03/02/2022
“Set in a gloomy New Zealand town with a bleak history, filled with a cast of compelling characters, and with some wonderful twists, this is a fantastic whodunnit filled with q***r themes that explores important ideas and asks some even more important questions. Chris' debut THE NOWHERE (highly recommend!) was an exceptional book, so it was a tough act to follow, but with BOY FALLEN, Chris has proven himself a terrific writer with a keen eye for detail and a brilliant understanding of character. You'll want to keep this one on your list; it had the atmosphere of THE DRY with the character study of SCRUBLANDS, and combined the best elements of detective fiction with some classic crime-thriller elements, but remained unique and with its own strong voice.
The novel succeeds in how well it keeps its secrets, and in how well it develops its characters – we're given a deep look into a troubled set of individuals, and though at times the novel is gut-wrenching, it is also beautiful and hopeful, and it offers an important message. If you enjoy crime fiction and want something unique, well written, and with exceptional characters, then please keep an eye on BOY FALLEN. It's really quite wonderful, and you'll probably find yourself as enraptured in its tale as I was, desperate for answers and satisfied by the end.”
– Josh Radwell via Goodreads