Wow! I wish I read the previous two books of the series! I liked the intense, dark, depressive, haunting tone of the author! I always keen on reading about broken but tough characters’ traumatic stories and I quickly caught up the back story of Natalie Lockhart: her sister Willow’s ritualistic murder by her own witch-curious friends and the way they pinned the murder on Willow’s boyfriend Justin who has gone to prison for 20 years for the crime he hasn’t committed! She also solved the biggest serial killer case in the American northeast! But the attention of media, her past demons threaten her peace! Thankfully her new boyfriend,33 years old, Rose Security Software founder Hunter saves her from the threats, providing her a secluded, quality life style in his mansion. Now Natalie is ready to resign from her job at police force even though she feels a little agitated to leave her childhood friend/ confidante/ boss Luke Pittman behind. But the book opens with blood freezing scene: Veronica Manes, the town’s best known practicing witch, wakes up staring at the blank white sky, finding herself in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by woods and snow, shackled to the railroad tracks on the edge of the town, wearing a Halloween dress: a caricature of witch : a long black costume and a tall wide-brimmed hat straight out of the Wizard of Oz and she hears the approaching the train sound… You may guess the end of her story and who will investigate her murder! Yes, Luke needs Natalie’s expertise: ultra religious groups who are fighting against the coven of the witches may be related with this murder scheme. Burning Lake, New York is already a haunted place with shameful secret: in 1712, three innocent women were executed as witches: Abigail Stuart, Victoria Forsyth, Sarah Hutchins. So does history repeat itself? I love the pacing, the intriguing love triangle between characters, the gory-dark- haunted depictions, jaw dropping moments fasten your heartbeat and the cliffhanger at the end broke my heart so bad! I don’t only have to read the previous books, I also have to read probably not written yet next book ASAP! Im hooked! I want more!

I'm not a fan of the woods at night, but I am a fan of Alice Blanchard and Natalie Lockhart.

As a nurse, I can imagine how Natalie feels - burned out. It's probably what made me empathetic to Natalie right from the beginning of this one. And like seeing a favorite patient pass away, Natalie is rejuvenated to her career when one of her favorite town residents is murdered. She'd determined and strong - a fierce to be reckoned with. And I love that about her.

This book was fast paced, a quick read, and I enjoyed it!

Right from page one of this thriller, I was absolutely hooked and related so fundamentally to the murder victim. While I found some of the writing to be a little bit disjointed, I really enjoyed the main characters and the setting was perfection. So many good topics were included in the crime itself: a modern-day witch is found dead chained to the train tracks outside of her town. A real page-turner!

It was a quick read and entertaining. The plot was interesting but I did not feel like it was exactly as gritty or suspenseful as I was expecting.
3 stars

First of all, HOLY CRAP! What am I supposed to do now!! Ok, back to the review. This is the third book in a murder mystery series following Natalie, who is a homicide detective. The town of Burning Lake where Natalie lives, is a town steeped in superstition and history about witches and a curse. Natalie is once again thrown into a high-profile case when one of the leaders of a coven is found brutally murder on the train tracks and that is just the begin of this dark case.
This story is good, there is so much folklore and bizarre history in the town that it plays so much into the investigation, and you can't really tell if it is superstition, or they actually have mysteries witches and a curse that is affecting the town. Natalie has a very dark past and so much trauma in her family, that it really affects everything she does and how she deals with others. She has lost so much and is trying to figure out how to move on. The murder case was interesting had a lot of twists and questions that go unanswered, misleading in several directions. There was a bit of a lull in the middle but with this being a murder mystery I expected it to be a slower paced book. The writing was good, and the story was very interesting. The ending had such a huge cliffhanger and just came out of nowhere and totally shocked me and I loved it. I don't know what I am going to do if there is not going to be another book. I would highly recommend checking this series out if you like murder mysteries mixed with a haunting history of witches.
Trigger warnings: murder, dismemberment, animal abuse, suicide
I received this advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

I absolutely loved this book. I read it around halloween which was perfect for the atmosphere the book thrives in. The connection with Wicca and history in the town coupled with a recent murder made the story really interesting. I’m keeping my eyes peeled for Blachard’s next book.

Once again thrilled with this author. Her books are a delightful ride and one that you don't soon forget.. Twists, clues and sudden danger are the stuff of dreams for me and all of these are found in this book. Enjoy!

The Witching Tree starts at an action level 8 and never lets up! It was so good!

I’m not sure where I was when Books 1 and 2 of this series were released but I really missed out. I’m definitely a fan of this author now and will need to read all of her future books!

The storyline was so interesting, the action was fast-paced. The mystery unfolds along at a good pace with no down time in the story. Characters are well-written with both good and bad guys.

There was a fair amount of references to actions that took place in Books 1 and 2 (some really crazy stuff!) that are big time spoilers to those plotlines so I’ll be continuing on from here instead of starting at the beginning.

For all my fellow Thriller readers, do yourself a favor and start at Book 1, soon! Blanchard is a great storyteller and this series is a can’t be missed in the Thriller genre.

Thank you to #minotaurbooks and #netgalley for this #arc copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is the third book in Blanchard’s Natalie Lockhart series, and it’s definitely my favorite so far - even with the ending. THE ENDING. A cliff hanger I was warned about but was still very much not prepared for.

It’s important to start with the first two books in the series, because this one definitely focuses on a lot of issues that have developed for Natalie due to the events from the previous books. I suppose it could work as a standalone, but…not really.

The Witching Tree also feels like it’s the darkest of the three so far…or at least the main murder is very gruesome, so be warned. But it’s also been the fastest paced of the three in my opinion - I could not stop reading. I legit ended every day reading in bed until my eyelids would…not…stay…open…zzzz.

I highly recommend this whole series for folks who love murder mysteries/police procedurals with a witchy flair to them. I need book 4 ASAP, especially with the ending to this one. I don’t think I can make it another year before finding out what happens next!

I was intrigued from the start when we find out how the victim died, setting the stage for the book, however, the storyline proceeded to developed slowly, and I felt the book could not quit pick a genre. Well-written, with well-developed characters, however, I felt the title, cover, & description lead me to believe this would have been a more complex story line, as it felt like an average read.

A sincere thank you to NetGalley St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me an advance copy (ARC) of this memoir in exchange for an honest review. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to read this book and leave my review voluntarily.

The Witching Tree is the third of the Natalie Lockhart series. When the head of one of the two local covens is discovered dead on the train tracks north of town Natalie needs to figure out what has happened before evidence goes missing.

This story is not a stand alone one but instead the first in the next part of the Burning Lake saga. What I really liked about this story is that it was not just another formula story in a series but instead it starts out that way and then you get to the end realizing that this is just the beginning and now you have to wait for the next part.

This is an enjoyable series on its own and this one just added to my enjoyment.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Witching Tree.  This is a gripping novel, I could not put this down and didn't want it to end. Lots of twists and turns, very well written. Lots of characters but well introduced and described. This is the first novel I've read by Alice Blanchard and will read more. I recommend this book and author
Natalie is the main character, lives and works as a detective in a town called Burning Lake. The town is well known for it's witch presence and many residents practice Wicca. Natalie is called to a crime scene of a well known witch, Veronica,  she along with her co-workers must solve who has committed the crime.  Natalie works countless hours to interview and try to make progress in the murder investigation. All the while she is struggling with her feelings for Luke, her ex and Hunter her very affectionate, caring doting boyfriend who would do anything for her.
Settle in for a great read and mystery and a twist ending!

The recent history of this little northeastern town is sure to intrigue if you like reading about serial killers, covens, and curses. Although this is several books into the series and I haven't read any of the previous ones, I’m not having trouble following who is who among the investigators and chief suspects. Any recurring characters and their connection with Natalie are explicated (briefly) at the time they appear.

There are a lot of witches, however: two historic covens plus scatterings of modern solitary witches who appear in a clump and must be gradually distinguished from each other going forward. Mostly they’re sweet, harmless women who have potlucks and volunteer at the food drive when not performing their rituals, but some have motives for wanting the dead witch out of the way.

Our protagonist, Natalie Lockhart, is considering an important decision: whether or not to quit the police force. Her recent life has included more than one previous grisly murder case and she’s lost people dear to her, and she’s feeling very scarred by it all. So right now, there’s a lot of temptation to hunker down in this mansion with hot, handsome, devoted Hunter Rose, like “curling up with a leather bound Charles Dickens novel.”

The imagery is poetic, the early characters and their setting feel very soothing. It’s great contrast to what has just gone before, and you can’t help but wonder how soon this gently Gothic upstate idyll will be overturned either by the discovery that Hunter and all he promises are not quite so idyllic as the vacation atmosphere that has so far permeated their relationship, or by witch purée being found on the nearby railroad tracks.

The pacing is good, churning ahead with introduction of clues, suspects, fellow police, and a full net of red herrings. Detective Natalie doesn’t quite believe in curses, but she memorized the words of the witch-burning era's particular curse way back in childhood and it sure seems, with yet another grisly death to investigate, that the town is prone to more than its share of evil deeds. Will the police team catch up to the killers before Natalie's fragile psyche fractures completely?

Another fantastic Detective Lockhart book by Alice Blanchard! As with the other books in the series, there is a great combination of a murder investigation coupled with the town's extensive history and a romance storyline sprinkled in. I love the way that Blanchard develops her characters throughout this series and truly cannot wait for the next book!

The writing here is very well done - lush descriptions, good pacing - and the characters what you’d expect in a suspense novel. The beginning sucks you in and the story unfolds in a way that keeps the reader interested. My only issue is that I found the ending a little odd, almost as if a chapter was missing. Maybe a sequel will appear.

This is the third book in the Detective Natalie Lockhart series and we find that Detective Lockhart is ready to resign from the Burning Lake P.D. In N.Y. Which is know for their history of witchcraft and The Witching Tree
Where you come to crave your name into with your deepest desire. The story starts out with a bloody murder and Det Natalie feels she need to wait and solve one more murder. Could the secrets of this towns history play into this Murder. You need to read this to find out. This is a stand also need book but after reading you will want to read the first two. Enjoy

Thank you to NetGalley, Alice Blanchard and St Martin's Press for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't know when I requested this novel that it was the second one in a series, but luckily for me there is enough of a recap for me not to have to go back and read the first one. That was helpful and right away I enjoyed the recap, so I will go back and read the first one because it made me curious how all of that came together. I enjoyed this one and now I will be anxiously awaiting the next one since it was so rudely left on a cliff hanger and I am dying to know what happens!

It wasn't until I started reading this novel that I realized I had read the first in this series back in 2019. I went back to re-read that review and remembered that there had been a few things that I hadn't cared for, but decided to give this book a chance anyway.

Sadly, this book was not to my taste for a lot of reasons. To begin with, there were continuity issues throughout the entire book. In one chapter Natalie is given a piece of information, then a couple of chapters later when a different character repeated what she already knew, Natalie acts like it's the first time she's heard it. Another stand-out moment of this is the fact that we are repeatedly told that it's been a long, hard winter (and is now March or thereabouts), but yet suddenly in a later chapter, there are lights strung up on storefronts and holiday music being played through speakers. In March?

Another glaring problem I had with this novel is the complete ineptitude of this police force. Sure, on the outside they look okay. Doggedly pursuing different avenues of investigation and following up leads, etc. However, when vital pieces of evidence turn up missing AGAIN - they don't seem to question it. Not until much later when any solid cop would have put the pattern together and tried to do something about it. When their two prime suspects somehow are granted bail, they don't think it worth the time to keep a tail on them, causing them to go missing, and taking with them information vital to the case.

All of those things I could have perhaps overlooked had this book actually had an ending to ONE of the THREE overlapping storylines. However, the author chose to leave it on a cliff-hanger that left absolutely nothing resolved. We still don't know who murdered Veronica or why. We have an idea of who might be stealing (and possibly planting) evidence, but no motive there either, and now poor Luke is in a coma with no answer to just how he came to be injured and found at the bottom of a ravine. As a reader, I don't mind a well-written cliffhanger as long as SOMETHING has been resolved. Otherwise, as with this novel, it just ends up feeling like a giant waste of my time.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

This is the third novel from the author in a series of stand alone books based on the same detective. I enjoyed that it wasn’t a requirement to read the other novels to follow and understand what was going on from the start. The Author makes sure to fill in any of the gaps you may have!

This novel was fast paced and an intriguing mystery, it had me struggling with my internal dialogue to not flip to the end of the book and discover the whodunnit off the bat! This book keeps you hanging until the last page, or actual after. I will say as much as I loved everything with this book I felt completely dissatisfied with how absolutely nothing was resolved in the end. I feel obligated to read the next book now because I’m emotionally invested but I’m still disappointed with the lack of definitive answers in the end.

The Witching Tree by Alice Blanchard is the newest installment in the Natalie Lockhart series. Natalie is a detective with the Burning Lake PD. Burning Lake is in upstate New York and has a history of witches, covens, and other dark deeds. There are present day covens that work hand in hand with the Christians in town and get along with them just fine. That is, until the head of the most prominent coven, Veronica Manes, is found dead and mutilated by some train tracks. It seems someone drugged her, dressed her in black with a witches pointy hat, chained her to the train tracks, and then she was run over by a train. Natalie has had a rough couple of years with horrific cases she was involved in. Her superior and long time friend, Luke, wants her to take a back seat role on this case. He should know better. Natalie becomes obsessed with solving this case and nothing and no one will stop her.
I don't know how but each book in this series just gets better and better. I absolutely love Burning Lake and its rich and creepy history. Natalie is such a multi dimensional character and I feel like I know her very well. I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves mysteries and thriller. Definitely read them in order or you will miss some important details about the town and Natalie. This is one of my all time favorite series that I've ever read. I can't wait for more! Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.