Set in the heart of the bible belt in southern America in a small town called Grace there have been 5 young Christian girls going missing.
The suspect for these disappearances? An elusive monster called The Bird. A huge man seen covered in feathers.
Summer Ryan is the latest in the string of missing girls. Her father Joe gathers his friends and calls for a mass search for his daughter.
Summer’s twin Raine is bereft at the loss of her sister. She sets out and starts her own search for her sister with Noah (who is compelled by his liking of Raine) and Purv (who is badly beaten by his father regularly).
The twins could not be more different. Raine is the ‘bad’ twin who loves to drink, smoke, party and go out with boys. Summer is a god fearing young woman who attends church almost daily and plays the cello like an angel.
Chief Black is under great pressure from the public and his own inner demons to try and crack this case. Terror is mounting and the advice to the public is to keep girls away from the church until The Bird has been caught.
The community of Grace is crippled with unemployment and poverty. Physical abuse is just the norm, and religion is used as a weapon of fear rather than a candle of hope. All of this leads to a very bleak atmosphere; however Whitaker has painted this picture beautifully and makes compelling reading. I was hooked.
Every character is flawed in a heartbreaking way. Raine uses her premature sexuality to get her own way. She is often used by the town boys in a way that she has no idea what is happening to her. Yet her utter fearlessness and resolve to find her sister is absolutely brilliant, heart-warming and really makes you feel for her.
Noah is keeping his health a secret from Raine as he likes her so much he just wants to help her, at any cost to himself.
Purv is so loyal to Noah that even when his body is broken from his father’s lashings, he just wants to be with his friend and find some strength in their solidarity.
This book has a very dark theme and is haunting.
Whitaker is a master storyteller. His exquisite book is like a rich meal. You want to devour it, but find yourself pausing for an interval to digest what you have just read.
The suspect for these disappearances? An elusive monster called The Bird. A huge man seen covered in feathers.
Summer Ryan is the latest in the string of missing girls. Her father Joe gathers his friends and calls for a mass search for his daughter.
Summer’s twin Raine is bereft at the loss of her sister. She sets out and starts her own search for her sister with Noah (who is compelled by his liking of Raine) and Purv (who is badly beaten by his father regularly).
The twins could not be more different. Raine is the ‘bad’ twin who loves to drink, smoke, party and go out with boys. Summer is a god fearing young woman who attends church almost daily and plays the cello like an angel.
Chief Black is under great pressure from the public and his own inner demons to try and crack this case. Terror is mounting and the advice to the public is to keep girls away from the church until The Bird has been caught.
The community of Grace is crippled with unemployment and poverty. Physical abuse is just the norm, and religion is used as a weapon of fear rather than a candle of hope. All of this leads to a very bleak atmosphere; however Whitaker has painted this picture beautifully and makes compelling reading. I was hooked.
Every character is flawed in a heartbreaking way. Raine uses her premature sexuality to get her own way. She is often used by the town boys in a way that she has no idea what is happening to her. Yet her utter fearlessness and resolve to find her sister is absolutely brilliant, heart-warming and really makes you feel for her.
Noah is keeping his health a secret from Raine as he likes her so much he just wants to help her, at any cost to himself.
Purv is so loyal to Noah that even when his body is broken from his father’s lashings, he just wants to be with his friend and find some strength in their solidarity.
This book has a very dark theme and is haunting.
Whitaker is a master storyteller. His exquisite book is like a rich meal. You want to devour it, but find yourself pausing for an interval to digest what you have just read.