Apparently, The Hollow Tree is the second book in a series of Shona Sandison Investigations. Having never read the first, I didn't have any issues following along and enjoying this second in the series. The Hollow Tree is a skillfully written, slow-burning murder mystery. The characters are engaging with interesting backstories. The setting is a small English town with secrets (what's not to love). With elements of dark academia and the occult, this novel was a great quick read.

I came into this book without any familiarity with the first book in the series. It wasn’t really necessary. Even Shona’s injury is eventually explained. The story was timely in it’s examination of England’s flirt with facism. Unbenownst to many people all over the world, the US was not the only country with this issue. The characters are truly unpleasant to deal with. But our defiant journalist is not letting that get in the way. She’s witnesses the suicide of a naked, weirdly tattooed man at the wedding of a friend and knows there must be more behind it. The Hollow Tree uses its setting and atmosphere of intrigue, shadows, and pure hedonism, to lead the reader smoothly through this strange world. One that could very well be more true than people would like to think.