The Skeleton Tree - Diane James

Release Date: Expected 1st June 2021

Genre: Mystery | Thriller | Domestic Horror

Wendy always loved the Ashes. The big, old house at the end of the street had fallen into disrepair but she always thought it was beautiful. She had dreamed of living there since she first saw it - and fate has intervened. She's getting a large inheritance from her aunt, the other potential buyers dropped out - and it looks like she can finally get the home of her dreams and create a wonderful life for her family.

Her first night in her new home was marked with blood - just a small stain on the floor, an accident with a glass. But nothing compared to what could happen next - as Wendy delves into the history of the house, she finds that death and despair has followed the former residents and she could be next.

As Wendy slowly discovers the history of the house it becomes her obsession, much to the distain of her second husband and children. This obsession strips apart the shiny surface of her life bit by bit, showing the tension just waiting to come to the surface.

Terrifying house aside, this book showed the horrifying reality of marriage and sexism in the 1970's and just how different things were those fifty years ago. Wendys first husband left her suddenly and their daughter Tara when their relationship turned dangerously toxic and her second husband seems great on the surface to Wendy and their two new children but just like houses, things aren't always what they appear.

The first part of this book expertly built up the tension around Wendys seemingly haunted family home then to switch to focusing on the domestic issues which were terrifying in their own way but it made me lose the chills as we progressed further down the story.

Nothing happened aside from a few questionably spooky moments until the last few pages where everything spirals suddenly and dramatically out of nowhere to a conclusion that was both obvious and somehow shocking at the same time.

A slow-burner about ordinary people living their ordinary lives that slowly twisted and convoluted like the brances of a tree.

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Diane James and Canongate books for an ARC in return for an honest review.

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