This was an okay book! I didn’t enjoy it enough to recommend but it was decent! Not the intended audience

👉🏻 For my friends who like police procedurals, unsettling settings, and Scottish accents.

THE WOLF TREE by Laura McCluskey (Kirsty Cox, Narrator)

🎧Thanks, @prhaudio, for the #gifted audiobook and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the review copy via #NetGalley. #PRHAudioPartner #sponsored (Available Now) 10 Hours 42 minutes

“You’re jumping between theories like a flea at a dog park.”

On a tiny and isolated island off Scotland's coast, the Eilean Eadar community knows how to take care of their own. But a questionable death is suspicious enough to warrant two “big city” inspectors braving a dangerous boat ride to investigate.

I enjoyed the partnership between Detective Inspectors Georgina (“George”) and Richie, especially as she’s on her first case back to work after a nearly career- and life-ending on-the-job accident. She’s prickly and defensive, and he is mature and supportive. I liked that his family always invited her to dinner for the holidays. “Sometimes when she’s listening to him put his feelings into words with such unforced ease, she pictures herself as a lizard and Richie the sun-warmed rock beneath her.” Their relationship is being tested, but I could feel the strength of their history behind it.

The story itself was wonderfully convoluted: we meet almost all of the ~200 island residents at some point (I’m kidding), and the setting is harsh and creepy enough to feel like a key character. I especially enjoyed this as an audiobook since I adore great accents. But file this one under “slow burn” so you know what to expect: this was a fascinating exploration of people, personalities, and what can happen in tightly woven and isolated communities.

I was not impressed with the beginning of this book, as not a lot was happening, except for the interviewing of the residents, who were all pretty much keeping shtum. But, a third of the way through, boy, did this story get exciting. This is the kind of folklore tale that I love to read, laced with pagan beliefs and rituals, and a village where the residents look on outsiders (mainlanders) as suspicious…think of movies, ‘The Wicker Man’, and ‘Midsommer’.

Detective Georgina "George" Lennox is finally back to work with her partner Richie after recovering from an accident - a bit desperate for action and ready to do anything to prove that she is capable of taking on cases again. Their first assignment doesn't quite feel like a "real" one though, being sent to a remote and windswept Scottish island, population 200ish, to investigate the apparent suicide of an 18-year-old boy. It's most likely to be cut-and-dried, but there are some strange findings in the autopsy, and some even stranger things popping up during George and Richie's stay on the island, where the locals are highly suspicious and even hostile toward mainlanders. The dark secrets of the island's history and present swirl around, and kept me turning the pages even with a very slow burn plot. It has all of the elements I love from this kind of mystery along the ones by Tana French and Jane Harper - evocative setting that plays into the tension, broody detective fighting her own past as she tries to work in the present, UK/Ireland setting (Australia works too though, thanks Jane Harper), slow burn with secrets slowly being revealed and pace ratcheting up - and adds an element that I don't see as much but also enjoy for what it brings to the vibes: the female detective with older male partner who is a good mentor, rather than an antagonist (brought to mind the Cat Kinsella series by Caz Frear). As a Jane Harper read-alike it reminds me most of her newest ones (The Searcher and The Hunter) for the very small community vibes, the attitudes towards the protagonist as an outsider to that community, and the type of mystery where part of the tension comes from wondering, along with the protagonist, whether there actually IS a mystery, or whether the suspicious goings-on are all in their head... A solid read from this debut author, and I hope for more to come!

I found the first part of the story, with all of the interviews, pretty slow and boring. But there were several twists, and tons of atmosphere. The ending was great.
Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Update: February 19, Posted on Toktok. Please excuse the delay.

This was a remarkable book, unusual, charming, and chilling. The cover and title grabbed me, and I ended up reading it nearly non-stop all night and into the next day.

An irritable young Detective Inspector and her older partner are dispatched to investigate a possible suicide of an eighteen year-old on a tiny island with a population of two hundred and seven souls.The setup was leisurely, yet it suited the insular, low-tech island. The island with its harsh weather and secretive people came alive for me. The tension toward mainlanders along with the intriguing history and lore captivated me. The characterizations shine. 

The challenging investigation kept me in suspense and I became invested in George's quests. Although she’s bristly, she's fierce in a good way. I resonated with her damage and her ability to tune into where she needed to go. She's one of the most memorable detectives I’ve read in a long time.

The book felt larger than life with its dark underpinnings giving gothic and folk horror vibes. The relationships, symbolism, and social issues were handled well. 

The author's creativity makes this a standout book. When you read dozens of book descriptions a week, most of them fall into too-familiar patterns. The Wolf Tree was a sweet discovery. It's necessary to exert a strong suspension of disbelief and it pays off beautifully. 

I’m delighted to have discovered Laura McCluskey. I hope to see more of her unusual and appealing detective duo. 

Strongly recommended for seasoned readers of thrillers, detective fiction, and gothics.

Thank you, Penguin Group / Putnam for the E-ARC for consideration. These opinions are solely my own. I'll post to Tiktok and add the link closer to the release day.

I love the sense of place in this one. The atmosphere is special. I love that this is wholesome too. It is a little too wholesome for me but I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam and Sons for the opportunity to read and review The Wolf Tree by Laura McCluskey. All opinions are my own.

Eilean Eader is an island of rock made famous by a disappearance of three lighthouse keepers that were never found. In present day a young man from this small town has died. Two police inspectors, George and Ritchie, come to the island to investigate. Upon arrival the islanders are stand offish and wary of the officers. The town seems as if it has not changed to present day technology or ideals in decades. The officers have some hard work ahead of them with a town that seems not to care if the case is solved.

This story grabbed me from the get-go. The setting of the town, people, and weather seems to be its own character and adds so much to the book. There are a lot of characters to keep up with and occasionally I had to stop and really think about who I was reading about. This is a slower burn, but the author gives us tasty, twisty reveals throughout to keep you interested. Once I was totally invested, I couldn't stop reading until the end to see what was really going on. I really like this one and would definitely try something in the future from this author again. The Wolf Tree was released on February 11th and is now available at all major book retailers. Happy Reading!!!!

Thank you netgalley and Putnam books for this eARC. I love moody mysteries where the location is a major part of the story, like the Shetland series and most of Tana French's novels.
This book was trying to do that and it was mostly there. There were things that didn't work for me and I didn't feel as much tension as I hoped to. The drama between the two detectives felt a bit contrived and George was not very sympathetic to me. I did want to keep reading to the end so that was a plus. I also figured out half of the mystery, but not the main reveal so that was good too.

The most cozy eerie police investigation I've read?? An entertaining read with fantastic world building and history.

An inspector and her partner are sent to a small remote island off the coast of Ireland to investigate a young man’s suicide only to discover a centuries worth of secrets. I had a hard time connecting to the main characters; however, I lived the moody setting and the history and lore of the island. Looking forward to more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley for a chance to read and review this book.

A dark secret and remote island make for a great locked-room mystery. Fans of atmospheric suspense with a strong sense of place will devour this.

I am so glad I read this book and discovered I might just enjoy detective led mysteries.
Although I am convinced it was McCluskey's writing that reeled me into this story. The ever lingering ominous atmosphere and eerie set of incidents make for a great read for a rainy or snowy day. Foreboding novel.

The Wolf Tree by Laura McCluskey is an atmospheric mystery.
I found it to be really hard to put down.
This is a tightly written story, with well developed characters.

This book was a nice balance of eerie and mysterious. Inspector George Lennox is fiercely focused on determining the circumstances surrounding a young man’s death. She and her partner travel to a remote island and find the townspeople friendly and unnerving. I appreciated that the story balanced the townspeople’s odd demeanors with George’s partner, Richie’s, positive demeanor and that many of the threads came together at the end. The ending kept me guessing and I appreciated that it felt both concluded and like we could follow George’s detective work further.

**4.5 stars**

This was an excellent debut, a unique atmospheric police procedural with a touch of folk horror. I greatly enjoyed it and read it in almost 48 hours time. I truly felt like I was present on Eilean Eadar, feeling the salty chilly air with George and Ritchie. I love books that make you feel like you know the characters and this book fully accomplishes that.

I absolutely did not guess what was happening and I LOVE that so much because I can usually guess, at least a little. But not this time! If you enjoy dark, atmospheric mysteries with an interesting police detective main character, especially set in a remote Scottish isle, then do yourself a favor and read The Wolf Tree.

I hope this is the first book in a series. If not a series I will definitely look forward to Ms McCluskey’s next book.

**Thanks to the author and publisher for the e-arc I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.**

Wow. It took me a while to get involved in this one, but once I got hooked, I was hooked, and read it in one setting. George -- short for Georgina-- and her partner Richie, are Scottish inspectors sent to a tiny island miles from the mainland, and inhabited by a very small group of people, to determine if a suicide was really a suicide. Alan, the young boy in question seemingly had everything to live for, but markings on his arms were not consistent with falling from an abandoned lighthouse. No-one on the island is willing to offer any information, and they are about to return home when many suspicious events come to an unexpected head. I highly recommend, and am hoping to see more books with George and Richie.
Thanks to NetGalley for an arc, and no pressure for a positive review.

The atmosphere steals the show. If you're in it for rain, wind, cold, and craggy cliffs - this is your book. It also pulls off newcomer vs standoffish/creepy townies quite well.

Two detectives are sent to a remote Scottish island to investigate what was deemed a suicide, but may be something more sinister. The male detective is near retirement. The female detective is talented, but young. She's also recovering from on the job trauma that you learn more about as the story progresses. All that to say, the two leads have more of a father/daughter relationship. Nothing romantic, which I appreciated.

The mystery was decent, a little slow, and not super inventive, but it kept me reading. What's really sticking with me is the sense of place- both the isolation and strangeness, but also landscape, weather, and inhabitants.

If you like detective fiction and immersive sense of place, give this a try.

Was it suicide...or something more sinister?

On the tiny island of Eilean Eadar off the west coast of Scotland people live very much in the way their ancestors have for hundred of years. Fishing is the main way of making a living, the two hundred or so residents all attend the Catholic church that overlooks the sea, and more than a few believe in folklore as strongly as they do religion. Mainlanders rarely come to stay here, and those who do are regarded with suspicion at best, hostility at worst. One of their own, an 18 year old boy named Alan Ferguson, was recently found dead at the base of the island's decommissioned lighthouse. The coastguard, the closest thing the island has to law enforcement, interviewed the people in the area and sent the body to the mainland for autopsy. It appeared to be suicide, or perhaps an accidental fall...but there were some unexplained bruises on the arm which along with the victim's young age indicated a more formal investigation was indicated. A pair of DI's from Glasgow are sent to ask more questions to determine if a verdict of suicide can confidently be rendered and hopefully give the grieving mother a sense of closure, DI Richie Stewart and his partner DI Georgina Lennox arrive to find that not only are the islanders somewhat surprised to see police from the mainland...the mainland has a history of forgetting and ignoring them, after all, and Alan's death while a tragedy was to their eyes no great mystery.,.they quite frankly don't want them there. With the lack of a law enforcement presence on the island most matters are brought before the local priest to be settled, and the postmistress keeps most of the island in order; why should they need the police? This is DI Lennox's first case after months of recovering from injuries sustained in her last investigation, and neither her partner nor her superintendent are entirely sure that she should be back in action. This was thought to be a fairly simple and relatively safe case to test the waters...but in a community that has always handled anything or anyone who threatens them in their own way, nothing is straightforward and no one is exactly what they seem.
The Wolf Tree is an atmospheric mystery, part police procedural and part thriller, with a protagonist in George Lennox who is complicated, prickly, and not forthcoming to anyone (including her partner Richie who is as close to her as family) as to the extent with which she is still struggling with pain from her head injury. Relying on strong painkillers far more than she should, which Richie suspects but thus far hasn't voiced, she is determined to prove to everyone that she need no longer be parked at a desk; investigating crimes in the field is what she has always wanted to do, and being kept away from it has been agony for her. Is she prone to impulsive actions and putting herself unnecessarily at risk, as Richie keeps telling her, or is she just being a good cop? Is her reliance on pain killers causing her to make errors, to imagine seeing and hearing things, or are there really weird things going on? As the mystery of what happened to Alan Ferguson unfolds, George and Richie sort through the cryptic islanders; the priest who holds such sway over his flock, the taciturn sheep farmer for whom Alan worked, the postmistress who knows everyone's business and doesn't recognize boundaries. The setting is vaguely Gothic, in a windswept, ocean-lashed and forbidding way. I was hooked from the first pages, wanting to know George's secrets as well as finding out what led to Alan's death, and the elements of folklore along with more than a few twists and turns along the way kept me going. Readers of Ann Cleeves, Lucy Foley and Peter May should give author Laura McCluskey's debut novel a try. Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam/G P Putnam's Sons for allowing me access to this gripping read in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley & G.P. Putnam’s Sons for an eARC ♥️♥️♥️


Scotland, Secrets, and a Whole Lot of Suspense

The Wolf Tree is a mystery novel is like a rich, velvety Scotch whisky - it's got depth, complexity, and a whole lot of kick.
The story unfolds on the rugged, windswept Scottish island of Eilean Eadar, where the misty lochs and crumbling castles seem to hold secrets of their own. I'm a total sucker for Scotland's atmospheric landscapes, and this book delivers in spades. From the creepy, abandoned lighthouse to the quaint, village pub, every setting is vividly described and utterly immersive.
Detective Inspectors George Lennox and Richie Stewart are tasked with unraveling the tangled threads of a decades-old mystery, and the more they dig, the more they realize that nothing is as it seems. Who can they trust? What's real, and what's just legend? As they interview the island's tight-lipped residents, they begin to uncover a web of secrets and lies that goes all the way back to the island's troubled past.
I love how Laura McCluskey weaves together the island's history, folklore, and mythology to create a rich, suspenseful narrative. The writing is evocative and atmospheric, with a keen sense of place and a deep understanding of the human psyche. The characters are complex and multi-dimensional, with secrets and motivations that are slowly revealed as the story unfolds and just when you think you've figured out whodunit, the author throws in another curveball that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. If you're a fan of mysteries, thrillers, or just great storytelling, you need to get your hands on this book.♥️