The Hanging Tree
An addictive small-town mystery thriller with a killer twist
Retired detective, Graham Williams, has moved to Bethgelert for a fresh start, determined to put the horrors of last year behind him. He has seen his fair share of disturbing scenes, but nothing prepares him for what he sees hanging in the gnarly old tree outside his front window.
Only one man can help him uncover the truth ...
Stephen Mallow has come a long way since he helped solve the mystery of Cherry Hollow. When his old nemesis calls and asks for help, he jumps in the car, ignoring the pain in his head and the hole in his heart. Heās ready to take on another weird and creepy small-town mystery.
These two unlikely allies, whose main form of communication is bickering, start to work together to dig up the disturbing secrets of āThe Hanging Treeā, but they soon realise thereās more to the story than they first thought.
A teenage girl is missing. The town butcher isnāt telling them everything. The tree seems to be speaking to Stephen ...
And someone is watching their every move ...
From Jessica Huntley , award-winning and best-selling author of āJinxā and āHorrible Husbandsā, comes āThe Hanging Treeā, a brand-new twisted thriller, perfect for fans of Claire Mackintosh, Lisa Jewell and Louise Jensen. What readers are saying about The Hanging Tree
"The Hanging Tree is a chilling tale of mystery, suspense, and secrets that refuse to stay buried." āNewInBooks.com
"The ending of the book broke me slightly, just so beautiful." - BookSprout Review
"A slow-burn mystery with interesting voice!" - BookSprout Review
"A page turning thriller in a small town with a secret." - BookSprout Review
"Another Jessica Huntley book I couldnāt put down. Iām completely obsessed with her writing and will read anything she writes! She has a way of holding u in a grip, with twists and turns you donāt see coming." - BookSprout Review
"This book is perfect for anyone who loves a good rural legend." - BookSprout Review
"Outstanding!" - BookSprout Review
"The book got hold of me on page 1 and never let go until the end. The story moves quickly and there are plenty of twists and turns until the end." - BookSprout Review
"Creepy Small-Town Secrets That Sink Their Claws In" - BookSprout Review
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5 ratings
Eva E.
āāāā
The Hanging Tree by Jessica Huntley is a clever, folklore-infused rural mystery packed with small-town secrets, dual timelines, and a deeply unsettling Welsh atmosphere.
While the plot was clever and the ending twist was truly unexpected, it didn't grab me the way her other books did.
Set in a rural Welsh village built around a creepy fictional folklore legend, the eerie backdrop and sense of buried dark secrets were easily my favourite parts.
The story jumps between dual timelines and multiple POVs, focusing heavily on Graham and Stephen. I loved the dynamic between the detective and journalist, but the pacing felt a bit slow at times, with filler that didn't add much to the core plot.
I couldn't fully connect with it the way I wanted to, but the brilliant atmosphere and clever mystery resolution make it a solid read nonetheless. 4 mysterious stars! š³šŖµšš“ó §ó ¢ó ·ó ¬ó ³ó æ
Jolene C.
Why did I wait so long to read this?! Itās been sitting on my tbr forever, and Iām ashamed I left it there. Nothing beats folklore twisted into a creepy, atmospheric mystery, and this one absolutely delivered!
I loved this so much, the disturbing secrets, the weird mystery surrounding the hanging tree, it was the perfect read for spooky season.. And Graham and Stephen? Their bickering was so much fun! Two unlikely allies, a missing teenage girl, a suspicious butcher, and a tree that seems to be talking?
Creepy, intriguing, and packed with secrets, this was exactly the kind of twisted folklore mystery I love. Jessica Huntley, youāve reminded me why I shouldnāt let books sit on my shelf for so long!
Carina P.
Thereās a particular kind of dread that settles in when a story circles around a body hanging from a tree, and Jessica leans into that mood with precision. Jessica builds that eerie, smallāvillage tension beautifully, and I loved the connection to The Darkness Within ā it adds a deeper, more unsettling layer to the mystery. The secrets unravel at just the right pace, keeping the atmosphere thick and the pages turning. A solid, satisfying, creepy read from one of my fav authors!
Mandy S.
Rachel B.
I especially appreciated how Huntley weaves themes of mental health and grief into the story. She portrays their impact with honesty and care, adding emotional depth to the suspense.
A gripping, intense, and chilling readāHuntley delivers a truly haunting thriller.