kooky, perculiar and some are just hysterical. I immediately fell in love with Manny, the wannabe “gangster”, Jerry, the helium voiced giant living with an awful mother and Jim, the dedicated but troubled policeman. Despite juggling a huge cast of characters, the author has managed to bring their own personal idiosyncrasies to life and almost instantly they became real people to me (in fact I want them as my friends in real life).
Whilst reading this brilliant, humourous and wonderful novel I was literally transported to Tall Oaks, I could actually feel the heat and tension the townfolk were experiencing, see the PhotoMax shop clearly and visit the car dealership. There were several moments I gasped out loud and several moments I laughed out loud. Tall Oaks is an incredible character driven story, the back story of each individual and the way the author blends them together is pure genius. This would make a brilliant TV series and definitely goes into my TOP TEN of 2017
November 17, 2017
I had Tall Oaks on my TBR for far too long so it was another book I picked to read this summer and I’m just sorry I left it so long. It is a taut and emotive story, with such a great cast of characters that I was sucked in immediately when I started reading it. I couldn’t put it down until the very end and its safe to say I was put through the emotional wringer by the end. Highly recommended!
April 7, 2016
An excellent debut novel by author Chris Whitaker.
Three-year-old Harry Monroe goes missing and the whole of America turns its attention to one small town, Tall Oaks. There are numerous suspects and lots of offers of help for the desperate mother Jess.
This debut novel is full of fascinating characters and considering the subject matter there is a hefty dose of humour. Every emotion is felt reading this book, there are laugh out loud moments as well as tearful ones. I loved reading about the wanna be gangsters Manny and Abe, some of dialogue between them had me in stitches it was so well written. There are lots of secrets and lots of suspects throughout the novel resulting in a great read.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bonnier Publishing for supplying me with a copy of this novel in exchange for a honest review.
Three-year-old Harry Monroe goes missing and the whole of America turns its attention to one small town, Tall Oaks. There are numerous suspects and lots of offers of help for the desperate mother Jess.
This debut novel is full of fascinating characters and considering the subject matter there is a hefty dose of humour. Every emotion is felt reading this book, there are laugh out loud moments as well as tearful ones. I loved reading about the wanna be gangsters Manny and Abe, some of dialogue between them had me in stitches it was so well written. There are lots of secrets and lots of suspects throughout the novel resulting in a great read.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bonnier Publishing for supplying me with a copy of this novel in exchange for a honest review.
December 29, 2021
I felt like I was reading multiple books at once and not necessarily in a good way.
One segment was horror; and I mean absolutely terrifying. A 3 year old is abducted from his room by a person in a clown mask.
Then another subplot was funny but I found it almost disingenuous to the beginning of the disappearance of the 3 year old. It was making the disappearance of a child a trivial matter.
Almost like the author was having moments of bi-polar disorder. Tragic and hilarious within several chapters. Then there is all the other characters that compiled upon an already large cast.
This to me was a brilliant book that was unbelievable and a little overdone.
It had so much potential and the ending left me nauseous.
Ugh!
One segment was horror; and I mean absolutely terrifying. A 3 year old is abducted from his room by a person in a clown mask.
Then another subplot was funny but I found it almost disingenuous to the beginning of the disappearance of the 3 year old. It was making the disappearance of a child a trivial matter.
Almost like the author was having moments of bi-polar disorder. Tragic and hilarious within several chapters. Then there is all the other characters that compiled upon an already large cast.
This to me was a brilliant book that was unbelievable and a little overdone.
It had so much potential and the ending left me nauseous.
Ugh!
March 3, 2018
I read so many good reviews of 'Tall Oaks' here on Goodreads, and found the kindle version on Amazon at just a c0uple of dollars. What could go wrong? Unfortunately, I didn't find it hilarious or suspenseful, and ,in fact, I found it pretty hard to keep going given the plethora of uninteresting characters that were introduced in the early chapters. Maybe the second half of the book develops into something special, but I didn't have the energy or perseverance to find out. Sometimes you just have to admit defeat.
December 20, 2021
A beautiful blend of comedy and tragedy, this book is one of a kind. Written with incandescent prose, this haunting, mesmerising story will leave you reeling. Chris Whitaker has created an unforgettable story of love, loss and deception, with unexpected twists, an unpredictable ending and unbeatable characters who are complex and well-developed.
January 3, 2018
Absolutely superb. Do yourself a favour and read this marvellous novel.
December 31, 2017
One of the best thrillers I have read. Peppered with humour and wisdom. Loved Manny.
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