Tall Bones

There is something about small town USA that provides a wonderful claustrophobia. The secrets, gossip, pettiness and viciousness of people in small communities provide a perfect tinderbox. Add in the bigotry and hypocritical judgement of small town religion and you end up with a dark and powerful story which Anna Bailey captures in haunting style in Tall Bones.

The main story revolves around a missing 17 year old girl and her best friend. As her friend goes searching for the truth she digs down through the secrets buried within the family and the community.

This is dark and haunting stuff, exquisitely written to catch that underlying paranoia. A fantastic debut!