Reviews

The Ghost Tree by Barbara Erskine

ivet28's review against another edition

BORING

lavenderdaisies's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Barbara Erskine is my favourite author.

thebooktrail88's review

5.0

Visit the locations in the novel


A fascinating read and even more so when you realise that it's very heavily influenced and in places based on the real story of the author's own family.
It's like a literary version of Who Do You Think I Am - just when you think there's enough twists and turns in the story, there come some more.

The dual time lines of the past and present are nicely done and flow with ease. I always seem to prefer the stories of the past and I do think this was the strongest one as we travelled to St andrews, Bath, and then across the open seas to Barbados and Jamaica as the backstory of one of the characters is slowly built and crafted.

At the same time of course, Erskine cleverly weaves a story set in present day Edinburgh where a woman is having visions and dreams of someone from a past life. She's been left a house and now someone else is laying claim to it. Brr I shivered from the first page; there's something delicious about tracing the shadows of history.

And this is heavily inspired by the author's family - just how I will leave you to find out, but it's one heck of a story and Erskine is a name which has had quite the path through history! Don't google anything until you've read the novel - just enjoy and anticipate that shiver down your spine.

Barbara Erskine has crafted a story, a legend and a family history all at once and I can only imagine the emotional journey she took with this one! Now, it's time for the readers to do the same.

kizzia's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Captivating, complex, moving and magical, this is Barbara Erskine at her best. 

I read this book in a day (well two days but that doesn’t count if you haven’t go to sleep before you finished it) at a regather ridiculous speed because it was so compelling I couldn’t leave it unfinished. The weaving of the two time periods was excellently done, as was the use of the supernatural and the characters were all vivid and believable. The only things that didn’t quite work for me were the initial introduction of what ended up being the romantic relationship and the character who started everything rolling but then petered out into insignificance. Neither of the these made the story any the less gripping and it’s possible that on a slower re-read they might not actually be problems at all. 

If you like history, mysteries and ghost you’ll love it.

missytainui's review against another edition

tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

braxwall's review against another edition

2.0

Tråkigt och ointressant kombination av släktforskning och spökhistoria. Hyffsat välskrivet men helt oläskig och helt utan nerv.

pdoctober96's review against another edition

5.0

Fans of Susanna Kearsley...if you are looking for something to read pick up a book by Barbara Erskine.

thebooktrail88's review against another edition

5.0

Visit the locations in the novel


A fascinating read and even more so when you realise that it's very heavily influenced and in places based on the real story of the author's own family.
It's like a literary version of Who Do You Think I Am - just when you think there's enough twists and turns in the story, there come some more.

The dual time lines of the past and present are nicely done and flow with ease. I always seem to prefer the stories of the past and I do think this was the strongest one as we travelled to St andrews, Bath, and then across the open seas to Barbados and Jamaica as the backstory of one of the characters is slowly built and crafted.

At the same time of course, Erskine cleverly weaves a story set in present day Edinburgh where a woman is having visions and dreams of someone from a past life. She's been left a house and now someone else is laying claim to it. Brr I shivered from the first page; there's something delicious about tracing the shadows of history.

And this is heavily inspired by the author's family - just how I will leave you to find out, but it's one heck of a story and Erskine is a name which has had quite the path through history! Don't google anything until you've read the novel - just enjoy and anticipate that shiver down your spine.

Barbara Erskine has crafted a story, a legend and a family history all at once and I can only imagine the emotional journey she took with this one! Now, it's time for the readers to do the same.

beckiebookworm1974's review against another edition

2.0

I Have to admit though I usually love this author's work this really wasn't my favourite of her books.
I did finish The Ghost Tree though it took me much longer than a book from this author usually does to complete.
I still think this was a somewhat solid read just not quite up to what I've come to expect.
This is definitely in her usual style but in this story, Erskine has delved into her own family tree for her inspiration and maybe there lies some of the problem.
I just wasn't as invested in the overall story unfolding here as I usually am maybe because it failed initially to grab and retain my attention.
I also found this overly long and I did find my attention wavering throughout.
Skipping back and forth this tale is told cleverly managing to weave a story steeped in history, suspense and ghosts that feel they have an axe to grind from past through to present.
There were two distinct narratives being told here and I think I was slightly more in tune with what had gone against what was to come.
But all strands do eventually convene at a single point in time.
I became more invested here the further I read but I also felt this ended rather abruptly and things were not explained fully to my complete satisfaction.
So this was very much up and down for me some things appealed to me more than others.
I failed to establish a good connection here and that did affect my overall experience
I will still be reading this author's next book as she is one that has become an auto-buy for me over the years: But this one just wasn't really my complete bag and I did struggle slightly.
This was as usual excellently written and that I cannot fault it on.
I voluntary reviewed an Arc of The Ghost Tree
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.



Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com

tonimarshall84's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5