I Loved this book! A must read for Horror fans. The creepy setting, a nearly 2 decade old murder then a boy and his Dad go missing.

This book was a decent read. I enjoyed the main plot and the speed at which the story progressed. The characters were definitely easy to form opinions on and I found myself rooting for and against many of them. My only problem with the book was that there were too many unnecessary side plots going on in the story. They would have made great stories on their own but I felt they would have been better left out of this story.

This was such a strange book. It was so creepy but took forever to get entertaining. I wish this was a series.

Very creepy! I enjoyed the suspense, even through the very sad and emotional parts. It was challenging trying to figure out who really did what, and who would be affected next.

Excited to read another book by Wicked House Publishing
This is my first book read by this author (Axl Malton) and it is sooo good
This book is insane in a good way, it starts off with so many things that get you hooked and needing to read more. This book was dark-atmospheric with thriller, horror and some mystery vibes as well.
I loved the historical elements of the witch trials, that was so cool. The town legends were great and definitely played a big part in this book. Dad's in this town look out!!
Well written, in multiple POV. Great characters, even though you are not gonna like some of them they are important to the story and others you are gonna like a lot and be rutting for them.
This book feels like it kinda be 2 books into 1, it has present-day an also a cold case element also. I really can't say too much about this because I don't want to ruin the book for you. The ending wow....
This is a must-read book, and what better time to read it than now in October -Spooky Season. I don't know about you but I love reading horror books all year round but they just hit harder during this time of Year!!! :)

Honestly this was not on my list of books to read again. It just didn’t do it for me. I will definitely try reading it again in the future to see if it does better for me.

Words.

I need words to define this book to give it justice. This was a wild and dark ride. The character development and world building was top notch. I found myself holding my breath to the point I had to physically put it down and take a break.

I think if anyone is debating this.....my advice to you? Just read it. You will not be disappointed!

I’m usually not a fan of reading books like this one, but I couldn’t put it down. It was creepy and scary, yet it also had a mystery that kept me wanting to know more.

First off, let me say I loved the creepy vibes of the witch portion of this book!!! 🙌 It kept me interested throughout!!

I will say that there is a subplot in this book as well, that in my opinion could have been completely left out!! It almost detracted from the amazing main plot line. Hence the 4 ⭐️ rating!

And Mrs. Leadley?!?! I was cheering that woman on!!! Loved that character!! ❤️

I definitely do recommend this for the witchy creepy vibes alone!!! 🧙‍♀️

TW: animal cruelty/death, suicide, rape, physical abuse

Thank you to NetGalley, Wicked House Publishing, and Axl Malton for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! I will definitely be reading more from Axl in the future!!! ❤️

The Devil’s Tree by Axl Malton

One single tree grows from a mound of dirt in the center of a lake…but the tree and it’s branches are dead. The Devil’s Tree. The Tree of Death.

Tony Thorne is the sergeant in small town Wymere. Eighteen years ago, the love of his life vanished. Now he’s married to a woman living in the shadow of his lost love. Memories and determination to find the truth of her disappearance come rushing in when a young boy disappears during a town festival.

This book has it all…horror, lore, gore, and more. I loved that it was like a horror novel AND a thriller intertwined. It’s the first book I’ve read of Axl Malton’s, but most definitely won’t be the last!

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Wicked House Publishing for the digital ARC.

The Devil's Tree: A Novel by Axl Malton was a very entertaining story.
This horror story was intriguing and well written. An engaging read. And I thoroughly enjoyed this compelling and entertaining book.

The witch trials were such a horrible experience for women. So many women were accused of practicing witchcraft when they did something society did not like. The community used so many tortuous methods to get confessions that it’s no wonder there are so many stories like this book. I loved the whole aspect of an unwholesome spirit comes back to extract revenge from the town that condemned the woman to her fate. Of course it does not seen fair that people in the future be punished for actions in the past but the spirit just wants revenge. As the book moved along, the ways which the witch gained her powers only increased in severity. Then to add more horror to the story, a decades old missing person investigation by a rogue nurse, the people discover how depraved the asylum doctor really is. His actions only seemed to help add evil to the town making it even easier for the witch to gain her souls. Overall this book had a great spooky vibe and I enjoyed every page! 👻👻👻👻👻

"They said evil oozes from it like puss oozes from an infected wound."

"The Devil's Tree" by Axl Malton is a riveting read that seamlessly weaves various characters' perspectives together. Malton's storytelling abilities shine through as he skillfully merges the storylines, intensifying the narrative and enthralling readers. The latter three-quarters of the book had me on the edge of my seat, eagerly anticipating what would happen next.

Thank you, Wicked House Publishing and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review before publication.

I loved the historical backstory of the witch trials playing a role in the legends and the curse present in the English town of Wymere. The multiple POV characters were distinctive and entertaining, and I enjoyed all the scary scenes and the intricate plotting that wove them together. I highly recommend this book for horror fans and those looking to add a spooky read to their TBR for Halloween.

This is my first book by Axl Malton, and it definitely had me hooked right from the start. Dark, twisty, and disturbing this book will have you guessing and shocked in the end.

Sophie Rose was the love of Sargeant Tony Thorne's life when she went missing 18 years ago, presumed dead Tony finally went on with his life but he never forgot and neither did his wife who still lives in her shadow to this day. During a celebration in the English town of Wymere a women reports her son and husband have gone missing. During the search her missing husband comes stumbling out of the woods covered in blood screaming, "I don't know what I've done." As they search the woods looking for the missing boy, a body is found, around a dead tree, growing in the middle of black dirt. Is it the body of the young boy? Or has Tony discovered the evil that has laid dormant for centuries.

I love a good twisty thriller, and I also love a good horror story, this once seemed to be two books in one. I really enjoyed it, but at times it seemed like I was reading two entirely different stories. Both plots were enjoyable, but I also think they could have been better if each story was expounded upon in their own books. The ending will leave you shook.

Thank you Netgalley and Wicked House Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Eighteen years ago a woman goes missing. Now a man and his son have also. When Sargent Tony Thorne finds the boy at a strange dead tree in the middle of the woods he may have found the evil haunting the town. What if it awakens? What does the tree hide? Haunting read.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Whew! Where to start? This book is perfect for fall spooky season. It has supernatural elements as well as evil of the human kind and I'm not sure which is worse! It starts a little slow as it weaves together multiple storylines, but trust the author because it all comes together in the end. Do not start reading the last 1/3 of the book close to bedtime because you will be up late finishing it! Have fun reading!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced reader copy (ARC). The Devil's Tree is a story with two intertwining storylines deep rooted in the history of the town. In the town is a tree with a history filled with witchcraft, bloodshed, and taboo horrors. Everyone knows to stay away. But when fathers start killing their children, the Devil's Tree cannot be ignored.

Tony, the investigating officer must solve the nature of this horrific crime while balancing a life with an alcoholic wife and loveless marriage and the ongoing sorrow of his long-lost love who went missing and was never found. No sign of life, no body for 18 years.

Somebody knows something - about the Devil's Tree murders and Tony's long-lost love. And all hell is about to break loose in a single night. New to the town, a family joins forces with Tony and their next-door neighbor to take on the evil of the Devil's Tree.

In addition to this intertwining storyline that twisted together beautifully, I also appreciated the sadness and history of the Devil's Tree. In true witchcraft fashion, Malton does an incredible job of depicting historical facts (how women were accused of witchcraft) with the fiction of the story. What kept me turning the page was the psychiatrist and trying to figure out what he was up to. Even though it was an evil man, he was one of my favorite characters (well written, mysterious, openly evil with no remorse).

Thank you to NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing for providing a review copy.

Whew, does this book have a lot going on! There are menaces both supernatural and human, and what initially seems like several separate storylines converge in the end. I found the first half of the book a bit slow while the many threads of story being laid down, but it quickly picked up in the second half. If there's one thing Axl Malton does really, really well it's building tension, and I found myself staying up way too late to finish the book. 4 stars

The plot is simple. Almost scary campfire story vibes. Started strong. Some police procedural. However, it became a lot of pain and death. The characters were similar to each other. Less lore, more gore.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing for the ARC.