- Title: The Wych Elm
- Author: Tana French
- Publisher: Penguin Books
- Star Rating: ★★★
One night changes everything for Toby. He’s always led a charmed life – until a brutal attack leaves him damaged and traumatised, unsure even of the person he used to be. He seeks refuge at his family’s ancestral home, the Ivy House, filled with memories of wild-strawberry summers and teenage parties with his cousins. But not long after Toby’s arrival, a discovery is made: a skull, tucked neatly inside the old wych elm in the garden. As detectives begin to close in, Toby is forced to examine everything he thought he knew about his family, his past, and himself.
I was really looking forward to this book, as there were some fantastic reviews surrounding its publication. The story started off really well, I liked the character of Toby but sometimes found his memory lapses a bit frustrating. I was instantly gripped and loved the style of writing- especially the authors’ ability to craft human interactions so realistically. However, after Toby arrives at the Ivy House, the pace starts to slow down and I found my attention drifting elsewhere. It was, however, interesting to watch a murder investigation unfold from the perspective of those affected, rather than following the detectives’ story. The story itself isn’t much of a ‘whodunit’, due to the lack of suspects involved- yet I did find myself questioning Toby’s credibility due to gaps in his memory. It took me a lot longer than usual to finish this book, however there were elements within the writing that I thoroughly enjoyed. The plot, I feel, could have been improved with a bit more suspense and mystery, and I would have preferred a slightly pacier novel.