The Witch Elm

The Witch Elm

By Tana French
Published: Vicking, 2018
Pages: 528
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Check it out on Amazon

Always one more miracle, always one more chance. Pull me from the earthquake rubble, weeks in, dust-coated to a white statute and just one hand lifting feebly, parade me high in triumph. Pull me from the river streaming like a merman, work on me past hope, till the cough and splutter finally come. I'm lucky, my luck will hold.

Twenty-nine year old Toby has always been lucky. He's had an easy life and glides through life in an apparent bubble in which nothing bad can happen to him. One night that all changes when burglars break into his apartment and literally almost beat him to death. Toby is never the same after that; the accident has left him struggling to walk properly, fumbling for his words, and black holes in his memories. He and his girlfriend move into his childhood home, the Ivy House, when he learns his uncle is dying. Things seem to be getting better until a human skull is found inside the witch elm in the backyard. Suddenly, everything Toby thinks he knows is called into question, even himself.

The Witch Elm falls flat. I usually like Tana French's work, but I just didn't like this novel. I could NOT stand Toby. He's basically that rich white kid that has never had a hard day in his life. Of course, that all changes with the burglary but towards the end when his cousin Susanna is telling him how she went through something awful (no spoilers in my reviews!) and he didn't take her seriously back then he is thinking, "Is she still angry at me for that!? It wasn't my fault." URGH. Toby is so selfish and arrogant. This character alone made me dislike reading the book.

PLOT: OK, I liked the plot in general but the book moves so slowly. It's not until page 162 that the skull is even found. I found myself getting bored quite often throughout the novel. However, I will say I was pleasantly surprised by that twist at the end... definitely did not see that one coming but there were hints of what could happen throughout the beginning.

This is just my opinion. I've seen on Goodreads that plenty of others enjoyed The Witch Elm so if you like more of a slow burn type of mystery this book might be for you.

RATING (out of five puppies)