The Owl in the Oak Tree is a debut novel by Penny Walker Veraar. This is a story about Reagan, who is a newly widowed teacher, her two children and what happens when she witnesses a drive-by-shooting. She feels the need to give the police the information she has until she realizes the implications on her children. Her youngest child, Lizzie, is living with the diagnosis of Down syndrome and autism and is non-verbal. She has an especially hard time understanding that her father is gone.
I really enjoyed this book and want to thank GG Publishing and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

*Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I had a hard time getting into this book. The story started off strong and then just lost my interest.
DNF

Reagan is a newly-widowed teacher and mother of two, one of whom. Lizzy, is a special needs child. When Reagan witnesses a drive-by murder, she must balance the safety of her family with the safety of the community.

When I saw Owl in the Oak Tree, the debut novel by Penny Walker Veraar on Netgalley, it was the cover that attracted me. It was listed as a mystery/thriller but that is really just a small part of this story. It is about grief and resilience, what brings families together in the face of tragedy and what tears them apart, the problems but mostly the joys of raising a special child, about drug addiction, and the effects of gun violence, not only on the victim and the shooter, but on the community as a whole. But most of all, this is a beautiful story about families and, in the end, hope.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

I love this title. The owl is not mentioned many times, but it has a special significance to Reagan.

This book is two stories. One story is about a family who has lost their husband and father to cancer, and the impact of his loss on the family. It is a story of grief, adaptation and resilience. The other story is about the drug trade and the damage it does to individuals and communities.

Reagan Ramsey's husband has died from cancer. He had been the principal caregiver for their younger child, Lizzie, who has a dual diagnosis of autism and Down's syndrome and who can be violent. Their older child Matthew is about to enter middle school, and his two best friends are going to a different school. Then he made a new friend, one who already had his own car, a gun, and always had money.

The second story is about drug use and its impact on the community. One thing that surprised me in this book is that we are shown two views of drug use: casual use by people we would consider upstanding citizens, and then the other side where people are willing to kill for it.

I received a review copy of this book from GG Publishing via NetGalley. It was my pleasure to voluntarily read and review this book.

Owl in the Oak Tree is Penny Walker Veraar’s debut novel. This book is about loss, friendship, family, and addiction. Even though it is different from most of the books that I read, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this moving story. The only thing that I thought could have been better was the very abrupt ending. I wanted to know if Jake and Reagan end up together and I also wanted to know what happened to the teenage boys.

Thank you NetGalley and GG Publishing for accepting my request to read and review Owl in the Oak Tree.

Published: 02/23/23

Mixed emotions on this one. The storyline had several conflicting paths. Current problems are explored from a young child with Downs Syndrome, death of a parent, illegal drugs, step-parent, and a spouse moves out secretly. All these things are happening simultaneously. The story is written well, everything is cleaned up in the end. There are moments that broke my heart, moments I laughed and moments where I was a tad angry.

I'm going 3.5 stars, and struggling on rounding up. While an interesting read. It lacked something.

I do think it is time well spent.

Thank you NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, the only reason I didn't abandon this book at the 10% mark was because I saw it as my duty to complete this novel and leave a review.

I cannot recommend this novel to either a literary fiction or crime fiction loving audience. There are honestly much much better novels discussing grief, the opioid epidemic and raising a disabled child. Neither of those topics were treated with care, depth, or originality. The plot was extremely predictable, characters were superficial, their desires were barely explored, dialogue was stifled and awkward and expositional to a fault. The police procedural part read like very little if any research into police work was done. The sports discussions bored me to death and entire chapters could be entirely skipped as they added no information and depth to the characters and their actions.

Take for example the crime and its resolution: Reagan witnesses a shooting, she is interviewed at the police station, shown some pictures, the detective in charge calls her in every once in a while, and only more than a month later does he actually ask her to help create a composite sketch. The crime resolution happens off screen and then Reagan gets praised for it. Why? To me it felt like she held the investigation back. And her main emotional conflict wasn't even the crime.

Conflict and suspense in general was subpar in this novel. Part of it was the author's decision to include unnecessary scenes, and tell a lot. There is a scene close to the end where one character is severely injured and abandoned on the front steps of their home. We then switch perspective, and wake up with the characters inside the home, talking more than necessary about who should open the door. Then the injured person falls into their arms when they open the door and the other person screams. And I just rolled my eyes and chuckled. There was no tension: we already knew who was at the door, what condition they were in, and why. There is no development for the people inside the home, as their journey is already set in stone and one of them is only proven right for the upteenth time. And the screaming was very soap-opera like.

The worst offense was that I really didn't care about any of the characters. You could have killed the MC and I would have just said: okay, and turned the page.

Except I wouldn't have turned the page. I wouldn't have continued reading the book had I not had an obligation. And it's not because of the sports or the topic. I'm now reading "Heroine" which is a Young Adult novel about addiction, with an MC who is a top athlete and obsessed with sports. I don't care about sports, even less about softball, I have never ever had the ambitions or desires of the "Heroine" MC. Yet, I care about her, I am devastated by her spiraling into addiction. Because, unlike this novel, that MS was explored in detail. I care about an athlete MC more than I cared about this novel's teacher MC (even though I was a science teacher myself). And to answer the book's question at the end: I don't care about Reagan's teaching style, we spent too little superficial time with her in the classroom and I was bored the entire time.

Quick other problems I had with the book: the discussions on teaching a young boy to do "man stuff"; jumping between scenes with improper time-lapse description; the way Lizzie's disability was a backdrop to the MC's character growth, while Lizzie is not allowed any growth at all; the author's comment that she is the aunt of a child with Dawn syndrome, whose birth resulted in the family first grieving (?) but then got over it. ................... I wish I was paraphrasing, but that's what the Acknowledgement says.

In the end: this book didn't develop the owl in the tree (what a Macguffin), didn't develop the crime plot, didn't develop the characters, didn't develop a plot, or further a conversation.

If you are interested in reading about grief, drug addiction and crime I can recommend: "All That's Left Unsaid"; "Heroine", "The More They Disappear"; "Long Bright River." Novels with similar themes, but much better explored. And if you want additional non-fiction reads about addiction, you can check out: "Chasing the Scream," "Beautiful Boy," or "Tweak." You'll get a much more realistic picture of how addiction and trafficking really looks like, on how grief hits and paralyzes.

Mother's Dilemma

Reagan is a mother of two and a school teacher. She just lost her husband Scott to Cancer. The family has been struggling to deal with his death. She has been doing well considering she has a young daughter with down's syndrome and autism. Her son Matthew is a big help but he is only nine.

One day Reagan goes out with the girls from the office for drinks and feeling guilty about leaving Lizzie she leaves early. As she is going to her car she witnesses a shooting and stares at the gunman before he almost shoots her. Now she can identify him.

If she identifies the shooter her children are in danger, she has already been warned. If she does not than crimes take over the neighborhood. What is she to do.

Reagan must confront her feelings and determine what is the right thing to do. As she fears for her safety and that of her children she also fears her nightmares, and how her children are handling the death of their father.

It is a thriller but it is also a story of families, of crime, addiction and the horrors of the drug trade and how it affects neighborhoods. It is a story of how families fight to help their children and do what is right for them.

It was a good book and I am glad I read it.

Thanks to Penny Walker Veraar for writing a great story, to G.G. Publishing for publishing it and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.

United States Publication: February 23, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley and GG Publishing for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

Reagan is a widow with two young children, one of which has special needs, and she has witnessed a murder. Between wrestling with her grief from the loss of her husband and the children's father, her job as a middle-school teacher, becoming an unwilling witness to a murder, and the challenges of having a child with special needs, Reagan is barely keeping her head above water. The murderer needs to be caught, can and will Reagan do her part to help? Her sister, Jordan, has introduced the idea of sending Lizzie, the special needs daughter, to a facility to live full-time and that causes stress and guilt as Reagan considers it. Her son's "big brother" has a stepson that is headed for trouble and may or may not be involved in the murder Reagan witnessed. Her community is succumbing to a massive drug problem and it's worrisome for Reagan, as she smokes weed herself. *shrug* That's kind of it as far as a summary goes.

The publisher calls this a taut thriller. It is not. In fact, it is not a thriller at all. The parts of the story that I suppose they are leaning on for the thriller parts are very anti-climatic and obvious as to who is involved and doing what. It felt very disjointed to me and I think I felt that way because it seemed like Veraar had about 3 ideas for a plot and forced them all together. The character of the owl in the tree fell very flat. I feel like there was a lot more Veraar could have done with that idea but it got sidelined for the other competing storylines. It just didn't work altogether. Parts of the story worked but not when combined with other characters and storylines.

I wanted to like this but I just didn't. The rating I did give it is a nod to the author who has a special needs grandchild pretty much exactly like the one in this book. I appreciate she wants to bring attention to these people and their families but I didn't care for the way she chose to go about it through this particular story.

Rating edit: 2.5 stars


Well, it seems like an unpopular opinion but it didn't work for me.

Loved the cover. The writing is good and it starts really well. Reagan's troubles and grief and her will to keep her family happy and intact are expressed well. The visits of the owl to her kitchen window is intriguing.

However, after a few chapters, it turns repetitive and seems to meander. I kind of lost interest. The hit and run case, and the murder that Reagan witnessed began to seem like a sidekick, sadly, while these should have been the main focal point. Also, there are many unnecessary characters who appear once in a while, build intrigue, you think they might be some significant character, but then they disappear.

So, I'm disappointed, however, I must mention here that I am an impatient reader. If you are a patient reader, you might like it.

Thank you, Netgalley, GG Publishing and Penny Walker.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of Owl In the Oak Tree by Penny Walker Veraar
I enjoyed this novel, it was an easy read, story line easy to follow, characters well developed and introduced during well spaced intervals.
Written from a few characters perspectives, Reagan is the main character and the story revolves around her and her family, she is recently widowed and is finding she needs help with kids, nine year old son who is needing a father figure and younger daughter with special needs.
So many aspects of this story hit home whether it's loss of a family member, drug dependent, adolescence, adulthood, morals...
Hoping to see this author write more novels, it was well done

This debut novel by Penny Walker Veraar was a fantastic read.
Reagan is newly widowed with 2 children to raise, one of these having Down syndrome and autism.
This book follows the families journey as they find their feet without their father/husband.
Reagan is spectator to a drive-by shooting and must make the hard decision to identify the shooter and put herself/her family at risk, or choose not to and watch as her safe community crumbles.
This book was gripping and heart-felt. It was easy to fall in-love with each character and so easy to stand in Reagan's shoes and to understand how big of a decision it was to make.
It kept you hooked the whole way through and left satisfied with the end result.

Veraar's Owl in the Oak Tree centers on newly-widowed Reagan and her two children as they try to pick up the pieces after the death of their husband and father. After Reagan witnesses a shooting, strange occurrences at her home begin to occur, all as she grapples with ongoing family struggles.

I'm having a hard time with this review, as most of the others rate this novel very highly. Unfortunately, I struggled a lot with Owl in the Oak Tree. The various plots and subplots felt disjointed, and it seemed that there was an overuse of filler. NFL games and spaghetti dinners were described in extreme detail and broke the 'thriller' immersion. Some characters (Janet) were removed way too conveniently, and others (Sonny, Ron/Rob?) were thrown in so sporadically you had to go back to remember who they were. I wish the actual premise described in the summary was a stronger influence on the plot, as I feel that the foundation, characters, and writing is present for a good story but ultimately falls flat.

Note: I received a free ebook copy of Owl in the Oak Tree from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the cover of this book and looked forward to reading it - the author didn't disappoint. While I wouldn't consider this a true suspense/thriller novel there were a few twists and turns to keep it interesting. It did seem that, sometimes true to life, there were quite a few instances of disbelief and turns that brought an entire range of emotions. A good story and I appreciate the opportunity to get an advance copy and provide an unbiased review.

A well written book with complex characters. For those people who are looking for a simple story with an uncomplicated plot, this is a perfect find. I appreciate the fact that the author managed to include the character of Lizzie and also portrayed beautifully the nuances of handling a special child and the effects it have on the other members of the family.
Not only the book dealt with lives of people with special children in it, but it also focussed on drug addictions and the consequences.
All the characters are beautifully written and though I enjoyed the read, I found the pace slow in a few places.

Owl in the Oak Tree
A Novel
by Penny Walker Veraar
Beautiful Cover and I so enjoyed the book. A wise old owl, a thriller, and families all with issues. Reagan Ramsey is a young widow and has children with special needs. When a drive-by shooter threatens what she knows she must do as a strong woman. It is a very touching, sad show of doing the right things.

Reagan, a mother and teacher is dealing with her new normal, raising two children, Matthew and Lizzie, after her husband's death. Lizzie is a non verbal special needs child with Down's syndrome and autism who needs to be closely monitored.
When Reagan becomes a witness to a drive by shooting, it becomes apparent that her safety and the safety of her children are at risk as she may be able to identify the shooter.
Will her family be safer if she keeps quiet or will she always be looking over her shoulder?
Side story about drugs that tie in with the shooter.
#OwlintheOakTree #NetGalley.

If you like stories with a simple plot and good character development, chances are you will like this book.

Reagan, a teacher in Norwood near Cincinnati, is struggling to cope with life after her husband passes away. She has two kids – Matthew and Lizzie, and Lizzie is a special needs child with Down’s Syndrome and Autism. There is a shooting on the street and Reagan is a witness. After this, Reagan lives constantly under stress and fear for her family, as there are some occurrences which seem like threats. There is another track in the story pertaining to drug dealing and abuse. As expected, the two threads converge at the end.

The character development is very good and you feel for what Reagan goes through. The story is uncomplicated and while the exact particulars of the crime get revealed at the end, it is quite easy to sense the direction the story will take. The pace is quite slow though, and some sections distinctly lack energy and it feels like very little movement.

I liked the story for its simplicity and honesty though.

My rating: 3.5 / 5.

This debut novel by Penny Walker Veraar is riveting and captivating. It’s a story about family dynamics after loss, navigating life as a young widow with a severely disabled child and trying to do the right thing as the only witness to a crime.

Reagan Ramsay has an abundantly full life and manages to traverse through all of her trials and tribulations with grace and patience. As she is grieving the loss of her husband, she is also raising two young children, one of whom has a dual diagnosis of Down Syndrome and autism, working as a teacher, and wanting to be a good citizen by helping law enforcement catch a criminal, but also needing to protect her children. The writer perfectly weaves all of the intricacies of the many storylines without losing the reader to tiny details. You will cheer Reagan on, cry with her, laugh with her and your heart will get broken over and over. It’s a beautiful, well-written and complex story about family love. The book hangover from this one will last awhile.

I give this book 5 stars and look forward to another book by this author.

I received an electronic ARC from Girl Friday Productions through NetGalley.

I requested this title as soon as I saw the cover, and the interesting title - both of which drew me in right away. Then, I quickly felt a connection with each character. I loved the ending, and truly hope that readers get to follow up with Reagan, Jake, Matthew, Lizzie, and the others.

One thing I did notice was that the information provided by MetGalley at the end said that advance copies would be given to book groups that focus on thrillers. Personally, I wouldn’t call this book a thriller - it was more of women’s fiction title with thriller aspects. At it’s core, this story is about family, and community,