There is also a terrific moment when the novel highlights the supposed threat of independent women, stating: 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. We see one character who is trying to manage an eating disorder, alongside overcoming slut shaming. Henry also does an amazing job of discussing prejudices present both within her 1980’s setting, and within society today. 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. And while you may be forgiven for thinking this novel is middle grade from the initial first chapter, beware: the intended audience is adult. 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. 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’. The reader is introduced to new information through a variety of different perspectives, with each chapter adding something new to the story.
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. One of the key strengths of this book is its use of tone. 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. 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. 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.
In sleepy Smiths Hollow, the bodies of two girls are found torn apart in someone’s backyard. 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. 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.
The Ghost Tree by Christina Henry is the ultimate ode to 1980’s paranormal horror.
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