The Ghost Tree by Christina Henry is the ultimate ode to 1980’s paranormal horror. Stranger Things meets The Brothers Grimm, this nostalgia filled, small town murder mystery has just the right amount of eeriness to keep the reader on their toes. Henry builds upon her early successes with twisted tales and takes it one step further in her latest novel, creating her own killer fairy tale with its own dark consequences.
In sleepy Smiths Hollow, the bodies of two girls are found torn apart in someone’s backyard. Lauren isn’t so sure that local police will catch the killer, especially since no one was charged with the murder of her own father just one year earlier. When Lauren starts to have visions of the two murdered girls, the countdown begins to the next killing, and the corruption that lays beneath the surface of the town threatens to break her world wide open. With a good dose of suspense and a dash of magic, The Ghost Tree is set to be a big hit, especially for fans of Practical Magic and The Wicked Deep.
One of the key strengths of this book is its use of tone. Henry masterfully crafts a wholesome narrative through the use of multiple perspectives, clearly capturing the essence of the character in the first few lines of their chapters. The reader is introduced to new information through a variety of different perspectives, with each chapter adding something new to the story. We see important themes addressed in this way, from coming-of-age storylines, to racism in the 80’s, to the internal struggle between what is right and what is ‘justified’. Through this use of tone, the story quickly gains momentum, building towards the ultimate climactic point in such a way that makes it hard to put down. And while you may be forgiven for thinking this novel is middle grade from the initial first chapter, beware: the intended audience is adult. The coming chapters will prove this, as the author switches from Lauren’s perspective to the killer’s, and to a handful of others, as the mystery of Smiths Hollow is slowly pieced together.
Henry also does an amazing job of discussing prejudices present both within her 1980’s setting, and within society today. We see one character who is trying to manage an eating disorder, alongside overcoming slut shaming. Another character represents old, harsh prejudices towards her American-born Mexican neighbours—the comparative nature of having this woman’s chapters followed by said neighbour’s chapters showcases just how bigotry and deep-set her views are. There is also a terrific moment when the novel highlights the supposed threat of independent women, stating:
‘Spinsters are witches, and old women are witches, and single women are witches because they simple must be. Women without men must be up to no good.’ – Christina Henry.
And speaking of witches, another noteworthy aspect of The Ghost Tree is the fairy tale element intertwined throughout. Smiths Hollow is no ordinary town, and the hidden folklore at its centre definitely adds to the atmospheric setting of the story. When the town’s secrets begin to unfold, Henry’s strength in storytelling really begins to show.
So, if you’re looking for an eery, atmospheric, fast-paced novel, try The Ghost Tree by Christina Henry. Combining real-world issues with well-written folklore, Henry is bound to capture the hearts of fantasy readers as she explores what it is to be human in a town that has made a deal with the devil.
The Ghost Tree is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 8th 2020.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
When people go missing in the sleepy town of Smith’s Hollow, the only clue to their fate comes when a teenager starts having terrifying visions, in a chilling horror novel from national bestselling author Christina Henry.
When the bodies of two girls are found torn apart in the town of Smiths Hollow, Lauren is surprised, but she also expects that the police won’t find the killer. After all, the year before her father’s body was found with his heart missing, and since then everyone has moved on. Even her best friend, Miranda, has become more interested in boys than in spending time at the old ghost tree, the way they used to when they were kids.
So when Lauren has a vision of a monster dragging the remains of the girls through the woods, she knows she can’t just do nothing. Not like the rest of her town. But as she draws closer to answers, she realizes that the foundation of her seemingly normal town might be rotten at the center. And that if nobody else stands for the missing, she will.
