The Wolf Tree – Laura McClusky
Provided by NetGalley
I very much enjoyed this Outer Hebrides police procedural. The characters were well-rounded despite George being a little annoying. The religious syncretism of paganism and Christianity provided an interesting backdrop to the story.
Initially I had difficulty with the tense, as I’m not a fan of books written in the present tense, but I got used to it and didn’t even notice it in the end. However, the first few times I began reading anew, I had to ‘reacquaint’ myself with it.
I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys atmospheric police procedurals, or just a good mystery.

If you’re in the mood for a brooding, atmospheric mystery dripping with superstition and secrets, The Wolf Tree might just be your thing. But fair warning—you’ll need a bit of patience for this one.

The Setup: A Remote Island, A Suspicious Death, and a Whole Lot of Secrets

D.I. Georgina “George” Lennox and her partner, Ritchie, are sent to a tiny Scottish island in the Western Isles to investigate the quasi-questionable death of a young local man. This place is cut off—physically, emotionally, and possibly even supernaturally. The islanders are quirky, tight-lipped, and deeply superstitious, guarding their secrets like their lives depend on it. (And maybe they do?)

Meanwhile, George is lugging around her own emotional baggage, keeping physical and emotional pain hidden from Ritchie, which doesn’t exactly help their already-tense partnership/friendship.

The Vibe: Nordic Noir Meets Gothic Isolation

This isn’t your standard fast-paced thriller. Instead, it’s an atmospheric slow burn, with a heavy emphasis on character study and place-setting. The prose is dense—you’re not speeding through this one, but rather wading through the windy, rain-drenched landscape of the island, absorbing its eerie, unsettling energy. There’s also a historical mystery lurking in the background, but it’s not immediately clear how (or if) it connects to the present-day investigation.

The Verdict: Haunting but a Tad Too Slow

There’s a lot to appreciate here—the vivid setting, the intricate character work, and the growing sense of unease. But I won’t lie: the pacing tested my patience. It dragged at times, making it hard to stay fully engaged. Thankfully, the action picks up towards the end, rewarding those who stick with it.

Overall, it’s a well-crafted, memorable read with a haunting edge, but it wasn’t a perfect fit for me. Maybe it was just my mood, but I found it hard to stay immersed. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

Would I recommend it? If you love moody, atmospheric mysteries that lean more toward psychological depth than pulse-pounding action—yes. If you need a snappier pace, maybe not.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley, and all opinions in this review are my own.

This was a very creative and intriguing story. I liked that plot twists were difficult to guess and the overall spooky feel. I found the setting very fitting and loved the cult-like theme. Creepy islanders with secrets to hide and a dictator who rings alarm bells from the first introduction? Yes please!
I didn’t however feel like I was being kept on my toes with suspense. I don’t really know how to describe it, but this book just didn’t have that gripping intensity that other mystery/thriller novels have. It was a good story, but it didn’t leave me with bated breath for the next page or that inability to stop reading. There was just that little something missing.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for the arc!

Two detective inspectors, Georgina ‘George’ Lennox and Richie Stewart, are sent to Eadar, a remote island off the Scottish coast, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the apparent suicide of a young man. Eadar is a cold, dark, windy place with raging storms whipping up the surrounding ocean. George is recovering from traumatic injuries suffered in her last case and Richie, her older, more experienced colleague, is a little bit protective of her, which she doesn’t really appreciate.

A lot of the first half or so of the book is given to the introduction of the characters who will be most relevant to the story. I found my concentration wavering for a while and think now it would have been helpful to take notes to differentiate between them, especially as I was reading an e book. It is always helpful to be able to flip back through paper pages! I became involved in the story once the characters became familiar to me and I was able to get lost in the splendidly creepy, scary atmosphere. The freezing winds, the darkness, the rocky, uneven streets were the perfect backdrop for the secretive, superstitious inhabitants. George and Richie met people who had left the island, seen the world, and chose to return to their closed, restrictive home, as well as one newcomer who had arrived and stayed.

For all the island’s folklore, superstitions and sounds of howling wolves, the detectives have not been able to find any evidence that would contradict the official cause of Alan’s death as suicide, after four days of investigation. The absolute beauty of this book is that it suddenly bursts into action just when you were hoping it would, and it is worth the wait. When the truth of how the island operates becomes clear it satisfyingly shocking.

Thank you NetGalley for my arc.

Published by Harper Collins

This is, I think, extraordinarily good. Two DIs, one at the end, one at the beginning of their career, flawed, and trying in both senses of the word. The assignment is meant to be simple, a test of fitness for duty for the younger one recovering from a work trauma. It tests far more. McCluskey blends ancient lore with contemporary psychological insights while keeping the narrative rolling along and the reader fully immersed. So much is hidden from the detectives, and the reader, who views it through their experiences. The clues, however, are all there.

My only caution lies in the ability of Georgina, our young detective, to summon the physical strength she needs at critical points after the injuries, both mental and physical, she has sustained. Is that sufficiently backed by medical research? I’d like to think so. Realism is important in this context.

I am recommending this as a Book Cub choice. There is a great deal to discuss here, from risk versus procedure in crime investigation, to social norms, trauma, isolation versus globalisation and cult psychology . I’m keen to engage in those discussions.
I ‘m a crime fiction addict who shies away from thrillers and stereotypes, loves detection, procedurals and mystery. I’m also drawn to the Hebrides. This one ticks every box, and then some.

This atmospheric well written novel reminded me in ways of The Wicker Man. It may give some readers nightmares!

Months after having a serious accident George ( a DI) is sent from Glasgow along with her partner Richie (another DI) to a remote Scottish Island to investigate the apparent suicide of Alan, a young man.

There’s a creepy arrogant priest called Father Ross who rules the roost on the island. There are also a number of weird and wacky islanders. There’s a lot of superstition on the island and creatures called Wulvers are believed in who can be kind but are said to bite when irritated!

George isn’t doing so well, acts erratically, and is still reliant on Benzos after her accident. She does some investigating on her own which frustrates her partner, Richie who worries for her safety. He has trained her, taught her all she knew, and he had hoped she’d trust in him more.

Alan’s death isn’t as straightforward as it first seemed. There’s a lot of skullduggery occurring on the island, which George desperately wants to get to the bottom of.

This is an absorbing and engaging read where good suspense is maintained. The only one I suspected originally of disingenuous and evil was Father Ross. Maybe that’s because I was raised as a Catholic which I eschewed at 16. George discovers vigilantism ( including murder of those perceived as “undesirables”) occurring on the island, with Father Ross being the instigator of it and using the islanders to carry out his mendacious wishes. He sees himself as judge and jury of all whom he surveys. The story unfolds with George putting herself in further danger.

I recommend this well written read to others who enjoy police procedural mysteries. I was surprised to learn that the author, Laura McCluskey is a Melbourneite. I thought she’d be Scottish. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Wolf Tree by Laura McCluskey is an atmospheric and compelling read that blends elements of mystery and folklore. McCluskey’s writing is really great, drawing readers into a world where the line between the real and the supernatural blurs. While the pacing can feel slow at times, it keepa you hooked until the very end. It’s a thought-provoking novel that explores both the beauty and darkness of the human spirit.