The Wolf Tree was really interesting. I liked the character study and loved the writing, it was propulsive. I would read more from the author.

This was wonderful! I loved the character development and the relationships between various characters. I liked not knowing exactly what happened to one of the main characters until that slowly unfolds. This kept me guessing til the end! As someone who comes from a very small town where everyone knows everything about everyone else, this all felt very genuine. The setting was described beautifully, as well. I felt like I was there and very cold the whole time lol. Highly recommend this book and I will probably choose it as my pick for book club this year!

Even though the plot moved slow, this book piqued my interest and I am glad I stayed with it. I could see this turning into a series. George (Georgina) and Richie are both DI's (Detective Inspector's) from Glasgow. They are sent to investigate a death on a small island. It is a test of sorts for George who has returned to work after a brain injury. Nobody seems to know if George will be able to safely "handle" an investigation of any sort. Throughout the story the reader is teased with this prior police event that went very wrong for George. The island is small. The people are closed off, making it difficult to determine what happened to Alan, the dead 18 year old. The story itself was a little unbelievable but the book was entertaining anyway. Thank you to NetGalley and GP Putnam's Sons Publishing for the complimentary digital ARC. This was a strong 3.5 stars that I am rounding up to 4. This review is my own opinion and has not been coerced in any way.

One of the strongest points of this book for me was the writing. It was emotional, atmospheric, and descriptive, really setting the tone and sense of place. I especially loved the way that the author wrote about nature, and used those descriptions to create a sense of unease. The feeling of a small, suspicious community with secrets was so well-written, putting me on edge and being unsure who to trust from page one.

It reminded me a bit of the series Shetland but with a darker, more folklore/historic twist. The mystery was well-crafted, with slowly unfolding twists that kept me reading. The book was a slow burn but one that felt rewarding and engaging.

The wolf tree takes place on a remote scottish island that harbors too many secrets. most known for having 3 lighthouse keepers that mysteriously vanished in the early 1900's- when a man is found from an apparent suicide there is an investigation. Inspector George and Richie are sent to investigate and the people on this island want their secrets to stay a secret.

Eilean Eadar is a barren, windswept rock best known for the unsolved mystery of the three lighthouse keepers who vanished back in 1919. But when a young man is found dead at the base of that same lighthouse, two detective inspectors are sent from Glasgow to investigate...
Mysterious isolated island, inhabitants that still honor their historic folk culture, and the maybe (?) murder of a young man. The Wolf Tree was an amazing read. Part Wicker Man, part Shetland series by Ann Cleves. I would call it folk horror light, and I couldn't put it down. Thank you, NetGalley, and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam (G.P. Putnam's Sons), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Eilean Eadar is a remote Scottish island with dark secrets known to mainlanders only by the unsolved mystery of 3 missing lighthouse keepers in the early 1900s, that is, until a teenage boy is found dead in the present day at the bottom of the same lighthouse.
We follow the POV of George Lennox; one of the investigators sent to the island who is eager to prove herself capable after coming back to work from medical leave. Is she really ready for field work again? She is sent on what is supposed to be an open and shut first case to find out, but it quickly becomes more. George is the only one who is suspicious of the community, while her partner, Richie Stewart, is focusing more on George than the case. Somebody has to be looking after George’s wellbeing, because she certainly isn’t. How far will George go to uncover the secrets of the island?

I enjoyed the world building and how the author explored the physiological and social relationships that are formed within an isolated community. I do wish George was a more likeable character. She does fall pretty strongly into the ‘not like other girls’ trope; always having to prove her independence/strength by throwing herself into dangerous situations without a second thought. This aside, I still liked the mystery and how it all played out.

3.5 Stars
One Liner: Slow-burn suspense

DI Georgina ‘George’ Lennox is back in action after an accident. Partnering with Richard ‘Richie’ Stewart, she arrives at Eilean Eadar, a tiny remote Scottish island in the Atlantic Ocean, to investigate the death of one of the residents.
It’s supposed to be a simple case but George’s instincts tell her there’s more to it than what meets the eye. The islanders are hostile, the priest is too nosy, and strange events seem to occur, straight out of the local legend. Richie just wants to close the case and go home but George is adamant. With dark secrets enveloping them from all sides, can the duo solve the case?
The story comes in George’s third-person POV in the present tense.

My Thoughts:
With a lighthouse on the cover and an atmospheric premise that may or may not have a paranormal touch, I knew I had to read this one.
Though the book is centered on a police investigation it is not a police procedural. It’s more of a slow-burn suspense where things go in circles in the first half and the action takes place in the last quarter.
I like that the detective duo doesn’t have a romantic track. In fact, the age gap makes it an almost student-teacher or guardian-ward relationship. NGL, I like Riche a lot more than George. George has a large chip on her shoulder, and with a hazy backstory, it’s hard to see why she is that way. For a standalone, this doesn’t do her any favors. Now, if the book is supposedly the first in a series, it might work. I can’t find any information on this, though.
The mystery is supposed to be simple. Was the death a suicide or murder? However, the investigation takes place on an island with a close-knit community, so the progress is almost zero until the last quarter when a lot happens. This further affects the pacing.
The setting is atmospheric – darkish, dangerous, and heavy with rains and storms that add to the pressure. There’s a sort of paranormal thing but it is not either. Such stuff doesn’t work for me. Decide whether or not you want it!
We also see pagan vs. Christian or pagan plus Christian thingy but that’s not fully there either. I mean, the island has a Catholic church (which is the largest building). As with converted cultures, they continue to follow a few pagan practices and create a strange blend of both religions. This aspect has great potential but it has not been explored fully.
In a way, the dark side of a small community has been captured well. It may also feel a bit too stereotypical but that’s the plotline.
The ending is decent and feels a lot like there’s more to come. I wish we knew if there would be another book. The mystery is resolved but the central track with George has unanswered questions.

To summarize, The Wolf Tree has an intriguing premise and an atmospheric setting. How you like the book depends on how much you like the main character and the slow-burn narration.
Thank you, NetGalley, and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam (G.P. Putnam's Sons), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This book made for a deliciously suspenseful and atmospheric mystery, and introduced me to a new detective team that I'd love to spend more time with. The story grabs you from the first page and took you along for the twisty, dark, and chilling case. The the cold, windy, and remote island setting was brought to life and I enjoyed shivering from the cold, rainy scenes and the suspense along with George and Richie to the very end, from the warm comfort of my home. This is exactly the kind of detective team I love to be invited into: a lead female investigator with hard edges and a loyal avuncular partner. I hope this is the first in a series, and I would look forward to reading the next ones. I would recommend this book to fans of Tana French.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book for review.

If I am being honest, I unfortunately found this book to be boring and slow. I am dissapointed as I was looking forward to reading this book.

If you enjoy mysteries and police procedurals that take place in an isolated setting with great world-building, then look no further than The Wolf Tree by Laura McCluskey. Eilean Eadar is an island off the coast of Scotland. Detective Inspector Georgina (George) Lennox and her partner, Detective Inspector Richie Stewart are sent from Glasgow to investigate the death of Alan Ferguson whose funeral was two weeks ago. He had fallen from the top of the island’s decommissioned lighthouse.

George is back from leave after a devastating injury during a case eight months ago. She’s happy to be off desk duty and working a case in the field again. She and Richie arrive on the island during a storm. They’re met by a couple of friendly islanders, but mainly, they’re met by hostility. The islanders seem determined to undermine their investigation and the local priest shows up at many of the interviews. What secrets will be uncovered?

George has clawed her way up the ranks at work quickly. She tends to act on impulse, and often without regard to her own safety. While George is sometimes blunt and to the point, Richie is more personable when interviewing potential witnesses. He loves his wife and daughters. He can be candid, but he’s better at picking his battles than George. The interactions between George and Richie are fascinating to watch as they unfold.

Filled with atmosphere and suspense, this story immediately captured my interest. From the locals who don’t like strangers arriving on the island to the folklore, traditions, and sounds of wolves, George feels something is off with Alan’s death as well as the people themselves. The worldbuilding is excellent, from the storms to the village to the forest, the details are phenomenal. While the book is somewhat slow-paced at times, it managed to keep my interest and engagement.

The plot is full of twists and turns with several surprises along the way including the story of three lighthouse keepers who disappeared in 1919. While the reveal and ending are a little fast, they include some suspenseful and action-packed moments. Themes of isolation, tradition, self-sufficiency, community bonds, and more are skillfully woven throughout the novel.

Overall, this was a compelling, creative, disturbing, and suspenseful story with good characterization, and a great plot that includes solid procedural details. Those who enjoy mysteries with atmospheric worldbuilding and hostile witnesses will likely enjoy this novel as well as those who enjoy locked room mysteries. Will there be a second novel featuring George and Richie?

PENGUIN GROUP Putnam – G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Laura McCluskey provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for February 11, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

I am rounding up on this book, because despite a few flaws, I was definitely entertained and enjoyed reading this story.
Two detectives are sent to an isolated island to investigate the apparent suicide of a young man who was found at the base of a lighthouse--also the place were over a hundred years earlier 3 lighthouse keepers mysteriously disappeared. The island is remote and difficult to reach, which gives it an almost otherworldly and "stuck-in-time" feeling as the detectives attempt to question the locals and find answers.
The best part about this book was the setting and atmosphere. The reader felt transported to the rainy, cold, and desolate island and it was easy to picture the people and places described within (even though I had a difficult time keeping all of the locals straight). The pacing is a bit slow at the beginning, but does pick up at the end. The big"mystery" about what happened to the young man who died, while being the focus of what the two detectives Reilly and Lennox are spending their time on, doesn't really seem to be the focus of the book. I had a hard time deciding if the focus was the isolated nature of the island or the journey of Georgina Lennox to "recover" from her last criminal case and make her way successfully back to the job she loves. (And George's journey was a bit emotionally lacking because she was kind of unlikable. She was certainly guilty of all the things her partner accused her of, and was very unapologetic about it. Yet she also had justifiable reasons for those things, and never discussed those with her partner. Instead she took cold showers and popped pills and ran out in the dark chasing sounds all the time.) Because these three different "themes" or threads were receiving the same amount of attention, they all suffered a little bit. And then the climax and ending were I think supposed to be shocking, but it kind of felt like it came out of the blue, because these elements had only been hinted at. And when the mystery really picked up and gained momentum, while it did keep my interest, it wasn't really very original. I figured out what happened to the victim (again, I can't remember if it was Alan or Alex, because I could keep very few of the characters straight in my head), and I figured out very early on what was going on with the residents of the island, the mysterious sounds, the creepy priest, etc. Perhaps if more time had been spend on the really weird things going on on the island instead of word for word accounts of every witness interview, the ending might have had a more satisfying impact.
If you are looking for an entertaining read that will transport you to a creepy remote Scottish island with a mystery to solve, then I would recommend this book. If you are looking for something with a bit more depth and "meat," then I would recommend something else.

This is a very good, atmospheric mystery that incorporates so many elements I love! An isolated island, folklore and history, strong main characters, and a really good mystery with twists!

DI's George (Georgina) Lennox and Richie Stewart go to Eilean Eadar in the Western Isles to investigate the apparent suicide of a local 18 year old. Upon arrival, they find out that very few locals really welcome them, and look at them with suspicion. The weather is stormy, and they are away from any amenities such as internet and phone! As they begin to look into the death (where he supposedly jumped off the lighthouse), George begins to get feel suspicious and creeped out by the island and many people there- including the priest of the big church on the island. He puts himself into a position to help the detectives, but things he says and actions she witnesses from him, make George leery to believe he is all he says he is. Her partner is more hesitant to jump to conclusions, so George is spurred on to follow her instincts and take a deep dive sometimes alone.

I really enjoyed this story. The author does a fantastic job of describing the island and the citizens! I felt very cold, claustrophobic, and trapped while reading. The development of character is also very well done. Once you fully know about George's past, some of her (irresponsible) decisions make much more sense. Richie is fantastic! He obviously cares a lot for George (in a fatherly way), and supports her and looks out for her. The priest is very well written, and I likened him to a very slick, slippery con man!

The novel does begin slow, and there were a lot of characters to keep track of. But stick with it because it is a dark, creepy, gothic ride that picks up and has secrets galore! The ending was very well done. I am hoping this will become a series!

I highly recommend this if you like Loreth Anne White, Anne Frasier, Sharon J. Bolton Lacey Flint series.

Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putnam and Sons Publishing for the ARC. THis is my honest and voluntary review.

When detective partners George and Richie are sent to a remote Scottish island with a population of 206 people, they are searching for the answers to a mysterious death of a teenager. What they find instead are fiercely protective villagers who are more than reluctant to speak with them about the island teenager who was “unalived” two weeks prior to their arrival. Can these two detectives solve the case of Alan Furguson without angering the villagers of Eadar? Or will they uncover the hidden truths this remote island wishes to stay buried?

This book had me ignoring responsibilities and staying up past my bedtime (no, not out of fear…) two nights in a row. I caught myself making sure my windows were closed and doors were locked then dove back into the village of Eadar for a full 26 hours. While I had an inkling of the “whodunnit”, I was fully caught off guard by how deeply woven the plot was.

I gladly give this one four shining stars and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries and basic sociology and anthropology because HOLY CROW I want to do a full study on those people on the island and I’m not generally one to be fascinated with foreign cultures. But be warned, once you pick it up, you won’t want to put it down.

Looking for a fantastic Scottish mystery to read, this is a must! Two Scottish detectives( one who is recovering from a work related accident and has an addiction to pain meds) arrive at a remote Scottish island to investigate the suicide of a young man found at the bottom of a lighthouse. What they encounter is a close knit society with secrets and long held beliefs. Add some interesting characters and descriptions of a beautiful and wild island, the reader is drawn in to the story immediately. I did not want this to end! Having been to Scotland and some of its islands several years ago, this book makes me want to return .

People aren’t always what they seem…how far would you go to prove your worth?

After being on leave for an accident, DI George Lennox and her partner DI Richie, take on what seems like an open and shut case on an island that comes off as extremely self sufficient and reluctant of anyone not from there. It can’t be that easy though, can it?

This book really immerses you onto the island of Eileen Eadar; with the bone-chilling winds, the whipping rains and the uphill walks in mud. Reading this while it was snowy/cold/gray outside really elevated the unease and chill I felt while reading this book. I could clearly picture the characters as well as their surroundings and having the map to kick off the book was an extra nice resource.

Each character had their skills, but also their flaws, showing them as more realistic and multifaceted. You always want the good guy to win, but you also want to know that it wasn’t an easy task.

Looking forward to reading more work from this author!

Thank you so much to the author, Laura McCluskey, Penguin Group Putnam, and NetGalley for this eARC of The Wolf Tree!

**Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the eARC of this atmospheric title!**

While this book wasn’t quite the right fit for me, I did enjoy the setting and the island was described beautifully. I loved the spooky undertones throughout the police procedural, and getting to see the different sides of the locals was entertaining.

The pacing of this one held it back from being a winner for me, but I think others will really enjoy this one. While this is suspenseful and has police procedural elements, I think readers of historical fiction will enjoy this more than I did.

Overall, the writing was great and I found the island to be perfectly fleshed out but the MCs were not my favorite and that took me out of the story a bit as well.

Partners DI Richie Stewart and DI Georgina “George” Lennox are dispatched from Glasgow to the remote island of Eilean Eadar in the Western Hebrides to investigate the death of a young island resident. Eighteen-year-old Alan was found dead at the base of the island’s notorious lighthouse, from which three keepers vanished without a trace a century earlier, and the officers are tasked with interviewing the mostly reticent and sometimes downright hostile population of the insular community to confirm what looks to be an open and shut case of suicide.

The Wolf Tree is a pretty standard detective mystery with the comfortably familiar set-up of detectives from outside vs. a small community of suspicious locals. The dramatic landscape of the island, at once dangerous and beautiful, is a fantastic backdrop to the investigation and the dramas that unfold. There are certainly some clichéd characterizations here in both our troubled MC George and the eccentricities of the island's residents, but I found a lot of interest as well. George is not your one-dimensional cop battling demons, and even some of the locals who at first present as stereotypical depictions of rural reticence eventually reveal multiple and complex layers to both the detectives and the reader. The struggle between the various generations of islanders adds another interesting facet to the story, with a lot of the younger people bucking against the centuries-old traditions and values that stifle them.

I did see a few of the reveals to the mystery coming a long way off, although there were some surprises that, while a bit far-fetched, were still entertaining. Laura McCluskey is an excellent writer and does a great job building complex characters, depicting the sweeping landscape, and rendering an authentic rural and isolated community trapped in time. If this is the start of a new series, I would happily pick up the next entry.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the digital advanced readers copy. The Wolf Tree will be published on February 11, 2025.

4 🌟

Really wonderful, slow burn mystery. The isolated setting and strange locals make for a tense read - this certainly didn't go the way I expected it to, and the twists and turns were so interesting! If I have one complaint about the novel it's that I wish the reveal had more time to breathe, but overall this was a worthwhile thriller.

George and Richie are a fun pair, and I'd love to read more about their adventures (if only to get some closure on some things brought up in this book).

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

4.5 rounded up.

I loved this mystery on a remote Scottish island, involving an apparent suicide, local lore and legends. Full points for atmosphere and setting, I could feel the wind and the mistrust of the locals as the two Detective Inspectors attempted to get people to talk about what might have happened. I enjoyed the characters well enough, at times there were conversations that frustrated me and the lack of communication between the two partners at times felt a little forced. It worked, but at times also felt convenient . That said, I appreciated George as a character and present tense doesn’t always work for me but it very much did here. This ended up being a fantastic first read for the year.