A review by thebooktrail88
The Ghost Tree by Barbara Erskine

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.