This is probably one of the more difficult reviews I’ve had to write in a while. Not because the book is terrible – it’s not AT ALL – but because a lot happens between these pages, and the events are so intricately woven that it’s difficult to say much without spoilers. I’ll do my best to remain coherent, but in case it doesn’t come through – you need to read this book. It’s so good!

When the book kicks off, we’re dropped into 1975 in Monta Clare, Missouri, a small, sleepy, Southern town where not much ever happens. That changes when a serial killer strikes. The story centers around Patch, a local boy with a tragic past and a missing eye, who finds himself in a dangerous situation. When the daughter of a wealthy family (and the girl Patch has feelings for) becomes the next target, Patch steps up to save her, setting off a chain of events that will change the lives of many in town, especially that of his best friend, Saint.

Over the course of nearly thirty years, the book follows Saint and Patch from awkward, trouble-making thirteen-year-olds in the 1970s to adults in the early 2000s. Despite ups and downs and many changes in their lives, Patch’s decision on the day he witnessed a near kidnapping and murder put them both on a trajectory neither could have imagined for themselves.

The plot is so intricately woven that it’s difficult to say much without spoiling anything, and I absolutely don’t want to ruin anyone’s enjoyment of this book. Whitaker’s writing is raw and honest, pulling at your heartstrings and keeping you invested in every twist and turn of the plot. This is a hefty one at over 500 pages, but I read it in a couple of days. The chapters are short, and the story is compelling, making this an easy one to tear through.

At its core, the book explores themes of light and darkness, hope and despair. Many of the characters – particularly Patch and Saint – don’t have a lot going for them – but the paths their lives take are unexpected and, at times, complicated. The author delves deep into themes of obsession and redemption, showing how easily one can slip from triumph to tragedy in the blink of an eye. For some reason, as I was reading this book, I kept being reminded of the book “The Devil All the Time” by Donal Ray Pollock. That was another book that I was riveted by and had a similar tone to this one.

Whitaker masterfully weaves together multiple genres in this book, delivering a missing-person mystery, a serial killer thriller, a coming-of-age story, a family drama, and a love story all in one. What makes the blend of genres work so well is the depth of the characters and the complexity of their relationships. To say I was riveted would be an understatement. Every single character has a purpose in this book, and not one of them is wasted. I absolutely loved Patch and Saint, but several side characters, from Misty to Norma to Nix to foul-mouthed Sammy and the mysterious Grace, were just as captivating – I couldn’t get enough of them.

With a riveting story and characters you won’t soon forget, this book is a must-read, especially if you like your literary fiction with a splash of serial killer thriller and a solid mystery. Ultimately, it’s the characters that make this book what it is. I rooted for them, ached for them, and wanted everything to work out for them. Chris Whitaker has crafted a novel that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page. This is a book that I will think about for a while and one I’ll be raving about for weeks to come.