Who can resist their dream house? Not Wendy Thornton. And when she gets the chance to actually purchase the dilapidated house The Ashes, she seizes the opportunity despite the feeling of doom that lingers around the house.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

An interesting story - I really enjoyed how it showed someone being obsessed with the past will become doomed to repeat it.

However, I found the main character frustrating and incredibly selfish.

Unexpected, Engaging…
What dark secrets does The Ashes hold? It is Wendy’s dream home but is there something menacing lurking in it’s history? With a deft pen the author fluidly creates a wholly engaging, compelling and twisting mystery which never goes in exactly the way the reader may think. Unexpected and compulsive with a deftly drawn cast.

Honestly, I couldn’t get into this one. The writing was incredible and the way the author wrote the voice of the protagonist.l was brilliant Saying that, I hated Wendy. She was just so self absorbed and boring and I just didn’t vibe with her at all. I also didn’t feel like anything happened and I probably wouldn’t have finished it if it was a full-length novel. Thanks to the publisher, author and Netgalley for a chance to read and review this book.

Unfortunely, this book just didn't capture my attention. It was a DNF for me (did not finish). I might try again at a later date.

It’s not even that the writing voice is bad because it’s not, but the plot and the characters are unbearable. I can’t even believe I gave three hours of my life reading about the most annoying woman being obsessed with a house that wasn’t even haunted.

Almost nothing happens in this story. Nothing mysterious, nothing spooky. There’s no tension, no suspense, no mystery. The missing girl and the possible serial killer construction guy are forgotten afterthoughts, overshadowed by Wendy and her heart-eyes for a crappy old house.

There was no point in any of this. I guess we’re here to watch a woman’s descent into self-inflicted isolation, but that's not what I was here for.

This book dragged a bit. Overall, I think it was a very interesting concept with a lackluster execution. I thought the ending was absolutely brilliant but some of the important steps in the middle were awkward or forced.

This was one of the most uncomfortable books I have read in a long time, and I mean that in a great way. When the story starts, Wendy has found her dream home. When she receives money after her Aunt’s death she decides to buy the home, without much support from her family.

The Ashes (the name of the house) has a long history and Wendy starts digging into it, and uncovers many secrets. At first everything appears to be normal, but things start quickly going wrong. There is a major strain that develops within her marriage, and her oldest daughter is interested in learning about her biological father after he left them when she was just a toddler.

Wendy’s husband get’s a huge promotion,, that takes back to his hometown. Wendy defies her husband and decides at least for the meantime to stay at the Ashes to sell it and continue to uncover it’s secrets.

I do not want to give anything additional away, as the author does an outstanding job peeling back all the layers until it culminates to an ending you will never see coming. This is a perfect read to save for the fall closer to Halloween, as it has all the creepiness one would expect from this type of story, but it is such a satisfying read.

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House Publishers for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

So, I think The Skeleton Tree is being targeted to the wrong audience. I wouldn't say that that this book is horror which is one of the reasons I picked it up. I thought we were getting a haunted house-type story and there was even a time I thought the story was going to be similar to Amityville horror since the husband was kind of a jerk. But the story is mostly the main character being obsessed with the house. She thinks something is wrong with the place and does research but that's where the story starts and ends. There's more focus on her marital problems than anything remotely horror-related.

I enjoyed this book. I have never read anything by this author before. I will be looking for more of her books.

I love suspenseful stories that take the every-day and turn it into something extraordinary and disturbing. Wendy Thornton dreamed of an old house that she couldn't afford. She dreamed of renovating it for her family, making it their own. Then miraculously she was suddenly able to afford the home that was out of their price range.... That's when the dream started to become a nightmare.

This book wasn't what I expected. I thought it was going to be the story of a creepy house. Instead, it was more about a bad marriage, family dysfunction, broken dreams, obsession, hidden secrets.... Pretty heavy stuff. The story dragged a bit in places, but I stayed right with it...I wanted to know what happened to the characters. I have to say that most of the main cast are totally self-absorbed and unlikeable. But that's kind of the point, really.

I didn't see the end coming. That fact impressed me the most.

I enjoyed this book, even though it was not at all what I expected. It's the first book by Diane Janes that I've read. I'm definitely going to read more of her writing. I like her style. This story surprised me...and I look forward to reading more!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Severn House. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

I thought I was getting a story of a haunted house. Maybe something old and gothic. Instead I got a story of a bad marriage and a woman obsessed with a house. We are meant to think that the house does this to people but its evil plan is to just make women want to decorate it and keep it the same forever. I was often bored but the story of an annoying woman, her jerk of a husband, her obnoxious teen, and the two other kids who were only there to scream in the middle of the night or hide from their parents. I liked the house and I liked the idea of bringing a house back to its glory. It didn't work for me in execution.

Even if the blurb sounded interesting and some parts are gripping I found the pace to slow and the book didn't keep my attention.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I'm still searching for the words for this review, so bare with me. This book is confusing at the best of times. There are too many characters to keep track of. We don't get to know all of them well, so it's really hard to keep track who is who...I felt lost reading some parts. First there is the main family, then the secondary neighbour/distant cousin of the old owners wanting to know about the house as much as the current owner, then there are the previous owners going back 150 years or so. I mean YIKES!

My overall thoughts on this book are, meh. I think that this author's writing just isn't for me. She writes all over the place, probably intentionally to confuse you. The coming together in the end is a bit a of a mess. I just can't live with the writing style. I can see why some may enjoy it. I, unfortunately didn't. If a slow burner featuring a dysfunctional family and a crumbling mansion with secrets is your cup of tea I say go for it, otherwise look for something else. Cool cover though.

Wendy is thrilled to be able to buy the Ashes, a house that needs a lot of renovation. And, as it turns out is has a nasty history, Keep in mind that this is set in the 1980s so certain things weren't available or common. Wendy's family isn't as happy about the move, or frankly, about her. Then creepy things start to happen but know that it never gets really spooky or awful. I felt like I knew the house better than I did the family although their distance is part of the narrative. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. It's an interesting read.

The Skeleton Tree is about an antique house and what secret lies between the walls. It‘s also a portrait about horrible marriages, toxic relationships and sexism in the 70‘s.
If you are too afraid of scary books, but you like a little spook here and there. This one is for you.

Thank you NetGalley / Canongate Books for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I just could not get into this book for the life of me. The book was very boring to me and overly detailed BUT boring details that didn't even add to the story, making it drag on and making me want to read it even less. This is the 1st book that was a DNF for me, PASS on this one.

The Skeleton Tree was a nice slow burn, not too scary thriller! Perfect for readers who want to read about something dark and twisted but don't want to be scared out of their minds.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

"Is Wendy's dream house about to turn into her worst nightmare?

From the moment Wendy Thornton first laid eyes on number 37, The Ashes, she knew she had to have it. It may seem neglected on the outside, but Wendy is convinced it's her perfect family home. It just needs to be loved. It needs her.

When Wendy receives an unexpected sum of money from her aunt's will, her dream of buying The Ashes becomes a reality. But as Wendy moves in with her young family and starts uncovering its past, she soon learns that The Ashes is hiding a number of dark secrets.

Is Wendy's dream house about to become her worst nightmare? As she is drawn further into The Ashes' dark history, Wendy's own life starts to unravel in the most spectacular and devastating way..."

I am SO HERE for The Ashes. Named houses are always the best and spookiest!