I was unaware that this was a part of a series when I started this book, so found myself fairly confused. As we do not have the first of the series in our collection, I believe we will pass on this.

I started this book and decided that I wanted to know the full story, so I read the first two books. I am so glad I did. This is definitely my favorite Natalie Lockhart book out of the three. True crime and detective series are always on the top of my favorites list, and this book is no exception. I love how the characters are developed, they jump right off the page. I did feel that in some places, that the writing felt familiar. Some characters and things were described multiple times, and it created a sense of dejavu. The atmosphere of the book is incredible and the story is exciting and kept me on the edge of my reading chair. This was a fairly quick read for me after I finished the other two, so I definitely think it would be a great book to end a slump.

A story that seems to be part of a series but can be read on its own (if you want to commit to reading the next book too)

This is a story about a lady cop who has gone through some tragic cases (in books I am now inclined to read) and is now being babied by most of the men in her life. Natalie lives in a little town known for its historic witch hunts and Wiccan covens. (All the men she’s interested in are either drop dead gorgeous, millionaires, or both, which is kinda annoying )

The story begins with a member of one of those covens being murdered in a brutal way, leading to a tale of horror which seeps through the town. As Natalie searches for clues and follows leads, she finds strange evidence that leads her to the town’s legendary Witching Tree, and even darker mysteries.

There are so many delicious red herrings dangled in this tale.

I just don’t like ending on a cliff-hanger.

3.4 Stars
This is the third book the Detective Natalie Lockhart series. ~"Trace of Evil] "is the first book in this series and "The Wicked Hour]"was the second in the series.
I have read " A Breath After Drowning" and the story was great!!! SO was looking forward to another story by Alice Blanchard.

Setting is Burning Lake a small town in New York.
It has the reputation that in 1712 three innocent women were put to death for being witches.
This story starts when Victoria Manes a modern day witch is murdered on the local train tracks. She is dressed in a Halloween’s witch’s costume.
This story is like an onion~ our Detective Natalie Lockhart discovers a clue and it leads to another discovery. I was curious about both the ‘witching tree’ as well as what happened back in the early 1700s, sure kept me reading and going through those layers.
BTW: I did love knowing the Natalie wanted to be a super hero when she was young. She had many costumes and was a different super hero each day. Now all those layers make sense!!!
So yep there is going to be a Book #4!!

Want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press ~ Minotaur Books for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for December 7, 2021

I definitely recommend reading this first two books in this series first! I have thoroughly enjoyed all of them, but with this third one, you definitely need the background info to fully understand why Natalie Lockhart is on the edge of quitting the police force but still willing to do anything to solve this latest twisted case in Burning Lake. I always like reading this series right around Halloween because there is always something witchy going on with the the murder and crimes that Natalie dives into. I like the little historical bits mentioned about the town and the burning of the three witches.

This book gets darker and darker and pushes Natalie to the edge with all the unanswered questions about Veronica's death and the other mysteries that are popping up some going back years and years. It also ends on a bit of a very dark cliff hanger but I know that Natalie will be able to get to the bottom of it and I can't wait to find out how. Bring on the next book, stat!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ecopy of the book in exchange for a review!

This is a police drama with a witchy twist! Full disclosure: I have not read any of the previous Natalie Lockhart novels prior to this but that did not take away from the plot of this story. A brief backstory of Lockhart is recapped within this book so you will not miss a beat.
Detective Lockhart is young badass who solved the biggest serial killer case in the Northeast- but she is also plagued by family demons of her own. Right off the bat, I knew Lockhart was going to be an intriguing and likable character and I was right, She's a very layered character,
The setting of Burning Lake, NY is eerie and well done. A town haunted by tales and false accusations of witch craft.
The opening alone on this one is enough to hook you. Blanchard's writing is chilling and dark. Like most police dramas, there is a bit of a slow build at parts that felt dragged out but it wasn't enough to get me to stop reading. This book felt like part True Detective (season one) and part Mare of Eastown.
After this book, I know I want to read more Natalie Lockhart.
Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. (PUB DATE: 12/7/21)

I love this series about Detective Natalie Lockhart. It has some really good characters and I like Natalie and her struggles both as a detective and in her personal life. This is the third book in the series and I really need the fourth right away - it's going to be a challenge just waiting for it! So far this is my favorite book in the series - it just gets better and better. The ending kind of floored me because it really didn't wind things up. You know how tv ends a series with a cliffhanger? Well, there you are.

In this book a modern day witch is murdered in the town of Burning Lake. The murder is just an unthinkably grisly one and, of course, Natalie is drawn into the case. Unfortunately she is really burnt out due to a couple of previous sensational murder cases. Several of the characters from the previous books are back in this one. The witching tree in the town plays a prominent part in this 'As legend has it, if you carve your deepest desire into the bark of a Witch Tree, then over time as the tree grows, it will swallow the carvings until only a witch can read them.'

You could read this as a standalone and then wait for the next one, but I recommend you start at the beginning of this series to enjoy it more. Thanks very much to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on December 7, 2021.

St. Martin Press/Minotaur Books I can't thank y'all enough for this advance ebook!
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity also!
And Alice Blanchard Thank You for writing!

This is my second Natalie Lockhart book! Hoping to read book one soon!
I have read The Wicked Hour and absolutely loved it!
So once I seen book three was out had to get my greedy hands on it!

This is a police-procedural with a dark and witchy twist!
Detective Natalie Lockhart has had it rough, she has lost her way and doesn't know which way to go! She is burned out to say the least. Ultimately she is thinking about quitting her job.
That soon comes to a halt when a practicing Wiccan and the towns oldest coven is found brutally killed in a way that is wild and shakes them to their core!
Natalie has never seen anything quite like this. And has no choice but help.
She jumps on bored with an old childhood friend and boss Luke.
Burning Lake is getting errie and and the presence surrounding the town will not stop.
Very disturbing things start happening in this town and soon it will rock everyone's world!

I freaking loved this book! And had fun reading it! This book pulled me right in from the very start!
This book will keep you guessing all the way through.
Natalie’s determination to solve this case has her pushing herself and facing more events of her past.
The plot is great. It builds at just the right speed and the finale is great. You will be holding your breath in a few places for sure.
I really love this series and couldn’t wait for this one.
I hope their will be a book four! Hint..... 😉

Thanks again NetGalley, Publisher and Author for the chance to read and review this amazing book!
I'll post to my Social media platforms closer to pub date!

I wish I had known this was a series! I will definitely be checking out the previous two books to hopefully fill in the gaps, but the story did a great job of pulling me into the allure of a witches coven!

I wish I had read the first 2 books in the series first. I was a little lost on character background ,and felt like I had a few spoilers in there regarding the other mysteries. I did love the pull of the coven, witches, and lore, and i am a sucker for a small town mystery. I will be looking for the other 2 books before I make a full decision on whether or not this is an author to add to my rotation. Thank you for the ARC NetGalley and Minatour books.

The Witching Tree is a gripping, twist-filled mystery that kept me reading long into the night. I love a good detective story, and this one is one of the best I've read in a long time!

Published on Instagram @tiffany_is_reading

I loved this book! I love where the series is going and how Natalie is progressing as a character. These stories are dark and gritty police procedurals. I love the small town vibe of the police force and the recurring characters. There is a background story also taking shape, and I cannot wait to see where that goes. This series is perfect for the spooky season if you are looking for that vibe. Cannot wait for the next one of this series!

The Witching Tree
(Natalie Lockhart #3
Alice Blanchard
The setting is a small, remote town called Burning Lake New York. This is the third book in the Natalie Lockhart series.
Burning Lake has a grim past of witches and untrue indictments. In 1712 three innocent women were put to death as witches. That was all in the past moving forward to modern-day…a witch has been murdered. Detective Natalie Lockhart is grudgingly dragged deep into the investigation. Natalie achieved notoriety during two pervious homicide cases. She is burned out and tired. She is contemplating resigning from the police force. When a practicing Wiccan is killed in a manner perverted and appalling Natalie takes the case along with Detective Luke Pittman (her boss). She and Luke were childhood friends.
I highly recommend reading the first two books in this series in order. While this book stands alone there is much background information. Such as: Natalie’s sister Willow was murdered, and the crime was pinned on Willow’s boyfriend Justin.
The Witching Tree opens with a terrifying scene. Veronica Manes a practicing witch wakes up in the middle of nowhere, chained to the railroad tracks. She is dressed in a Halloween witch’s costume. She hears the train. Luke and Natalie work together to solve the murder. There are religious groups battling in opposition to the coven of witches.
This is the perfect book to read in October. There are parts that are dark and haunting. The love triangle is intriguing and lend just enough romance to soften this tale. The ending is heart wrenching. Author Alice Blanchard is a fluent writer. She has mastered the art of dialogue, writes in a well-paced manner, and knows the power of plot reveals. The story is told from Natalie’s point of view. This book is a forceful, passionate, mystery that will stay with you long after you close the cover.

Excellent book. Mystery and thrills for the reader Alice Blanchard has crafted a well written story that will make a great addition to any library.

The Witching Tree is an intense, twisty, mystery, that will leave you flying through the pages. Your nails will be chewed down to the quick, your eyes will be heavy, but your mind will be spinning. This is a cliff hanger that will leave you wanting more. Masterfully written and the amazing attention to details will transport you to the center of the action in Burning Lake, NY. This book is the third in the series, it can be read as a standalone. Let me just say that as soon as I finished The Witching Tree, I bought the first two books!

Alice Blanchard quickly draws you in from page one, with her incredible descriptions. You can feel the icy wind blowing against your skin, vividly see every horrific aspect of the crime scene, and take in the mood of the characters. Natalie Lockhart has had a few intense, emotionally trying years. She has hunted down a serial killer and had to come to terms with some serious truths about her sister. All of this has led to a crossroads that she is struggling with, should she leave the force, and allow her new love interest to take care of her? Natalie is grappling with this decision when the body of local wiccan, Veronica Manes, is discovered chained to the train tracks. From this point on Natalie is at a dead run trying to discover who committed this horrific murder. What I love most about this book is that it keeps you guessing. You will be sitting at the edge of your seat filled with nerves. There are so many questionable characters that need to be interviewed. Each bringing with them their own story and baggage. You will be thrust into the life of the local wiccans, whom everyone loves. Following close on their heels are the individuals who take it a step to far, conducting eerie satanic rituals, that will leave you chilled to your core.

The Witching Tree is a must read for anyone who loves a good detective story with mysterious, mystical undertones coursing through it. Blanchard is a master of descriptive writing; I love when a book can transport me and this book does that! Her deeply layered characters add depth and makes the writing extremely rich. You swear you know these characters from your own town. They are all perfectly developed and leaves you wanting more from each one. The question that I have is when is the fourth book coming out? Thank you to Alice Blanchard, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this fantastic book. I am off to see when the first two books in this series will be delivered!

I had read “The Wicked Hour,” so I was looking forward to “The Witching Tree,” the third book in the Natalie Lockhart series. The town of Burning Tree, NY, is a bit like Salem, Mass. In the early 1700s, three women were accused of being witches and executed. The town is now a hub for the occult and new age and boasts several covens. When the beloved leader of one of the covens is murdered in a particularly gruesome way, Detective Natalie Lockhart is once again caught in a high-profile case. (I will give the caveat that The Witching Tree contains serious spoilers of the two earlier books.)

Once again, the town provides a great setting. I picture it as a cross between Salem and Avebury in England, and I would like to visit it (but not to get murdered). The book also takes place during winter, and the cold lends itself to the atmosphere. Blanchard has created a book with plot twists and several potential killers. There also is a side plot in which Natalie is being pressured to retire from the police force by her lover and also is struggling her longtime love for her boss, Luke.

Overall, The Witching Tree is a quick read with a good plot, characters and setting. But I do have a major problem with the ending, in that there wasn’t one. Complete cliff hanger, as in “who shot JR.” Absolutely nothing was resolved, and in fact, there were more questions than answers. I was actually stunned when I got to the end, and the mystery had not been solved. I had to reduce my rating from 4 stars to 3 because of that major flaw.

This book grabbed me from page one. It’s a good continuation of the series. There’s some twists in this book and I’m not sure what to think about the ending. There’s still more questions than answers. It looks like I’ll have to wait awhile for answers.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

I'm a sucker for a good detective series, and I've loved Natalie Lockhart and the small town of Burning Lake since I read Trace of Evil. I was so excited to receive the next installment and quickly dove in.

Following the events of the previous book (no spoilers, but The Wicked Hour is also compulsively readable and I highly recommend) Natalie is unsure where she stands--in love, in life, in her career. And as she's about to make the biggest decision--one that will inevitably change everything--Burning Lake is struck by another murder. A popular witch from a local coven suffers a gruesome death, and the responsibility falls on Natalie to investigate.

I loved this book.

Blanchard's writing is swift and eloquent which makes it almost impossible not to get lost in the story. From broad-stroke descriptions that perfectly set up each chapter to the well-paced dialogue and plot reveals, The Witching Tree serves as a masterclass in mystery. Once again, Natalie is a spectacular narrator, both logical and endearing, and you'll find yourself rooting for her from the first page. What's great about this series is while it helps to start at Book 1, you don't need to. Blanchard gives us snippets of the past without overwhelming her reader with info dumps, so if you're on the fence about starting mid-series, trust me and take the leap.

The murder this time is probably the most vivid in terms of exposition, and I could see this translating well into a series. Cinematic and atmospheric, this is going to be the perfect fall/winter read.

Big thanks to Minotaur and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

Unfortunately I was unable to read the book due to an error when attempting to download the book in the NetGalley app that states “book already exists,” but will not open to be read.

I enjoyed most of the characters and the storyline. However the main character, Natalie spends too much time going in circles emotionally. There were portions of the book where she would introduce a character for the second time and describe them again. Writing could have been better. Nothing was resolved in the story so now I will have to read the next one to see how everything comes out. It would have been nice to at least resolve one of the conflicts.