A quirky and atmospheric police procedural about an isolated fictional Shetland isle and it's 200 inhabitants.

An 18 year old man fell from the lighthouse in an eerie echo of an incident that occurred 100 years prior. Considered an open & shit suicide, DI George Lennox is assigned the case as her first one back following a workplace injury

Read if you enjoyed the Foxtel show Lambs of God with Essie Davis. I absolutely loved both

I haven't been able to read much of this just because the format in which it was sent to me makes it quite difficult to read.

What I did get through I really enjoyed and I intended to get a physical copy to be able to finish at some point but for right now it's going on hold.

I literally devoured this in 24 hours which is going to make my next statement sound slightly ironic...it took me a little time to get into this but when I did, I could not put it down. If you love small town murder mystery, cult style books then you'll like this, added bonus it was based in Scotland. I did not expect the ending at all which I loved as usually I figure things out which ruins it for me, the shock factor was an amazing way to finish! Read this, you won't regret it!

I love a good debut crime novel and Laura McCluskey's - The Wolf Tree did not disappoint! It is a masterful blend of modern crime procedural and ancient folklore (which I especially loved in this book!) which is set against the haunting backdrop of a remote Scottish island. The story follows Detective Inspectors George Lennox and Richie Stewart as they investigate the apparent suicide of 18 year old Alan Ferguson. They enter a tight knit community, not all that willing to help out.

McCluskey's writing is rich and atmospheric and she manages to immerse the reader in the island's eeriness. The narrative deftly intertwines suspenseful slow burns with intense high-stakes action, keeping readers on edge. The characters are intricately developed - particularly DI George Lennox - whose vulnerability and determination make her a compelling protagonist. The island itself, with its insular Catholic community and enigmatic priest adds depth to the story.

I've been looking forward to reading this one, so a huge thank you goes to Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC for an honest review.

This book starts off really slowly, but despite this, it keeps you reading to see what happens and how it progresses.

This book is wonderfully written and a definite recommendation to read.

Laura McCluskey's The Wolf Tree is a stunningly atmospheric novel that weaves folklore, mystery, and lyrical prose into an unforgettable story. From the very first page, the writing pulls you in with its haunting beauty, immersing you in a world where the past and present intertwine seamlessly.

The characters are richly drawn, each carrying their own secrets and emotional weight, making them feel both real and compelling. The setting is vividly described, creating an eerie yet mesmerizing backdrop that enhances the novel’s tension and intrigue. McCluskey’s prose is poetic and immersive, drawing readers into the depths of the story with every page.

What truly stands out is the way the novel balances its eerie, almost dreamlike quality with raw, emotional depth. The themes of folklore, grief, and identity are explored with nuance, making this more than just a gripping mystery—it’s an experience.

For fans of gothic fiction, atmospheric thrillers, and folklore-infused storytelling, The Wolf Tree is a must-read. A beautifully written and deeply evocative novel that lingers long after the final page.

The 'locked room mystery' is a trope many of us will be familiar with, and this is another example of sorts. Instead of a room, we have an isolated island off the coast of Scotland, a finite number of potential suspects all of whom seem wary - to the extent of suspicious - of 'mainlanders, and who all appear genuinely shocked by the apparent suicide of a popular young man from the island.

Enter two detectives, Georgina ‘George’ Lennox and her partner, Richie Stewart. There's history between them, the details of which are teased out over the course of the novel. What we are alert to, though, is there is a degree of apprehension (from Richie) about George's mental well-being on her return to work after a prolonged accident-related absence. We are also keenly aware that the islanders are mistrusting of their police presence and more than one (especially the constantly present priest) appear happy to thwart the investigation.

The pacing is slowish, picking up towards the end, but the character development is solid. Stylistically, the novel has a tension throughout, heightened by the relationship between the two police officers, but also the unease between islanders (and islanders and main landers) gnawing away throughout the novel. Dialogue and action are both well-written - plausible and believable.

I understand that The Wolf Tree is the intended start to a series featuring or two police officers. On the basis of this debut - which I thoroughly enjoyed - I look forward to the next episodes.

With thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Australia for the advanced book to review read and review.

Laura McCluskey has delivered an outstanding crime read combined with the superstitions of the small community of Eilean Eadar, a small Scottish island, superstitions that have prevailed even into modern day. Outsiders aren't welcome, including those who marry islanders who are viewed with suspicion and are not fully accepted.

The death of a young man at the base of the lighthouse has brought DIs Georgina (George) Lennox and Richard Stewart to the island to investigate. George has insisted on travelling to this remote island even with a wild storm raging and in hindsight wonders about this rash decision. She still suffers from the trauma of a serious incident that had occurred in recent times brought about by, as her partner sees it, reckless decisions.

The storm rages leaving the two stuck on the island. The investigation reveals so many secrets held tightly together by the islanders, illicit love, betrayal, vigilante justice and a Priest, Father Ross, who is finally revealed as the controller and holder of all the island's secrets.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins Australia & Laura McCluskey for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 3.5 stars.
Genre(s): crime, mystery/thriller.

Overall impression: I haven't read many books that are purely a criminal investigation, mystery or thriller - but this one certainly didn't disappoint me. It started off quite slow, going through the motions to interview the locals and look for clues surrounding Alan's death - an apparent suicide. They weren't really making any headway and it was starting to look like no crime had taken place. But at the 2/3 mark they received a massive break in the investigation and the dark history of the isolated community was revealed in quick succession. It got very intense to read and I was on the edge of my seat hoping the detectives solved the murder mystery and escaped the island safely in time. I was positively hooked and I'm excited to read more of Laura's books in the future.

Tropes:
➵ Suspicious death investigation
➵ Isolated community
➵ No police backup
➵ Can't leave the island
➵ Hostility to outsiders
➵ Trust no one
➵ Everyone is a suspect
➵ Forced proximity
➵ Detective with substance abuse problems
➵ Flawed characters
➵ Dark town history
➵ Ritualistic murders
➵ Religious & cult elements
➵ Stuck in the past

⤷ Plot:
It was very slow to get started. The days were short because of the miserable weather and lack of sun, and the locals were unwilling to open up about what they knew about the suicide victim. For the majority of the book, there was no hint that any foul play had occurred - making it seem fairly pointless. But then a massive plot twist occurred and the dark history of the community was revealed. The detectives were essentially trapped without any backup or protection, and with the knowledge of who the killer was. The last part of the book became very anxiety-inducing and I was rushing to reach the end to make sure everyone made it out safely.

⤷ Characters:
George was a hard character to sympathise with. She wasn't particularly friendly and she was suffering from a prescription drug abuse problem from a work-related traumatic injury. She lashed out at her colleague Richie, who was almost like a father figure to her, when he tried to offer support. In the end, she remained flawed and her substance abuse was identified but not dealt with. As this isn't a series and it won't be resolved later, I'm not sure why that aspect of her personality was included. It seems like a stereotypical thing to add more than anything else.

I liked learning about the locals - even though we were only fed breadcrumbs. I could sympathise with their plight and their desperation to leave. Their hostility to outsiders, harbouring of local secrets and strong old beliefs made the police investigation more interesting and difficult to resolve.

⤷ World-building:
I could easily picture the little isolated Scottish island. I love remote locations, it's one of my favourite settings in books and I instantly wish I was there with them. I could picture the cottages, lighthouse and pub. Though in reality, you would absolutely not want to be there without decent food and something to protect yourself with!

⤷ Writing:
A very easy book to read and one that I'm sure most people could finish in a few decent sessions.

Review will be posted to Instagram & TikTok under the handle @booksinwildplaces in the coming days. Already posted to Goodreads & StoryGraph.

A fantastic slow burn mystery and police procedural novel from debut author Laura McCluskey. I loved the suspense, the eerie and isolated setting and the creepy story that unfolded. Definitely on my must read list for 2025!

The Wolf Tree by Laura McCluskey

This is the second book I've read this year that features a remote island, its insular community and a prominent lighthouse. However, this is a very different book than The Fog by Brooke Hardwick; I enjoyed them both. Apparently, remote island mysteries/thrillers are my jam. Bonus points for a lighthouse, I love a lighthouse.

DIs Georgina Lennox and Richard Stewart are sent to the small island of Eilean Eadar, which lies off the coast of Scotland, to investigate the death of 18-year-old Alan Ferguson. Was it suicide, or was there foul play?

The DIs crash onto the island, only to find their questions and presence met with frosty hostility by most islanders. There are a few community hubs on the island, the post office and its resident knowledge keeping, boasting the only link to the mainland; a satphone, the church and its powerful, charismatic leader, the decommissioned lighthouse and the pub.

The locals live with a strange combination of old pagan traditions and religion, and the past and the present story arcs are built together to create a solid story that smashes into a satisfying conclusion. If you, like me, loved The Fog, I think you'll love this too.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for providing me with an advance copy for review; the Wolf Tree is out now. I'm looking forward to Laura's author talk at the Wheelers Hill Library in a few weeks.

A big thumbs up 👍

Go read a book!

Body count: So many? 4? That's if you don't count the lighthouse keepers and what happened at the pub.

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The Australian crime boom continues apace, but not everyone is happy to keep their crime restricted to regional Australia or the big cities. Some, like Dervla McTiernan or Adrian McKinty, expats who found themselves on the island’s shores, became hooked on writing about their Irish homeland before branching out to America with mixed success.

Laura McCluskey has done something slightly different: she’s Melbourne (or Naarm) based and presumably Australian born, but she has Scottish grandparents. The Wolf Tree, her debut novel, is set on a remote island off the Scottish coast. It bears the lack of specificity that you can get away with from such a setting, and it promises the sort of insularity you get when everyone knows everyone else and there’s only one way off … or two, if you count the reason the police are there in the first place.

Months after sustaining a catastrophic injury on the job, George Lennox is trying to get back into police business. She and her partner, Richie Stewart, are eased back into it by investigating the seemingly open and shut suicide of an eighteen year old on the island of Eilean Eadar. The locals, under the thumb of the priest Father Ross, are not keen to talk, and while George battles her own demons she starts to almost believe the island is haunted by wolves. If George can last five days on the island and rule the death a suicide, perhaps she can make it out alive.

Crime novels often come down to the strength of their lead characters, and George Lennox is not the most sympathetic person. Eilean Eadar is the sort of place that has its own authority, which means that you have to come at it from a soft power angle; unsurprisingly, George has none of that to offer. She is a blunt instrument that isn’t even tempered with a preternatural talent for policing, with a primary talent for baseline rudeness.

The strongest element of George comes from without, in the form of her foil. Richie’s levelheaded veteran officer who does a special line in not being mad, but disappointed, doesn’t break any new ground, but he’s a nice contrast whose solidity helps to make The Wolf Tree not entirely by the numbers.

Partially inspired by the Flannan Isles Lighthouse mystery of 1900, the wisest choice in the construction of this book is that it sticks to a single timeline. Not for these readers alternating chapters 125 years apart, but rather flavour and texture that give a homeopathic tinge of history to the proceedings. It only sort of ties in to the book as a whole — one character keeps asking George “have you read the lighthouse keepers’ logs yet?” — but it informs it never the less.

Eilean Eidar is a more interesting locale than McCluskey strictly gives it credit for, and George’s bluntness acts as a smokescreen for their insularity. McCluskey briefly touches on the idea that children can be sinister, but doesn’t take it very far. She is more interested in the concept that people who reject the other have in fact othered themselves; this late revelation that George possesses an empathy that many of the citizens of Eilean Eadar are incapable of are really what seals the fate of the book, and prevents it from the delicate tipping point of policing as an act of colonisation.

Obviously it was never going to be a clearcut case of suicide (it is only on the odd occasion that you get the double blind of an open and shut case actually being open and shut despite the investigators’ attempts to convolute it), but quite how far McCluskey chooses to take it is something to boggle at.

There has to be a degree of suspension of disbelief at play here, because the outcome will have you wondering how the police could ever hope to prosecute any of it. Even if you’re not in law enforcement, you’d be glad this case isn’t yours.

The Wolf Tree is a confident, if semi-anonymous, debut novel. George Lennox is interchangeable with many other tortured detectives, with the added bonus of a mentor that she intermittently chooses to listen to. Despite the scale of the conclusion, the book isn’t neat. It is unclear whether George can return — although it would be pretty funny if she got assigned a new beat investigating murders on a series of lonely islands — but if she does, there’s enough here to bring readers back.

The Wolf Tree released in the US on February 11, 2025, and is set for release in Australia on February 28, 2025.

An ARC of The Wolf Tree was provided by HarperCollins Publishers Australia in exchange for review.

The book starts off really slowly, I began to get a little bored towards the middle of the book but I truly wanted to find out the truth about what happened to Alan so I kept reading and felt like I was rewarded with some super crazy twists in the last quarter of the book, which absolutely did not see coming at all and i thoroughly enjoyed.
Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to read this book!!

The Wolf Tree written by Laura McCluskey is a fantastic debut crime thriller, set on an isolated windswept rock, off the coast of Scotland, where outsiders are certainly not welcome.

Until now, the island was best known for the mystery of three lighthouse keepers who vanished in 1919. When eighteen-year-old Alan Ferguson is found dead at the bottom of the once infamous lighthouse, the 200 (or so) residents of the isolated religious community of Eilean Eadar are grieving.

When two Detective Inspectors - Georgina ‘George’ Lennox and Richard ‘Richie’ Stewart - are sent from Glasgow to investigate Alan’s apparent suicide, the wild weather leaves them trapped on the small island for five days, although the locals do not willingly accept mainlanders.

George and Richie start questioning the pious obedient islanders and their enigmatic priest, they soon discover a community shrouded in secrets and superstition, and struggle to determine who can be trusted. George starts to hear a wolf howling at night and see mysterious faces at her window when she should be sleeping. Will she stay safe during her time in this isolated community?

I was immersed in the claustrophobic atmosphere, wild weather and deeply unsettling foreboding littered throughout this tale. I enjoyed the exploration of duality – light and dark, creation and destruction, life and death, as well as the elements of Scottish folklore and religion that underpin this suspenseful story.

This one kept my attention from beginning to end. I enjoyed the police procedural elements of the investigation, the cast of intriguing characters, and the unravelling of the many mysteries woven into this gripping tale.

With many thanks to Laura McCluskey, HarperCollins Publishers Australia and NetGalley, for the e-ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

I am very excited to see what Australian author Laura McCluskey writes into the future!

A slow burning atmospheric debut novel that I really enjoyed reading. With a touch of folklore, horror and twists of mysteries.
I was so engrossed with the book because it was really a great story!

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher HarperCollins Publishers Australia for the ARC.

Loved It!

Incredibly atmospheric from the first page. I loved the eerie nature of the investigation and the island the detectives went to. I remember starting this book on a 42C summer day and had goosebumps with how cold this novel made me feel.

There were so many layers of mystery coming into this book. One of the main detectives possibly being ill, or recovering from being so. Inconsistencies between the investigation they have been sent on and what is really happening in the case. There's also the creepy small village atmosphere where everyone knows everyone and is pretty aware of others business on the Island. The ending caught me by surprise and I had no clue where it was going until it was finally revealed. I loved the journey and for a debut it was an incredibly written novel.

One of the best features was the interactions between the characters. Both the inspectors and the people who live on this island, and the inspectors between themselves. There's so much to everyone and it's so hard to know if people are being genuine or are actually conspiring behind others backs. It creates an awesome amount of tension and I love it!

The created lore of the island is another one of my favourite running lines of narrative. I don't know if it was intentionally referencing the disappearance of three lighthouse keepers from the Flannan Isles lighthouse in late 1900, however if it was, it made this novel even more intricate for me. It's a real story which immediately stuck in my brain while reading, and made this island feel like a real place I could go to and hear the howling for myself.

I rushed through The Wolf Tree, caught up with the eerie atmosphere of Eilean Eadar, a small island off the Scottish coast and the isolation of its island inhabitants. Detective Inspectors Georgina (George) Lennox and Richard Stewart are sent to investigate the death of eighteen old Alan Ferguson. Initially it had looked as if he had committed suicide by throwing himself off the top of the island’s lighthouse. However the postmortem results show some anomalies. Arriving at the island, the detectives are met with suspicion from many of the islanders. News travels fast and even the children turn away from them. What are the secrets that are hidden in this close-knit community?
McLusky is adept at building up suspense, ensuring that the reader is caught up in the gripping story. There are moments of terror throughout the book – a figure with a wolf face peers in at George late at night and there are frightening noises that sound like wolves howling. Many of the houses have strange symbols above their doorways and there is an atmosphere of distrust of the police. The local priest is ever present, ensuring that he is with each person that the detectives question. A local woman who knows everything about everyone is friendly and helpful and wants George to investigate the disappearance of three lighthouse keepers many years ago. Is there a connection between the death of the young man and their disappearance?
George is still recovering from a brutal attack and is relying on strong pain medication to keep going. Even though her boss and fellow DI Richie are afraid that she cannot cope, she continues to rely on her impulsive nature to follow danger, rushing after the figure in the wolf mask without backup and entering a wild wood alone in the darkness. Although there are clues scattered throughout the book, the final denouement is still shocking.
The Wolf Tree is engrossing and is sure to appeal to readers who love a Scottish island background, some frightening superstitions and a gripping mystery. Highly recommended.

‘People think that death by drowning would be peaceful. But if there’s any truth to that, it’s a peace that comes after the worst thirty seconds of your life.’

Eilean Eadar is a remote Scottish island, with a few hundred human inhabitants and sheep. The story opens with two detective inspectors, Georgina ‘George’ Lennox (who has just returned to duty after an accident) and her partner Richie Stewart arriving on the island from Glasgow. A young man has been found dead at the foot of the island’s lighthouse. What happened?

The islanders, suspicious of outsiders, are not helpful. The local priest inserts himself in almost every interview, and DI Lennox is fighting some demons of her own. Meanwhile, DI Stewart is keen to finalise the case and return home. The island is isolated and claustrophobic, everyone is watchful, and clearly there are secrets. Are those secrets related to the death of the young man?

Part police procedural, part mystery, and totally atmospheric, this debut novel held my attention from beginning to end. DI Lennox’s personal struggles added another dimension to the story, as did the mystery of three lighthouse keepers who disappeared in 1919.

The tension builds as the story moves towards a satisfyingly appropriate conclusion.

Highly recommended.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

What a good book. This was just a little different from the usual mystery / police procedural type book. It’s set on a remote Scottish island, where the inhabitants have developed a very specific way of dealing with a life that hasn’t altogether kept up with the times.
I loved some of the descriptions of this island. I could really feel the atmosphere and imagine the living conditions. The cast of characters was also interesting. I could empathise with the two detective inspectors sent to look into an apparent suicide on the island.
There are plenty of twists in this book, and also an interesting sub plot involving the long unsolved disappearance of three lighthouse keepers. I will be looking out for future books from Laura McCluskey.

The Wolf Tree by Laura McCluskey is an outstanding debut crime novel set in an isolated, insular community on a Scottish island. Blending police procedural with mystery, its standout feature is McCluskey’s atmospheric and tension-filled writing. Her descriptive style vividly brings the island’s rugged landscape and eerie atmosphere to life.

The story begins with the discovery of an 18-year-old boy at the bottom of a lighthouse, with most assuming suicide. DI Georgina “George” Lewis and her partner, Richie Stewart, are sent to investigate, but from the moment they arrive, it’s clear the islanders are distrustful of outsiders. This is a place full of secrets, and unravelling them won’t be easy.

The character development, especially of the flawed yet compelling George, felt authentic. I really enjoyed the dynamic between her and Richie as they navigated the challenges of the case and the hostility of the locals. The richly drawn setting added to the novel’s claustrophobic, menacing tone, making the island feel like a character in its own right. While I found some parts a little slow and had trouble keeping track of some minor characters, the story remained engaging. Everything ultimately came together in a clever and satisfying conclusion.

If you enjoy well-written but not overly action-packed police procedurals and crime fiction, I highly recommend The Wolf Tree. I’m certainly eager to read more from this author, and this is a story that will linger in my mind.

Thank you to @netgalley and @harpercollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.