"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

Tall Oaks (Dover Literature: Crime/Mystery/Thriller)

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

WHITAKER, Chris

Mystery

Dover Publications

From the New York Times bestselling author of We Begin at the End comes a soaring thriller and an epic love story that spans decades. "Impeccably crafted, deeply emotional, entirely shattering. I was captivated from page one." &#8213;Bonnie Garmus, New York Times bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry 1975 is a time of change in America. The Vietnam War is ending. Mohammed Ali is fighting Joe Frazier. And in the small town of Monta Clare, Missouri, girls are disappearing. When the daughter of a wealthy family is targeted, the most unlikely hero emerges--Patch, a local boy, who saves the girl, and, in doing so, leaves heartache in his wake. Patch and those who love him soon discover that the line between triumph and tragedy has never been finer. And that their search for answers will lead them to truths that could mean losing one another. A missing person mystery, a serial killer thriller, a love story, a unique twist on each, Chris Whitaker&nbsp;has written a novel about what lurks in the shadows of obsession, and the blinding light of hope.

All the Colors of the Dark: A Read with Jenna Pick

Literature & Fiction

Literary

Crown

All the Colors of the Dark

Random House, Large Print

We Begin at the End

Winner of the Gold Dagger for Best Crime Novel from the Crime Writers' Association (UK) Winner for Best International Crime Fiction from Australian Crime Writers Association An InstantNew York Times Bestseller "A vibrant, engrossing, unputdownable thriller that packs a serious emotional punch. One of those rare books that surprise you along the way and then linger in your mind long after you have finished it." --Kristin Hannah, #1New York Timesbestselling author ofThe Nightingale andThe Four Winds Right. Wrong. Life is lived somewhere in between. Duchess Day Radley is a thirteen-year-old self-proclaimed outlaw. Rules are for other people. She is the fierce protector of her five-year-old brother, Robin, and the parent to her mother, Star, a single mom incapable of taking care of herself, let alone her two kids. Walk has never left the coastal California town where he and Star grew up. He may have become the chief of police, but he's still trying to heal the old wound of having given the testimony that sent his best friend, Vincent King, to prison decades before. And he's in overdrive protecting Duchess and her brother. Now, thirty years later, Vincent is being released. And Duchess and Walk must face the trouble that comes with his return.We Begin at the End is an extraordinary novel about two kinds of families--the ones we are born into and the ones we create.

Henry Holt and Co.

Winner of the Gold Dagger for Best Crime Novel from the Crime Writers' Association (UK) Winner for Best International Crime Fiction from Australian Crime Writers Association An Instant New York Times Bestseller "A vibrant, engrossing, unputdownable thriller that packs a serious emotional punch. One of those rare books that surprise you along the way and then linger in your mind long after you have finished it." --Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds Right. Wrong. Life is lived somewhere in between. Duchess Day Radley is a thirteen-year-old self-proclaimed outlaw. Rules are for other people. She is the fierce protector of her five-year-old brother, Robin, and the parent to her mother, Star, a single mom incapable of taking care of herself, let alone her two kids. Walk has never left the coastal California town where he and Star grew up. He may have become the chief of police, but he's still trying to heal the old wound of having given the testimony that sent his best friend, Vincent King, to prison decades before. And he's in overdrive protecting Duchess and her brother. Now, thirty years later, Vincent is being released. And Duchess and Walk must face the trouble that comes with his return. Chris Whitaker's We Begin at the End is an extraordinary novel about two kinds of families--the ones we are born into and the ones we create.

Holt Paperbacks

An Instant New York Times Bestseller\n“A vibrant, engrossing, unputdownable thriller that packs a serious emotional punch. One of those rare books that surprise you along the way and then linger in your mind long after you have finished it.” 
―Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds\nRight. Wrong. Life is lived somewhere in between.\nDuchess Day Radley is a thirteen-year-old self-proclaimed outlaw. Rules are for other people. She is the fierce protector of her five-year-old brother, Robin, and the parent to her mother, Star, a single mom incapable of taking care of herself, let alone her two kids.\nWalk has never left the coastal California town where he and Star grew up. He may have become the chief of police, but he’s still trying to heal the old wound of having given the testimony that sent his best friend, Vincent King, to prison decades before. And he's in overdrive protecting Duchess and her brother.\nNow, thirty years later, Vincent is being released. And Duchess and Walk must face the trouble that comes with his return. We Begin at the End is an extraordinary novel about two kinds of families―the ones we are born into and the ones we create.\nA Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt and Company\n"Heartbreaking, unexpected, and hopeful, this audiobook is a must-listen. Narrator George Newbern's nuanced delivery engages listeners and helps the layers of the story unfold." -- AudioFile Magazine\nFrom the Artist\nChris Whitaker; read by George Newbern

MacMillan Audio

About the Author\nChris Whitaker lives in the United Kingdom with his wife and three young children. When not writing he works part-time at a local library, where he gets to surround himself with books. His own authored books include Tall Oaks and All the Wicked Girls.\nThere are two kinds of families: the ones we are born into and the ones we create. 
Walk has never left the coastal California town where he grew up. He may have become the chief of police, but he's still trying to heal the old wound of having given the testimony that sent his best friend, Vincent King, to prison decades before. Now, thirty years later, Vincent is being released. 
Duchess is a thirteen-year-old self-proclaimed outlaw. Her mother, Star, grew up with Walk and Vincent. Walk is in overdrive trying to protect them, but Vincent and Star seem bent on sliding deeper into self-destruction. Star always burned bright, but recently that light has dimmed, leaving Duchess to parent not only her mother but her five-year-old brother. At school the other kids make fun of Duchess--her clothes are torn, her hair a mess. But let them throw their sticks, because she'll throw stones. Rules are for other people. She's just trying to survive and keep her family together. 
A fortysomething-year-old sheriff and a thirteen-year-old girl may not seem to have a lot in common. But they both have come to expect that people will disappoint you, loved ones will leave you, and if you open your heart it will be broken. So when trouble arrives with Vincent King, Walk and Duchess find they will be unable to do anything but usher it in, arms wide closed. 
Chris Whitaker has written an extraordinary novel about people who deserve so much more than life serves them. At times devastating, with flashes of humor and hope throughout, it is ultimately an inspiring tale of how the human spirit prevails and how, in the end, love--in all its different guises--wins.

We Begin at the End (Thorndike Press Large Print Core)

Thorndike Press Large Print

Winner of the Gold Dagger for Best Crime Novel from the Crime Writers' Association (UK) Winner for Best International Crime Fiction from Australian Crime Writers Association An Instant New York Times Bestseller "A vibrant, engrossing, unputdownable thriller that packs a serious emotional punch. One of those rare books that surprise you along the way and then linger in your mind long after you have finished it." --Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds Right. Wrong. Life is lived somewhere in between. Duchess Day Radley is a thirteen-year-old self-proclaimed outlaw. Rules are for other people. She is the fierce protector of her five-year-old brother, Robin, and the parent to her mother, Star, a single mom incapable of taking care of herself, let alone her two kids. Walk has never left the coastal California town where he and Star grew up. He may have become the chief of police, but he's still trying to heal the old wound of having given the testimony that sent his best friend, Vincent King, to prison decades before. And he's in overdrive protecting Duchess and her brother. Now, thirty years later, Vincent is being released. And Duchess and Walk must face the trouble that comes with his return. Chris Whitaker's We Begin at the End is an extraordinary novel about two kinds of families--the ones we are born into and the ones we create.

Large Print Press

What would you do if you knew the world was going to be destroyed by a huge asteroid in one month? The mesmerising YA debut from the winner of the CWA Gold Dagger Award for Best Crime Novel 2021 and the New York Times bestselling author of We Begin at the End.\nThey knew the end was coming. They saw it ten years back, when it was far enough away in space and time and meaning. 
The changes were gradual, and then sudden.\nFor Mae and her friends, it means navigating a life where action and consequence are no longer related. Where the popular are both trophies and targets. And where petty grudges turn deadlier with each passing day. So, did Abi Manton jump off the cliff or was she pushed? Her death is just the beginning of the end.\nWith teachers losing control of their students and themselves, and the end rushing toward all of them, it leaves everyone facing the answer to one, simple question...\nWhat would you do if you could get away with anything?

The Forevers: The YA debut from the 2021 CWA Gold Dagger Winner

Teen & Young Adult

Hot Key Books

What would you do if you knew the world was going to be destroyed by a huge asteroid in one month? The mesmerising YA debut from the winner of the CWA Gold Dagger Award for Best Crime Novel 2021 and the New York Times Bestselling author of We Begin at the End. They knew the end was coming. They saw it ten years back, when it was far enough away in space and time and meaning. The changes were gradual, and then sudden. For Mae and her friends, it means navigating a life where action and consequence are no longer related. Where the popular are both trophies and targets. And where petty grudges turn deadlier with each passing day. So, did Abi Manton jump off the cliff or was she pushed? Her death is just the beginning of the end. With teachers losing control of their students and themselves, and the end rushing toward all of them, it leaves everyone facing the answer to one, simple question... What would you do if you could get away with anything?

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by WHITAKER, Chris. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by WHITAKER, Chris

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by WHITAKER, Chris. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Tall Oaks (Dover Literature: Crime/Mystery/Thriller)

All the Colors of the Dark: A Read with Jenna Pick

All the Colors of the Dark

We Begin at the End

We Begin at the End

We Begin at the End

We Begin at the End (Thorndike Press Large Print Core)

We Begin at the End

The Forevers: The YA debut from the 2021 CWA Gold Dagger Winner

The Forevers: The YA debut from the 2021 CWA Gold Dagger Winner