Title: The Witching Tree
Author: Alice Blanchard
Series: Natalie Lockhart
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Format: Kindle
No. of Pages: 336
Date of Publication: December 7, 2021
Description: Welcome to Burning Lake, a small, isolated town with a dark history of witches and false accusations. Now, a modern-day witch has been murdered, and Detective Natalie Lockhart is reluctantly drawn deep into the case, in this atmospheric mystery from Alice Blanchard, The Witching Tree.
As legend has it, if you carve your deepest desire into the bark of a Witch Tree, then over time as the tree grows, it will swallow the carvings until only a witch can read them.
Until now.
Detective Natalie Lockhart gained unwanted notoriety when she and her family became front and center of not one, but two sensational murder cases. Now she’s lost her way. Burned out and always looking over her shoulder, Natalie desperately thinks that quitting the police force is her only option left.
All that changes when a beloved resident—a practicing Wiccan and founder of the town’s oldest coven—is killed in a fashion more twisted and shocking than Natalie has ever seen before, leaving the town reeling. Natalie has no choice but to help solve the case along with Detective Luke Pittman, her boss and the old childhood friend she cannot admit she loves, even to herself. There is a silent, malignant presence in Burning Lake that will not rest. And what happens next will shock the whole town, and Natalie, to the core.
My Thoughts: Wow, I already had huge expectations for this book and it did not disappoint. The Witching Tree is AMAZING. It is a grip the edge of your seat and don't put down because your going for a ride type of book. If I could give more than 5 stars I would.
The Witching Tree is set in Burning Lake, New York and follows Detective Natalie Lockhart only several months after she caught The Violinist. She is contemplating whether or not she should continue being a detective because of the all the recent high profile murder cases she has been point person on. Her next case is no different except for her team is trying to protect her by not putting her as the Detective in charge.
The Witching Tree sets the tone immediately by a gruesome murder, which is no stranger to this series. The way that Alice Blanchard sets the tone and unfolds each scene before you makes you feel like you are there in Burning Lake following Detective Lockhart. The level of description is so transporting.
I loved the story behind The Witching Tree, the history that is woven into the book around witches, and the historic wiccan covens.
Rating: Definitely a high 5 stars. The ride that Alice Blanchard put me through was great. I went through so many emotions and the cliff hanger at the end just made me go "what, you cannot do that to me." I now have to wait for the next book and I don't know that I have the patience. I need to know what is going to happen next now.
This book could be considered a standalone but I would highly recommend that you read all of the books because they are well worth your time.
About the Author: Alice Blanchard is the award-winning author of the Natalie Lockhart series from St. Martin's Press. "Trace of Evil" was selected as an Indie Next Pick, a Loanstars Best Ten, an Amazon Best Mysteries, and a CrimeReads Magazine pick.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this review copy. This is my honest opinion.
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