The Hanging Tree, by MIchael Phillip Cash

Title: The Hanging Tree

Author: Michael Phillip Cash

Publisher: CreateSpace Independant Publishing Platform

Date: October 15, 2013

Paperback: 90 pages







About the author: 
This is Cash's first novella and is loosely based on a tree with a haunted past on the North Shore of Long Island. Born and raised on Long Island, Michael has always had a fascination with ghosts and horror writing. Earning a degree in English and a MBA, he has worked various jobs before settling into being a full-time author. He currently resides on Long Island with his wife and children. His other novels, Brood X: A Firsthand Account of the Great Cicada Invasion and his bestselling novel, Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island are receiving rave reviews.

About the book:
Seventeen year old Arielle is at a crossroads in her life. Disenchanted with her father, she is testing the boundaries of his trust by dating someone he does not approve. Under the moonlit sky in Long Island, Arielle and her boyfriend meet under the infamous hanging tree. The couple's destiny is rooted to the five spirits in the tree whose lives and deaths are determined by an ancient curse. Will her future be determined by the past or will Arielle's choices alter the course of her life?

My take:
I am not one who likes to read books or watch movies that deal with ghosts and "things from the beyond". But being a book reviewer, sometimes you come across books that you might have originally passed up. This would be The Hanging Tree. I have to say that I was a little taken aback because I actually wound up really liking the story. Once I got past the whole "ghost" part, it turned out to be a really good read.

The story starts out in present time and then goes back in time to explain how the ghosts come to be in the tree. I like books that don't necessarily focus on one time frame, but bounce back and forth. Don't get me wrong, if it can't be done right (like Michael Phillip Cash does it) then it can make for a confusing read. But like I stated before, it makes for a good read in this book. I like how he takes us back to let us get a true understanding about the main characters. It really brings the story together.

The books is very short, 90 pages. So it can be read in one sitting. He actually takes a 300 page story and shrinks it to 90 pages and makes it work. His writing style lets you visualize every single thing that is going on, even down to the facial expressions. This is how you can tell he is a good writer. His writing style is easy to read and understand. I really enjoyed the book and was excitedly shocked with the twists and turns and the final outcome of the story.

This complementary book was given to me in exchange for my honest review.