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kendragaylelee's review
4.0
I picked up The Witch Elm because one of my customers insisted I drop everything and read a Tana French novel posthaste. So, I did.
Highly recommend.
French manages to integrate themes about privilege and who is worth listening to, who is worth believing, who is worth fighting for amid an unfolding family drama. It was a good, complicated read.
Fair warning, I couldn't stand the protagonist. But I loved the book anyway.
If you're looking for a mysterious family drama, this is a good one.
Highly recommend.
French manages to integrate themes about privilege and who is worth listening to, who is worth believing, who is worth fighting for amid an unfolding family drama. It was a good, complicated read.
Fair warning, I couldn't stand the protagonist. But I loved the book anyway.
If you're looking for a mysterious family drama, this is a good one.
oxidized_copper's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
3.0
I’m assuming the main character was intentionally insufferable, but it was a long book to spend that much time with someone so self absorbed. I enjoyed the ending, but not my favorite from French.
toofondofbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I’m a huge fan of Tana French’s Dublin Murder Squad series so I was intrigued to read this standalone novel. I did have an ARC of this but due to not being well I bought the audio book, and I highly recommend it. The narrator of the audio is so perfect for the book! The Wych Elm is one of those books that grabs you from the beginning and then gradually weaves its spell around you! Toby is brutally attacked in his home and whilst recovering goes to stay at his family’s ancestral home with his Uncle Hugo, who has a brain tumour and needs some help around the house. One day a skull is discovered inside a tree in the garden and this leads to secrets and lies being revealed, cover-ups attempted and a family left reeling by what they discover. I loved this book and already want to re-read it. I highly recommend this one!
This review was originally posted on my blog https://rathertoofondofbooks.com
This review was originally posted on my blog https://rathertoofondofbooks.com
meaghansaurus's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I think this was a well crafted and written book, but it was not for me… especially not the ending
melodon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Fairly good book, and I truly wasn't sure until the end whether the main character killed Dominic . The narrator was very good as well. Wouldn't be worth a reread for myself, but I did really enjoy it!
robinbrune's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
melissa_bookworm's review against another edition
3.0
I think this might be the first Tana French book I've read that wasn't part of the Dublin Murder Squad (and therefore not a detective's POV). I didn't read the synopsis beforehand and I saw some reviews that people were a little disappointed because mysterious Wych Elm twist didn't actually enter the story until a decent portion into the book.
It was 'ok', didn't blow me away but still a decent narrative. Tana French's characters always seem very realistic (and not always the most likeable of people). Our protagonist is a bit of an unreliable narrator & his memory is spotty so you're not sure whether he's remembered something or if he's concocted a false memory.
There were 2 mysteries in the narrative - and I thought they were going to link together somehow, the main character kept alluding to it but it never really happened - which I suppose is more likely than 2 crimes being linked.
It was 'ok', didn't blow me away but still a decent narrative. Tana French's characters always seem very realistic (and not always the most likeable of people). Our protagonist is a bit of an unreliable narrator & his memory is spotty so you're not sure whether he's remembered something or if he's concocted a false memory.
There were 2 mysteries in the narrative - and I thought they were going to link together somehow, the main character kept alluding to it but it never really happened - which I suppose is more likely than 2 crimes being linked.
bsheindl's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lauraborkpower's review against another edition
4.0
French has delivered not just a who-done-it, but a police procedural from the p.o.v. of the suspect, and it is so, so good.
The plot is perfectly layered to add character development and tension, and every part is full of French's lovely and frequently gruesome details.
And overall, it's a story about an young, entitled, straight white man who begins to realize just what privilege is, and what happens when it's not there.
The plot is perfectly layered to add character development and tension, and every part is full of French's lovely and frequently gruesome details.
And overall, it's a story about an young, entitled, straight white man who begins to realize just what privilege is, and what happens when it's not there.
klaireparavel's review
3.0
This was a difficult read. It felt overly long at some points, claustrophobic and cloyingly tense at others. I'm still not certain of my enjoyment of the story itself as always, Tana French's telling of the story is quite good.